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

History is within the making in one in all 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 seemingly, it is “¡todos a bordo!”.

As enormous 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, fairly than stay the town grind, vacationers can take pleasure in many sudden delights at a slower tempo as they explore Colombia by prepare.

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

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

What’s dubbed by a current report because the “Train of Life and Hope” and described as a ‘luxurious expertise’, we’re dwelling 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, we could?

Before we start, just a little disclosure for you: should you left your sense of journey again house, this journey shouldn’t be your jam.

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

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

From there, you will traverse gorgeous surroundings to the subsequent stopping level, Duitama. This nearly unknown metropolis is called “the Pearl of Boyaca”, nevertheless 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 will head to Nobsa. 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 absolutely nobody you realize 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 relationship 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 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 resulting from ‘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 dwelling their lives.

Colombia is effectively conscious of their fame as a Level 3 advisory is nothing new, nor are Embassy-issued security alerts.

While there aren’t any reviews of security considerations for these trains, as soon as the route turns into extra widespread, it is all however sure safety forces in a single kind or one other will make their presence recognized — however up to now, so good.

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

Ticket Prices

Colombia could 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 prepare, as there’s 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 house 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).

Getting to Paipa is one other query fully. According to Rome2Rio, should 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 primarily based in San Diego has visited 36 international locations and written over 1000 articles with a concentrate on sharing his personal journey experiences and shining a light-weight on lesser-known gems.