After quitting my permanent job in June 2026, I decided to take a little over 2 months to travel with my Colombian girlfriend.
Our first destination was Colombia. A first for me, as I had never been to Latin America before.
It was a chance to discover a new country, understand its culture from the inside and, above all, meet my girlfriend's family in person.
So I'd like to tell you about my first trip to Colombia, staying with a Colombian family.
My first trip to Colombia with my Colombian girlfriend's family
In July 2024, I met my Colombian girlfriend in Portugal, in the town of Nazaré to be precise.
Before I met her, nothing suggested I would end up in South America: at the time, a trip to Colombia wasn't on my mind at all.
If you've been following me for a while, you know I love Asian countries: daily life, the people, the food and the landscapes speak to me more.
Japan in particular remains my favourite destination, followed by Laos and South Korea.
But fate had me fall for a Colombian woman with whom I have a lot in common, to the point of sharing our lives together.
And having a girlfriend inevitably means meeting her family!
Which means that at some point, I had to go to Colombia to visit each family member, introduce myself and spend time with them.
For many people, that can be intimidating, even nerve-racking just thinking about it. But what I experienced there will stay with me as unforgettable memories.
Meeting my Colombian in-laws
I have to tell you the truth: I actually met my girlfriend's parents in France, not in Colombia.
They wanted to come and meet me and get to know me (and see their daughter too, of course!).
We shared some great moments together, and even travelled to Seville to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday!
Over about a month, I had the chance to understand some of my Colombian in-laws' habits.
Here are 9 things I noticed:
- My in-laws are very attached to their daughter, with lots of hugs and sweet words
- Before saying goodbye, they always wish you lots of blessings to encourage and motivate you
- They drink a lot of coffee, no matter the time of day
- Breakfast is sacred to them. A full, savoury meal is the norm
- Speaking of food, my in-laws love eating meat
- They are very easy-going, open-minded and always stay positive
- They hardly ever complain and instead enjoy every moment with the people around them
- They are very caring and give a lot of themselves to keep a warm atmosphere
- They go to Mass almost every Sunday
These are strong traits I noticed when they were in France, and again when I saw them later in Colombia.
It was a first for me, and it meant a lot for my relationship with my girlfriend. Getting along with your in-laws is important for harmony when two families come together.
It mattered to me that I could really get along with them and that we could build something good together, for everyone's sake.
My mother-in-law is a bon vivant: outgoing and very attached to her daughter, but above all respectful of everyone's space. She spreads good energy around her with her little anecdotes and teasing. She loves socialising and has an unmatched gift for reading people.
As for my father-in-law, he's calm and composed and takes his role as a father very seriously. Like my mother-in-law, he never hesitates to give of himself for his family's well-being or to be there for others when things go wrong. His only weakness is his sweet tooth. But I can't really hold that against him.
In short, my in-laws are people deeply attached to family values and to the well-being of the people they love.
Meeting the rest of the family in Colombia
Now for the rest of the family in Colombia. How did it go with them?
To be honest, I have very fond memories of it!
I met my mother-in-law's parents, the grandparents. We shared small, very warm moments together: eating at restaurants, going for walks in the neighbourhood and playing a board game called “Parqués” at home.
The aunts and uncles each took us somewhere, whether on a trip, out to a restaurant, or inviting us home to spend time together.
For example, I travelled by car to a sacred place known to every Colombian, the Guatavita lagoon (a place I absolutely recommend!), visited the nearby town of the same name, then ate at a restaurant known for its delicious trout.
With one of the uncles, we went along to see one of the houses he rents out. We then went to a restaurant for a surprise birthday for his wife.
I also visited the Gold Museum in Bogotá with another aunt, then ate a typical Colombian dish, the “tamal”, at a well-known local spot. She also invited us to her home to spend quality time with her close family.
With one of the cousins, we had a night out in Bogotá's lively La Candelaria neighbourhood, ate a typical Colombian dessert, the “merengón” (another must-try!), and the next day walked his 2 dogs in Simón Bolívar Park.
All this to say that my trip to Colombia was mainly about visiting family and sharing good times with them.
In the end, just like my in-laws, many of them share similar traits: generosity, family spirit and open-mindedness sum up my Colombian family's personality very well.
To my Colombian family reading this article: I'm truly lucky to have you in my life! 😊
Meeting my girlfriend's Colombian friends
Beyond meeting my girlfriend's Colombian family, I was also lucky enough to meet her friends from her village and from university.
It gave me a perspective outside the family and a chance to talk with people around my age.
One of her friends, Santiago, or “Santi” as everyone calls him, is a musician. He mainly plays percussion, and his favourite traditional Colombian instrument is the “marimba de chonta”. He even makes this instrument himself to sell it. He's down-to-earth and very friendly, with a funny, teasing personality.
Another friend, Andrés, is a guitarist. More reserved by nature, he's a calm person with lots of interesting things to say about Colombian society.
Together with my girlfriend, they played a concert at the National Museum of Colombia.
We crossed paths several times, especially during rehearsals. Even though our conversations were short, I came away with a good feeling and a positive image of young Colombians.
I really admire them: they chose a path they're passionate about, give 100% to succeed in what they do, and don't get discouraged by the slightest setback.
Travelling in Colombia: discovering the country with my Colombian in-laws
Before we left for Colombia, my girlfriend's parents told us they had planned several surprise trips for when we got there.
As I'm used to planning my own itineraries, this time I let myself be guided by my in-laws' suggestions.
On the menu: a first one-week trip to Colombia's Caribbean coast, from Santa Marta to Cartagena.
Then a second road trip through the Boyacá region to explore areas less known to tourists.
It was a family trip that meant a lot to me. It helped me build even closer ties with my in-laws, get to know their personalities better and enjoy the present moment while making memories together.
Travelling in Colombia: Santa Marta, Barranquilla and Cartagena
Two days after arriving in Colombia, we flew to Santa Marta for 3 days.
My father-in-law didn't do things by halves. We stayed for 3 days at a beautiful beachfront nature resort in Irotama: a bungalow, sea views, a pool, an all-you-can-eat buffet and top-quality service.
We visited Santa Marta's historic centre, explored the famous Tayrona National Park and went up to the town of Minca.
→ Discover my 3-day Santa Marta itinerary in detail
We then stopped in Barranquilla for a few hours to take photos in front of two of its main landmarks: Aleta del Tiburón Junior and Monumento Ventana al Mundo. We then stopped at a seafood restaurant to eat a delicious cazuela de mariscos at Restaurante & Pescadería El Proveedor, facing the Magdalena River.
For the last 3 days, our final destination was Cartagena: wandering through the historic heart of the beautiful Walled City, exploring the Getsemaní neighbourhood and enjoying the beaches of Tierra Bomba island. We stayed at one of the oldest hotels in the city, the Cartagena Plaza. And the cherry on top: my father-in-law took us to a beautiful restaurant to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday, the Restaurante Fuerte del Pastelillo.
→ My 3-day Cartagena itinerary (coming soon)
Travelling in the Boyacá region
To end our trip to Colombia on a high note, my in-laws took us on a 4-day road trip through the beautiful Boyacá region so I could discover landscapes less known to tourists.
We started our journey in a small village called Jenesano, then spent a night in a Spanish colonial lodge surrounded by nature, the Hotel Hacienda Baza.
We continued towards one of Colombia's most famous places, the Boyacá Bridge, then to the village of Sáchica, where we ate at a great little local burger restaurant, before reaching one of the region's best-known spots: Villa de Leyva.
We stayed there for 2 days to take our time exploring the town and its surroundings.
On the next (and last) day, we stopped in the town of Ráquira, famous for its beautiful ceramics to bring home as souvenirs, and where you can buy lovely “ruanas”, similar to the Peruvian poncho but different. We then made a quick stop in the town of Chiquinquirá to look around its large basilica.
My take on travelling with my Colombian in-laws
First of all, I really want to highlight their generosity, their kindness and the unmatched positive energy they shared during our trips.
I especially loved how much care they took to show me, every day, a part of their culture that was almost unknown to me on each of our visits.
On top of giving their time (and their money above all!) to take us to every corner of Colombia, I really enjoyed discovering a country from a different angle than when I travel alone and explore things by myself.
Above all, it was a trip that mixed relaxation and togetherness, without trying to see everything.
Of all the trips I've taken, my first trip to Colombia with my girlfriend and my in-laws is, and will remain, one of the most meaningful on a human level.
To my girlfriend, my mother-in-law and my father-in-law, if you're reading this article: I'm deeply grateful to you!
Travelling in Colombia: cultural immersion with my Colombian family
They say that to truly understand a country's culture, it's through the locals that you learn the most about daily life, customs and the country's history. And I can tell you it's absolutely true!
An intense but rewarding language immersion
During a month with my Colombian family, I had to get used to Colombian Spanish to join in the conversations around the table or during visits to people's homes.
Even though I studied Spanish at school, it was often hard at first to understand and keep listening actively. After an hour, my brain would give up and I'd end up withdrawing into myself.
But after a few weeks, I understood much better what people were saying and felt more confident speaking up to get my point across.
What was great was that my Colombian family was really patient with me, letting me finish what I had to say and often correcting me when I made mistakes.
Beyond the language barrier between us, the family was really kind to me. They offered me dishes I didn't know and found all sorts of ways to help me understand things.
My girlfriend stepped in less and less to translate for me, as I made the effort to speak up and express myself in my own words.
I learned typical Colombian expressions and tried to slip them into conversations whenever I had the chance.
And when I managed to use them in the right place, I realised how much it pleased them, and even made them laugh. It really helped me break the language barrier in some situations!
That's when I realised more and more how much speaking their language opens the door to deeper interactions and stronger bonds.
Learning lots of stories about Colombia
What was really great with my Colombian family was that everyone had lots of things to tell me: about their daily lives (work, hobbies), their culture, their own stories, and often very funny anecdotes.
Many times when we went out to eat as a family, they explained the different dishes on the menu to me. They often ordered different dishes so we could share and I could try new foods.
While travelling, my in-laws explained a lot of cultural points about monuments and places we visited, which taught me a lot about Colombia. I especially loved how much they wanted me to discover and understand striking facts you won't find on the internet.
What I took away overall is that every member of my Colombian family had something to teach me, always made sure to share their culture in their own way, and was always kind to me.
A strong culture shock compared to my roots
If there's one thing that struck me most in my interactions with my Colombian family, it's that culturally, we have very opposite behaviours.
Born in France with Vietnamese roots, I grew up with two cultures.
In France, I learned to be direct, to say no when necessary and to be more individualistic. My roots, on the other hand, taught me to stay discreet, to hold back negative feelings to keep moving forward, and to stay resilient whatever the situation.
In Colombia, people are more relaxed and less individualistic. What I really love about them is how they always stay in a good mood despite difficult days.
Relationships in my two families are different:
- In Vietnam, there's a hierarchy in the way you speak to your elders. You owe respect to their decisions and words. Everyone has their own position within the family and must keep it. Physical and emotional relationships are also more formal, which makes interactions less intimate. Finally, judgement between family members is very strong: social status and your job are points of comparison that encourage competition.
- In Colombia, relationships are deeper across all generations. They're much more intimate, which makes it easier to talk about anything without being judged, unlike in Vietnam where judgement is very present. I also feel more support from my Colombian family in everything I do, whatever the field.
Despite these differences, I still see similarities between the two cultures:
- Family spirit is really strong. Family members help each other and support each other morally and physically. They're the first people who will be there for us when times are hard
- Generosity is very present, whether in serving food at the table or in giving of yourself so everyone feels good within the family
- Resilience and perseverance are shared traits I also see in everyone's personal achievements. Many work hard, even if it means putting up with a lot, until life opens up new opportunities for them
In the end, being part of two families with very different cultures is a real blessing for me, because it lets me take the best of both and bring it into my own life.
