The Roavi Blog
Stories from people who live there.
Travel tips, city guides, and local insights from the Roavi team.
1173 articles
Travel Guides · Cali
Is Cali, Colombia Worth Visiting? Yes If You Will Dance, Yes in December and August; an Honest Answer If You Won't
A straight answer: Cali is worth visiting if you will dance, or at least watch, because salsa is the city, and it is worth visiting for the Feria de Cali in December and the Petronio Álvarez festival in August. If you want sights, colonial streets or a beach, it is the weakest of Colombia's big cities. Who it suits, how long, safety honestly, and when.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Travel Guides · Bogotá
Is Bogotá Worth Visiting? Yes, for Two or Three Days of Museums, Food and La Candelaria; Who Should Skip It
A straight answer: Bogotá is worth two or three days, and most people fly into it anyway: the Gold Museum and Botero, La Candelaria, Monserrate, the best restaurants in Colombia, the Sunday ciclovía and Zipaquirá's salt cathedral. It is cold, grey, huge and slow to cross, and people who want sun and ease should give it two days and go. Who it suits, how long, safety honestly, and when.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Travel Guides
Is the Dominican Republic Worth Visiting? Yes; Which Part Is Worth It Depends on What You Want
A straight answer: yes, the Dominican Republic is worth visiting, and it is the most visited country in the Caribbean for a reason: the best beach value in the region, direct flights, and a real country behind the resorts with a capital, mountains, whales and music. Which part is worth it depends on you: Punta Cana for the beach, Santo Domingo for the city, the north coast for wind and waterfalls, Samaná for whales and quiet. The honest caveats, and how to see the real place.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Travel Guides · Puerto Plata
Is Puerto Plata Worth Visiting? Yes, for the North Coast, the Waterfalls and the Price; Not for a Punta Cana-Style Week
A straight answer: Puerto Plata is worth visiting if you want the Dominican north coast, the 27 waterfalls, the cable car, Sosúa's bay and Cabarete's wind, a real town and prices well below Punta Cana. It is not worth it if you want Punta Cana's beaches and resorts; the sand is browner, the sea rougher and the weather wetter. Who it suits, cruise days, how long, safety and when.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Community
Colombia Travel Forum: TripAdvisor, the Subreddits, the Facebook Groups, and the Board Where Colombians Answer
Every Colombia trip starts with the same forum questions: is it OK to go right now, Medellín or Cartagena, is this itinerary too much. Where each gets a good answer: TripAdvisor's Colombia forum, the Colombia and city subreddits, the expat Facebook groups, and Roavi Community, where Local Friends who live in Cali, Medellín and Bogotá answer and can be messaged.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Community · Cartagena
Cartagena Travel Forum: TripAdvisor, the Subreddit, the Facebook Groups, and an Honest Note on Roavi's Cartagena Board
Cartagena forum questions are always the same four: where to stay, which islands trip, is Getsemaní safe at night, and is it worth it in the rainy months. Where each gets a good answer: TripAdvisor's Cartagena forum, the Cartagena subreddit, the Facebook groups, and Roavi Community, whose Cartagena board is small and, for now, mostly travellers.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Community · Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo Forum: TripAdvisor, the Subreddit, the Facebook Groups, and the Board Where Dominicans Who Live There Answer
Santo Domingo forum questions are different from Punta Cana's: is it worth visiting at all, is the Zona Colonial safe, Santo Domingo or Punta Cana, where to stay outside the resorts. Where each gets a good answer: TripAdvisor's Santo Domingo forum, the Dominican Republic subreddit, the Facebook groups, and Roavi Community, where most of Roavi's Dominican Local Friends live and answer.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Travel Guides · Cartagena
Cartagena in April: The Dry Season Ends, Semana Santa When Easter Is Late, and the Film Festival Some Years
April in Cartagena is the hinge between the dry season and the rains: hot, around 32°C (90°F) by day and 25°C (77°F) at night, mostly dry in the first half with the first afternoon showers by the end. Semana Santa falls in April in late-Easter years and fills the city for a week. Calm sea for the islands. Weather, Holy Week, prices and what to pack.
Oscar Garcia··2 min read
Travel Guides · Cartagena
Cartagena in May: The Rains Begin, the Crowds Leave, and Prices Drop
May is the start of Cartagena's rainy season: hot and humid, around 32°C (90°F) by day and 25°C (77°F) at night, with short heavy showers in the afternoon or evening most days and clear mornings. Few visitors and low hotel prices. Mother's Day on the second Sunday is the big family day. Weather, the May day, prices and what to pack.
Oscar Garcia··2 min read
Travel Guides · Cartagena
Cartagena in June: Hot and Showery, the Colombian Holidays Starting, and Often a Drier Spell at the End
June in Cartagena is hot and humid, around 32°C (90°F) by day and 25°C (77°F) at night, with short afternoon showers and often a drier spell at the end of the month that runs into July. Two or three Monday holidays and the Colombian school break from mid-month bring families to the coast. Weather, holidays, prices and what to pack.
Oscar Garcia··2 min read
Travel Guides · Cali
Cali in January: Dry and Hot, the Feria Hangover, and a Quiet City From the Second Week
January is dry season in Cali: around 30°C (86°F) by day, 19°C (66°F) at night, sun most days and the afternoon breeze. The first week is still the holiday after the Feria de Cali; from the second the city goes back to work and its own rhythm. Weather, what's on, prices and what to pack.
Oscar Garcia··1 min read
Travel Guides · Cali
Cali in February: One of the Driest Months, No Crowds, and the Best Rates of the First Half of the Year
February in Cali is dry and hot, with no holidays and no big festivals: around 30°C (86°F) by day, 19°C (66°F) at night, sun and the afternoon breeze. The best rates of the first half of the year. Weather, what's on, prices and what to pack.
Oscar Garcia··1 min read