Our Family Journey through Colombia
From horseback riding to a hummingbird forest
There is nothing quite like watching your daughter get married. But watching her exchange vows at a gorgeous Colombian hacienda, surrounded by lush scenery and a vibrant culture, is a memory I will always cherish.
This summer our family traveled to Colombia for the celebration, and it turned out to be an incredible vacation. We were able to explore the breathtaking landscapes, celebrate two birthdays, and take a deep dive into local culture. The legendary Colombian hospitality started when Sebastian’s family warmly met us at the airport with sunflowers and fresh granadillas!
It was a whirlwind trip filled with unforgettable highs, family bonding, and a couple of classic travel lessons along the way.
Here is a look inside our unforgettable Colombian journey.
Staying in Bogotá
When our new son-in-law, Sebastian, recommended we stay in El Chicó, we trusted his judgment. The neighborhood is green, walkable, and safe, making it a great base for our time in Bogota. On our first night, we enjoyed a delicious meal at Crepes & Waffles. The space was lovely, and I loved the Crepe Sombrero Vueltiao dish. It was the lovely welcome to the city.
Over the next few days, it didn’t take us long to find a comfortable routine. For our daily grocery trips, we walked to D1, a popular neighborhood shop that made picking up fresh items quick and affordable. We also found time to treat ourselves to a visit to Juan Valdez 1959 for a premium Colombian coffee experience.
Another perk of staying in El Chicó was its proximity to world-class shopping at El Retiro Shopping Center. When we realized we had forgotten a couple crucial items from home, we just walked to the mall. I easily restocked my missing makeup, and my husband found a sharp new tailored suit from LBR Luber, made in Colombia with premium local materials. Thanks to Sebastian’s recommendation, we got to experience the perfect mix of charm and convenience.
Pampering and Pre-Wedding Celebrations
Before the wedding festivities began, we had quality time to bond with my daughter’s future family. We enjoyed a bachelorette spa day right in the city with massages and sweet treats. It was a peaceful way to merge the ladies of our families and celebrate the beautiful bride-to-be before the main event.
Meanwhile, the guys went out to experience a whole different side of Colombian culture. They played tejo, the country’s national sport, which is a wild mix of something between skeeball and cornhole but with gunpowder. They threw heavy steel discs at a clay target, trying to hit small paper packets to make them explode on impact. It seems they found the ultimate way for men to bond over some friendly, explosive competition.
A Perfect Wedding in a Eucalyptus Forest
The heart of our trip was, of course, the wedding itself, which took place at a stunning hacienda in the mountains outside of Bogotá. While the property was breathtaking, the ceremony itself was meaningful and unique. The couple said their vows tucked away inside a dreamy eucalyptus forest. The towering trees, the dappled sunlight, and the incredible, fresh scent of the eucalyptus in the air made it feel enchanting.
The celebration that followed was the perfect mix of local flavor and pure joy. Guests enjoyed fun games, a delicious coastal platter packed with flavor, and a gorgeous wedding cake beautifully decorated with fresh flowers. To top it all off, the night ended with an epic dance party that couldn’t have been more fun!
Exploring Historic Bogotá
One highlight of our trip was a day exploring the historic center of Bogotá, guided by Sebastian’s family. Having locals show us around made the city’s rich history and hidden gems truly come alive.
Monserrate: We rode up Monserrate Mountain, towering over the city. At the very top, we found a beautiful wishing well where we each tossed a coin and made a special wish. Historically, this mountain has been a sacred pilgrim site since the 1600s, when a religious hermitage was built at the peak.
La Candelaria & Chorro de Quevedo: We walked down into the cobblestone streets of La Candelaria, Bogotá’s historic heartbeat. We stopped at Plaza del Chorro de Quevedo, a vibrant square believed by many to be the exact location where Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada founded the city in 1538.
Callejón del Embudo: We navigated the narrow, tapering paths of Callejón del Embudo (aptly named “The Funnel”). The alleyway is globally famous for its spectacular, award-winning graffiti and indigenous murals, which historically serve as a canvas for political expression and cultural pride.
Chicha Bars & Street Eats: While wandering, we snacked on fresh, juicy fruit right from a street stand. To drink, we tried smooth avena, a traditional, creamy oat beverage. We also stopped by a chicha bar called Bullitas Gourmet to try chicha—an ancient fermented corn drink that dates back to the Muisca indigenous civilization. We got to sample both the classic recipe and a tropical passion fruit version!
Lunch at La Puerta de la Catedral: For a proper sit-down meal, Sebastian’s family took us to La Puerta de la Catedral. Housed in a gorgeous, historic building with sweeping wooden doors, it serves spectacular, authentic Colombian food right in the historic center.
Plaza de Bolívar & Casa del Florero: We spent time in the grand Plaza de Bolívar, the political and historical epicenter of Colombia since its colonial days. We fed flocks of eager pigeons with dried corn right in front of the monumental Primary Cathedral, the National Capitol, and the Palace of Justice. Right on the corner, we saw the Casa del Florero (The Vase House). This building is famous in Colombian history because a dispute over a borrowed flower vase here on July 20, 1810, sparked the riots that ultimately led to Colombia’s independence from Spain!
Celebrating Birthdays
In addition to the wedding, our vacation was packed with major milestones as we got to ring in family birthdays with some unforgettable adventures:
Horseback Riding: For Ben’s birthday, we went horseback riding across the gorgeous countryside. Feeling the mountain breeze and taking in the views from horseback was the ultimate way to ring in a new year of life.
A Birthday Burger Night: Sebastian’s sister also celebrated her birthday while we were there. For her special day, we went out to a really unique restaurant filled with fun, nostalgic cartoon decorations where we had Speedy Gonzales burgers. It was just a really nice to sit back, laugh, and celebrate together in such an eclectic spot.
The Thermal Spa: For my birthday, we headed to a serene thermal spa. We spent hours soaking in natural, warm thermal pools tucked into the lush landscape. While there, we also got to experience something magical: feeding tiny hummingbirds right out of our hands. Watching their iridescent wings buzz just inches away was pure bliss.
Jeeps and Giant Palms in the Cocora Valley
Once we were fully refreshed from the thermal spas, we headed to Salento. The picturesque small town stole my heart. We stumbled into a little souvenir shop called D’Arte en Manos. We chatted with the owners and walked out with a traditional sombrero, cozy ruanas, beautiful necklaces, and hand-woven scarves.
The highlight of our time there was easily our trek out to the famous Cocora Valley. To get there, we piled into the traditional Willys, which are the iconic, colorful jeeps the locals use to navigate the rough terrain. The guys were thrilled to stand on the back bumper, holding on to the roof racks, while us ladies got to sit safely and comfortably inside. When we arrived, standing among those towering, surreal wax palm trees, the tallest in the world, it genuinely felt like stepping onto another planet.
We spent the day exploring, climbing up a steep hillside to visit some alpacas and standing on the giant hand sculpture overlooking the valley. After working up an appetite, we treated ourselves to some local comfort food. We found something that looked similar to mozzarella sticks, but it was actually sweet melted cheese stuffed inside a fried plantain wrapper, called aborrajado. We also ordered a traditional platter of hot chocolate and cheese, locals drop a slice of mild white cheese into their steaming mug of chocolate and let it get gooey. It was the perfect, laid-back end to a wonderful day.
A Tropical Fruit Safari
One of the biggest highlights of the trip was the sheer volume of fruit we consumed! The obsession started on our very first morning in Bogotá when Sebastian met us with bags bursting with local varieties. It was so exciting that it sparked a daily routine, we had enough to enjoy fresh fruit every day of our stay in Bogota.
Some were familiar favorites that just tasted extra fresh from the source, like juicy pineapple, bananas, mandarins, plums, and star fruit. But the special treat was trying fruit I had either never seen in person, or never even heard of before. We sampled unique brown pears and tart little kumquats alongside some truly exotic finds:
Granadillas: An incredible experience where you crack open a firm orange shell on your head and slurp out the sweet, crunchy, jelly-like seeds inside.
Pitahaya: The incredibly sweet, yellow-skinned cousin of the dragon fruit.
Bananitos: Tasting the incredibly sweet, bite-sized “baby bananas” native to the region.
Rambutan: The hairy, bright red rambutan was incredibly fun to peel, yielding a sweet, translucent fruit.
Mangosteen: Hidden beneath a tough purple shell were melt-in-your-mouth white segments that delivered a perfectly sweet and tangy tropical flavor.
The Not-So-Glamorous Reality
Reflections on our Experience in Colombia
For me, what makes Colombia truly special is its people. From Sebastian’s welcoming family to the locals we encountered along the way, the people of Colombia are extraordinarily warm, helpful, and friendly. They hold a deep affection for their country, and their genuine hospitality is remarkable. Between the eucalyptus forest wedding, the historic streets of Bogotá, the birthday adventures, the vibrant fruit markets, and the time spent with our newly expanded family, it was truly the trip of a lifetime.
What a wonderful glimpse into the traditions, foods, culture and beauty of Colombia!