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Exceeding Expectations: Hostal Finca La Violeta in Susacon
Sometimes your expectations when traveling are exceeded. It doesn’t happen often but on our recent trip to Colombia we got lucky on more than a few occasions. The whole hiking experience in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy far exceeded our expectations.
And so did our stay at a local B&B our guide had discovered in Susacon – Hostal Finca La Violeta (no website but you can search for them on Facebook and they respond quickly).
Entrance to the owner’s
part of the house
We had finished our six day trek in Guican – right where we started. But we had to get back to Bogota and I was not up for another 14 hour bus ride from hell. Fortunately Rodrigo had business to do in Bogota and offered to drive us back but the idea was to break up the drive and stay in Susacon for a night, about half way there.
I figured we’d end up staying in some cheap, dumpy hostel but Rodrigo had discovered a wonderful spot on one of his many stopovers. It was still inexpensive – about $40 per night but dumpy it wasn’t.
We arrived in the dark so although we could appreciate our room, it wasn’t till morning that we realized what a beautiful spot we’d landed in.
One of the owner’s cows with Susacon as a backdrop
Our room was behind the door
Our room was a two story affair that could comfortably sleep four people. There was a seating area, a fridge, a table and chairs, a TV and a bathroom – with a small amount of hot water. Interesting art pieces adorned the walls.
Many people come and stay for a week at a time. No meals are served but you can do some cooking. And there are loads of things to do in the area. It’s not far from an area renowned for its birding.
In the morning we were provided with a fresh cup of coffee from locally grown beans and milk fresh from the cow. The owner tells us that he makes his own yogurt and cheese too.
Meadowlark singing off in the fields
Bougainvillea framing the doorway
Some of the interesting details on the house
One of the many hand painted tiles inlaid into the walls of the house
An assortment of saddles
Another colourful seating area
Brick stacked for future projects
Towels drying
Everywhere you looked there were flowers in bloom and plants in pots.
Looks like a raspberry read to burst
Once it bursts
Hibiscus in bloom
A blast of pink
Pretty windowsill display
I could easily have stayed a few days. It’s the kind of place where you can’t help but relax. And the owners – former professors at the university in Bogota, speak English.
Would do you think of the Hostel? Could you stay for a while?
For more travel inspiration check out the photos of other travel bloggers on Nancie’s Budget Travelers Sandbox website.
Leigh McAdam
HikeBikeTravel
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About Hike Bike TravelAvid world traveler. Craves adventure - & the odd wildly epic day. Gardener. Reader. Wine lover. Next big project - a book on 100 Canadian outdoor adventures.
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40 Responses to Exceeding Expectations: Hostal Finca La Violeta in Susacon
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About
I’ve been all over the world – to all continents but Antarctica and to a grand total of 53 countries. I’ve always got some sort of an adventure planned – even if it’s only a weekend. I thrive on change and travel provides that.
Feel free to email me at
leighmcadamtravels at gmail dot com
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How isolated is this place? How far is the nearest decent sized town? How did professors from Bogota end up there? Why am I asking so many questions?
Just One Boomer (Suzanne) recently posted..Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, A Nature Preserve and Sancutary at Onomea Bay, Big Island of Hawaii
@Suzanne This place isn’t that isolated – just an hour or two from Tunja a pretty darned good sized place. One of the owners grew up in the area and still has family ties. When he retired he built the place – and still has family just a few blocks away.
What a beautiful spot – and a lucky find! Love your photos of the flowers – especially the bougainvillea – and the hand-painted tile is gorgeous! I really think that we need to get to South America soon.
@Lisa I love South America. I have found the cultures interesting, the people welcoming and you get a lot more bang for your buck. I have stayed at many $100 a night places that were superb.
Hi Leigh, what a delightful hostal find you had! It had me from the entrance and to all every little beautiful detail. I’m charmed by everything about it. Thanks for the lovely photos, Leigh. They were very transporting.
Marisol@TravelingSolemates recently posted..Cruising Halong Bay: Still Beautiful, But….
Thanks Marisol – I was equally charmed and loved all the arty things around the place.
What a great find. It looks like a beautiful place to stay. I’m sure you would have liked to stay longer. The photos are great…I love how you caught the mosquito on the tile!
jenny@atasteoftravel recently posted..Jordan: The Ottoman Town of Salt
@Jenny I just noticed the mosquito when I was cropping photos. Definitely a very beautiful part of the world.
I absolutely love this hostel, it is just the sort of place we try and find. The meadowlark photo is one of my favourites, but there are many. The cow shot is another because the cow is gorgeous and it shows the town as well.
budget jan recently posted..Tuesday in Townsville, Castle Hill, Queensland
@Jan As much as I love boutique hotels this sort of place with loads of character and an interesting owner plus a great price made me very happy.
I’m mostly a major chain kind of guy when it comes to hotels, but if you were to slap a Hyatt or Hilton sign on the front of this place, I doubt I’d be disappointed at all. I’ve paid a whole lot more to stay in a whole lot worse. Actually I’d be happy just looking out to see the cow in the morning. That’s almost always the sign of a great day ahead.
Steve recently posted..Spring Training for Disney
@Steve When I opened the door in the AM and wandered over to the nearby field and saw the cows & calves plus the views I knew I’d found somewhere special.
OH WOW! what a wonderful place. I could see myself sitting there for several days or a week or 2 just enjoying the environment. I love the photos of the details.
Have a wonderful week. and thank you for stopping by my blog today and for your comments.
Life Images by Jill recently posted..Can clouds enhance your landscapes?
@Jill I’m with you. I could easily have spent 3 or 4 days here just soaking up the scenery and doing easy day trips.
What a charming and quaint place! I would totally stay here. I love the special touches and details around the place that you beautifully captured. It looks remote enough to be relaxing too and I can definitely stay for awhile. Great find, Leigh!
Mary {The World Is A Book} recently posted..Favorite Water Photos for World Water Day
@Mary I could have spent even more time taking in all the details if we’d had it. It was lovely to sit outside, listen to the birds and drink a fresh brewed cup of coffee – a very relaxing way to start the day.
The entrance looks beautiful
Muza-chan recently posted..Omamori, Japanese good luck charms
@Muzachan – a very welcoming entrance.
Love the detailed and colourful close-ups here. What an absolute find; the surroundings look like the Alps and the details so very South American. Would love to check it out.
Sophie recently posted..World at a Glance: Frank Zappa in Vilnius
@Sophie I bet you’d love the place – and with cows, gree, green fields and the mountains- you’re right it does look a little bit Swiss.
Oh yes, I’d stay! Beautiful. Love the colors too.
InsideJourneys recently posted..Moving Day, Westmoreland Jamaica
@Marcia It was a real treat to stay in and so glad our guide had discovered it.
You captured the beauty of the place in this one Leigh. A good reminder to focus on the details.
Jackie Smith recently posted..Springtime in Washington’s Wine Country
@Jackie And I just gave you a smattering of the details.
That place is certainly far from dumpy. I would have expected much more than $40/night if you asked me to guess the price. I bet you thought this was a much better alternative than a hellish bus ride.
What a wonderful place to relax in after spending a day hiking. It looks so lovely and peaceful.
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What a charming place to stay! I’d certainly stay there, it’s lovely!
Tonya @ The Traveling Praters recently posted..Civil War Sites in the South
@Tonya It felt like a treat especially considering we’d been sleeping rough for a week.
Oh wow that hostel looks pretty amazing. I could definitely spend some time there.
Alouise recently posted..Around Edmonton – The Devonian Botanic Garden
@Alouise It felt pretty darned good to arrive there at night but what a pleasant surprise when I awoke in the morning.
All my happiest memories come from this town, because my mother born there! Thanks for posting these beautiful pictures!
@Carlos What a lovely comment and what a beautiful town to be born in. I’m so glad you liked the pictures.
I am living and working in Bogotá for one and a half year now. During these months I went to this finca already three times! You can forget the rest of the world while doing hikes, riding horses or just doing nothing. I really love this place!
The pictures you took are beautiful!
@Theresia It’s a very relaxing sort of place isn’t it – and thanks so much for your compliments on my photos.
How gorgeous, Leigh! I could definitely stay here for more than a few days, just wandering with the camera.
Nancie recently posted..Travel Photo Thursday — March 28, 2013 — Finding Your “Om” on the road in Korea
@Nancie I was sorry to take off the next morning so quickly. It’s teh sort of place you could easily hang out n for a few days to a week.
Absolutely beautiful pictures, you took the essence and charm of this wonderful place. I am happy to say I have been to La Violeta as well, and it is not only the joy of nature but the kindness of the owners who behave as all-life friends that turn my staying more enjoyable.
@Jimmy We were showered with hospitality too – and that makes a big difference between a good stay and a great stay.
What a darling little place! Goes to show that luxury doesn’t embrace just the 5-star resorts. For us, it means charm, character, creature comforts, clean (of course!), private hot shower – and if organic, good food is offered too, so much the better! Looks like you struck it all here…
Sand in my Suitcase recently posted..Top 5 hotels on Kauai, Hawaii
@SandInMysuitcase I feel so lucky to have stayed here and enjoyed the hospitality and the incredible setting. It wasn’t luxurious but it did meet all my criteria of what I like in a place.