Colombia Sept 2012

The purpose of this trip to Colombia in September 2012 was to research new material and provide updates for The South American Handbook, 2014 edition, to be published by Footprint Continue reading →

Honda, point of no return

Until the mid-20th century, Honda was the “epicentre of Colombia”. It stands on the western bank of the River Magdalena, at its confluence with the River Gualí, just by the Continue reading →

Mompós

There is no quick way to get to Mompós because the town is built on land between two arms of the Magdalena River. In whichever direction you go, at some Continue reading →

The 0600 ferry

The 0600 ferry  from La Bodega to Magangué takes one hour downstream on the Río Magdalena. It is amazing how many vehicles are crammed on board, not to mention the Continue reading →

Santa Marta to Aracataca

Having studied the work of Gabriel García Márquez for a large part of my professional life as a freelance writer, to be in Colombia’s Caribbean region and not visit his Continue reading →

Barran-quilla to Santa Marta

The Puente Linares Gómez crosses the Río Magdalena after the long haul out of Barranquilla on the bus. Looking back there is a good view of the shipping at the Continue reading →

From Valledu- par to Mompós

I got up at 3.30 am to be in time for Sr Castro to pick me up from the Hostal Provincia (http://www.provinciavalledupar.com/) at 4. By 5 he still hadn’t arrived Continue reading →

Guatapé

From Medellín to the lakeside town of Guatapé is about 1½-2 hours by bus. It’s best to measure distances in Colombia by time, rather than kilometres. The latter tend to Continue reading →

Orford

For reasons too involved to go into here, we had the use of a friend’s Mercedes for  the morning. With an hour to spare between leaving our campsite and a Continue reading →

Sarah Cameron

Visiting the Huaorani in Ecuador