The Latin American country of Colombia is emerging as one of the most interesting destinations for mature travelers who are looking for a luxurious and intellectually stimulating Jewish cultural experience. A curated trip to Colombia takes you off the beaten path – but without compromising on comfort and safety – and offers a refreshing change from all the irritations and drawbacks of popular mass tourist resorts.
This article explores the attractions of one of South America’s warmest and friendliest countries, and gives a broad overview of modern Jewish life in Colombia and its key Jewish cultural sites. A tailored family or group tour of Colombia also creates a wonderful connection with authentic Latin American culture, and a chance to experience some of the country’s awesome natural beauty at a relaxed and comfortable pace.
Why Colombia Is a Comfortable Destination for Travelers Over 50
In recent years the South American country of Colombia has worked hard to transform its outdated image as a troubled nation. The Colombian government is keen to encourage high end tourism from the US and Europe and has invested in providing tourists with a safe and welcoming experience. The capital Bogota is just a six hour flight from New York and as little as three and a half hours from Florida.
Modern Colombia has a vastly improved infrastructure and luxury kosher friendly hotels in cities like Bogotá and Medellin are on a par with any in South America. When Gil Travel creates itineraries for Jewish heritage tours in Colombia, they are configured to take advantage of domestic flights and short distances between tour highlights. Most guests are charmed by the friendly and service-orientated culture that they encounter. Perhaps because luxury tourism in Colombia is still a niche, the hospitality and warmth is genuine and spontaneous.
Seniors who plan a trip to Colombia are definitely not looking for a backpacker experience. A well-planned visit emphasises comfort and convenience. While large parts of Colombia remain unspoiled mountain and jungle wildernesses, urban Colombia has reliable medical facilities and
international-standard services and institutions. A Gil Travel tour frees you from all navigation, administrative, language, and security concerns. Traveling as part of an organized group, with English speaking guides, leaves you free to relax and focus on enjoying the country’s cultural treasures and outstanding natural beauty, as well as meeting local people and forging links with the Jewish community.
Jewish Life and Community in Colombia
There have been Sephardi Jews in Colombia since the 15th century. These small communities of early settlers were strengthened by immigrants from Curaçao and Jamaica in the 1700s, and by waves of immigrants from the Levant in the 20th century. Colombian Jewry was further enriched by the arrival of Ashkenazis who fled the Nazis. The Jewish communities in Bogotá and Medellín are active and welcoming and are secure in their status as part of wider Colombian society. Gil Travel has some excellent contacts in the local Jewish communities and can arrange synagogue visits and meetings with community leaders.
Meetings with Colombian Jews can lead to some great conversations about Jewish life in Latin America and insights into a fascinating branch of the Diaspora. The communities’ diverse roots in different Ashkenazi, Sephardic and Levantine origins make for a deep and eclectic mixture of family histories and preserved traditions. These meaningful personal encounters go far beyond simple sightseeing or museum visits. When you meet the Colombian Jewish community, you’ll begin to understand how vibrant Jewish life in Colombia actually is, and how it has deeply integrated into the country’s broader society without losing its own cultural and traditional center of balance.
Keeping Kosher and Meeting Dietary Needs in Colombia
If you need to keep kosher, or have special personal dietary requirements, an organized tour is definitely the way ahead. There are some good kosher eateries that cater to the Jewish community in Bogotá and it’s also possible to arrange deli selections and snacks, packed lunches, picnics and food deliveries. Kosher Colombian food, drawing on so many Jewish traditions and influenced by South American cuisine, is amazing! Gil Travel will coordinate to provide group meals and Shabbat dinners as required. If you require vegetarian or vegan meals, or other diets, this can be arranged in advance.
Experiencing Colombian History and Culture
Colombia has a unique culture that extends back millennia, and was shaped by Spanish colonialism and modern global influences. A well-planned itinerary balances Jewish heritage visits with immersion is Colombia’s colonial history and its amazing art, music and literature. Coffee is to the Colombians what wine is to the French, and Colombia is famous worldwide for its coffee culture. If you’re a coffee aficionado, you’ll love exploring the local brews. Guided tours of the everyday markets, and luxury shopping venues and craft stores, will give you a range of encounters and shopping opportunities. A Jewish heritage tour is a gateway to a wider and deeper exploration of Colombia.
Highpoints of Bogotá: History, Culture, and Intellectual Life
Colombia’s capital Bogotá is home to the country’s largest Jewish community (believed to be around 2,000 strong). The Adat Israel Synagogue serves the Ashkenazi community and is a wider cultural focal point. The historic La Candelaria district (museums, churches and libraries) is one of Bogotá’s big attractions and its colonial architecture delights visitors. The other ‘must see’ attraction in Bogotá is the Gold Museum and its breathtaking ancient artifacts, including the Muisca Raft. If you’re interested in pre-Colombian history, you’ll love the museum and its ten dedicated exhibition halls.
Medellín: Innovation, Transformation, and Beauty
Medellin is known as the “city of eternal spring” due to its mild and benevolent climate. It is also an inspiring success story of urban renewal and resilience. Medellin has overcome its difficult past to become a sophisticated and attractive urban destination. You can experience its scenic beauty at a leisurely pace via cable cars and escalators.
Medellin has a Jewish community, which although smaller than Bogotá’s, is just as vibrant and welcoming. It’s easy to visit Medellin on a domestic flight from the capital, or by road. The city is a surprising cultural gem in the Colombian heartlands with a thriving contemporary arts scene and outstanding regional cuisine.
A Pace Designed for Senior Group Travelers
When you sign up for a luxury Jewish heritage tour for seniors, you want to come back to the US rested and relaxed. A tailored Gil Travel trip is designed to expose you to the very best cultural sites and offer the chance to dig as deeply as you want (including private lectures and talks by experts and visits to archives or less well-known resources). A tour can be as intellectually stimulating as you want, but it should also allow you to set the pace and recharge your mental and emotional batteries. After all, you are on vacation!
Gil Travel will work with you to create a balanced itinerary that will limit the number of hotel changes to the absolute minimum and offer midday rest periods and time by the pool or relaxing at the bar. There will also be a choice of optional activities and – for those who want it – an emphasis on good conversation, learning, and the chance to make new friends. Tours are carefully planned to provide comfortable transportation and to make the basics pleasurable. We’ve discovered over the years that Colombia is a country that rewards curiosity and offers rewarding personal connections, but nothing is gained by hurrying or rushing.
Why Colombia Is Growing in Popularity Among Mature Travelers
Mature Jewish travelers tend to be looking for travel experiences that satisfy intellectual curiosity and broaden their intellectual and cultural horizons. They also enjoy trips that provide a taste of adventure, but don’t compromise on safety and comfort, and proceed at a gentle pace. Colombia’s sustained investment in tourism and its national infrastructure is putting it on the tourist map, but isn’t attracting mass tourism.
The country still offers authenticity, and something entirely different to Latin American and Caribbean resorts. It’s quieter, more interesting and appeals to people with a slightly more sophisticated concept of what constitutes a quality foreign vacation. Colombia is a place where it’s easy to form a strong emotional connection to the people and the country, just through local interaction. With a generally favorable exchange rate and low cost of living, Colombia also offers excellent value compared to Europe and North America.
Why Group Travel Is Ideal for Colombia
If you’re twenty and adventurous, and speak some basic Spanish, Colombia is a seriously exciting place for solo backpacker travel. If you’re in your fifties to seventies – or even more mature – group travel provides the comfort, convenience and security that you’re probably looking for. Group tours organized by Gil Travel can also open doors that solo travelers will probably miss. This includes special private tours of cultural sites and meaningful meetings with Colombian Jewish communities.
Group tours mean that logistics and bureaucracy are handled for you and your Colombian guides (often subject matter experts) can eliminate language barriers on the spot. Their knowledge provides valuable cultural context to each situation and adds so many layers of detail and nuance to every encounter. A group tour – whether its families and friends, or a synagogue group, book club or study group – encourages shared reflection and connection and helps to generate unique insights. Even if you don’t speak a word of Spanish, you’ll still get the most out of your time in Colombia.
Frequent questions
1. Is Colombia safe and comfortable for group travelers over 50?
The simple answer is that Colombia is generally very safe for senior travelers and that most visitors have a wonderful time and return home with warm memories of the country and the Colombian people.
A more nuanced answer is that Colombia is a large and diverse country that is undergoing rapid change. There is crime, and some more remote areas of the country may be unstable. An organized tour with an experienced Jewish travel company like Gil Travel draws on local knowledge and employs basic safety precautions to ensure a safe and stress free travel experience.
Luxury hotels, private chauffeured vehicles and English speaking guides all combine to provide a seamless stay in Colombia. The police and other authorities attach a high priority to keeping tourist areas safe and most Colombians are friendly. One big advantage is that Jews are welcome and you will not encounter any anti-Semitism or hostility.
2. How accessible are kosher meals in Bogotá and Medellín?
There is an appetising kosher food scene that caters to the needs of the Jewish communities in cities like Bogota, Medellin and Cali. This includes restaurants, delis, stores and delivery services. There is also the local Chabad who can provide kosher food and Shabbat dinners to travelers.
The main thing is to discuss your dietary requirements and preferences with Gil Travel when you plan your Colombian travel itinerary. By planning in advance, you can ensure that you have gourmet kosher food for every stage of your journey and can benefit from up to date local knowledge and recommendations. Food is a big part of the wider adventure of foreign travel and it’s important to be able to sample as much as possible of the amazing Colombian cuisine.
3. What kind of interaction is possible with the local Jewish community?
Gil Travel can arrange a wide variety of interactions, depending on your own personal interests and what time of the year you visit. Popular options include organized visits to synagogues, either for services or guided tours, coffee mornings, visits to local cultural events, formal meetings to discuss global Jewish issues, or even just a Shabbat meal and a few drinks.
The Colombian Jewish communities are generally friendly and hospitable and are keen to build links and enjoy practising their English with foreign visitors. It’s certainly possible to forge lifelong friendships and connections from organized meetings with the locals.
4. What is the best time of year to visit Colombia for senior travelers?
The best time for seniors to visit Colombia is arguably between December and March. Not only do you get to enjoy warm sunny weather that accompanies the local dry season, you get a break from the winter at home. There’s another brief dry season in Colombia that falls in July and August, but expect to meet more tourists if you travel at the height of summer.
One thing that often concerns mature travelers is how they’ll adapt to Colombia’s famously high altitudes. Bogota is built on a high plateau 2,640 meters (8,660 ft) above sea level. In fact, most people cope fine with the altitude – it’s comparable to Colorado. Gil Travel will organize a schedule and itinerary that matches your own preferences, with plenty of opportunities to rest and take it easy. If you’re feeling frail, walking can be kept to a minimum and optimal use made of chauffeurs. Fortunately, most people experience no problems with either the climate or the higher altitude.
