The first word that comes to mind when I think about the Caribbean coast of Colombia and our time there in January, is colorful – everything from the water to the sky and the flowers, the people, the food, the streets and the buildings is full of life and vibrant!

After seeing in the new year with my husbands family in Florida, my husband and I flew straight to Cartagena where we stayed at the gorgeous Movich Cartagena de Indias in the Old Town. Besides visiting the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas and spending a day at Blue Apple Beach House, we barely left the walls of the Old Town and did little else except take in the wonderful views of the city from our hotel pool, wander the streets mesmerized by the atmosphere (and sometimes the heat), or sit in suitably shady spots sipping on cocktails and indulging in delicious food mostly at Donjuan and its sister restaurant Maria, or Pescadito Cevicheria.

We then drove to Santa Marta where we met up with two of my husbands friends and their wives, one of which couple now live there. Here we stayed at the lovely Placita Vieja Hotel. Besides catching up with friends, the highlight of our time in Santa Marta was spending a day on a boat jumping into and dining next to the secluded and crystal clear beaches of Tyrona National Park! It really couldn’t have been a more perfect start to the year.