How to Create a Travel Journal with Real Memories from Colombia

The details you write down today will be the ones you remember most tomorrow.

Traveling through Colombia is an intense, colorful journey. From jungles to colonial towns, Caribbean rhythms to mountain silences — it’s a mix of moments that come fast and fade even faster. A travel journal helps you capture them before they slip away.

This is not about writing a perfect story. It’s about keeping a real, personal memory of your time in Colombia — one that no camera can fully capture.

Why Keep a Travel Journal?

You don’t need to be a writer or even enjoy writing.

Keeping a travel journal is more about being present. It helps you:

• Notice more details in everyday moments

• Reflect on how places and people impact you

• Remember emotions, not just locations

✍️ Writing while traveling makes you slow down and observe, turning fleeting moments into lasting memories.

What You Need: Your Journal Kit

Keep it simple. All you really need is:

• A notebook you enjoy using (physical or digital)

• A pen that works anywhere (including humid Caribbean days)

• A few minutes each day (10 is enough)

Some travelers also collect tickets, dried flowers, market labels or stickers — anything that adds texture to their travel memories.

When to Write: Best Times for Real Reflection

• At night: It helps you process the day’s experience

• On a bus or plane: The rhythm of movement brings clarity

• After a powerful moment: Capture the emotion while it’s fresh

You don’t need to be consistent. What matters is capturing the moment when it counts.

What to Write: It’s More Than “What I Did Today”

This isn’t a schedule. It’s your voice.

Here are some prompts to help:

• Something you saw that surprised you

• A phrase a local said that stuck with you

• A new food you tried and your reaction

• A street corner where you felt calm or overwhelmed

• A conversation that changed your mood

🎙 BePelican Tip: Don’t skip the hard parts. Writing down moments of confusion, discomfort, or even fear

gives your journal depth and honesty.

How to Make It Personal and Real

It’s not about big adventures — it’s about your personal experiences.

• “I ate arepas for breakfast while watching the fog lift in Salento.”

• “The sound of vallenato in a small store made me feel unexpectedly at home.”

• “A stranger in Barichara shared her umbrella with me. We didn’t speak, but smiled a lot.”

These are the things you’ll forget — unless you write them down.

Not a Writer? No Problem

There’s no one right way to journal. You can also:

• Record voice notes on your phone

• Make photo captions or draw little sketches

• Keep a simple list of “best moment of the day”

As long as it helps you reflect, it works.

What Your Future Self Will Thank You For

A few months from now, or years later, your travel journal will be:

• A record of who you were while discovering Colombia

• A story you can share — or just keep for yourself

• A reminder of how you felt, not just what you saw

FAQ of how to create a travel journal

Do I have to write every day?

No. Write when something moves you. Even once a week is better than nothing.

Paper or digital?

Whatever feels natural. Some people love writing by hand; others prefer apps or cloud notes.

Can I combine writing with photos or tickets?

Absolutely. Make it yours — there are no rules in a personal memory.

Final Thought

Colombia is full of big stories. But the ones that will stay with you are the small ones — the ones only you lived.

A travel journal is your way of making sure you don’t leave those behind. If you're ready to begin, this guide will show you how to create a travel journal that captures real moments, not just places.

📓 So grab your notebook. The stories you’re about to write… haven’t even happened yet.