Hi Lucas,
I wish I could help you with those destinations, however I did make it to either of them. I spent time in Medellin and Cartegena for the big name places, Punta Blanca & Baru off the coast of Cartegena, and spent time on cattle ranches in much smaller places such as Planeta Rica and Monteria. I wish I had more info for you. Explore. You will not be disappointed. And to my knowledge and experience, you don’t need to go far from the major cities to see less developed areas.

Hi Lucas,

I myself wanted to go to Choco and was told it was too dangerous. Cartagena is nothing like Costa Rica. I really suggest it! Also, Santa Marta and Parque Tayrona. I would also suggest you take a look at these articles. have fun on your trip!

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03272007/entertainment/travel/green_party_travel_grace_bastidas.htm?page=0

http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/travel/tmagazine/07well-cartagena-t.html?ref=tmagazine

Lucas,

I can’t help you with Putumayo, however I can offer a bit of advice on Choco.

Before that – - don’t give up so easily on the rest of the costa caribe in Colombia. Cartagena is a jewel and much more interesting than any historical city in Costa Rica.

There are tons of other great places to visit on the coast: Santa Marta/Taganga/Parque Tayrona, for instance: Santa Marta has a great beach culture, Taganga is a small fishing village with some great diving, and Parque Tayrona is a beautiful national park. All are clustered together around Santa Marta. While there, you can also trek into the Ciudad Perdida, a two or three day hike deep into the jungle. This is the largest, pre-Colombian city site in South America, an under-publicized gem.

Farther east, you can visit Guajira – - a department that is home both to the Wayu and other indigienous tribes and to some spectacular scenery. Here you will find, as in Choco, some of the real indigenous peoples of Colombia.

There is also Mompox, south of Barranquilla, accessible primarily by river. This is the town that may have served as the source of Marquez’s Macondo. It is a beautiul, laidback, small city famous for its handicrafts.

On to Choco. First, be warned. For the past decade, Choco has been a hot spot for conflict between AUD paramilitaries and guerillas. Things have cooled down lately – - but the Darien Gap, the usual route between Panama and Colombia, has essentially been shut down and remains so.

That aside. Choco is a marvellous place – - the Pacific on one side and the Caribbean on the other, with a mountain range or two in between, as well as dense, still relatively unspoiled jungle. Two places to visit in Choco: Capurgana on the Caribbean coast and Nuqui, on the Pacific Coast.

Capurgana has become somewhat popular lately with the adventure and eco-tourists, but it remains a rustic place with fantastic beaches, incredible fauana, and dazzling flora. Nuqui is a glimpse into indigenous life – - and is a place where you can encounter the true natural beauty of Colombia, largely unspoiled by development or even modernity.

You will not be disappointed by Choco. However, give the rest of the coast a try – - no matter where you go, you will always find friendly and open costenos.

Lucas,

First off, cheers on your plans to travel to Colombia, but more importantly on planning to discover the real Colombia that you won’t find in the big busy metropolises of Bogota, Medellin and Cali.

Like GeneDebs, I can’t say much about Putumayo because I have never been there. I do know that there is a National Park in Putumayo called “La Playa”. I don’t know if you’re fluent in Spanish, but here is the state’s (departamento) official travel website.

As far as Chocó, I spent time in both Capurganá and Nuquí. I have incredible memories of both places. Of course these are remote and poor areas (even for Colombian standards) so don’t expect anything luxurious. If that’s not a problem and you enjoy nature, then you’ll have a fantastic time. I particularly remember a trip called “paseo al cielo” (trek to heaven) from Capurganá on horse that took us through the heart of the rainforest and ended in a pristine beach with waterfalls. The unusual contrast of mountainous rainforest/beach is quite astonishing, and not quite like any other beach.

Nuquí is also big on ecotourism as GeneDebs said, it is big on whale sightings off the coast of the Pacific, and the fauna & flora are just magnificent. Both places have excellent opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving, and are well-known for it.

Full disclosure: As a Colombian, I love my country, as you will find most if not all Colombians do, but having lived abroad I also recognize that safety is a concern. The last time I went to Chocó was 15 years ago, so I can’t speak about the current state of affairs. Nevertheless, Chocó has been one of the most violent regions in Colombia. Having said that, I would encourage you to find out reliable information on the topic but not be discouraged by it. Though the risk is there, the possibility of something happening is not as big as the international media portrays it. I know many foreigners who have travelled to Colombia (cities & remote areas) for many years without having had a single incident to speak of.

I fully agree with GeneDebs that the Caribbean Coast of Colombia is very much worthwhile. Perhaps you can work your way north from Chocó to the Guajira penninsula so you can see Mompox, Cartagena, Santa Marta and the Tayrona National Park, then fly back to Bogotá.

Best of luck on your trip!