Mantaraya Travel shows Colombia

The Untouched Beauty of Colombia’s Amazon

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:09:40 -0400

Mention the Amazon and most people’s minds will immediately jump to Brazil or, maybe, Peru. With only two per cent of the Amazon within its borders, it is easy to see why Colombia is often overlooked in discussions about the world’s largest tropical rainforest.

However, the Colombian Amazon is no less rich in flaura and fauna than its neighbours and the secret is quickly getting out, so be sure to visit before mass tourism takes over.

The two-hour flight from Bogota to Leticia is worthy of a trip in its own right, with dense, thick rainforest stretching for miles in every direction, carefully dissected by the majestic rivers that run through. The journey gives the sensation of exploration, of visiting uncharted territory, all wrapped up in the stunning realisation that, below you, there lies hundreds of miles of land that no human being has ever set foot in, the wonders that lurk beneath totally unknown to man.

Go to our blog to check out our full post on Colombia´s Amazon

Mantaraya Travel Grows Across South America

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:31:31 -0400

We are terrificly excited to announce that Mantaraya Travel has broadened its horizons and is now offering tailor-made tours throughout Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile!

After 7 years of growth as a leading tour company in Colombia, Mantaraya Travel founder Camilo Gomez decided to take all that he has learned and apply it to a South American scale. Our travel advisors have been busy researching the top destinations in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile, and you can find all the best info on these hotspots in our new South America section on mantarayatravel.com

On each destination in this section you will find orginal info broken down into an overview, main attractions, best time to go and getting there. We´re looking forward to adding more photos and videos in time, as well as writing posts on our Colombia travel blog.

So what are you waiting for? Book a trip to South America now with Mantaraya Travel!

Medellin Flower Festival 2012 – A City in Bloom

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:39:56 -0400

Hotels our booking out fast for the Medellin Flower Festival 2012 – Colombia´s most fragrant and colourful yearly celebration. Colombia is the world´s second largest exporter of cut flowers and during this ten day celebration locals and tourists use the innocent beauty of the blossom as an excuse to celebrate life, nature and rich Paisa culture. The official event calendar is yet to be released, but the festival will take place in the beginning of August.

The fair is made up of over 140 events. The most famous of these is the flower bearer’s parade (silleteros parade), for which rural flower farmers, called silleteros, make elaborate floral arrangements on giant circular contraptions that they carry on their backs. These mobile displays can weigh up to 70 kg´s and measure up to 5 meters in diameter. As many as 70 different types of flowers are used to make a single ´silleta´, and the patterns made represent the silleteros history, land and culture.

Go to our blog to find out about the other big events at the Medellin Flower Festival 2012

Ecotourism in Colombia with Mantaraya Travel

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:18:38 -0400

With the growing global awareness about the importance of environmental protection, ecotourism in Colombia is becoming increasingly important and many travel companies who offer trips to natural places now call themselves ´sustainable´ or ´eco-tourism providers´. But the reality is that if these trips are not coordinated with care as well as local knowledge and support, they can easily be just the opposite.

At Mantaraya Travel we try to keep our ecological footprint to an absolute minimum by working withlocal guides who are trained and passionate about protecting the local ecosystem. We always try to work with small providers, such as family run boutique hotels over large multinational chains, and many of the hotels that we work with have a wide range of ecologically friendly practices, such as Palmari Resort in the Colombian Amazon, which insists that visitors do not bring harmful chemicals onto the resort such as those found in most shampoo´s and insect repellants.

Read the rest of this article on ecotourism in Colombia.

2 weeks ago I wrote a post expressing my undying love...

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:49:16 -0400

2 weeks ago I wrote a post expressing my undying love for arepa´s. Well a lovely Colombian lady called Fela, who lives in Canada (hay Colombianos hasta en la sopa), read that post, and it reminded her so much of her beloved home that she shared it throughout her facebook and twitter. Fela had shared the post enthusiastically, so we decided to say hello and thank her for sharing. We got chatting excitedly (about arepa´s of course) and then I noticed that Fela was an incredibly talented photographer. Suddenly a marvelous idea popped into my head – Fela could make a fun little video for Mantaraya Travel Blog on how to make arepa´s. I asked her if she wanted to, and the ever bubbly Fela responded with a thumbs up!

Family Travel in Colombia – A Holiday for Everyone to Enjoy!

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:41:42 -0400

Colombia´s turbulent past mean that it´s never been a hotspot for family travel, but as national security and safety continue to increase and the country re-invents international image, this is all beginning to change.

Colombia is in fact a perfect destination for family travel. It´s incredible diversity mean that there are activities and destinations for people of all ages to enjoy. On top of this, the Colombian culture is centralized around a strong family unit, so children are almost always welcome in all types of establishments.

See our article on Family Travel in Colombia for 5 things that the whole family can enjoy:

Colombia Adventure – Hiking, Rafting and a whole lot more!

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:02:15 -0400

Many would say that travelling to Colombia is adventurous in itself, but for those who love fresh air, gorgeous natural scenery and addictive outdoor activities, then Colombia just about has it all.

Colombia´s astounding geographical diversity creates the perfect playground for adventurous travelers.

Read the full article on Colombia adventure on our blog!

Colombia Travel FAQs: The 15 Most Common Questions – Answered

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:56:18 -0400

Safety

1. Is it safe to travel in Colombia?

2. Is it safe to travel as a single female?

3. Can I travel without a guide?

Preparation

4. Do I need a visa?

5. What do I need to pack?

6. Do I need vaccinations and malaria pills?

7. How is the weather?

8. Do I need to learn Spanish?

Traveling

9. How is the public transport system?

10. How do the Taxi´s work in Colombia?

11. How are the hotel standards?

12. Do I need to leave a tip?

13. Where and when are the best festivals?

Costs

14. What is the currency and exchange rate?

15. What is the cost of traveling in Colombia?

Check out the answers to these Colombia Travel FAQs on our blog

The Best Things to do in Colombia

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:41:44 -0400

With such an astonishing variety of incredible things to do in Colombia, most visitors find that they simply cannot squeeze everything that they want to do into a single trip.

Colombia´s terrific diversity of landscapes, ecosystems and cultures results in a whole continents worth of activities concentrated in a single country. Here is just the top of an endless list of the best things to do in Colombia!

Check out the full article on the best things to do in Colombia

Mr. Misunderstood – Why the Arepa Deserves to be Appreciated

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:08:43 -0400

If there´s one thing that foreigner’s just don´t get about Colombians, it´s their love of arepa´s. In a guest post last month Irish expat and Mantaraya Travel Advisor Gordon Hanlon wrote of them: ´I cannot think of a blander or more dull thing to eat… It seems that I am doomed to be forever stuck in this endless cycle of flowery fancy & doughy disappointment.¨

These flat breads, made from toasted corn flour and water, are to Colombians and Venezuelans what tortillas are to Mexicans and baguettes are to French. They are a staple of the regions diet and have been since over 600 years ago, when indigenous tribes ground moistened maize between stones to make the first nourishing arepa´s.

So where does all the controversy come from? How is it that the humble arepa has forced so many Colombians into snack-break debate, having their patriotism probed to the point that they become culinary evangelists?

The answer is simple…

22 Ways to Greet Someone in Colombian Slang

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:33:34 -0400

Somebody once told me that the biggest difference between the English and Spanish languages is this:

1 word in English has 5 different meanings, whereas 1 meaning in Spanish has 5 different words.

While there´s certainly no shortage of ways to say ´what´s crack a lackin?´ in English, In Colombia there sure isn´t either. So here are just a few ways to greet someone in Colombian slang that I´ve heard around the way:

22 Ways to Greet Someone in Colombian Slang

Cartagena Climate and What to Wear

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:38:08 -0400

Cartagena climate

Most days in Cartagena are hot and humid, with evenings cooled by a refreshing Caribbean Sea breeze.

The temperature and humidity in Cartagena is almost unchanging throughout the entire year, with an average annual temperature of 28°C and humidity of 80%.

Technically the dry seasons runs from December to April, with October and November being the wettest months.

Read the rest of Cartagena Climate and What to Wear

Colombia Travel FAQs – Trip Planning Tips from the Experts

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:03:36 -0400

Preparation

1. Do I need a visa?

2. What do I need to pack?

3. Do I need vaccinations and malaria pills?

4. How is the weather?

5. Do I need to learn Spanish?

Read Colombia Travel FAQs for the answers…

Ecotourism Colombia – Save Sea Turtles on the Edge of...

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:23:53 -0400

Ecotourism Colombia – Save Sea Turtles on the Edge of Extinction

A cause that needs you

For 200 million years sea turtles have swum the Earth´s oceans. They lived through the extinction of the dinosaurs and observed the evolution of humans as if it took place overnight. And now, due to some careless fishing practices and the polluting of their natural habitats, within the next 20 years these mystically prehistoric creatures face being wiped of the face of the planet forever. Gone…

Fortunately, there is still time to save sea turtles from their imminent extinction. To do so award-winning wildlife conservation NGO CIMAD has teamed up with Mantaraya Travel, and the result –Colombian ecotourism at its finest…

Check out the full article ecotourism Colombia

Colombia´s remarkable diversity affords visitors a truly unique...

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:39:55 -0400

Colombia´s remarkable diversity affords visitors a truly unique opportunity to visit several completely different destinations in one holiday. As Colombian tourism continues to grow exponentially, several top destinations are emerging as the countries clear hotspots. In order of popularity, our recommendations on the best places to visit in Colombia are…

#1 Cartagena

Cartagena is a fairty-tale city that will take your imagination on a magic carpet ride aroud breathtaking natural scenery, stunning colonial architecture, exotic smells and flavours, colorful and vibrant cultures and legendary history. Whether it´s the cobbled streets and quaint cafe´s of the World Heritage Listed historical center, or the glowing white sand and crystal clear waters of the neighbouring islands, Cartagena has something for everyone and that is what has made it #1 on our list of best places to visit in Colombia.

Continue reading The Best Places to Visit in Colombia

The Best Things to do in Colombia – Part 2

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:23:43 -0400

Part 2 of our series on the best things to do in Colombia. In such a diverse country, these featured activities are at the top of an almost endless list…

#4 Coffee Tours

Colombia grows over 10% of the worlds coffee supply and to many Colombians coffee is not just a hot beverage but a culture and livelihood. A tour of a Colombian coffee farm educates you on the hard work that really goes into making your morning brew, from planting, to growing, harvesting, processing, drying, milling, exporting, roasting, grinding, preparing and finally enjoying.

A Colombian coffee tour also takes you through the foothills of the Cordillera Central, made up of some of Colombia´s most picturesque landscapes and charming colonial towns. The Coffee Zone is one of the best places to visit in the Colombia and a tour of a coffee farm is certainly one of the best things to do while your there.

Continue reading the full article on The Best Things to do in Colombia

The countdown has begun in the Colombian Capital for the 12th...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:04:06 -0500

The countdown has begun in the Colombian Capital for the 12th biennual Ibero American Theater Festival, the biggest theatrical event on the planet.

Over three million spectators are expected to show up this year to be entertained by an endless list of performances in the arts of traditional theatre, circus, comedy, pantomime, puppetry, dance, music, and multimedia. Spanning just over 2 weeks, around 1000 different spectacles will be given by a mix of local and international performing arts companies.

Read the full post on the Ibero American Theater Festival 2012

Part 3 of our top picks for the best places to visit in...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:17:34 -0500

Part 3 of our top picks for the best places to visit in Colombia, based on 8 years of experience as the leading tour operator in Colombia.

Check out the full article of Best Places to Visit in Colombia Part 3

5 Questions with a Colombian – Jessica Miranda – Colombia...

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:17:08 -0500

5 Questions with a Colombian – Jessica Miranda – Colombia Travel

This week in Bogotá I had the pleasure of chatting with Jessica Miranda, a Colombian/American. Here´s what she had to say about Colombia travel.

Colombian Fruit Juices - A Love Story When it comes to...

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:39:11 -0500

Colombian Fruit Juices - A Love Story

When it comes to lubricating a dry throat, freshly squeezed fruit juice is as good as it gets. The sweet, natural, aromatic flavors of fresh fruit trample over that of soft drinks. Sadly in the western world, freshly squeezed fruit juice is practically a delicacy and you can expect to pay far more for it than its infinitely inferior artificial counterpart.

Before I moved to Bogotá Colombia my fruit juice field consisted of apple, orange, watermelon, lemon, pineapple, mango and maybe a few others. I may have been a fresh fruit juice fanatic, but I was an imposter; utterly ignorant to the depth of the fresh fruit juice world. It was like I listened to one album of Miles Davis and called myself a Jazz aficionado. Colombia opened my eyes. It took me to nectar nirvana and now I´ll never go back.

To read the rest of this guest post by Colombia Travel Blog, click Colombian fruit juices!