My OAT Colombia's Colonial Jewels Review

Is Colombia Safe for Travelers? What Our Trip Was Really Like

Let’s be honest. In 2019, people raised eyebrows when we said we were going to Colombia. Like us, they had binge-watched Narcos. When we returned, I told them the greatest risk was wanting to stay and see more.

OAT’s Colombia itinerary has evolved a bit since we traveled, but the heart of what we loved remains the same: an unforgettable Colombia adventure. Colombia surprises visitors with dramatic landscapes, vibrant and welcoming culture, and world-class coffee regions. The country also offers remarkably affordable, diverse experiences and plenty of culinary delights.

We loved Colombia then. I’m predicting you’ll love it too.

Planning Your First
OAT Adventure?

If you're considering Colombia's Colonial Jewels or another Overseas Adventure Travel trip, I hope my experiences and tips help you decide whether OAT is right for you.

I've now taken 19 OAT adventures and have another one booked. If you decide to travel with OAT, I'd really appreciate your telling them (when booking):
"I was referred by Jesse Slome
OAT #932019."

It costs you nothing and their referral program helps me earn a 1-time credit toward a future adventure.

So far, 88 travelers have told OAT they were referred by Jesse Slome.

If you decide to take an OAT adventure, I hope you'll be #89!

Thank you - and I hope to see you somewhere in the world!

Why Colombia?
Why Overseas Adventure Travel?

When We Took This Trip: December 3 - 14, 2019
Jesse's Thrifty Senior Traveler Rating: 4.25 out of 5 Stars

Colombia’s Colonial Jewels & The Coffee Triangle was our 10th trip with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT). The following is my original trip review from December 2019. I’ve added our travel tips below it as well.

As you’ll see, OAT Colombia was one of our favorite tours, and we highly recommended it. Since then, we’ve taken OAT trips to Africa (Ultimate Africa) and Antarctica. Still, this one remains, in my mind, a great adventure.

Colombia is easily reachable from the U.S. and is an affordable destination. And if you can secure one of the many solo spots that avoid the single supplement, you should definitely consider going.

Throughout our tour, we never felt unsafe. We were cautious, of course, but the people we met were friendly and welcoming. We were even there during national protests and walked right through some of the demonstrations, which were more like the “peace-ins” of the ’60s than anything threatening.

This is clearly a country undergoing transition. If you like being somewhere that’s not overrun by tourists—if you like actually meeting people before they get jaded by tourism—then Colombia may be the place to go. In 2019, we saw 20 or fewer other Americans during our two weeks. That was part of what made this trip one of our favorites.

OAT always goes out of its way to combine visiting the major tourist spots with interacting with local people. But on this trip, they really went above and beyond.

Our trip director, Diego Parra, was excellent—one of the best we’ve had. OAT also hired local guides in each city: young people who were knowledgeable, enthusiastic and passionate about sharing their country. The tour was perfectly paced—never slow or boring, yet never rushed.

The “day in the life” experience takes place in the coffee region, and the people you meet there are also real local people—not folks who have become jaded from hosting tour groups every few days.

Food was decent to good—and in one case, outstanding. I’m not a huge lover of this type of cuisine, but there’s plenty to try, from Colombian donuts to some excellent seafood.

You will likely stay at the Estrella del Monte Hotel in the coffee region, and the chef there was incredible. If you like pancakes, have them for breakfast. You’ll thank me.

Bottom line - You will really get to understand Colombia’s past—it wasn’t pretty—its present and, I think, its future. I left feeling that if Colombia can remain peaceful, it has an incredible future ahead of it.

Oh, and it’s also an incredibly beautiful place. The hills in the coffee region are greener than they are in Ireland and Scotland.

That’s saying something.

SIX TIPS FOR OAT’S COLOMBIA

1. Consider skipping the optional tour to Monte Monserrate.
We skipped the optional tour and went on our own up Monte Monserrate. Frankly, paying $95 per person to visit a market and see street art didn't seem worthwhile to us. We had a great time doing it ourselves. I’ve also posted a link below to the tour video, which shows much of the street art you’ll likely see.

2. If you visit Monte Monserrate, go early.
We recommend going around 9:00 AM. Later in the day, it gets much more crowded and you may have a long wait for the cable car. Take a taxi to the cable-car station—it was inexpensive when we visited, about 8,000 pesos (roughly $3 at the time). You can walk back down from the cable-car area to the hotel.

3. Ask for something better than the coffee in the carafe.
Each hotel serves plain coffee in a carafe. But if you ask, they’ll make you a cappuccino or latte—and as an OAT traveler, there was no additional charge. It took us a couple of days to figure that one out!

4. You don’t need to carry a ton of cash.
There isn’t all that much you’ll need to buy, and the restaurants and shops we visited accepted credit cards. We brought about $300 in cash and had no problem.

5. Bring rain gear.
We were fortunate and only got caught in the rain once. But chances are you’ll get wet at some point. Of course, that rain is also one reason Colombia is so incredibly green!

6. Bring your frequent-flyer number.
You’ll take a couple of internal flights during the trip. Bring your frequent-flyer number with you so you can make sure you receive credit for the flights. Airline partnerships and mileage rules can change, so check your specific flights before you leave.

Enjoy A Few Photos Taken By Jesse Slome, The Thrifty Senior Traveler

One Small Favor Before You Book

If you’ve made it this far, I’m guessing you’re seriously considering Colombia—or perhaps even considering your first trip with Overseas Adventure Travel.

If I’ve helped you make that decision, I’d like to ask a small favor in return.

If you book your first OAT trip, please tell them you were referred by Jesse Slome, Customer Number 932019. You’ll save $100 on your first OAT adventure, and I’ll receive a referral credit toward a future trip. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and OAT’s referral program is designed to reward both the new traveler and the person who made the recommendation.

And honestly, I’d appreciate it.

I’ve taken a lot of OAT trips over the years, and I created the Thrifty Senior Traveler to share the things I’ve learned along the way—not just the pretty pictures and official descriptions, but the little stuff you might not find anywhere else.

Like asking for a cappuccino instead of settling for the coffee in the carafe. 😉

That's the kind of travel advice you'll find here: practical, personal and hopefully useful.

So if Colombia has convinced you to pack your bags, go for it. And if you decide to make OAT your first adventure, please remember to say:

“I was referred by Jesse Slome, Customer Number 932019.”

Thanks for reading—and have a wonderful trip. I really do think you’re going to love Colombia.

Written by Jesse Slome, The Thrifty Senior Traveler
Originally published August 26, 2026 | Last updated August 26, 2026