Solo-ish Colombia: Medellín to Cartagena — Self-Launched

Land at José María Córdova (MDE) and take a white taxi or the Aeropuerto–San Diego bus then metro into El Poblado or Laureles (taxi ~£22, bus+metro ~£2.50). Check into a well-rated hostel dorm in El Poblado or Laureles — the two areas with the best solo-traveller social scene. In the evening book a small-group arepa cooking class through GetYourGuide or a local cooking school in El Poblado (~£22–28), the independent version of G's welcome dinner party. Most hostels run a free family dinner or salsa night — perfect for meeting people without a tour group.

🚌Airport taxi ~£22 shared, or bus+metro ~£2.50

🛏Hostel dorm, El Poblado or Laureles (~£13/night)

• →Arepa cooking class (GetYourGuide, ~£25)
• →Hostel social night / salsa class

Ride the metro to San Javier and take the outdoor escalators up into Comuna 13. Join a local graffiti and social-transformation walking tour (most guides are residents; book via GetYourGuide or just turn up to the escalator base and join a tour for ~£8–12, tips-based options exist). Stop for lunch at Berracas de la 13 — the same women-run restaurant G includes — and order the bandeja or ajiaco (~£6). Afternoon free: Museo de Antioquia and Plaza Botero (~£4), Explora Park, or a coffee-lab tour in Laureles (~£8).

🚌Metro ~£0.60 each way; taxi home ~£4

🛏Hostel dorm, Medellín (~£13/night)

• →Comuna 13 graffiti & history walking tour (~£10)
• →Lunch at Berracas de la 13 (~£6)
• →Optional: Museo de Antioquia (~£4)

Skip the private vehicle and take the public bus from Medellín's Terminal del Norte to Guatapé (~2 hrs, ~£5 each way, frequent departures from around 6am). Climb the 700-odd steps of El Peñol rock for the classic reservoir panorama (entry ~£4.50). Wander the zócalo-painted streets of Guatapé, grab lunch by the lake (~£6), and consider a kayak or boat ride on the reservoir (~£10). Return on the last afternoon bus to Medellín — you'll be back in time for dinner.

🚌Public bus Medellín–Guatapé ~£10 return

🛏Hostel dorm, Medellín (~£13/night)

• →Climb El Peñol (~£4.50 entry)
• →Guatapé town walk
• →Optional kayak on the reservoir (~£10)

Book a morning low-cost flight Medellín–Santa Marta (Avianca, LATAM or JetSmart; typically £35–60 one way if booked a few weeks out). From Santa Marta airport or centre take a local bus or colectivo along the Troncal del Caribe towards Los Naranjos / El Zaino (~1 hr, ~£2), where guesthouses and hammock hostels sit at the park entrance. Spend the afternoon swimming, swinging in a hammock, and eating fresh fish on the beach — this is the free afternoon G builds in at the hotel.

🚌Flight MDE–SMR ~£45; local bus to Tayrona ~£2

🛏Guesthouse or eco-hostel near El Zaino/Los Naranjos (~£15/night)

• →Beach and hammock afternoon
• →Sunset on the Caribbean coast

Enter Tayrona early (entry ~£12 for foreigners plus mandatory insurance ~£1.50; note the park closes 1–15 Feb, 1–15 Jun and 19 Oct–2 Nov — go to Taironaka / Río Don Diego for tubing on those dates). Hike the jungle trail from Calabazo or El Zaino through Cañaveral to Arrecifes and on to Cabo San Juan (~2–3 hrs, moderate). Local guides wait at the entrances and cost ~£15–20 for a half-day if you want the naturalist commentary G provides. Swim at La Piscina, laze at Cabo San Juan, then hike or take a moto-taxi back out before the park's 5pm exit.

🚌Mototaxi/local bus to park entrance ~£3 return

🛏Guesthouse or eco-hostel near El Zaino/Los Naranjos (~£15/night)

• →Tayrona park entry & hiking (~£13.50)
• →Optional local guide (~£18 shared)
• →Swim at La Piscina and Cabo San Juan

Head back to Santa Marta by local bus or colectivo (~1 hr, ~£2), then take a public long-distance bus to Cartagena with Expreso Brasilia or Copetran (~4.5–5 hrs, ~£11–14, book at the terminal or online). Check into a hostel inside or just outside the walled city (Getsemaní is the backpacker heart). In the late afternoon join a free walking tour of the old town (tips ~£5) or simply self-guide the walls, Plaza Santo Domingo and the Clock Tower at sunset.

🚌Local bus ~£2 + long-distance bus ~£12.50

🛏Hostel dorm, Getsemaní or Centro (~£14/night)

• →Free walking tour of the walled city (tips ~£5)
• →Sunset on the city walls

Make it your own day: either book a speedboat day trip to the Islas del Rosario for snorkelling and a beach club (~£45–60 including boat, park fee and lunch, book at the Muelle de la Bodeguita), or stay in town for Castillo San Felipe (~£6), the Inquisition Palace (~£7) and a slow café morning in Getsemaní. In the late afternoon do a rum and chocolate tasting — small independent tastings run ~£20–25, or try a rum bar flight in Centro for ~£12. Dinner in Getsemaní's street-food scene (~£7).

🚌Walking; taxi to the pier ~£3

🛏Hostel dorm, Cartagena (~£14/night)

• →Optional Rosario Islands boat day (~£50)
• →Rum & chocolate tasting (~£20)
• →Optional Castillo San Felipe (~£6)

Last breakfast of arepas and tropical fruit, a final wander of the walls, then a taxi or the public bus to Rafael Núñez airport (~£7 taxi, ~£1 bus) for your onward flight. Flight home and any pre/post-trip nights are not included.

🚌Taxi to airport ~£7

🛏—

• →Morning walk of the old town