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La Dorada sits along the Magdalena River in the Caldas department of Colombia and typically has very hot weather. We had very low expectations when we decided to stop there for the night on our way to the department of Santander, but we ended up enjoying it.
Getting There
La Dorada can easily be reached by direct bus from Manizales or Honda. It’s also on the road between Bogotá and Medellín. The bus terminal is located across from Parque Santander in the center of town.
Hotel Mall Santana del Río
We stayed at Hotel Mall Santana del Río, which is located in a shopping mall on Parque Jorge Eliecer Gaitán in the city center. It’s got two large swimming pools and is surrounded by a few restaurants. The pools were a great way to relax after a long day of driving.
Our room was spacious and clean although the bed was a bit small. Staff did a wonderful job making sure we were comfortable.
In addition to the pools, there’s also a game area with pool tables and a fun sitting area made out of a classic car. The mall, however, is disappointing.
Hotel Confort
On another trip, we broke up a long drive from Mompox to Pereira by spending the night at Hotel Confort. Other than a poorly designed shower, it turned out to be a quiet and comfortable place to stay. The price was reasonable and staff was excellent. We were able to order food from the fast food restaurant downstairs and park the car a couple blocks away.
Dinner
For dinner on our first visit, only one of the restaurants at the Hotel Mall Santana del Río was open. It was a barbecue restaurant, and we ordered wings and a steak which were delivered directly to our room. The food was better than we expected and reasonably priced.
