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

History is within the making in certainly one of Latin America’s premier locations!

For the primary time in over 50 years, vacationers in Colombia will be capable 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 reside town grind, vacationers can take pleasure in many sudden 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 truly 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 “Train of Life and Hope” and described as a ‘luxurious expertise’, we’re residing as much as our title by going off-path deep into Colombia for essentially the most thrilling journey this nation has seen in over half a century.

Discover Village After Village Off The Typical Tourist Trail

Let’s unpack the complete route, lets?

Before we start, a bit of disclosure for you: in the event you left your sense of journey again dwelling, this journey will not be your jam.

If you’d slightly relax 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 may traverse beautiful surroundings to the subsequent stopping level, Duitama. This nearly unknown metropolis is called “the Pearl of Boyaca”, however it’s a full-fledged metropolis of over 130,000 residents.

Discover 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 may head to Nobsa. Here, you may 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 may convey again a memento that absolutely nobody you already know 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 may go to these 4 off-path cities teeming with tradition, authenticity, reasonably priced costs, and experiences the guidebooks usually miss:

• Paipa
• Duitama
• Nobsa
• Sogamoso

Is Colombia Safe To Explore Beyond 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.

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

Currently, the U.S. State Department has a regarding ‘Level 3′ travel advisory issued for Colombia, largely because of ‘violent crime’.

However, in relation to 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 effectively conscious of their status as a Level 3 advisory is nothing new, nor are Embassy-issued security alerts.

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

Since the practice launched in late September, rides throughout this lesser-known stretch of Colombia have gone and not using a hitch, and locals have been nothing wanting proud to point out off their beloved nation’s hidden gems.

Ticket Prices

Colombia might not solely need to spend money on safety to make vacationers really feel secure, however it could additionally need to spend money on selling the practice, as there may be little or no data 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 dwelling on a Pumpkin Spice Latte, you may enterprise throughout Colombia for as little as $4 (relying on which leg of the journey you’re taking).

Getting to Paipa is one other query solely. According to Rome2Rio, in the event you had been to land in Bogota, it is a 2-hour and 45-minute bus journey to Paipa, costing $18 max.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based mostly in San Diego has visited 36 nations and written over 1000 articles with a give attention to sharing his personal journey experiences and shining a lightweight on lesser-known gems.