My 21 Favorite Places to Visit in Colombia
Posted: 4/18/2019 | April 18th, 2019
From the blue waters of Tayrona National Park, the sweeping views of the Cocora Valley, and the ruins of San AgustĂn, Tierradentro, and the Lost City, to the white colonial buildings of PopayĂĄn and the hustle and bustle of its metropolises, Colombia is packed with things to see and do.
Iâd wanted to visit Colombia for years. And after spending six weeks there, I must say, it lived up to the hype.
I mean Iâve been fawning over it a lot in my last few posts. And I know Iâm the millionth blogger to do so, but it really is as incredible as people say. (Even getting knifed there couldnât stop me from loving the country.)
I had falsely assumed that six weeks would be enough to get a good sense of Colombia. After all, six weeks is a fair amount of time to spend anywhere.
But I was wrong. Given its size and the sheer number of activities, it was barely enough to scratch the surface.
Yet I did manage to see a lot.
Today I want to share my list of what I think are the best things to see and do in Colombia. These are the activities and places you should try to focus on when you visit:
Cartagena is one of the most visited destinations in Colombia (thanks to a lot of direct flights and cruise ship visits). Dating back to 1533, the city is famed for its colonial Old Town: a maze of cobbled alleys, flower-covered balconies, and giant churches on spacious plazas.
But despite the crowds (and there are a lot of crowds), I really enjoyed Cartagena. While there arenât a lot of tourist activities (you can do most of them in a single day), what makes it a wonderful place to visit is just that: itâs somewhere you can slow down, relax, and gorge on the phenomenal gastronomy.
For more, check out this blog post about Cartegena and all my favorite places to eat there.
Located on Colombiaâs Caribbean coast, Tayrona has long stretches of golden beaches lined with coconut palms and a dense rainforest with lots of easy day hikes. Youâll also find campsites for overnight stays, hammocks for rent, restaurants, diving, and horse riding.
Itâs easy to visit as a day trip from Santa Marta. I highly suggest you start early at the big entrance at El Zaino and exit the park through Calabazo. This underused route takes a whole day, and once you pass the Cabo San Juan campground, youâll get the last half of the trail to yourself. Try to avoid visiting during January and weekends, when the crowds on the beaches and hiking paths are at their peak.
3. The Lost City (La Ciudad Perdida)
The Lost City was built around 800 CE and contains 169 terraces carved into the mountains, as well as a network of tiled roads and small plazas. Itâs one of the most beautiful treks in the country, and the site is older than Machu Picchu! To visit, you need to hire a tour operator (you canât do it by yourself). Itâs about $300-350 USD for the trek from Santa Marta through the jungle up to these beautiful ruins and takes 4â6 days. If youâre pressed for time, you can also do it in three days; the only difference is the pace you go at.
(Tip: You cross a lot of rivers, so be sure to bring an extra pair of shoes or flip flops for when you cross the rivers. Youâll easily ruin a pair of sneakers along the way.)
Surrounded by green mountains and coffee farms, this is one of the oldest towns in the coffee-growing region and the most popular for travelers. The houses are painted a variety of vibrant colors, and the high vantage points throughout town provide some stunning views (sunsets are quite magical). Thereâs not much to do in the city itself â itâs simply a base for coffee tours or hiking the Cocora Valley (see below) or the trails around town â so itâs easy to spend a few days here watching the world go by with a good book in hand.
The Cocora Valley is home to Colombiaâs national tree, the wax palm, which grows to nearly 200 feet tall. This area has probably the most popular day hike in the country (which was also my favorite activity during my entire trip). Youâll cross jungle rivers, visit a bird sanctuary, and enjoy some stellar views and forest scenery. The routeâs about five hours, and you can choose to either take the clockwise or counterclockwise route. The clockwise route, starting at the Wax Palm Valley, is easier, with fewer hills. Counterclockwise is easier at the end, though a little anticlimactic, as you end the hike walking down a boring road.
(Tip: Start early to avoid the brutal midday heat, since there are a lot of exposed areas here.)
BogotĂĄ is Colombiaâs vibrant capital. While itâs not the countryâs most popular destination, it felt the most âColombianâ to me: there was just a certain edge and charm to it, and it seemed the least touristy, with the fewest gringo expats. The historic downtown, La Candelaria, is filled with bright colonial buildings, detailed museums, delicious restaurants, tiny fun bars, historic churches, and centuries-old houses. The north end of town is home to boutique hotels and entertainment areas like Zona Rosa and Zona G. The foodie scene in the city is incredible, with a lot of international options and cutting-edge gastronomic happenings. Throw in some amazing walking tours, day trips, and hikes and youâve got a recipe for an astounding city.
For more, hereâs a list of all my favorite things to do â and places to eat â in Bogota.
This hot, hot city is the salsa capital of the world, where people come to dance. A lot of the guests at my hostel had been there for weeks to learn (the hostels also offer free dance classes). If you like to dance, you canât miss this city. Besides dancing, though, there are a number of parks, museums, and churches you can visit, plus free walking and food tours. While I didnât stay long, I definitely enjoyed the scene.
PopayĂĄn rivals Cartagena as Colombiaâs most impressive colonial town. Itâs known as La Ciudad Blanca (âThe White Cityâ) because all the buildings are painted white. PopayĂĄn is also a college town (there are three universities), and itâs produced 17 presidents too! Though small, I really loved the slow pace of life and the surprisingly robust food scene here (eat at La Cosecha Parrillada, Restaurante Italiano y Pizzeria, La Fresa, and Mora de Castilla).
While you donât need a lot of time (take the walking tour, climb the hill, see the churches, and youâre done), I do suggest staying longer to enjoy the slow pace of life. So much of Colombia is go-go-go, itâs nice to find a place thatâs more âstay and relax a while.â
Millions of years ago it was once a lush tropical forest. Now, Tatacoa Desert is filled with rocky canyons in shades of red and gray. It is also home to one of the most important observatories in South America, where you can gaze at the stars (weather permitting). If you want to be blown away by the universe, you really need to see this place! Other than that, thereâs not much here. Bike into the desert, take some walks, stare at the sky. Stay a night or two. Itâs not a popular area, but it is a picturesque way to break up the long bus ride from BogotĂĄ to the south or vice versa.
10. San AgustĂn Archaeological Park
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, San AgustĂn is a small mountain town thatâs home to hundreds of pre-Columbian statues and burial mounds. Its collection of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures is the largest in Latin America, for which youâll need at least one full day (two to really see it all in depth). If you love history, this is probably the best spot in all of Colombia to experience it.
San Gil is considered the outdoors capital of the country. Extreme-sports fans love it here. You can go white-water rafting, paragliding, caving, rappelling, trekking, and more from this city! This city is a great place to do outdoor activities and youâre going to find a lot of tour operators in the city. Try to plan at least three days here. Itâs worth it.
12. Providencia and San Andrés Islands
These islands are actually closer to Nicaragua than Colombia. They are also considered some of the most unspoiled places in the Caribbean. Youâll find white-sand beaches, stunningly clear blue water, and few crowds (though, thanks to some recent press, Providencia is becoming a lot busier).
Try to make it when tens of thousands of black crabs migrate to the sea. This happens twice a year for about a 1-2-week period between April and July, so itâs not always easy to nail the timing.
In a country full of hype, this hyped-up city is all that itâs cracked up to be. Set in the AburrĂĄ Valley, MedellĂn is one of the fastest-growing cities in Colombia. It has enough activities and things to do to fill weeks on end: from microbreweries, museums, walking tours, spacious parks, street art, food tours and markets to incredible nightlife, and on and on and on.
Itâs one of the most popular destinations for expats and tourists in the country. While itâs easy to get lost in Gringoland here, try to get out of Poblado or Laureles and see the localsâ side of town.
Thereâs more to the city than those two areas!
This pueblo is one of the most picturesque towns in Colombia and one of the most colorful in the world, as most of the traditional homes have murals painted on the bottom half of their façades that depict animals, people, and shapes. Just hanging out in one of the bright plazas, drinking coffee and people-watching, is one of the most pleasant things to do here.
Most people, though, come to climb the steep (and difficult) staircase to the top of the monolithic Rock of GuatapĂ© (La Piedra) for some of the best views in the country. GuatapĂ© is a long day trip from MedellĂn (hostels in the city organize them throughout the week) so I recommend trying to spend at least a night here so you arenât as rushed and can enjoy the area little more.
15. Chingaza National Park
This is one of the biggest nature reserves in Colombia, home to more than 1,000 plant species and 187 bird species. Here youâll learn about the PĂĄramo ecosystem and how it affects the global water system. (Fun fact: Nearly 80% of BogotĂĄâs water supply comes from Chingaza.) If youâre going to hike, joining a tour is a good idea. The guides are usually naturalists who can explain the unique environment of the area. One of the best routes is the challenging hike to the summit of Lagunas de Siecha, with a great view over the lakes.
Located between Santa Marta and Cartagena, Barranquilla is the spot to be during Carnival, the second biggest in Latin America. It starts on a Sunday with the Battle of Flowers (a big parade) and the coronation of the King and Queen.
But thereâs a lot to do here when itâs not carnival season as well. Make sure you visit El Museo del Caribe, a museum offering an interesting insight into the history of Colombiaâs Caribbean coast. Thereâs also a special exhibit dedicated to Gabriel GarcĂa MĂĄrquez (the famous author who wrote Love in the Time of Cholera).
Tierradentro is one of the most important archaeological sites in South America. Itâs up there with San AgustĂn but gets less press since itâs located in the middle of nowhere and not on a main road. It contains over 100 hypogea (underground tombs) dating from the sixth to the tenth centuries, the only examples of their kind in the Americas. It takes a day or two to hike all the paths around the tombs. You can hire a guide if you want, but the trails are pretty easy to do on your own.
18. Manizales (and Los Nevados)
On the road from MedellĂn to the south is the city of Manizales. Here, you can take some tours at this northern point of the coffee-growing region, or roam around town, which has some decent restaurants and churches, and a scenic gondola ride. The main reason people visit is to hike Los Nevados, a mountain range with majestic snow-capped peaks. You can do a day or multi-day hikes, but whatever you do, donât rush up to the top â acclimatize yourself to the altitude in Manizales for a few days first. The town is 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above sea level, but mountains are about 6,000 meters (19,700 feet)! I wasnât climatized and could really feel the altitude just walking around town. Donât push yourself if you want to do the hike.
The beaches on the Caribbean coast might not win any awards (at least in my opinion), but the sleepy towns reminded me a lot of the tiny backpacker beach villages around Southeast Asia: a dirt road, lots of hostels, a relaxed atmosphere, and not much else to do. I could easily see why people end up getting stuck here for weeks at a time. The best beach towns to visit are Costeño Beach and Palomino.
Punta Gallinas is the northernmost point in all of South America. Most people come here via a tour from Santa Marta or Cabo de Vela, with the latter (through La Guajira Desert) being the better option if you just want to take your time and relax because itâs closer so thereâs a lot less drive time. In fact, the only way to see the area is via a tour. Most are two or three nights depending on where youâre coming from. Any hostel can organize a trip for you.
Minca is located in the foothills of the Sierra de Santa Marta Mountains. Once a sleepy backpacker town, itâs now a hot spot for tourists escaping the oppressive heat on the Caribbean coast and hoping to do some quiet hikes. One of the best hikes is to Los Pinos, but it isnât easy: it takes about three hours from the center of town, and itâs a steady climb into the mountains but, like all things like this, itâs worth it.
There are a lot of waterfalls in the area as well. Two of the best are the Pozo Azul and Marinka. Both have swimming holes at them too.
Be sure to check out the sunset Mundo Nuevo Hostel. Itâs an amazing vantage point.
Colombia has a million and one things to do. I lost track of all the places I kept wishing I had time to visit. You can spend months there (and a lot of people to do). However, I think this list is a great start. My recommendation is that if youâre short on time, fly (the bus rides are long) or just stick to one area of the country and go in depth around that region.
Trying to âsee it allâ in Colombia is just a recipe for burnout!
Book Your Trip to Colombia: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.
Donât Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. Itâs comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as Iâve had to use it many times in the past. Iâve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel â and I think will help you too!
Want More Information on Colombia?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Colombia for even more planning tips!
Photo credits: 4, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 21, 22
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