Street art and street food in Medellin
Colombia’s second city, once plagued by drug cartels, has been transformed and pacified. It now attracts tourists like commune 13:00a hello (neighbourhood) once ultra-violent, now the most visited place in the city. The former ghetto on a residential hill was occupied by street artists from the late 2000s until it became an outdoor street art gallery.
The walls, covered with painted murals and graffiti, are constantly changing their appearance. Accompanied by guides, we travel through steep streets and colorful escalators between souvenir stands, ice cream parlors and groups of hip-hop dancers with an infectious energy. The neighborhood remains poor, but we are safe there. We go out with energy in this bath of colors, music… And admiring the endurance of local residents.
Another atypical discovery. Feel Medellín agency offers unique visits to discover the flavors of the city, taste Medellín like a fruit. It begins (for adults) a karachilo (coffee with rum) at Salon Malaga, the mecca of tango. This continues with a tour of the street stalls. We taste there, in joyous disorder, Buñuelos stuffed with cheese, juices chontaduro: (palm fruit), mamoncillo (more fruit), salty and lemony avocado and different kinds of mango… We’re not even talking about it. arepas (corn cake) and neither is the weird one pastel gloria (guava and cheese cake).
Experience Medellin. Private tour with transport: €155 for two Comuna 13; €130 for two rounds of “Sabores del Barrio” (with tastings of Colombian products). Such. +57 300 838 12 53.
The wax palms of La Carbonera
In the coffee zone (zona cafetera) everyone will tell you vCocora Alley, famous for its wax palms. These giant palms, which can exceed 60 meters, are the tallest in the world, and their location in the middle of the mountains (and not near the sea) is amazing. Alas, one can rarely be alone in the Cocora Valley… To share this card with the tourist crowd, it is better to choose it. Carbonera, a little further. From a very nice colonial village SalentoWillis Jeeps take you to this valley, home to the largest palm forest in the country. The sight of these huge trunks with palm tops clinging to the hillside is exceptional. And we are almost alone there. On the spot, we learn that this endemic species is threatened with extinction, and as such, it is protected. Palms get their name from the wax that was used in the past, among other things, to make candles.
Paramo Trek, €770 for 4 people for a 2-day Jeep tour with the Carbonera to Machin Volcano trek. Such. +57 311 745 37 61.
In the heart of a cocoa plantation
Good news for little gourmets. there are also cocoa plantations in the coffee country. It Casa Rivera del Cocoa opens its doors wide with chocolate tasting as a bonus. A good alternative to visits to coffee plantations, which appeal more to coffee-loving parents than kids… Quindio. With the support of French chocolatier Thierry Moulhaupt, Ana Maria and José Luis run a beautiful estate nestled in the foothills of the Andes mountain range. Precious pods ripen in variegated vegetation, colorful birds. A garden of Eden that we discover in the company of local masters. Ana Maria, who speaks French, and José Luis will tell you about the history of cacao. In their company, we discover all the steps from beans to chocolate: harvesting, fermentation, drying, roasting, grinding, crisping… Plus, tasting. in place from the deliciously sweet pulp of the cocoa bean, not forgetting the estate’s chocolate fountain at the end of the visit. To live the experience fully, it is ideal to spend at least one night there. Between two squares of chocolate we bathe in a wild river at the bottom of a tropical garden…
Casa Rivera del Cacao, €220 per night for two full meals. €100 visit to the plantation “bean to chocolate fountain” (1 day) with lunch. Such. +57 318 239 08 91.
Amazon isn’t even afraid.
In southeastern Colombia, the Amazon rainforest hosts its vast forest of monkeys, snakes and caimans… Too dangerous for the family. Not at all, provided you accept the humid heat, a few mosquito bites and slightly more spartan comfort than usual. To: San Martin de Amacayakuis Casa Gregorio is a great gateway to discover the Amazon on the Colombian side. In the heart of the indigenous Tikuna community, this all-wood hotel is run by Dutch ant specialists Heike and Jose. The place can accommodate a maximum of 18 people. A number of activities around the village allow you to explore the forest and the river alongside very well-trained local guides. On the menu: a day and night excursion in the forest, a visit to the hospital for injured wild monkeys, a trip to the village of Puerto Narinio ticuna, fishing in the river, not to mention canoe trips in the countless laps of the Amazon … swimming Lake Tarapoto Among the Amazon’s pink dolphins (but guaranteed no piranha attacks!) remains a magical moment for young and old.
Casa Gregorio, €1440 for 5 days (3.5 full days) for a family of four in private accommodation. As a couple, €95 per night per person. Such. +57 310 279 81 47.
The natural side of the Caribbean coast
To land in the Caribbean with the family, we will choose Rincon del Mar, 2h30 south of Cartagena. This small seaside village is bathed in a peaceful and carefree atmosphere. First of all, at the very end of the beach there is a beautiful address to live barefoot for a few days. Dos Aguas Lodge. On the sand, between the sea and the mangroves, this boutique hotel, made entirely of wood and bamboo, covered in palm fronds, has all the boho-chic thatched huts that are eco-conscious. Here, the water is recycled, the food is vegetarian (and delicious), and trade winds replace air conditioning. Between two leisurely swings, young and old alike are invited to choose one of the activities offered daily by carefully selected local service providers; -yoga…Stand-up paddling at sunset will delight adults. An unforgettable memory for children to swim in bioluminescent phytoplankton at night. Or the promise of a “luminescent swim” under a starry sky, in a corner of a mangrove…
Dos Aguas Lodge, €70 in a double room. Such. +57 321 485 89 41.
Source: Le Figaro
