Boogaloo: helping to bring the world's adventure-minded to Colombia

When you're an expat who has been based in Colombia for a while, you generally get used to the place; well, as much as a westerner can in these parts. In fact, you can even start to take it for granted, especially in terms of its natural beauty.

It is only when you return to your old home 'comforts' that you are reminded about what are still the standard opinions of Colombia from those in the 'developed' world. Those are, simply put, that the place is wild and dangerous, drug-ridden and best to be avoided. As Colombians are well aware, it takes a long time to change a negative image.

Boogaloo Travel founder, the ultra-active Laura Vega.

But things are changing, if ever so slowly. One way that can be measured is in the increase of foreign tourists coming here and with it, an increase in travel companies focusing on the country.

One of the newest on the scene is Boogaloo Travel; the baby of a petite-sized but larger than life, travel/adventure junky Colombiana, Laura Vega. Wrong Way caught up with her to find out what's unique about what Boogaloo has to offer the adventure-seeking traveller.

You describe Boogaloo as a 'trip company' rather than a 'tour company'. Why are you so keen to `make that distinction?

"Because our aim is to create a new way of travel where we meet like-minded people who like and want to be active, who know that having a healthy, adventurous life will have a positive impact on not only themselves but also the planet we live on. We don’t organise tours, because it’s not about a group of people following someone and getting told what to do; we offer trips for enthusiastic people full of energy and ideas and who wish to share them with others.”

So Boogaloo Travel is only for people who like adventure and lots of activities when they travel ..?

"Yes, but also for curious people who feel motivated to understand the world we live in by travelling to other cultures, actively engaging with them and becoming part of their development. Yet, we offer several different trips with varying styles and costs"

So those who take on the Boogaloo challenge, what can they expect? What gems of Colombia will they get to see?

Tall: Palm trees in Valle Cocora, near Salento. (Photo Pieter Hupkes.)

"The main activities we offer are cycling (which you can enjoy in four destinations), hiking, rafting, paragliding, quad-biking, windsurfing, dancing lessons and kayaking.

From my perspective, the most outstanding places we visit (although every place has something special!) are:
Salento, where we hike to the tallest palm trees in the world; San Agustín, where we explore one of the most important archaeological sites in Colombia, with stunning green mountains providing a wonderful backdrop; Tatacoa, where the desert offers a perfect setting for landscape pictures by day, while you can expect to be treated to a celestial show of meteor showers by night; Villa de Leyva, a simply beautiful Colombian colonial town; Guatapé, where after climbing 649 steps, we have a gorgeous view of a man-made lake that covers the entire surrounding area; Tayrona, home to virgin Caribbean beaches; La Guajira, the northernmost part of South America where the desert runs majestically into the sea; and Cartagena, the romantic city famous for its beautiful colonial architecture full of colourful, flower-filled balconies and unforgettable sunsets.

I could go on, but you get the idea — this is a beautiful country after all! For a full itinerary, just check out our web site!"*

Mentioning your (impressive) web site, which is in English, is it correct to say your focus is on attracting English-speaking tourists?

"Anyone from anywhere in the world is welcome on our trips, but I’d like to point out that the trip leader will give all the information in English."

By the way, the name 'Boogaloo', where does that come from?

"Boogaloo is the name of a Latin music style that started during the 1960s. It's a mix of Afro-Cuban and soul rhythms. I have always loved to dance and there are several Boogaloo songs that I have danced to since I was a child! Of course in our trips we will teach people some Boogaloo moves."

Well that's Boogaloo, but tell us a little bit about yourself. Have you always been the travelling/adventurous type?

"Since my first ever travel as a kid I felt very passionate about knowing “what is on the other side”. Getting to know and learning about other cultures is something that has always made me curious. I wanted to travel the world making documentaries and in so doing get a better understanding of it. So I decided to move to Argentina to study film production.

Quaint: Cartagena's streets.

When I finished my studies I backpacked from Argentina to Colombia on my own. While I was in Cusco, Peru, I had the misfortune of having my wallet stolen, on Christmas Day of all days. But this unfortunate situation led to a big change in my life. As I had no money I had to look for a job.

Luckily, I found one, at The Point Hostel. There, I met travellers from all over the world, heard their stories, got to know a bit of their own cultures, and in return I was able to help them learn more about South America. This sounded very much like what I wanted to keep on doing; you could say that this experience made me find another part of me.

Ever since, I've been working in the tourism industry, advising and showing people how inspiring travel can be and leading groups through Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia.

Sport has also been very important to me. At high school I was a cheerleader; from a very young age I've been doing swimming, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking and many other sports. All these are activities that I look forward to doing wherever I go."

So it definitely seems that Boogaloo is very much Laura Vega and Laura Vega is Boogaloo. You might say you're fulfilling your destiny ...

"Yes! I put my heart into this project and I will do my best to make this an unforgettable and unique experience for everyone who joins. I also have the fortune to work with a great enthusiastic team full of creativity and ideas to make Boogaloo Travel a project that will transcend time!"

*If you're interested in finding out more about Boogaloo, the trips offered and the activities involved, visit the web site at www.boogalootravel.com.

Note: This blog wishes to make no secret of the fact that it has helped Boogaloo in terms of its web site content (as listed on the site itself), and will continue to assist the company if and when required — but Wrong Way is not on the Boogaloo payroll! It is, nonetheless, a project that I endorse and wish it the best of success.

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Finding Filandia

Despite hailing from an island, we’ve always felt more at home inland. That we were brought up in a landlocked county in our native Ireland probably has something to do with our mindset in this regard – our ability in deep water matching that of a handicapped cat has also played its part, no doubt.

At home in the hills.

Now, we don’t have an irrational fear of water. Heck, we’ve snorkelled and scuba-dived the planet’s great oceans. Plus, as last week’s story detailed (‘Lesser-spotted Colombia: Bahía Solano’ http://bit.ly/X3lWpV), we’ve no problem sailing the high seas. It’s just up in the hills has always felt a bit better (after over a year living in Bogotá, it would want to).

So with that in mind plus our desire to check out quiet, slow-paced places on our recent escape from the Colombian capital, our final short stop ticked many boxes. 

Perched at an altitude of 1,900 masl, the quaint little town of Filandia** in Colombia’s famed Eje Cafetero (‘Coffee-Growers Axis’ or ‘Coffee Triangle’ as it’s also known as) is, as far as we’re concerned, a close to perfect inland location to unwind.

Filandia's main square - where it all happens.

Eye-catching scenery among the green rolling hills, tranquil country roads to ramble aimlessly about with warm, but not unbearable (like the friendly locals) daytime temperatures along with a well-kept town (we're not always in search of dirty places - see 'Buenaventura's dirty delights' http://bit.ly/11ksFmP) all contribute to make this a highly enjoyable place to visit. Throw in the fact that it’s not quite as well known as nearby Salento and thus sees fewer tourists, it’s hard to find a fault if a bit of peace and quiet in the countryside air is what you’re looking for.

In many ways, the place is a picture-postcard image of rural, old-school Colombia: A colourful little main plaza replete with a standout Catholic church; the compact, door-less, plastic-top Jeep Willis used to transport coffee, people and whatever else you fancy; farm animals wandering, without a care, about the streets; and of course the middle-aged/elderly local men kitted out in trademark poncho and wide hat (or ‘aguadeño’ in the native lingo) with most sporting a little moustache. 

The 'boyos'!

A tasty little touch for us was the way that almost every second dwelling in the town seemed to sell chargrilled arepas in the morning and again in the evening (we do like an arepa from time to time as discussed in ‘Six of the best in 2012 (well kind of)’ http://bit.ly/VQGxxo). Plain arepas with a touch of butter and/or salt they may just have been – the odd few houses offered cheese – but they hit the spot (in fairness, for $300 pesos a pop – about $0.15US – you really can’t go wrong).

After a couple or more of those, you’re in no better place to wash them down with a nice cup of coffee. There’s no shortage of options in this regard – all very reasonably priced as well for the hard-pressed, as, you may have guessed, we are.

Arepas, lots of arepas - yummy!

If you do happen to get bored with things in the town and its surrounds – our stay was much too short for this to happen – there is a coffee park about 20 km away that’s meant to be worth a visit (we didn’t get to it, this time). The small city of Armenia is less than an hour's bus ride away if you’re perhaps looking for a bit more ‘action’ (not something we wanted, though, as pointed out above).

For us, the relative peace and serenity in the comfortable hillside surroundings were more than enough. Enough, in any case, to leave a desire in us to go back for more.

*In terms of accommodation, the hostel/hospedaje ‘Eden de Filandia’ (above ‘Droguería Bristol’, the pharmacy on the square) offers basic rooms – although with a balcony where you can see the square – for the giveaway price of $12,000 pesos per night, less than $7US. There are other, slightly more expensive options if you feel like splashing the cash.

**As you’ll discover should you visit, the name ‘Filandia’ has nothing to do with the country Finland (which is ‘Finlandia’ in Spanish) as some people mistakenly think. It comes from the Latin ‘fila’ meaning daughter and ‘andia’ referring to the Andes Mountains. So basically the town’s name means ‘Daughter of the Andes’. Now you know!