Juan Valdez

Colombia is all about connections. I realize that "knowing someone" can be a helpful thing in many countries, but in Colombia, it's essential. Some of the best things we have found as a company only happened because we know someone, or maybe we know someone who knows someone, but anything to get a foot in the door helps! Colombians rely heavily on word-of-mouth for their businesses, as they are much more likely to trust someone they have met face to face than to trust a website or an email.

We are working hard to build that connection for you, to help you find your way around Colombia in the adventure of a lifetime. Sometimes the connections we make with new people (guides, hotels, etc.) work out, sometimes they don't, and sometimes they just aren't relevant. This connection just isn't relevant because he travels too much for us to organize anything with him, but I have to share it!

I met Juan Valdez! Yup, the real guy. He's not wearing the traditional gear here because in the photo above, I'm actually at his house enjoying a few bites of tiramisu (the dessert has to have coffee in it, right?). What a genuine, sincere guy! Colombians are famous for being friendly, but Mr. Juan Valdez personifies that warm friendliness! How did I end up at his house, you ask? Oooh, it's a friend of a friend kind of thing. Just another connection, only this one happens to be an international icon!

...when do I get to meet Juanes?