6 questions about travel to Colombia with Bay Village writer and Lonely Planet contributor Laura Watilo Blake

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Laura Watilo Blake took her first trip to Colombia in 2010. She returned six years later to adopt her daughter.

She’s has been back a dozen times since, most recently to research for Lonely Planet Colombia, a new guidebook that covers the country’s top destinations and experiences.

Blake, of Bay Village, has been a travel writer and photographer for more than two decades, contributing to publications both regional and international, on destinations close to home and across the globe.

But Colombia, a country of more than 50 million people in northern South America, has always been special.

She and her husband, Cleveland attorney Chris Blake, have made it a goal to travel to Colombia every year since adopting Kinley, now 9, in 2016. They were forced to skip a couple of years during the pandemic, but have made up for it in the past year.

“It’s my dream come true to support my travels to Colombia while keeping my daughter connected to her roots,” said Blake.

The assignment for Lonely Planet came about after she attended a travel writers conference in Bogota in September 2022. She’s one of several authors contributing to the book ($24.99, 288 pages). Among her sections: chapters on the Caribbean coast, Vallenato music and the toolkit, featuring information on getting around, money, health and safety and other topics.

Blake was recently named a finalist for a 2023 award from the tourism board in Colombia in the category, “The world talks about Colombia: best journalistic story highlighting the beauty of Colombia.” For more on her work: lonelyplanet.com/authors/laura-watilo-blake

She recently agreed to answer a few questions about the country and her deep affection for it.

What is it you love about Colombia? Why do you keep going back?

Colombia is full of surprises. Every time I think I can finally check it off my bucket list, I find more and more things I want to see and do there, such as waterfalls, hot springs, snow-covered volcanoes, beaches, islands, whale-watching, chocolate production, coffee production, indigenous cultures, pink river dolphins, the rainbow river and ancient ruins. And that’s just scratching the surface. We have also met some of the nicest people on the planet in Colombia, some of whom have become good friends.

It’s also close to the U.S. From Cleveland, I can hop on a plane in the morning and get there a little after 2 p.m., plus it’s in the same time zone for part of the year. No jet lag!

My daughter is pura Colombiana. It has become my purpose to keep her connected to her roots and teach her to be proud of her heritage. There is a wonderful Colombian community here in Cleveland that I’ve met through the Ohio Colombian Foundation, the sponsoring organization for the Colombian garden, the first Latin American cultural garden along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Can you recommend three top destinations or experiences for someone who has never been?

Bogotá: The vast majority of international flights land in Colombia’s bustling high-altitude capital city, which is worth exploring for a few days. Get your bearings by taking a free walking tour of the historic La Candelaria neighborhood with its colonial architecture and vibrant street art. Most tours start in front of the free Museo de Oro (Gold Museum), which houses an impressive collection of artifacts that Spanish conquistadors lusted after in the 16th century. Some of the gold came from Lake Guatavita, 35 miles north of Bogotá. The sacred lake, which spawned the legend of El Dorado, can be visited on a day trip.

Cartagena: This historic colonial city on the Caribbean coast is one of South America’s most-visited destinations. The well-preserved Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, features colorful buildings with flower-draped balconies, narrow streets and pleasant plazas for people watching. The city’s Afro-Caribbean influence is evident in its music, dance and cuisine. Nearby islands and beaches, including the Islas del Rosario (Rosario Islands) provide opportunities for snorkeling, scuba diving and beach hopping.

Medellín: Once infamous for its association with Pablo Escobar and drug cartels, Medellín has transformed into a city of innovation, art and progress. One of the must-visit spots is Comuna 13, a troubled neighborhood turned tourist destination thanks to community-based street-art tours. The city’s Jardin Botánico (Botanical Gardens) is a serene escape from the urban hustle and a place to discover the region’s diverse plant life. Venturing into the area’s mountain towns is a must-do, too. The town of Guatapé is notable for its brightly colored buildings and a monolithic football-shaped rock with panoramic views from the top.

For many years, large parts of Colombia were essentially off limits to tourists due to drug-related violence and other safety concerns. Is Colombia safe now?

Colombia has made great strides to distance itself from its violent past and it is safer than it has been in two decades. I’ve been in the country a dozen times in the last decade and they’ve all been positive experiences. That said, it’s always important to be vigilant anywhere you go to avoid common crimes of opportunity against travelers, such as pickpocketing, cell phone snatching and muggings.

Criminal groups still operate in the country, mostly in remote locales, where they can hide drug-making labs and coca-growing operations. Refer to the U.S. Department of State’s travel advisory page for Colombia for its list of no-go places.

You were asked to write an essay on an aspect of Colombian culture for the book. Why did you choose Vallenato?

I had recently come off one of the greatest tours I’ve ever taken anywhere in the world, let alone in Colombia. It’s called Sounds of Colombia, which is offered by Impulse Travel. The creator and tour guide, Gregorio Uribe, is a performing musician/singer/songwriter from Bogotá, who studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He created the tour after he transitioned from a mainstream musician to one who embraces and incorporates traditional musical styles heard in his home country. He traversed Colombia seeking out some of the most talented musicians to work with, some even Colombians may have never heard about. The tour focuses on the Caribbean region, which has such a culturally rich blend of influences originating from indigenous, African and European traditions. The other participants and I danced and sang across several communities we may not have visited otherwise and really had a amazing experience, made even better by Uribe’s passion for the music.

I chose to focus on Vallenato for the guidebook’s essay because it’s a homegrown musical genre that was born from Colombia’s cultural melting pot that has made an impact beyond Colombia’s borders thanks to international recording artists, such as Carlos Vives and Fonseca.

On a side note, Uribe has been nominated for a Latin Grammy this year in the “Best Cumbia/Vallenato Album” category. He’s up against Carlos Vives. The ceremony will takes place Nov.16 in Spain.

You’ve expressed some surprise that travelers still like printed guidebooks. Have you become a convert?

You better believe I’ll be traveling with my Lonely Planet Colombia guidebook when I go back to Colombia for New Year’s. I’m visiting a few places I’ve never been to previously. I trust the authors implicitly and I’m going to be taking their advice on what to do and where to stay.

Any interesting projects coming up?

I am on a personal quest to visit all six of Colombia’s natural regions. I have visited five: Caribbean, Orinoco, Amazon, Andean and Insular regions. I still need to visit the Pacific Coast. I hope to create a book that highlights the vast diversity of Colombia. In the meantime, I’ve produced a 2024 Colombia calendar to benefit the Ohio Colombian Foundation and its efforts to build the Colombian garden at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. Visit ohiocolombianfoundation.org for more details.