By Soren Rivero
We all need to step away from the hustle of everyday life and turn our minds off sometimes — to turn off technology and step into nature. This is exactly why spiritual trips are becoming popular, and why traveling mindfully can provide you with truly unforgettable experiences.
Here are some tips on how to make the most of your spiritual trip to Colombia!
Spend Time Outdoors
Colombia is one of the world’s most charming countries, a good portion of which comes from its extremely biologically diverse lands which have the power to captivate your soul. Nature allows people to appreciate the stillness of life outside of fast cars, busy malls, and social media. So when you go to Colombia, make it a plan to spend a great deal of time outdoors.
One of the most highly-recommended nature spots is Bosques de Cocora. It's a huge grassy field with hundreds of tall palm trees that pierce the sky. On a sunny day, you can sit underneath these trees and allow the beauty of this place to breathe directly into your soul.
Limit Your Phone Usage
Sure, you can watch tours of the Amazon Rainforest and even videos of people doing pub crawls through Bogota on Youtube — but is that really how you want to experience things? When you go to Colombia, put your phone away or set a timer on it. You don’t want to be distracted from the magnificence of this beautiful country!
Experiment With Local Cuisine
Colombia has much to offer in terms of amazing cuisine that’ll warm both your body and soul. Some must-trys include the flaky appetizers called aborrajados; arepas, which are thick pastries made from maize; and the national dish of Colombia known as bandeja paisa.
Journey to a Sacred Site
One of the most unique things to do while on a spiritual trip is to visit a sacred site. There are plenty of these scattered all across South America, with a good portion of them condensed into Colombia because of its rich history with indigenous cultures that practice techniques such as Shamanism.
If you want something a little more mystical, visit the Salt Cathedral in Zipaquirá. This magnificent spot is actually a cathedral that takes residence some hundred feet deep into a subterranean salt mine. There are three sectors which represent birth, life, and death. This is truly a great experience for anyone regardless of their practice. The purple lighting and crispness in the air also create a great scene for deep introspection and contemplation.
Visit a UNESCO Heritage Site
Colombia has a good handful of UNESCO heritage sites, one of the best for spiritual trips being the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary.
This sanctuary is off the coast of Colombia and is one of the only isolated marine sanctuaries that is completely undisturbed. Diving is allowed, which is great for seeing the hundreds of unique species and deep caverns native to these waters. This is truly a magnificent time to reflect upon how amazing and strange life is without all the day-to-day responsibilities.
Learn Some Spanish
One of the best things you can do to enrich your mind is to learn a new language. It exercises your brain, improves memory, and enhances creativity!
Colombia’s native language is Spanish, so learning a bit will help you get around the country easier. You’ll also be able to leave your spiritual trip knowing that you not only achieved a sense of peace, but learned a new skill along the way.
See a Live Performance
Seeing live music, dance, or other cultural performances is a great way to break up your routine schedule and experience something new.
Try to look for small, local performances that tie directly to some of Colombia’s art and culture. Some possibilities include seeing a live cumbia performance (the native dance of Colombia), or watching some of the many concerts during the Petronio Alvarez Festival, which takes place all over the department of Cali.
You may also want to ask the locals or your hotel staff about participating in Novena de Aguinaldos, a nine-day celebration in December where families eat traditional cuisine, sing villancicos, and recite hopeful prayers.
Walk Through a Labyrinth
A recently re-emerged activity for those looking to do some soul-searching is to walk through a labyrinth. People use it as a metaphorical way of mirroring the journey we may be going through on the inside. While you walk through a labyrinth and try to find your way out, imagine that every corner you take is an obstacle in your life that you have to overcome.
