Papaya Vacations & Tours

23/09/2017

Is this the most interesting border in the Americas? The topiary cemetery looks amazing.

At this most interesting border in the Americas you can visit the Las Lajas Sanctuary in Colombia and a topiary filled cemetery in Ecuador in a single day.

06/09/2017

Sister Maria Valentina de los Angeles will rap for Pope Francis on his Colombia visit this week.

12/08/2017

Cano Cristales was previously in guerrilla territory during the early 2000s, making it an area too dangerous for tourists.

Nowadays it is much safer to visit the area, and guided tours are possible.

The macarenia clavigera plant affects the colour of the river depending on the light and water conditions.

26/07/2017

The neighborhood at the foot of the Escaleras Electricas De La Comuna 13 has a laid-back but active street life, with enough foot traffic to feel safe walking at night and enough places open late to satisfy people used to food and drink options at every hour. This would be a solid barrio to stay in if you can find a nice Airbnb with a balcony or roof deck.

26/07/2017

Colombian cities have some excellent hostels, with amenities like outdoor pools and spacious roof decks. Even a party hostel like Happy Buddha Boutique Hostel can be a great home base for a very affordable, culture-filled and comfortable Medellín vacation.

26/07/2017

Gabriel Garcia Marquez was one of Cartagena's most famous and beloved residents. We're planning a Gabo city tour where we see his homes and haunts, read from his writings about his adopted hometown, and maybe even meet people who knew him. Tell us your favorite Marquez book in the comments or offer a tip for our tour and we'll message you a coupon code so you can get 20% off when we launch the tour!

26/07/2017

There are a lot of free dogs in Cartagena but they're unusually amiable and seem to relish the beach access, tropical climate and tourists' discarded leftovers. We hope to work with shelters like Cartagena Paws to connect our animal-loving guests with rescue dogs so they can have the option of taking un perro costeño home with them. Playas de Bocagrande, Cartagena DT

26/07/2017

The views from Comuna 13 off the free public escalators are amazing, and the neighborhood residents couldn't be friendlier. Be sure to support the barrio by picking up a souvenir tee, some fine handcrafted goods, or just some very affordable and tasty snacks like handmade sausages and empanadas. The bar advertising micheladas for 3000 COP ($1 USD) offers particularly choice mountain views from a patio set outside a family's living room and a cold beer prepared spicy or Paisa style. Comuna 13 De Medellin

24/07/2017

Did you know Medellín has a Zen-inspired Barefoot Park for the public to pamper their feet?

Once dubbed the ‘most dangerous city on earth’, Medellín is now one of Colombia’s liveliest and most creative

16/07/2017

Coming soon: Colombia vacation packages starting at under $999 with round trip flight from Florida. Multi-city tours with additional flights starting at $1,299. Exclusive city/neighborhood guides and in-person, English-language tours for travelers who love adventure, history, authentic cuisine, live music, fine arts, fashion, partying, and more. We're the only travel company that teaches you how to engage with the local culture and not give papaya while in Colombia 🍊🚫

16/07/2017

How to find los miquitos (little monkeys) in the central park between centro and Getsemani, Cartagena:

1. Buy sweet fruits, not tart ones, from the park fruit guy and look around the trees on the southeast and east end of the park any morning or early afternoon (they take siesta in mid-afternoon).

2. If you don't see them, ask vendors and people who look like they hang around the park a lot if they know where los micos or miquitos have been hanging out. Don't ask about monos, that means blondes here and not monkeys.

3. Continue asking people about miquitos until someone actually knows. Everyone in the park will confidently point you toward where they claim the miquitos hang out but most of them are fronting. Eventually someone will know the tree and walk you over to it.

4. Feed them a tiny piece at a time or they'll grab the whole chunk and run up a branch with it. Pose for las fotos del miquito.

15/07/2017

A useful guide to feeding the monkeys in Parque del Centenario (Cartagena).