http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33342 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33342 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32815 Being in Aracataca is a special experience. Imagine being in a small North American town of the 1950’s, then transport it to a Caribbean setting and then you will have a slight inkling. The people ride around on bicycles and motorbikes and only a few cars and lorries pass by on the streets.
Everything is bright and colourful. The shops all have hand painted signs beckoning to you to enter their premises and trees stand along the pavements creating shade for the houses and shops. In the evenings families sit together on their porches enjoying the cooler temperatures that soar during the day. Everything feels close at hand and in reach of you. A railroad cuts through the town, and you can hear the train’s horn signalling its passing many times a day. Dragonflies swarm and yellow butterflies dance in the heat of the midday sun.
Aracataca is famous for the Nobel prize winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the writer of ‘100 years of Solitude.’ In his books Marquez created the imaginary place of Macondo, which also goes beyond being a fictional place, by existing as a state of mind where many things are possible, a space where you can create your own sense of reality. Magic realism is not just the style of writing that Marquez used, but it is a super real state of aliveness here in Aracataca!
It is good to experience the town on a bicycle like many of the local people do. The streets are generally safe to cycle and it is a quick way to get around and see different parts of the centre.
You need more than one day to see the Gabriel Garcia museum, La Telegraphista museum, the river and the African palms, for you need to go beyond the obvious paths and spend time meeting some of the people to really experience Aracataca.
And the perfect place to stay is The Gypsy Residence, a new hostel that offers a sympathetic understanding of Macondo, Marquez and Magic Realism.
One or two day tour packages are also on offer to open you to the magic of Aracataca.
Don’t miss out on this unspoilt destination, a chance to taste traditional food of many cultures, a stone’s throw from the Caribbean sea, Santa Marta and Cartagena.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32815 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31957 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31957 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31951 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31951 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30274 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30274 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29506 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29506 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28795 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28795 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28363 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28363 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28362 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28362 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27133 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27133 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24825 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24825 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24411 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24411 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24057
The interior is clean and tidy, and the hotel/hostel has a very homely, cosy feel. Most guests however spend a lot of time in the garden and courtyard which are by far the gems of the property.

All the major attractions of Bogota are within walking distance and they have a female dorm available at the same rate for those who would don't want to be in a mixed one.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24057 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22902 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22902 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22785
Top tip - take a boat trip around the island and visit the beautiful Crab Caye, a great place for snorkelling or admiring the amazing shades of light blue.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22785 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20594
Outside the old city are the white sands, green waters and palm trees the area is worshipped for. Take a boat trip to the offshore islands and see the island you'll both buy when you win the lotto! It is remarkably safe, and don't assume you will be queuing the entire time either - this is no Disneyland - you can have sweet little restaurant all to yourselves, or a park with a fountain, or a stroll atop the city wall, so romance is hard to avoid. However, if you feel like a film and a pizza, just grab a cab over to the new city and send an email home while you're at it. Definitely a winner - the most romantic place in the world.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20594 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18561 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18561 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18533
The location is also superb, with easy access to the important business districts as well as sights and Zona Rosa, Bogota's main shopping and nightlife area.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18533 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12494 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12494 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12493 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12493