Wondering where to go in Colombia?
Colombia's great diversity offers an endless list of travel possibilities. In addition to the beautiful (yet popular) coastal city of Cartagena, there is a wide range of amazing and unique places to visit:
This festive itinerary begins in Bogotá, where you'll discover museum, restaurants, and nightlife. Next, jet over to Medellín to explore historical sights and see the Christmas lights. From there, drive to the Zona Cafetera to tour the coffee fields and stay on a farm. On your last leg, ring in the New Year in Cartagena and snorkel in Tayrona National Park.
This urban-meets-outdoorsy Colombian itinerary is jam-packed with sightseeing and excursions. The 16-day trip starts in the capital of Bogotá, then heads north for a challenging hike in the heart of Iguaque Sanctuary, and a cycling tour through along the Suarez River. From there, you will fly to the Caribbean Coast and spend time exploring a stunning national park, followed by birding in Minca. You will end your adventure in romantic Cartagena, with a relaxing trip to Múcura Island.
Tucked neatly in a valley at the base of towering Andean mountains, Medellín is a city where the scent of freshly-cooked empanadas wafts down palm tree-lined streets, where graffiti art transforms neighborhoods into open-air museums and where the peaks that overlook the city offer a lush, flowery landscape and impeccable views from above.
This two-week cultural adventure is perfect for travelers who don’t mind skipping the Amazon, Pacific, or the Caribbean and want to get to the heart of Colombia's interior. Start the trip with plenty of time to explore the vibrant capital of Bogotá, and then travel north to the famous salt mines and one of the most well-preserved cobblestoned towns in the country, Villa de Leyva. You’ll then swing over to the striking metropolis of Medellín, throwing in day-trips to lakeside Guatapé and a working coffee farm before heading to Cali, the salsa capital of the world, and ending your journey in the “white city’ of Popayán.
Discover Colombia's southern region on this two-week adventure, covering major highlights of the country from the capital city of Bogotá to the Pre-Columbian idols of San Agustín and to the well-preserved colonial town of Popayán. It's an itinerary fit for active travelers, history buffs, outdoor enthusiasts, wildlife aficionados, and anyone with a thirst for adventure. You'll even have an opportunity to shake your hips to the sultry rhythms of Colombia's lifeblood: salsa music.
This well-rounded tour perfectly combines cultural and historical exploration with adventure in eight days. Immerse yourself in the bustling and vibrant barrios of Bogotá, trek through the white and gray landscape of Los Hoyos in the Tatacoa Desert, and dive into the pre-Colombian past with sightings of ancient monuments in San Agustín. You'll also meander the charming stone streets in colonial Popayán before capping off your stay with a salsa lesson in colorful Cali.
This nine-day adventure features the flat plains of Colombia's Llanos Orientales, the alpine tundra of the páramo, and colonial villages in the Andean highlands. Starting and ending your stay in the capital city of Bogotá, you'll alternate your time between venturing off the beaten path to traditional "fincas" of the Colombian savannah in search of native wildlife and wandering the charming streets of picturesque Spanish-era towns. You'll meet locals in Yopal, safari in Encanto de Guanapalo, hike the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes, and visit a 17th-century convent in Villa de Leyva.
Discover Colombia's Cauca Valley on this nine-day adventure. Start in modern Cali of the region to take in the food and art scene, and hike the Andes in the Los Farallones area. Along the way, you'll spend three nights on Gorgona Island off Colombia's Pacific Coast where you'll trek through the jungle and snorkel inviting coastal waters.
These twin islands off the coast of Nicaragua actually belong to Colombia, making it a multi-cultural beach trip like no other. Start in San Andrés, the more developed of the two isles, where you'll have time to experience Raizal culture before heading to Providencia for three days of hiking, diving, and slow island life. Finish back in San Andrés for one more Caribbean sunset and a reggae show.
Start your fast-paced tour in the cosmopolitan capital of Bogotá, where you can explore street art, museums, and restaurants. Then you're off to the hip metropolis of Medellín and Cali, known as the World Capital of Salsa. Santa Marta and a visit to a coffee farm in the Andes are next. End your trip with the beaches of Tayrona National Park and yet another vibrant city scene in beautiful Cartagena.
This fun itinerary hits the highlights along Colombia’s northern coast, balancing colonial history, beaches, hiking, and relaxation. Wander Cartagena's pretty Old Town and take a speedboat to the Rosario Islands. Drive to Barranquilla, where a raging carnival celebration is held each year. You'll also spend two active days exploring Tayrona National Park and visit a coffee farm in the rolling hills of Minca.
This diverse, action-packed itinerary covers a lot of Colombian ground in two weeks. The trip starts on the northern Caribbean Coast with time to explore Tayrona's beautiful national park, sandwiched between the turquoise sea and rugged mountains. From here, you'll visit Colombia's carnival city, Barranquilla, and spend a few days in the stunning inner-walled city of Cartagena before taking a flight to Cali, the salsa capital of the world.
This adventurous 7-day itinerary starts in the exciting capital of Bogotá before delving into the Amazon rainforest (by charter plane) to get to one of the hardest-to-reach places in the country. This wild location will be your home for the next three nights, and the itinerary combines hiking and boating around two dramatic canyons, plenty of wildlife viewing, and interactions with two local tribes. Return to "civilization" and spend your last night in Villavicencio dancing alongside Colombian cowboys.
The Spaniards came to Colombia in the early 16th century with dreams of gold and visions of El Dorado. After the new country won its independence from Spain in 1819, the colonialists were finished, but they left behind a legacy that's still seen today in Colombia's many well-preserved colonial towns. This article lists the most unique throughout the nation.
Five days in Colombia is enough to visit one major city and explore the surrounding area. Enjoy the best of Cartagena with a city tour, a private boat trip to nearby Rosario Island, and tasting menus at the city's best restaurants. Or, combine the charm of Bogotá with two nights in the Amazon rainforest, where you'll sleep in hammocks and explore via canoe. Learn about these options and more below.
This outdoorsy adventure highlights some of Colombia's most fascinating and unique landscapes in the Amazon region. Start off by exploring Bogotá's arts and culture scene before flying south to Leticia; from here, you'll head out on two unforgettable days via foot, canoe and other small boats in Colombia, and across the border in Peru and Brazil. At night, you'll sleep in hammocks with mosquito nets in order to fully experience the rainforest.
Experience a taste of Colombian culture on this 5-day trip to the Coffee Triangle. You'll go to the heart of the country's coffee region in charming Salento for an overnight at a working farm and hike through the picturesque green mountains of the Cocora Valley (and the famous wax palms). Then, head to Manizales, the most adventurous of the three cities that make up Colombia's coffee triangle, where you'll visit the Rio Blanco Nature reserve. Like the coffee this region is known for, this trip is designed to awaken all of your senses.
This 12-day trip highlights four of Colombia's most exciting cities—perfect for travelers who love urban energy and culture. Start off with tours in Bogotá and Medellín, two cities with their own treasures to discover, then head north to Cartagena for colonial romance, art galleries, and rooftop bars. End your trip with two nights on the San Bernardo Islands, including picture-perfect Isla Múcura.
With this outdoorsy, yet culturally rich 8-day tour, you'll explore the historic and cosmopolitan side of Bogotá before heading north through the scenic Colombian highlands towards two of the country's most photogenic cobblestoned towns. Here, you’ll visit the underground salt mines, hike the Iguaque Lagoon, bike the Suarez Canyon, and finally explore the Spanish Colonial wonder that is Barichara — oozing with charm — before flying back to the capital's buzzing restaurants and nightlife.
Perfect for first-timers, this classic Colombia itinerary starts in cosmopolitan Bogotá, ending in charming Cartagena. Visit the salt mines and colonial towns of Barichara and Villa de Leyva, hike the Iguaque Sanctuary, and bike in the Suarez Canal. Once you reach the coast, spend a few days exploring Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona, where you'll encounter white sand beaches, rainforests, and one of the few coral reefs in Colombia.
Colombia in October is a relatively tranquil time, as the summer crowds are gone and the rainy season in Bogotá is coming to an end. It's a good time to hop over to this country and enjoy it without having to contest with the tourist hordes. Let this guide clue you in as how to best enjoy Colombia during October.
With the summer tourist crowds gone and not to be seen again until Christmas, November is a notoriously sleepy month for Colombia. But if you're traveling during this time you'll be rewarded with cheaper fares, great weather and empty beaches all to yourself.
You won't find a more festive month in Colombia than December. Everyone here prepares weeks in advance for Christmas and the New Year, with seemingly non-stop parties and celebrations leading up to the big day. Higher lodging and airfare prices are to be expected, as is great weather throughout the country—even famously rainy Bogotá stays mostly dry this month.
If you're interested in the kind of vacation that revitalizes body and mind while pushing the limits of your endurance, consider this active six-day Colombian itinerary. It's centered in and around the capital of Bogotá and packs enough high-intensity exercise to really get those endorphins pumping. Even better, all these activities occur outdoors, on city streets, and in all that surrounding nature for which Colombia is deservedly famous.
What's better than immersing yourself in the culture, cuisine, and nightlife of one famous Colombian city? Doing so in two famous Colombian cities. In less than a week you'll get to do just that, starting in the "city of the eternal spring," Medellín. Enjoy the trendy restaurants and cocktail lounges of this revitalized metropolis. Then, fly to Cartagena—a well-preserved fortress city and a throwback to a time when the kingdom of Spain ruled the New World. Snap photos as you wander its colonial streets, sample the fresh seafood and visit the nearby Rosario Islands.
This trip starts in the capital, where you'll discover colorful neighborhoods and museums on a walking tour, along with famous restaurants and nightlife. Then, fly into the heart of the Zona Cafetera and spend the night at a working coffee farm. Visit nearby Salento, a colonial town that wears its exuberance on its sleeve. While here, hike the unspoiled green mountains of the Cocora Valley, dotted with towering wax palms.
If you want to visit Colombia during the lull between peak tourist seasons, September is a good time to do so. You'll experience all the famous sights and places without having to contend with masses of tourists—plus, there are seasonal activities and events to enjoy.
Whether you're trying to escape the summer heat back home or are looking to ramp up the thermometer on a tropical holiday, there are plenty of spots in Colombia that will appeal to you. Also, one of the most famous festivals in the entire country takes place during this month.
If you've reached July and have still to decide on that perfect summer adventure, give Colombia a shot. Sure, it will be busy with other peak-season travelers, but its diversity of topography and climate means you'll be able to find a place of your own. The Amazon region is particularly nice this month, when low river waters make more of the region accessible to explore.
June kicks off the summer travel season, and there are few better destination in which to enjoy it than Colombia. From arid deserts to tropical beaches and everything in between, there's something here that will appeal to any traveler—though you should expect bigger crowds and higher prices than you'll find in shoulder season months.
May is a real sweet spot on the calendar to visit an eclectic paradise like Colombia. It's still low season, so you can travel the country without being engulfed by the crowds. Take a unique Caribbean beach vacation, visit the northernmost point of South America, or check out the huge Festival of Wayúu Culture.
April is the perfect month to visit Colombia—prices are low and the crowds have thinned. Plus, one of the most popular music festivals in the country takes place this month. Let this guide point you to the fun and adventure.
Colombia is a country as pious as it is fun-loving, and March features one of the biggest religious celebrations: Semana Santa. Aside from Holy Week, there's also the chance that Carnival lasts into the beginning of the month. Let this guide direct you to the biggest celebrations (and best locations) for a March trip to Colombia.
There are few better times of the year to visit Colombia than February. Prices are low, there are fewer crowds, and one of the biggest carnival celebrations on the entire continent takes place in Barranquilla at the end of the month.
January in Colombia is one big party. It's the tail end of holiday season, and locals and tourists alike are out in force, enjoying the last weeks of a much-deserved vacation. The crowds may be formidable, but there are still plenty of ways to enjoy this diverse nation.
Colombia's heritage extends from the shores of the Caribbean to the rainforests of the Amazon. This unique 11-day itinerary hinges on an event which takes place in Medellín every August: the Batalla de Flores, or "Festival of the Flowers," is one of the biggest spectacles in the entire country. So set aside some time at the end of summer and prepare for an excursion that you won't soon forget.
This fast-paced 8-day itinerary highlights three of Latin America’s most exciting cities. You'll start off in the cosmopolitan capital of Bogotá to explore the thriving food and art scenes, then fly to scenic Medellín, a hip metropolis making a comeback after a turbulent past. End the trip in Cartagena's Old Town, a romantic inner-walled city with colonial history. Too much city? You'll spend an outdoorsy day visiting Tayrona National Park for a dose of rainforest and the Caribbean Sea.
On this 15-day culinary tour, you're never far from the flavors that comprise Colombian culture. You'll dive right in, sampling exotic fruits, savory street food, and local rum. You'll even participate in cooking classes and prepare some of the nation's most famous dishes. In between food-related adventures, take time to relax on some of Colombia's pristine beaches in Tayrona National Park.
In this itinerary, you'll embark on a high-altitude 4-day trek into Los Nevados National Park. You'll visit a working coffee farm and enjoy the unique scenery of the Páramo Eco-system here. While many travelers only see the Cocora Valley and Salento on a quick day trip, you'll get to know Colombia's Zona Cafetera from an in-depth perspective over the course of your 6 days in the region.
This diverse, action-packed trip starts on the northern Caribbean Coast with time to explore Tayrona National Park. From here, spend a few days in the inner-walled city of Cartagena and hop a flight to Medellín, with its thriving arts and culture scene. Then, you'll visit a coffee farm before heading to the vibrant capital of Bogotá. Continue the journey with a visit to the famous salt mines and end the trip in Cali, the salsa capital of the world.
Depending on personal preference, some folks like rugged activity on their vacation while others prefer relaxing on white-sand beaches fronting crystalline waters. Others opt for the museums and nightlife found in more cosmopolitan destinations. We wonder why not enjoy it all? That's just what this itinerary offers: city life, culture, the great outdoors and plenty of time to relax.
A big draw of Colombia's Caribbean coast is its large amount of diversity in a relatively small space. Over just a few hundred miles you're in close proximity to Spanish-colonial architecture, the towering mountains of the Sierra Nevadas, white-sand beaches, running rivers, arid deserts, and biodiverse marshland. It's the ultimate tropical adventure.
This itinerary starts and ends in two of Colombia's most exciting cities, Bogotá and Medellín. In between, you'll visit a working coffee farm and set off on a four-day trek through the Central Andes in Los Nevados National Park. After your trek, relax in the thermal pools outside of Manizales, with the still-active Nevado del Ruiz volcano as a backdrop. Then it's off to Medellín, a dynamic place to finish your trip.
Your journey starts in the heart of Colombia's Coffee Region, where you'll overnight on a working coffee farm. From there, head to the reborn metropolis of Medellín, a city whose reputation as a global hotspot is enhanced by its rising culinary and art scene. Then, it's time for a bit of nature as you embark on a rafting trip down the Río Verde and end your adventure on the Caribbean coast where you'll explore Cartagena and nearby islands.
This 13-day itinerary eliminates the hard choices travelers often have to make when planning a visit to a country as diverse as Colombia. You don't have to choose between cities and culture or nature and beach time. On this adventure, you can have it all. Your journey begins with the Spanish colonial plazas and pulsing discos of Bogotá. You'll then jet to the reinvented city of Medellín and experience its rising culinary and art scene. End the trip on the Caribbean coast where you'll explore the beaches and mountains of Tayrona National Park and the cobbled streets of Cartagena's walled city.
This active 13-day adventure combines the epic Camino Verde trek in central Colombia's rainforests with one of South America's most exciting and fascinating cities. Cradled in a fertile valley in the Andes, Medellín is best explored by foot and gondola, where you can observe the sprawling metropolis from high overhead. In a blink, you'll go from city streets to the surrounding countryside. After completing the three-day Camino Verde trek, reward yourself with time to explore the trails and relax on the incomparable beaches of Tayrona National Park.
With 13 days you can experience all of the highlights Colombia is renowned for throughout the world. Your journey starts in the heart of Colombia's Coffee Region, where you'll overnight on a working coffee farm. From there, head to the reborn metropolis of Medellín, a city whose reputation as a global hotspot is enhanced by its rising culinary and art scene. Then, it's time for a bit of nature as you embark on a rafting trip down the Río Verde and end your adventure on the Caribbean coast where you'll explore Cartagena and nearby islands.
This diverse, action-packed itinerary covers a lot of Colombian ground in two weeks. The trip starts on the northern Caribbean Coast and allows time to explore Tayrona National Park. This protected area is home to rugged mountains, indigenous ruins, and white-sand beaches hugging turquoise waters. You'll then spend a few days enjoying city life as you explore the ancient fortress city of Cartagena. Mixed in with all this is a jaunt to Caribbean islands and a visit to the heritage site of a long-standing Afro-Colombian community. You'll cap your two weeks of adventure with a jaunt to the southern Colombian city of Cali, the salsa capital of the world.
There are few countries in Latin America that offer a more well-rounded, culturally immersive travel experience than Colombia. A great benefit is that nearly all of this nation's highlights—be it the beaches, cities, islands, and mountains—make perfect outings for the entire family. The best way to enjoy them is by abdicating all the stress that often accompanies planning a family vacation and giving yourself over to a luxury itinerary like this one. From private beaches to comprehensive city tours, and sampling gourmet chocolates, this itinerary is all about perfecting the details of what makes a family vacation truly unforgettable.
Planning a trip to Colombia? Here's a quick introduction to kimkim, how our trips work, and what makes us unique. We'll go over how our itineraries are customized to your interests, and what to expect during your trip.
