And Just Like That… South America Comes to an End

7-13 July 2026. Our final few days in South America weren’t spent exploring another spectacular destination or ticking off one last bucket-list experience. Instead, they were consumed by paperwork, shipping agents, apartment bookings, prepping and saying goodbye to the truck that had faithfully carried us nearly 50,000 kilometres across an entire continent.

After leaving Grahams campground, we arrived in Cartagena with everything running surprisingly smoothly. Our shipping appointment was on time. As Tim headed off to the port with our agent, Charley, Jaxon and I set about to order an Uber to the Airbnb we’d booked specifically because it was close to the port.

Or so we thought.

The listing pin was perfectly positioned beside the port, exactly where we needed it. It wasn’t until two minutes before Tim drove away that I tried to order an Uber from the gas station where we’d been dropped off, only to discover the apartment wasn’t there at all.

It was actually 25 kilometres north of the city!

There we were, standing at a gas station on the side of a busy highway on the outskirts of Cartagena at nine o’clock in the morning, in the thick humid heat, surrounded by our luggage, having to pivot and formulate a plan B. Seeking air conditioning we occupied the end booth of the gas station that thankfully had free wifi.

The next hour was spent sending text messages through the Air BnB platform to our host who admitted it wasn’t quite in the exact location but that it was in fact very nice and that we would be very happy up there. Also had to text my bestie Lisa, back in Canada who has been kindly booking all our accommodations, and Air BnB customer support to cancel in hopes of a full refund. Then find and book a more suitable location.

Tim & the shipping agent returned to collect us, and drove us to their office where we spent the rest of the morning online organizing a place to stay.  

We did find great place, a large 2 bedroom apartment that couldn’t have been better. Sitting on the edge of Cartagena’s beautiful walled city, it was only a five-minute walk into the colourful streets of Getsemaní.  

Our first day we spent doing very little at all—watching the FIFA World Cup live, then later wandering the neighbourhood, and enjoying a rare chance to simply slow down.  Plenty of yellow jerseys here too, the streets come alive after sunset where the temperatures are more comfortable.  

Two days later Tim returned to the port for the vehicle inspection. Every external storage box and the entire garage had to be emptied so customs officers and a sniffer dog could thoroughly inspect the truck before it could be loaded onto the ship.  All went smoothly.  

AIR BnB BATTLE CONTINUES…

Meanwhile in the background was the continued three-day battle with Airbnb.  Initially, they insisted the mistake was ours and offered a rather measly $200 refund on a $650 reservation.  Not good enough, so we set about compiling a forensic file of timeline, screen shots of misleading maps and text conversation of the host agreeing to cancel and a rather strongly worded email. It wasn’t long before Airbnb admitted their mistake, refunded every cent, and apologized.Victory. But time and energy consuming.

We had our apartment booked for 4 nights, hoping we could catch an earlier flight to Mexico, but our shipping agent suggested we remain in Colombia until the ship had actually departed, incase an issue arises, meaning we needed accommodation for another two nights. 

SECOND APARTMENT

Unfortunately our apartment wasn’t available.  So it was back to Air BnB looking once more.  The Canadian dollar has weakened significantly since we were here over 12 months ago, it’s also high season in Cartagena, and we are noticing everything is significantly more expensive for us.  Downsizing and down grading we found a tiny 2 bedroom apartment 20 min walk from town in a more culturally local neighbourhood.  we packed up once again and walked, because we have time and need the exercise, north to Marbella.

The apartment was half the size of the first one, but very cute with paint and decore, the mattresses felt like they were carved from concrete, and the 31-storey building was home mostly to local families with only a handful of holiday rentals. We quickly realized we were the only white people in the building, and life there ran to a very different rhythm. Music started early each morning, continued throughout the day, and carried well into the night.

It was loud, lively, and a genuine cultural experience.  We ate dinner at an outdoor restaurant across the street, food was delicious and the staff friendly and welcoming.  So good we returned the next night where we were treated like family.  This is the best part of being away from the city and tourist areas.  

THE OLD CITY and GETSEMANÍ

For one last time, for something to do, we walked back into the old city.  Cartagena in August is relentless.  Daytime temperatures climbed well into the high 30s, but it was the humidity that really got us. Within minutes our clothes were soaked through, choosing our path with the most shade. 

The colourful colonial buildings, stylish boutiques and beautifully designed cafés certainly have their charm, but Cartagena is also a city of contrasts.  Amongst the polished tourist areas with well dressed visitors in the busy streets are lingering smells, visible poverty and homelessness.  Like so many places we’ve visited, it’s beautiful, complicated and impossible to define with a single impression.

OUR LAST NIGHT IN SOUTH AMERICA

So that’s it, we walked back to the apartment, stopping for dinner along the way. To be honest we are tired of the suffocating heat and are ready to be heading home.

Flights booked for an early departure. Before we knew it, the alarm was sounding at 3:00 a.m.

Our Uber arrived at 4:00 a.m., and by 6:30 we were airborne, watching Colombia disappear beneath the clouds as we flew via Panama City towards Mexico.

And just like that…

Our South American adventure was over.

Over the past sixteen months we’ve travelled 49,442 kilometres, crossed countless borders, climbed mountains, traversed deserts, explored jungles, floated down rivers, camped in places we’ll never forget, shared countless unique experiences and met extraordinary people whose kindness continually reminded us why we travel.

We’ve watched our children grow, not just taller, but wiser. They’ve developed an awareness that the life we’ve been fortunate enough to live is a privilege, and with that has come a deeper understanding, compassion and respect for those whose daily reality is simply working to get by. That may be one of the greatest gifts this journey has given them.

Throughout the trip, one phrase became our unofficial motto.

“Where are we?!”

It wasn’t because we were lost.  It was what we’d say whenever we found ourselves standing somewhere so breathtaking, so unexpected, or so wildly different from anything we’d ever experienced before. It became our way of acknowledging those moments that left us speechless, reminding us just how extraordinary this world really is.

It wasn’t always easy. There were breakdowns, delays, flat tyres, endless bureaucracy, unexpected expenses, and more than a couple of moments where we found ourselves wondering, What now?

But there was so much more laughter than frustration. There was incredible wildlife, unforgettable landscapes, lifelong friendships, spontaneous adventures, and experiences that simply couldn’t have happened any other way.

It’s difficult to put into words just how grateful I feel for this chapter of our lives.

Sad because it’s over.

Grateful because it happened.

And what a fitting place to finish.

Cartagena was where we first landed in South America, full of anticipation, uncertainty and excitement for the adventure ahead. Sixteen months, 49,442 kilometres, countless borders and more experiences than we could ever have imagined later, we found ourselves back where it all began.

The colourful streets of Getsemaní, the music drifting through the plazas, the warmth of the Caribbean and the energy of this incredible city felt like the perfect place to close this chapter.

South America, you’ve challenged us, surprised us, humbled us and completely stolen our hearts.

Thank you for every winding road, every warm smile, every lesson, every challenge and every unforgettable “Where are we?” moment.

Now… onto the final chapter of this incredible adventure.