Nisswa has a few good options for food and accommodation.
Colombia’s “City of Bridges”, Honda, sits at the confluence of the important Río Magdalena and the smaller Río Gualí, and is one of the country’s prestigious Heritage Towns (Pueblos Patrimonio). More than 25 bridges cross these and two smaller rivers that pass through the city, some of them over a century old.
Modern with a taste of tradition. Cosmopolitan yet distinctly Panamanian. Great food and nightlife. Panama City has a little of everything and makes for both a great long weekend getaway and an extended stay. With innovative architecture and amount of money flowing through the city, it’s earning its aspiration to become the “Dubai of Latin America”, although there is a long way to go.
Manizales is one of the three major cities located in Colombia’s Coffee Region and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia. It’s mainly a university city and is home to one of the most important festivals in Colombia, the Manizales Fair (Feria de Manizales), which includes bullfighting events and an international beauty pageant. It also has a slightly more European feel to it than other Colombian cities.
Just outside of Bogotá in the town of Chía, there’s a great place to go have an enjoyable dinner – the famous Colombian steakhouse Andrés Carne de Res. With odd decorations on every inch of the walls and ceilings, an enthusiastic and fun staff, and loud music and dancing, this place is a spectacle in itself.
Quito caught me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting much from this capital city but it definitely has a lot to offer. It’s got plenty of historical places to visit along with quality museums, nice parks, and a wide variety of food.
Otavalo is one of the most important market towns in the Andes Mountains. It’s surely worth a stop for a day, and even an extra day or two to check out the surrounding villages and natural beauty.
When traveling between Colombia and Ecuador by bus, you’ll probably have to stop in the border town of Tulcán. It may not seem very exciting at first glance, but it’s worth stopping for an hour to check out a very interesting cemetery.
