Ultimate Colombia Q&A with Luke and Mariela

Going abroad with your best mate who has the opposite travel style to you… What can go wrong, right?

When one friend goes for the most budget options humanly possible (Luke, one of our Travel Advisors), and the other friend feels more at home in a nice hotel (Mariela, our Product Manager), you could say that travelling together is off to a great start. All the way to South America? Even better.

Grab a drink and get ready for some chaos, as I interview Luke and Mariela on their Ultimate Colombia experience.

Q: I think it’s safe to say that you guys have fairly different personalities. What was it like travelling together?

Mariela:

It was so fun! Our travel styles are quite different, but we bonded really well and kind of complemented each other.

The Colombia group tour also had really cool activities! It was a perfect mix of everything. Great culture. Lots of partying. But then there’s also lots of hiking. We went through a jungle, hiked to waterfalls, and went swimming there. 

And if I ever wanted some alone time and to get rid of Luke, I’d just be like, I’m going to go shopping. That worked perfectly every time.

Luke:

Yeah, a bit like going on holiday with your mum, really. But no, it was really good. Still friends now.

Q: What was your group leader like?

Mariela:

Isabella was amazing. So cool. She was a local guide and was so proud of her country. 

Luke:

She really helped everyone and was so friendly. She genuinely cared about us and what we were doing.

Q: So you started Ultimate Colombia in Medellín. What did you think of the city?

Mariela:

Medellín is so interesting, all the history!

We had another local guide who took us to Comuna 13, plus the less-visited neighbourhoods, where we got to speak to people who lived there. He was so lovely.

The nightlife of Medellín was really good as well!

Luke:

Because it’s the first few nights and you don’t know everyone super well, it’s like you’re always a bit nervous to go ‘Full Monty,’ you know. Whereas by the end of the trip, you’ve really bonded, and you just don’t care.

Medellín’s nightlife was still sick, though. Being a nightlife expert. God, that sounds sad.

Yeah, yeah, I’m just so cool, go out all the time.

Q: Another highlight for Colombia is Guatape Rock. How was the climb?

Mariela:

The climb was good. Like 600 steps.

Luke:

I raced up it. Mariela ran a risk assessment before going up the stairs.

Mariela:

It’s quite high, but the views are so worth it.

Luke:

I didn’t expect it to be so green!

Q: You also went to a coffee plantation on the tour. Are you now converted to Colombian coffee beans?

Luke:

The coffee plantation tour was so insightful, and I now have a lot of appreciation for my morning cup of coffee. We were so excited to try it, and it tasted absolutely unreal. I only buy Colombian beans now.

Mariela:

Do you?

Luke:

My dad does, because I put it in the Ocado basket.

Q: Your tour finished in Cartagena, one of Colombia’s most famous cities. Did it live up to the hype?

Mariela:

Definitely. I actually wish I’d stayed longer in Cartagena after the tour. With a couple more days, I’d spend it there.

It had these pretty, narrow streets. Loads of cute shops. There was even one café that looked like a bookstore, I loved it there. The nightlife was also really good!

Luke:

You can also get a boat taxi to so many stunning islands around it. It’s on the Caribbean coast.

Q: What advice would you give to anyone interested in doing Ultimate Colombia or travelling to South America for the first time?

Mariela:

Learning a bit of Spanish helps. Having a group leader who spoke the language was really handy.

Luke:

Honestly, though, you could have turned up with nothing prepared and still have had a good time.

Mariela:

Oh, you know that from firsthand experience?

Luke:

I had a bag.

Mariela:

I think going in with an open mind is good. Be open to trying new food, new culture. But also, I wouldn’t worry too much. Enjoy yourself and live in the moment. Ultimate Colombia is lots of fun, and your group leader is there for support.

Q: Thanks for chatting with me, guys! My last question is, where’s next on your bucket list?

Mariela:

I’m going to Australia in September!

Luke:

I’m not sure, really. Heard that Belize is really cool. I’d also quite like to go down to Patagonia in Chile. That’s high on the old list!