colombia travel itinerary 1 month

• May 5, 2024
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• The Best One Month Colombia Itinerary: Bogota to Cartagena

How Many Days In Colombia Is Enough?

There are so many great places to visit in Colombia so the length of your trip depends on what you want to achieve.

I think three to four weeks is enough to see the country properly without having to rush.

Here are my suggestions for how long to spend in Colombia:

• A week In Colombia – A week in Colombia is enough to see two cities, for example Bogota and Medellin.
• Two weeks In Colombia – two weeks is enough to see one of the main cities like Bogota or Medellin and then spend some time on the Caribbean coast in one place like Cartagena.
• Three Weeks in Colombia – with three weeks you’ll be able to follow a classic route that goes from Bogota to Medellin, then to the Caribbean coast to popular towns like Santa Marta and Cartagena.
• 1 Month In Colombia – a month is perfect to do all of the above suggestions, and then add in some extras like a trip to the San Bernardo Islands or the Lost City Trek.

Colombia 1 Month Itinerary

Days 1-3 - bogota.

Your journey will probably start here as it’s home to Colombia’s main International airport, so spend your first three days acclimatising to the Colombian way of life here.

Top attractions I recommend:

• Gold Museum ( Museo del Oro ) is home to many eye-catching ancient golden artefacts from the pre-Columbus era. It’s 4.000 COP Tuesday – Saturday/national holidays and free on Sundays
• Museo Botero houses many artworks and sculptures by the renowned and proudly-celebrated Colombian artist-come-sculptor Fernando Botero whose chubby forms are endearing and captivating.
• If you fancy getting some unique bargains, definitely visit Marly (accessed via the TransMilenio bus line), along Av. Caracas from Calles 50-60. Here you’ll find all the city’s vintage shops condensed into one area.

Check out my full Bogota post for more inspiration of places to visit .

TOP TIP:   If you want to save time and enjoy more of Medellin or the Caribbean coast (which are much nicer destinations), then cut down the number of days in Bogota to 2.

Day 4-6 - Medellin

Medellin has so much to offer, you’ll be spoiled for choice with things to do.

With great weather all year round, rooftop bars everywhere and incredible nightlife , you might end up staying longer than 3 days.

Here are some of my favourite things to do:

• Laurelles Food Tour is the best way to explore this cool, laid back neighbourhood in Medellin. Time: 2:30PM (2 hours) Cost: 100,00COP per person (roughly $25 dollars / £20) 
• Explore Medellin from on-high with a 15-minute paragliding trip ! Approx: 220.000 COP. 
• Take a Metrocable gondola up to Parque Arvi to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Keep an eye on the time though as the last Metrocable closes firmly at 6pm or else you won’t be able to get back down to the city!

Read the full Medellin guide for more recommendations.

Day 7-8 - Guatape

A couple of hours outside of Medellin is the beautiful town of Guatape, known for its towering rock formation El Penol and the man-made reservoir where all the Colombian celebrities have homes!

• Climb El Penol – climb the 740 steps to the top for panoramic views of the reservoir.
• Boat Tours – take a boat tour on the reservoir at sunset, or even better, rent a jet ski!

Check out the full guide to visiting Guatape from Medellin here.

Day 9 - Medellin

You may want to spend an extra night in Medellin after your time in Guatape.

It’s a 2-hour bus back , but then you’ll need to take a one hour flight to Santa Marta on the coast.

If you decide to stay an extra night, there’s so much more to see and do. Why not try a game of Tejo or Salsa classes? You can enjoy a free class at Dance Free every night.

For more on the best things to do in Medellin, head to this post.

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Day 10-12 Santa Marta

Santa Marta is more of a city to use as a base for getting to other places on the Caribbean coast, so you won’t need long here.

I recommend:

• Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino is the hacienda at which Colmbia’s historic hero Simon Bolivar died. It’s now a museum with original furniture and artefacts inside as well as many chilled-our iguanas in the gardens. This is a great place to learn about the great man that earned Colombia her freedom. 25,000 COP 
• A short 30 mins drive from Santa Marta, Minca is a magical mountainous world of coffee plantations, waterfalls and eco-hostels. Spend a day here exploring to your heart’s content
• A trip to Santa Marta would not be complete without a stay at Dreamer Hostel . With air conditioned dorms and a DJ pool party once a week, it’s every backpacker’s dream stop…! Or if you want to be on the beach stay at La Brisa Tranquilla
• Go hiking in Tayrona National Park and sleep on the beach in a hammock! Speak to member of staff in your hostel who will help you arrange your overnight trip.

If you want to stay longer then check out the full itinerary post here.

Day 13-15 - Taganga

Once a small fishing village on the outskirts of Santa Marta, Taganga is now known for being one of the cheapest places to learn how to scuba dive.

If you’re interested in learning or want to do some fun diving, this is the place!

• The best place to scuba dive in Taganga is Ocean Lovers Taganga . The instructors and guides are excellent, the kit is in great condition and the dive sites are in Tayrona National Park. An intro session will be $82-89 USD and a full PADI Open Water qualification is around $400 USD. Fun dives for qualified divers are $50 USD. You can even stay in their boutique hostel! 
• Take a sunset cruise of the bay with your new backpacker friends 
• For a party with a difference, head to La Brisa Loca for a crazy party hostel with a rooftop pool. Then if you want to go clubbing, El Mirador Club & Social . It’s a rooftop club with great views over the bay of Taganga so you can dance the night away with a gorgeous evening view.

Day 16-20 Lost City Trek

La Ciudad Perdida or  ‘The Lost City’ is an archaeological site that predates the building of Peru’s Macchu Pichu by 650 years!

Lost in the jungle since the time of the Conquistadors, it was re-found in 1972 by explorers.

The 5-day trek is one of the most epic things you can do in South America and well worth the challenge.

TOP TIP: I always recommend booking tours in person when in South America. Online prices are always inflated. It's better to visit tour companies and see if they have any deals on. For reference, Baquainos have the best reputation. Waiwa are also a great option and use guides from the indigenous communities.

Day 21 - Santa Marta

After coming back from 5 days in the jungle, you’ll want to rest and spend some time doing absolutely nothing.

As mentioned, ‘The Dreamer’ is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta and the hammocks and pool make it the perfect place to chill after trekking.

Day 22-24 Palomino

Time to escape the big cities and get off the beaten track. With white sand beaches, river tubing and the odd full moon party , you’ll have a great time in Palomino.

• Learn to surf with Tide Escuela De Surf . The instructors are known for being professional, patient and passionate about what they do which always makes for the best learning conditions.
• Think lazy river, with booze…! That’s it: RIVER TUBING! This is one of the most fun things you can do in Palomino so don’t miss out! It costs around 45,000 COP and takes three hours 
• Whilst Palomino isn’t ‘known’ for full moon parties , if you’re ‘in the know’, you’ll be able to find one! When you arrive, make sure to speak to the locals or the staff working at your hostel as they’ll be able to point you in the right direction!

Read the full Palomino guide here.

Day 25-27 Cartagena

Cartagena is a real highlight of any Colombia trip, so you’re going to end your adventure ins style. Turn up the heat and get ready for some serious Caribbean flavour.

• Lounge on white sandy beaches, swim in crystal-clear waters, and maybe even indulge in a beachside massage or seafood lunch at Playa Blanca .
• Indulge in a peculiar mud bath and interesting mangrove tour at Totumo volcano
• Walk along the fortifications of The Walled City (Ciudad Amurallada) at Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas to enjoy the city from a slightly higher vantage point

For even more Cartagena ideas on what to do whilst here, check out my Cartagena post . 

Day 28-29 - San Bernardo Islands

Ending your trip in Cartagena would certainly be a high, but why not fit in one more place!

The San Bernardo Islands, nestled off the coast from Cartagena, offer a dreamy escape from the city.

Among them lies Casa en el Agua , a unique hostel floating on turquoise waters in the middle of the ocean.

Here you can enjoy simple island living , snorkelling in the day and sleeping in cosy hammocks under starlit skies at night.

You can go snorkelling around the hostel to find vibrant coral reefs teeming with colourful fish, or go kayaking if you want to explore further afield.

You can then hop aboard boat tours to the San Bernardo Islands to explore mangroves, walk on secluded beaches or enjoy fresh seafood cooked by the locals on the islands.

With such a unique setting and breathtaking scenery, the San Bernardo Islands promise an unforgettable retreat, and the perfect way to end one month in Colombia!

What’s The Best Way Of Getting Around Colombia?

If you’re a backpacker, then the best way of getting between most stops is to take night buses.

Not only does it mean you don’t have to pay for accommodation, it also means you get to make the most of your days in each destination.

However, taking flights between places like Bogota and Medellin also makes sense .

Internal flights are cheap in Colombia and you’ll avoid a long bus through the winding roads of the Andes.

For around $30-40 more , it ight be worth it depending on your budget!

My one-month Colombia itinerary has been built around travelling this way so here is a quick guide for you to bear in mind when planning your trip.

My top seven tips for overnight bus travel in Colombia

• Make sure you book a bus that has fully reclining (aka ‘cama’) seats as you’ll be able to sleep more comfortably. Maybe even bring a travel pillow for ultimate comfort!
• Wear warm clothes. The drivers often crank-up the AC and it gets COLD! I’m talking coat, gloves, hat…even a blanket if you can get hold of one!
• Bring an eye mask and ear plugs . They’ll help to block out the lights and noise of the bus, passengers and other vehicles on the road.
• Keep your valuables on your person, hidden . I kept my passport, phone and some money in my bumbag, inside my jacket, under my blanket.
• If you suffer from motion sickness, take your meds! The roads are winding and you’ll need them.
• Pack water and snacks and make sure you’ve had a good meal before you travel. The stops are often remote and the refreshment choices can be limited.
• Ensure you have toilet paper and hand sanitiser with you…thank me later!

What is the best way of booking bus tickets in Colombia?

There are two ways of booking bus tickets: either online or at a bus station , which you can usually book for the same day.

I did both on my trip and wouldn’t say either one was better, it just depended on my mood, my plans or how confident I was with my Spanish!

• Buying tickets online – If you want to book online I recommend Busbud. The advantage of booking online is that you can find out what each bus company offers in terms of luxury (reclining seats, power sockets etc.) so if you want to browse before you buy, this is your best option.
• Buying tickets at a bus station – There will be stands for each bus company selling tickets to a variety of destinations. Look for the stands selling tickets for your next stop, assess the prices and make sure they provide those all-important fully reclining seats!

How To Find Cheap Flights In Colombia

If you want to save time on this 1-month itinerary and fit as much in as possible, then some internal flights are necessary.

For example, from Bogota to Cartagena is a flight I recommend. It takes 1h 30m  and if you book enough in advance you can find flights for as cheap as $50.

I use Way Away Plus to find my flights when travelling around South America. They not only find the best deals but they’ll also give you cash back on each flight.

How To Get To Colombia

Most international flights will fly into Bogota or Cartagena .

From America:

• Miami, Dallas, Atlanta New York and L.A all have flights to Bogota. 
• If you want to fly into Cartagena, you can find flights from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. 

From the U.K:

• You can fly to Bogota from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.
• If you want to start your adventure in Cartagena, you’ll need a stop over in Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Orlando

Is A Month Enough In Colombia?

A month is more than enough in Colombia to see the highlights including Bogota, Medellin and all the best stops on the Caribbean coast such as Cartagena and Santa Marta.

The extra days also gives you time to include the Lost City trek if you want to.

However, I’ve missed out some other popular spots on this itinerary that you may want to visit:

• Cali [link]
• The Amazon (Leticia) [link]
• Barranquilla [link]

If you want to see these places, then you can easily swap out some of my suggestions. Or stay for even longer!

Is Three Weeks Enough For Colombia?

Within three weeks you can spend a week between Bogota and Medellin. That then gives you two weeks to see the Caribbean coast.

You can then spend 10 days in Santa Marta and Palomino on the beach. Then the other 10 days in Cartagena and visiting the San Bernardo Islands.

If you wanted to do the Lost City Trek (5 days) then you would have to sacrifice time in other places. I would recommend a full month if you wanted to do this trek.

Here’s a suggested three-week itinerary for Colombia:

• Day 1-3 – Bogota
• Day 4-7 – Medellin / Guatape
• Day 8-10 – Santa Marta
• Day 11-13 – Taganga
• Day 14-16 – Palomino
• Day 17-21 – Cartagena

Is Two Weeks Enough For Colombia?

If you’re a city person, then two weeks is a great amount of time to see Bogota, Medellin and then Cartagena.

If you prefer the beach, then two weeks is also the perfect amount of time to explore the coast and go from Cartagena to Santa Marta to Palomino.

However, I wouldn’t recommend visiting every place I’ve outlined in this post as you won’t get much time in each place and most of your time will be spent moving around.

Here’s a suggested two-week itinerary for Colombia:

• Day 1-2 – Bogota
• Day 3-5 – Medellin / Guatape
• Day 6-8 – Santa Marta
• Day 9-10 – Palomino
• Day 11-14 – Cartagena

Is A Week Enough For Colombia?

One week is only enough time to see two cities , for example Bogota and Medellin, or Bogota and Cartagena.

I would recommend spending as little time in Bogota as possible as places like Cartagena or Santa Marta have much more going on.

For example:

• Day 3-4 – Cartagena
• Day 5-6 – San Bernardo Islands (from Cartagena)
• Day 7 – Bogota

Or for a more action packed week itinerary in Colombia:

• Day 1 – Bogota
• Day 2-3 – Santa Marta / Tayrona National Park
• Day 4 – Minca
• Day 5-6 – Palomino
• Day 7 – Return to Bogota

If you can fly into Cartagena then even better as a week on the Caribbean coast is ideal. Here’s how I’d do it:

• Day 1-3 – Cartagena (with a day trip to the San Bernardo Islands)
• Day 4-5 – Santa Marta (with a day trip to Tayrona National Park)
• Day 6 – Palomino or Minca
• Day 7 – Return To Cartagena 

When's The Best Time To Visit Colombia?

When it comes to planning your Colombian adventure, here are some things to consider:

• January and February are two of the best months to enjoy the best weather. July and August are also great months to go. With sunny days and warm temperatures, these months offer ideal conditions for exploring Colombia’s diverse landscapes and captivating cities.
• Additionally, the shoulder seasons of March and September can also provide favorable conditions, blending warm weather with fewer crowds , ideal for backpackers looking for the best deals on tours and accommodation.
• Rainy season includes all the grey months below. You’ll still have warm weather on the Caribbean coast but you’ll have short, heavy downfalls of rain most days

When's The Best Time To Visit South America?

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What To Pack For Colombia

Colombia is a hot country year-round so you’ll want to pack for warm weather and beach activities.

I usually take shorts, vests and a couple of t-shirts for the nights. I also take a pair of nice trousers for visiting fancier restaurants in Medellin.

If you want to do the Lost City Trek, then I recommend taking hiking gear too. Here’s my load out:

• Hydroflask Water Bottle – super lightweight and designed especially for hiking . You can drink the tap water in Colombia so this is a great way to stay hydrated. 
• Patagonia R1 Mid-layer Fleece – lightweight but warm, perfect for cold evenings when you’re up in the mountains. Mens |  Womens
• Patagonia 3L Torrentshell Waterproof – lightweight and packs down easily. Go for UNIQLO if you want budget versions but still high quality.  Mens | Womens
• Mountain Warehouse Waterproof Hiking Boots – go into the store and try these on first. Always go a size higher as your feet swell up when hiking. Go for waterproof too! It’s much better being able to walk through streams and big puddles without getting wet feet.
• Merino Wool Hiking Socks – warm and odour resistant so you can wear for a couple of days. You want a thick pair of socks for hiking so you don’t get blisters. You can get these from mountain warehouse. They usually do 3 for the price of 2 in store too!

What's The Best Sim Card For Colombia?

I stopped using physical SIM cards a few years ago when reliable e-SIMs hit the market.

Airalo is my favourite eSIM for travelling around Colombia and South America in general.

Here’s why:

• Save Money – No more high roaming bills with access to the best eSIMs (digital SIM cards) for every country in South America!
• Easy – No more stress trying to buy a physical SIM. You can download and install a data pack and get connected as soon as you land. 

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Like Bayf, I love travelling in all its guises, but South America really stole my heart, particularly Colombia. The fact I stuck around in one place (Taganga, Santa Marta) for a few months might have had something to do with it, as I felt like I could immerse myself in life a bit more than when you’re constantly in transit. I found the people to be friendly and welcoming, the landscape and wildlife to be awe-inspiring and the party…well the party never ends in Colombia! I’ll be your guide for Colombia and a few other things from a female-solo-backpacker perspective. Vamos a Colombia amigos!

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Home » blogs » Perfect 1 Month Itinerary For Colombia [Colombia Travel Guide] 

Perfect 1 Month Itinerary For Colombia [Colombia Travel Guide] 

Colombia is an incredibly beautiful country. Once only really known internationally for cocaine, coffee and civil war, Colombia has turned itself around. It is now dismantling its negative reputation and is a haven for travellers and expats alike. It ranks as many people’s favourite South American country, and I can’t help but agree with this. Colombia’s strength is in its variety. Every place you visit feels like a different country. In one small country you get beaches, jungles, glistening snowy mountains, lush coffee plantations, thick subtropical forest, vibrant and interesting cities, adorable colourful towns, loads of history and culture, very friendly people, and so much more! Here’s my 1 month itinerary for Colombia covering the very best bits.

A non-rushed itinerary for Colombia

There is so much to do in Colombia. Often travellers get a little overwhelmed and end up trying to do way too much. I’ve read a lot of travel bloggers who do try to do everything in a month. They end up moving every single day and spending zero time in each place. 

I’ve created an itinerary for Colombia that covers most of the best bits without rushing too much. I just don’t think you can really get to understand a country if you zoom around it, changing places every single day and spending all your time on buses. But that’s just me. 

In this itinerary for Colombia, I’ve given a recommended minimum amount of days for each place, remember this is a minimum. As I spent 4 months in Colombia, I stayed in most of these places longer. I’ve also given you a few extra days to play with and recommended a few extra places you can go to if you’d like to extend your time in a certain region. Because let’s face it – when travelling, flexibility is great! You never know when you might meet someone you want to spend a bit more time with or discover a place you never want to leave.

Things you must know about Colombia

Colombia is turning itself around.

Many still assume it’s full of drugs, kidnappings, guerrillas and violence. Yes, Colombia is not the safest country in the world. But much of the stuff people hear of Colombia is in the past or at least rarely impacts the tens of thousands of tourists that now head there. 

This is not to say Colombia doesn’t still have it’s problems. The drug trade and paramilitaries still exist, a high percentage of the population live in poverty and petty crime is common. And social leaders and politicians who are trying to implement change are still targeted and assassinated.

However, the days of all powerful cartels are no more. Major crime rates are decreasing, kidnapping has been reduced by over 90% since the cartel days and poverty rates are reducing. Colombia is a country turning itself around. 

Warm, kind people

Colombians are friendly, warm and kind. During my 4 months in Colombia, I experienced countless moments of kindness. Despite the horror faced by their country’s dark and bloody history, Colombians are on the whole unexpectedly up-beat people, who love to explore Colombia, party and spend time with friends and family. 

When I asked a Colombian how this could be, the explanation given was that Colombians had so little joy in recent memory that they hold onto these moments as they are precious. As this guy pointed out, if Colombians can find some joy even in the darkest days, maybe we all can.

The papaya rule

Colombians have a little saying, “no dar papaya”. This saying is referring to petty crime. “No dar papaya” is not actually about tasty fruit, it’s about your valuables. If you have your valuables out on show (your tasty papaya), someone will want your valuables (your tasty papaya) and potentially take it. So do as Colombians suggest, keep your phone, camera, wallet, money or whatever possessions you hold dear away! Here are some awesome products you can get to help you stay safe and secure whilst travelling . We followed the papaya rule in Colombia and had no issues. 

1 month itinerary for Colombia

This itinerary for Colombia is a baseline, with the days adding up to less than a month. You can then choose the extras you want to do from suggested nearby areas or from the further list at the bottom. This means if you are a chilled out traveller like us, you can spend longer in places, or if you want to do loads, you can also do that!

Itinerary for Colombia: Map

First on our itinerary for Colombia is Bogota. Bogota is the vibrant capital of Colombia, and usually the starting point for travellers. It’s a city travellers seem to love or hate. I spent 5 weeks learning Spanish in Bogota, and loved the city despite the noise and traffic.

Trundling through La Candelaria (the old town), I admired the colourful houses and street art. Within La Candelaria there is a pretty square, which is where the city of Bogota grew from. It’s often packed with musicians, a market and comedians. In La Candelaria there are plenty of cosy restaurants and vibrant bars. 

In Bogota, you can explore the stunning Simon Bolivar Park and take a trip up Monserrate Hill on the cable car, which is totally worth doing for the views. The museum and gallery scene is impressive.  The Gold Museum explores the meaning of gold for Colombia’s indigenous communities historically and the cosmological beliefs of these communities. Did you know some groups believed in three worlds and that humans can become animals through wearing certain decorations?

Fernando Botero is probably Colombia’s most famous artist. Seeing his work in the flesh at Museo Botero really makes you appreciate the talent of this artist. Both the War and Peace Tour by Beyond Bogota and the Bogota Graffiti Tour are totally worth doing and the guides are truly experts on their subjects. 

Yes, Bogota traffic is awful and you should keep your valuables hidden (phone theft is rife) but this shouldn’t detract from what Bogota offers. Here are 18 awesome and unique things to do in Bogota, Colombia.  

Where we stayed in Bogota: 

We stayed in  CGH Hostel and Casa Del Arbol in Bogota. Both had super friendly owners, were comfortable and very well located in La Candelaria. I do recommend only staying in this area to get the best experience from Bogota. 

Taganga felt unsafe and after a massive rainfall, the beach ended up covered in plastic waste from the town. I know some people like it there. It’s raw I guess (aside from the main touristy street along the front) but I felt on edge. 

James visited Taganga 5 years ago, and said it was very different. He said that the town had been left to fall into disrepair. It’s been neglected by the authorities, it barely has roads and no running water. I felt sorry for the place, but it also wasn’t somewhere I felt comfortable. 

Santa Marta was nicer  and the best location to go to Tayrona, Minca and the Lost City Trek. Compared to Taganga, there are a lot more restaurant options and it feels safer. 

Next on our itinerary for Colombia is Tayrona National Park. Tayrona National Park is a beautiful national park and a must see on any itinerary for Colombia. Shakira even sings about how beautiful it is in some of her earlier songs! 

The scenery is stunning. It’s a mix of jungle, beach and sea. It is touristy as the beaches are very popular, but not tourists-covering-every-square-inch-of-the-beach touristy! The most popular beach takes a fair few hours to walk to, so that probably manages the flow of people. 

I do not recommend just doing a day trip to Tayrona National Park, you won’t be able to appreciate it properly. I recommend staying 1 or 2 nights. Despite all the tourists, for me it was really worth a visit. We got extremely lucky and spotted a jaguarundi (a type of big cat) just outside our campsite when we walked back through the jungle at night.  We met monkeys, swam in the sea and did a number of walks within the park. Sadly we couldn’t visit the Mini Lost City as the route was closed when we visited in April 2019. 

There are a number of places you can stay in Tayrona National Park . We chose to stay in a tent in Don Pedro, but you can also stay in hammocks. You don’t have to bring your own tent, all campsites in Tayrona National Park have pre-set up tents. The campsite was fine, much better than Cabo San Juan (the most popular campsite) in my opinion as the tents weren’t in the direct sun and it wasn’t such a trek from the entrance. 

Don Pedro campsite isn’t right next to the beach, but it’s closer to our favourite beach which was La Piscina, which is far less busy than Cabo San Juan and swimmable. 

If you want more luxury, EcoHabs are available too but come with a hefty price tag. Quite a few of the beaches in Tayrona are not swimmable, so check out which beaches are swimmable and don’t put yourself in danger. There are some violent looking waves! 

You can get a bus to Tayrona National Park directly from Santa Marta Central Market where you will find buses that leave approximately every 30 minutes. Make sure you get there early by either 8am – 9am as the park can get full and has a certain capacity. 

The bus will take you to the first entrance, where you will pay for a ticket and collect your wristband. You then need to either walk to the second entrance of the park or catch the collectivo (mini bus). If you decide to walk it’s about an hour, and then from the second entrance it was about an hour and a half to Don Pedro campsite and a couple of hours to Cabo San Juan. 

You can get a horse though if you don’t feel like walking, but I did think the horses didn’t seem in amazing condition.

As an add on for this itinerary for Colombia, from Santa Marta, you can also do the famous Lost City Trek. This is a 4-6 day trek in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. 

During this trek, you venture through dry and dusty dunes and then jungles to get to the Lost City. The Lost City (called Teyuna) was built by the “Taironas” in 800 AD, way before the arrival of the Spanish in the region. It has unique terrace architecture. 

If you’d like to do this trek, you need to get yourself a guide. It costs around $300 – $350USD per person. 

Make sure you bring clothes for all weather. The first bit can be dry and hot, but it can also be rainy in the jungle so bring a spare set of clothes. Oh and get a good pair of trekking shoes (I have an awesome pair of Salomon shoes , remember to go a size up though!). 

Just a mere 45 minutes along a windy mountain road from Santa Marta is Minca. Minca is nestled in the jungle covered mountains and is a completely different world from Santa Marta. This little town should be on your itinerary for Colombia.

It’s a great place for independent trekking, visiting waterfalls and coffee plantations. A lot of people take motorbikes around to see the different attractions, but I genuinely loved walking up and down the hilly paths and taking in the beauty of the area. 

El Paraiso Coffee and Chocolate Finca has some beautiful views and you can learn about the coffee and chocolate making process, along with getting a chocolate face mask.  Casa Elemento is up a massive hill, but worth the trek as it has big hammocks you can sit in, drink beer and admire the views. If you head slightly down from the main hammocks you might even get a hammock all to yourself.

Cascada Marinca is a pretty waterfall. It has two tiers, one in which you can jump in. Cascada Marinca is also a two-tiered waterfall in the area. Whilst Casa Pozo Azul is free, Cascada Marinca waterfall is not. I don’t think it was worth the money though as there isn’t any pool to swim in and you can only just duck your head under the waterfall.

Minca is unique in the sense that it is at the cutting edge of modern tourism in Colombia. 10 years ago you would not have considered visiting this little village, despite being so close to Santa Marta and Tayrona National Park. The area around Minca was a no-go zone battleground for some of the most violent aspects of Colombia’s civil war. It really shows how much the situation in the country has changed, as Minca is safe and very popular with tourists these days. 

Where we stayed in Minca: 

Coco Bomgo was lovely. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The rooms are basic but affordable. The breakfast changed up everyday and always is a traditional Colombian one. Other guests at the hostel were friendly and the hostel in general just had a welcoming atmosphere. 

Cartagena is on most people’s travel itinerary for Colombia. It is probably the most visited place in Colombia and is popular with cruise ships. It was one of the few places in Colombia which was visitable throughout the years of conflict. It’s friggin boiling hot and by the sea. Despite being touristy, Cartagena’s old Town really is a feast for the eyes. You can wander around the colourful streets and admire the cute balconies, windows and climbing plants covering the streets…until you almost suffer from heatstroke and desperately have to find some aircon. 

We heard negative things about the islands off Cartagena, that the beaches were packed with tourists and you get hassled a lot. If you want lovely Colombian beaches, see the ones at Tayrona National Park. We decided to give the Cartagena islands a miss, partly because of this information and also because I picked up a vomiting bug so couldn’t leave the guesthouse. 

Cartagena Fort is very impressive. It has been kept in amazing condition (it was rebuilt after falling into disrepair in the 1900s). Don’t miss the informative (and at times ridiculous/hypocritical) video, shown in a hut at the top, to the left of the fort. The air conditioning in the hut is also incredible!

Next on our itinerary for Colombia is Medellin. Medellin was once known as one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Medellin isn’t the prettiest city, but has lots to offer. It’s a favourite city amongst expats, this is probably to do with the trendy and wealthy area known as Poblado. 

The Museo de Antioquia, which holds the biggest collection of Botero paintings in the world and the Botero Plaza is totally worth visiting. Botero is one of Colombia’s most famous and loved painters. Seeing his work in real life really makes you appreciate the uniqueness and talent of this artist.

One of the top things to do in Medellin is a walking tour. But not a Pablo Escobar Tour; considering the death and destruction Escobar caused during his life and the sorrow many people in Medellin still experience from the loss of loved ones. For a balanced, nuanced and insightful tour of the city and its dark history, go for Real Tours Medellin and take a downtown tour. I did a lot of walking tours in Colombia, and this one was one of the best. It’s brutally honest, funny, but also heart breaking in parts. 

The Museum of Memories Medellin has been set up in memory of the lives lost or destroyed during the conflict in Colombia. It’s powerful stuff. If you aren’t a fluent Spanish speaker, make sure to download the app and the English guide before you venture around the museum.  

It’s worth taking the very long cable car all the way up to Arvi Park. The cable car gives you spectacular views across the city and then you get to travel over the forest canopy for several kilometers. To do the walks in Arvi Park you either need a guide or you need to download Maps.Me. The routes are really badly marked. I’ve also pulled together a guide for a very scenic walk in Arvi Park , it was like walking through a fairy tale. 

Often visitors take a day trip from Medellin to Guatape. This is a long day, but I don’t really think Guatape is worth spending any longer than that. We stayed for 3 days and this was too long. It is colourful and pretty, but so touristy and a bit trashy.  I can imagine that back in the day it was pretty special, but now you get touted endlessly at shops and restaurants (which isn’t actually that common in Colombia). Guatape has lost its authenticity. 

Many people visit Guatape to climb the staircase up to the Rock of Guatape. I am sure the view is lovely on a clear day, but it was absolutely tipping it down when we visited.

The hidden gem that is Jardin is a mere few hours away from Medellin, but most tourists don’t know about it so miss it out on their itinerary for Colombia. What a mistake. Deep in cowboy country, Jardin is authentic, colourful and quaint. It’s surrounded by lush green mountains.

In Jardin, you can soar through the air like a bird as you try out paragliding, visit enchanting waterfalls such as the one in Cueva del Esplendor, drink beers in the plaza with the local cowboys, horse ride past coffee and banana plantations and so much more. Jardin was one of my favourite places in Colombia (and probably the world) and a wonderful place to relax. Here are 11 unmissable things to do in beautiful Jardin . 

Salento is next on our itinerary for Colombia and is home to the famous Valle De Cocora, where the mountainside is lined with palm trees. Salento is far more touristy than humble Jardin, but both are beautiful. 

The countryside surrounding Salento is divine, as is the laid-back feel and the colourful Salento houses. Salento is in ranching country, so locals wear cowboy hats and drink coffee from massive vats set on the counter of bars. We were only meant to spend 3 days here, but extended it to 5. Opps! 

Salento is famous for trekking and horse riding, with the most famous trek being in the Valle De Cocora. This trek through the jungle to the palm trees is so pretty it almost made me drool. Many people skip doing the whole trek through the jungle, but it’s worth doing, particularly to visit the hummingbird sanctuary. Another glorious (and often missed) trek is to Santa Rita La Cascada, which you can do directly from Salento. 

Salento also has some beautiful coffee plantations, which you can visit and have a tour. We visited one of the more popular ones, Finca El Ocaso Salento . If you visit, make sure you have a coffee in the cafe afterwards as it has a spectacular view. I recommend walking to this finca if you can, it’s along a peaceful road with breathtaking views. 

Where we stayed in Salento: 

El Zorzal is a low key guest house in a delightful setting. The garden is full of clucking chickens and a strong willed rooster, not too mention Toni the friendly giant tiger-skinned dog! The staff are friendly and the rooms are basic but comfortable and you can while away the hours in the garden watching the amazing birds that Colombia is famous for. 

From Salento, you can do a multi-day trek into Los Nevados National Park to see the out-of-this-world páramo (high mountain plains). This trek should have been amazing, but for us it rained for the entire 4 days. The accommodation is super basic, so we couldn’t dry our clothes and the whole experience was pretty cold, wet and miserable.

It’s tricky to trek in Los Nevados National Natural Park without a guide, as the guest houses get full and the guides call ahead. We did our trek with Paramo Trek Salento . This company is good, but in the terrible weather and cold, I found some things were overlooked.

Itinerary for Colombia: Other places i n Colombia worth visiting

Colombia has so much to offer. We loved it so much and there was so much to do, we spent 4 whole months there. I’d go back again in a heartbeat. In fact it is one of my favourite countries on earth. Other places worth visiting in Colombia are:

Villa De Leyva is a 4 or 5 hours bus ride away from Bogota. It’s got cute, whitewashed colonial buildings and a scenic plaza. The town has numerous museums, one being a dinosaur and fossil one (Museo Paleontológico). You can climb up to the Jesus Statue on a hill to a viewpoint. Or you can venture to the nearby La Periquera and trek past 7 waterfalls. Pozo Azules are a series of bright blue sulphuric pools and are a short trek just outside of Villa De Leyva.

If you are an adventure sports enthusiast and adrenaline junkie, San Gil is for you. You can kayak, white water raft, paraglide, go canyoning and caving, try out waterfall repelling and so much more. Once you’ve worn out your adrenaline levels, you can visit the local Barichara to wander around the colonial town and hike the Camino Real. Parque El Gallineral (also known as Bosque El Gallineral, Isla Del Amor and Bella Isla) is worth taking a stroll around, it has some pretty interesting and ghostly looking trees.

Popayán (known as La Ciudad Blanca or The White City) is in western Colombia. It’s renowned for its whitewashed colonial buildings and Easter week parades. It’s a little off-the-beaten track, and there’s so much more to this historic city and its surrounding area than what most travel blogs flag up. Here are the best things to do in Popayan . 

San Agustin is home to various archaeological sites, such as the pre-Columbian statues, burial sites and various other artifacts from indigenous communities dating back 6,000 years ago. You can see the beautiful surrounding countryside on multi-day horse riding trips and explore the Magdalena River, with its various canyons and waterfalls. Or you can chill the F out like we did in one of the best hostels we found on our South American trip.

The town of Leticia itself is nothing to write home about, it’s what surrounds it which matters. Colombia has literally everything – snowy mountains, beaches, cool cities, quaint towns AND the Amazon jungle. I’d say you can’t visit South America without going to the world’s largest rain-forest. It’s full of incredible plants and animals, and obviously lots of killer bugs and snakes. You can get excursions into the Amazon in Leticia, these usually involve staying in a jungle lodge, going on jungle treks and boat trips. Leticia is the point where Colombia meets Peru and Brazil, you can access both these countries easily from here. And even take the 1 week amazon boat to Manaus like we did .

Whilst in Leticia, do make sure you visit the Parque Santander at 5:15pm to watch the millions of birds come to roost. It is absolutely mind-blowing.

San Andrés is a teeny little island nearer to Nicaragua than Colombia. It’s got more of a Caribbean vibe than a Colombian one, and has white sand beaches with crystal clear waters. San Andrés is more English speaking than the rest of Colombia. It’s popular with scuba divers, but it is extremely popular with Colombian tourists more than anything so can get pretty busy.

Popular activities on the island include cruises to see manta rays and tropical fish, diving, renting a bike to explore the island or just chilling on the beach. San Andrés can be a little pricey, particularly compared to other parts of Colombia. And obviously being an island in the middle of the Caribbean ocean, you have to fly there. You can fly from most main city airports in Colombia.

Getting around Colombia: Transport

I absolutely love Colombia, but at times it can be a little bit of a pain getting around. It’s pretty small compared to other South American countries (such as Brazil and Argentina) however still a lot bigger than somewhere like the UK. Transport however is pretty affordable, whatever you decide to do.

Planes are affordable, but beware of weight limits for bags or you will end up spending a lot of money.  I recommend Latam airlines, although they are not the cheapest they tend to not have lots of hidden costs. Latam are safe and well managed.

You can get between most destinations by bus, but journeys can be long and tiresome. They often take far longer than expected, on uncomfortable buses. The buses in Colombia are certainly not the worst in the world, particularly compared to those in Asia (*cough* Nepal), but they aren’t the best. They are often sticky, hot and a bit broken.

Sadly, there are no working train lines in Colombia.

In most cities (Bogota, Medellin and Cali) you can use Uber. Although Uber is not strictly legal (the driver will ask you to sit in the front seat), it’s often safer than getting a taxi. In the main cities, do avoid getting taxis off the street. You can pick them up from bus stations and airports at the taxi points. Some places such as Jardin and Guatape you can take tuk tuks (auto rickshaws).

We spent 4 months in Colombia and felt very safe. Keep your valuables out of sight as petty crime is the most common offence against tourists. Oh and try not to wander around the cities at night at 3am on your own. Largely Colombia is pretty safe and plenty of tourists visit without any issues. Do always check the Foreign Office Colombia travel advice page , as Colombia is a bit of a mixed bag. Some areas are safe, whilst there are others you should probably avoid.

Cost of travelling in Colombia

Colombia is a pretty affordable South American country. We spent £880 ($1,030 USD) per person per month which included all activities, transport, accommodation and food. Obviously as a couple our costs are reduced slightly as we can share the cost of a room, but we also didn’t go for the cheapest accommodation.

We stayed largely in budget private rooms with an en-suite and paid £10 to £20 ($13 to $26 USD) per night. You can get budget dorm beds from £5 to £10 ($6.45 – $13) per night depending on where you are in Colombia. Both Cartagena and Bogota (La Candelaria) can be a little bit more pricey then the rest of Colombia. The accommodation, even the budget stuff, tends to be of a high quality. If you’ve got a bit more money to spend, you really can get some absolutely gorgeous hotels.

Also, most activities such as learning Spanish, scuba diving and paragliding are very affordable and a lot cheaper than you can get elsewhere (in Brazil or Peru for example).

A few things to note about Colombia

Venezuelan crisis .

As you may know, the situation in Venezuela has escalated in recent years. Over 4 million people have left Venezuela, with millions ending up in Colombia. 

On the streets of many Colombian cities, you’ll see Venezuelans selling sweets or begging, often young couples with children. These aren’t the usual homeless people, where it is advised that you donate to homeless charities to avoid them using the money for abuse substances which could lead to their death. 

Giving money to Venezuelans

We often gave money to Venezuelans. Although, I understand that it’s not a long-term solution. It’s something to help make day-to-day life easier. Colombians often do the same and have historically been welcoming to Venezuelans, as Colombians (and other Latin American citizens) often fled to Venezuela during their own decades of violent conflict. 

Although due to the sheer level of people entering the country, Colombians are becoming less welcoming and aid agencies struggle to keep pace with the swell of refugees . Sadly attacks on Venezuelans are escalating. As is the level of people taking advantage of the situation through human trafficking and slavery. The UN Refugee Agency continues to urgently seek funding to help support countries like Colombia . 

Sexual exploitation

Colombia recently has had a surge in tourism. This is fantastic news for a country recovering from years of civil conflict and violence. Many Colombians express delight that tourists feel safe to visit and are often proud of the progress Colombia is making as a country. 

Sadly, with tourism there has been a surge of sexual exploitation of children. In Cartagena, a “rape tour” has recently been exposed, where tourists were taken around the city to rape children. Some Westerners and other tourists, rather than spending their money on positive things within a country use their power and money to abuse locals. It’s disgusting and sickening. 

The Colombian government has launched a scheme to protect children from sexual exploitation and asks tourists (and locals) to report anything they see that involves a child and seems suspicious. 

Report anything suspicious 

If you do see anything suspicious during your travels in Colombia, report it or call the Colombian police on 123. If you can’t speak Spanish, ask your hotel or a local tour company to help you out. As all hotels and legit tour companies have also signed up to the scheme to help tackle the abuse. 

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2 comments on “ Perfect 1 Month Itinerary For Colombia [Colombia Travel Guide]  ”

Great blog Lara. I have a friend that is going to go to Colombia so will forward your blog to her. Maybe one day I’ll be able to get there too. Your links within your blogs are really useful. Enjoy planning your next trip!

I totally think you should visit, hopefully we will be over there again when you do!

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Three Mind-Blowing Colombia Itineraries For One & Two Weeks

By Author Tom Osborne

Posted on Last updated: 6th October 2023

Fancy heading to a country which has it all? Colombia is the place for you. Whether you love sitting on a beach and swimming in warm tranquil waters, climbing mountains, tasting delicious food, chocolate or coffee, exploring ancient ruins or trekking through jungles – Colombia has something for everyone.

Visiting Colombia is perfect for a vacation or make it a longer adventure backpacking through Colombia.

As a huge country, it does require you to move around if you want to appreciate all of its diversity and the following Colombia travel itineraries aim to help you do just that!

The routes below for traveling through Colombia help you to navigate all of the most fascinating places to see and things to do , with options for a week, ten-day or two-week stay. 

All are aimed at being both accessible and helping you to minimize your travel time. To help you travel as sustainably and environmentally-friendly as possible, I’ve tried to keep flights far and few between. 

Click to navigate this article:

How to plan a trip to and travel around Colombia

• Colombia is a big place. Whenever travelling remember: less is more. Plan your Colombia itinerary to allow you to take your time and get to know the culture and the places you are visiting before jumping on a bus or plane to your next spot. 
• Flying is a relatively affordable means for traveling through Colombia, particularly if you book in advance. It can save you a lot of time, too. There are a few different airlines and most routes are serviced by more than one. It is not uncommon to find a one-way flight between Santa Marta and Medellin for as little as $40-$60 USD, for example. Key airlines: Copa, Avianca, Satena and LATAM (Check for the best prices via Skyscanner.com ) Some will include baggage in their fare but others won’t. Be sure to check this before you book!
• Buses are also really reasonable in price per distance traveled. However, a lot of the routes are very long and some are notorious for pickpockets. I never had any problems but we did meet people who had had items stolen from their bag whilst they were sleeping on the route between Cali and the Ecuadorian border. To keep yourself and your items safe, carry a money belt (applicable for any travel in Colombia), and if you have to take a night bus, make sure your valuables are on your person at all times. 
• Wherever you are coming from, you may well have to fly into Bogotá. Colombia has so many incredible places to see; sadly Bogotá is not one of them. If you can, try to begin your trip in Medellin, Cartagena or even Cali. If you are flying into Bogotá, you can easily take a connecting flight elsewhere. 

One week in Colombia itinerary 

Medellin – guatape – jardin – salento .

There is so much to see and do in Colombia; however, for me, the area around Medellin is the absolute highlight.

This Colombia travel itinerary couples the country’s most interesting city with the coffee-growing mountains around Salento and Jardin .

If you are looking for a Colombia itinerary to help you explore this glorious country in one week, this is where to head. 

Days One and Two: Medellin

Medellin is one of the most notorious cities on the planet and also one of my absolute favorites. It’s a vibrant, youthful city that is the capital of the Paisa region – whose people are known for their remarkable hospitality. 

Book yourself in advance on the walking tour with Real City Tours for your first morning in Medellin. The tours start at 9.14am, 10.24am or in the afternoon at 2.19pm (yup, seriously) and are free but, like most others in cities across South America, run on tips – which you will definitely want to do.

The guides are engaging, personable and thorough in their explanations of the journey of Colombia for the past 100 years or so. They are frank and mainly from Medellin so they have first-hand stories of the tragedies that have taken place here.

In the afternoon, head out to the gondola, which takes you up into Park Arvi for a spectacular view over the city. To get there, take Metro line A up to Acevedo before changing onto line K (the gondola). Once you get to the end of line K, you’ll transfer again onto line L. A ticket on this gondola is $6,000 COL ($1.80 USD) each way. 

Top Tip: If you only want to ride up and straight back down again, you only need one ticket. If you get off the gondola and want to walk around the park, you’ll have to pay again.

Medellin is well known for its lively nightlife. If you’re staying in El Poblado , you’ll be right near the heart of the action. Check out three great bars: El Social (Carrera 35#8a-8) has a more local vibe, Mad Radio (Calle 8a # 33 – 40) has good and sometimes live music (it is a radio station too!) and great cocktails, and Panorama (Calle 8 # 34 – 33) also has great cocktails and a lovely view of the city.

For later on there are many clubs offering loads of different music styles. Try Calle 9+1 for everything from underground house to disco and techno.

On your second day in Medellin, head to Comuna 13 , which was the nucleus of the cocaine empire that once existed in this city until the early 90s.

It’s now perfectly safe and boasts a newly installed set of escalators, which takes you up the hillside and graffiti from some of the most talented street artists from Colombia and across the world. 

There are plenty of free tour options. Or, if you’ve already been on the Real City walking tour, I’d recommend heading to Comuna 13 by yourself and exploring it on foot.

To get there, hop on the Metro to San Javier (orange line out of San Antonio) and then punch in “ Escalator Comuna 13 ” on Google Maps, or click here. It’s perfectly safe during the day to walk around (you’ll see plenty of other tourists) or you can hop in a local taxi or Uber. 

Top Tip: as you head up the hill towards the start of the escalators along Carrera 109, make sure you stop off at the small empanada shack with a blue sign above it. The lady selling them is delightful and so are her empanadas !

In the afternoon head to the botanical gardens to see the nicest park in the city, full of beautiful flowers attracting plenty of birds. To get there, take the Metro to Universidad.

Feeling peckish? Check out the restaurant in the middle called IN SITU for good food in a sea of tranquillity – a great escape from the madness of the city.

Depending on when you are in Medellin, you may be able to catch an Atletico Nacional football match. The team aren’t amazing but the atmosphere is incredible. Tickets are super reasonable ranging from around $18,000 – $40,000 COP ($5-$12 USD). You can buy them at the stadium before the game.

Where to stay in Medellin: There are plenty of brilliant places to stay in Medellin ; we recommended the art-inspired 23 Hotel , with its spherical windows and mountain views from the bathroom!

Day Three: Guatapé 

On the third day of this Colombia travel itinerary, you’ll want to head out on a day trip to the beautiful town of Guatapé . Sitting on a lakeside, this quaint town is just two hours from Medellin and is perfect for a day trip.

The highlight here is a hike up to the top of El Peñol for spectacular views of the huge lake, considered one of the most picturesque in all of South America . It costs 18,000 COP ($5.30 USD) to hike El Peñol and you can buy drinks and snacks at the bottom or at the cafe at the top. Spend the rest of your day wandering the beautiful streets or grab a coffee and chill in one of the plazas.

To get to Guatapé take a bus from Terminal Norte , which is located next to the Caribe Metro Station on Line A. Tickets are sold at either booth #9 or #14 in the terminal and shouldn’t cost more than $15,000 COP ($4.50 USD). Once on the bus you can choose to be dropped in the town center or at El Peñol. 

Days Four and Five: Jardín

From Medellin, hop on a bus to Jardín . Tickets should be $27,000 COP ($8 USD). It takes three hours or so and departs from Terminal Sur .

Jardín was one of my absolute favorite places in all of Colombia (read our complete guide to Jardín ). It is delightfully set in the mountains, surrounded by the greenery of the banana and coffee plantations. The town is quiet and rustic and the plaza in the middle is completely idyllic – perfect for grabbing a coffee or two and sitting for a few hours in the morning. 

After some lunch head off on an easy stroll up through the banana and coffee plantations to the old yellow gondola, Garrucha . Here is a route map .

Chill out for a bit in the cafe at the top of the gondola, which boasts lovely views over the town and the surrounding mountains. Head back down in the gondola $7,500 COP ($2.30 USD) per person, as it rattles just over the top of a plantation. It’s quite an experience!

A great way to spend an hour or so wandering around and getting your twitching fix is in the Parque Nacional Jardin de Rocas. You can see the strange but beautiful (and wonderfully named!) Andean cock-of-the-rock, as well as hundreds of smaller and beautifully colored birds dancing around the flowers and fruit left out for them to eat.

Entrance is 10,000 COP ($3USD). The website claims you should contact them in advance to book a spot to visit, however, we just turned up rang the bell and the owner came out and greeted us with a warm smile.

If you fancy a sweet treat in the late afternoon, head to Dulces Del Jardin , a family-run dulceria which is famous for its arequipe , a sweet spread a lot like dulce de leche . They also do a cracking pana cota and arroz con leche (rice pudding).

Days Six and Seven: Salento 

Nestled in the Los Nevados mountains, the beautifully picturesque town of Salento is surrounded by lush green fields and plantations. This is the beating heart of Colombia’s coffee-growing region, where you can learn why this is one of the best places on earth for coffee beans. 

Take a jeep from the plaza in the center of town and head out to one of the many fincas (coffee estates). Don Elias is a small, family-run finca, with a short but personal tour that leaves hourly. Finca El Ocaso is bigger, with a longer tour which goes into more detail about the coffee-making process, from berry to cup.

Both give you a good idea of how it all works. All the cafes around Salento will serve great coffee if you just want to drink as much as you can.

Another top thing to do in Colombia is play the national game, tejo . This game is essentially throwing rocks at gunpowder and Salento is supposedly where it comes from. Head to one of the two best spots: Bar Danubio (pool upstairs, tejo downstairs) or Los Amigos.

Don’t be afraid to get involved. The laws of the game are written in English and the people working there are super friendly and helpful. Most importantly, the beers are cheap and the rum measures are large! Plus, if you hit that gunpowder, it’s utterly exhilarating. 

Finally, the Cocora Valley hike is one of the highlights in all of Colombia. Here you can walk amongst the tallest palm trees in the world. The trail is essentially a loop with a small detour halfway to a gorgeously situated finca that sells wonderful coffee and hot chocolate for you to sip on as you watch hummingbirds dancing around you.

Read our complete guide to Los Nevados National Park for more information.

To get here:

• Get an early jeep from Salento (they leave at half past the hour every hour from 6.30am from the main square and cost $3,600 COP ($1USD)); you will avoid the tours this way.
• Begin the loop by heading down the right side. The track up this side is narrow and a bit muddy and there is one point where you have to negotiate a steep hill. By starting on the right, you go up the narrow, occasionally muddy track instead of down – something you’ll likely find easier. 

Top Tip: Get a jeep ride over to Filandia for an afternoon of people-watching and coffee-drinking in the quaint, beautiful plaza and get amazing views up the mirador tower just a short walk from the town. 

From Salento you can either get a bus back to Bogotá or to Medellin. If heading to Bogotá, you’ll have to go back to Armenia and catch a connecting bus. You can also fly from Armenia to Bogotá, as there are three flights a day. 

If heading to Medellin, there are a number of direct buses from the bus terminal in Salento. The timetable changes regularly so head to the terminal a day or so before you plan to leave to check the times and buy a ticket as the most popular buses can sell out. 

10 Days in Colombia: Travelling through the south

Cali – popayan – san agustin – tatacoa desert – salento.

If you have 10 days in Colombia, start in Cali , heading south on a largely untrodden tourist path.

Here, you can discover the mysterious, ancient pre-Columbian civilizations, watch the sunset over the colonial city of Popayan , star gaze in the desert, and finish in the coffee plantations of Salento.

Days One and Two: Cali 

Spend your first few days of this ten-day travel itinerary getting to grips with Colombia by learning how to salsa like the best of them in Cali.

By day, wander the streets of Barrio San Antonio (the bohemian district in Cali) dotted with cafes and bars and explore the nearby Iglesia de San Antonio (Carrera 10). In the evenings, dance the nights away in the party capital of Colombia.

For the best music, make sure you check out: Zaperoco Salsa Bar ( Ave. 5 Norte #16 ), one of the oldest institutions with great music, so either sit back and listen or get on the floor and dance! La Topa Tolondra ( Calle 5 #13-7 ), is another bustling bar with live music.

Cali isn’t safe to walk around at night, so always take a taxi – Uber works here.

Days Three and Four: Popayan 

Heading south, catch a bus from Cali to Popayan (2.5-4 hours). It follows the Panamerican Highway so the journey is smooth and easy. Multiple services run each day from the bus terminal in Cali.

Spend a day wandering Popayan and exploring its cobbled streets, delightful churches and a picturesque plaza, Caldas Park . The food here is really good too, as it’s home to the particularly moreish empanadas de Pipian , which are filled with potato and served with a delightful peanut and chilli dip. The best place to try them is La Fresa (corner of Calle 5 and Carrera 9).

For sunset, grab a few beers and head up Cerro El Morro for a spectacular view over the city. The climb up the grass bank is pretty steep if you head up from the main street so bring appropriate footwear! Otherwise, you can take the gentler path via Calle 1BN.

For your second day, you have two options:

Visit the famous market in Silvia

Head to the market in Silvia where people from villages in the surrounding mountains congregate every Tuesday. This is more of a food market so you’ll be able to try some local delicacies and empanadas, but the best part is just wandering around, talking to the locals and generally soaking up the atmosphere. 

Most hostels and hotels advertise tours for Silvia, however, the cheapest and best option is to hop on a bus from the Popayan bus terminal. Look for the bus company Coomotoristas.

Buses are frequent throughout the day but it will take over an hour to get to Silvia so head off early to catch the best of the market in the morning. 

Purace National Park

Want to see a condor up close? The Purace National Park is home to three condors as well as a really interesting variety of wildlife. The park ranger will put out some meat on a rock, which juts out from the edge of a cliff to bring the condors closer. 

Unfortunately, bus timetables make this trip impossible to do on your own if you want to really enjoy the park. Therefore, the best option is to take a tour. There are a number of tour operators running these but they appear to change quite often.

We went into the tourist office just off the main plaza in Popoyan and got all the information we needed from there (FYI the tourist office on Google maps is incorrect. You’ll find it on the west side of the plaza ). If you want to book in advance, Popayan Tours run day trips. 

Days Five to Seven: San Agustin 

San Agustin is the best spot in all of Colombia for archaeology. Here, a civilization that we unfortunately know little about existed for some 1,000 years from around 1 AD has left us with hundreds of beautifully carved and well-preserved statues, which are well worth the arduous journey to reach. 

To get to San Agustin from Popayan on what is a slow but scenic drive (roughly four hours), there are a number of departures from the bus terminal in Popayan. The times are subject to change so head to the bus terminal the day before and purchase a ticket.

Note that, while you have a ticket to get you to San Agustin, the bus will not take you all the way there because it will most likely carry on to Pitalito. Don’t panic, the driver will get out and flag down one of the regularly passing collectivos for you, which will take you the rest of the way, for no extra cost.

The following day, head out to the Archaeological Park .  It’s located around five kilometers from town so it is perfectly possible to walk.

Otherwise, it is relatively inexpensive to take a bus or taxi from town. The park is split over a number of different sites and has a brilliant museum, which is a great starting point for any visit. 

A walk up to Chaquira for a bit more archaeology and some great views is highly recommended.

For your second day in this beautiful town, take advantage of a horseback or jeep tour of the other sites around the town. Both take you out into the beautiful countryside and could include: visiting the highest waterfall in Colombia – ‘ Salto de Bordones ‘ – or some of the other amazing archaeological sites in the area, such as Alto de los Ídolos and Alto de Las Piedras . 

Most hostels or hotels will be able to set this up for you so ask at reception. If they don’t, there are tour agencies just off the plaza in town.

Horseback tours should cost between $50,000 COP-$70,000 COP ($15-$20 USD) per person depending on whether you have a private or group tour. For a jeep tour, it will cost between $40,000 COP-$50,000 COP ($12-$15 USD) per person. 

Day Eight: Tatacoa Desert 

From San Agustin, head north to visit the sparse desert-like landscape near Neiva , the Tatacoa Desert . Here, you can cycle through the barren lands in the day, swim in a pool in the middle of the desert and star gaze from an observatory at night.

The Tatacoa Desert is split into two parts: the red and grey. In the morning, cycle out into the grey desert. Aim for the Los Hoyos , which is where the swimming pool is. Next to the pool is a 30-minute walking loop you can do out into the desert to get close to eccentric-shaped sand banks. 

Most hotels and hotels rent bikes for around $4,000 COP ($1.30 USD) per hour. Another option is to hire a tuk-tuk, which will cost around $60,000 COP ($18 USD) for a round trip.

After 4pm the sun will have calmed down a bit so head out into the red desert. Take the trail from the back of La Guaca hostel. There is a map and it is well-signposted along the way.

Later that day, book yourself onto an evening tour of the Astronomical Observatory Tatacoa for a bit of stargazing. 

To get to the Tatacoa Desert from San Agustin, it’s a bit of an adventure, but completely worth it!

First take a jeep as early as you can from San Agustin to Pitalito, they depart from the corner of Calle 3 and Carrera 11 and cost between $5,000 COP ($1.50 USD) and $7,000 COP ($2 USD) per person.

Upon arrival at the Pitalito bus station, take a bus north towards Neiva (four and five hours, $25,000 COP-$38,000 COP ($6-$11 USD)). 

From Neiva, take a jeep to Villavieja with the bus company Coomotors. Jeeps leave hourly until around 6pm and cost $8,000 COP ($2.50 USD) per person and take two hours. Once you have made it to Villavieja, jump in a tuk-tuk and head into the desert to your accommodation.

Days Nine and Ten: Neiva to Salento 

From the desert, head back to Villavieja and onto Neiva. The jeeps depart from the square in the middle of Villavieja where you were dropped on the way here. There is a Coomotors bus from Neiva to Armenia which departs at 12.30pm and $60,000 COP ($18 USD) per person. The bus takes six-seven hours. 

Once you make it to Armenia, there are buses, which run to Salento or Filandia and go regularly between 5.30AM and 8PM. You don’t need to buy a ticket from inside the terminal for this bus as it is considered a local service.

Follow the signs for the local buses and once outside keep walking around to the right and you’ll find a bus with ‘Salento’ on the front. It costs $4,000 COP ($1.20 USD). If you arrive late or don’t fancy the bus, taxis are readily available from the terminal and should cost around $20,000 COP ($6 USD) to Salento. 

Spend your final day in Salento as per the itinerary above. 

Two Weeks in northern Colombia

Cartagena – rincon – caribbean islands – minca – tayrona national park – palomino.

Colombia’s northern coast is home to one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world, with crystal blue waters, white sandy beaches, and deserted islands.

On this Colombia vacation itinerary, spend two weeks beach-hopping, exploring Cartagena and the beautiful Tayrona National Park . 

Days One and Two: Cartagena 

The beautiful, walled city of Cartagena was made for a few days of wandering its streets – although given the heat, which is unbearable by midday, you’ll want to get out early and enjoy a mid-afternoon siesta. We’ve got a full guide to Cartagena on the site, but you can also keep reading below for some further great suggestions.

Start by heading to the castle to learn about the conflict between the Spanish and English (and pick up an audio guide, which is both hilarious and informative).

After that, head back across the river and into the streets of the beautiful neighborhood Getsemani. Stroll around streets packed with colorful buildings and look out for street art. 

For lunch, grab an arepa on the go, from Colombitalia Arepas . Arepas are a corn tortilla and are everywhere in Colombia. Served with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here you can get one with pizza toppings on – delicious!

In the evening head into the old town for a stroll around the cobbled streets. High-end shops and fantastic ice cream sellers (check out Gelateria Tramonti ) are the main attraction here.

For sunset, get to the famous Cafe del Mar on the city walls early to grab a table. Otherwise, just hang out anywhere along the wall and people will come around and offer you a beer if you fancy.

For dinner, swanky restaurants abound but for something really special, check out Interno , the first restaurant in the world to be run from inside a women’s prison, where practically all staff are prisoners.

The food is excellent – you’ll pay $90,000 COP ($26 USD) for a set menu. For fantastic steak, check out Quebracho .

Stay overnight in one of our favorite hotels and guesthouses in Cartagena , whatever your budget.

The next day, gain a unique perspective of Cartagena and Colombia with a tour led by the Zenú , an indigenous people who have been forced out of their homes through the centuries and now survive selling coffee on the streets of Cartagena (read all about founder Steph’s experience of this sustainable Cartagena tour and book here ).

Few tourists ever even hear about the Zenú. Not only will you see the city in a different light as your guide narrates the story of Cartagena from an indigenous perspective, but you’ll learn about their struggles for justice and exceptional prowess when it comes to craftsmanship, as you visit their workshop to see how caña flecha is woven into the famous Colombian hat, the sombrero vueltiao .

Help support sustainable, responsible tourism in Cartagena by booking this Zenú Indigenous Heritage Tour with IMPULSE Travel Colombia and get a 5% discount by using the code WORLDLY5 at checkout.

Alternatively, head outside the city; our guide to the best trips to take from Cartagena can get you started.

Days Three and Four: Rincon 

Just a few hours away from Cartagena, is the quaint fishing town of Rincon del Mar . Here you can fall out of your accommodation onto the beach and spend the day lazing in a hammock and swimming in the tranquil, warm waters of the Caribbean Sea .

Get a room at Dos Aguas Lodge , by far the best spot in Rincon with a beautiful quiet beach right outside your door.

Rincon is also a fantastic spot to launch yourself into the San Bernardo Islands (you can see them from the shore!). If you don’t have much time, take a day trip out to the islands leaving at around 8AM and returning at 2PM (Colombian time of course…things are very relaxed here and don’t always run on time).

Tours cost $60,000 COP ($18 USD) per person and can be booked from any of the families living along the beachfront.

To get to Rincon, take a 25-minute taxi journey to the bus terminal outside Cartagena. Hop on a bus to San Onofre (2-3 hours, $20,000 COP-$30,000 COP ($6-$8 USD)) and let the bus driver know you want to get off in San Onofre (it continues further).

When you arrive, take a moto for $10,000 COP ($2.5 USD) or a taxi for $20,000 COP ($6 USD) to get you to Rincon – there is no bus for this route. If it’s night, a taxi is safer. 

Days Five and Six: Find your paradise and stay a night or two on a deserted island 

From either Cartegena or Rincon, you can sail out to paradise and live on a private island. Head to Isla Baru or  Playa Blanca for white sandy beaches, palm trees, crystal clear waters, go snorkeling or just sunbathe in this heavenly escape. 

Isla Grande : Pick up a local guide to explore secluded beaches, chill on the beach and relax by a bonfire as the sun sets. 

Days Seven to Nine: Minca 

Minca has become a must-visit for anyone taking a trip along Colombia’s north coast. An inland town surrounded by forest, it makes a strong contrast to the seaside stops along this route. 

While in Minca, you can go bird watching with Jungle Joe, head up to the beautiful waterfalls at Pozo Azul (walk up the track on the left of the first pool for a quieter spot and some rock jumping!), have lunch on the deck of the Lazy Cat restaurant and look out for the iguanas in the trees.

Finally, if you aren’t staying there already, head up to Casa Loma hostel for sunset. They have a beautiful deck and bar set up for watching the sun go down. Minca is known for its dramatic and colorful sunsets.

To get to Minca, you need to travel through Santa Marta . You may decide to stop in Santa Marta to break up the journey.

Buses run to Santa Marta from Cartagena bus terminal and it will take between five and seven hours (it took us six and a half). They depart regularly throughout the day so you’ll be able to turn up and buy a ticket when you are ready to go. 

From Santa Marta you can take a collectivo jeep from the town at the corner of Calle 12 and Carrera 9 and will cost between $7,000 COP-$8,000 COP ($1-2 USD). You can also take a taxi for $40,000 COP-$50,000 COP ($12-15 USD). The journey will take between 45 minutes to an hour.

Days Ten and Eleven: Tayrona Park

The Tayrona National Park is one of the most famous spots in all of Colombia. It hugs the Caribbean coast of Colombia and is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Think white sand, crystal clear waters, and beautiful palm trees. The best bit is that roads only get you so far which means much of the park remains an untouched wilderness for you to explore. 

Because of the inaccessibility of the park, and the fact it is basically rainforest, it is very hot and very humid and the accommodation is very basic. Because of this, it’s recommended to only do either a day trip or stay just one night in the park. 

For a day trip, the best option is to stay the night in one of the many accommodations lining the road near the main entrance and then head into the national park the following morning.

Either Eco Hostel Yuluka (they have a swimming pool with a slide!) or Villa Del Rio (the father of the guy who runs it will give you a lift to the park entrance in the morning for free!) are great choices.

For an overnight stay in the park, book a cabin at Playa Brava – a white sandy beach where a family run a small hotel with cabins.

All the other options in the park are either sleeping in hammocks (pretty close together) or tents (these get incredibly hot!).

You can also stay at Cabo San Juan , which has a few camp spots, hammocks, and cabins. For both sets of accommodation, it is incredibly important to book in advance. 

Days Twelve to Fourteen: Palomino 

Palomino is a delightful sleepy beach town, perfect for taking some time to chill out, do a bit of tubing in the river, and generally relax by the sea. There is one main street, which runs all the way from the main highway down to the beach.

Most of the places to stay and eat line this one street and it takes around 10 minutes to walk. As you stroll down to the beach, you’ll find people selling the tubing experience if you are interested.

The town is known for its excellent fish: eat at 7 Mares (reserve a table and get a free dip selection on arrival!), Bitacora and La Frontera Pizzeria .

Casa Colibri is a great place to stay; the rooms are excellent, large, light and comfortable, some of which have air conditioning, the breakfast is amazing, a medley of breakfast dishes, pancakes, eggs, yogurt, granola, and Joe, the owner, is informative and lovely. 

To get to Palomino, take a taxi from the exit of the Tayrona National Park, or flag down one of the buses that pass every 30 minutes or so along the road. You’ll be picking them up as they run from Santa Marta to Riohacha.

To return to Bogotá or Medellin for your flight home, return to Santa Marta by taxi or bus.

Optional Extras for any Colombia travel itinerary

Bahia solano – six days.

My favorite place – and a truly unmissable place to see in Colombia – is Bahia Solano , an under-visited and largely untouched paradise on the Pacific coast of Colombia. Here you can meet humpback whales, see dolphins from the shore, trek into the jungle, swim with bioluminescent plankton, and relax on your own private beach. 

There are a lot of options for places to stay in the Bahia Solano area and in El Valle (a town 30 minutes south of Bahia Solano) but without a doubt the best possible place to stay is at Mecana Beach Eco Hotel .

From its location on Mecana Beach , you can hike into an area of jungle that is protected by the hotel and is packed with interesting wildlife or visit a local indigenous community.

What’s more, between June-October every year, up to 14,000 humpback whales migrate to the area to mate, reproduce or nurture young calves.

For the best chance to spot them, take a tour with the lovely people at Mecana Eco Hotel ($350,000 COP ($105 USD) for two people, less if in a group), the biologists and Madre Agua ($150,000 COP ($45 USD) per person), or with a local captain (this is the cheapest way – although prices vary). 

Normally, I always want to support the local economy wherever possible but I have to recommend that you go with either Madre Agua or Mecana Eco Hotel .

The reason being you go out with people who study whales and love the whales. You get more scientific information about their behaviors and the Madre Agua crew even have a microphone they can put in the water so you can hear the whales.

But most importantly, by going with either of these two, you will ensure that your visit does not interrupt the natural habits of the whales. As both have biologists in the team, they know where a boat should be and how far away it should be to ensure this. 

To get here you have two options:

• Take a boat from Buenaventura ; this takes nine hours and is the cheapest option. However, Buenaventura is the main export port for the cocaine trade in Colombia. We met many people who traveled through here. However, it is still one of the more dangerous cities in Colombia.
• Take a flight from Medellin. This is the best option and the most enjoyable. You can either fly with Satena (one or two flights per week) or with San German . Crucially, San German is only available to buy direct from them, they will not pop up on Skyscanner . The flight takes around one hour and is normally in a very small 12-seater plane!

Top Tip : the San German flights go from the smaller city center airport in Medellin, called Olaya Herrera.

La Guajira – Four Days

At the very northern tip of South America lies La Guajira, an arid peninsula that feels a world away from the lush, water-rich landscapes of the rest of Colombia. Its indigenous people, the wayuu , were never conquered by the Spanish, and they retain a clear identity of their own, while their land is one of stunning contrast, framing untamed sand dunes against the deep blue Caribbean ocean.

Tourism is increasing here, slowly, and most come for the golden, powdery sand beaches along the very northern coast (Playa Taroa is perhaps the most beautiful) and the world-class windsurfing available at Cabo de Vela.

Tours leave from Riohacha, a full day’s drive south of the northernmost tip of the peninsula and are the best ways of exploring the region – particularly as public transport is practically non-existent. One of the poorest parts of Colombia – indeed, three-quarters of La Guajira families face food insecurity – jobs are scarce here, which is why it’s so important to visit using a reputable local operator.

You can do this by taking a four-day tour with Macuira Tours ($290 USD pp). Indigenous-owned, their guides really know the region and will give you a fascinating insight into the daily life of those who live in one of the most extreme environments in Colombia.

Friday 28th of July 2023

Love your itinerary but the price-points on your recommended lodgings are not feasible at all for backpackers or people traveling long-term on a budget, with many over $100/night.

Steph Dyson

Wednesday 20th of September 2023

Hi Amir, a lot of my readers aren't backpackers. Steph

Latitude Adjustment

Monday 29th of August 2022

Hello, Nice article and site you have. Not sure the timeframe when this was reported but a few points: Viva Air is a great airline to use and goes to most cities in Colombia and is more affordable than Avianca Guatape is overrun with tourists on the weekends. Folks should visit during the week Comuna 13 also is too crowded on the weekends. It is better to go with a tour guide so you get the history and a much better experience. Never go at night! Palamino is rustic and more geared toward backpackers. The beach is overrated. Go to Tayrona. Renting a car is a much better option as you see a lot more of the countryside and it is not that expensive and the roads are great, for the most part, but do not drive at night.

We are Expats living in El Retiro, Antioquia, Colombia for over 4 years now and travel extensively around Colombia.

There are many beautiful places to see in eastern Colombia as well.

Cheers, John and Susan Latitude Adjustment

Tuesday 19th of September 2023

@Latitude Adjustment, Any reason as to why we shouldn't go out at night? Just curious, thanks!

Thursday 19th of January 2023

Thanks for these helpful comments! Steph

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Colombia Itinerary: One Month Guide to Backpacking Colombia

Colombia is one of the most beautiful, colourful, authentic and diverse countries that I’ve ever had the pleasure to travel. So this Colombia itinerary will give you all the advice and information you need for backpacking in this wonderful part of the world. 

When planning my trip and noting the cities I wanted to visit, I thought a month would suffice, but I fell in love with the culture and stayed for a further three weeks.

Colombia is one of those countries you could cover parts of in two weeks, or simply stay in forever but I think a month is a good amount of time to cover the historical cities of Medellín and Guatapé, the colourful town of Bogota, to get your salsa on in Cali, to visit some of the best beaches in the North and fit in some paragliding in San Gil.

You could also use this one-month itinerary for Colombia 2 week itinerary if you are short on time.

Whatever you’re looking for, Colombia is sure to offer it – so let’s get exploring! 

Here is my Colombia itinerary…

Backpacking Colombia

How to get to colombia.

The cheapest option for your Colombia itinerary would be to fly to Bogota – this serves as your perfect base to start your Colombian trip! You’ve got a wealth of airlines that fly direct, from slightly cheaper like Lufthansa to around £200 more if you want to fly with British Airways. I decided for a non-direct flight as it was slightly cheaper, flying with BA, with a stop in Madrid and it was perfectly comfortable, but direct flights are always available. 

When is the best time to visit  Colombia

Colombia’s tropical climate is a result of being located right by the equator and therefore the country does not experience massive changes in their weather. Some months, like other countries, are better to visit than others and although they experience a small dry season between July and August, the overall best time to visit on your Colombia itinerary is between December and March for the least amount of rainfall. 

How to get around  Colombia

Depending on the airport you fly into, you’ve got the choice of booking a taxi there and then or using Uber, Cabbify or the Tappsi app (which limits the language barrier). I would NEVER recommend hailing a taxi off the street, especially if you’re not with a local and it’s obvious you’re backpacking Colombia.

When I first arrived in Colombia, I was really nervous to even leave Bogota Airport and therefore had planned ahead and booked transport through my hostel. The driver was waiting for me when I arrived and it took the stress off my shoulders. I would always explore the option of your accommodation providing pick up if this is your first time in Colombia and you’re nervous. 

For general travelling around Colombia, you’ve got many options and this will ALWAYS be based on the type of traveller you are. Colombia is extremely accessible via bus – for the smaller distances, a ‘collectivo’ is provided (you can book this with the local tour agency) which is usually a small bus and is quite a cramped experience.

For the longer distances to main cities, you’ve got the option of coaches and for me personally, it made more sense to take night buses to arrive in cities during the morning, ready for the day ahead. Night buses usually have air conditioning, reclining seats and some even give you food before you take that shut-eye – be warned that both the air-con AND movies playing are cranked up to the highest level, so bring jumpers, and a blanket and earplugs.

Wifi is standard on buses but usually patchy so make sure you’ve got Google maps downloaded offline so you can see where you’re going. Another tip – although most buses provide a toilet, it’s likely they’ll be no toilet paper so ensure you’ve got some at hand – I also recommend wet wipes and don’t forget the hand sanitiser! 

It’s common practice for buses to stop at ‘requisas’ (military checkpoints) in the middle of the night which will involve soldiers getting on the bus and asking for identification – this is a normal procedure so don’t be scared. Sometimes buses stop for meals – if the driver is hungry – but this is not always the case so always take snacks and water.

Colombia does have a reputation for not being the safest country to travel, but as a solo female traveller I had no problems – I was careful. I always kept my small backpack on my lap, I never even placed it on the floor and my valuables were around my waist in a small, hidden bum bag.

I booked all my buses in Colombia through ‘Busbud’ which offer discount codes and had great experiences on everyone I took. I would recommend Expreso Brasilia and Copetran which are cheaper options and Berlinas, Bolivariano and Fronteras for the more trustworthy and expensive options. Don’t worry – you can also take these buses during the day if you feel more comfortable.

Another option if the buses don’t tickle your fancy is to travel internally from the main cities – it’s more expensive, but there’s nothing wrong in spending a little more for peace of mind. The main airlines to use are Avianca, LATAM and Viva Air – Viva Air is the cheaper of the three but keep your eyes peeled as they don’t declare their final price until you add luggage later.

Budgeting for a month

Backpacking Colombia is one of those countries where you can do as much or as little as you want – and everyone is different. The country itself is very reasonable to travel, with the exchange rate currently at £1 to 4899 Colombian pesos – it’s when you add in stunning excursions, and restaurants that things begin to add up.

For me personally, I love eating street food and staying in hostels to meet others, but other travellers prefer slightly more luxurious accommodation and restaurant-style food.

I would always recommend budgeting high and returning with money than running out and therefore would suggest £800-£1000 max for the month you are away during your Colombia itinerary.

Top 10 Things to do in Colombia

So, what is there to do in this magical country? Here are my quick fire cities and the top things you should fit into your Colombia itinerary. 

Bogota 

I had a fantastic time exploring the art and food scene in Bogota with the group below, which I booked through my hostel. The Bogota Graffiti Tour and The Bogota Food Tour were provided by True Colombian Experience and were really informative as well as being fun.

I met some great people on the tour and together we climbed to take the cable car up Monseratte for views over the city. You should attempt to go there for sunset, the views are magnificent but please do go with people. I would also recommend taking a taxi to the top, as some of the stories of people walking up there have not been pleasant.

Salento 

Literally the home of great coffee, you must visit a coffee ‘finca’ to have a look at how they make the coffee we literally buy from our local supermarket (Sainsbury’s own uses Colombian beans!). You’ll hear the word ‘tinto’ a lot and that’s the word you use if you want a long black (or an Americano in British English). Don’t forget to hike Valle de Cocora where you can be surrounded by some of the tallest palm trees!

Medellín 

Made famous by the popular Netflix series ‘Narcos’, book onto the ‘Comuna 13’ tour so you can visit the infamous neighbourhood – previously one of the most dangerous in Medellín due to gang culture and drug trafficking. You can learn about the journey of reinventing itself and I would recommend Zippy tours – our guide was extremely informative. Remember to tip the guide after as these tours are free but a lot of work goes into them! Medellín is well known for its expansive nightlife, so feel free to go out and get your salsa on in one of the bars in El Lleras – but be careful, pickpocketing is rife here and always keep a thumb/hand over your drinks.

You can visit Guatapé from Medellín, and the town is quaint and beautiful. Get up early to climb El Peñón de Guatapé (The Rock of Guatapé) – there’s 700 steps and it gets HOT up there, so don’t forget the sunscreen, a cap and water. Make sure you book onto a tour to visit Casa de Manuela – the original summer house of Pablo Escobar. You can book this directly through your accommodation which is usually more expensive or book with a man with a boat by the river 🙂 My friends and I did this and it was much cheaper!

I loved Cartagena so much I extended my stay for weeks on end. The colourful, walled town of Getsemani is perfect to walk around and I enjoyed the beaches. There’s a great nightlife here too and some fantastic places to enjoy Colombian food. Make sure you organise a boat tour to all the various islands. It’s cheaper to rent privately and go with a group then through an organised tour with the hostel, but either way, it’s a great day trip out! 

Santa Marta

I didn’t love Santa Marta, it’s a pretty busy city but makes a great place to base yourself for day trips to the neighbouring fishing village of Taganga. If you’re interested in hiking for a few days, the Lost City Trek is challenging but worth adding to your list. You can book through your accommodation so that you’re with a group, or simply through a tour agency in the city.

Minca 

Situated 660 metres above sea level, welcome to nature’s paradise. It gets very chilly here during the night so make sure you pack some layers. Although you can easily base yourself in the nearby city of Santa Marta and just visit for a day trip, I would recommend 2-3 days in Minca so you can enjoy walking to the Marinka waterfalls and explore the various trails available. I would recommend hiking Los Pinos but leave early as it takes around three hours to complete. E XTRA TRAVEL TIP: Wear mosquito spray AND baby oil – which unlike mosquito spray, kills the sand flies that will be eating away on your body so make sure you pack your tiger balm too, they itch like mad.

Despite the fact the town of Palomino is very quiet, the beaches here are absolutely stunning and worth a visit. You can stay here or nearer to Tayrona National Park – which is an excursion to add to your list. Some people actually stay WITHIN the park, but I just enjoyed hiking through it for a day. 

Cabo de la Vela/Punta Gallinas

NOT for the faint-hearted, Punta Gallinas take a little while to get to – but boy is it worth it. Unlike others who booked with a tour agency, a group of friends and I made our own way there using public transport. You have to get a bus to a town called Riohacha, ask to be dropped where you can grab a colectivo to Uribia and then on arrival in Uribia, ask to be taken to where the 4×4 jeeps depart for Cabo de la Vela in La Guajira which is the desert.

Here you will meet many Wayuu people, an Indigenous tribe that live in the peninsula of La Guajira, which in itself is an incredible experience. Here accommodation is limited, but you can book directly through the place you stay to take you to visit the most northern part of Colombia and the sand dunes.

I would absolutely recommend doing this with a group, as I don’t think I would have felt so safe without one – there were barely any tourists around and it was tricky to get back, For a more in-depth analysis about what to expect, read my full experience here .

When you leave the desert, you’ll need to return to Santa Marta in order to get back en route to San Gil. It takes a while but it’s worth it. I loved San Gil, walking around the town if I wanted more of a relaxed day and then waking up early to go paragliding. If paragliding is not for you, you’ve also got the choice of white water rafting, bungee jumping or visiting the nearby waterfall called ‘Cascada de Juan Curi’.

I’m one of the few who didn’t spend too long in Cali, although many friends decided to book a salsa or spanish learning course here. I would recommend dancing classes at either Swing Latino or El Manicero. Walking through the small, artsy barrio of San Antonio will be nice during the day and taking in panoramic sites by walking to El Cristo Rey is a must – please DO be careful, and watch your belongings at all times. If you fancy a weekend hike, I would recommend Cerro de las Tres Cruces which is pretty strenuous but the path is well marked and the views of the city are nothing short of incredible. Lots of locals walk this for their own exercise and I suggest you do not walk it unaccompanied.

Villa de Leyva

Less than three hours away from Bogota is Villa de Leyva which is a stunning town, very different to any of the ones mentioned above. Take the time to walk around the cobbled streets, and visit the main square which in itself is very beautiful. I booked a tour through my hostel which included a visit to The Terracotta House (a popular tourist attraction with a house-made entirely from clay), the fossil museum and the Pozo Azules (a series of pools that have taken on a crazy, artificial-looking blue colour – but are totally natural). If you’re a wine fan, many of my friends visited vineyards too.

Top places to Eat in Colombia

There is an unlimited choice of options to eat throughout Colombia depending on your budget and the type of cuisine/atmosphere you’re looking for. A lot of the time, the ‘menu del dia’ is the best option, giving you a starter, main, dessert and a drink for around 8,000-10,000 Colombian pesos (that’s around £2!)

If you’re in Colombia the most common food to try are Arepas (a cornbread stuffed with cheese or meat – great for those with gluten intolerances), Empanadas (stuffed pastries with meat or vegetables) and Sancocho (a hot stew consisting of meat, plantain and cassava which is a popular root plant of the region).

Tamales are also a firm favourite of mine which is corn dough, cooked with a filling of meat and vegetables, wrapped in a banana leaf. You’ll be sure to find all this and more with many street vendors, but if you’re looking for more information, here are some of my favourites for this Colombia Itinerary.

Bogota: Los Simbolos 

You must try the street food in Colombia, but if you want a guaranteed great snack, I will always recommend my friends at Los Simbolos who are Venezuelan refugees, who moved to Colombia in search of a better life. The family-run business makes possibly the best empanadas I’ve ever tasted, from inside their house. 

Salento: Restaurante Andrea

Tasty food, reasonable prices – what more could you want? I recommend the traditional Trucha a la Plancha (grilled fish)

Medellín: Café Zorba/ Las Delicias de la Flaca

If you’re vegan or vegetarian, I would recommend Café Zorba for a variety of pizza options. If you’re looking for another local experience, my friends at Las Delicias de la Flaca provide another family-friendly option, cooking up the tastiest arepas. I visited here every night and it was better than any restaurant food I’ve tasted. There’s also a variety of dining options in the affluent El Poblado area – the safest place to stay in Medellín , with security manning the streets.

Guatapé: Hecho Con Amor Deli/ Thai Terrace

Another great option for vegetarians or those with dietary requirements is Hecho Con Amor which serves a variety of delicious foods from lentil burgers to salads and soups – and the desserts here are fantastic. If you’re looking for something a little different, Thai Terrace is a gorgeous restaurant situated on the top of the Lake View Hostel, offering an extensive menu of Thai food. It was a cuisine I didn’t realise I missed until I had it again!

Cartagena: Viva Food/La Taperia

Cartagena is a town that suits every budget. Whether you prefer eating street food at the Holy Trinity Square, sitting down for local food at Viva Food or are in the mood for a fantastic steak at La Taperia, there’s something for everyone here.

Santa Marta: Mercado Público/Taganga

Make sure you pay a visit to the Mercado Público, otherwise known as the Santa Marta Market, where you can try food from over 500 different vendors. I love visiting these types of places, it shows you such a contrast between how you buy food and how they do in another culture. For the best fish, make sure you eat in the coastal town of Taganga – they show you how they cook it in front of your eyes.

Minca: Lazy Cat

Popular for a reason, if you’ve been missing home comforts, I couldn’t recommend Lazy Cat more. Sometimes, although eating all the local food is great, a taste of home is really needed and the restaurant provides just that. From burgers, sandwiches, quesadillas and dishes made in the wok, the food is tasty and the atmosphere is great. They also do really good coffee – so try to get here for your morning ‘tinto’.

Palomino: La Frontera/Sua

I had to include both of these restaurants in my list, as they’re really close in location to each other and they offer you the choice of pizza (La Frontera) or fish (Sua). When you’re that close to the sea, you’ve got to try the seafood, but if you fancy something more homely, La Frontera is a great option. They’re both only a 15-minute walk from the coast.

Cabo de la Vela: Toti’s

Honestly, the food is really quite basic here. You’ll read in my article I’ve linked to this post that I spent most of my time eating at Toti’s, a restaurant overlooking the ocean and I have to say, the fish was the best I’ve ever had. We mainly ate here for lunch and dinner, but the majority of huts that are on the beach serve breakfast, lunch or dinner which is either goat or fish. Bring snacks when you visit.

San Gil: Gringo Mikes/La Mansion de Sam/Sam’s Gastro Pub

You’ve got two options for food here, either go LOCAL style or settle for what you know is good. Gringo Mike’s is really popular here, in fact, the majority of people I met asked me to eat here with them. What you see is what you get, with typical food such as burgers, burritos, seafood dishes and salads to name a few.

I stayed at a hostel called Sam’s VIP which actually owns both La Mansion de Sam and Sam’s Gastropub and the food there was ALSO fantastic but heavy on the meat. If you’re a vegetarian, I had an amazing lunch at Miel Y Trigo which was a ‘menu del dia’ – a starter, main course and a dessert including a drink. The quinoa soup is delicious!

Cali: Corinne Cafe/ Asados El Galán

For breakfast, make sure Corinne Cafe is on the list with options including waffles, bagels and salad. Asados El Galán is a lovely restaurant preferable for dinner, that serves either barbecued beef, chicken or pork complete with plantain and salad. It’s really reasonable for money and the meat is divine.

Villa de Leyva: El Rincón Gourmet de la Villa

This restaurant serves lovely Spanish food that I found really delicious and it’s also a piano bar. It’s not the cheapest of restaurants, but I found it worth the price tag. The service was great too.

Top places to drink in Colombia

It would be a crime to visit Colombia and not try their fantastic coffee – although it’s known fact their exported coffee is slightly tastier than their imported coffee. The chain Juan Valdez is actually VERY good if you’re looking for a quick “tinto” – remember, this is black coffee in Colombia, although the term differs in different Latin countries.

If you’re looking for something a little more fruity and alcoholic, there’s tons of fantastic bars to visit too. I visited so many places that listing them all would take hours, so with that in mind, here are my absolute top 5 favourites that you must include in your Colombia itinerary.

Cartagena: Cafe Del Mural 

This beautifully decorated cafe I visited about ten million times, whether for some time for myself or introducing a new group of friends to it. The coffee here ranges from hot to iced, nitrogen infused to alcohol based – and its taste is FANTASTIC. Whatever crazy creation you think of, it’s likely to be on their menu. They also offer coffee making workshops too, so you can see if you’re a secret barista.

Salento: Cafe Jesus Martin

You can’t be in the ‘well renowned for its incredible coffee’ town of Salento without trying a ‘tinto’ at Cafe Jesus Martin. The coffee is delicious (and I’m a coffee snob and went back for a second cup so I’m not lying) and there’s also a great selection of cakes. Plus, he’s made it onto the BBC for his impact on the coffee world so that’s not too bad either.

Medellín: Envy Bar

We’re swapping the coffee for the Espresso martinis at Envy Bar which you MUST pay a visit to if you end up in Medellín. This rooftop bar has STUNNING panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and across the city, which is lit up in the night sky. It’s a stylish bar, so make sure you dress to look the part.

Cali: La Topa Tolondra

You can’t visit Cali without trying your hand at Salsa – and if that’s too stressful for you, at least visit La Topa Tolondra to see the professionals dance the night away. I wouldn’t say the drinks menu is extensive, but the electric atmosphere more than makes up for it and really showcases the best of Latino dance culture. Not too many tourists visit this bar, so it’s a great way to feel like a local.

Villa de Leyva – La Galleta Pastelería Cafe

For such a small town, there’s a vast array of coffee shops to enjoy a drink at. My favourite in this little town was called La Galleta Pasteleria cafe. I couldn’t eat it (I’m gluten intolerant) but my friend had the most delicious ‘milhoja’ which is otherwise known as ‘millefeuille’. Please try one for me!

Where to stay in Colombia

Throughout my month of travelling, I stayed in a variety of places, from hostel dorms to private rooms with ensuites. Here are some of my favourites for this Colombia Itinerary.

I never stayed in an Airbnb, preferring to be around people so I don’t want to advise on specific Airbnb rentals, but what I would say is that if you do wish to stay in an Airbnb, please do so within the areas below which are deemed the safest and always check the reviews of the place as well as the level of security around it.

If you would prefer to choose a different area to the ones suggested below, please do your research on it – especially if you’re to be travelling alone. The majority of hostels have private rooms, so if you’re keen to mix with others but would also like some privacy, or simply don’t want to stay in a dorm with others, this is always cheaper than a hotel. As many people recommend, never walk alone at night.

Bogotá – La Candelaria

High Budget: The Orchids Hotel , a double room is approx £71/night

Medium Budget : Selina Hostel , a private room is approx £32/night

Low Budget: Cranky Croc Hoste l, a dorm room is approx £9/night, privates from £25/night

High Budget: Hotel El Mirador del Cocora , a double room is approx £43/night

Medium Budget: Hotel Salento Real Eje Cafetero , a double room is approx £28/night

Low Budget: Viajero Hostel , a dorm room is approx £6-£8/night, privates from £25/night

Medellín – El Poblado District

(the safest part, with security lining every corner, parading the streets).

High Budget: Celestino Boutique Hotel, a double room is approx £58/night

Medium Budget: Los Patios Hostel, a double room is approx £28/night, dorms from £9/night

Low Budget: Purple Monkey Hostel, a dorm room is approx £8/night, privates from £20/night

High Budget: Hotel Los Recuerdos , a double room is approx £70/night

Medium Budget: La Madriguera , a double room is approx £37/night

Low Budget: Lake View Hostel , a dorm room is approx £5/night, privates from £26/night

Cartagena – Getsemani

High Budget: Hotel Casa de Lola , a double room is approx £109/night

Medium Budget: Selina Hostel , a double room is approx £40/night, dorms from £16/night 

Low Budget: Casa Del Pozo Boutique Hostel, a dorm room is approx £11/night, privates from £60/night

High Budget: Hotel Boutique Marbore , a double room is approx £45/night

Medium Budget : Republica Hostel , a dorm room is approx £7/night, privates from £45/night

Low Budget: La Brisa Loca Hostel , a dorm room is approx £6/night, privates from £25/night

High Budget: Siembra Boutique hotel , a double room is approx £51/night

Medium Budget: Casa Viejas , a double room is approx £23/night, dorms from £10/night

Low Budget: Costeño River Minca , a dorm room is approx £6/night, privates from £18/night

EXTRA places to visit: If you like to PARTY , make sure you visit El Rio Hostel, where you can choose from a dorm or a hammock. If you would like to stay on a BEACH , then don’t forget to pay a visit to Costeño Beach Hostel. If you want to visit Tayrona Park, look at staying either inside the park or go for a day trip and stay at Viajero Tayrona for the most unbelievable beach views.

High Budget: Makao Hotel, a double room is approx £49/night

Medium Budget: The Dreamer Hostel, a dorm room is approx £9/night, privates from £38/night

Low Budget: Tiki Huts , a dorm room is approx £7/night, privates from £25/night

Cabo de la Vela

Daniel’s – hammock/dorm (single beds in one room), price upon arrival

High Budget : Hotel Alejandria Resort , a double room is approx £58/night

Medium Budget: Sam’s VIP Hostel , a dorm room is approx £5/night, privates from £17/night

Low Budget: La Mansion Hostel , a dorm room is approx £4/night, privates from £13/night

(San Antonio and Miraflores are very safe areas to stay, but even then I would not recommend walking around alone at night)

High Budget: Hotel Spirito by Spiwak , a double room is approx £112/night

Medium Budget: Casa Miraflores , a double room is approx £17/night

Low Budget: Viajero Hostel and Salsa school, a dorm room is approx £6/night, privates from £18/night

High Budget: Casa Emaus , a double room is approx £92/night

Medium Budget: Hostal Renacer , a double room is approx £24/night

Low Budget : Hostal Rana , a dorm room is £6/night

I really hope that this Colombia Itinerary can give you something to eventually look forward to when restrictions ease and cases lower – Colombia is, without doubt, a country worth exploring and hopefully, with this information, it’ll make planning your future trip even easier. Happy Backpacking Colombia!!

And remember simply pick your favourite spots if you are on a Colombia 2 week itinerary. 

Author Bio: Emily runs the blog Emilys Eyes Explore . She has been travelling the world since September 2018, after finally being diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Determined to change her life and mentality around, she moved to Spain for two months to learn Spanish, flew to South America, travelled around India, explored Malaysia, ventured around SE Asia and started life in Australia. Emily blogs to raise awareness of travelling solo as a female who suffers from depression and anxiety and it is her hope that people in the same position will be able to relate to the stories she shares and in turn feel less lonely and isolated as she shares her thoughts, feelings and emotions along this journey. Check out her Instagram too! 

Photo credit: Author and Pexels.

If you on a bigger trip exploring the world check out my guides to France , Germany, Greece, Iceland , Italy , Portugal , Spain and United Kingdom .

My Travel Tips and Recommendations

To book flights, I always use flight search engine, Skyscanner, I regularly use the Everywhere tool to find the cheapest places to travel. It’s how I get to travel so much all around the world. I find it the easiest way to compare flight prices across airlines and get the best deals. 

Accommodation

For accommodation, I usually book most of my hotels or hostels through  Booking.com.  I love using this platform as it provides me with some amazing deals for accommodation all around the world. Or if you prefer, I also recommend using Airbnb. If you haven’t signed up with Airbnb already, you can use  this link  to get £25 off your first visit!

Photography and Technology

Here is a list of the technology I always travel with:

• Canon G7X Mark II
• Canon EOS M50 and lens
• GoPro Hero Black 7
• DJI Mavic Pro
• RØDE VideoMic GO On Microphone

You can also find me on social media:  Facebook ,  Twitter,   YouTube  and  Instagram .

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Thank you for reading and as always happy adventuring! If you have any questions about the destination please leave these in the comments below.

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Backpacking Colombia: 1 Month Colombia Itinerary

If there is one country that every backpacker I met in South America told me they loved the most, it is Colombia.

Colombia is a great country for anyone looking to have an adventurous holiday. It is full of life, colour, happiness, music and a culture that is so rich you can’t help but admire. It may not be the first destination of choice for most people, but, once you choose to visit this country, you will have an adventurous time.

Travelling to Colombia for 30 days is the most ideal because there’s so much to do, see and experience. The sights and sounds will help you relax and unwind as you enjoy your holiday. Personally, I was in Colombia for a month.

With this itinerary, we shall be looking at the most coveted locations in Colombia, and what you shall expect in each and every one of them. But, before we begin, here are a few reasons why you should consider Colombia seriously for your next holiday.

Why You Should Visit Colombia

It has turned over a new leaf:

Perhaps the reason why it is not your number one choice of holiday destination is what you have heard in the past.

The conflict between the government and guerrilla groups which has been rumbling on since the sixties, or, you may have heard of the dangers in cities such as Medellin and Cali, which were popular with many wars, plus many other stories that have been told from generation to generation.

Now, you need not worry about all that. It is in the past.  Since the turn of this decade, things have taken a turn for the better. The country is now very safe, as most of these conflicts have been resolved, and, it has become a major tourist destination.

Bogota is a booming city:

The capital city has also seen a resurgence of 5-star hotels, new high-end restaurants, a lot of activities and many entrepreneurs are flocking to the city because of the many investment opportunities available here.

There are also very many companies offering edgy and exciting sightseeing excursions, that you can take on a bike or on foot. These will cover everything, from the political culture to the architectural designs.

The exceptional street art:

Bogota decriminalized graffiti in 2011, and this opened the city up for creative new ways to display their art. Their office buildings, municipal walls, flyovers, and many other places became the canvases for some of the world’s most loved street artists.

Exotic Fruits:

This will be the highlight of your trip. Head over to the local market and sample some of the most colorful cornucopias of fruits that you have ever seen. There are gorgeous guavas, zingy zapotes, luscious lulos, and of course the delicious dragon fruits. This is just a small sample of what to expect in their exotic selection of fruits.

The 2nd biggest Carnival in the world:

Colombia’s most important calendar event is the Barranquilla Carnival. This is the biggest of its kind and takes place before the Holy Week, for 40 days. This draws very many people including tourists.

What to See in Colombia

These are some of the many locations you can visit on your Colombian holiday. Now let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and what you shall be doing on your 30 days trip.

Note: I had limited time in Colombia and this is the route I took, but if you'd like a more detailed look into Colombia, check this mega Colombia backpacking guide .

The first day will land you in the capital city; Bogota. This is not a place to explore in a hurry, so give yourself a few days. It has a lot to offer if you are willing to explore it. As mentioned earlier, this was once regarded as unsafe by tourists, but, has recently developed a new reputation for being one of the most exciting and culturally diverse cities in Latin America.

The locals are friendly, and the culinary scene only adds to the intoxicating atmosphere which is exuded by this city. A few places that you must visit while in Bogota are;

Museo del Oro (Gold Museum)

This is perhaps one of the most popular museums in Bogota and the whole of Colombia. It has spectacular exhibits of pre-Hispanic culture, art and tradition. With more than 55,000 pieces of gold artifacts on display, it is an absolute wonder to behold.

You will need more than an hour to tour this museum so come prepared for that. The whole display is laid out in thematic rooms that cover three floors. All the descriptions have been captured in both English and Spanish.

On the second floor, you shall find the exhibits classified into regions and clear descriptions of how the pieces were in use during those periods. There are animals in gold, and fixed figurines indicating how women used to play important roles in the church.

The third floor will tell you how gold was used in rituals and ceremonies.  This will truly be historical and an unforgettable tour. Tour guides are available in English, French, Spanish and also in Portuguese.

Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira

On your second day in Bogota, take a trip to the small city of Zipaquira, and get to see a church that was built underground.

This will be a mile-long walk in a mine shaft that is made of salt. Hollowed out of a mountain, you shall walk for approximately one mile in order to get 200m below the ground so you can reach the Cathedral of Zipaquira.  A place where more than 3,000 Catholics gather on any given Sunday for a religious service.

For every few meters, you shall see thick metal beams covered in a thick protective red paint, running up from the floor and covering the overhead, then coming down to the floor on the other side of the passageway which is very wide.

At about 30m in, there are small floodlights which are embedded in the floor in a crimson-red archer and next to the floor. The effect is quite striking and can be a bit unnerving. The entrance will look more like a pathway to hell. This is because of the beams of red, and the small lights all over them. A little bit spooky, but when you enter the cathedral, you shall feel a little relaxed.

Here is where you'll understand why this cathedral is the named the First Wonder of Colombia.

The entire trip will take you at least five hours or so, including the bus ride and if you shall need to stop for food and drinks, but you will get to understand why it is a major tourist sight.

The Famous Graffiti tours

As mentioned earlier, graffiti art was decriminalized in Bogota, and it has become famous all over the world. The Bogota street art is both political and creative. It has also given birth to the most highly sought-after street artists whose work is commissioned all over the world.

A trip to Bogota isn’t complete without a tour of this street art. It will clearly show the artistic interpretation of the country’s historical and current events. You can either tour the La Candelaria or Bogota’s downtown district, Destino Bogotá’s Capital Street Art or Bogotá Graffiti Bike Tour. Each will allow you to see all that is on offer in terms of graffiti art.

The Bogota Graffiti tour is 'free' as it is tips-based. The bike tour is great for anyone who loves cycling, as you shall also get to explore the city and be able to visit the neighborhoods surrounding the town, you shall also get to tour the coffee factory where you can sample the coffee while on a break.

This is available for $20, which will include the bike and any equipment hire. It will be three hours long and its available from Monday through to Friday.

Visiting Cerro de Monserrate

This is sometimes known as the Mountain-guardian of Bogota, and it is a place of religious pilgrimage activities. Due to the beauties surrounding it, it has become a natural, gastronomic and religious attraction which can be accessed on foot, using a funicular, or by cable car.

It is a church high-up on a mountain, and if that doesn’t reel you in, imagine getting there using a cable car. It is a ride up in the air. Simply unforgettable.

Visiting on-foot: ​ Hiking up the hill is a great option for visitors, because of the nature trail. There are many different sights to behold on your way to the church.

This is however not for the faint-hearted. The church is located 3,150 meters above the sea level. That is approximately 10,355 feet or 7.7 kilometers. It may take up to three hours to get to the top. It is, however, worth it for the adventure seekers and those who love to hike.

You shall also get to sample sightings such as;

• La media Torta – which is an ampi-theatre filled with renowned international artists, plus you can enjoy some home movies on Fridays.
• Iglesia Nuestra Señora de las Aguas – this is the water church or the church of Our Lady of the Waters. It is a Colombian cult Catholic temple dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is home to a hospital, an orphanage and recently the “crafts of Colombia.”
• Universidad de los Andes – This is a nonsectarian university which offers many different disciplines to the Colombian people.

Others include;

• Casa Museo Quinta de Bolivar – a must-see colonial house.
• The Basilica of the Fallen Lord Christ – this is the church right on the hill.
• Monserrate Market – this is found behind the church.
• Santa Clara Restaurant – this can be found south of the church. It is a beautiful colonial house that was built in 1924.

It may be a long and tiring hike but getting to the top is well worth the trouble. You will then get to do some shopping in the market, and have a meal at the restaurant, making your hike quite successful, fun and memorable.

See this detailed guide on where to stay in Bogota , including the different zones and hotel recommendations.

Suggested time in Bogota: 3-4 days

The next couple of days will take you to Medellin. It is important to note that this city was once known as the most dangerous city in the world, due to the drug-fueled violence that was caused by the famous Pablo Escobar.

It has however undergone a great transformation, and there have been some huge improvements in public safety. This is where Colombia’s first ever metro system and cable cars which are used to service people in poor neighborhoods were developed.

Now, Medellin has become one of the “it” cities of the world because it has tons of tourists and foreigners visiting and even settling there. There are many mountains to see, very friendly locals, warm weather and a vibrant culture.

Fun fact for Singaporean: Medellin received the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize in 2016 for its remarkable transformation.

Among the things you can do in Medellin are;

Visit Comuna 13

Comuna 13 is a neighbourhood that has had a very tumultuous past but now has a bright future. The barrio is filled with art which describes its history. It has an authentic atmosphere and is located away from Medellin’s affluent areas.

During the years when things were very bad in Comuna, the city experienced a lot of insurgent groups that left hundreds of people injured and many others missing. In the mid-2000’s years, the government stepped in and started re-building the town.

Six sets of escalators were installed, and this is the main tourist attraction you shall see in Comuna 13. The over 3,000 residents now have a much easier way of moving around from one place to another. When you start walking around the steep Comuna 13 you will finally understand how important the escalators are.

Other than the escalators, there’s a lot of graffiti in the area. The beautiful intricate graffiti art on the walls of many buildings, tells the story of this town from the local’s perspectives and gives tourists an insight into what they have had to overcome.

Comuna 13 also holds graffiti competitions and festivals that draws artists from all over South America.

Tips when visiting Comuna 13:

• Wear very comfortable shoes as you shall be walking up and down many stairs.
• Go with a tour guide, so you can  learn more about Comuna 13, as opposed to walking on your own, and just looking at the graffiti without an understanding.
• Bring along some cash. The delicious Colombian fruits can be purchased on the sidewalks, plus there are also some souvenirs you can buy.
• check Pack an umbrella as well, as you shall be walking outside where there’s always a chance for rain.

Plaza Botero

The famous sculptor Fernando Botero Angulo was born in Medellin, and at the Plaza Botero, you shall get to see his many larger-than-life sculptures which are centrally located in the old part of the city and can be reached using the local metro station.

While there, you can check out the Museo de Antioquia . Entrance to this museum is free, and inside you shall find many of Botero's paintings and work from other artists as well.

Parque Arvi

The metrocable transport system in Medellin is quite impressive and connects the city with residential areas that are built upon hills. It also expands to the Parque Arvi, which is a large natural reserve in the hills of Medellin, and a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The park offers a bit of peace and quiet, and also has an array of wildlife. In the nearby town of Santa Elena, you can grab a bite to eat or get a room for the night.

Visit a pueblo such as Guatapé for a day trip

Pueblos are small towns which offer the middle-to-upper class Colombians a chance to escape the craziness and the noise of the city. They do this mostly on the weekends. They will rent fincas (country homes) and enjoy some time alone.

Guatapé is a must-visit town for anyone in Medellin. It is not part of the city but is in the municipality of Antioquia, and it is a very colorful pueblo.

Located only 2 hours away from the city Centre, visitors go to admire the pretty colored houses, and are able to soak up the natural beauty of the area. The main attraction is La Piedra at El Peñol which is a towering rock that peers over the whole surrounding area.

The climb is a little steep, as is most of Colombia, and this one is 700 steps high, but when you get to the top, you shall get to see the great views of the hills and lakes below. You can take the walk either independently or as part of a group. Do not worry. It is safe.

It will cost you around 8,000 pesos / USD $4.15 to climb up the stairs.

Guatapé is located on the edge of a lake, and you can take tours of the surrounding areas as well. This is done using a party boat or a speedboat. You will also get to see one of the remaining homes that were owned by Pablo Escobar on this tour.

Medellín Walking Tour

There are many tour guides in Medellin who can take you on a journey round Medellin town. The tours are completely free, but you will need to tip the guides as this is what they accept as payment.

These run on weekdays both mornings and afternoons and are extremely popular as they allow you to experience life in Medellin as the locals do.

Party the night away like a true local

In Medellin, the nightlife action is quite limited on the weekdays, but things start to slowly pick up from Thursday. Friday comes in big with night activities, while on Saturday, everything is hopping.

The favorite local drink is aguardiente or guard in short, and it is a clear anise-flavored drink which is traditionally consumed as a shot. Do not be surprised if you see people drinking it straight from the bottle as well. It is often accompanied with water or a bottle of soda.

Another drink is Ron Medellín Añejo. This is rum and is normally taken straight, with sprite & ginger or on the rocks. It doesn’t have a bad hangover the next day if you manage to skip the soda.

There are very many places to go out at night, but the nightlife epicenter is the Parque Lleras. This is a dense collection of bars, restaurants and dance clubs which are situated along a little tree-filled park in the Poblado neighborhood. This is very upscale.

Other than the Parque Lleras, there are plenty of other places you can visit to kick up your heels, such as:

• El Eslabon Prendido – a salsa bar located downtown, and it is known for its live music on Tuesdays.
• Dulce Jesús Mio – This is a Fonda club, which is a caricature of the bars found in the rural areas of Pueblos
• Luxury – if you love reggae music, this is the place to be. At only $5.20 (10,000 pesos) you can get access to this popular club.
• check Patio del Tango – This is one of the few remaining milongas in the city. A milonga is a tango bar. It is a great place for dinner, but you may need to spend a minimum of $ 15.55 (30,000 pesos) in the club.

There’s really so much more to do in Medellin including partaking in the dozens or so festivals that take place each year. You can use the local transport systems, eat like a local, and you will not go overboard with your spending. For as little as USD $40 per day, you can experience this city the way it should be experienced.

Nightlife in Medellin is why many people stay longer than expected in this beautiful city.

Suggested time in Medellin: 3-4 days (more if you like the nightlife)

On the surface, Salento will look just like any other Colombian town. But, it has so much more to offer the would-be visitor.

This is a town characterized by many colored buildings, an obligatory church (yes, that is true) and a very large town square. The city has slowly evolved into a thriving community filled with artisans and craftsmen plus the most prolific coffee producers in the region.

What attracts most people to Salento is the desire to learn about coffee, and also admire the scenery of the Cocora Valley which is nearby. Even taking the bus ride is a highlight, as the journey to the region is extremely scenic..

A few things you can do and places you can visit while in Salento are:

Try playing the local sport: Tejo

This game involves throwing a metal disc/puck across an alley of about 15m long. You will be throwing them on to a one meter by one-meter board that is covered with clay. The disc itself is what they call the tejo, and the aim of the game is to hit some small parcels of gunpowder that have been placed on the clay.

This is a great way to pass time with friends, as each shot awards you points, plus the parcels will explode loudly accompanied by a puff of smoke. This game is best played while drinking some beer.

It's really cool to see gunpowder explode and a satisfying feeling.

Have some cake and a tinto in one of the cafés:

If you want to just chill out and relax, there are very many cafes available in Salento, and you can get to sample their wide array of coffees, and some cake as well. At the Café Jesús Martín, you will get to sample some of the best coffee grown in Colombia.

Cocora Valley

The great Cocora Valley is one of the main reasons why people will flock Salento. It is a part of Los Nevados National Natural Park, and this is where the national tree is located. The Quindío wax palm, which is the National tree is the symbol of Colombia, grows up to 60m tall.

For you to get to Cocora from Salento, you can jump on the back of one of the jeeps, which are normally lined outside of the police station – you will find a timetable in the hut next to the convoy. Do this the night before, and it is recommended to get the first jeep of the day, at around 7 am, as the weather at this time is clear, and you will get to spend the whole day in Cocora.

The jeep takes almost 40 minutes to get to Cocora, and the cost is 3800 pesos per person. They do cram people into it, almost 10 per jeep so be prepared for that, and some even stand for the duration of the trip.

Once you get dropped off, there are a couple of hikes you can follow, though they all follow a similar circuit. Most people say you do not need a tour guide, but it is always safe to have one if you tend to get lost easily, and you get to enjoy the hike much better with some commentary about what you are seeing.

The walks are a great way to spend your holiday in Colombia, plus there are numerous photo opportunities, with brightly colored birds singing in the trees and a very nice view of the forest, palm trees, rocks, small rivers, etc.

It is also very peaceful and you can just sit on the grounds and ponder about how unique the place is. You can also camp in the valley and partake in many other activities such as bird watching, horse riding, swimming, rafting and mountain biking.

At the end of this tour, you shall get to enjoy some home-made coffee on the plantation, and also buy some beans to take home to your family and friends. They do say that Colombian coffee is some of the best in the world, so this would be a great place to buy it.

Click here to read about my experience in the Cocora Valley.

Suggested time in Salento: 2-3 days

Cartagena de Indias , as its commonly called, is one of the most popular and most visited cities in the Americas. Tourists are always flocking to this “jewel of the indies” in order to enjoy the many different sightings such as the historic walled city, the Caribbean climate in Cartagena, the unique blend of cultures and of course, the many nearby beaches.

Here are a few reasons why you need to visit this town while in Colombia;

For the Incredible food:

Cartagena has some of the best restaurants in the whole of Colombia, and there is something to suit each budget.

Whether you want high-end eateries that serve the finest seafood, or you want market stalls with delicious stews made in bubbling pots, everyone will enjoy the different cuisines and flavors on display, not to mention the wide range of fresh fruit juices that are available on almost every street corner.

The unique culture:

The Colombian culture is very unique and in Cartagena, you get to see it almost everywhere you look. There are the iconic palenqueras, who are afro-Colombian women dressed in brightly coloured-dresses, selling fruits in the Plazas. These women have been internationally recognized as a symbol of the City.

You will also find great architecture, art, and literature in this Cartagena. There’s never a dull moment here.

Visit the coolest neighborhood in Colombia:

Getsemani was once a dangerous place characterized by the presence of prostitutes and thieves. A place where no tourist wanted to visit.  Now, years later, it is a completely different place. It has actually turned in to one of the coolest location in Colombia.

Here, you will find a burgeoning street-art scene, hostels, plenty of hip bars and the Plaza Trinidad, where each night, travelers, locals, artists and street performers are found basking in the laid-back vibe and enjoying themselves.

Horse-drawn carriages and cathedrals. A typical day in the old town of Cartagena. A post shared by Owen (@myturntotravel) on Dec 3, 2017 at 5:22pm PST

Take great photos: 

Cartagena offers professional photographers or just normal tourists a nice line of artistic angles and filters to help you take photographs. This is because, every corner looks like a postcard.

Picture this; There are bougainvillea plants which are cascading from balconies, pastel-colored buildings, old metal door and knockers that have been shaped as lions or sea monsters. You are probably thinking of a few postcards you can send from this location by now.

Cartagena is one of the world’s most photogenic city and a great place to visit if you want some good photos.

Other reasons include:

• The beautiful beaches.
• Romantic atmosphere: Have your wedding in Cartagena. The novel Love in the Time of Cholera was set in Cartagena, and if the descriptions are anything to go by, you can be assured of a romantic wedding here.
• History; the country has an unbelievable history as being one of the biggest slave pots in the Americas.
• check Art everywhere you look.
• check Music and dancing

Suggested time in Cartagena: 2-3 days

Santa Marta

Colombia is one of those countries with a picturesque Caribbean coast, blinding stretches of white sandy beaches that have endlessly clear turquoise waters, and very many palm trees. Santa Marta is a popular tourist destination because it is located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.

This is a hub for eco-tourism because of its spectacular natural surroundings.  Here are the top five things you can get up to in Santa Marta;

Visit the Tayrona National Park

This is undoubtedly one of Santa Marta’s biggest attractions. It encompasses the Sierra Nevada mountain and its biodiversity, and you will also find rainforests, pristine beaches and the archaeological remains of the ancient human settlements.

This is a protected region, and you can camp in the park, trek the region or explore the forests and beaches.

Or, just laze on the hammocks and listen to the waves crash on the rocks. Ahh, bliss.

You can go scuba diving in Taganga

This is a small fishing village, located a few minutes from Santa Marta. It shares a border with Tayrona National park, and its one of the cheapest places in the world for you can go to get a scuba diving certificate.

Trek through the jungle to find the Lost City

The Lost City, or what the locals call Ciudad Perdida is a site with ancient ruins, that dates further back than Machu Picchu. It is located deep in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada which are new Santa Marta, and the only way you can get to the ruins is by taking a4-day trek in the jungle.

It is very adventurous if you are looking for a good thrill. You should note that there are only four operators who run the treks, and it is not possible to go without a guide.

Click here to read about my experience in The Lost City .

Other activities in Santa Marta include:

• Visiting Playa Blanca for some much-needed sunshine.
• Partying in El Rodadero
• Eating some street food while walking in Santa Marta.
• check Bird watching in El Dorado

Whatever you choose to do in Santa Marta, it sure will be memorable.

Suggested time in Santa Marta: 5-6 days (including Lost City Trek)

San Gil is a small city that packs a lot of punch. It is the outdoors capital of Colombia and also the mecca for extreme sporting activities. It is best known for white water rafting, but also has other popular activities such as caving, paragliding, trekking, and rappelling.

There is so much to do in San Gil, that you may end up spending more days there than earlier planned, so, if you are planning a trip to San Gil, go with some extra days in tow. Don’t limit yourself to your strict itinerary.

A few of the activities include:

A Kayaking Course:

This course takes 3-4 days, and you must first be a solid swimmer. It is a class that will teach you the basics of Kayaking such as important maneuvers, swim roll techniques, capsize training, proper paddling techniques and rescue procedures.

At the end of the course, you will be a much more confident Kayaker, and can even surprise your friends and family on the next vacation.

Paragliding and other adventure sports:

Paragliding is a sport where you have a parachute strapped on your back, and then you run off of a high cliff or mountain relying purely on thermals that can send you high into the air. There are very many paragliding opportunities in San Gil such as; Chicamocha Canyon & Curtiti.

I came along many paragliding opportunities in South America but waited until I am in San Gil to do it as it is the cheapest place to do it.

Please note that; if you are to engage in some paragliding activities you will need courage and a very strong stomach, and plenty of time as the whole process can take more than three hours.

Other activities include;

• White Water Rafting
• Swimming in Natural Pools
• A Visit to Barichara

Suggested time in San Gil: 2-3 days

Cali is famous for its salsa obsession. The people in this town love nothing more than dancing to the rhythm of the beat, and you will find yourself doing the same things as it is quite intoxicating to watch.

Well, other than salsa, there’s plenty more to see and do in this Colombian town. It will definitely keep you busy for a couple of days. From the natural retreats to the cultural heritage, here are a few of the main attractions in Cali.

• Zoológico de Cali – this is probably the best zoo in Colombia, and if you are there on a family trip, it is a must-see. There are exotic animals such as huge iguanas, pink Andean flamingos, tigers, and monkeys.
• Andoke – this is an undiscovered gem just outside of the city, and it is a huge butterfly farm that has over 15 technicolored butterfly species.
• Iglesia de San Antonio – this is an 18 th -century church that has many unique wooden artifacts.
• check Cristo Rey – This is a giant Jesus statue that you can go see.
• check Gato de Tejada – This park is a rather unusual attraction in Cali that pays tribute to the Colombian artist known as Hernando Tejada who had created the famous central sculpture of a cat. After he died tragically, many different artists came together and sculpted many cats in his honor.

Suggested time in Cali: 1-2 days (Only stay longer if you like Salsa)

Quebrada Las Gachas:  this is Guadalupe’s Hidden Red River:

Colombia has rapidly become the world’s go-to location for thrill seekers and adventure travelers. It has many different locations to make your trip as adventurous as possible. Now, you will not believe what you shall find in Quebrada Las Gachas.

This is an off-the-beaten-track red river, which is a series of pools along a shallow river. Yes. You probably have never seen anything like it, and it may look a little spooky, but there are some plunge pools within the river.

The river is very shallow as the water flows into the pits, but you can walk on the river bed comfortably. There are algae on the surface, making it slippery and adds a purplish/red layer making it very unique to the human eye.

In fact, this place is known as the Santander’s Cano Cristales , which means the colorful river in Colombia. This place is free to visit and remains red all year round. You will find people in the pools just swimming and enjoying nature.

This is probably the most underrated place in the whole of South America given how easy it is to get there. Read my guide on Las Gachas here .

Suggested time in Guadalupe: 1-2 days

Bonus: Cano Cristales (Right Season Only)

Within the Serrania de la Macarena National Park, you shall find the Cano Cristales River. This river is one of the most unique rivers in the whole world, and this is due to its many colors. The colors are created by algae, different plants, rocks, and sand. The most noticeable color is the bright red, which is caused by a plant known as Macarenia clavigera.

How do you get to Cano Cristales?

The town closest to the National Park is La Macarena, and the easiest way to get there is by flying. You can either fly from Villavicencio or Bogota. Once you arrive in La Macarena, you will need to find a tour guide and book a tour, as tourists are not allowed to access the National Park by themselves.

Points to note:

• The colors can only be seen from mid-May to early December.
• The tours take 2-4 days and will take you to other areas of the Park.
• You will not use any sunscreen or insect repellent as you swim in order to protect the aquatic life.
• check Ensure to get your yellow fever vaccine well in advance.
• check There is only one ATM available in La Macarena, so come prepared with some cash, to avoid inconveniences.
• check The tour costs $80-$400 depending on the duration of time you will spend in the park and the number of people in your party.

Cano Cristales is probably my biggest regret in Colombia. I had to give it a miss due to the season and the cost of getting there. If I ever return to Colombia, you'd be damn sure I'd plan my visit around it.

Lastly, if you cross the border from Ecuador, make sure to stop by the town of Ipiales for this beautiful church:

Las Lajas Sanctuary - It is stunning in the day and colourful at night. 

Backpacking Colombia Itinerary Conclusion

This is the route I travelled in Colombia personally and I could readily recommend.

If you followed this itinerary and stay the bare minimum , you'd need at least 20 days in Colombia. The problem is that the hospitality and friendliness of Colombians always make backpackers stay for longer than intended.

3-4 weeks is perfect for Colombia. Ignore the negativity in the media and give this beautiful country a visit.

You will not regret it.

And now, it's your turn.

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Nice recap here. Was looking for a Bogota guide and saw much more than that.

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The Ultimate Colombia Backpacking Route

Posted on Last updated: May 29, 2024

Right then, this is a biggie! In this post, I’m sharing with you my Colombia backpacking route. I’ve lived and traveled extensively in Colombia and although all of the information in this post is great for anyone backpacking Colombia, it does contain a lot of information specifically for Solo female travel Colombia.

So, if you are planning a trip to Colombia here on my blog you are going to find everything you need to backpack Colombia .

Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet? The Insurance companies I recommend are  Hey Mondo and Safety Wing Hey Mondo  is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single-trip cover, annual multi-trip cover, and long-term travel cover. Safety Wing  is great value, with monthly coverage starting at $45.08. It’s super easy to use, and it just renews each month. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy. Read my full  travel insurance post  here, where I go into detail about all companies. 

When is the best time to go to Colombia?

Ok first up, when is the best time to go to Colombia . Honesty, there isn’t a bad time to go… apart from maybe, Samana Santa , which as anyone who has lived in Latin America knows is the WORST time to try and travel anywhere. If you happen to find yourself in a Latin American country like Guatemala , Costa Rica , Mexico , or Colombia , do yourself a favor and bunker down somewhere for a few weeks. Make sure you book your accommodation well in advance too as prices can skyrocket!

Other than Easter there is no bad time to visit Colombia . Although in my humble opinion, the best time to visit Colombia is around Christmas. If you are in Colombia backpacking during December you are in for a real treat. Colombians LOVE Christmas and Medellin is a particularly great place to visit in Colombia at Christmas because of all the lights.

I think everyone will have their own opinions on the best month to visit Colombia depending on what kinds of things they like. For example in August in Medellin , there is the Flower Festival. December in Cali is the salsa festival. February you have the carnival in Barranquilla. So if you are wondering when to go to Colombia then the best thing to do is do a little research into the different festivals and try and plan around that.

If you like to plan your Colombian trip around the weather I wouldn’t worry. Colombia doesn’t have seasons as such. Things don’t really change that drastically depending on the season. In Colombia you will always find somewhere hot and other places that are cooler, normally this variation is down to the altitude rather than the season.

For example Bogota is cold and wet most of the year. You get all the seasons in a day. The morning may be cool, then it will rain, then the sun will come out, then more rain. You just never know!

If however, you are wondering the best time to travel to Colombia for the best prices then avoid December and January. These months many Colombians take time off to travel. Things quieten down a little during February and by March it’s moving into low season. Summer is also the time when many Colombians take a vacation so prices will rise a little.

Getting Around Colombia

Traveling around Colombia has vastly improved since I was first here a few years ago. For one they have done a lot of improvements on the roads that connect the main cities. They even finished the tunnel between Medellin and the airport which has halved the travel time.

Travel between the main cities to visit in Colombia is pretty easy. You have two options, take a bus or catch a plane . In general, I prefer to take a bus (normally a night but if the journey is long), because I find traveling by plane too much hassle, plus if you need to check a bag it can get expensive.

I have extensive travel guides detailing the best ways to travel between the main tourist cities in Colombia:

How to get from El Dorado airport Bogota to La Candelaria

How To Travel From Bogota To Cali by Bus Or Plane

How To Get From Cali To Medellin Or From Medellin To Cali Colombia

Salento Travel | How to get to Salento from Bogota Medellin or Cali

How to get from Bogotá to Medellín on the bus or plane

Medellin to Santa Marta (or Santa Marta to Medellin)

How to get from Medellin to Cartagena

There are of course other Colombia tourist places not included in this list but these are the main ones. Once you have taken the bus once or twice it gets much easier. The main thing to remember is to do a little research first and decide which company to book with first as once you get into the bus station you will need to go to the desk of the company you want to travel with. It’s not just one central place where you can buy tickets for all buses which confuses many people.

When you are in the main cities I’d advise getting to know the public transport if you can, it will save you a lot of money. I wrote this guide about transport in Medellin . For Bogota, it is pretty complicated when you first arrive. Stick to the transmilenio and to save yourself some time and stress consider asking Colombian Buddy to give you a hand figuring it out.

I personally use Uber or one of the other ride-sharing apps 9 times out of 10 because I’m so over taxis in Colombia haha. In my personal experience, they don’t really believe me when I direct them, they don’t know how to read the map when I show them and I can’t even tell you how many taxis I’ve had to get out of as the driver doesn’t know where they are going. So for ease, I just use Uber, that way you don’t get lost. Plus their cars are always nicer.

Do use Uber, Beat, or DiDi with care though. There is still a lot of animosity between the drivers. You will need to always get into the front seat of the car when using Uber.

Need Transportation in Colombia?

I highly recommend booking Colombia transportation with GottoGo . You can search for buses, shuttles, ferries, and flights on their website—I love their customer service. I know them personally from my time living in Guatemala, and they genuinely care for their customers. If a delay occurs and you miss your bus, call them for help. If you book through GottoGo, you will pay more than at the bus station, but it’s worth it for the ease and security. Click here to search for transportation in Colombia.

The Best Backpack Route Colombia

Ok so here it is, what you have all been waiting for my Colombia travel route. As most people fly into Bogota I’m going to start there. But I will do a loop. So if you are crossing the land border from Ecuador then start in Cali , or if you come via San Blas then you will want to start in Cartagena or Santa Marta.

• Laticia (Amazon) – note, you will need to fly here from Bogota and then return to Bogota before traveling on to Cali. 
• Bucaramanga / San Gil
• Barranquilla
• Santa Marta
• Cabo de la Vala
• Punta Gallinas
• Bogota   

Yes, there are areas I’ve skipped, but you can easily add them to your Colombia backpacking itinerary if you have more time. The same goes for removing things if you have less time. This Colombia backpacking route is suitable for solo female travelers , I’m not advising you to go anywhere unsafe. However, this is Colombia and there is a lot of petty crime. So you do need to be careful with your things. But more on that in the safety section.

This Colombia travel route starts and ends in Bogota and I have marked it on the map above. In this, I have included the best tourist places in Colombia as well as some Colombia points of interest that you should try and visit if you can. Of course, it goes without saying that there are many incredible places to visit that aren’t considered tourist destinations in Colombia. So if at all possible try and leave some time in your schedule to get off the beaten track a little and explore some new places.

Colombia Adventure Travel Musts

If you are looking for some adventure highlights Colombia there are a few things you should think about doing. The number one thing I would recommend doing is the Lost City Trek , it’s not for the faint-hearted, but it is one of the best things I’ve ever done.

Another must-do while backpacking Colombia is taking a trip into the desert. You can go it alone and hang out in Cabo de la Vela and learn to kitesurf or take an organized tour. You can read all about how to get there in this post.

Some other Colombia highlights include:

• Paragliding
• Visiting a Coffee farm
• Visiting a Cacao farm
• Chilling out in Salento
• Learning to salsa in Medellin or Cali
• Chasing waterfalls
• Visiting the salt cathedral
• Soaking up the culture in Bogota

Colombia trip itinerary

It’s really hard to give you a one size fits all best places to visit in Colombia travel itinerary, but I’m going to try. Of course, the more time you have the more places you can explore. My advice would be if you have more time to stop off at some of the smaller pueblos in between the main ‘tourist’ cities and pueblos. Less is more in Colombia so don’t try and cram in too much. Instead, take your time to get to know a place by staying a little longer.

On this best places in Colombia trip itinerary, I’ve included the most popular places people visit and linked to more detailed helpful guides if I have them. This is not only a backpacking route for Colombia but will also suit other types of travelers too as it includes all of the main Colombian tourist attractions you will not want to miss while in Colombia.

One Month in Colombia

If you have one month in Colombia, this is the route I would recommend you take time to see as much of Colombia as you can.

Colombia itinerary for 1 month:

Bogota – 2 nights – No one really wants to stay in Bogota for longer than they have to. But there is a lot of cool stuff to see and do there. I have a 24 hour and a 2-day itinerary for Bogota you can follow. If you do decide to stay for longer check out this accommodation guide to Bogota to pick a good base and then you can also think about doing some of these great Bogota day trips . I spent 2 months living in Bogota and it really isn’t that bad. But with so much to see and do in Colombia don’t spend more time here than needed.

Laticia (Amazon) – 3 nights  – This might be one of the things you need to skip, especially if you are on a tight budget as the flights here are over $100 return. If you do have the time and money though please go, and then tell me all about it! Sadly I still haven’t made it there yet, but I hope to get there soon. You can only fly here direct from Bogota.

Cali – 3 nights – Cali is the Salsa world capital and THE place to come to dance salsa in Colombia. You only need a few nights here and if you aren’t really into Salsa I’d probably skip Cali. However, if you fall in love with salsa it is easy to spend more than a week dancing your time away.

Salento – 2 nights – I went to Salento for 2 nights , I ended up staying for 7! It was just so chill and I really loved just chilling there. 2 nights is enough time to do all the cool stuff in Salento, any more time is a bonus.

Jardin – 1 night – If you have time stop at Jardin on the way to Medellin. But I’d say choose Jardin or Salento if you are short on time. Salento is much more touristy, Jardin is far quieter and less developed. Be careful of the buses though as there are only 2 buses a day from Salento.

Medellin – 4 nights – This is the minimum amount of time you should spend in Medellin. If you can I’d advise you to stay for at least a week and do a week of Spanish classes and learn to dance salsa . Medellin is a Digital Nomad hotspot , has great nightlife , and is just a cool city to hang out for a while.

Bucaramanga – 2 nights – This is another place you can skip if you don’t have the time. It’s not particularly a tourist hot spot, but it is a lovely town and popular with Colombians. This is also where you will need to stop on the was to San Gil which is the perfect place if you are an adrenaline seeker.

Cartagena – 1 night – I must admit, Cartagena is my least favorite place in Colombia, but some people love it. It’s beautiful, yes. But it’s super touristy and so expensive – however it is possible to find some hidden treasures. One night in Cartagena is enough to see all the hot spots before moving on, however it is also possible to spend more days here.

Barranquilla – 1 night – In between Cartagena and Santa Marta, although there isn’t much to see and do here, it’s worth a stop off if you have the time. And an absolute must-see if you are there during carnival.

Santa Marta – 1 night – I’ve actually spent a lot of time in Santa Marta and I really like it there. It’s a great jumping-off spot to explore other places on the coast, accommodation is very cheap and there is a great market to stock up on things you might need. But there isn’t really much to do there so 1 day in Santa Marta is enough.

Taganga – 1 night – Taganga is a small fishing village next to Santa Marta. You could just take a day trip there, or you could skip staying in Santa Marta and just spend a few nights in Taganga instead. Many people are there for scuba diving or the party!

Parque Tayrona – 2 nights  – Don’t skip Parque Tayrona ! You can just go there on a day trip, but I’d spend at least 2 or 3 nights camping there.

Minca – 2 nights – I really really liked Minca , I could have easily spent a week there. But there isn’t that much to do so 2 nights is plenty if you don’t have much time.

Palamino – 2 nights – Palomino is a super chill beach town that is perfect to hang out and soak up some sun and do some yoga.

Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas – 3 nights – It’s not the easiest place to get to, but wow is it worth it! You can attempt to go it alone, or you can book on a tour as I did . There actually isn’t all that much difference in price and the tour is a lot less stressful!

Santa Marta or Cartagena – 1 night – Head back to either Santa Marta or Cartagena to take a bus or a flight back to Bogota.

Bogota – 1 night – Spend the night here before flying off to your next destination!

Having 1 month in Colombia is a nice amount of time, of course in my opinion you need 3 months to really enjoy Colombia. If you do have the option to take more time then you can easily spread out this Itinerary over a longer time then do. It is a lot to cram into a month. If you want to skip some places then I’d advise skipping Laticia, Cali if you aren’t interested in salsa dancing, choose to visit either Salento or Jardin (Salento is amazing but Jardin is less touristy), Bucaramanga, and Barranquilla. If you want to do t he Lost City trek then you will need 5 nights at least so you might want to skip going to Punta Gallinas and Coba de la Vela . 

Three Weeks in Colombia

Only have three weeks in Colombia? No problem. You won’t be able to see the whole of Colombia during this time, but with this itinerary, you can make the most of your 3 weeks in Colombia.

Colombia itinerary for 3 weeks:

• Bogota – 2 days
• Cali – 4 days
• Salento – 2 days
• Medellin – 6 days
• Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Minca – 7 days

Two Weeks in Colombia

Got two weeks in Colombia? Then use this itinerary to help you make the most of your short vacation in Colombia. I’m not going to lie, 2 weeks in Colombia is nowhere near enough time, but you can see a few of the most popular places and get a feel of the Country.

Colombia two-week itinerary:

• Bogota 2 days
• Salento 2 days
• Medellin 5 days
• Cartagena (Santa Marta, Minac, etc) 5 days

A week in Colombia

1 week in Colombia is really not enough time. But if it’s all the time you have, then it’s all the time you have. You can make the most of your time by flying from place to place. If you decide to do this then I’d strongly recommend only packing hand luggage as the budget Colombian airlines like to charge for baggage!

Colombia itinerary for 1 week:

• Bogota 1 day
• Medellin 2 days
• Cartagena 2 days

The Best Hostels in Colombia

I’ve listed all of the best hostels in Colombia here on this page . Although I do also have more detailed accommodation guides for Bogota and Medellin .

Other Important Things to Consider When Backpacking Colombia

There are some other common questions people ask about when traveling to Colombia so I’ve tried to answer them as best I can here.

Colombia Travel Vaccines

If you are traveling to Colombia vaccinations may be a concern. Yellow fever is a good idea, especially if you are planning to hike to the Lost City, visit Taganga, and/ or visit the Amazon. They won’t check this as you are entering the country, but it’s advised to get it.

What do I need to travel to Colombia?

If you are wondering what to pack I have some great packing guides you can read:

Complete Packing List for The Caribbean Coast of Colombia

My Ultimate Backpacking Packing List

Other than that there isn’t much you really need. Most countries can enter Colombia on a tourist ‘visa’ which is good for 90 days. After 90 days, you can renew at immigration or online. The rule is you can only stay in Colombia for 6 months in any year. You can, of course, get around this by entering 90 days before the end of the year. You then renew online for another 90 days. Once that is up, leave the country for a few days and re-enter and you will get another 90 days. After that 90 days is up you will need to leave.

Word of warning, do not mess with Colombian Immigration. If you overstay you will get 2 weeks to leave and have to pay a fine. Trust me, I learned the hard way!

Solo Female Travel Colombia

Looking for solo travel Colombia information? I personally traveled Colombian solo and had no issues at all. I did have some things robbed in Bogota and I’m not denying that there are some safety issues you need to take seriously, however, if you are planning on traveling to Colombia alone I have a few guides you can read that will help you get prepared. Is it safe to travel to Colombia alone? Absolutely! Do you need to be prepared? YES

Safety In Bogota Colombia

Is Medellin Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

What I Learned Traveling Solo in Colombia as a Woman

Final Thoughts

And that’s it! My Ultimate Colombia backpacking route! I hope it has been of use to you as you prepare for backpacking Colombia. Feel free to reach out if you have any specific questions that I don’t answer on this Colombia blog!

© 2023 Claire’s Itchy Feet  

PATAGONIA DREAMING TRAVEL BLOG

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1 month itinerary for Colombia for the adventurous traveler

• December 16, 2016

Colombia in one month is not a lot of time to explore this beautiful country, but it is still enough time to visit some of the highlights of the country and give you a taste so you want to come back for more. I love nature and outdoor adventures, so this was my focus when I planned my 1 month in Colombia.

So why did I end up in Colombia on my first solo travel? Colombia had for many years been on my bucket list. To be honest, I think it was Shakira that started the idea when she put her country on the world map with her hip-shaking song “whenever-wherever.” Back in 2007 my best friend and I were about to decide in which country to work voluntarily the following year. I wanted to go to Colombia, and she was more into Mexico. The organization only had programs in Colombia from August, and we wanted to go in January, so we ended up choosing Mexico. It took me almost nine years before I pursued my dream and took the flight to Colombia. Hands down, Colombia did not disappoint me!

Bogotá: Amazing city bike tour, but a bit boring

Day 1-2: Bike ride and cable car to Monserrate: My travel took off in the capital of Colombia, Bogotá. It was not a city that took my heart away, so I only stayed two nights. I arrived at night but the second day I started out with the 5 hour Bogotá bike tour around the city which was one of the best experiences in Bogotá, and I will definitely recommend this for everybody. They have tours in the morning at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm and you just show up at their shop located in La Candelaria (Carrera 3 no 12-71).

At night I took the cable car to Cerro de Monserrate to see the beautiful view of the capital. Monserrate is a hilltop and there is a church up there. The cable car is operating until 11.30 pm, but I would recommend to go there before sunset to see the city in daylight and then see it when all the lights are on.

Day 3: Museum Botero, located in La Candelaria. Open all days except Tuesday. Before taking the flight to Santa Marta, I spend half the day at Museo Botero which was a fascinating experience. The museum also has sculpture and paintings from other known artists like Dali and even some Danish artists. I am in general not a city person, so two nights for me was enough, and I didn’t find the city that interesting.

Santa Marta and the Lost City Trail (Cuidad Perdida)

Day 4: Tayrona National park. I only stayed one day in Tayrona National park, and I wish I had taken a bus earlier in the morning because I arrived a bit late. It was a warm experience, and suddenly we had to walk very fast to get out of the park again in time. But the park is beautiful, and we even saw monkeys! I go nuts when I see monkeys so this was one big highlight for me. You can sleep there as well, but I was short of time and the day after I was doing the Lost City Trek.

Day 5-8: Lost City Trek. High in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada mountains, you will find the Lost City, a site which by many has been called ‘the new Machu Picchu.’ Doing the Lost City Trek was another tick on my bucket list and is an adventure that I always will remember. I booked the trip at the hostel I was staying. This was here I found my travel partner from Holland as well.

If you are into hiking, history and impressive nature, this is the perfect trek. After the tour, I heard that many people don’t support it because they don’t believe the indigenous that lives there are being respected. I don’t know too much about the circumstances but the guide we had lived five years in the jungle with the indigenous to learn about their culture and I felt there was a lot of respect from the guide towards the native people living there. The company is called Baquianos Tour . The guide did not speak English, so you might want to ask about that when booking the tour.

Day 9: Coffee farm tour at Minca. After a lot of hiking, I decided to use my last day on a half day excursion to a coffee farm which I also booked at the hostel. I had a goal to learn to drink coffee during this Colombia trip so learning a bit about coffee beans, the production process and understand the difference between first and second class made the whole learn-to-like-coffee process a lot more interesting. As part of the trip, we visited some waterfalls as well.

The New Medellin after the fall of Pablo Escobar

I skipped Cartagena. From other travelers, I got the impression that it was kind of a party place. I decided to win some more days and take the plane to Medellin instead. Medellin surprised me. I’m not a big city person, and I thought I would stay there for a maximum of three days. I stayed for 5 days, and I could have been there for two weeks more!

Day 11: Walking tour. Start out with the free walking tour – it helped me understand the Colombian people, their culture, their dramatic historical and political background and life after Pablo Escobar. In Medellín Pablo is like Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter; he is the he-who-must-not-be-named. It’s a sensitive subject to the Colombians, and they want to change their country’s reputation of being a country with violence, drugs cartels, and cocaine. So treat the subject with care. Remember to sign up for the walking tour and bring some tips for the very professional guides.

Paragliding and graffiti in Medellin

Day 12: Metro & cable cars: Take a trip with the metro and cable car to see the city from above and explore the Arví park at the end of the journey.

Day 13: Paragliding. I got some hangover that day (damn you Aguardiente!) but my travel partner and I managed to find our way to the paragliding place, and it was a great experience to see Medellin from another perspective. We asked for information at our hostel, they told us how to get there and we managed to get there and get back home all by ourselves. I will not recommend it with hangover though… :D

Day 14: Comuna 13 & Cerro Nutibara. Comuna 13 was earlier one of the most dangerous neighborhood. Today you find an escalator, beautiful graffiti and an amazing view of the city. I didn’t have any expectations of that trip, but it was such a surprise to see this odd neighborhood. I mean – a modern looking escalator in the middle of a ghetto-ish looking neighborhood? And then with all the graffiti. I didn’t do the guided graffiti tour, but I would do it next time to get some more history about the graffiti. In the afternoon we visited the Cerro Nutibara where you will find another great view of the city. Its kind of a weekend-escape place for the paisanos (people from medellín) and you´ll find stalls with food and souvenirs as well.

Day 15: El Peñol de Guatapé. The impressive stone is located a 2-hour bus ride from Medellín. Buy your tickets at the main bus terminal. When you arrive at El Peñol, the taxi drivers will try to convince you that you cannot walk there but you can! Just turn to your right when you see some stairs.

The stone is impressive! I was a bit like “how did they place that stone there? “. Well, it wasn´t placed there by anybody, but it just seems like it dropped down from the sky. It has an elevation of 2,135 meters (7,005 ft) over sea level, 22 cubic megametres of the rock mass and it is 385 meters (1,263 ft) long, with an approximate weight of 66 million tonnes. El Peñol has some rock breaks that was used to construct 650 stairs, so its possible to go all the way up – and that view is something from another planet! Good exercise though! ;-)

Other things I did there that I can recommend doing is to enjoy Medellín nightlife and dance some reggaeton! I didn’t think I would be out partying in Colombia, but the good vibes in Medellin tempted me. The paisanos are incredibly friendly – but be careful when they offer you to share a bottle of Aguardiente! ;-)

Salento and all its nature and coffee

Day 16: Salento was a whole other experience. My travel partner and I decided to stay in hostel Kasaguaduana in the middle of nowhere. We walked until we got to a gate. From there we walked yet another 20 minutes in a densely overgrown downhill path. All the way we were like “what the hell is this? Where are we?”. But finally, we found this little paradise on earth. A sustainable lifetime dream project by a Colombian/English couple. The walk from the main center to the hostel and back again was long – and when it was dark it was dark everywhere! We had to walk with our flashlight through the overgrown path, and it was an experience in itself!

Day 17: Valle de Cocora. A nationally protected park with 60-meter high wax palms – the national tree of Colombia. Another must-do in Salento and you´ll find buses going to the park from the center. Again I had this feeling I was on another planet when I saw the stunning view of the tall wax palms.

Day 18: Mountain biking & coffee farm tour. Last day in Salento and we decided to use it effectively. We rented a bike to explore the area. On the way, we passed a coffee farm “El Ocas Salento” where I took another round coffee trip. During this coffee tour, we got to pick our coffee beans and being involved in the process was something I enjoyed.

Wet desert walk at Desierto de la Tatacoa

Day 19-20: Desert of Tatacoa. A long bus ride took us to the only desert in Colombia. Guess what – it was raining when we arrived! I thought that this must be the weirdest desert in the world. But then I learned that there’s an average of 1070mm of rain each year. We were waiting 2 hours for the rain to stop before we could finally explore the odd-looking desert. The walk was not easy – the rain had the sand turned into mud. Heavy mud! With 2 kilo heavy feet, we walked around this spacey looking desert. And apropos. The same day we were there a movie company were filming a science fiction series and we had spacey people walking around in the desert. A bizarre experience! This dessert is also a perfect place to observe stars – but because of the rain, we could not see the sky.

San Agustín and ruins

Day 20: Archaeological Park of San Agustín. I only had two nights in San Agustin since I was running out of time. As soon as I stepped out of the bus, I got help from the local tourist office to find a place to stay. People were so friendly here, and I felt very safe walking around alone, also at night. I arrived a bit late but had time to visit the Archaeological Park . The park was a nice walk, I enjoyed being a tourist by my own after two weeks with a travel partner (she went back home after Tatacoa), but it’s not the most impressive ruins if you compare to the Mayan ruins in Mexico or Guatemala.

Day 21: Jeep Tour. On this tour, I saw waterfalls, viewpoints and some ruins. It was an excellent tour, but to be honest, I wasn’t that impressed by the ruins again. I loved the waterfalls though. San Agustin is a beautiful place and maybe I should had used more days there, but I wasn’t that impressed with their ruins as I have been in some other places. But I think I will come back another time to explore the area more because I liked the city.

Then I had a long bus ride to Bogotá before heading to my last big adventure in Colombia.

The Amazon jungle in Leticia

Day 22- 29: Leticia & the Amazon. I had a lot of doubts whether I should go to Letitia or not. Its a very remote place and you can only go there by plane meaning the tickets are not cheap. Furthermore to stay here is expensive as well. On the other hand, I wanted to experience the Amazon, and I was so close already. In the end, I decided to do it – and it was one of the best experience I had in Colombia!

I had been in contact with some travel agencies before leaving and ended up with Selvaventura . Claudia from the company picked me up at the airport and took me to their agency that is a hostel as well. At the agency, I got my briefing, and I was very surprised to find out that I was going to Brazil! That was an adventure itself because First I had to take a taxi to the river. Then a boat to Brazil. Then another taxi to another part of the river and then a peke peek boat to Palmari Lodge where I stayed three nights. Among the activities there I did with my guide:

• Kayak in the Amazon river to observe monkeys and pink and grey river dolphins
• Visiting the local villages to see and learn about how they live
• Fishing piranha fish in the river
• Night boat trip to catch caimans
• Night walk in the jungle to observe nocturne animals (this was so cool!)
• Making pieces of jewelry with natural materials
• Canopy in the jungle

Lodge Palmari was where I met Victor . After my days here we took together to Leticia. From there we took a boat trip to Puerto Nariño, a river village where we stayed one night. At the coastline, you will find offices selling tickets to the small river villages. Next day we made another boat trip to observe more of the Amazon river and the river dolphins.

Day 30 I took the flight back to Bogota and then back to Denmark.

A travel tip: Flying is often cheaper and faster than taking the bus.

Did you like the article? Please share :-)

sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Peñón_de_Guatapé

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I’m massively in favour of the coffee tour, and like your take on the street art and paragliding- I would definitely squeeze those into any itinerary.

The street art in Colombia in general is pretty awesome! When its art it really adds beauty to a big city! Thanks for your comment :)

Sounds like you had an amaaazing time. We also spent 1 month in Colombia but had a bit of a different itinerary. Salento and Medellin are my fave places ever!!

I would love to go back to these places! Colombia is something special :)

I am going to Colombia this Summer and Palmari sounds amazing! We went to the Peruvian Amazon 2 years ago and fell in love. It sounds like you had a great time there, would you recommend it?

I really liked the experience even though it was the most expensive part of my trip! I saw a post about another girl doing a trip in the amazon jungle but another place and she kind of did same activities as me; observing river dolphins, catching piranha fist, kayak in the river and visiting small village. I don’t know what you did in Peru, but that was what u did you might want to try something else. At Palmari you can also stay multiple days in the jungle: walking and making food, sleeping in hammocks. It was raining heavily when I was there so I didn’t have the chance, but I would love to come back and try it! Have a great trip to Colombia :)

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Ultimate Colombia Itinerary: 1-4 Weeks in Colombia with the Best Beaches, Amazon Adventures and Colonial Cities

This ultimate Colombia itinerary shows you the best beaches, cities and activities all around Colombia! Save money with our tips and find the best places to stay from Cartagena to Bogota and Medellin, from San Agustin to Amazon and the coffee region. Our one-month Colombia itinerary is easily divided into 1-week, 10-day or 2-week routes. We also drop tips on how to expand it into 5-week or 2 months exploration through Colombia’s highlights and hidden gems.

This itinerary has been thoroughly updated in September 2019

Are you ready to reveal the magic of Colombia? Choose the best destinations for your Colombian trip from paradise beaches, mountains, colonial cities, and the jungles of Amazon! Learn where to stay and what to see in Colombia, how to book cheap internal flights and choose the quickest buses and shuttles – we have everything covered.

How Many Days in Colombia I Need?

That’s a tricky question we hear a lot! Colombia is enormous and versatile; experiencing its various faces and seeing the best sights takes weeks – not days. I mean, where else you can experience so much on the same holiday, inside just one country? The Caribbean beaches, archeological sites, mountain treks, and other adventurous activities are some of the best in South America, and the Colombian Amazon remains relatively unspoiled, unlike the Peruvian and Brazilian sides.

However, not everybody needs, wants or can have one month vacation in Colombia – and that’s allright. Tip from a fellow traveler: spend as many days as you can and plan your itinerary wisely to see the best of Colombia.

I would recommend 2-4 week itinerary in Colombia. But if you have less time and are planning to spend for example one week or 10 days in Colombia, you can still craft an amazing Colombia itinerary including the most famous places to see in Colombia.

We squeezed the best places to visit in Colombia into the ultimate one-month Colombia itinerary, which is conveniently divided into four 1-week itineraries – or two different kinds of 2-week itineraries. Good news: If you’re planning 1-2-week trip in Colombia, just pick your favorite areas – the logistics and other practical stuff are already planned for you. Read our Colombia travel blog to catch further tips for planning either one-week or two-week itinerary in Colombia!

No matter how much time you have and where you decide to go, the magic of Colombia will steal your heart. Take off to Colombia with us!

The Ultimate Colombia Itinerary (For One Month or 1-3 Weeks in Colombia)

One week in cartagena and the caribbean coast: cartagena de indias, santa marta, minca, tayrona national park.

• Recommended itinerary extensions: Lost City Trek or La Guajira or the Caribbean Islands

One Week in Medellin and The Colombian Andes: Paragliding, Cultural Tours, and Guatape

• Recommended itinerary extensions: the Coffee Triangle, Salento, and Valle de Cocora

One Week in San Agustin, Neiva, Desierto Tatacoa, and Popayan: Archeological Mysteries and Natural Wonders of Colombia

• Recommended itinerary extensions: Tierradentro and Cali

One Week in Bogota and the Amazon: Leticia, Puerto Narino and Amazon Tours

• Recommended itinerary extensions: Amazon tours in Brazil or Peru

The Ultimate 1-Week Colombia Itinerary

Bogota, medellin and cartagena in one week, how much time you need in colombia.

Colombia is enormous and versatile; experiencing its various faces and seeing the best sights takes weeks. I mean, where else you can experience so much on the same holiday, inside just one country? The Caribbean beaches, archeological sites, mountain treks, and other adventurous activities are some of the best in South America, and the Colombian Amazon remains relatively unspoiled, unlike the Peruvian and Brazilian sides.

I would recommend spending at least 2-4 weeks in Colombia. But if you have less time, for example one week, you can still craft an amazing Colombia itinerary including the most famous places to see in Colombia.

We squeezed the best places to visit in Colombia into the ultimate one month Colombia itinerary, which is conveniently divided into four 1-week itineraries – or two different kinds of 2-week itineraries. Good news: If you’re planning 1-2-week trip in Colombia, just pick your favorite areas, and the logistics and other practical stuff are already planned for you. Read on to catch further tips for planning either one-week or two-week itinerary in Colombia!

No matter how much time you have and where you decide to go, the magic of Colombia will steal your heart. Take off with us!

Tips for Your Own Colombia Itinerary

At first, we decided to create the ultimate one-month Colombia itinerary, which grew popular among backpackers and luxury-minded travelers alike. Then, we started to get inquiries for the best 2-week or one-week itinerary in Colombia, so we kept on drafting new itineraries which all have now been field-tested by our readers.

Our ultimate one-month route is easily divided into 1-week, 10-day or 2-week itineraries and we drop tips on how to expand it into 5-week or 2 months exploration through Colombia’s hidden gems.

Tips for Personalized One-Month Colombia Itinerary

If you’re planning a 4-week itinerary, read the whole article and pick the destinations that tick your fancy. Although our 4-week itinerary is popular, it still gets best with little tweaks that make it your own.

For example, if you love hiking, add Lost City Trek. If you love beaches, add more time on the Caribbean coast, possibly a couple of days inside Tayrona National Park and a snorkeling trip to Rosario Islands, and consider visiting the Caribbean Islands of Providencia and San Andres.

If you want to experience everything that you can within one month in Colombia, go with our original 4-week itinerary.

Tips for Planning 1-Week Colombia Itinerary

One week in Colombia forces you to choose carefully where to go and what to see. You cannot see everything, but it can still be the best trip ever!

When planning your route, check out all the chunks on our 4-week itinerary and choose one one-week loop that resonates with you. I’d recommend the Caribbean Coast, Medellin, or the Amazon, depending on your preferences. Then, add a night in Bogota (unless you choose Cartagena and find straight flights there, then you can skip Bogota totally).

If you find more than one area in our 4-week loop that enchants you, pick two areas and check if you can find cheap flights to minimize travel time. For example, it’s relatively easy to cover Cartagena, Tayrona National Park, and Medellin in one-week (but you’ll need flights to make it happen). We’ll give a more concrete example itinerary at the end of this article.

Tips for Planning 2-Week Itinerary in Colombia

The easiest way to create an awesome 2-week itinerary in Colombia is to pick two one-week chunks from our ultimate route. Then all the logistics are easy to handle, and you will have enough time to explore the destinations that you have picked.

With two weeks in Colombia, you can also be creative and modify the itinerary into your likings. If you’re into beaches, tick off the first part of our 4-week itinerary: Cartagena and the Caribbean Coast. Keep it as your base, where to add more destinations according to your schedule. Check out if you can find cheap flights to Providencia to explore the Caribbean Islands, or extend your Caribbean Coast itinerary to cover Riohacha and La Guajira Peninsula.

The easiest way to craft an amazing 3-week itinerary in Colombia is to pick three loops from our 4-week plan.

1 WEEK IN CARTAGENA AND THE CARIBBEAN COAST

Cartagena (3-5 days): old colonial city with spanish castles and beach hideaways.

Start your 4-week tour around Colombia from the cobbled streets of Cartagena de Indias.  Visit Spanish castles, feast on culinary delights, and just wander around the old walled city spellbound.

Cartagena has probably the most picturesque old town we’ve ever visited. The pastel-colored colonial houses cast well-needed shadows into hot afternoons, and bougainvilleas hang from the pillared balconies like clouds from the paradise. The turquoise Caribbean lures you to take a boat to dreamy beaches and small islands, the nearest called Tierrabomba being just 20 minutes’ ride from the shore.

Less than four days won’t be enough to experience Cartagena at a relaxed pace. Plan to unwind and indulge in the Colombian culture. Roaming around unintentionally unwraps the secrets of this old colonial city. Local and international restaurants cater to your every craving, and a couple of small specialty coffee houses give a perfect introduction to the coffee heritage of Colombia. Check out an article about the best cafés in Cartagena and get charged up! Colombian coffee beans are among the best in the world.

How to get to Cartagena from Bogota

There are several cheap, daily flights from Bogota, so don’t bother with the exhausting bus trips or drives. We paid around 30$ per person for the one-way ticket, and even cheaper fares are available. Save time on transits to squeeze more destinations into your Colombian itinerary!

Castillo de San Fernando on Tierrabomba island, Cartagena

The legendary Cafe Havana, Cartagena

Old lady watching horse carriages passing by just before sunset hour, Cartagena

Metal sculpture in front of Museo de Arte Moderno, Cartagena de Indias

Tayrona National Park and Beaches Near Palomino (2-3 Days): Untamed Colombian Beaches, Ancient Ruins, and Mellow Vibes

Get sun-toasted at the immaculate Caribbean beaches, dip in the turquoise waters, and admire majestic boulders that have witnessed the rites of ancient civilizations. Tayrona National Park is made for an adventurous day of beach hopping, snorkeling, and hiking or horseback riding. In the backdrop of Sierra Nevada mountains lurks the pre-Hispanic ruins of Pueblito , the town of Tairona people, which sees surprisingly few tourists. The charm of Tayrona National Park can be experienced in one long and adventurous day, but it will entice you to linger for more leisure beach time.

Tayrona National Park is the most visited park in Colombia for a reason and shouldn’t be skipped. To craft your visit truly unforgettable and avoid the negative sides of tourism, check out our guide on visiting Tayrona National Park: “Beach Hopping by Horseback in Tayrona National Park “ . We opted to stay outside the national park to avoid the masses and found our untamed paradise beach near the town of Palomino.

How to Get to Tayrona National Park and Palomino from Cartagena

We took a door-to-door minivan from Cartagena to our hotel La Mar de Bien near Palomino (4,5-7 hours, depending on the driver and company). It was cheaper, easier, and quicker than flying with ground transports at both ends (taxi to the airport, flight, taxi to either bus terminal and bus trip or one-hour taxi drive straight to Palomino from the airport).

The ancient Tayrona people set sail from Cabo San Juan del Guia, after descending from Pueblito, their village up in the misty hills of Tayrona National Park

Tayrona National Park is made for beach-hopping: hike or ride by the gorgeous beaches and through the lush jungle!

After a sweaty 2-hour's ride, we finally arrived to Cabo San Juan

We walked back from Cabo San Juan del Guia to Cañaveral, stopping to pose with locals

Santa Marta and Minca (2-3 Days): Authentic Colonial City and Misty Mountain Town

Locals prefer Santa Marta over Cartagena for its authentic colonial city feel. Many tourists visit Santa Marta only for the nearby attractions since it makes a great base for exploring Tayrona National Park and the nearby mountain village of Minca.

We’d recommend stealing a couple of days from your 4-week itinerary for the colonial center of Santa Marta. Choose one excursion (ours was Minca) and afterward just enjoy the treats of “a small city break”: stroll around the streets of Santa Marta with locals, enjoy great dinners, and discover the hidden charm of this Colombian colonial city.

“The authenticity” means that Santa Marta is not polished for tourists like Cartagena, and the experience will be more “raw”. There are just a couple of picturesque streets, a small park, and a short “beach boulevard”, where locals hang around street food stalls. Outside the colonial center, there’s not much to see.

Nearby Taganga offers a backpacker-style beach getaway with bars and party vibe, but we’d recommend venturing into the beaches near Palomino for a secluded and boutique-style beach holiday.

Visit Minca for a Short Mountain Vacation in Colombian Style

Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range can be visited on a day trip from Santa Marta. If you yearn to hike, bike or ride on the mountain trails, it might be a better idea to take a tour from Santa Marta or overnight in Minca to arrange it independently.

There’s a trailhead in the town (ask from locals) for a short independent mountain hike. Also, an organic coffee plantation or some of the nearby waterfalls can be visited on an independent day trip. If you’re enticed to visit Minca but short on time, consider changing your Colombia itinerary so that you’d stay in Minca instead of Santa Marta.

How to Get to Santa Marta and Minca

Door-to-door minivans are an affordable and relatively comfortable way to travel short distances in Colombia. The travel time is only 1-1,5 hours from Palomino or Tayrona National Park to Santa Marta. Tip: choose minivans over the slow and uncomfortable Colombian buses whenever you can!

There’s no direct bus between the center of Santa Marta and Minca. We negotiated a deal with a local taxi driver in Santa Marta to visit Minca for a couple of hours. You can also take a shared taxi/minibus from the Santa Marta market. Shared taxis are reasonably priced: around 8000COP per person. The drive takes only 30 minutes.

Itinerary Expansion: the Lost City Trek or La Guajira Peninsula

If you have more than one month in Colombia or would like to skip something on our itinerary, consider adding the Lost City  (Ciudad Perdida) or  La Guajira peninsula  to your itinerary. For Lost City trek you’d need at least 4 days, but preferably an extra week for some relaxation afterwards. From Santa Marta area you can do just an overnight trip to La Guajira desert and the picturesque fishing village called Cabo de la Vela .

Fruit cart circlling the colorful streets of Santa Marta

Decayed colonial facade in Santa Marta

1 WEEK IN THE COLOMBIAN ANDES: PAISA AND COFFEE REGION

3-5-day medellin itinerary: explore the roots of the “paisas” and pablo escobar, indulge in adrenaline activities or amazing restaurants.

Without visiting Medellin and the paisa district, you cannot say you’ve seen Colombia. After the Netflix hit series “Narcos”, many tourists visit Medellin in search of the infamous Pablo Escobar sights. However, Medellin is so much bigger than its narco reputation. From the former murder capital of the world has risen unbelievably success stories, which are imitated in other troubled cities all around the world. Of course, things are not that black and white. Explore Medellin on your own to draw your own conclusions.

Medellin took me by surprise and jumped high to my list of favorite cities. Nicknamed as “the city of Eternal Spring” and with hilly streets, Medellin reminds a lot of San Francisco. Every Colombia itinerary should include Medellin, no matter how many days or weeks you have in Colombia!

Some of the main draws of Medellin: fantastic restaurant and coffee shop scene, a plethora of tours and activities from trampling the “Pablo Escobar trail” to paragliding and other extreme sports, the unexpected green oases around the center, outdoor escalators that have turned a former slum into a creative and safe neighborhood, the famous cable car, vibrant street art culture rivaling with the small art galleries and outdoor statues of Fernando Botero, and so complex and magnetic urban culture that I have to leave it for another article.

Visit Guatape for a Short Countryside Break

Just for the craziness of it, we were supposed to take part in the paintball war at the ruins of Pablo Escobar’s former hacienda in Guatape . Unfortunately, the activity was canceled just before our tour, and the decision appears permanent.

The quaint town of Guatape makes still a lovely countryside break if your Colombian itinerary allows a couple of extra days. The town is located on the bank of an artificial lake that used to be among the favorite holiday destinations of drug lords at the time of Escobar.

If your Colombia itinerary allows, I’d recommend expanding your stay in Medellin-Guatape area into one week.

Our consolation prize was a thrilling experience of paragliding upon the red roofs of Medellin, click here to check out the pictures ! We also loved exploring the street-art painted Comuna 13, formerly a notorious gang area, which has been uplifted to the new heights with the famous outdoor escalators .

How to get to Medellin from Santa Marta (or Bogota)

Avianca has one straight daily flight from Santa Marta to Medellin (1 hour 15 minutes), so grab it! We paid around 60$ per person. Other Colombian carriers offer the leg with a layover in Bogota. The bus trip from Bogota to Medellin is nightmarish and even locals avoid it – you’ve been warned. Even road trips through the mountains might turn out to be not so fun or safe (further details at the end of this article). The bus trip from Medellin to Guatape takes two hours, and the famous La Piedra (stone monolith) can be visited on the route.

Paragliding upon the hills of Medellín, Colombia

Riding the cable cars Medellín, Colombia

View down towards the escalators of Comuna 13 in Medellín, Colombia

Medellín's Tal Qual Restaurant fuses gastronomy and art

Popayan (2 Days): White-washed Colombian Colonial Town

The white-washed Popayan inevitably collides with your itinerary, if you’re planning to visit the archaeological treasures of San Agustin or Tierradentro. Yet another Colombian colonial town, you might think. Somehow Popayan is still different. It feels even more authentic than Santa Marta, and you won’t see many other tourists.

To be honest, Popayan was our least favorite place in Colombia. Still, we were glad to experience its unique atmosphere. It’s said to be the most religious city in Colombia, so if you’re into churches and monasteries, you’ll appreciate it more than we did. Nearby mountain village Silvia hosts a colorful market every Tuesday, and other villages and thermal springs can be explored on a horseback riding or mountain bike trip.

How to Get to Popayan from Medellin (or Bogota or Anywhere in Colombia)

Once again: getting to Popayan is easiest with domestic flights. Bus travel or self-drive is doable but would require changing the itinerary since it would take days to drive from Medellin to Popayan. We reserved our flights pretty late and ended up paying around 100$ per person.

Itinerary Expansion: 1 Week in Colombia’s Coffee Triangle & Cali

If you’re considering road travel from Medellin to Popayan, expand the itinerary and stay 2-3 days in the “the coffee triangle” (the town of Salento or bigger cities of Manizales, Armenia, and Pereira) and Cali respectively. I’d add a one-week loop in the case of road travel. If you have time and don’t hate long drives or bus trips, I’d even recommend expanding our one-month itinerary into 5 weeks!

The cathedral of Popayán, Catedral Basílica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción

Parque Caldas, the main square of Popayán

5-7 DAYS IN SAN AGUSTIN AND THE SOUTHWEST COLOMBIA

San agustin (3 days): horseback riding and hiking among ancient statues.

San Agustin is considered as the most important archaeological site in South America, surprisingly winning the title from the hyped Machu Picchu. While we loved them both, I’d probably pick the less visited San Agustin as my personal favorite. The cryptic stone statues, graves, and ceremonial sites are scattered around stunning river valleys, jungle, and rolling hills.

Horseback riding between the archaeological sites of San Agustín makes an exciting day trip. Hiking inside the archaeological park of San Agustin deserves another day. The small town charm keeps you entertained for a couple of days, and the waking tourism boom has brought a couple of good hotels and restaurants. If you have more than two weeks in Colombia, please include San Agustin in your itinerary!

How to Get to San Agustin from Popayan

In our itinerary’s southwestern loop, road travel is your only choice. Luckily, it’s worth the effort this time! The road winds up to the scenic high-altitude páramo almost straight after Popayan, and it’s dubbed as the most beautiful bus route inside Colombia. Local bus crawls the distance between Popayan and San Agustin in 4–7 hours; minivans can speed it up even to 3 hours. The road is getting paved slowly, cutting travel times each year.

Horseback riding, in San Agustin, Colombia

One of the few colorful statues in San Agustin Archeological Park, Colombia

Rio Magdalena, La Chaquira, San Agustin, Colombia

Desierto de la Tatacoa and Neiva (2 Days): Surreal Mini Desert

Tatacoa Desert is among the Colombian destinations that scream magical realism. It’s hard to believe that such a mini-desert with canyons reminding of Arizona even exists in the middle of green hills and mild tropical climate of Colombia. Near the visitors’ center and observatory lies “the red desert” with a labyrinth of narrow pathways. To keep things even more interesting, a short moto ride takes you to the “gray desert” , which has its own oasis, a natural pool.

How to Get to Neiva and Tatacoa Desert from San Agustin

This is the second – and last – leg in our 4-week itinerary requiring road travel. Minivans can cut the distance between San Agustin and Neiva into 4 hours (reserve longer, if you go through Pitalito).

Tatacoa Desert can be visited on a day trip from Neiva (take a taxi to the desert or a minivan to the village of Villavieja , from where you can hire a moto taxi). With its observatory, Tatacoa Desert is a perfect spot for stargazing, so feel free to stay there, if you’re not afraid of basic accommodation. We opted to stay in Neiva for comfort and great food – one of the best dinners we had during our one month tour in Colombia.

I’d strongly recommend including Tatacoa Desert into your Colombian itinerary, though it’ll mean an extra loop. We flew from Neiva to the Amazon to minimize transit time. Bus from Neiva to Bogota takes around 6 hours; Avianca has several direct flights daily.

1 WEEK IN THE COLOMBIAN AMAZON & BOGOTA

Amazonas (4–6 days): explore the colombian amazon – or visit brazil and peru.

Visiting Amazon is an essential part of experiencing the multiple faces of Colombia – and shouldn’t be left out of the one-month itinerary. Amazonas , as Colombians call their stretch of the river basin, covers a third of Colombia.

Visiting Amazon on the Colombian side will feel more authentic than embarking on the jungle adventures from the Brasilian or Peruvian side. The Colombian border town of Leticia rivals those of its neighbors, and if you pick a good hotel, it could even feel a pleasant small town for a couple of days. Get inspiration for your stay from our list of “Best Things to Do in Leticia” .

Still, Leticia is just a starting point for your Amazon adventures. Venture deeper with public or private boats and take hikes in the rainforest, visit indigenous tribes, spot pink and gray river dolphins, and go fishing if you please. We stayed two nights in Leticia and two nights in the small eco-village of Puerto Narino , 75 kilometers upstream from Leticia.

Puerto Narino is an excellent base for independent Amazon adventures. There are a couple of decent lodges, and plenty of villagers are eager to take you on affordable, yet private Amazon excursions with their wooden fishing boats. Ready-made Amazon tour packages come with hefty price tags. Search online before you book to make sure that the guides and lodges will meet your expectations.

Getting to Leticia from Bogota (or anywhere in Colombia): Tips to Save Money

If you’re visiting Colombian Amazon, the flights are obligatory. There are no roads to Leticia from the Colombian side. We paid 80–100$ one way, per person. Rather high price is the main reason why many tourists drop Amazon from their itinerary.

Here’s the trick: we encourage you to fly from any destination inside Colombia to Leticia. You’ll have a layover in Bogota, but according to our investigations, the multi-destination flight will be only a slightly more expensive than a single leg from Bogota to Leticia. We paid around 100$ for the Neiva-Leticia leg and 80$ for the Leticia-Bogota leg. Book early for the best deals; we reserved all our internal flights pretty late.

From Leticia, we took a public riverboat to Puerto Narino (75 kilometers, 1,5-2,5 hours) in the Colombian Amazon. Book tickets at the port the day before. Please, add at least one full-day Amazon tour into your Colombia itinerary!

Thousands of parrots arriving at Leticia's Parque Santander just before sunset

Sunset Amazon tour and night safari from Puerto Narino, Colombian Amazon

Life is tranquil in the small villages bordering the Colombian Amazonas

The ecovillage of Puerto Narino in the Colombian Amazon

Bogota, the Cool Capital of Colombia (2 Days or More)

Whereas many capitals in southern or central America feel rather ugly, Bogota is a cool and even beautiful colonial city. If you’re into museums, reserve more than two days: in Bogota, you’ll be spoiled.

I love the hilly layout and tourist-filled old town La Candelaria , but it’s the strike of “urban cool”, similar to that of Medellin, which charms me even more. Sample some of the best coffee in the world in hipster coffee shops in up-and-coming Chapinero area, follow the beats to the clubs of nearby Zona Rosa , and climb to green Cerro de Monserrate to escape it all.

Due to the international airport, your itinerary in Colombia probably starts and ends in Bogota. We had only 2 nights to spare in the capital, which allowed us to see only a scratch. If your itinerary allows, stay longer for a more thorough urban exploration – oh yes, the street art scene is booming. In the meantime, raise your spirits by sampling our guide to the best cafés in Bogota !

Ultimate 1-Week Colombia Itinerary

Our top recommendation for the ultimate one-week Colombia itinerary is to combine Bogota, Cartagena, and Medellin areas. Then, you would experience the best beaches and colonial cities in Colombia, see some of the most iconic sights, feel the beat of hip Medellin and visit the famous cable car and outdoor escalators, and indulge in the best coffee, food, and drinks.

Beware: This is “all you can see in one week” type of itinerary. If you’d prefer more peace and quiet, just pick one chunk from our 4-week route and make it your own with little tweaks.

Day 1: Bogota

Spend one night in Bogota either in the beginning or end of your trip, depending on your flight schedule. So, either choose connecting flight from Bogota to Cartagena right after your international flight or return to Bogota from Medellin by air in the morning of your return flight. Check out Bogota section above for things to do in Bogota in one day.

Days 2-5: Cartagena

Check out Cartagena section from above and this article for the best things to do in Cartagana. Plan on taking one day trip, for example, snorkeling in Rosario Islands, visiting a mud volcano, or the mountain village of Minca.

If you want to squeeze in even more, visit Tayrona National Park: but beware, it’s a long day trip. If you’re willing to drop off Medellin, you can opt to stay inside Tayrona National Park one night and one night in Santa Marta.

Days 5-7 Medellin

Two nights in Medellin can pack in a lot! Visit Pablo Escobar sights – or even take Escobar-themed tour, spend an afternoon in Comuna 13, and go paragliding if you dare! Medellin is among our favorite cities, you will love it!

Take a short internal flight from Medellin to Bogota before flying back home.

Murals by Plaza del Chorro de Quevedo, La Candelaria

Santamaria Cafe borders Plaza del Chorro de Quevedo, La Candelaria

Haunted La Bruja Restaurant in La Candelaria, Bogotá

Pub mural in La Candelaria, Bogotá

Where to Stay in Colombia: Our Picks for Affordable Boutique Hotels

We did a massive legwork to dig out the best boutique hotels in Colombia. Our picks include affordable design hotels in the big cities of Colombia, genuine boutique hotels in San Agustín and the Amazon (yes, you can do those Amazon adventures comfortably!), and a secluded beachside villa near Tayrona National Park. Check out our list of the affordable boutique hotels in Colombia   to spice up your Colombian itinerary!

If boutique hotels are not your thing, we have even better news for you! Traveling on a tight budget and staying in hostels is so much easier than trying to find luxury hotels in Colombia. So, just enjoy the easy ride while backpacking in Colombia.

Browse here the best hotel deals in Colombia!

Find Cheap Domestic Flights in Colombia

During our one-month tour in Colombia, we preferred flying instead of exhausting drives or uncomfortable bus trips. Distances are long, the Andes and other mountain ranges pierce the country, and many roads remain unpaved.

We needed five flights to complete this 4-week itinerary on a relatively tight schedule and were extremely happy with the Colombian domestic carrier Avianca . However, the default flight prices for foreign visitors are rather high. Check out our flight hacks and book the domestic flights in Colombia at cheap, local fares!

The Ultimate Itinerary Expansions: From 5 Weeks to 2 Months in Colombia

Unless you are blessed with unlimited time, you’d need to decide which destinations to skip, since all the enchanting sights of Colombia would keep you busy for months. Hence, this 4-week itinerary highlights our interests and is overshadowed by the fact that we needed to prioritize.

Itinerary Expansions at the Colombian Caribbean Coast

The biggest miss for us is the Lost City trek .   We would have needed a week more – or at bare minimum four days – to complete it. So feel free to tweak our itinerary into a 5-week tour with Ciudad Perdida trek. For us, the Lost City is a perfect reason to return to Colombia!

Personally, I would have wanted to visit the sand dune beaches of the remote La Guajira peninsula , which can be reached by a long jeep journey from Santa Marta.

I love islands, so it was extremely painful to drop out the Caribbean islands of Providencia and San Andres . High flight prices (even with the flight hacks) helped me with reasoning. The untamed beaches near Palomino and inside Tayrona National Park did the job this time. I’d suggest adding an extra week in your itinerary for either the Caribbean Islands or El Cocoy, which comes next on our list.

Extra Loops for Mountain Trekking and Rock Climbing

I was eager to also include a longer trekking trip to the Colombian mountains, preferably in the national park of El Cocuy , where the snow-capped peaks reach out to staggering 5 kilometers. Luckily, we saw drastic high-altitude páramo landscapes on our journey from Popayán to San Agustin.

As a fresh bouldering enthusiast, I yearned to test my skills on the massive rock wall of Suesca , so I tried my best to lure Piritta into this small town with ghost stories, but without success. Suesca can be reached on a day trip from Bogotá, but I would have combined it with the colonial gem of Villa de Leyva .

More Colonial Cities and Towns

Cartagena, Santa Marta, Bogota, and Popayan showcased us the colonial roots of Colombia during our one month tour. If you feel the need to fine-tune your “time travel vibes”, just add one of the smaller colonial towns, such as Mompox , Jardin , Villa de Leyva, or Barichara , into your Colombian itinerary.

Amazon Tour Add-Ons

Piritta’s major tweak in this itinerary would be to add more time in the Amazon . Visiting the reserves on the Peruvian and Brasilian side remain in our dreams. But we know that we will return to the Amazon; so those adventures will wait for us.

Extra Week in Colombia’s Coffee Triangle

Then there’s of course ”the coffee triangle” , which was on our itinerary until the nick of time. We decided to trade the picturesque coffee town of Salento , hot springs near Pereira , and horseback riding amidst the towering wax palms of Valle Cocora into the adventurous triangle of Popayan, San Agustin, and Neiva.

However, we were happy about the choice since San Agustin was one of the highlights of our 4-week Colombian tour! As coffee geeks, we got the best fix ever in the specialty coffee shops of Bogota and managed to find great brews also in Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Medellin. If you have more than one month in Colombia, the coffee triangle is a perfect one-week add-on to any itinerary.

Special Detour For Lover of Colombian Coffee

We’ve visited several coffee farms during the last years and were just looking for the best quality beans from small producers, which are usually hard to find outside specialty coffee shops. Smaller farms tend to export their gold, and even bigger farms might not sell their best beans on the spot.

I still have one recommendation, if you’re a coffee enthusiast. Go off the beaten track and visit the rising star of Colombia’s specialty coffee trade, La Palma & El Tucan . They’ve recently opened “an experimental boutique hotel”, which allows ordinary coffee tourists get a unique glimpse into a modern coffee farm. Their beans are to die for, and you can find them also in Bogota. The farms inside the Colombian coffee triangle tend to be old-fashioned and extremely touristy to my likings.

As you can see, our one-month itinerary in Colombia was full of compromises, because the country is so tremendous. If you can, spend more than one month and explore deeper than we did to avoid tough calls. Still, even a 4-week tour in Colombia will steal your heart!

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One Month in Colombia: Should You Fly, Drive, or Take Buses?

Congrats for hanging along this long: you already know our answer! Since we hear this question a lot, I decided to give a bit longer explanation.

Internal flights safe both time and money, but most importantly, they save your nerves. Road travel is slow in many regions, mountain roads might be dangerous, and locals drive like crazy. Road accidents are the leading cause of death for young people in Colombia. The door to door vans offer quicker – and generally more comfortable – transits than buses, but many drivers are risking safety with their speed.

Is Car Rental Cheaper than Flying?

Internal flights are generally cheaper than renting a car for a couple or max. three-person group. If your party is larger than four, renting a car might get cheaper than flying around. Still, I’d calculate all expenses carefully, as road tolls are rather expensive.

If we’d travel through Colombia for another full month, I’d still fly around like we did on our first tour. Additionally, I would rent a car for some areas for easier access to off-the-beaten-path destinations, like La Guajira, Jardin, and San Agustin/Tierradentro. I would definitely avoid using buses for distances that take longer than one hour and use private transfers instead. Like in many other countries in South and Central America, bus travel in Colombia is unpredictable and tiring.

Then again, these choices affect your budget. If you’re backpacking in Colombia and used to travel by buses in South and Central America, you will be totally fine with the local buses. If you’re a flashpacker, as I could describe ourselves, consider investing 200-700$ (per person, depending on your destinations) in domestic flights, door to door vans, and also possibly private transfers/car rentals. For families, I’d suggest flying if your budget allows: it’s considerably safer and stress-free.

Colombia Facts

• Official name: Republic of Colombia, República de Colombia
• Official languages: Spanish and 68 ethnic languages and dialects; also English in the Caribbean islands
• President: Juan Manuel Santos (2017)
• Population: More than 49 000 000 (2017)
• Currency: Peso (COP)
• Geography: 6 natural regions: the Andes, the Pacific coast, the Caribbean coast, the Amazon rainforest, the plains (Llanos), and the islands (Pacific & Caribbean)
• Religion: Roman Catholic
• Colombian Visa: Not required for stays up to 90 days for citizens of the Americas, most of Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Africa
• Time zone: COT (5 hours behind GMT)
• Mobile phone network coverage: Great 3G all over the country (excluding the remote corners of the Amazon, of course)

Bizarre Facts About Colombia

• The name Colombia comes from Christopher Columbus (you guessed!)
• Colombia ranks first in bird species and is the second most biodiverse country in the world (right after Brazil, which is seven times bigger!)
• President has declared World Cup match days as a national holiday – Colombians are crazy about the football!
• In his heyday, Pablo Escobar used to smuggle 15 tons of pure cocaine into the US each day, collecting 420 millions a week!
• Pablo Escobar offered to pay Colombia’s national debt (10 billion)
• Colombia is all about renaissance: for example, Medellin was known as “the murder capital of the world”, but now its success story is imitated around the world.
• The mythical El Dorado and Macondo  have their roots in Colombia. The birth town of Gabriel García Márquez even tried to change its name into Macondo!

Is It Safe To Travel To Colombia In 2019?

Since we’ve been asked a lot if it’s safe to travel to Colombia this year, here’s our opinion. Colombia is a perfectly safe destination for Americans, solo female travelers, and families with small kids. We encountered plenty of American travelers during our 4-week tour, in all areas of Colombia.

Of course, before booking a trip to any destination, you should check the current travel warnings. Here you can find the latest, updated travel information from the US Department of State . According to the current travel warning, tens of thousands of US citizens visit Colombia safely each year. There have been no reports of Americans targeted based on their nationality.

It’s safe to visit the majority of the tourist destinations – and all destinations listed in our Colombian 4-week itinerary. Although the security situation in Colombia has improved radically, due to narco-trafficking and guerrilla (and paramilitary group) activity, there are still some “red zones”, which you’d probably like to avoid. Plan your itinerary carefully to also avoid ground transport through the areas with a travel warning. Luckily, internal flights are cheap in Colombia (especially if you  use our flight hacks), so you can visit all the tourist areas safe and sound.

If you have any concerns about visiting Colombia or questions about our 4-week itinerary, please just ask in the comments below – we are happy to help!

You May Also Like to Read:

Visiting Tayrona National Park In One Day: Riding and Trekking Guide

Laidback beach hopping, pre-Colombian ruins, and scenic horseback riding routes – Tayrona National Park shakes you with drastic beauty. Check out our Beach Hopping Guide to Tayrona National Park to squeeze everything you can into one-day exploration!

The Best Hotels in Colombia: Affordable Luxury Hotels, Boutique Hotels, and Beach Villas

Smell out the affordable luxury hotels from the big cities like Medellín and Bogotá, and discover the genuine boutique hotels from the remote corners of Colombia, such as the Amazon!

How to Book Cheap Domestic Flights in Colombia as a Foreigner

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Chasing the 5000-Year-Old Statues on Horseback in San Agustín, Colombia

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11 Comments

My husband and I are going to Colombia for 4-5 weeks in Jan/Feb 2022, and I’m interested in how you booked “private” minivans to go between towns (especially in the SW area of the country). Cutting off several hours of driving vs buses sounds great to me! Did you consider rental cars, and if not, why not? Thanks!

Hello, Lisa! Back then we couldn’t consider rental cars, as we didn’t have driver’s licenses then. Nowadays, we certainly would consider rental cars as a good option. Asking around from local tour operators for their best prices for private transfers was our best bet back in those days. Hopefully, you’ll have a great trip! Greetings from Tanzania! Best, P & N

Thanks for the post! We’ll be in Colombia in a few months, and we’re taking our 4 kids. Do you think all of the places would be for the likes of kids too?

Hi Thais! So excited for your family! I’m positive kids will love any of these locations if you’d just tweak the activities. For example, castles in Cartagena (Tierrabomba’s San Fernando has dark corridors where you can walk with bats if that isn’t already too “much” for kids), mountain biking in Popayan (visiting hot springs), visiting Guatape from Medellín (Piedra & cruising on the lake) and possibly paragliding, riding in San Agustin, etc. Desierto Tatacoa and Amazonas are amazing adventures for all! Only Santa Marta might be “boring”, but there are a lot of activities outside the city. In my opinion, Desierto Tatacoa, Amazon and Tayrona National Park are among the top destinations for kids (we have a separate article on Tayrona and Leticia and more is on the way). Hopefully this helps – I would have loved these places as a kid, but of course it’s a matter of taste 🙂

I have only been to Cartagena as a cruise port, and can’t wait to get back to Colombia. Your photos are either wonderful memories or inspiration. I can’t wait to get into the amazon. Thanks for the airfare tips, as Bogota is on the destination list as well.

Hi all and thanks for stopping by! Kiara, I hope that you’ll be able to experience the splendors of Colombia some day 🙂 We are yearning to visit Bolivia and explore Peru beyond Machu Picchu and Titicaca, which we covered on our (too short) 2-week trip. Too many places to see and countries to explore 😉

This is a great itinerary! We chose the opposite – we skipped Popyan etc for Salento and the coffee region, and San Gil. As it turns out, just about everything in Colombia is fantastic and worth a visit! We spent a month as well and are yearning to go back for more. Our favorite country in South America for sure!

Hi Lia! Haha, we would have loved to visit both Salento and San Gil, but were short on time. Too many tough choices – maybe next time. Colombia rocks!

This is the best practical guide I’ve ever seen on a blog!! I think it will come very useful at the right moment!!

Wow, this post is very comprehensive and definitely will be useful for visitors going to Columbia! I’m halfway across the world from this place and all the places you mentioned here sound very exotic =P Especially loved all the scenic views and street art you discovered! =D

I visited South America two years ago but because I had to fly home sooner than expected I never made it to Colombia (although Peru and Bolivia were amazing!) so I’m desperate to go back and visit.

This itinerary looks right up my street and stops at a lot of the places I had on my itinerary. Definitely a post to reference again and again 🙂

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Backpacking Colombia Itinerary

Are you thinking of backpacking Colombia?

Colombia is a very popular destination for tourists who want to visit South America. Why? Because it’s one of the most diverse countries in the world.

What's in this guide?

Backpacking Colombia

There’s a range of climates, access to two oceans, incredible wildlife, many opportunities for adventure , energetic cities, and super interesting culture.

Is Colombia worth visiting?

The sizzling heat and passion of this country make it one of the most sought-after destinations in all of Latin America.

With stunning palm-fringed beaches, a unique variety of cultures and some epic landscapes, Colombia is no doubt one of the most sees on any itinerary to South America.

Colombia itinerary Map

Medellin → Cartagena → Bogota → Cocora Valley → Ciudad Perdida → San Agustin → Then cross the border into Ecuador .

Is Colombia Safe?

Colombia’s drug cartel history has given the country a violent image, but they’ve been working hard over the past few decades to show the world that it can be a safe place.

Now, it isn’t perfect, but it’s generally safe for tourists to visit . Violent crimes used to be very common, but the country has improved a lot.

Our basic tips for safety in Colombia include:

• Don’t walk or travel alone at night.
• Make sure the hotel or hostel you choose has 24-hour security in case you need assistance. It will also make you feel safer.
• Leave your expensive belongings at home.
• If you need to use your mobile device, find a café or go into a store.
• Don’t flaunt your belongings while you’re out and don’t wear jewelry.

There’s still a risk of falling victim to petty crime, especially if you’re a tourist, but that can be avoided and we’ll show you how later on.

Safety Facts about Colombia

• The best way to evaluate safety is by looking at the 2020 Global Peace Index. This measures the state of peace of each country in comparison with the rest of the World, by evaluating both tangible and qualitative indicators.
• Colombia ranked as 140th out of the 163 nations measured, which is similar to that of India. For comparison, The United States ranked as 121st.
• Colombia used to have an awful reputation when it came to safety due to the drug trade here and Pablo Escobar’s empire. The situation has definitely improved in the last few decades, making it a lot safer to visit.
• Be aware that there is still FARC presence here, especially in the north near Cartagena towards the Panamanian border.
• As well as this, take care in cities such as Cali, and avoid traveling near the borders of Ecuador and Venezuela during the night-time, where corruption and robbery are a lot more likely.

Colombia Backpacking Itinerary

Though there are many more places that are worth a visit, today we’ll focus on only 6 of the most popular ones so you can get a taste of what this fun country has to offer.

Medellin is easily the best city to visit in Colombia. It’s large, full of culture, and its home to some of the best highlights the country has to offer. By reading our Medellin itinerary you’ll see there are plenty of opportunities for adventure.

You will be able to explore the fresh food markets and taste the local cuisine, visit Plaza Botero, explore Comuna 13 with a guided Graffiti tour where you’ll find stunning street art reflecting the history of Medellin and even go to museums or more.

Cartagena is a beautiful port city full of colorful architecture that you won’t want to miss. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it has a vibrant culture.

It’s located on the Caribbean coast, so you’ll have access not only to beaches but also to islands and the jungle to enjoy some trekking . You can visit Las Bovedas market, the Plaza Santo Domingo, and more.

Places such as Isla Barú are becoming more popular with backpackers and are home to some of Cartagena’s best beach hotels if you decide to treat yourself.

Bogota is located at the foot of the green mountains and it’s a very exciting city.

You’ll be able to discover historic buildings in old town, visit Plaza Bolivar, go to the Botanical Gardens, climb Monserrate , visit museums such as the Gold Museum, explore markets, and much more.

Take a look at the picturesque views of Bogotá with a guided tour around the El Paraiso neighborhood – a convenient activity if you’re looking to tour Bogotá at a comfortable pace.

Cocora Valley

Cocora Valley is one of the most popular attractions in the country and it’s where you’ll find Colombia’s national tree, the wax palm tree.

They stand super stall against the Los Nevados mountains and it’s truly a wonderful sight to see. There’s also a small river and a few waterfalls you’ll be able to visit.

If you want an authentic Colombian experience, we suggest you take a horse ride and visit the coffee farms as well!

If you want an authentic Colombian experience, we suggest heading on this tour where you will explore the very best of the Nevados National Park, which includes seeing the tall palm trees as well as exploring the coffee farms too!

Ciudad Perdida

A trip to Ciudad Perdida from Santa Marta is one of the gems South America has to offer and is one of the most popular places to visit in Colombia.

This is an ancient archeological that was discovered only 50 years ago and it was built by the Tayrona people . You’ll be able to explore it on foot on an expedition that will take a few days.

This 4-Day Hiking Tour is the best way to reach the Ciudad Perdida, which includes an expert guide along with all meals and accommodation provided for you along the jungle route

It’s not difficult to see why the Lost City is one of the best places to visit in South America and why it made it onto our bucket list.

San Agustin

Lastly, we have San Agustin, another archaeological site that’s worth a visit because it’s home to ancient statues and you’ll enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery Colombia has to offer.

There are lots to see in San Agustin so it’s best to take a multi-day guided trip – a trip that will leave you astounded with the beauty and history of San Agustin’s archaeological sites.

You’ll need at least three days, where you’ll go to El Tablon , El Purutal La Pelota , La Chaquira , and the journey will end at the main Archaeological Park.

You’ll have a lot of fun on this adventure and you’ll find the statues very interesting, especially because not much is known about them or the people who made them.

Colombia Itinerary (2 Weeks)

Here we’ll now cover our very best itinerary of Colombia. As well as keeping an eye on time, it’s also been designed to keep things fresh and exciting too for you .

Bogotá (Days 1-3)

Kicking off our Colombian adventure, we first head to the capital of Bogotá . We mostly find that Bogotá is under-appreciated, many simply flying here before scattering elsewhere in the country.

Whilst certainly less beautiful than the other destinations on this list, it’s a great introduction into real Colombian culture , and to land on your feet before navigating this iconic South American nation.

Some of the best things to do in the city include walking up (or taking the gondola) to Monserrate, which is a 3150m+ high mountain in Bogotá’s centre.

It’s home to some stunning views of the city, great nature trails and a beautiful church to explore at the top. You can also visit Museo Botero and the Gold Museum, which is one of the most comprehensive in Latin America .

We strongly recommend using one of your days to visit nearby Zipaquirá, which is around 3 hours north. Nestled between valleys, this small city is home to the incredible Salt Cathedral, which is built underground, into a mountain.

With this day tour to Zipaquirá you can explore the cathedral, as well as visiting the picturesque Lake Guatavitá.

Manizales (Days 4-6)

Next we head to Terminal Salitre in Bogotá, to take the 10 hour bus to Manizales (we recommend traveling at night to save daytime).

Located within the incredible Eje Cafetero Zone, this area is known to have one of the best coffee-growing climates in the world .

Manizales is one of a few towns and cities dotted throughout, however, is our recommended option due to its friendly, small-town nature. It’s also great due to its proximity to some of the best highlights of the region. Regardless when you’ll be heading, you’re going to need a good waterproof Poncho since it rains a lot in this region.

First, we’ll head into Cocora Valley and to the Bosque de Palma de Cera . An incredible region with its own micro-climate, it’s home to the tallest palm trees in the world, growing up to a staggering 200ft.

Also close by is Los Nevados National Park, home to many likable snow-capped volcanoes (its high altitude here so we recommend proper preparation before attempting any hikes).

Other cool things to do include visiting a nearby Hacienda to sample coffee, heading to Rio Blanco for bird-watching as well as watching some truly incredible sunsets from the Chipre mirador.

Medellin (Days 7-10)

Following on, we now travel to the ever-popular Colombian staple of Medellin. From the terminal in Manizales, you can take a bus to Medellin which takes around 5 hours.

Forever painted with its history of drug cartels and Pablo Escobar , Medellin for a long time scared off most tourists.

In the last few decades though, things have improved considerably, which makes Medellin worth visiting as it proudly stands as one of the most popular spots to visit in Colombia.

First off you’ll want to take a walking tour to learn the real history of Medellin and Escobar’s empire (no, not the Narcos version we’re afraid). Then you can head to the MetroCable system and take a gondola up to Parque Arvi , which sits above the city.

Along the route you’ll soar above many infamous neighborhoods, and also appreciate how important the cable system is for connecting these communities.

Be sure to spend a day heading into the Antioquia region, and to the colourful town of Guatapé.

Famous for its murals, you can stroll around here before taking a bus to the nearby Piedra de Peñol – a 721ft rock that has seriously impressive views of the region and lakes that surround it. This highly-rated day tour is a must when in Medellin, where you’ll climb El Peñol, have an included boat tour around the lake as well as have a guided tour around Guatapé

Santa Marta (Days 11-15)

Last but not least, we finally head to the tropical coast of Colombia. We recommend taking a one-hour domestic flight from Medellin, which can be as cheap as $35. If not, you’ll need to take the bus which takes around 17 hours.

In our opinion, Santa Marta is the best coastal hub to base yourself in for many reasons. Firstly it’s very close to Tayrona National Park, a jungle area famed for its world-class beaches and canopy walks .

We recommend heading on this day tour to Tayrona, which includes hiking through the jungle, snorkelling along San Juan Cape as well as having a Caribbean-style lunch made fresh for you

You can also visit nearby Taganga for its relaxed beaches and more laid back vibes, or Minca, a town which is perched on top of a mountain in the Sierra Nevada.

You can also take a two-day trip into the remote Guajira, a desert region home to picture-perfect towns and the mysterious Wayuu indigenous group .

Another unforgettable experience is the hike to The Lost City deep within the jungle , however as we’re short on time here, it’s beyond the scope of this itinerary.

Finishing up our itinerary, from Santa Marta you have two options. Firstly you can take a flight back to Bogotá to connect to your international flight out.

The other option is to continue along the Colombian coast towards Cartagena and then into Panama to begin your adventures through Central America.

And there we have our 2 week Colombia itinerary. Now let’s move on to our most important tips, so you can have the best experience possible here.

Colombia: Travel + Safety Tips

As noted earlier, Colombia is generally safe to visit and it has successfully shaken off that violent image it used to be known for decades ago.

Tourists are not targets of violent crimes, but they still need to take precautions, so make sure to follow these tips.

⬇️ Below you can find a list of our top recommendations for Colombia:

• We suggest learning some Latin American Spanish before you arrive in Colombia as it can help you out in many different situations.
• Colombian food certainly divides opinion, however keep an open mind and you’ll be intrigued with the different flavours and combinations. We recommend trying Aborrajado, Arepas and the wide variety of exotic fruits such as Maracuya and Pitaya.
• Look out for the top rated hostels in Colombia for the most comfortable rooms and meeting like minded people etc.
• Download an offline map so you can use it as a reference whenever you need to.
• Do your research so you can avoid rough areas and stay safe. You can also ask locals or the staff at the hotel.
• If you can extend you stay in Colombia you many want to consider visiting San Andres to do some scuba diving or snorkeling.
• Don’t accept drugs from strangers and don’t purchase them either because it’s disrespectful given the history of the country.
• The Lost City (Santa Marta), Medellin, Tayrona National Park, Cartagena. See this list of top rated tours in Colombia.
• Although not the biggest country in South America, distances are still pretty huge. We recommend looking at flights for different legs, which can sometimes be the same price if not cheaper than some buses.
• Don’t be a hero. If you find yourself getting robbed, don’t resist it and give them your stuff.
• Candelaria in Bogotá is a great area, with lots of hostels and busy bars. Cali is one of the best places in South America for Salsa music! Head to La Topa Tolondra and Zapereco to get involved or watch the city’s finest shine on the floor.
• Make copies of your ID and passport so you can carry that while keeping the originals in a safe place.

Follow these tips, keep a low profile, and trust your instincts . It’s also smart to purchase travel insurance, which is something you should do every time you travel because it’s nice to have support in case you need it.

Traveling Around Colombia

If you want to explore Colombia by bus, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Choose the right bus class for your needs, be cautious and keep your passport, cash, and credit cards concealed and on your person, book your tickets online, and only use reputable bus companies every time.

Some of our favourite hostels in Colombia include:

Masaya (Medellin), Hostal R10 (Bogotá), Musa Paradisiaca Hostal (Santa Marta).

Best Time to Visit Colombia

We’ve spoken a lot about the best time to visit South America on this blog (George is absolutely obsessed with checking the weather when we travel).

Due to Colombia’s geographical location, the country experiences extreme seasonal weather , especially when it comes to rainfall. However, there are micro-climates more inland that will be a lot cooler than the coastal areas.

The Caribbean coast is hot year-round, and can sometimes be overbearing. Temperatures range from 81-84°F, with the highest highs of 90°F occurring around springtime.

Rainfall is pretty much non-existent from December until April , with the rainy season running through summer and autumn, where it peaks in October (around 5.3 inches falling throughout the month). The capital of Bogotá on the other hand is very cool and consistent.

Daily averages throughout the year are between 55-56°F, and heavy rainfall comes in waves with the most falling in April and October (8.3 and 7.2 inches respectively).

What to pack for Colombia

Now comes the fun part of packing for your backpacking trip to Colombia!

Located close to the Equator, Colombia is pretty hot year-round in most destinations.

As a result, we recommend bringing lots of light clothing as walking around during the day can get overbearing at times.

Some parts such as Bogotá and The Coffee Zone are chilly in comparison, so if you’re thinking of heading here then be sure to add some extra layers in.

In terms of packing, we recommend packing lots of light clothing such as vests, shorts and dresses. Lots of sun-cream and mosquito repellent are musts , although you can also buy these here once you arrive.

As well as these, pack the other necessities such as toiletries, document holders, hiking boots , towels, a water bottle as well as a day-pack for any excursions you’ll be taking part in.

Got travel insurance for Colombia?

Backpacking Colombia: Final Words

You’ll find lots to do in Colombia and you’ll enjoy every minute of your trip.

Be sure to use this guide as a reference before and during your visit so you can get the most out of it!

Read our backpacking South America guide for more ideas. Most importantly, have fun, be safe, and enjoy the many wonders Colombia has to offer.

👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.

“ Dear traveler! Some links in this post contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, book a hostel or sign up for a tour, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you . Your support means a lot and helps us to carry on traveling and maintaining the quality of this site for you.”

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Home » South America » Colombia » Backpacking Guide

Backpacking Colombia Travel Guide (2024 Edition)

After travelling in most of the South American countries, let me tell you why I think you should put Colombia on your backpackers’ wishlist.

With chilled surfing beaches, enchanting jungles, fruits you’ve never seen before, bustling cities, lost cities, crazed parties, and a culture full of music, color, and food, are enough reasons to make this country a MUST GO. Far from that dangerous image portrayed by the media, Colombia is today one of the most flourishing countries in South America that receives tourism and welcomes travelers with open arms, a big smile, and for me, the best coffee in the world .

The first feeling when I got there was a bit chaotic. However, I felt comfortable quickly. Locals, in general, are extremely friendly, and when I needed help there was always someone willing. Backpacking in Colombia is, without a doubt, an amazing experience that you will remember for the rest of your life. Yes, it can be challenging but it’s so rewarding!

This backpacking Colombia travel guide will teach you the ropes for an amazing backpacking trip – the cheapest way possible. You’ll get meaningful travel tips, from my own experience, in this natural jewel.

Anticipation is the key when booking places, and food… well that’s cheap everywhere.

Vamos pa’ Colombia parce!  Bien pueda! 

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Why Go Backpacking in Colombia

Colombia is a South American country that is rich in ecological and cultural diversity. It is all at once a giant party and adventure central, and can also be mellow and peaceful, once you get away from all of the noise. The big cities are famous for their nightlife, all-night parties, and of course, dancing. Each city has its own unique flavor, colorful buildings, and colonial architecture.

The coast is brimming with beautiful post-card beaches and the attractive locals to match. The coastal areas have plenty of awesome places to go surfing or diving too.

The mountainous, humid, super green interior is a whole other world of Colombia. Think dense jungles, rivers, lost ancient cities, and remote indigenous communities. No matter what your idea of a good time is, there is something interesting and fun to get into around every corner. Modern-day Colombia is a place thriving after decades of trauma inflicted by narco-traffickers, guerrilla activity, corruption and general political instability.

Backpacking in Colombia is one hell of an adventure. Now let us take a look at some of the best Colombia backpacking itineraries to help you get an idea of where to go and what to do in this truly special country.

Best Travel Itineraries for Backpacking Colombia

Get information on Colombia travel itineraries and backpacking routes, maps, travel tips, safety, things to do, and much more. Most of all you will walk away with all the inspiration you need to make the most of your trip whilst traveling in Colombia on a budget.

Backpacking Colombia 2 Week Itinerary #1: The Caribbean Side of Colombia

If you’ve only got two weeks, there’s no point rushing. Pick a region and see it properly. I’d suggest the Caribbean side of Colombia, for obvious reasons.

Start your trip in Cartagena , perhaps fresh off the boat? After a few days, head to Santa Marta , the jump-off point for  Minca – a charming mountain town – and the stunning Tayrona National Park. 

Get a bit off the beaten path, and head east to Cabo de la Vela  (where the desert meets the sea) and Punta Galinas,  where you can feast on fresh seafood amongst the Caribbean and sand dunes.

Doubling back to Cartagena , head to nearby Playa Blanca and  Tolú (mangrove) before heading to  Islas de San Bernardo (white-sanded islands).

Have an extra week? You can catch a flight to the Caribbean Islands of Providencia and San Andrés. Have two extra weeks? Well, check out the 4-week itinerary below…

Backpacking Colombia 4 Week Itinerary #2: Colombia’s Highlights

Fly into Bogota , Colombia’s capital and enjoy the amazing food and nightlife. Stay a night or two, you may as well. Then, head over to the picturesque town of Barichara .

After that, you should take the long bus to San Gil , an adventurer’s paradise and one of my favourite places in Colombia. Here you can kayak, paraglide, and bungee jump!

Next, get the bus to Santa Marta . It’s not my fav place in the world, but you should stay the night and use it as your base for cooler places like Minca , Tayrona National Park and other amazing Caribbean destinations. Oh, and make sure to arrange a multi-day trek to  Ciudad Perdida.

Afterwards, pitch up at postcard-perfect Cartagena for a while before heading south to  Medellín;  once known as a dangerous city, it’s now a trendy and safe nomad haven.

Make sure to spend a good few days in Medellín. I’d say a minimum of three days is needed here… especially if you’re gonna party…

Next, head to Jardin for just a day or two before visiting Valle de Cocora , just outside Salento . Go to a coffee finca  (farm)   and stock up on some coffee.

Last but not least, continue south to Cali , world famous for their salsa joints. Make sure to take a class! It’s one of the best memories of my Colombian adventure. You can easily get back to Bogota from Cali, which ends the perfect round trip.

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Best Places to Visit in Colombia

Now that we’ve covered some of the best travel itineraries for backpacking Colombia, let’s jump in and explore some of the top places to visit in Colombia on your adventure…

Backpacking Bogota

Major cities have a special vibe that makes them unique, and Bogota is definitely one of those. There is a huge amount to do here; I highly recommend going on the graffiti tour and doing a day trip to explore the truly spectacular Salt Cathedral in Zipaquira.

If you love museums, like I do, then the Gold Museum ( Museo del Oro ) is a must. After that, Zona Rosa is a great place to go for drinks in the evening.

Bogota sometimes gets a bad rap amongst Colombian backpackers on account of its’ rainy climate and gritty atmosphere. However, I love it and highly recommend exploring winding streets, doing some of the free walking tours ( grab an umbrella just in case ), and checking some of the bars of La Candelaria before heading to Baum for some Techno. There, I promise you, you are going to have so much fun and dance all night.

Backpacking Medellín

My favourite place in all of Colombia, and for sure on my top 5 cities in Latin America, Medellín packs a lot of punch and is one of the best places to live if you’re a digital nomad in need of a break. You can get here with any of the daily and direct flights from Bogota in just about an hour. The buses can be slow and take between 10 to 11 hours.

The very touristy El Poblado area is where most backpackers base themselves, but I far preferred the quieter Envigado. Be sure to go on the Real City walking tour, officially the best walking tour I have ever been on.

Guatapé is a popular day trip from the city but the real highlights of Medellin are simply wandering around, enjoying a cerveza in a pool hall, a soul-releasing, free salsa lesson, or chilling out in one of the parks.

If you are a foodie, this city has some Colombian street food . Arepas, empanadas, and salchipapa are impeccible.

Medellin has a tarnished reputation on account of Pablo Escobar. Think carefully about whether you want to go on a tour to find out more about the history of the cartel.

You have to check out Comuna 13 and the unique transformation that art has made into this previously devastated neighbourhood. They’ve successfully turned around from violent narcotraffic times, with a grand flare.

Lots of graffiti, music, art, dance groups improvising and showing their movements, and small cafes with amazing views of the neighbourhood. You witness the power of art in changing the environment of an entire community: a great example of resilience in the country and Latin America.

If you want to backpack Medellin and have a little more budget to work with, an aerial helicopter tour of Medellin is a unique experience. The prices vary depending on group size, but I recommend Fly Colombia City Tours .

Expect to pay around $80 USD per person for a 15-minute / 40km flight. The views are exceptionally stunning – plus who doesn’t want to go for a ride in a helicopter at least once, right? Special thanks to Luisa from Fly Colombia City Tours for helping us organize this flight!

If you can get a group of 5-6 people together from your hostel, you can get a better per person price (maximum 6 people in the helicopter). Book in advance and let Fly Colombia City Tours know the Broke Backpacker sent you! Ask for a flight around sunset time for the best photography light!

Backpacking Cartagena

The Old Town is well worth visiting and there are some great beaches nearby like (the very popular) Playa Blanca. This town has no shortage of tourists, hustlers, and prostitutes, all of which are unfortunate aspects of traveling here.

Venturing beyond the Old Town and main touristy areas will offer a rewarding glimpse of real Cartagena. Backpackers more accustomed to off the beaten path destinations are going to hate Cartagena.

Cartagena’s safety might be a bit questionable, so be careful. I heard countless stories of backpackers being forced to buy cocaine at extreme prices after they were given a “free” sample. Like literally they were marched to the ATM and forced to pull out millions of pesos, otherwise, the five angry young men who were pretending to be their friend just minutes before would beat them to a pulp. Don’t be that backpacker. Instead, go scuba diving.

For scuba diving, hit up the Rosario Islands. I was able to go scuba diving with a fantastic dive shop called Diving Planet . Their bi-lingual guides are professional and the day or overnight dive trips they offer include van transport and boat transfer, lunch, and all the scuba equipment. The Rosario Islands are one of the best places in Colombia for scuba diving and have many affordable accommodations , so don’t miss out!

If you are tired of the standard rice, beans, and plantains and want to try the best falafel in Colombia, go to Novo Kebab.

Backpacking Santa Marta

There is almost nothing in Santa Marta to get particularly excited about; however, there are lots of truly amazing places nearby. It’s a hub for Northern Colombia but I recommend basing yourself in nearby Taganga. Personally, I liked this city a lot simply because it has a real backpacker and expat scene and none of the stupid shit you find in Cartagena.

Plus, there are plenty of great places to stay in Santa Marta too.

Also, this is the gateway for tours and excursions to the Tayrona National Park, some pretty epic beaches, and the famous excursions to the archaeological site Ciudad Perdida (Teyuna) located in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Be aware of the high temperatures – these places can get extremely hot during the midday.

Santa Martas Hostels are the best option for a few nights. For a cheap place to stay in town with a fun party scene (and a pool), I recommend staying at Drop Bear Hostel.

If you want to go for a kick-ass motorcycle adventure into the mountains or around the coast, hit up my friends at Adrenaline Addicts (they share the building space with Drop Bear Hostel).

Backpacking Taganga

Love it or hate it, Taganga has something for everyone. This is a beachside party town famous for its drug scene but there is a huge amount more to Taganga than at first meets the eye.

Consider staying in Casa Moringa for a truly unique experience; living it up in a mansion overlooking the sea. This small town is one of the cheapest places in the world to learn to scuba dive so if that’s your bag, you’ve come to the right place. Be sure to grab a bite to eat in the incredible Baba Ganoush restaurant.

Backpacking Tayrona National Park

An easy hop from Taganga, Tayrona National Park is a truly stunning oasis of pristine beaches backing onto untamed jungle. Probably with some of the most beautiful beaches on the Caribbean coast, in my opinion.

In a day you can hike through the tropical forest, see some of the local flora and fauna, and swim in waters full of life. You can sleep in the national park, but you must reserve in advance, or you can do the tour on the day.

Yes, you’ll find mosquitos, high temperatures during midday, and probably hard walking paths at some point, if it rained the day before. But believe me, this is one of those places that is worth visiting in Colombia.

Hiking Ciudad Perdida

The trek to the Lost City takes 5 days and it’s an amazing experience. You will cross raging rivers, slide down muddy banks, and bathe in crystal-clear pools on your way to the city above the clouds. The city itself is amazing and receives very few visitors; go now before the word gets out.

It can be a demanding experience. Consider your physical and mental state when deciding when and how to do this tour. And my personal advice would be to get some good hiking boots and enough insect repellent.

Backpacking Minca

Just a couple of hours away from Taganga, the cool hills of Minca are perfect for backpackers wanting a bit of respite or to go hiking in the jungle. You can get some cheap local transportation and in 30 minutes you can get to this small town nestled in nature.

Top things to do in Minca include yoga, motorbike adventures, hiking, and of course a visit to the legendary waterfalls in the area. Avoid Pozo Azul, as it is always too busy and commercialized to be enjoyable. I personally enjoyed Marinka Falls, even though it was quite crowded.

In terms of organized activities in Minca, there are many operators to choose from. I recommend going with our friends at Fototrails for awesome photography, hiking, and cultural day trips.

Natasha and her husband run eco and cultural adventures showing the real side of Minca and the Sierra Nevada. They take guests on backtrails and off-road adventures for the treks so people can experience a unique and solo hiking experience away from the crowds. Broke Backpacker readers can get 5% off of any of the activities they offer by mentioning this article!

Another cool part about what Fototrails does: they work with local families and farms to offer locals a sustainable income and take groups of 6 or less for minimum impact on the environment. If you are looking for an affordable place to crash, their small guesthouse is called Casa Iguana (located by the health centre). Check them out!

I also highly recommend staying at Casa Elemento, book in advance. Bring insect repellent as I got destroyed by sandflies in Minca! If Casa Elemento isn’t your thing, there are many other awesome hostels in Minca that offer a super comfy bed and a place to rest your head.

Backpacking San Gil

From the Minca area, you can take a bus to San Gil. The bus takes around twelve hours, yes I know a bit too much , so I recommend travelling at night. When you get there, you will feel the change of air, fewer tourists, and lots of nature to discover and enjoy. You can easily spend a couple of days in San Gil and be sure to go paragliding over the incredible Chicamocha Canyon.

San Gil is the adventure capital of Colombia; if you’re after rafting, caving, or trekking this is the place to go. Be sure to grab a brownie from Gringo Mikes – they are amazing.

Backpacking Barichara

One hour outside of San Gil lies the picture perfect town of Barichara with it’s cobbled streets, fancy restaurants and great day hikes. It’s well worth spending a night.

Backpacking Salento and the Coffee Region

A firm favourite with backpackers, Salento is a great place to spend a few days unwinding, trekking, sipping coffee, and resting your head in comfy and cute Salento hostels . I highly recommend exploring the Cocora Valley on a day-hike. La Serrana is a great place to base yourself; check out their awesome safari tents!

Filandia is another town you should check. There are not many local attractions, but you should check El Mirador a 35-metre tower with 360° views of the area. And after that head to the main square to have a nice local coffee and chill while watching and hearing the bustling streets full of the birds singing at dusk, children playing after school and adults talking and laughing while having their deserved beer after a long day at the coffee plantations.

Depending on where you are, I would suggest checking some direct flights if you are up in the north or a local bus if you are somewhere in the area, but you should get here 100%.

Getting Off the Beaten Path in Colombia

Colombia is a country packed with hidden gems. Some of the places on Colombia’s Pacific coast, mountains, and jungles are difficult to reach. Anytime a place has difficult access, it is a sign that adventure awaits!

Far fewer people make the effort to get out and really explore. Depending on what you like to do, you should have no problem leaving the Gringo Trail behind in search of some truly rewarding experiences. There is so much awesomeness to get into whilst backpacking Colombia, that your adventure is up to you and your motivation to put yourself out there. Read on for helpful information regarding trekking, diving, and surfing in Colombia later in this article.

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10 Top Things to Do in Colombia

If you’ve been on a backpacking trip through Colombia before, you’ll know there are ALWAYS more awesome things to do. It’s a big country, with a lot of variety on offer. But here are some things I’ll recommend, especially for you. 😉

1. Take a graffiti tour

Get to know the Colombians through some of the country’s best street art. Their insane street art reflects the sorrows, joys, passions, and concerns of these people – strongly connected to nature and its effervescent way of being.

One of my favorite places is Comuna 13 in Medellin. Once, the most dangerous neighborhood in the world is, today, a reflection of how art can change – not only the image of a neighborhood but also the lives of those who live there.

I recommend taking a guided tour through Comuna 13 since you’ll be able to have some unique insights.  Always good to remember, respect the locals and collaborate with art whenever you can!

2. Trek to the Lost City

The amazing 5-day trek to Ciudad Perdida takes you to some of the most beautiful, sweaty, and far reaches of Colombia. You’ll explore a national cultural treasure from another time.

Along the way, you’ll get to walk through sacred ground of the native people and observe birds, animals, plants, flowers, and trees, unique ONLY to this corner of the world. You will also cross some native villages, which you might be able to greet and get to know them.

And to be honest, this hike was one of the most difficult of my life. I was so happy to visit the Lost City with the support of a guided tour where experienced people know what’s coming ahead. It’s hard to prepare yourself for this combination of heat, humidity, and altitude in this national park.

Though that doesn’t mean to say you won’t be able to do it! If you’re in a pretty good physical condition, the rest is mostly mind over matter.

3. Drink coffee in Salento

Colombia’s famed coffee region has some of the best brews in South America. The region is large but well distributed enough to visit in a week, hopping from town to town.

Chill people in a village vibe, incredible landscapes, people open to chatting, and probably one of the best coffees I’ve ever tried in my life. When I was there I had the opportunity to try an organic coffee from a local farm worked by local women. And I can tell you that the difference is impressive. Flavors, smells, body, and acidity are so evident that it makes you wonder if what you have been drinking before is really coffee.

Visiting a traditional coffee farm is the best way to learn about the process of producing it, the people who carry it out, and even taste the house’s coffee. It’s one of those unique experiences that remains etched in my memory.

4. Hike the Cocora Valley

The Cocora Valley is home to some of the best natural scenery in the country and the tallest palm trees in the world. The valley is easily accessed from Salento and from this town, you can take a day tour to explore Cocora Valley and also visit a specialized coffee farm.

This gigantic valley is full of vegetation, an incredible forest, thousands of national trees, the wax palms of Quindío, as well as a great diversity of flora and fauna.

I warn you, mosquitoes are not very forgiving. Be prepared and bring insect repellent , comfortable shoes, and plenty of water.

5. Visit an indigenous community

Get to know what traditional life is like for people living the way they have been for centuries. It’s an amazingly eye-opening experience that few get to see. You can support their amazing lifestyle by buying local handicrafts and artisanal pieces.

Their culture is a very important part of their identity and they should always be treated with respect. Remember these people are not exhibits in a museum.

6. Hire a motorbike and discover hidden nature beauties

Hire a motorbike and explore some of Colombia’s gorgeous countryside. The routes in Colombia are in * fairly * good condition to explore by motorbike (if you’re a confident rider!).

This gives you more than one option to get to a place, you can take alternate routes if you like adventure experiences, and you can stop in places that public transportation could never. 

Some of my best memories are meeting and connecting with local people, and let me tell you that the motorbike was the way to get to those places and people.

7. Go scuba diving

If you love to dive, Colombia’s north coast has some world-class dive sites. It is also possible to obtain your PADI open water diving certificate if you don’t have one. You can obtain your certification with Diving Planet based in Cartagena.

8. Go head-to-head in the bars

As Ernest Hemingway once said, “If you want to know about a culture, spend a night in its bars.” Pool halls and bars are a big part of Colombian culture.

I had so much fun playing Tejo in Los Amigos, Salento. Tejo is kind of like cornhole but much more… explosive!

9. Visit the Tayrona National Natural Park

This area of Colombia’s Caribbean coast is famous for its palm-fringed coves, coastal lagoons, tropical forests, and rich biodiversity. It’s perfect for a day trip or organize yourself to go camping and spend a few nights in this incredible natural paradise.

If you like adventure and getting into nature, you can find ruins of an archaeological complex built by the Tayrona civilization that is accessed through forest roads. Be prepared for this type of visit. Water supply, insect repellent, hat, and solid hiking boots.

10. Get your dancing shoes on

Stay until nightfall and discover the Colombian nightlife. As well as being the salsa capital, cumbia music is worth following too.

If you don’t know how to dance you will surely learn from any Colombian. Music, dancing, and drinking are part of their culture.

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Backpacker Accommodation in Colombia

Accommodation costs vary across the country with Medellin and Cali being some of the most expensive places to stay. In general, the good places fill up fast so you will want to try and book in advance. It’s possible to get a dorm bed for around $12 but a double room will often cost just $25 so if there’s two of you, you can have a private room most of the time for no additional cost. Colombia’s eco-tourism scene is growing rapidly, so you’ll also find plenty of sustainable accommodation options throughout the country.

If you want to save money on accommodation, make sure you pack your camping hammock , especially if you’ll be trekking or hiking through the jungle.

And as a quick insider tip: If you want to see all – and we mean ALL – hostel options in Colombia, be sure to check out BOOKING.COM . You can even filter your personal travel needs to find the perfect place for you.

The Best Places To Stay in Colombia

Some unique experiences in colombia.

From surfing and trekking to paragliding and caving, Colombia is an adventure playground. You can do some activities really cheap but it’s worth haggling; you can often get 10% off what appears to be a fixed price. Colombia is also home to some of the best diving in the world… well, OK, some of the cheapest places to learn to dive in the world.

Things go wrong on the road ALL THE TIME. Be prepared for what life throws at you.

Buy an AMK Travel Medical Kit before you head out on your next adventure – don’t be daft!

Trekking in Colombia

Colombia is home to some fine trekking opportunities. From multi-day hikes to the Lost City to exploring river valleys and stunning misty mountains, there are many options at your fingertips. If you love getting out in nature as much as I do, Colombia will not disappoint. There are numerous Colombia national parks and reserves to choose from. For longer treks, it is easy to find a guide. Here are a few of the best treks in Colombia to get you stoked on some hiking!

Lost City Trek : This hike through the Colombian jungle will certainly be a highlight of your backpacking trip.

Cocora Valley : Some of the best day hikes in Colombia can be found in a region famous for its coffee and stunning scenery.

Sierra Nevada de Cocuy : Snow in Colombia? Here you can find peaks are as high as 5,330 metres above sea level. You have you your own gear and a good sleeping bag , you can probably do the hike without a guide.

Chingaza National Park : This park north of Bogota has some fantastic treks to do in the mountains. Some of Colombia’s most spectacular mountain views can be had here!

Chicamocha Canyon: At Chicamocha there is a ridge hike that can be undertaken as a day trip, finishing in a small colonial village. This hike is a must if you’re in the area.

Los Nevados National Park:  This area of Colombia truly has it all. Experience some of the most diverse landscapes in the whole country. A trek here will certainly get you off of the beaten path.

Tatacoa Desert: Desert in Colombia? Go see it for yourself! Hike, bike, and explore this unique part of the normally quite tropical Colombia. Check out this great article for more information about what to do in Tatacoa.

Scuba Diving in Colombia

Love Scuba diving? Me too. Colombia has tons of places to take on some epic dives. Providencia and Santa Catalina, a smaller island to the north, is home to the  third largest coral reef barrier on earth , and includes over 40 dive sites.

If Providencia is the accessible best of Colombian diving, Malpelo is the harder to reach version: a jagged rock in the Colombian Pacific, it can only be reached by boat, and divers can only visit here as part of an organized trip on a dive boat. It’s worth the time and money for sure; Malpelo is one of the best places in the world to dive with sharks, including hammerheads, whale, and the rare sun ray shark. People have reported schools of up to 500 sharks around Malpelo. That’s right. 500.

Another Pacific diving spot, Gorgona, is a rugged island, formerly used as a prison, which now serves as a nature reserve and a prime breeding area for humpback whales.

As mentioned, the Rosario Islands offer good diving that is relativley accessible compared to some of the other destinations this list.

Scuba Dive Colombia on a Liveaboard Trip

There are so many places worth diving in Colombia, I highly recommend joining a Liveaboard trip in Colombia if you can swing it. You get to wake up on a boat every morning and explore the wonders of the underwater world in Colombian seas…

If you are a serious scuba diver looking to check out some of Colombia’s best and most remote dive sites, Liveaboard is your ticket to paradise in that regard.

Scuba dive by day, chill on the boat by night, and of course eat tasty food along the way.

Diving journeys don’t get any better than this.

Surfing in Colombia

Another favorite past time for backpackers and locals a like in Colombia is surfing. Colombia has some amazing surfing beaches on both its Northern Caribbean Coast and its Western Pacific Coast. Surfing in Columbia is gaining popularity as this beautiful country opens it’s doors to the rest of the word. Palomino is a great spot, so check out the best hostels in Palomino before you go!

The surfing beaches on the Caribbean coast are much easier to access, more backpacker oriented, and tend to be a bit calmer. The Caribbean beaches are the best if you are a beginner learning how to surf, or you just want to get out and catch a few waves.

The Pacific Coast, while much harder to get to, has some of the best surfing in South America. The beaches around  Nuqui  are the best in Colombia and are an adventure lovers dream.

Joining an Organized Tour in Colombia

For most countries, Colombia included, solo travel is the name of the game. That said, if you are short on time, energy, or just want to be part of an awesome group of travelers you can opt to join an organized tour. Joining a tour is a great way to see a majority of the country quickly and without the effort that goes into planning a backpacking trip. However—not all tour operators are created equal—that is for sure.

G Adventures is a solid down-to-earth tour company catering to backpackers just like you, and their prices and itineraries reflect the interests of the backpacker crowd. You can score some pretty sweet deals on epic trips in Colombia for a fraction of the price of what other tour operators charge.

Check out some of their awesome itineraries for Colombia here…

Colombia Backpacking Costs

This is, perhaps, one of the cheapest countries you can find in South America. Yes, it’s even cheaper than in some Southeast Asian countries. However, travel costs vary when backpacking in Colombia – depending on how you do it. If you’re a budget backpacker, sleeping in a dorm bed, hitchhiking, eating street food, and catching local public transport brings down your travel costs per day considerably.

Prices vary depending on the time of year. In high season, you can expect to pay a little more than in the low, rainy season. The difference is minimal, but you will have to deal with shortages of accommodations.

In touristy areas like Cartagena and places near the Caribbean coast, you will be paying 3 times more than in places with less international tourism. The big cities will give you a greater range to play with.

Couchsurfing and camping are the best ways to make it on a budget. For a single tent, you can expect to pay between $5 and $7 dollars.

For tight-budget travellers, cheap food is everywhere. You can find the plato del dia for $2 – $3 dollars, and believe me, that’s enough food for all day.

Buses are cheap. But if you are thinking of crossing the country, consider domestic flights with budget airlines. You will be able to find them at reasonable prices, saving you time and other expenses of traveling by land.

If you are modest and conscious, backpacking Colombia on a budget can be done for $15 USD per day or less. But if you like tours and unique experiences you can easily hit $50 USD per day.

So budget travel in Colombia is more possible than ever! Your money will go far here and you can help out a lot of people with your tourism.

A Daily Budget For Colombia

Although Colombia is cheaper than other Latin American countries, it’s so easy to blow your budget. So keep track of your spending!

Here is a breakdown of what you can expect to spend on your backpacking Colombia adventure…

Money in Colombia

The local currency in Colombia is the peso known as COP. Find out how much your money is worth today by using the up-to-date converter below.

I encourage you not to bring a large amount of money. Get a good exchange rate with your local bank and enough money for the first days. The rates offered by airports are the least favourable. If you didn’t get pesos before coming, then change the minimum amount possible to cover your transport into the city. From there, it’s easy to find currency exchange houses. Expect less of what I just mentioned as the current currency conversion.

To exchange large amounts of money, the best option is the local bank Bancolombia (physical branch). Be prepared to go early and wait in line.

I recommend bringing a fee-free debit card or credit card. You can use them in big cities but not that much in small towns, so it’s good to plan ahead. Bancolombia’s ATM allows you to withdraw a maximum of $2,700,000 pesos per transaction and charges you an extra commission – a fee of 2.5% – which is one of the best rates. For all matters of finance and accounting on the road, The Broke Backpacker strongly recommends Wise – The Artist Formerly Known as Transferwise! Our favourite online platform for holding funds, transferring money, and even paying for goods, Wise is a 100% FREE platform with considerably lower fees than Paypal or traditional banks.

But the real question is… is it better than Western Union? Yes, it most certainly is.

Travel Tips for Broke Backpackers

To keep your spending to an absolute minimum whilst during your Colombia travels, I recommend sticking to these basic rules of budget adventuring….

• Camp: With plenty of gorgeous natural places to camp, Colombia is an excellent place to take a good quality tent . Make sure to bring some insect spray, as you don’t want to get eaten alive.
• Cook your own food:  I took a small  backpacking gas cooker with me to Colombia and cooked a lot of my own meals whilst hitching and camping. You will save so much money per day by preparing food yourself.
• Hitchhike:  In Colombia, it can be easy to thumb a ride and it is an ace way to keep your transport costs down and instead spend it on smashing experiences. So hitchhike as much as you can when backpacking Colombia.

Why You Should Travel to Colombia with a Water Bottle

Plastic washes up on even the most pristine beaches… so do your part and keep the Big Blue beautiful

You aren’t going to save the world overnight, but you might as well be part of the solution and not the problem. When you travel to some of the world’s most remote places, you come to realise the full extent of the plastic problem. And I hope you become more inspired to continue being a responsible traveller .

STOP USING SINGLE-USE PLASTIC! If you’d like some more tips on how to save the world , be sure to watch the video below.

Plus, now you won’t be buying overpriced bottles of water from the supermarkets either! Travel with a filtered water bottle instead and never waste a cent nor a turtle’s life again.

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress  rigorously  from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

Best Time To Travel To Colombia

Because of its close proximity to the equator, Colombia doesn’t get classic seasons and the day/night balance doesn’t really change much either. However, the country does get a few rainy seasons which are worth bearing in mind particularly if you are headed up to the North when Caribbean, tropical typhoons can be considerable.

It is generally agreed that the best time to go to Colombia is in December – March when the Andes are drier. These are the months when most of the festivals are happening and if by any chance you happen to be there in February, you should go to one of the most epic festivals in South America… el Carnaval de Barranquilla! I stayed in some awesome hostels in Barranquilla where I met some backpackers who I went to the festival with.

September to October are the wettest months although I experienced floods in November too. The rainforest can be wet all year round, and the coast is seriously hot.

What To Pack For Colombia

Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.

Hanging Laundry Bag

Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.

Sea To Summit Micro Towel

Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.

Monopoly Deal

Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.

Grayl Geopress Water Bottle

Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!

Below I have provided essential information and Colombia travel tips for your backpacking adventure, including the best time to travel to Colombia, how much to budget for Colombia, and a guide to Colombian cuisine.

Staying Safe in Colombia

Yes, people have plenty to say about Colombia: security, drug traffickers, and other news intended to generate fear. Safety and security in Colombia is something to take into account – but not to panic about.

A while ago the situation was complicated to visit this beautiful country as a tourist. Let me tell you that today things are very different. In recent years they’ve seen a big increase in the level of security and falling crime rates. Most people backpacking in Colombia never have any problems – but there are cases of people still getting scammed or robbed. Today the population takes care of tourism because they understand that it is beneficial for everyone.

In most cases, the usual travel safety practices are enough. For my daily life (phone, money, and keys) I use a backpacker security belt; it’s better than carrying it in your pockets. Pickpockets, in big cities, are professional .

Don’t show off things of value, don’t carry a lot of money with you, and avoid going in tourist mode with your cell phone taking photos unless you want to see your phone disappear before your very eyes. When checking your phone on the streets, look around and do it briefly. At night, stay away from non-tourist areas and be wary of overly friendly people. If someone’s getting a bit too close, that’s your sign to back away.

It should also be noted, that druggings with sedatives do happen in Colombia – and it’s as common to happen to men as it is women. Although rare, it’s something to be aware of. ALWAYS keep an eye on your food and drinks and never accept cigarettes from strangers. This beautiful country has changed for the better. Today beautiful smiles greet you and a predisposition to good attention is what stands out. You can have a perfectly safe trip in Colombia. But – like anywhere – it pays to keep your wits about you.

Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n Roll in Colombia

Colombia has a pretty saucy reputation when it comes to drugs & sex, especially in Pablo Escobar’s hometown Medellin. It’s well known for both growing & selling cocaine, you can even snag a gram for as little as $7. No wonder it’s so popular among many travellers in South America. For tips on how to stay safe whilst getting fucked up in Colombia, check out Blazed Backpackers 101.

Cocaine tourism is on the rise in Columbia. I guess it’s not every day that you have the chance to take a “special tour” to make and snort your own cocaine! Just be careful with drugs especially abroad. No one wants to be locked up in a foreign jail. You can usually pay off the police if you get into trouble, just don’t go selling or raking up a debt with a drug lord.

Colombian women are typically beautiful and exotic. Their sexy moves and seductive dancing can be pretty hard to resist, plus they love foreigners too. Just be respectful and treat the women here like you would back home and you’ll have no problem. Many explorers backpacking Colombia are unsure of what to expect but this is a country with a welcoming people, stunning landscapes & great parties!

Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting Colombia

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

How To Get Into Colombia

The main way to get to Colombia if you’re overseas is by plane, flying into Bogota International Airport. This is typically the cheapest place to fly in & out of; however, there are other international airports around Colombia that you can also fly into.

The easiest land crossing borders are from Venezuela & Ecuador as they have road access. Most backpackers use the Carretera Panamericana boarder crossing from Tulcan in Ecuador to Ipiales in Colombia. In Venezuela the main crossing is on the Caracas-Bogota road from San Antonio in Venezuela to Cúcuta in Colombia.

Many backpackers coming to travel Columbia from Panama, enter by boat. This is mainly because of the Darian gap between Panama & Colombia consisting mainly of large undeveloped swampland & forests. This no mans land is predominantly run by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who have a long track record of assassinations, kidnappings & violations of human rights. If you’re coming to Colombia after your backpacking Central America trip, consider travelling by boat via the San Blas, it’s a once in a lifetime trip and one of the best things I have ever done.

The only land crossing from Peru & Brazil into Colombia is located in the far southeastern corner of the Colombian Amazon. You can reach the Leticia crossing from either Peru or Brazil via riverboat.

Entry requirements for Colombia

Most nations around the world don’t require a visa to backpack Columbia, which is awesome! Most nationalities get 60-90 days free to travel Colombia, just check what rules & regulations may apply for your country.

How To Get Around Colombia

When it comes to getting around Colombia, the distances can be a problem. There are lots of long distance buses which vary in price depending on the company, I recommend booking buses in advance during the high season. Flights can sometimes be very cheap so it is worth considering internal flights on occasion. Hitching isn’t common but is totally doable.

Traveling in Colombia by Public Transport

There are many modes of public transport to navigate your way around the cities in Colombia when backpacking. Bogota, Cali & Medellin have massive transport systems similar those in Europe & the United States. City buses have a flat fare no matter how far you’re going in the city. They range from pimped out old American school buses blasting Latino music, to modern air-conditioned buses. The price ranges between 600-1650 COP depending on the type of bus.

Tuk-tuks & moto taxis are common around tourist areas, just make sure you agree on a price before you get in. Taxi’s are super cheap & easy to use when travelling short distances. Make sure you get in a metered taxi! There are so many fake taxi’s around just be careful, make sure the taxi has a meter & there are no other passengers in the taxi as this is a common robbery tactic.

Hitchhiking in Colombia

Hitchhiking in Colombia isn’t that common, mainly due to paranoia about the security situation in the country. Not everyone here is a drug lord that wants to kidnap you for ransom money. You can hitchhike throughout Colombia; it’s such an awesome experience! Have faith there are good people out there, keep your wits about you & follow my hitchhiking tips .

Onward Travel from Colombia

The cheapest way to leave Colombia is by bus. There are international buses that you can catch from any major city. One can reach neighboring Ecuador or Venezuela in a matter of a few hours depending of course on where you are departing from.

Bogota and Medellin are home to major international airports of you need to catch a flight back home. Flying in South America can generally be expensive. I recommend using the bus systems as much a possible.

Colombian Culture

The people of Colombia definitely are what makes is such a special country to go backpacking in. From the late 1970’s through the 1990’s, the Colombian people endured a whole hell of a lot of trama, war, and terrorism. The conflicts between cocaine drug lords, police, mercenaries, and communist guerrilla groups rattled Colombia to the very foundations of its society.

Modern day Colombia is a place that couldn’t be more different than those dark times in its history. Much of Colombia and its people are thriving. Meet some locals and find out what daily life is like in Colombia in 2018.

Dating in Colombia

Gringo’s and Gringa’s will find themselves very popular with the natives in Colombia. Both local men and women can be quite direct and forward when it comes to showing affection!

Colombians are not exactly shy about their sexuality. However, the country is nominally Roman Catholic and contraception is not always widely practised, so be sure to take matters into your own hands. Many Colombians live with their parents until marriage so if you want some privacy with your Colombian companions, the done thing is to rent a hourly motel – and there are plenty of them.

My experience of travelling Colombia as a single man was that I was rarely in need of female company. However, I did find that local girlfriends did want to get “serious” a lot faster than I was used to so be careful with people’s feelings.

Useful Travel Phrases For Colombia

Navigating Colombia is gonna be pretty damn tough if you don’t learn some Spanish. Besides, it is such a useful language to know; you can speak it in over 20 countries! Check out this post for some Colombian slang . 

Here are a few helpful  travel phrases with English translations for your backpacking Colombia adventure:

Hello –  Hola 

How are you? – Cómo estás?

What is your name? – Cómo te llamas? 

Very good – Muy bueno/a

Beautiful – Hermoso/a

Can you give me a discount? – Me puede dar un descuento? 

How much does this cost?  – Cuánto cuesta? 

Do you have a lighter? – Tienes un encendedor? 

What? – Cómo?

Where? – Dónde  ? 

No plastic bag –  Sin bolsa de plástico

No straw please –  Sin pitillo por favor

No plastic cutlery please –  Sin cubiertos de plástico por favor

Shit – Mierda ! (a very light weight insult)

Shit eater – Come Mierda (for better effect!)

Two beers please – Dos cervezas por favor 

Down that beer! –  Acaba la cerveza!

Can you give me a ride – Me puedes dar un aventón?

Cheers –  Salud

What To Eat in Colombia

The food is cheap, tasty and plentiful. There is plenty of street food around with arepas, empanadas and meat on a stick being some of the staples. If you’re eating out, expect to pay between five to ten dollars for a decent meal.

If you’re after a hearty lunchtime meal & aren’t watching the carbs, try out Bandeja Paisa. It consists of rice, plantains, avocado, minced meat, chorizo, black sausage, fried pork rind & a fried egg chucked on top. My favourite dish was by far empanadas, they’re a great snack & are filled with a variety of toppings. Check out this post for even more info on some of the best Colombian dishes to try .

A Brief History of Colombia

One name and one product come to mind when thinking about Colombia’s recent history: Pablo Escobar. The guy is famous the world over for formally being one of the worlds richest men and Cocaine kingpin. Escobar’s reign in Colombia brought the country to its knees. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, Escobar was responsible for ordering the killings and bombing that resulted in tremendous loss of life in Colombia. We are talking deaths in the tens of thousands. Police, judges, lawyers, journalists, rivals, civilians, guerrillas: everyone was affected.

In addition to the infamous cocaine trade, Colombia had active guerrilla revolutionary movements happening since the 1960’s and was effectively engaged in civil war until recently. Some revolutionary groups like FARC, are still active today.

On November 6, 1985, the M-19 guerrilla group stormed the Colombian Palace of Justice and held the Supreme Court magistrates hostage, intending to put president Betancur on trial. In the ensuing crossfire that followed the military’s reaction, scores of people lost their lives, as did most of the guerrillas, including several high-ranking operatives. Both sides blamed each other for the outcome.

There was truly so much going on in Colombia, so much violence, that the state was on the verge of collapse.

Early 1990’s in Colombia

Following administrations had to contend with the guerrillas, paramilitaries, narcotics traffickers and the violence and corruption that they all perpetuated, both through force and negotiation. Narcoterrorists assassinated three presidential candidates before César Gaviria was elected in 1990.

Since the death of Medellín cartel leader Pablo Escobar in a police shootout during December 1993, indiscriminate acts of violence associated with that organization have abated as the “cartels” have broken up into multiple, smaller and often-competing trafficking organizations. Nevertheless, violence continued as these drug organizations resorted to violence as part of their operations, but also to protest government policies, including extradition.

Although the FARC and ELN accepted participation in the peace process, they did not make explicit commitments to end the conflict. FARC ended peace talks in the year 2000.

Modern Day Colombia

As I mentioned before, Colombia is now a nation at peace. You can see it in the streets and in the mountains. People aren’t terrified there might be a bombing or a shooting at any moment. Colombia is not totally free from problems certainly. Like any developing country, Colombia is still trying to eliminate poverty and social inequality. Colombia’s future is bright. Like Peru, Colombia has one of South America’s fastest growing economies.

I am deeply happy for Colombia and its people, that they have finally found relative calm after the totally fucking crazy 1980’s and 90’s. Keep doing your thing Colombia!

Working in Colombia

Because of it’s general awesomeness, Colombia is very popular for expats. Medellin is the most popular spot although Bogota offers the most varied and lucrative opportunities. That said, if you are looking for work an English teacher then you can quite probably find something pretty much anywhere in Colombia.

Visas For Colombia

To work in Colombia you will need a work visa. These are pretty easy to obtain for most western passport holders once you lined up a job and it is common to enter on a tourist visa and then upgrade it whilst in the country. The fee for the M5 Visa is $280.

Volunteer in Colombia

Volunteering overseas is a great way to experience a culture whilst doing some good in the world. Volunteering continues to be very popular all over the world.

Colombia is a developing country so there are lots of opportunities for volunteers willing to donate some time and skills. Volunteer English teachers are in pretty much endless demand across Colombia and I enjoyed a very joyful spell teaching in Cartagena. More unique opportunities include working in the rainforests, nursing Jaguars and maybe helping out a coffee farmer.

Want to find some more volunteering opportunities in Colombia? Signup for Worldpackers , a platform that connects local hosts with travelers. As a Broke Backpacker reader, you’ll also get a special discount of $10. Just use the discount code BROKEBACKPACKER and your membership is discounted from $49 a year to only $39. 

Not only do they make the process so much simpler, but Broke Backpacker readers also get a sweet discount on the signup fee just by using the code BROKEBACKPACKER !

Teaching English in Colombia

Teaching English is a very popular way for for expats to make their way in Colombia. Pay varies widely. A fully qualified teacher at a top university (degree + TEFL or CELTA) could earn $1800 per month which goes pretty far in Colombia but an unqualified backpacker teacher at regular school may have to make do with $900.

If you want to teach English from your own home, then you can try teaching English online. Depending on your qualifications (or your motivation to obtain qualifications like a TEFL certificate) you can teach English remotely from your laptop, save some cash for your next adventure, and make a positive impact on the world by improving another person’s language skills! It’s a win-win! Check out this detailed article for everything you need to know to  start teaching English online .

In addition to giving you the qualifications to teach English ,  TEFL courses  open up a huge range of opportunities and you can find teaching work all over the world. To find out more about TEFL courses and how you can teach English around the world, read my in-depth report on  teaching English abroad .

Final Advice Before Visiting Colombia

Colombia is a beautiful, beguiling land and you are sure to fall in love with it. Stay safe and enjoy your trip!

• Check out the hostels in Colombia to book yourself a dope stay. 
• Our ultimate Colombia packing list has all the info you’ll ever need. 
• Sort out your Colombia travel insurance before your trip.  
• We’ve also got where to stay in Bogotá covered with our epic guide.
• Colombia is just the start of your awesome backpacking trip around South America .
• Get your  international SIM card  organised to avoid hassle.

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A couple of you lovely readers suggested we set up a tip jar for direct support as an alternative to booking through our links. So we created one!

You can now buy The Broke Backpacker a coffee . If you like and use our content to plan your trips, it’s a much appreciated way to show appreciation 🙂

Sebastian Garcia Vivas

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23 Comments

This is a brilliant page! Covers everything.. thank you 🙂

Hello Will! We’re heading to Colombia—Cartagena and Medellin in March. Great info here. Any updates?

Hey! I’m going to the Taryona region Jan 21 to 27 starting by arriving by plane in Santa Marta. I want to combine maybe taganga, Minca Casa Elemento, and then Costeno Beach Surf Hostel and then go back to Santa Marta to catch my flight to Bogota on the 27. Is that the order I want to go in? How does transport work? Do you have any links about busses etc? Thanks for the help if you can! I have all the details on backpacking Uruguay beaches if you want to trade 😉 South America’s best kept secret!

Wifey and I LOVE Colombia and always stay in Envigado (been 3 times now) and have made some real nice local friends. The lifestyle there is wonderful, great foods, weather, nightlife, street atmosphere it has the lot. And all at a very affordable price. Your list has certainly given us more ideas and reasons to go back which actually we can’t wait. Thanks for making us miss it even more (if that’s really possible).

Hi Will, I am planning to visit colombai this year, reading your page helped me how to be prepared for backpacking, very useful page, thank you

Hey Guys If you’re going to San Gil I highly recommend Karla, is a girl in who helped us a lot in our stay there. She speak a good English, she was our guide and drove us where we need, and helped us in all that we needed like a accommodation, San Gil was much better that we thought thank to Karla. Her number is 3183928463

Hola Will Se que has estado en Venezuela, por ello quiero que me ayudes con ciertas recomendaciones respecto a lugares para visitar en especial sus playas, resorts o sea si son lugares en el mar caribe venezolano, mejor. Soy de Ecuador, espero nos vistes.

Any thoughts on Cali? Is it worth stopping there for a couple of days? I have heard it’s pretty dodgy safety wise.

I probably wouldn’t bother with Cali, the cities re all similar and Bogota and Medellin are definitely the best… Cali should only be on the list if your a die-hard Salsa fan… Safety wise, it really is fine – 3 months and no problems. Currently in Venezuela, significantly more dodgy and yet, still fine. Don’t trust the media or sensationalist news-reports, unless your a total god-damn idiot and attempt to buy coke off a cop, you will be fine.

When I was in Ecuador I thought of visiting Columbia. Did you go dancing while you were there, and if so what type of dancing did they introduce you to? Great pics and I love that you can haggle for a reduced price.

I had a crack at some salsa, it wasn’t the salsa I am used to from Europe though, apparently my foot-work was all wrong; I had the twirls down to a T though! 🙂

This looks like a rundown of my itinerary. There are so many amazing things to see and do in Colombia! Salento and Tayrona were my favourites. I also loved the adventure sports in San Gil and the trekking to the Lost City!

Thanks for the post! Heading to Colombia in July (yes, far far away). Staying in Cartagena/Santa Marta for 11 days for surfing, diving and snorkelling. Will look into Taganga a bit further.

Hope you make it to Ecuador, as it is such a great place and got back from there a few weeks ago. Happy travels!

Thanks Renee! Definitely head to Minke and Taganga, you’ll have an ace time! 🙂

Will!! Still travelling strong I see 🙂 hope you are having an awesome time. Loving the website, it’s giving me the serious travel bug! Still loving Exeter though, so will be here for a little while.

Hope you are well x

Sam!! I WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU LIKE LITERALLY YESTERDAY! How’s it going? I’ll be popping into exeter at some point, we should grab a coffee! And yes, still travelling – what else am I going to do, learn to cook? I don’t think so… :p

Super useful post! Thanks for sharing this. Next year I’m hoping to settle down for a while in South America and I’ve been hearing more and more great things about Colombia. Really looking forward to checking it out.

Thanks Charlie! Medellin is definitely a great place to settle, I’ve been here six weeks; loving it! 🙂

Colombia has been on my list for a while. Ciudad Perdida sounds amazing. Googling it now.

It’s an incredible trek! Don’t miss out, go NOW before it becomes crazy popular!! 🙂

Nice post, got three weeks in Colombia this summer so this is useful. You fancy doing one for Ecuador too? 😉

I notice there is supposed to a high malaria risk across much of Colombia, including most of the Pacific Coast – did you bother with antimalarials?

I never bother with anti-malarials and I’ve been to some pretty malaria-esque destinations, you should be fine matey! I’m not headed to Ecuador I’m afraid – onwards to Venezuela tomorrow!! 🙂

Hi Will, nice blog, but where did you stay? those hostels sound super expensive! We traveled around Colombia for a month or so and paid $5-$10 for a dorm bed and around $17 for a private room, I agree awesome and cheap place for adventure activities, super friendly people, awesome country. We are new to the blogging game, what we spent each per day can be seen below, if any of your followers are interested, what we did, where we stayed and how much we paid can be seen at http://stingynomads.com/colombia/ Signing up for your blog! Safe travels

Avg of what we spent Transport: 284 700 COP ($97.93) total, $3.15 avg per day

Food (shopping): 400 100 COP ($138) $4.45 avg per day

Accomodation: 510 500 COP ($175) $5.70 avg per day

Activities: 231 000 COP ($79.50) $2.56 avg per day

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The Partying Traveler

Survival of the littest.

One Month Colombia Backpacking Itinerary | 2024

After three months in Colombia, I thought I’d seen most of what the country had to offer. Then, I looked at a map of Colombia and realized that I’ve only scratched the surface. Colombia is a country that I’d recommend to any type of traveler. It offers such a wide variety of adventures and environments that cater to any travel style. Are you looking for a luxury getaway along the sparkling Caribbean coast? Are you looking to trek through the soaring Andes reaching altitudes of over 5,000 meters? How about an excursion into the Amazon Rainforest? Yeah, Colombia’s got you covered.

Few countries can claim to have it all, but Colombia has a strong case. A month won’t be enough to experience all of Colombia’s treasures, but I can set you off with a good start for taking on this vibrant Latin American country. Grab your passport, backpack, and vamonos .

And hey, if this post helps you out, show some love and support for the blog and help keep my adventures going by  buying me a beer ! My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated. It allows me to keep providing free travel guides and creating travel content to help you all travel the world.

This post contains affiliate links. That means that I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of these links.

Fly Into Cartagena

Cartagena is an excellent starting point for your adventures in Colombia. It’s one of the cheapest airports to fly internationally to, with flight prices comparable to Bogota and Medellin. If you’re a backpacker on a budget, use Skiplagged to find the cheapest flights possible. It’s free to use and I’ve saved thousands of dollars on flights since I started using it religiously. Cartagena is quite touristy, so it allows you to gradually get your feet set in Colombia instead of diving straight into the chaos of Bogota or Medellin. You’ll also get the most expensive part of Colombia out of the way.

Oh, and before you go, make sure to have good travel insurance handy while you’re off adventuring across the world. I use  SafetyWing to keep me covered throughout my travels for as low as $45 a month.

Cartagena | 3 Nights

Bienvenidos a Colombia. I know, I know. You’re hyped to be in Colombia and you are going to want to party. Go big in Cartagena. Laze the hangover ( guayabo ) away with a boat trip to one of the nearby islands or beaches then run it back the following night. I love the vibe of Cartagena. Walk around, enjoy the vibrant colors of the Walled City and Barrio Getsemani, and post up on the walls for sunset before treating yourself to a nice dinner and a rooftop nightclub. There’s an electric energy to this city. The music and dancing is contagious, and it’s impossible not to have a good time in Cartagena.

Must-Do Things in Cartagena : Islas Rosario, Playa Blanca and Isla Baru, Getsemani Walking Tour, Roam Around Walled City

Hostel Recommendation for Cartagena : Casa Zahri Boutique Hostel (Getsemani) or Casa Movida (Walled City)

The Backpacker’s Guide to Cartagena

Boat to San Bernardo Islands

From the port just outside the Walled City of Cartagena, you can catch a boat to anywhere your heart desires. Well, maybe not anywhere, but in this case, you’ll want to hit up the San Bernardo Islands. A ticket will only run you 10,000 pesos ($2.50) one way for the 2-hour long journey by speedboat. You’ll likely get dropped off at Santa Cruz del Islote, and from there, you can catch another boat to where you need to go.

San Bernardo Islands | 2 Nights

A getaway from Cartagena is essential. While there are plenty of islands nearby, I’d recommend the San Bernardo Islands, part of one of Colombia’s vast system of National Parks. If you’re looking for a secluded paradise getaway, this is the place to be. Check out Isla Mucura for beautiful island vibes, or roam through Santa Cruz del Islote, the most densely populated island in the world.

Hostel Recommendations : Isla Roots, Casa en el Agua

Back to Cartagena | 1 Night

Ahh back to civilization. Enjoy a night in Cartagena as a stopping point en route to the other side of Colombia’s Caribbean coast. If you happen to be in Colombia during Carnaval, stop by Barranquilla for the best party in the country. If not, keep driving past and don’t look back until you find yourself in Santa Marta. No hate to Barranquilla, but getting robbed is still fresh in my brain. A bus to Santa Marta from Cartagena costs about 50,000 pesos and will take about 5 hours, but you truly never know with Colombian buses .

Santa Marta & Magdalena District | 6 Nights

Santa Marta itself isn’t the most exciting city, but it is a good home base for adventuring within the area. The touristic center is nice enough, and you’ll find a good amount of bars, restaurants, and cafes to keep yourself fed and entertained. Stay close to Parque de los Novios. You’ll only be a short walk from the beach and everything else a traveler needs. Masaya Hostel is the best in Santa Marta. Rest up, because you’re visiting Tayrona National Park the next day.

Day 1 – Visit Tayrona National Park (Overnight Stay)

Tayrona National Park is one of Colombia’s most famous destinations. It’s home to stunning beaches, jungle hikes, and gorgeous golden hours. Most travelers will just do a day trip here, but I’d recommend staying overnight and disconnecting from the outside world. There are hammocks and tents right along the beach that you can rent for the night. When I was there in 2016, a hammock was 7,000 pesos ($2 USD) for a night, but I’m not sure what it costs these days.

Day 2 – Back To Santa Marta (Visit Playa Rodadero or Taganga for sunset)

Take in the sunrise at Tayrona then hike back before the heat becomes unbearable. You’ll likely find yourself back in Santa Marta around noon or the early afternoon. Take a chill day before catching sunset from one of the nearby beaches. Taganga was nice back in 2016, although noticeably less nice when I came back in 2022. It’s still a beautiful spot for a sunset, though. Playa Rodadero is an alternative, or you can just walk along Santa Marta’s boardwalk and beaches.

Day 3 – Minca (Stay 1-2 nights)

If you don’t want to stay the night in Santa Marta, you can go straight to Minca on day two. Moving around a lot gets exhausting. You’ll want to spend a couple of nights chilling out in Minca. It’s all about choosing what hostel you want to stay at. Besides a trip to nearby Marinka waterfalls, you’ll likely be spending most of your days at your hostel. I was at Sierra Minca Hostel , but Casa Loma is another one that my fellow travelers spoke highly of.

Day 4 and 5 – Palomino

From Minca, you’ll have to head back to Santa Marta. Catch a bus to Palomino for some laid back beach town vibes. Come here to surf or just have some lazy days along the beach or the river. Life is simple in Palomino.

If you have extra time, check out El Rio Hostel in Buritaca or Costeno Beach Hostel . Both are on the way to Palomino and are among the nicest hostels in Colombia . And of course, there’s the Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) Trek. This takes four days and departs from Santa Marta. It is a top bucket list item in Colombia for avid trekkers.

Day 6 – Leave Santa Marta

Santa Marta is a big travel hub, so to get to where you’re going next, you’ll have to pass back through Santa Marta. The airport is cheap to fly in and out of, and buses will take you anywhere in the country from Santa Marta. Our overland itinerary takes us south to the state of Santander and the wonders of inland Colombia.

Bus to Bucaramanga or San Gil

The bus to Bucaramanga from Santa Marta cost me 80,000 pesos ($22 USD) and took about 10 hours. I decided to take a day bus and spend the night in Bucaramanga before taking another bus ($6 USD) to San Gil the next morning. I’m usually a big fan of night buses, but I’ve heard a few horror stories about bandits in Colombia, so I decided to play it safe. Before I became a travel blogger, heck yeah I would’ve risked it to save on a night of accommodation. But these days I carry too much expensive crap to be playin’ games. A decent hotel in Bucaramanga by the bus station only cost me $13 for the night, so it wasn’t too bad.

San Gil | 3 Nights

San Gil is a quiet town often referred to as the adventure capital of Colombia. It’s a well-deserved title. I mean, where else can you go white-water rafting, paragliding, spelunking, canyoning, and bungee jumping, to name a few of San Gil’s various offerings. The town itself is pretty quiet without much to do besides a few short hikes and green areas.

Must-Do Things in San Gil

Cascadas de juan curi (juan curi waterfalls).

You can visit these waterfalls on your own or take a tour for $20 that includes rappelling down the waterfalls. If you’re a thrill seeker, it is definitely adrenaline-inducing. I did it in Baños, Ecuador and kind of feared for my life the whole time, but it’s a thing to tick off the bucket list. If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, just take a bus towards Charala and ask the driver to drop you off at Juan Curi. He’ll drop you off right at the entrance where you pay about $3.50 to get in. It’s a 20-minute hike or so to the base of the waterfalls. The bus there and back costs about $1.75 each way. 

Chicamocha Canyon Paragliding

This costs 200,000 pesos ($55 USD) and is a top bucket list thing to do in Colombia. Chicamocha Canyon is one of Colombia’s most iconic natural attractions, and there’s no better way to see it than taking to the skies. I stayed at Sam’s VIP Hostel in San Gil and they sorted everything out for me. Great hostel and great staff for an absolute steal at about $5 a night.

Trek from Barichara to Guane

Barichara is often called the most beautiful village in Colombia. It definitely has a strong case. This village often feels like it was lost in time. This colonial town nestled in the lush, rolling green hills of Santander is stunning to walk through. It’s a sleepy little town, so I’d recommend it for a day trip. A popular thing to do is make the six kilometer trek to the neighboring town of Guane, which is even sleepier. The hike takes about an hour and a half each way, but you can catch a bus or a Tuk Tuk from Guane to go back to Barichara.

Other Things To Do In San Gil : White Water Rafting, Bungee Jumping, Chicamocha Canyon trekking, Cueva de la Vaca

Bus to Villa de Leyva/Raquira

Next up, Boyaca. This is one of the most beautiful regions of Colombia. It often felt like I was driving through Northern Italy or the rolling hills of the Alps. To get here from San Gil, I had to catch a bus to Tunja and then another bus to Villa de Leyva. I stayed the night in Tunja, and it was an okay city. I wouldn’t go out of my way to see it. It cost me 30,000 pesos ($8 USD) to get to Tunja and then another $2.50 to get to Villa de Leyva.

Villa de Leyva | 2 Nights

Villa de Leyva is a gem that I’m glad I didn’t visit sooner. If Villa de Leyva had been my first stop in Colombia, I might not have seen any other part of the country. It was love at first sight, and the exact type of vibe that I love in a city. This laid-back town nestled in the hills of Boyaca has an immaculate vibe. In all honesty, there isn’t too much to do in Villa de Leyva, but after traveling so long, I was very much enticed by the prospect of doing nothing. It’s a beautiful and budget-friendly town that is perfect for working remotely in Colombia . I stayed at Selina while I was here and loved it.

Other Things in the Area : El Cocuy National Park, Paramo La Rusia, Raquira

Bus to Bogota

There is a direct bus from Villa de Leyva to Bogota. However, calling it a bus is a bit of an exaggeration. It’s a big van and it usually takes about four hours to get to Bogota from here, depending on traffic. My van dropped me off at Portal Norte. From there, it’s about 30,000 pesos ($8) to take a taxi to the center or 2,600 pesos to take the Transmilenio. I stayed in the Chapinero neighborhood of Bogota.

Bogota | 3 Nights

The best things to do in Bogota basically involve getting out of the city. Don’t get me wrong, Bogota is a lively and exciting city, but it does take a while to grow on you. Most travelers won’t have that time, and even if they did, they’d prefer to spend it in Medellin or elsewhere. Two or three nights in Bogota should suffice, although there are quite a lot of activities in and around Bogota that I’d recommend.

Must-Do Things in Bogota : La Candelaria Neighborhood, Comuna El Paraiso, Cerro Monserrate, Museum of Gold, Zipaquira Salt Cathedral, and Guatavita Lagoon

Fly or Bus to Medellin (I’d recommend flying if you can)

Flights from Bogota to Medellin with Viva Colombia are affordable and comparable to paying for a bus. The journey can be long and daunting, so if you have some extra funds, shell it out on a flight.

Medellin | 6 Nights

Ahh, finally, the promised land. Medallo, where do I even begin? My love story with Medellin runs deep. It’s a city that many travelers find themselves falling in love with. I’m not a city person, but I’ve come to realize that I am a people person. The people of Medellin are what made me fall in love with the city. There are countless stories to be told by the friendly, talented, and fun paisas of Medallo. And of course, it is the top party city in Colombia .

Day 1 – Comuna 13

Comuna 13 is an essential stop in Medellin. This vibrant barrio has a fascinating story, going from one of Colombia’s most violent neighborhoods to being the triumph of Colombian heart and soul. Filled with street art, murals, performers, and more, Comuna 13 is one of the liveliest neighborhoods of Medellin. Roaming through it now, it’s hard to believe it was once the most dangerous neighborhood in the country. It is an inspiring story of reinvention and what the Colombian people are capable of when given opportunity.

You can visit Comuna 13 on your own, but I’d recommend going with a local tour guide. I visited Comuna 13 on my own the first two times, and then the third time I finally went with a local guide. Having the context and learning the significance of Comuna 13 and its history made a huge difference in my experience. Go with a guide if you can.

Day 2 – Guatape

About two hours outside of Medellin is the small town of Guatape. It is home to the iconic El Peñon, a huge monolith overlooking the stunning Colombian countryside. Once you’re done climbing the 750 steps to the top, head to Guatape town. Wandering through Guatape is a treat, with it being one of Colombia’s most beautiful and colorful cities. If you have more time to kill, be sure to visit a coffee farm and go on a boat ride through the lakes. 

Day 3 – Chill day, Museums, Pueblito Paisa

Everyone needs a chill day now and then. Medellin is perfect for a chill day. Go hang out at the rooftop pool of Masaya , you deserve it. Otherwise, you can check out any of the many museums that call Medellin home. For sunset, head to Pueblito Paisa on Cerro Nutibara for one of the best panoramic views you’ll find in the city. Party time? Walk down Provenza and find whatever bar fits your fancy. As a traveler, you’ll likely end up in Vintrash at some point.

Day 4- Parque Arvi hiking, paragliding, etc

Parque Arvi is one of the best natural getaways close to the city of Medellin. Hop on the cable cars to the top of the hill and go for a nice little hike. I never found them myself, but I was told there were some waterfalls that you could hike to around here. Another option for today is to take to the skies. Paragliding is a popular thing to do over Medellin. It was my first time ever paragliding, and wow, what a place to do it.

You’re also long overdue for a crazy night out. Head to Provenza or Laureles for a crazy night out. You can also hop on a Chiva party bus for about 30,000 pesos. Bring your own booze. There’s no better way to pregame than cruising around Medellin on a Chiva for a few hours.

Day 5 – Be Hungover

Sometimes, the best thing to do is absolutely nothing. Nurse your hungover self. Hang out at the pool. Eat some amazing food in El Poblado. Do what you gotta do to feel alive again.

Day 6 – Catch A Bus To Jardin

Jardin is a small town that’s become quite popular among travelers. It is about four hours from Medellin and will be a pleasant change of pace after the chaos of the big city.

The Backpacker’s Guide to Medellin

Jardin | 2 Nights

Talk about a change of scenery. Colombia has no shortage of places to immerse yourself in nature, but Jardin is definitely one of the top destinations. It hasn’t quite hit the level of popularity that Colombia’s other iconic destinations have, so now’s the best time to go. You’re never too far from a good hike or a natural beauty while you’re here. Chill out, sip on some coffee, trek to Cascada La Escalera waterfalls, do whatever. Life is chill here.

Bus to Salento

Salento | 3 nights.

Salento is possibly my favorite place in Colombia. The town had immaculate, laid-back vibes with beautiful views everywhere you looked. Of course, the most surreal region of Colombia can be found just 30 minutes from Salento town. The Valle de Cocora, with its towering wax palm trees is unlike anywhere else in the world. It should be the top destination on your Colombia bucket list.

Hostel Recommendation for Salento : Coffee Tree Boutique Hostel

Day 1: Valle de Cocora Trekking

Day 2: Coffee Farm and Chill

Aside from Valle de Cocora, visiting a coffee farm is a popular thing to do in Salento. You can hike about an hour to one of the coffee farms and take a tour for about 30,000 pesos ($8 USD). The tours usually last two hours and will take you through the entire coffee making process. Of course, you’ll get to taste some coffee at the end. You can catch a Jeep back to town for 3,000 pesos if you don’t feel like making the hike back uphill.

This shouldn’t take up your entire day, so you can also explore town and check out the miradors just outside the city center.

Day 3: Filandia and Waterfalls

Another town close to Salento is Filandia. Just be sure to check the bus schedules from Salento as they aren’t too frequent in the afternoon. You might find yourself stranded in Filandia, although that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

If you have more time, be sure to check out Los Nevados National Park . The famed trek up Nevado de Tolima departs from Salento.

The Backpacker’s Guide to Salento

Bus or Fly Back to Medellin

From Salento, you can catch a bus back to Medellin but you’ll have to connect through Armenia or Pereira first. Flying back to Medellin or elsewhere in Colombia is an option. Both Pereira and Armenia have airports with affordable flights within the country.

Now, I’m dropping you off in Medellin. Fly out of Medellin or bus to Cali and continue through Ecuador . I haven’t personally visited Cali, but haven’t heard great things about it. If you plan on continuing south through Latin America, Ecuador is an incredible country. I’d recommend flying straight to Quito from Medellin. And of course, I’ve got you covered with an itinerary for Ecuador , as well. And of course, there is so much more of Colombia to explore. Fly down to Leticia and experience the Amazon. See the Caño Cristales , go hiking through the Colombian Andes, roam through the Tatacoa Desert , truly, this list barely scratches the surface. A month in Colombia is not nearly enough time, and you’ll find yourself wanting to come back to this country time and time again.

And if you don’t feel like figuring this all out yourself, check out TruTravels 12-Day Colombia Uncovered group trip. I tagged along for a portion of my time in Colombia and had an excellent time with the crew. Say hi to Jose for me.

Buy Me A Beer!

If this post helped you out, show some love and support for the blog and help keep my adventures going by  buying me a beer ! My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated, and allows me to keep writing helpful travel guides and creating travel content to help you all travel the world on a budget.

More on Colombia

The Backpacker’s Guide to Medellin, Colombia

The Best Hostels in Colombia

The Best Places to Work Remotely in Colombia

The Best Party Cities in Colombia

The Backpacker’s Guide to Bogota

The 17 Best Travel Destinations in Colombia

View All Posts on Colombia

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Janessa and Colin

7-day colombia itinerary: how to plan the perfect week.

Colombia is filled with countless, incredible, places to visit so we created a complete 7-day Colombia itinerary to help with trip planning. While our Colombia itinerary can’t include every place and city to visit, this is what we recommend. Feel free to swap out a city for another one, we will include all these suggestions for you to curate the perfect week long trip for you!

Table of Contents

When to Visit Colombia?

One of the benefits of visiting Colombia is the steady temperature of each city, despite the changes in seasons. Medellin is known as the city of eternal spring whereas Bogota is known as the city of eternal fall. Cartagena’s average daily temperature throughout the year is between 31-32 C (87.7 F to 89.6 F). It’s quick to see that the weather temperature won’t vary too much based on the time year you visit, so the main indicator to determine when to visit Colombia will be the rain. Colombia has a rainy season and a dry season, while the dry season will help ensure you stay drier throughout the day you will experience more crowds. The dry seasons are from December to March and June to September. We recommend visiting on the shoulders of these seasons to help optimize smaller crowds with drier weather.

7-Day Colombia Itinerary Overview:

• Day 1-2 | Cartagena 
• Day 3-4 | Medellin
• Day 5  | Guatape
• Day 6-7 | Coffee region

Now, let’s get into the details of all the adventures that are to be had in this jam-packed 7-day Colombia Itinerary.

Day 1: Fly into Cartagena

Your first day in Colombia has you arriving in Cartagena. Cartagena is a popular city for both local and international tourism. From the pastel colored buildings, to the white sand beaches and the eternal summer weather – this is the relaxing way to settle into a jam-packed trip to Colombia.

Day 2: Enjoy Cartagena’s beaches

On day two, you will spend the day enjoying the beaches of Cartagena. Rosario Islands are easily accessed via boat and this is where you will head out for your first full day in Colombia. There are several companies that provide half day and full day trips to this area. We recommend determining which is the best option for you and reading reviews to ensure the company is the best for you.

Highlights for your time in Cartagena:

• Explore Getsemani neighborhood:  this area of the city offer stunning streets, street art and the perfect aesthetic coffee shops. Make sure to check out Callejon Angosta and Plaza de La Trinidad.
• Explore the walled city : this is the historic area of Cartagena. Once you cross into the walled area of the city you will be greeted with pastel buildings, fruit stands and cobblestoned streets. There are several free tours you can enjoy if you’re looking to learn about this areas history as well.
• Watch the sunset on the wall:  head to the wall that surrounds the city to enjoy sunset. Cafe Del Mar is in this area and a popular spot to grab a cocktail at while you unwind from your day.

Day 3: Travel to Medellin

On day 3, pack up and fly down to Medellin. Medellin is the second largest city in Colombia and the capital of the northwestern region Antioquia Department. While it was once coined the most dangerous city in the world, this has since changed and is a great place to visit.

Day 4: Medellin exploring

On your full day in Medellin, spend time doing a few of the following activities.

Highlights for your time in Medellin:

• Go paragliding: Medellin’s geography is similar to that of a cup, meaning the downtown core is in the bottom of a valley and surrounded by mountainous hills. With this stunning geography this is truly one of the best places to paraglide.
• Tour Comuna 13 :  Comuna 13 started as an illegal settlement, but turned into a perfect area for drug and cartel activity in the 80s/90s.  Today this area is better known for its beautiful street art and talented street performers. Most people complete a walking tour here, which we believe is important as the history is key to appreciating the area.
• Explore El Poblado: El Poblado is know for being one of the most exclusive and affluent areas in Medellin. Filled with delicious restaurants and some shopping, this is the main area to go for an evening dinner or some nightlife.
• See Plaza Botero: Plaza Botero is located in the Old Quarter of Medellin. This plaza is surrounded by the Museum of Antioquia and the Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture, along with many Botero sculptures.
• Take a metro cable ride: the towns found in the hillside of Medellin are now accessible due to metro cables. While these are used as public transportation, they also offer sweeping views of the stunning Medellin landscape. This is a great, and affordable, way to see the scenery and gain an appreciation for the cities geographical challenges.

For further details on exploring Medellin, check out our full city guide .

Day 5: Day trip to Guatape

Wake up bright and early on day 5 to for a day trip to Guatape. Guatape is a small town outside of Medellin that cannot be missed. Filled with colorful buildings, history and some of the best landscapes Colombia has to offer – you won’t be disappointed! Traveling from Medellin to Guatape takes about 2 hours, making it the perfect day trip destination. Guatape is easily be accessed by bus or via a tour company.

When visiting Guatape we recommend wandering around their colorful streets and enjoying all the street food options. Additionally, you can climb La Piedra Del Penol, which is a granite rock that sits 675m above ground. Our Guatape day trip guide can better help you plan this day.

Day 6: Travel to the coffee region (Pereira)

Start day 6 with a flight from Medellin to Pereira. The flight is relatively short, so you will be able to land with your entire afternoon available.  Take advantage of this time to complete a half day tour to a coffee farm. A half day allows you to explore all the aspects of a coffee farm and is truly a must-do when in this region.

The town Pereira is the closest to the rural regions of this area and, while this is a nice city, the true magic happens in the rural towns and mountainous hills of the coffee farms.

Day 7: Explore Salento & Valle de Cocora

Your last day will be spent enjoying the town of Salento and Valle de Cocora. Salento is found in the Quindio region in Colombia, nestled among the Andean mountains. This small town is one of the most colorful towns we have visited and allows for quick access to the famous Valle de Cocora.

Highlights for your time in Salento:

• Hike Valle de Cocora:  Valle de Cocora is located about 30 minutes outside of Salento, making it the perfect day trip. The main reason to visit Valle de Cocora is to explore the mountainous area and see the wax palm trees. We highly recommend hiking around to explore this stunning area. With a short and long hike options, there is something for all activity levels. Check out our guide for all the necessary information to plan a day trip.
• Sip some coffee:  whether you visit a coffee farm or not, you have to try some of the local coffee. There are plenty of coffee shops around town, however the absolute best (in our opinions) is Cafe Jesus Martin. This is a local coffee shop and they source their beans locally.
• Climb up the Mirador:  climbing the steps up the Mirador needs to be on everyones list to see. Mirador de Salento is an observation deck that provides sweeping views over the town of Salento and the surrounding valley. The hike up is relatively easy with 242 steps to the top, just don’t forget that you are at a higher altitude so take breaks as needed. From the top, relax and enjoy the views before climbing back down.
• Wander the streets:  taking the time to walk around and enjoy this town is a must-do. Calle Real is the Main Street in town, filled with colorful houses and cobblestoned roads.

Looking to Extend Your Colombia Itinerary?

This itinerary leads you towards a jam-packed week in Colombia, but it doesn’t include visiting the capital city Bogota, hiking the famous Lost City trek or relaxing at the national park Tayrona. If you have some more time, we highly recommend extending the trip by a few days to include one or two of these additions.

The Lost City trek was a trip we had planned and booked for April 2020 and had to, unfortunately, cancel. The trek has to be guided, so we booked ours through the tour company G Adventures and highly recommend them. Further trek information can be found in their tour overview .

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A Travel Guide to Backpacking Colombia – My Three Month Colombia Itinerary

I was only supposed to spend a few weeks backpacking Colombia.

Instead, this magical country completely pulled me in – I ended up spending three months backpacking Colombia, and a further two months putting down roots to live in Medellin .

I’m fiercely defensive of Colombia. It still has a negative reputation, but that usually comes from people who’ve never visited. Before I chose to travel solo in Colombia in 2013 I was a little nervous – I’d heard all the horror stories of drug cartels and senseless violence – but once I arrived it was all forgotten.

Instead, I found myself surrounded by technicolour painted towns and surreal monoliths in the countryside; by beachside jungles and the rolling hills of coffee plantations; by giant hammocks in the cloud forest and street art painted onto crumbling yellow walls.

I was also surrounded by the most incredibly welcoming people – and it’s that generous spirit which I love most about Colombia. It’s been four years since I last set foot in Colombia, but it’s still hands down one of my favourite countries.

Colombia is where I learned to feel like a true traveller.

Quick links:

– things to know about backpacking colombia – weather in colombia / when to visit colombia / food in colombia / drinking in colombia  / travel insurance in colombia / politics in colombia /  safety in colombia / books about colombia / speaking spanish in colombia / volunteering in colombia, – travelling around colombia – transport in colombia / bus routes in colombia / hostels in colombia /  entering & leaving colombia / visas for colombia / colombia travel itineraries, – where to go in colombia – bogota / medellin / guatape / jardin / salento / popayan / pasto / cali / santa marta  / minca / parque tayrona / cartagena, things to know about backpacking colombia, what’s the weather in colombia like.

Because it’s in the northern part of South America and close to the equator, the temperature in Colombia doesn’t change much. Instead of traditional seasons there are two main climate periods of ‘dry season’ and ‘wet season’, and the weather is affected mainly by altitude – the coldest city is Bogota, where you’ll need a jacket most evenings.

When’s the best time of year to visit Colombia?

The Caribbean coast is always warm and tropical, and much of the north is the same. Colombia’s rainy wet season lasts from May to October, which means the later months of the year are Colombia’s low season. December to March is peak tourist season, when the entire country is sunny and dry (apart from the Amazon jungle!), so prices will be highest then too.

I started my Colombia travels in May on the Caribbean coast, and barely saw any rain – although once I reached Bogota in June I had an umbrella at the ready most days. I moved to Medellin for two months in mid March, and the weather was spring-like throughout.

What’s the local food in Colombia like?

I find Colombian cuisine completely delicious! It’s all made up of hearty stews, cheesy arepas, sharp and spicy salsas, and a lot of grilled meat – all washed down with an Aguila beer or a strong tinto coffee.

Some of my favourite typical Colombian food includes:

Arepas  – a circular bread made of cornmeal. These are often served from street carts as a quick snack (either with a chunk of butter or filled with cheese), but they can be eaten at any time.

Bandejo Paisa – this plate of deliciousness is Colombia’s national dish. It’s a generous meal which includes red beans cooked with pork, rice, plantain, chicarron (like pork crackling), chorizo and a piece of steak, all topped with a fried egg, garnished with avocado and served with an arepa. You won’t be able to move for a few hours after eating this!

Ajiaco – a soupy stew with chunks of cassava or potato, shredded chicken and slices of avocado. There’s usually either a corn cob or loose corn in there too – and the best part is the topping of sour cream.

Huevos revueltos – these scrambled eggs with finely diced tomato and onion quickly became my go-to breakfast.

Chocolate completo – hot chocolate and cheese is a wonderfully bizarre Colombian tradition. Simply tear up a chunk of white cheese and push into a cup or bowl of hot chocolate where it starts to melt. Then fish it out with a fork (or a chunk of bread and butter if you really want to be Colombian about it!)

Can I drink the water in Colombia? 

The tap water in all major cities is potable (Bogota, Medellin, Cali and Cartagena), but in smaller towns and the countryside it’s advisable to stick to either bottled water, or water you’ve boiled yourself.

What else can I drink in Colombia?

Cafe tinto – Colombia’s national obsession with coffee means there are steaming cups of  cafe tinto on sale at every street corner. If you’re a true coffee fiend then head for Salento, Colombia’s coffee country , where you can tour the coffee plantations.

Aguapanela – a refreshing sugar cane juice with a squeeze of lime, which can be served hot or cold.

Fresh fruit juice – street stalls serve up fresh ‘ jugo ‘ throughout the country, and many are from local exotic fruits like lulo, guanabana, tomate de arbol, guayaba and my favourite Colombian fruit, granadilla. You can either have your juice made ‘ con agua ‘ (mixed with water), or ‘ con leche ‘ (mixed with milk).

Aguardiente – this aniseed-flavoured liquor, known as ‘ guaro ‘ for short, is Colombia’s firewater. The bottles with red caps are the original recipe; those with blue caps are sugar-free. Rumour has it that red tastes better, but leaves a worse hangover than blue. To be honest, I felt the hangover either way!

Do I need travel insurance in Colombia?

Yes, absolutely. You should have comprehensive travel insurance when backpacking Colombia – or anywhere, for that matter. I usually use World Nomads as it’s designed for adventurous travellers.

What’s the political situation in Colombia like?

The recent history of Colombia’s fifty-year civil war is violent and extremely complicated, and I’m not qualified to explain the details – Wikipedia has a simplified yet thorough explanation here.

In brief: the Colombian conflict began in 1968 with rural uprisings from farmers and communists. Guerrilla groups evolved, most notably the FARC and the ELN, who fought continuously with right-wing paramilitary groups condoned by the government troops. Although much of the fighting occurred in the countryside, nobody in Colombia was safe: there was a constant threat of kidnappings and roadside bombs, children were snatched up and forced to fight ‘for the cause’, and there were thousands of casualties every day.

The civil war was further complicated by the increase of drug trafficking in the 1980s. As druglord Pablo Escobar rose to fame, many of the warring factions also participated in the drug trade, making more money to buy more weapons. The violence dramatically increased, and by the 1990s Colombia was one of the most dangerous countries in the world.

A huge percentage of Colombian people have been internally displaced over the past few decades, and many thousands have been killed. The government have attempted reconciliatory peace treaties a number of times, most recently and most successfully in 2016, but some violence still seems to continue .

Is Colombia safe to travel solo?

I felt safe while travelling solo in Colombia, and I met many solo female travellers who felt the same – but like most backpackers, I only visited the more tourist-friendly places. There’s no denying that parts of Colombia are still extremely dangerous – there are plenty of armed gangs vying for territory, and the drug trade still exists – but travellers are unlikely to visit these regions.

Petty crime and scams on tourists are still common – I caught a girl slipping her hand into my bag at a club in Medellin, and felt very thankful I’d left my passport in the hostel! Violence increases after dark, so keep your wits about you and don’t walk alone at night if you can help it.

Common scams or unsafe situations in Colombia include:

– Dodgy taxi drivers.  Hailing unlicensed cabs is often a bad idea in foreign countries – and in Colombia there are many stories of backpackers being driven to a cashpoint and being forced to empty their account. Use an app like Tappsi, Cabify or Uber, or ask the hostel/restaurant/bar to call a taxi for you. The most renowned spots in Colombia for this scam are La Candelaria in Bogota, and parts of Cali and Medellin.

– Being overcharged for a taxi ride. It’s not the worst scam at all, but you do feel taken advantage of (and I have personal experience of successfully thwarting this in Medellin!). Many Colombian taxis operate on a meter, but if you’re unaware of this a driver can simply ‘forget’ to turn the meter on and charge a flat fare. Sometimes the meter is also rigged to jump higher than it should – so research the typical cost of a journey before you make it, and stand your ground about the price!

– Drink spiking. Don’t accept drinks from strangers and keep a close eye on who has access to your drink.

– Hijacking overnight buses in the south of the country. There are gangs operating in the Colombian countryside who sometimes board buses and rob the passengers at gunpoint or knifepoint. Minimise this possibility by only riding the bus in daylight – and if you’re really worried, take flights instead.

Prostitution in Colombia is legal in designated ‘tolerance zones’, so many male tourists will often find themselves being approached. Sex tourism is also pretty common (for some reason, this site gets a lot of blog traffic from websites dedicated to finding women in Medellin). It should go without saying that I don’t recommend perpetuating this particular Colombian industry: many of the country’s organised crime networks are responsible for sex trafficking and child prostitution, and take advantage of thousands of vulnerable displaced Colombians.

Books to read about Colombia

There’s a wealth of Colombia-focused literature and plenty of Colombian authors to check out. The guys at See Colombia Travel have an extensive reading list, but these are my favourite books about Colombia:

• ‘100 Years of Solitude’ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. A beautifully complex family epic from the father of Colombian literature, which perfectly demonstrates his unique style of magical realism and completely sucks you into Marquez’s world.
• ‘The Lucky Ones’ by Julianne Pachico. An interconnected series of short stories which are written from different perspectives of the civil war, including school children, upper-class Colombians, guerrilla fighters, prisoners and even a group of stoned rabbits! Pachico’s unsentimental approach makes this book a haunting illustration of what it’s like to grow up in a war.
• ‘The Sound of Things Falling’ by Juan Gabriel Vasquez. This novel focuses on Colombia’s drug trade, the lead character’s relationship with his fellow Colombians, and how the two topics combine.
• ‘Short Walks From Bogota’ by Tom Feiling. After writing an in-depth examination of the global cocaine trade in ‘The Candy Machine’ , Feiling looks at how modern-day Colombia has been influenced by its turbulent past, woven through with history, politics, and personal understandings of the country from foreigners and locals alike.

Do I need to speak Spanish in Colombia?

Backpacking in Colombia is on the rise: it’s a hugely popular destination right now, and that means a heightened awareness for locals that if they speak English they’ll get more tourism. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn Spanish while you’re in Colombia (or before you go) – there’s so much to be gained from chatting in Spanish to cab drivers, stall holders, bar tenders and old ladies at bus stops. Plus Colombians are so stereotypically friendly that you’ll feel rude if you can’t be engaged in conversation!

There are plenty of Spanish schools in Colombia where you can take lessons. I spent a few weeks studying Spanish at the Nueva Lengua language school in Cartagena and Bogota and can highly recommend them.

Read more: Two weeks at Spanish school in Cartagena and Bogota

Volunteering in colombia.

There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer in Colombia. I volunteered at two projects while I was there:

The first was helping out at a church-run free lunch service for impoverished school children in the favelas of Bogota. This was part of my Spanish class program at Nueva Lengua, something I think is a really unique and valuable idea. Quite apart from being shown another side to Bogota, we were also thrust into practicing our stumbling Spanish with a group of young children – who talk much more quickly than adults!

My second volunteer project was at Angeles de Medellin , a small community centre set up by an American man named Marcos. I spent a few glorious afternoons in the barrio of Regalo de Dios, high up on the edge of Medellin, where I helped children with their English homework, did puzzles and played games – but I also gained a humbling insight into how much the civil war is still severely affecting the youngest generation of Colombians.

Other volunteering opportunities in Colombia include:

• organic farming ( WWOOF )
• wildlife conservation ( Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia )
• community development ( Techo )

TIP: Use aggregate websites like WorkAway , HelpX , WWOOF and Volunteer Latin America for researching possible volunteer projects in Colombia. I’ve used all three sites and they’ve been really helpful!

Travelling around Colombia

What’s the local transport like in Colombia?

There’s no train system in Colombia so I mainly travelled overland via bus, but many backpackers opt for cheap domestic flights on budget airlines.

– Airlines: Avianca, LATAM and VivaColombia are the country’s main airlines, and if you book tickets strategically then flights can be cheaper than bus routes!

– Taxis: prevalent in most cities and easy to use – although as mentioned above, you should be wary of unlicensed drivers.

– Tuk tuk taxis: in smaller towns like Guatape and on the Caribbean coast, you’ll see tuk-tuk-style motor taxis operating as taxis.

– Colectivos:  a generic term for a shared bus or van, which can usually hold around ten people (they’re often called ‘ combis ‘ in other parts of South America). These colectivos are privately run and don’t operate on a specific route: instead, the driver shouts out destinations and passengers board on that basis.

– Chiva buses: these brightly painted rustic buses were Colombia’s original public transport, but they’ve now been relegated to the rural Colombian countryside and as tourist buses for city tours at night (plus a few bottles of aguardiente).

– Coach-style buses:  these are the option for long-distance bus journeys. As mentioned above, there can be dangers involved – I never had a problem, although I did pass through quite a few military checkpoints where soldiers casually hefted their guns around. Buses will usually stop for mealtimes at roadside restaurants, but it’s often when the driver is hungry instead of at the typical hours for breakfast/lunch/dinner. For longer bus journeys (more than a few hours), it’s best to buy your ticket ahead of time in case they sell out.

• Ipiales to Pasto:  8,000 COP for a 1 hour 30 min journey. Frequent buses travel this route.
• Pasto to Popayan:  30,000 COP for a 7 hour journey.
• Popayan to Cali:  12,000 COP for a 3 hour journey. Various companies run buses every half hour on this route.
• Cali to Bogota:  65,000 COP for a 12 hour journey.
• Bogota to Medellin:  57,000 COP for a 12 hour journey. This route goes from one mountain range to another, so there’s plenty of hairpin bends. I opted for the overnight journey (along with a sleeping pill!)
• Bogota to Santa Marta: 80,000 COP for a 16 hour journey.
• Bogota to Cartagena:  this route does exist but it’s very long – 128,000 COP for an 18 hour journey. Not recommended!
• Cali to Medellin:  50,000 COP for a 9 hour journey.
• Medellin to Guatape:  14,000 COP for a 2 hour journey. Mini buses depart every half hour from the North Bus Terminal.
• Medellin to Jardin: 25,000 COP for a 3.5 hour journey. A dozen buses depart each day from Medellin’s Terminal del Sur (south terminal).
• Medellin to Salento: 47,000 COP for a 6-8 hour journey (the route goes through the mountains so can take longer than expected!).
• Medellin to Cartagena: 104,000 COP for a 12 hour journey. There are six buses a day.
• Cartagena to Santa Marta:  25,000 COP for a 4 hour journey. There are four buses each day.
• Santa Marta to Taganga: 1,400 COP for a 15 minute journey.
• Santa Marta to Parque Tayrona:  7,000 COP for an hour’s journey and departs every half hour from the Santa Marta terminal.

Read more: A guide to bus travel in South America

Where should I stay in Colombia?

Colombia’s backpacking scene has exploded in the last few years, so there are a wealth of fantastic hostels to choose from, as well as plenty of hotels if you have the cash to spend.

While living in Medellin, I rented an apartment by looking at CouchSurfing and the Colombian site CompartoApto, but it’s also possible to rent out apartments in Colombia on Airbnb.  Sign up for Airbnb here and get £25 off your first booking!

Hostels in Colombia

How do i get in and out of colombia.

It’s possible to enter and leave Colombia by flying, crossing an overland border, or sailing (for tourists, that’s usually from Panama or the San Blas Islands).

Colombia shares borders with five countries – Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. Overland crossings are as follows:

• To/from Brazil:  this border isn’t exactly ‘overland’, as it’s in the jungle and is only via boat. Three days on board takes you from Leticia in Colombia to Manaus in northern Brazil – and you’ll have to buy a hammock for your passage unless you cough up for a cabin.
• To/from Ecuador:  connected via the Pan-American Highway, this crossing from Tulcan in Ecuador to Ipiales in Colombia is an easy one to make. I did it twice with little issue beyond a fairly long queue.
• To/from Panama:  sailing from Cartagena or speedboat from Capurgana. There are also five day boat trips via the San Blas islands which many travellers opt for.
• To/from Peru:  another border crossing which is only possible via boat. From Leticia, you sail along the Amazon to Iquitos in Peru.
• To/from Venezuela: as of early 2019 the border was closed – but the crossings are between Maicao and Maracaibo, and Cucuta and San Cristobal.

What visa do I need for Colombia?

As a UK citizen with a British passport, I received a 90 day visa on arrival into the country. However, if you’re from a country with restrictions then you should apply for a visa at the local Colombian embassy in your home country.

This site from the Colombian tourism board is a little tricky to navigate but all the information is there!

Colombia travel itineraries

I travelled through Colombia three times, taking various routes on each visit. I came up from Ecuador and went north towards the Caribbean coast; I headed back down south through more central regions; and I spent months living in Medellin and taking day trips to surrounding areas.

The rest of this article details the best places to visit in Colombia, but if you only have a short amount of time to travel Colombia then these are the routes I’d recommend.

One week Colombia itinerary = Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena

If you’ve got one week in Colombia, I’d suggest a whirlwind tour through these three cities:

• Day 1-2: Fly into Bogota and explore
• Day 3-4: Fly up to Medellin for two nights (or spend a day in nearby Guatape)
• Day 5-6: Fly to Cartagena for two nights
• Day 7: Fly back to Bogota/home

Two week Colombia itinerary = same as above but more time on the coast

For two weeks in Colombia, you can visit a few more places:

• Day 1-2: Fly into Bogota for two nights
• Day 3-4: Fly up to Medellin for two nights
• Day 5: Spend a day/night in Guatape
• Day 6: Spend a day/night in Jardin
• Day 7-8: Fly to Cartagena for two nights
• Day 9-11: Take a bus to Santa Marta and spend three nights on the coast (visit Minca and Parque Tayrona)
• Day 12-13: fly down to Salento for two nights
• Day 14: Bus back to Bogota

One month Colombia itinerary = visit ten different locations

Spending at least a month in Colombia is the best way to really get to grips with the country. For 1 month you could do the following:

• Day 1-4: Bogota for three days
• Day 5-6: Cali for two days
• Day 7: Popayan for two days
• Day 8-10: Salento for three days
• Day 11-14: Medellin for three days
• Day 15: Guatape for a day/night
• Day 16: Jardin for a day/night
• Day 17-20: Cartagena for four days
• Day 21-22: Santa Marta for two days
• Day 23-24: Minca for two days
• Day 25-26: Parque Tayrona
• Day 28: Bogota

Where to go in Colombia

Explore the sprawling street-art-covered streets of Bogota

Colombia’s big and bustling capital city is a fascinating place. Bogota is filled with museums and historical architecture, amazing street art, tons of coffee shops and street markets, and the energy here is palpable.

I visited Bogota three times, at first staying at my friend Felipe’s apartment and exploring the city on his motorbike, and later working on a filming project there with a group of Colombian friends. Getting the local perspective undoubtedly influenced my positive impressions of Bogota – and although many backpackers don’t see the appeal of Bogota, I’d urge you to give the city some attention!

What to do in Bogota, Colombia

Begin your Bogota experience in Plaza Bolivar.  Bogota’s main square is not the prettiest of central plazas, but it’s nonetheless a truly historical spot. The imposing buildings situated here include the national cathedral, the Palace of Justice and the city and federal governments – and there’s also plenty of general activity from street performers, enterprising sellers with snack food in carts, patient llamas awaiting riders and a ton of fluttering pigeons.

Explore the La Candelaria neighbourhood.  By day, this central area surrounding Plaza Bolivar has a quaint, old-world feel with cobbled streets, museums and historical, colonial-era buildings – along with an increasing amount of Bogota’s well-known street art as a modern twist. La Candelaria is great fun to wander around, but it’s also well known for being somewhat dangerous at night: exercise plenty of caution after dark and take pre-booked taxis wherever possible.

Take a Bogota street art tour.  The street art scene in Bogota is both phenomenal and fascinating: after the death of a street artist who was shot by police in 2011, there were huge discussions about how street art was viewed and tolerated . Eventually the mayor decreed that graffiti in Bogota was legally a form of artistic expression, and now the city’s surfaces are covered in stylistic, politicised and just plain beautiful pieces of street art. Plenty of tour companies will show you their own favourites (although the routes and artists on show will often change!).

Discover Botero’s sculptures.  Fernando Botero is perhaps Colombia’s most famous artist and sculptor, and many of his curvaceous statues can be seen at the Botero Museum (free admission), where he’s donated over 100 pieces of his work. If you’re a big Botero fan then don’t miss his work in Medellin too.

Gaze in wonder at Museo del Oro.  Bogota’s gold museum is the most famous in Colombia. It’s filled with a collection of pre-Columbian artefacts which document the history of the country’s various indigenous populations and holds over 55,000 pieces of gold.

Hike up to Montserrate Sanctuary.  It takes about 2 hours on foot to reach this small chapel , built in the 1600s by devout pilgrims who carried bricks up the 1.5 mile trail to the top of the mountain. Today, visitors can follow that same route – or take the teleferico (cable car) or the funicular railway for a much quicker journey. Either way, you’ll enjoy gorgeous views of Bogota from above, at a high altitude of 3100m (unless it was foggy like the day I went up!).

Visit the underground Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá . Head 50km away from Bogota and walk 200 metres under the earth’s surface to find a Roman catholic church carved inside a still-functioning salt mine. Bizarre as it sounds, this ghostly wonder was one of my Colombian highlights because I’ve never seen anything like it! Follow the Stations of the Cross with your helmet lamp and meditate on the idea that the miners carved this place themselves so they had somewhere to pray while they worked.

Eat at the carnival-like Andres Carne de Res.  This restaurant has to be seen to be believed – it seats 2,000 people and contains so many twists and turns that it feels like a maze. My favourite part is the sheer sensory overload which comes from ephemera plastered across every possible surface, the costumed performers wandering around, and the interactive art installations both inside the restaurant and out in the courtyard.

Ride your bike at Cycling Sunday.  Every week, 75 miles of Bogota’s streets are closed down for La Ciclovia – and hundreds of Bogota’s citizens throng the streets for five hours on bikes, skateboards, roller blades, wheeling prams and on foot. It’s a really wholesome experience and I wish it was emulated by more cities!

Read more: Living the local life in Bogota with my Colombian friends

Discover colombia’s cultural side in medellin.

Pablo Escobar is the one name Medellin has been associated with for decades, and one which I learned to avoid mentioning when I lived there. In the late 1980s, Escobar’s drug cartel operations made Medellin the most dangerous city in the world for a while – but after his death in 1993, Medellin began to slowly bounce back.

Nowadays, the city is known for its wealth of parks, dozens of museums and government-organised urban regeneration projects. Combine this with a wonderfully warm climate, beautiful mountainous scenery and absurdly friendly locals, and it’s hard to see why anyone wouldn’t enjoy Medellin.

I lived in Medellin for two months, renting an apartment and working as a journalist at the Colombia Reports office . I fell completely in love with life in Medellin and recommend visiting to anyone who’ll listen!

What to do in Medellin, Colombia

Go on a free walking tour.  For three hours, a young Medellin resident named Pablo showed our group around downtown Medellin and it was one of the most informative and compelling free walking tours I’ve ever taken. Real City Tours are advertised in plenty of hostels and they also run an ‘Exotic Fruit Tour’ which I now wish I’d tried!

Visit Parque Explora   and   Jardin Botanico.  Parque Explora is an interactive science museum which may be intended for kids but is equally as fun for adults! Opposite Parque Explora, the botanical gardens have stunning displays of orchids and Colombian flowers, as well as a huge freshwater aquarium.

See the lights at Parque de las Luces . Tourists would never have dared venture to the modern-day Parque de las Luces when Pablo Escobar was still alive – one of the buildings on the plaza used to house the drug kingpin’s cartel headquarters. Luckily, that same building is now the Ministry for Education, and the plaza itself is filled with three hundred white poles which light up at night and symbolise peace.

The ‘Parajo de Paz’ peace bird statues.  In 1995, a guerrilla planted a bomb at the base of a bird sculpture by Botero in Parque San Antonio. The resulting explosion killed 23 people and injured a hundred others, but Botero refused to have the ruins of his sculpture removed. Instead, he sculpted a second bird, taller than the first, and placed this ‘Bird of Peace’ sculpture beside the original, damaged piece.

Soak up the atmosphere in Parque Lleras.  This famed hangout spot was where I spent many evenings with my friends, particularly at the weekends. We’d drink aguardiente , dance to music on people’s speakers, share shot glasses with strangers and pass around brown bottles of Aguila beer. However, it sounds like Parque Lleras has changed for the worse which is a shame. Maybe it’ll become ‘cool’ again eventually!

Celebrate spring at Feria de las Flores. Medellin’s biggest annual festival takes place in early August and is a cornucopia of flower-related activities, from horse parades and pageants to music concerts and a huge car show.

Learn about Medellin’s reinvention in Comuna 13.  This neighbourhood on the hilly outskirts of Medellin was once renowned for its extreme violence – but thanks to some superb street art and the government installation of a wonderfully incongruous outdoor escalator  in 2011, Comuna 13 has completely transformed. Local guides can show you around the neighbourhood, and if you’re still interested in this side of the city you can also volunteer at  Angeles de Medellin   for another perspective.

Read more: Volunteering in the barrios of Medellin, Colombia

What not to do in Medellin – a note on Pablo Escobar tourism

This is my personal opinion only, but I’d urge you to think twice before embarking on any Pablo-Escobar related tourism. There’s no denying that he’s a notorious figure in Colombia’s history but Escobar was also a true terrorist: his drug cartel ruthlessly bribed, kidnapped and killed innumerable people throughout the 1980s and he’s thought to be responsible for over 4,000 deaths. It’s been almost forty years since Escobar reigned, but he left such a deep scar on thousands, if not millions, of Colombians that they’re still trying to heal.

Since the extremely popular Netflix show ‘Narcos’ there’s been a resurgence of popularity in ‘Narcos tours’ of Medellin.  These tours visit locations relevant to Escobar’s life, including:

• Escobar’s grave in Cemetario Jardines Montesacro.
• The roof of the building where he was shot dead while running from police in 1993.
• La Catedral, the lavish prison building which he designed himself. It’s just outside of Medellin and includes a helipad, a swimming pool and a jacuzzi.
• His eight-storey house, the Monaco Building, which was recently demolished with a crowd of his victims watching . There are plans to build a memorial park to those he killed on the site.

If tourists continue to visit these places, it means Escobar continues to be glorified. Meanwhile the government is still trying to break up the drug trafficking gangs in the city – Escobar’s legacy.

Almost all of the above sites can be researched online so you don’t need to visit them in person. In fact, a group of journalism students have set up a website where visitors can learn about Escobar’s impact on Colombia from the victims’ perspective. Have a look here.

Read more: The magic and madness of Medellin, Colombia’s ‘most dangerous city’

Live life in technicolour in guatape.

The small town of Guatape borders a man-made reservoir created by the Colombian government in the 1960s to provide water for Medellin and the surrounding areas. But that’s not the only beautiful landmark – Guatape is also famed for its brightly painted  zocalos , which feature on the majority of the town’s buildings.

What to do in Guatape, Colombia

Climb La Piedra el Peñol.  This huge granite rock has a staircase of 720 steps carved into its northern face, and visitors at the top have incredible 360 degree views of the lake and surrounding countryside. If you’re wondering why there are giant letters on the rock, it’s because La Piedra is equally close to the neighbouring town of El Peñol, and there’s long been contention over which town rightfully ‘owns’ La Piedra, so Guatape began to ‘claim’ it in writing before getting caught halfway through! Admission is 17,000 COP.

Explore Guatape’s hiking routes . There are gorgeous hiking trails in the surrounding countryside which pass by coffee farms, villages, waterfalls, rivers and rocky caverns.

Check out the brightly coloured zocalos of Guatape . Every house and business in Guatape has its own zocalo design, all hand-painted by residents. They can represent anything, from donkey carts and sheafs of wheat to scenes of daily life, but each is carefully detailed and fascinating to look at. The town itself is also covered in multicoloured paint.

Cruise around Guatape’s lake.  On the weekends in Guatape, the malecon (boardwalk) is filled with vendors selling souvenirs and street snacks, while people queue for boat tours around the lake. You can also go kayaking between the little islands or ride a zipline straight across the water. (NB: as of 2019 it looks like the zipline is still out of service)

Play paintball in Pablo Escobar’s mansion. Just when you thought Colombia couldn’t get any more bizarre, this activity pops up! I was invited to visit the ruins of La Manuela Hacienda , Escobar’s 20 acre estate and holiday mansion in Guatape, but the trip never happened, and I’m actually glad I didn’t go. NB: The exact location of his mansion isn’t advertised and as you have to reach it by boat, the only way to find it is through an organised tour.

Stay at Mi Casa Guatape .  This little hostel is just outside the town, but you can either hire bikes to cycle into Guatape or hail down a cheap taxi/tuktuk. There’s an easy route from Mi Casa to the climbing up the rock.

Read more: Exploring the technicolour world of Guatape

Hang out with cowboys in jardin.

Each weekend, the little town of Jardin is populated by Colombians looking for a relaxing few days out of the city. The green mountains and clean air make for a tranquil atmosphere, and time seems to move quite slowly here.

I accidentally spent Easter weekend in Jardin and managed to see some beautifully haunting processions one night. But the rest of my time in Jardin was wonderfully uneventful!

What to do in Jardin, Colombia

Drink coffee in the main plaza.  Jardin has a very bustling main square filled with tables from multiple cafes and lots of chatter. It’s a great place to people-watch with a cup of fresh coffee (and you might even sit beside a cowboy!).

Ride the teleferico.  The five minute gondola ride takes you to a viewpoint on the neighbouring mountain peak. There’s a gorgeous view of Jardin’s town centre from here, and a cafe with a balcony to sit at.

Indulge your sweet tooth at Dulces de Jardin. Set up in 1995, this humble little shop has quickly grown a loyal following thanks to its arequipe – a kind of dulce de leche , or smooth caramel dessert made with condensed milk.

Hike to Cueva de Esplendor.  It’s a three hour hike along narrow muddy paths to this system of caves and waterfalls which have been carved naturally by a running stream. Jardin’s main attraction has a daily limit of 40 visitors a day and you have to book through a tour operator (price is approx 70,000 COP).

Dine on freshly-caught trucha . A little hike away from Jardin is Estadero El Arka, a rainbow trout farm with a restaurant on the second floor overlooking the outdoor fishtanks. This part of Colombia is well known for its trout, and you’ll see it on offer in plenty of restaurants.

Read more: Spending the Easter weekend in Jardin, Colombia

Sip freshly grown coffee in salento.

Salento is often described as a sleepy town, which feels directly at odds with its reputation for growing Colombian  coffee. Backpackers love Salento: it’s got plenty of activities on offer, it’s small enough to quickly know your way around, and the lush green scenery and rolling hills are stunning.

I absolutely loved Salento. It was my last real stop in Colombia before leaving, so I think I absorbed every bit of it I could!

Read more: The best Salento coffee tour at Finca Don Elias

What to do in Salento, Colombia

Tour the coffee plantations.  The organic fincas dotted around Salento are one of the main reasons backpackers flock to Salento. I spent an afternoon at Finca Don Elias and learned all there was to know about Colombian coffee from the man himself, Don Elias. This is also the coffee tour recommended to guests at La Serrana hostel – just turn left at the hostel’s entrance and walk 4km downhill through the countryside.

Eat the best peanut butter brownies in the world. This might be giving away a big secret, but four years later I still dream about these brownies. They’re sold at Brunch de Salento , a classic backpacker’s cafe with messages in dozens of languages all over the walls. Either eat one in-house with a scoop of ice cream or take the plastic-wrapped ones away for a perfect mid-hike snack!

Play tejo at Los Amigos.  Colombia’s national sport involves metal weights, gunpowder, a good throwing arm and plenty of beer. Los Amigos is the perfect place to try your hand at tejo amongst the Salento locals, who are happy to show you the rules.

Hike through towering wax palms in Valle de Cocora.  The wax palm is Colombia’s national symbol, and the Cocora Valley is covered with these 60 metre high beauties. Get a jeep from Salento’s main square and spend the day hiking through woodland, along rope bridges and up hills until you find these stunning views across Cocora Valley.

Read more: Playing with gunpowder at Salento’s tejo games

Learn about Colombia’s religious festivities in Popayan

Colombia’s ‘White City’ is small and walkable with a pleasant historical centre and lots of beautiful colonial buildings. Popayan is well known for its religious status, receiving many pilgrims throughout the year.

[Image: Taco Witte ]

What to do in Popayan, Colombia

Celebrate Easter at Popayan’s Semana Santa. Popayan is world-renowned for its festivities over Easter with huge parades honouring Jesus’s life and death. T hey’ve been performed regularly since the sixteenth century, and are so respected tha t in 2009 they were added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.

People-watch in Parque de Caldas.  The city’s central square was named after Francisco Jose de Caldas, a revolutionary hero and one of Popayan’s most famous citizens. There’s a statue of him in the park’s centre.

Check out the Torre de Reloj.  This clocktower holds a clock which was originally constructed in Croydon, England, before being shipped across to Colombia (this is probably only interesting to people like me from South East London!)

Watch the sunset from Cerro el Morro de Tulcan.  What looks like a grass-covered hill is actually an ancient pre-Columbian pyramid, which had already been abandoned by the time the Spanish Empire arrived in 1535. Go at sunset for gorgeous panoramic views across the city.

Visit the world’s most beautiful church in Pasto

This southern Colombian city is just across the border from Ecuador, so it’s often treated as a quick stop by Colombia backpackers. Yet Pasto is actually one of the oldest spots in the country with a wealth of history – and its annual Blacks and Whites Carnival is the largest festival in southern Colombia.

I passed through Pasto relatively fast on my way up to Medellin, but really enjoyed the two days I spent there. It’s a relatively chilly city so make sure you’ve got a jacket!

What to do in Pasto, Colombia

Celebrate at Carneval de Negros y Blancos. Pasto is best known for the week-long Blacks and Whites Carnival in early January, where locals dress up entirely in black and then white on different days to illustrate harmony and racial diversity. The carnival involves huge processions, classic car shows, costumed parades, foam fights, chalk paintings on the pavements, and people painting each other all over the place.

Visit the Carnival Museum.  If you aren’t in Pasto in January, you can see examples of traditional carnival costumes at the city’s museum and learn about the festival’s origins. Find this place in the Pandiaco neighbourhood.

Gaze at Las Lajas Sanctuary. This stunning Gothic church was built in the early 1900s and perches on a bridge above the Guáitara River canyon. It’s been compared to Montserrate in Spain and is widely regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful churches. It’s a few hours away from Pasto – catch a colectivo  bus to Ipiales, which takes 2 hours and costs about 15,000 COP, then at Ipiales you can take another  colectivo  to Las Lajas.

[Image: Warren Talbot ]

Dance the night away in Cali

Cali is the world capital of salsa dancing, and there’s constant music in this sultry Caribbean city. I spent most of my time in Cali either sweatily learning to salsa or being rather hungover after a night at a salsa club. As a result I didn’t see much of the city’s more cultural side, but there are lots of museums and beautiful architecture here too.

[Image: Reg Natarajan ]

What to do in Cali, Colombia

Hike up to Cristo Rey.  Cali is best seen from above, so head for the panoramic views beside Cali’s Christ statue. At 21 metres high, it’s Colombia’s biggest statue (and the tenth largest Christ statue in the world!). The uphill walk takes an hour but is rumoured to be quite dangerous, so take a taxi/bus instead.

See the butterflies at the Andoke Foundation.  Just outside Cali is a butterfly house with a scalable map of Colombia. It’s a fun way to spend an afternoon!

Go salsa dancing.  As the city is the birthplace of salsa, it’d be remiss to not indulge in some salsa while in Cali. Our hostel, like many others, offered free salsa classes – which also meant we could demonstrate our new moves at salsa clubs in the evenings! Juanchito is the most popular neighbourhood for salsa clubs, just outside the city centre.

Explore the Cat Park.  Along the banks of the Rio Cali in the north of the city there are over a dozen cat statues, all painted by different local artists. The biggest one, El Gato del Rio, was donated by Bogota-born artist Hernando Tejada after he moved to Cali and died soon after. His cat has become a symbol for the city.

Soak up the sun in Santa Marta

Santa Marta was the first place the Spanish settled in Colombia. The city itself isn’t particularly beautiful as it’s still a commercial port, but it does have its charms. The beachfront is always filled with vendors selling souvenirs and street food, there’s plenty of backpackers milling about, and it’s also a great base from which to explore Colombia’s Caribbean coastline. Find a hostel you’re happy to leave your bags in and head out to places like Taganga, Minca , Costeño, Palomino and Tayrona National Park .

I travelled through Santa Marta three or four times and always enjoyed it – perhaps because there always seemed to be a street festival or party, and as it was our first destination in Colombia I was already falling hopelessly in love with the country. Plenty of backpackers end up working in hostels here because they don’t want to leave!

What to do in and around Santa Marta, Colombia

Visit the place Simon Bolivar died. The legendary hero was a Venezuelan soldier who liberated the South American continent from the Spanish empire (Bolivia is named after him). Bolivar died aged 47 of arsenic poisoning in Santa Marta while planning to set sail for exile in Europe: the hacienda where he died is now a museum and historical landmark. Head to La Quinta de San Pedro de Alejadrino in Santa Marta, and visit the grounds and art gallery.

Trek to the Lost City of La Ciudad Perdida.  The 4-6 day hike (roundtrip) takes you to an ancient settlement built by the Tayrona people which pre-dates Machu Picchu and still lies deep in the jungle. Discovered in the 1970s, this 47km route passes through tropical rainforest and indigenous Kogi villages .

Go scuba diving in Taganga.  This used to be a little fishing village, but Taganga has enjoyed a boom in backpacker tourism, particularly for its very popular nightlife. The beach is pretty grubby with a lot of rubbish and too many tourists, but it’s apparently a very cheap spot to get your PADI certification or do a bit of scuba diving. Alternatively, grab a taxi from Santa Marta and spend all night partying at one of Taganga’s many clubs.

Read more: Befriending the local beggars in Santa Marta, Colombia

Where to stay in Santa Marta:

I stayed in a few hostels in Santa Marta. The first was Candela & Chocolate , where we made fajitas in the cramped kitchen and ate in a sweaty mess in the cramped courtyard – not highly recommended. We quickly moved on to La Brisa Loca , a much more backpacker-friendly place with a little indoor pool and a rooftop terrace bar to while away our evenings in.

The next time I came back to Santa Marta we found a new spot at The Dreamer , which has another branch in Palomino – so we stayed at both of them!

Read more: Meeting the Kogi tribes on the Caribbean coast

Sleep above the trees in minca.

After the sticky suffocating heat of Santa Marta, escaping into the fresh air of Minca is bliss. This little village has enjoyed a boom in tourism because of its 650m altitude and its opportunities for tranquil outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking and birdwatching.

We only learned about Minca when the owner of Casa Elemento Hostel appeared in a bar in Santa Marta, handing out leaflets. Once he mentioned the giant hammock overlooking the trees, it took no time for us to follow him to his Minca hostel – and I’m so glad we did.

What to do in Minca, Colombia

Get some fresh air while hiking. There are plenty of hiking trails around Minca. A popular route is the all-day Minca – Mundo Nuevo – La Candelaria – Pozo Azul – Minca, or the loop to Los Pinos.

Visit the Marinka and Pozo Azul waterfalls. Marinka has a natural swimming pool just below the falls, and Pozo Azul has two little waterfalls plus a popular pool.

Go bird watching in the cloud forest. Colombia has over 1900 bird species, making it the most bird-diverse country in the world (bet you didn’t know that!). Ornithologists flock to Minca to see woodpeckers, hummingbirds and toucans, as well as a number of species endemic to this region of Colombia only. There are lots of tours to take aspiring birdwatchers out – Jungle Joe’s has great reviews.

Drink fresh  cafe tinto  at La Victoria coffee plantation. If you don’t make it to a coffee farm in Salento, there’s a few stunning coffee plantations in Minca. A tour in English or Spanish costs 15,000 COP and includes a cup of coffee.

Stay at Casa Elemento Hostel.  This hostel is infamous in Colombia thanks to the giant hammock, but it’s also one of the most isolated and disconnected hostels I’ve ever stayed in: there’s no wifi, gorgeous sunsets, and campfires at night. Sadly the recent reviews don’t sound wholly positive but I’d still recommend it – if only for the view!

Read more: Going off-grid in a giant hammock at Casa Elemento, Minca

Camp on the beach in parque tayrona.

Tayrona National Park feels like something prehistoric. There are huge boulders littering the sand beaches with jungle vines just metres from the water’s edge, and mountains sitting on the horizon. Part of the draw of Tayrona for backpackers is the challenge involved in reaching it: Tayrona is sealed off from the main road, meaning you have to hike in, and there’s a complete disconnect from the rest of the world once you’re inside.

Although I enjoyed spending a few days at Parque Tayrona it’s worth remembering that too much of a good thing can be harmful: Tayrona used to be virtually empty, but I’ve heard it’s now overwhelmed with tourists.

What to do in Parque Tayrona, Colombia

First you have to hike from the entrance to Arrecifes camping site: it’s a 3km route and takes you through the jungle, along the sand, and clambering up boulders for 45 minutes.

Once at Arrecifes, you can choose whether you’re camping, sleeping in hammocks, or renting a cabana. Hammocks cost between 10,000 and 20,000 COP, while a tent can cost 25,000 to rent. There are also accommodation options at La Piscina and El Cabo.

Alternatively, you can stay at the Ecohabs hostel , which is just inside the park’s entrance. When I visited Tayrona, the Ecohabs were operating solely as an expensive hotel (I remember wistfully looking at their fancy roofs!). They’ve recently rebranded as a hostel and prices are much more reasonable, so if camping’s not your style then I’d opt for them.

Activity wise, Tayrona is a typical beach destination. You can snorkel, swim and sunbathe at the many beaches, venture into the jungle for a bit of exploring and wildlife spotting, watch the sun set, play cards with your fellow backpackers, and drink beer. There are plenty of little bars and cafes dotted around to eat your meals at, too.

Essential packing for Tayrona:

• plenty of water for the length of your stay (in bottles not bags)
• mosquito spray
• plenty of cash as there are no ATMs
• toilet paper

Hiking in that heat is intense so bring as little else as possible.

Rules in Tayrona:

Tayrona has a strict no plastic policy, particularly wrappers and bags, and there’s no alcohol allowed in, so be aware of what you pack. You’ll also need your passport to get through the main gate, and there’s a daily limit of 6,500 people allowed in each day so arrive early or book your entry ticket online here.

Read more: Is Colombia’s Parque Tayrona worth the price for paradise?

Explore the colonial walled world of cartagena.

Cartagena is a port city, founded in 1533 as a strategic point for the Spanish empire. The walled old town seems unchanged since the 16th century: the narrow streets are still cobbled, the buildings are still colonial, and the atmosphere still feels special.

As the most visited city in Colombia, Cartagena is extremely popular with tourists. The dense crowds combined with the coast’s clammy tropical heat can be a bit overwhelming, so it’s worth trying to time your visit for the low season. That said, I adored the week I spent wandering the yellow-walled streets of this city – it’s a street photographer’s dream!

What to do in Cartagena, Colombia

Get a fortified view of the city from Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas. This huge fortress was designed by a Dutch engineer in 1639 to protect the Spanish against pirates while they shipped gold to Europe. It’s a fascinating building: you can explore the underground passageways and get a real sense of what life must have been like 400 years ago.

La Popa Monastery. For the best view of Cartagena, head up the hill to La Popa. There’s a 360 degree panorama up here, not to mention a beautiful little 17th century monastery with an intricately carved wooden altar and statues of the Virgin Mary. Take a bus or a taxi up here instead of walking, as it can be a bit dangerous on foot.

Ride through Cartagena on a Chiva bus. These rustic open-air buses essentially run a land-based booze cruise – they drive around the city playing loud music while passengers enjoy the ‘all you can drink’ rum and coke on offer, before dropping people off at various bars. Haggling for ticket prices is recommended, and although food is included it’s mainly just a taster, so it’s wise to eat beforehand.

Head to Playa Blanca for some sunbathing. Although Cartagena is on the water, the city’s beaches aren’t particularly nice for sunbathing or swimming – too many street vendors, an excess of rubbish and a fair bit of pollution.  The best beach near Cartagena is Playa Blanca – either take a daytrip on an organised boat (overpriced) or catch the bus to Pasacabellos then take the little ferryboat across the river. The latter option takes just over an hour.

Soak up Cartagena’s nightlife in Plaza de La Trinidad.  When the sun goes down, Cartagena comes alive. I spent my evenings in Plaza de la Trinidad where musicians played, acrobats performed tricks, and people snacked on street food and spontaneously started to dance.

Discover the street art of Getsemani. There’s a huge amount of street art in Cartagena, particularly in the neighbourhood of Getsemani. Pieces range from little tags to huge murals, and plenty of international artists have ventured here to leave their mark on Cartagena’s crumbling walls. Keep an eye out for the area’s beautiful door knockers too – in the past, the size of a home’s door knocker illustrated the status of the family who lived there.

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Flora Baker is the founder and editor of Flora the Explorer, where she writes about her travels around the world, her volunteering exploits and her ongoing attempt to become fluent in Spanish by talking to anyone who'll listen. Follow her on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

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34 comments.

Clazz - An Orcadian Abroad

Wow, what an incredible post, Flora!! Colombia keeps climbing higher and higher up my list. Funnily enough, I just watched Dark Tourist tonight, and the first episode he covers the Pablo Escobar tourism. I quite like a bit of dark tourism but to me it just seems weird. It was pretty disturbing too, he did a tour with one of his main hit men who killed hundreds of people, like it was totally normal. Very fascinating, but not something I’d pay money to pursue or… encourage.

Thanks so much Clazz! The whole Escobar topic is such a complicated one… What frustrates me the most is that so many Colombians have begged for tourists not to visit these sites, because he’s directly responsible for murdering their loved ones and yet he maintains his reputation. And it earns money!

Three whole months in Colombia, that must have been amazing! I was there for one month a few years ago, and absolutely agreed with everything you said at the top of this post– what a beautiful, inviting, warm country. Going back has been in the back of my mind ever since I left, so you’ve given me plenty to add to my next itinerary 😉

I’ve got to be honest – writing this has basically cemented my need to fly back to Colombia in the very near future! So glad you loved it there too, Dylan 🙂

Roz Irish Nomads

What an incredible post. This is literally everything a backpacker needs to know before visiting Colombia! Loved reading your anecdotes through the tips!

Thanks Roz! I really hope the article will help other Colombia backpackers with planning their trips through one of my favourite countries!

I would love to go just for the food!

You’d be making a good decision there, Kay!

What an amazing post! Colombia has been inching up on my bucket list over the past year. I hear things are improving and it looks incredible! And i love how your photos highlight how colorful and vibrant the country is, too. Thank you for all the great tips and advice. I hope to get there soon!

It’s truly one of the most colourful countries I’ve ever visited 🙂 Hope you make it to Colombia soon, April – I’m certain you’ll love it there!

suedavies689

Looks amazing. Love to see the street art in Bogota. And, interested to know how long you think you need for language school if you are a beginner.

I spoke zero Spanish before I arrived in South America, so although I spent five months living in Ecuador before making it to Colombia I was mainly speaking a mess of Spanish I’d picked up from friends! I’d say it’s definitely worth committing to a minimum of two weeks of classes – definitely every day, and hopefully with a one-on-one component too. Once you’ve been practicing in a school environment for a bit, chatting in Spanish to taxi drivers and stallholders becomes more of a natural activity – and you can always do what I did, and have a few weeks of lessons then a few weeks travelling, then settling down for more lessons in another location (I ended up at two schools in Colombia, another in La Paz, Bolivia, and a fourth in Cusco, Peru!)

Katie Diederichs

What an epic post! We love Colombia too — been there 3 times now, and already plotting to go back. There are many places in this article that we still haven’t been, so I’m pinning this for later!

I absolutely love Colombia! It’s so true that people think it is unsafe but I always felt safe when visiting. I highly recommend it to people.

It’s a positive thing for travellers that we don’t seem to face too much danger in Colombia! But sadly I still know there’s lots of violence in the rest of the country – and it’s worth reminding people that the civil unrest is far from over.

Wow! Super comprehensive post on Colombia. I still to make it there but I’ll be sure to come back to your post when I come to plan your trip. I love your take on Pablo Escobar tourism. It’s important to highlight that as travellers we need to think about the impact our choices have, even when doing certain tours may seem harmless.

Thanks so much Teresa! I hope you can make it to Colombia soon – it’s one of my favourite countries 🙂 Fantastic to hear you’ll be avoiding the Escobar tourism too. I know it’s everyone’s individual choice but it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth to think that people continue to profit off his violence and fear tactics.

GallopAroundTheGlobe (@KiaraGallop)

Wow, another incredible guide! And I’m impressed you can write about the places in such detail, considering it was a few years ago since your last visit. I think I’d struggle to do the same with Peru and Bolivia, where I spent six months back in 2014 (although reading this has inspired me to do so :))

I took a lot of notes at the time but never wrote them up into guide format! I’m loving my new-found guide inspiration at the moment :p Glad it brought back some memories, Kiara!

This is definitely the most authoritative and comprehensive article I’ve seen on Columbia. My husband is visiting there next week so I’ll share it with him.

Ahh fantastic Jyoti! I hope he finds the article useful – let me know if he has any suggestions for content I haven’t already covered here!

thelifeofasocialbutterfly1

This is such an informative post for anyone looking to visit Columbia and another great read Flora. I love the mix of dishes to try and scams to be aware of to really assist travellers from all angles.

Thanks Jaz – glad you enjoyed reading!

Bartender Abroad

Such a great guide!! It brings me back to my trip to Colombia + I too am very defensive of the country. I was there a month and never once felt unsafe.

Aww it’s lovely to hear you get defensive about Colombia too!

Wow! What a huge & comprehensive guide! Thank you so much for sharing. Colombia sounds amazing & is quickly moving up my list of places I need to go. This guide is invaluable!

Thanks Sue! It’s an amazing country – I hope whenever you visit this article comes in handy 🙂

I literally just read this entire post. I’ve actually wanted to live in Colombia for the last several years, but haven’t even gotten the chance to visit, yet; I moved to South Korea three years ago. Sometimes I read posts about Colombia, where to go and what to do, just to remind me why I’m saving money, but this one just takes the cake. I don’t think I could possibly write a better love letter to Colombia, and I can’t wait to use this when I finally visit (hopefully next year). You took me around Cuba three years ago, as well, with me frantically screenshotting your posts before my hour of wifi was up, so thank you. Thank you for always taking us with you on these journeys, even when they’ve hard. We all appreciate you, Flora. <3

Max, this might be one of the most lovely comments I’ve ever received!! Thank you so much – I honestly appreciate hearing this so, so much <3 The idea of you screenshotting all my Cuba articles is simply fantastic! I really hope you make it to Colombia next year. Let me know if you've got any more questions because it's one of my absolute favourite countries and I'm always happy to chat about it more 🙂

Thanks for the very comprehensive article.

>There’s no train system in Colombia

There actually is a rail network in Colombia, but it is mostly used for cargo. The few passenger routes that exist are primarily for short tourists trips, such as the tren de la sábana which takes visitors from Bogotá to Zipaquirá. There was a train which travelled between Cali and several destinations in the 2000s (search on YouTube to see the videos), but the company stopped service after a few years. A couple of years ago the same company that runs the tourist train to Zipaquirá won the contract to run the tourist trains in Cali, but they have yet to renovate the train cars and get the trains running again.

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I totally share your love for Colombia and I also extended my stay after couple of months and didn’t want to leave! This a great comprehensive post, thank you very much!

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