Six nights in Colombia. Three in Medellín and three in Cartagena.
Seven days, flying out of Eau Claire. Three nights in Medellín, then a 70-minute flight to Cartagena for three more. We fly into Medellín and out of Cartagena so there is no backtracking.
One Airbnb in each city, split four ways. Both have a kitchen.
Four. Days 1 and 7 are flights, and day 4 is half travel.
Downtown Medellín, Parque Arví, Playa Blanca, and a free day. All need more time than we have.
Day 6 can absorb the Rosario trip if weather cancels it. Nothing else has a spare slot.
Day costs below cover food, local transport and activities. Flights and lodging are in the cost table.
Fly from Eau Claire to Medellín via Minneapolis. Arrive at Rionegro airport in the late afternoon, about 40 minutes outside the city. Van to the Airbnb in Laureles.
Tandem paragliding at San Félix in the morning. Flights run 15 to 20 minutes and usually include GoPro footage. Comuna 13 graffiti tour in the afternoon with a local guide. Tejo in the evening.
Day trip east to Guatapé, about two hours each way. Climb the 740 steps up El Peñón, then take a boat on the reservoir and spend time in the town. Return to Medellín in the evening.
Morning flight to Cartagena, 70 minutes. Check into the Airbnb in Getsemaní. Walk the Walled City and the Getsemaní murals in the afternoon. Watch the sunset from the city walls.
Spend the day visiting the Rosario Islands, swimming and snorkeling. Boats leave Marina Todomar around 7:30am and return mid-afternoon. Lunch is included on most tours.
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas in the morning. Totumo mud volcano in the afternoon, about an hour up the coast. Dinner in the Walled City, then pack.
Fly from Cartagena to Eau Claire via a US hub and Minneapolis. The airport is about 10 minutes from Getsemaní. Home the same evening if the connections hold.
Per person, with four people splitting lodging and ground transport. Flights are the least certain line.
Cheapest flights, no paragliding or Totumo, street food.
Everything listed in the itinerary. This is the number to save toward.
Higher flight prices, better Airbnbs, going out most nights.
| Line | Note | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| International flights | EAU → MDE, CTG → EAU | $850 |
| MDE → CTG flight | Wingo, Avianca or JetSMART | $40 |
| Airbnb · Medellín | 3 nights at $100, split four ways | $75 |
| Airbnb · Cartagena | 3 nights at $160, split four ways | $120 |
| Food and drink | $24 a day in Medellín, $34 in Cartagena | $194 |
| Activities and tours | 12 line items | $321 |
| Ground transport | Metro, ride apps, airport vans | $56 |
| Travel insurance | Include medical evacuation | $45 |
| Contingency | Held aside, not spent | $150 |
| Total | Per person | ~$1,851 |
| Group of four | Combined | ~$7,406 |
| Monthly saving | Each, over 7 months | ~$264 |