{"id":1267577,"date":"2025-09-03T17:53:29","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T17:53:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=1267577"},"modified":"2026-05-26T15:21:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T15:21:39","slug":"sustainability-stories-solo-travel-in-colombia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/sustainability-stories-solo-travel-in-colombia\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainability Stories: \u201cIt changed the way I travel\u201d \u2013 going solo through Colombia"},"content":{"rendered":"

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If you\u2019ve ever side-eyed the idea of travelling solo in Colombia<\/a>, meet Amy Phung. Londoner. Asian woman. Backpacker. \u201cThere\u2019s so much noise about Colombia,\u201d she told me. \u201cBut I wanted to see it with my own eyes, not through someone else\u2019s lens.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the winner of Hostelworld\u2019s yearly staff travel competition, Amy spent several weeks travelling across Colombia, hopping from hostel to hostel, and discovering a country that surprised her at every turn.<\/p>\n

First impressions<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Mural of a Colombian revolutionary Policarpa Salavarrieta at Botanico Hostel, Bogota<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Landing in Bogot\u00e1<\/a>, Amy braced for the kind of hyper-awareness solo female travellers are taught to have. Instead, she got warmth. \u201cColombians have this way of making you feel like you belong, even when you clearly don\u2019t,\u201d she laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t speak Spanish, and at first that made me nervous. But I learned to communicate with gestures, smiles, and patience. It taught me that connection doesn\u2019t always need words.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the capital, in rural villages, even in places where tourists were rare, locals treated her like a neighbour. \u201cSomeone ran after me to tell me my bag was open. People went out of their way to make sure I felt safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tip:<\/strong> Talk to the hostel staff. \u201cThey\u2019re the real experts and can give you all the best tips on the area and safety tips, such as which areas to avoid at night or when to grab an Uber.\u201d<\/p>\n

From big cities to quieter corners<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Amy\u2019s route zigzagged between famous cities and quieter corners: Bogot\u00e1<\/a> – Santa Marta<\/a> – San Agust\u00edn<\/a> – Salento<\/a> – Medell\u00edn<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Getting around? \u201cFly Avianca between cities. For buses, Coomotor was amazing with their reclining thrones, bag tags, and for short trips, Uber or hostel-booked moto taxis.\u201d Although the buses left on time, they rarely arrived on time. Remember to factor in traffic delays as Colombia\u2019s road infrastructure tends to develop.<\/p>\n

Tip<\/strong>: Don\u2019t skip the unknown places. \u201cI like going where there\u2019s not much online,\u201d she says. \u201cSan Agust\u00edn\u2019s archaeological park<\/a> blew my mind! Statues thousands of years old, with guides who\u2019ve dedicated their lives to preserving them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whether in the capital or tucked-away villages, the hostels she stayed at were hubs of connection, advice, and community:<\/p>\n

Coste\u00f1o Beach Hostel<\/a> \u2013 Santa Marta<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Once a coconut farm, now a jungle-beach escape near Tayrona National Park, Coste\u00f1o Beach Hostel was where Amy first felt the magic of hostel life in Colombia. \u201cWe were chatting by the hammocks when someone overheard us talking about Salento and jumped into the convo. You\u2019re never really alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Karaoke night sealed the deal. \u201cWe sang Destiny\u2019s Child, people cheered, and suddenly we were swapping travel tips and Instagram handles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tip:<\/strong>\u00a0Join hostel events like karaoke or welcome drinks, they\u2019re designed to help you meet people. \u201cEven if you\u2019re shy, just show up. You\u2019ll leave with new friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amy\u2019s recommendations:<\/strong><\/p>\n