13 Days in Colombia - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Coffee, Whitewater, & Caribbean Islands Adventure

On this outdoorsy trip plan, you'll raft down wild rivers, relax on Caribbean islands, and drink plenty of locally produced coffee.

Start the adventure in Colombia's Zona Cafetera (coffee region), where you'll visit a working coffee finca (farm) and overnight in Pereira.  Spend the next day hiking in the pretty valley of Valle de Cocora, then transfer to Medellín for a tour of the city's cultural highlights. Day-trip to the colorful lakeside village of Guatapé before embarking on a two-day rafting trip down Río Verde river. After camping under the stars, you'll back-track to Medellín for a night and then move onto Cartagena de Indias, the colonial jewel of Colombia's Caribbean coast.

Get to know Cartagena on a guided walking tour and take a cooking class in a local home, learning how to make traditional dishes from the region. Take a boat to the Rosario Islands on day ten, then day-trip to colorful San Basilio de Palenque, once Colombia’s main port of entry for slaves abducted from Africa—it's a great place to experience a unique blend of African and Caribbean cultures. Spend a day kayaking around Barú Island before one last night on the town in Cartagena. Toast your trip with cold drinks by the walled city's old ramparts, then catch a flight out the next morning. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Colombia's Vibrant Cultures - the Caribbean to Cali 

This action-packed itinerary covers the northern Caribbean coast, Tayrona National Park, Cartagena, and Cali, to name a few highlights.

Kick off the trip in the historic coastal city of Santa Marta. Transfer to Tayrona National Park, where you'll spend a couple of days hiking, relaxing on sandy white beaches, and camping by the ocean. On day four, you'll continue onto Barranquilla. Stop for a coffee in the trendy neighborhood of El Prado or follow the steps of one of the city's most famous former residents, the legendary writer Gabriel García Márquez. On day six, travel to Cartagena de Indias, where you'll see the sights and learn how to dance salsa—a good warm-up for the activities that await later in the itinerary.

Day-trip to Palenque, then to the Rosario Islands, spending your evenings dining on ceviche back in Cartagena. By day ten, you'll be headed to Cali, where you'll hit the salsa club scene to practice the skills you picked up earlier in the trip. Enjoy a free day for exploring Colombia's third-largest city, visiting galleries, museums, and churches in a trio of walkable neighborhoods: Centro, San Antonio, and Granada. After sampling freshly squeezed juices and the local specialty, tamales (meat and dough wrapped in banana leaves, then steamed), hit the salsa scene once more before the next day's flight out of Colombia. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Colombia's Cities & Zona Cafetera

On this diverse itinerary, you'll visit Colombia's coffee-growing region, stay in a traditional hacienda, wander the streets of colonial Cartagena de Indias, and hike in the beautiful Cocora Valley.

This busy itinerary starts in Bogotá. Spend a day sightseeing, visiting local markets, and dining on Colombian food to get oriented. On day three, you'll side-trip to the Laguna de Guatavita lagoon, the underground Salt Cathedral in Zipaquira, and Nemocón Salt Mine. The next day, transfer to Zona Cafetera to tour a working coffee farm. Go hiking through the Valle de Cocora valley, then go on a Jeep tour of traditional villages including Montenegro, Circasia, and Cordoba.

The second week of the trip takes you to Medellín. Spend a day exploring the city on a guided tour that features stops at landmarks like Botero Square, known for its striking outdoor sculptures. Day-trip to colorful Guatapé, then catch a domestic flight to Cartagena de Indias on day ten. After a city tour, you'll go on a sunset excursion to the fishing village of La Boquilla and canoe through nearby mangroves. Boat to the Rosario Islands for snorkeling, sunbathing, and time to relax on the beach, then cruise back to Cartagena, where you'll have one more night to enjoy Colombian culture and cuisine before jetting home the next day. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Bogotá, Medellín, & the Pacific Coast 

Get to know Colombia's busiest cities—and the relatively little-known Pacific coastal region of Chocó—on this two-week trip plan.

Begin in the capital city of Bogotá. After a day touring the city and sampling local cuisine, you'll go on a day trip to the Laguna de Guatavita lagoon, Nemocón Salt Mine, and the underground Salt Cathedral in Zipaquira. On day four, take a flight to Medellín. See some of the city's highlights on a guided tour, including the Botanical Garden, and take a ride high over town on the Metrocable gondola system. Side-trip to laid-back Guatapé on day six, then tour a working coffee farm in the Zona Cafetera on day seven. 

Kick off the second week of the trip by flying to Nuquí in the region of Chocó on Colombia's undeveloped Pacific coast. Relax on the pristine beaches of Guachalio, take a dip in thermal hot springs, and hike through the surrounding rainforest. The next day, you'll go looking for humpback whales on a boat tour around the Tribugá Gulf. Canoe along the Joví River, visit an indigenous village, and take a free day to relax on the beach before flying from Nuquí to Medellín at the end of the trip. You'll have one more evening to spend in the big city before flying home. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Camino Verde & Tayrona National Park Hiking Adventure

Hike through the Colombian rainforest and relax on the beaches of idyllic Tayrona National Park on this active trip plan.

Arrive in Medellín. Get to know the city on a sightseeing tour on day two, then follow the footsteps of Pablo Escobar, Medellín's infamous drug lord, on a dedicated tour on day three. You'll shift gears on day four, heading to the Camino Verde (literally "Green Path") for a hiking journey through the rainforest. For the next three days, you'll hike along jungle paths, spotting rare birds and overnighting in farmhouses and family homes. Caffeinate on day seven with a guided tour of a working coffee farm.

Head back to Medellín for a free day in the city. Then catch a flight to Santa Marta, enjoying sunset on the beach with fresh fruit juice vendors and a crowd of local families. You'll make it to Tayrona National Park the next day, where you'll spend the remainder of the trip hiking through virgin forest, swimming and sunbathing on sandy white beaches, snorkeling in crystal-blue waters, visiting cultural landmarks like the village of Minca and Pueblito Ruins—and spotting a wide variety of flora and fauna (look out for crocodiles!)—along the way. Learn more

More Great 13-Day Colombia Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your Colombia trip? Check out these other 13-day Colombia itineraries, ranging from active, to cultural, to luxury, or family-friendly trips.