We were out for dinner with an organizer from Away Days. Jesse goes on at least one football trip a year through this small-scale organization. On every trip, people always ask Jesse the same thing: 'So when is Roos finally coming along?' So that's eventually how the conversation went. I explained that I think it's important for Jesse to have a weekend like that, without me breathing down his neck, so he can just do his own thing with his friends. I also mentioned that I myself am tied to school holidays. Based on that information, we came up with a handful of destinations that fit within a holiday period. Colombia was one of them. We asked a few basic questions: what does it cost, how long does it take, and roughly what does a flight ticket cost. Based on that information I looked at Jesse, shrugged, and said: 'Well, let's go.'
Colombia had never once come up in any of our travel conversations before. Genuinely never. Still, it was quiet in the car on the way home for a moment. Then I asked: 'So, we're going on a football trip to Colombia?' Jesse answered: 'Fuck it, let's just do it.' In those 15 minutes home we'd completely warmed up to the idea. We signed off on a trip to Colombia in spring 2027. No joke, it doesn't get more Roos-and-Jesse than this.
Away Days
Jesse absolutely loves watching and going to football, abroad too. Football has become second nature to him in that sense. That's how he ended up with a small-scale travel organization specialized in football trips. Football fans organize these trips for and by each other. Mainly in Europe, they organize weekends/trips to football derbies. So far Jesse's been on trips to the Sarajevo Derby, The Eternal Derby (Sofia) and The Old Firm (Glasgow). The Tirana Derby is already on the schedule for next spring. Slowly but surely they're also expanding with trips outside Europe, like Colombia, but also Argentina, Japan, Indonesia and East Africa.
What makes a trip with Away Days so unique? For a great price you book a trip with accommodation, at least one match and on-location excursions included. Local football supporters usually take you under their wing too. Whenever possible, you tag along with the hardcore fans hosting you. That's how you get to experience the match like a real local. Why is that? Like I said before: genuine football lovers organize these trips. Over time they've built up a huge network of supporters from other clubs.
Does it appeal to you? Then be quick for the weekend derbies, because they're incredibly popular and spots are limited!
Colombia: the basics
This is our first time in South America. That's why we really appreciate travelling with a group and having someone guide us. That way the basics are just taken care of and we have less to figure out ourselves. The trip we've booked is called Vamos Colombia. It runs 11 days (10 nights), from 23 April through 3 May 2027. It includes accommodation in at least 4-star hotels, the flight between Bogotá and Medellín, and all airport transfers. A professional tour guide also comes along for the whole trip. On top of that, there are four to five top matches on the schedule. Think big clásicos between clubs like Millonarios, Independiente Santa Fe, Atlético Nacional and Independiente Medellín. There are also a number of excursions included. Think a tour through Comuna 13 in Medellín, a bike tour past the sights of Bogotá, and a walk through the Barrio Egipto neighbourhood.
We're booking the flights to and from Colombia ourselves, once we know the final travel dates. This week we already booked our tickets: from Amsterdam to Bogotá, and from Cartagena back to Amsterdam. We actually added Cartagena ourselves, since you can extend these kinds of trips with extra days on your own initiative. So in the end we're visiting three cities: first Bogotá, then Medellín, and finally Cartagena. From Cartagena we're hoping to properly chill out at a resort. Nicely recovering for a few days in the tropical north!
Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena: the must-sees
Besides watching football and blissfully doing nothing in Cartagena, I obviously also want to discover the cities themselves. Colombia has plenty to offer in all three destinations. A short overview of what's definitely on my list.
In Bogotá, La Candelaria mainly catches my attention: the historic centre with colourful colonial houses and impressive graffiti art. At Plaza Bolívar you immediately soak up the atmosphere of the city, and at Museo del Oro you'll be amazed by thousands of gold artefacts from before the Spanish arrived. And then there's Monserrate: take the cable car up for the best view over the city, unless you're afraid of heights, of course. Medellín is also high on my list. For me that city is mainly synonymous with Comuna 13, the neighbourhood that's transformed from one of the most dangerous parts of the city into an open-air museum full of street art. A bit further along, I'll be amazed by Plaza Botero, with the round sculptures by the famous Colombian artist Fernando Botero. And then there's a day trip I really don't want to miss: Guatapé, with its colourful little houses, and the rock El Peñol, which you climb via around seven hundred steps for a breathtaking view. Cartagena, finally, is where we wrap up the trip, and that starts with the Ciudad Amurallada: the walled old town, with little balconies full of bougainvillea and narrow, colourful streets. Nearby is Getsemaní, the neighbourhood that's buzzing these days with street art and nightclubs. And for anyone who wants to recover after taking it all in: the Islas del Rosario are just a short boat ride away, with crystal-clear Caribbean water. Exactly what I need after a week full of football and cities. In short, there's plenty to experience between the matches!
