Travelers Can Now Explore Colombia By Train For First Time In Over 50 Years

Historical past is within the making in one among Latin America’s premier locations!

For the primary time in over 50 years, vacationers in Colombia will have the ability to hear the magic phrases all of us love certifying an epic journey forward, “all aboard!” — or, on this case, extra probably, it is “¡todos a bordo!”.

As large followers of Colombia ourselves, we at Travel Off Path could not wait to disclose what’s in retailer.

With main cities like Medellin and Cartagena hogging the highlight away from picturesque villages and astounding landscapes, slightly than stay the town grind, vacationers can get pleasure from many surprising delights at a slower tempo as they explore Colombia by practice.

No, this isn’t wherever near Japan’s (or allegedly California’s) lightning-fast bullet rides.

The “new” practice really is not so new in any respect — it is being revived as a vacationer practice, not a commuter rail line.

What’s dubbed by a latest report because the “Prepare of Life and Hope” and described as a ‘luxurious expertise’, we’re residing as much as our identify by going off-path deep into Colombia for probably the most thrilling journey this nation has seen in over half a century.

Uncover Village After Village Off The Typical Vacationer Path

Let’s unpack the complete route, we could?

Earlier than we start, just a little disclosure for you: when you left your sense of journey again residence, this journey shouldn’t be your jam.

When you’d slightly chill in Medellin, chowing down on empanadas, sipping world-class espresso, and residing the city life to the fullest, you will not be the kind to understand Colombia’s unknown villages that actually really feel caught in time.

For instance, this newly revived practice that relaunched in latest weeks takes off from the map-dot city of Paipa, a scenic hideaway identified for its majestic sizzling springs, Sochagota Lake, and sensational delicacies, sandwiched between Bogota and Bucamaranga.

From there, you will traverse beautiful surroundings to the subsequent stopping level, Duitama. This just about unknown metropolis is named “the Pearl of Boyaca”, however it’s a full-fledged metropolis of over 130,000 residents.

Uncover tranquil waterfalls, genuine Colombian life away from expat-overloaded cities, and most famously, Pueblito Boyacense, which is a replicated village serving as a preview for what’s situated within the surrounding hidden villages.

After that, you will head to Nobsa. Right here, you will discover a charming city well-known for its hand-made wool ponchos, cozy markets, and conventional Andean craftsmanship that’s been handed down for generations.

In different phrases, you possibly can convey again a memento that certainly nobody you understand has of their possession. Who wants a boring magnet anyway?

Lastly, your journey with coming to a screeching halt in Sogamoso, a metropolis steeped in historical past courting again to the traditional Muisca civilization, lengthy earlier than the Spanish arrived, so a go to to the Suamox Archaeological Museum is an absolute should.

In abstract, you will go to these 4 off-path cities teeming with tradition, authenticity, reasonably priced costs, and experiences the guidebooks sometimes miss:

• Paipa
• Duitama
• Nobsa
• Sogamoso

Is Colombia Protected To Discover Past The Norm?

With just a bit little bit of analysis, vacationers will certainly have a transparent picture of what to anticipate in such locations as Medellin and Bogota.

However unheard-of cities like Nobsa? Not a lot.

At present, the U.S. State Division has a regarding ‘Degree 3′ travel advisory issued for Colombia, largely as a result of ‘violent crime’.

Nevertheless, in terms of Latin America in its entirety, most cases of headline-inducing crime occur close to neighboring borders and main cities, not small cities merely simply residing their lives.

Colombia is properly conscious of their popularity as a Degree 3 advisory is nothing new, nor are Embassy-issued security alerts.

Whereas there aren’t any stories of security considerations for these trains, as soon as the route turns into extra standard, it is all however sure safety forces in a single type or one other will make their presence identified — however to date, so good.

For the reason that practice launched in late September, rides throughout this lesser-known stretch of Colombia have gone with no hitch, and locals have been nothing in need of proud to indicate off their beloved nation’s hidden gems.

Ticket Costs

Colombia might not solely need to spend money on safety to make vacationers really feel secure, however it might additionally need to spend money on selling the practice, as there’s little or no info to go by.

One factor we all know for sure is that this new journey will not break the financial institution.

For lower than what you’d spend again residence on a Pumpkin Spice Latte, you possibly can enterprise throughout Colombia for as little as $4 (relying on which leg of the journey you’re taking).

Attending to Paipa is one other query totally. In line with Rome2Rio, when you have been to land in Bogota, it is a 2-hour and 45-minute bus journey to Paipa, costing $18 max.