Pearls of Life: Santa Fe, Antioquia Department, Colombia.

day trip from medellin colombiaauthentic travel experience

Jun 23

Written By Leelush

View of ancient bridge in Santa Fe, Antioquia Department of Colombia.

Discovering Santa Fe, Antioquia Department, Colombia, reveals the history of the region, while visiting the local museum. I was amazed to find some similarities of facial features between me and the lady that was welcoming us at the local museum of Santa Fe. The olive skin, the hazel eyes, the high cheek bones, the defined structure of the face, and the small body, with black hair are a common feature for the women of this region. With that similarity, and the modest way that the women behave, I was feeling very comfortable visiting this area.

Carmit enjoying her coffee and beautiful views on the way to Santa Fe, Antioquia Department of Colombia.

Traveling to Santa Fe took us 3-4 hours by bus from Medellin. The tour that we took was only for Spanish speakers, as no tourists speaking English were welcomed on that tour. The people that enjoyed the tour with us were from different countries in South America and Central America, such as Panama, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Colombia. The exit from Medellin to Santa Fe is opposite to the exit to Guatape. For that, you view different parts of Medellin while you are traveling to Santa Fe, which includes the Favelas of Medellin. I took pictures of the Favelas and it is amazing how people live in those crowded small houses in the outskirts of Medellin.

Favelas of Medellin, on the way to Santa Fe, Antioquia Department of Colombia.

Beautiful nature view on the way to Santa Fe, Antioquia Department of Colombia.

The road is full of nature, where you can view lots of trees and water rivers towards Santa Fe. The first location in Santa Fe was the very famous bridge that is very ancient and connects the land to the other part of the town. The bridge is maintained by the locals but still it is dangerous to have big loads while crossing the bridge.

Noy enjoying the view of the ancient bridge in Santa Fe, Antioquia Department of Colombia.

I crossed the bridge with my daughter, Noy, and we enjoyed frozen fruits on the other side of the bridge. We decided to walk towards the inside of the little neighborhood on the other side of the bridge but that was not welcoming. The locals are very private on the way they are living and you cannot interfere with their private life by even walking in the streets. The visit is limited to the area designated for tourists and not all the villages.

Carmit crossing the bridge in Santa Fe, Antioquia Department of Colombia.

Noy crossing the bridge in Santa Fe, Antioquia Department of Colombia.

After drinking coffee and iced coffee at the bridge, we gathered together on the bus and continued to the town center where we were able to stroll freely.

Town square of Santa Fe, Antioquia Department of Colombia.

At the town center, there are the museums which specify the history of the region and the ancestors' pictures, clothing, furniture of the old houses, and reading materials describing the liberation of the region.

Artwork in the museum of Santa Fe, Antioquia Department of Colombia.

At the city town, I witnessed a small group of local indigenous who were selling custom-made jewelry typically to this indigenous tribe. We had lunch in the typical Colombian restaurant of Santa Fe and the food was delicious. We had a buffet that we could have chosen from a main course, salad and lots of fruit. We explored the city town and enjoyed the local market with souvenirs and typical sweets that are produced from cocoa and coffee, which are very famous in this area.

Carmit with Santa Fe festival cut out. — Carmit posing and smiling with Santa Fe festival cut out.

After resting in the garden at the center of the town, the group all gathered together for discussion of the history of the place and we were heading back towards Medellin with our adventures and sightseeing of the beautiful region of Santa Fe.