Colombia Travel Guide - Travel Insights and Tips

Bogota, the capital city of Columbia, is such an exciting and diverse place it easily rivals New York with its cosmopolitan atmosphere and busy cultural calendar. There's never a shortage of things to do in Bogota. If you're planning on visiting the city, check out this list of the fifteen top things to do in Bogota and make the most of your stay.

While Colombia may not have always been a popular tourist destination, the country has been attracting more and more visitors over the years particular after the 1990s. The country offers some incredible excursions and tour options - from coffee tasting and cycling routes to sprawling beaches and captivating museums.You could so much time exploring Colombia and all it has to offer, and it can be hard to figure out what to pack into a single short trip. To help you make the most of your time in this beautiful, diverse country, here are 12 things you can do on a short trip to Colombia.

The Lost City, or known locally as Ciudad Perdida, is one of the largest pre-Colombian towns that has been discovered in all of the Americas. Its ancient ruins are only reachable on foot, offering one of the most exciting and rewarding treks in Colombia — the Lost City trek.

A country full of natural wonders, a tour to Colombia offers superb opportunities for trekking in the Santa Marta mountains and snorkeling in the clear waters of the Rosario Islands. You can also discover the colonial architecture of Cartagena, enjoy a lazy beach vacation in San Andrés, explore Salento’s world-famous coffee, and lose yourself in the otherworldliness of the Tatacoa Desert. The country’s Pacific Coast is an excellent place to spot whales, while the Amazon rainforest is remarkable for its biodiversity. Read on for more unique things to do in Colombia.

Colombia is a vibrant country with a rich culture, incredible landscapes and unexpected adventures for those who decide to visit. And the best time to visit Colombia is during the dry season, from December to March. This period offers warm temperatures and perfect conditions for outdoor adventure tours.In the dry season, travelers can hike in the Andes, explore lush coffee regions and enjoy the stunning coastline without rainfall, however, keep in mind that the season aligns with peak tourist season, meaning more significant crowds and potentially higher prices.

January is the end of the summer holidays in Colombia, but the streets are still abuzz with parties and celebrations. But away from the bustling cities, Colombia invites travelers to explore diverse landscapes, from its shimmering Caribbean beaches to the mighty Andean mountains. Traveling to Colombia in January can be a tad heavy on your pockets, but you will be amply rewarded with a unique experience that you can hardly get at other times of the year.

February is carnival time in Colombia. The port city of Barranquilla comes alive at the end of the month with one of the biggest carnival celebrations in South America. This is an experience not to be missed. Besides the extravagant carnival, there are also plenty of travel opportunities and things to do in Colombia amid lovely weather. Explore the vast topography of the country ranging from the frosty white peaks of the Andes, traversing through the high-altitude lakes of the paramo to the sun-baked Caribbean beaches in Colombia.

Contrasting landscapes and rich culture and biodiversity best define Colombia. This is a country for travelers of all shades and preferences. From hiking around the misty coffee plantations of Cocora Valley in Zona Cafetera to seeking some thrill in the cerulean depths of the Caribbean in Rosario and San Bernardo Islands, March is an excellent time to travel to Colombia. With pleasant spring weather conditions all around, March is one of the best times to explore and discover the many hidden gems of this South American country.

After the long summer holidays full of festivals and celebrations, Colombia in April is a quieter month. This is the best time to go on a Colombia tour, as flights into the country are much cheaper, accommodation is good value for money, and it is easy to find space on tours and excursions. Even though the holiday crowds may be absent, you will still find plenty of things to do in Colombia. The locals are naturally exuberant and inviting, so you will feel welcome as you explore this country of diverse landscapes. You will find adventures in urban sprawls and off-the-beaten tracks.

The low season month of May is a wonderful time to explore the diverse topography and climatic features of Colombia. Being a low tourist season, travelers who travel to Colombia in May can discover the country at a comfortable pace.Take this opportunity to wander the streets of Bogotá. Relish the sights of its rich architectural heritage or meet the locals and foreigners on the weekly language exchange program—Gringo Tuesday. For a more relaxed vacation, head to the pacific coast to enjoy the balmy Caribbean coastline. Cultural enthusiasts can go to Uribia, La Guajira, to partake in the Wayúu Cultural Festival. This mammoth celebration promotes the heritage and culture of Colombia's largest indigenous group—the Wayúu.

Known for its lively cities balanced by vibrant greenery and home to ten percent of the world’s biodiversity, Colombia is an assemblage of everything that a traveler expects from a Latin American country. A typical Colombia itinerary will meet the needs of those who enjoy soaking up the atmosphere of big cities but are still eager for adventure in nature. Trips to Bogota and Medellin, with their old colonial buildings and cobbled streets, offer a chance to immerse in local culture and history, while hiking opportunities around these cities are a welcome relief from their urban chaos. The country is also home to centuries-old archaeological sites like those in San Agustín and Tierradentro. For rest and relaxation, look no further than scenic locations like San Andres Island. For anyone planning a vacation to Colombia, our guide on how many days you should spend in Colombia below will come in handy.

If you have 4 days in Colombia, we recommend exploring one important city like its big, buzzy capital Bogota or the beautifully preserved coastal city of Cartagena. Perhaps you may want to spend 4 days in Medellin, the City of Eternal Spring. For a break from the big city blues, add a day trip to enchanting natural spaces like the Monserrate Mountain or a fun-filled snorkeling adventure to your itinerary. In 4 days in Bogota, admire the buildings around the Plaza de Bolivar, such as the Catedral Primada and the Palacio de Justicia, visit the Botero Museum dedicated to the artist Fernando Botero, and pick up souvenirs from the artisanal markets in the Usaquen neighborhood. Read on to find out what your 4-day trip to Colombia can look like.

With just 5 days in Colombia, you need to get organized and find an itinerary that packs in a couple of destinations in a similar area, like Cartegena and Santa Marta, or spend your time in one large city, like Bogota or Medellin. When you have five days in Bogota, for example, you can visit the stunning Gold Museum, hike up Monserrate, and wander around the Jardín Botánico de Bogotá José Celestino Mutis. Alternatively, your 5-day Colombia trip might include snorkeling on the Rosario Islands, climbing mountains in search of great coffee, or dancing the night away on the chilled-out streets of Cali. Here are some itineraries worth looking at if you are planning a short trip to Colombia.

If you have 6 days in Colombia, you can explore popular cities like Cartagena, known for its elegant colonial architecture and beautiful coastline, or mountainous Medellin, which has a pleasant climate throughout the year. You’ll also have plenty of time to visit beautiful islands like Islas del Rosario, picturesque towns like Guatape and man-made attractions like the theme park in Hacienda Nápoles. Explore Comuna 13, a neighborhood that has become a symbol of urban renewal; climb up ‘El Peñol’ (the Big Rock) for superb views of the reservoir below; and admire the entrancing flower farms of Santa Elena during these six days. Read on to find out what your 6-day trip in Colombia can look like.

With one week in Colombia, you can easily tick off a few key spots like Bogota, Cartagena, or the Lost City. You can spend the majority of your time in one destination, like the capital, Bogota. One week in Bogota means that you can soak up culture in the many museums, like the Museo del Oro, head for the dizzying heights of Mount Monserrate, or explore the architecture of the La Candelaria neighborhood. Here are some itinerary ideas for a one-week trip to Colombia.

If you have 8 days in Colombia, you can easily cover one or two major cities like the historically rich Cartagena or coastal Santa Marta, the country’s oldest colonial city. In addition, you’ll have plenty of time to explore scenic coffee-growing regions like the Cocora Valley and visit small towns such as Salento, surrounded by enchanting mountains. Alternatively, you can go deep into the jungle in search of a lost city on a fascinating multi-day trek that will also take you to enchanting white sandy Caribbean beaches like Playa Cristal. Explore Bogota’s cobblestone streets and colonial mansions, see the 18th-century fort San Sebastian del Pastelillo, and hike through a wax-palm forest in the coffee country, during your unforgettable 8-day trip in Colombia.