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What about places like Buenaventura, Quibdo, Riohacha, Santa Marta, Cali and Tumaco?
Except for Cali and Santa Marta I wouldn't visit the rest. They are port towns and there is not much to see there. The ones in the Pacific coast have become quite dangerous in the last decades because of drug trafficking.
Santa Marta has several interesting places to visit and you would also be close to "the lost city" an ancient village that requires several days to visit.
You have to be careful though with tap water in the coastal regions since it is not safe to drink.
Have visited Colombia 3 times. Cartagena, Cali and Medellin and their surrounding areas, Popayan, Guatape, Pereria, and the area around the "coffee park" (Excuse my spelling). I still consider retiring there, if I did it would be Medellin or the surrounding area. Culturally I thought it had more of what I desired. The surrounding areas are quite nice. Check out Santa fe Antioquia. The airport in Medellin (actually quite far from the city) had good service to the US. It may be that I pick up on the difference that in my mind I attribute to "the piasas" (spelling) the people of the Medellin area. The area, maybe because of what feels like an industriousness/organization/maybe education of the people is more organized, cleaner and all around more cultural. That doesn't make the other places bad just not as desirable to me. I never had any trouble in Colombia, like anywhere else you can find it if you really drift off without knowledge. I took buses between cities and they were quite good. It was interesting.
Have visited Colombia 3 times. Cartagena, Cali and Medellin and their surrounding areas, Popayan, Guatape, Pereria, and the area around the "coffee park" (Excuse my spelling). I still consider retiring there, if I did it would be Medellin or the surrounding area. Culturally I thought it had more of what I desired. The surrounding areas are quite nice. Check out Santa fe Antioquia. The airport in Medellin (actually quite far from the city) had good service to the US. It may be that I pick up on the difference that in my mind I attribute to "the piasas" (spelling) the people of the Medellin area. The area, maybe because of what feels like an industriousness/organization/maybe education of the people is more organized, cleaner and all around more cultural. That doesn't make the other places bad just not as desirable to me. I never had any trouble in Colombia, like anywhere else you can find it if you really drift off without knowledge. I took buses between cities and they were quite good. It was interesting.
Maybe what impressed you was the paisa culture, their tradition. They are very attentive with people, especially when you visit their homes. And they are always inviting you to their homes if you don't visit them they might get offended. Even if they are dirt poor they believe that "There's always room for one more".
My aunt is the typical old fashioned Paisa, she's 84 now. She would also bring food when she visited people's homes and even try to clean the dishes.
That is likely the attraction to me. It sort of reminds me of the old timers in my Italian American family. Of course they are long gone now, but that "room for one more" you mention hits it home. I feel like I've dropped back a generation or two when I'm there. My Colombian wife gives me the same vibe, family, home, food, reverence for all life. It's beautiful.
Except for Cali and Santa Marta I wouldn't visit the rest. They are port towns and there is not much to see there. The ones in the Pacific coast have become quite dangerous in the last decades because of drug trafficking.
Santa Marta has several interesting places to visit and you would also be close to "the lost city" an ancient village that requires several days to visit.
You have to be careful though with tap water in the coastal regions since it is not safe to drink.
Interesting, as I wonder if the poverty and what seems like relative neglect of the Pacific area of the country, has a lot to do with this.
No because those who ruined our Pacific coastal region are not even from this region, they are mestizos from interior Colombia and I hate them for what they did to our beautiful Black region. Tumaco and Buenaventura were not this way during the days of my grandparents and great grandparents. Now it is horrible and it is all because of those greedy druglords
Interesting, as I wonder if the poverty and what seems like relative neglect of the Pacific area of the country, has a lot to do with this.
According to my father who worked for the judicial branch in many locations, there is a lot of corruption in smaller towns, mayors and governors steal the money they get from the central government. I believe my father because he is a big time socialist. Maybe now that there is more infrastructure and media they can control the destination of those funds better.
Drug lords needed alternative routes through the Pacific coast and the northern portion (Choco) was not as feasible because the weather and infrastructure so they started in the South. They eventually did go to Choco. My father was working in Quibdó when the Bojayá massacre occurred. He said he could see hundreds of people from his office arriving in boats with nothing, just the clothes they were wearing that day.
Cartagena has long been on my list of 'must see' cities.
Cartegena is the only city in Colombia I visited ... and I liked it a lot. Reminded me a little of Miami because it has modern luxury highrises on the beach, but it also has the most charming old colonial district as well with a gorgeous historic cathedral. The fort is not to be missed. However there are poor dangerous neighborhoods you just stay away from.
I think Colombia in general gets a bad rap because it had so much crime and safety issues in the past. Today it is a safer place. However, as I said before, there are always certain districts and neighborhoods you stay away from.
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