My 21 Favorite Places To View Inwards Colombia
Posted: 4/18/2019 | Apr 18th, 2019
From the bluish waters of Tayrona National Park, the sweeping views of the Cocora Valley, in addition to the ruins of San Agustín, Tierradentro, in addition to the Lost City, to the white colonial buildings of Popayán in addition to the hustle in addition to bustle of its metropolises, Colombia is packed amongst things to encounter in addition to do.
I’d wanted to see Republic of Colombia for years. And afterwards spending half dozen weeks there, I must say, it lived upwards to the hype.
I hateful I’ve been fawning over it a lot inward my terminal few posts. And I know I’m the millionth blogger to do so, but it truly is equally incredible equally people say. (Even getting knifed at that spot couldn’t halt me from loving the country.)
I had falsely assumed that half dozen weeks would endure plenty to acquire a practiced feel of Colombia. After all, half dozen weeks is a fair amount of fourth dimension to pass anywhere.
But I was wrong. Given its size in addition to the sheer reveal of activities, it was barely plenty to scratch the surface.
Yet I did acquire by to encounter a lot.
Today I desire to part my listing of what I intend are the best things to encounter in addition to do inward Colombia. These are the activities in addition to places you lot should travail to focus on when you lot visit:
1. Cartagena
Cartagena is i of the most visited destinations inward Republic of Colombia (thanks to a lot of straight flights in addition to cruise send visits). Dating dorsum to 1533, the metropolis is famed for its colonial Old Town: a maze of cobbled alleys, flower-covered balconies, in addition to giant churches on spacious plazas.
But despite the crowds (and at that spot are a lot of crowds), I truly enjoyed Cartagena. While at that spot aren’t a lot of tourist activities (you tin do most of them inward a unmarried day), what makes it a wonderful identify to see is precisely that: it’s somewhere you lot tin tardily down, relax, in addition to gorge on the phenomenal gastronomy.
For more, cheque out this weblog post almost Cartegena in addition to all my favorite places to consume there.
2. Tayrona National Park
Located on Colombia’s Caribbean Area coast, Tayrona has long stretches of golden beaches lined amongst kokosnoot palms in addition to a dense rainforest amongst lots of like shooting fish in a barrel 24-hour interval hikes. You’ll also notice campsites for overnight stays, hammocks for rent, restaurants, diving, in addition to Equus caballus riding.
It’s like shooting fish in a barrel to see equally a 24-hour interval trip from Santa Marta. I highly propose you lot start early on at the large entrance at El Zaino in addition to go out the commons through Calabazo. This underused route takes a whole day, in addition to i time you lot exceed the Cabo San Juan campground, you’ll acquire the terminal one-half of the trail to yourself. Try to avoid visiting during Jan in addition to weekends, when the crowds on the beaches in addition to hiking paths are at their peak.
3. The Lost City (La Ciudad Perdida)
The Lost City was built around 800 CE in addition to contains 169 terraces carved into the mountains, equally good equally a network of tiled roads in addition to small-scale plazas. It’s i of the most beautiful treks inward the country, in addition to the site is older than Machu Picchu! To visit, you lot demand to hire a tour operator (you can’t do it past times yourself). It’s almost $300-350 USD for the trek from Santa Marta through the jungle upwards to these beautiful ruins in addition to takes 4–6 days. If you’re pressed for time, you lot tin also do it inward iii days; the entirely divergence is the measurement you lot become at.
(Tip: You cross a lot of rivers, in addition to then endure surely to convey an extra span of shoes or flip flops for when you lot cross the rivers. You’ll easily ruin a span of sneakers along the way.)
4. Salento
Surrounded past times greenish mountains in addition to java farms, this is i of the oldest towns inward the coffee-growing part in addition to the most pop for travelers. The houses are painted a diversity of vibrant colors, in addition to the high advantage points throughout town provide some stunning views (sunsets are quite magical). There’s non much to do inward the metropolis itself — it’s precisely a base of operations for java tours or hiking the Cocora Valley (see below) or the trails around town — in addition to then it’s like shooting fish in a barrel to pass a few days hither watching the footing become past times amongst a practiced mass inward hand.
5. Cocora Valley
The Cocora Valley is domicile to Colombia’s national tree, the wax palm, which grows to nearly 200 feet tall. This surface area has in all probability the most pop 24-hour interval hike inward the province (which was also my favorite action during my entire trip). You’ll cross jungle rivers, see a aeroplane sanctuary, in addition to bask some stellar views in addition to woods scenery. The route’s almost 5 hours, in addition to you lot tin direct to either direct maintain the clockwise or counterclockwise route. The clockwise route, starting at the Wax Palm Valley, is easier, amongst fewer hills. Counterclockwise is easier at the end, though a piddling anticlimactic, equally you lot destination the hike walking downward a irksome road.
(Tip: Start early on to avoid the cruel midday heat, since at that spot are a lot of exposed areas here.)
6. Bogotá
Bogotá is Colombia’s vibrant capital. While it’s non the country’s most pop destination, it felt the most “Colombian” to me: at that spot was precisely a surely border in addition to charm to it, in addition to it seemed the to the lowest degree touristy, amongst the fewest gringo expats. The historic downtown, La Candelaria, is filled amongst vivid colonial buildings, detailed museums, delicious restaurants, tiny fun bars, historic churches, in addition to centuries-old houses. The northward destination of town is domicile to boutique hotels in addition to amusement areas similar Zona Rosa in addition to Zona G. The foodie scene inward the metropolis is incredible, amongst a lot of international options in addition to cutting-edge gastronomic happenings. Throw inward some amazing walking tours, 24-hour interval trips, in addition to hikes in addition to you’ve got a recipe for an astounding city.
For more, here’s a listing of all my favorite things to do – in addition to places to consume – inward Bogota.
7. Cali
This hot, hot metropolis is the salsa uppercase of the world, where people come upwards to dance. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of the guests at my hostel had been at that spot for weeks to larn (the hostels also offering costless trip the lite fantastic classes). If you lot similar to dance, you lot can’t girlfriend this city. Besides dancing, though, at that spot are a reveal of parks, museums, in addition to churches you lot tin visit, summation costless walking in addition to nutrient tours. While I didn’t rest long, I definitely enjoyed the scene.
8. Popayán
Popayán rivals Cartagena equally Colombia’s most impressive colonial town. It’s known equally La Ciudad Blanca (“The White City”) because all the buildings are painted white. Popayán is also a college town (there are iii universities), in addition to it’s produced 17 presidents too! Though small, I truly loved the tardily measurement of life in addition to the surprisingly robust nutrient scene hither (eat at La Cosecha Parrillada, Restaurante Italiano y Pizzeria, La Fresa, in addition to Mora de Castilla).
While you lot don’t demand a lot of fourth dimension (take the walking tour, climb the hill, encounter the churches, in addition to you’re done), I do propose staying longer to bask the tardily measurement of life. So much of Republic of Colombia is go-go-go, it’s overnice to notice a identify that’s to a greater extent than “stay in addition to relax a while.”
9. Tatacoa Desert
Millions of years agone it was i time a lush tropical forest. Now, Tatacoa Desert is filled amongst rocky canyons inward shades of ruby in addition to gray. It is also domicile to i of the most of import observatories inward South America, where you lot tin gaze at the stars (weather permitting). If you lot desire to endure blown away past times the universe, you lot truly demand to encounter this place! Other than that, there’s non much here. Bike into the desert, direct maintain some walks, stare at the sky. Stay a nighttime or two. It’s non a pop area, but it is a picturesque mode to intermission upwards the long autobus ride from Bogotá to the due south or vice versa.
10. San Agustín Archaeological Park
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Agustín is a small-scale mount town that’s domicile to hundreds of pre-Columbian statues in addition to brial mounds. Its collection of religious monuments in addition to megalithic sculptures is the largest inward Latin America, for which you’ll demand at to the lowest degree i total 24-hour interval (two to truly encounter it all inward depth). If you lot honey history, this is in all probability the best spot inward all of Republic of Colombia to experience it.
11. San Gil
San Gil is considered the outdoors uppercase of the country. Extreme-sports fans honey it here. You tin become white-water rafting, paragliding, caving, rappelling, trekking, in addition to to a greater extent than from this city! This metropolis is a keen identify to do outdoor activities in addition to you’re going to notice a lot of tour operators inward the city. Try to excogitation at to the lowest degree iii days here. It’s worth it.
12. Providencia in addition to San Andrés Islands
These islands are truly closer to Nicaragua than Colombia. They are also considered some of the most unspoiled places inward the Caribbean. You’ll notice white-sand beaches, stunningly clear bluish water, in addition to few crowds (though, thank you lot to some recent press, Providencia is becoming a lot busier).
Try to acquire inward when tens of thousands of dark crabs migrate to the sea. This happens twice a twelvemonth for almost a 1-2-week menstruation betwixt Apr in addition to July, in addition to then it’s non e'er like shooting fish in a barrel to smash the timing.
13. Medellín
In a province total of hype, this hyped-up metropolis is all that it’s cracked upwards to be. Set inward the Aburrá Valley, Medellín is i of the fastest-growing cities inward Colombia. It has plenty activities in addition to things to do to create total weeks on end: from microbreweries, museums, walking tours, spacious parks, street art, nutrient tours in addition to markets to incredible nightlife, in addition to on in addition to on in addition to on.
It’s i of the most pop destinations for expats in addition to tourists inward the country. While it’s like shooting fish in a barrel to acquire lost inward Gringoland here, travail to acquire out of Poblado or Laureles in addition to encounter the locals’ side of town.
There’s to a greater extent than to the metropolis than those ii areas!
14. Guatapé
This pueblo is i of the most picturesque towns inward Republic of Colombia in addition to i of the most colorful inward the world, equally most of the traditional homes direct maintain murals painted on the bottom one-half of their façades that pull animals, people, in addition to shapes. Just hanging out inward i of the vivid plazas, drinking java in addition to people-watching, is i of the most pleasant things to do here.
Most people, though, come upwards to climb the steep (and difficult) staircase to the top of the monolithic Rock of Guatapé (La Piedra) for some of the best views inward the country. Guatapé is a long 24-hour interval trip from Medellín (hostels inward the metropolis organize them throughout the week) in addition to then I recommend trying to pass at to the lowest degree a nighttime hither in addition to then you lot aren’t equally rushed in addition to tin bask the surface area piddling more.
15. Chingaza National Park
This is i of the biggest nature reserves inward Colombia, domicile to to a greater extent than than 1,000 constitute species in addition to 187 aeroplane species. Here you’ll larn almost the Páramo ecosystem in addition to how it affects the global H2O system. (Fun fact: Nearly 80% of Bogotá’s H2O provide comes from Chingaza.) If you’re going to hike, joining a tour is a practiced idea. The guides are ordinarily naturalists who tin explicate the unique environs of the area. One of the best routes is the challenging hike to the summit of Lagunas de Siecha, amongst a keen view over the lakes.
16. Barranquilla
Located betwixt Santa Marta in addition to Cartagena, Barranquilla is the spot to endure during Carnival, the minute biggest inward Latin America. It starts on a Dominicus amongst the Battle of Flowers (a large parade) in addition to the coronation of the King in addition to Queen.
But there’s a lot to do hither when it’s non carnival flavour equally well. Make surely you lot see El Museo del Caribe, a museum offering an interesting insight into the history of Colombia’s Caribbean Area coast. There’s also a particular prove dedicated to Gabriel García Márquez (the famous writer who wrote Love inward the Time of Cholera).
17. Tierradentro
Tierradentro is i of the most of import archaeological sites inward South America. It’s upwards at that spot amongst San Agustín but gets less press since it’s located inward the middle of nowhere in addition to non on a primary road. It contains over 100 hypogea (underground tombs) dating from the 6th to the 10th centuries, the entirely examples of their sort inward the Americas. It takes a 24-hour interval or ii to hike all the paths around the tombs. You tin hire a guide if you lot want, but the trails are pretty like shooting fish in a barrel to do on your own.
18. Manizales (and Los Nevados)
On the route from Medellín to the due south is the metropolis of Manizales. Here, you lot tin direct maintain some tours at this northern betoken of the coffee-growing region, or roam around town, which has some decent restaurants in addition to churches, in addition to a scenic gondola ride. The primary argue people see is to hike Los Nevados, a mount arrive at amongst imperial snow-capped peaks. You tin do a 24-hour interval or multi-day hikes, but whatever you lot do, don’t rush upwards to the top — acclimatize yourself to the height inward Manizales for a few days first. The town is 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) inward a higher identify body of body of water level, but mountains are almost 6,000 meters (19,700 feet)! I wasn’t climatized in addition to could truly experience the height precisely walking around town. Don’t force yourself if you lot desire to do the hike.
19. The Caribbean Area Coast
The beaches on the Caribbean Area coast mightiness non win whatever awards (at to the lowest degree inward 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, in addition to non much else to do. I could easily encounter why people destination upwards getting stuck hither for weeks at a time. The best beach towns to see are Costeño Beach in addition to Palomino.
20. Punta Gallinas
Punta Gallinas is the northernmost betoken inward all of South America. Most people come upwards hither via a tour from Santa Marta or Cabo de Vela, amongst the latter (through La Guajira Desert) existence the meliorate choice if you lot precisely desire to direct maintain your fourth dimension in addition to relax because it’s closer in addition to then there’s a lot less drive time. In fact, the entirely mode to encounter the surface area is via a tour. Most are ii or iii nights depending on where you’re coming from. Any hostel tin organize a trip for you.
21. Minca
Minca is located inward the foothills of the Sierra de Santa Marta Mountains. Once a sleepy backpacker town, it’s immediately a hot spot for tourists escaping the oppressive oestrus on the Caribbean Area coast in addition to hoping to do some repose hikes. One of the best hikes is to Los Pinos, but it isn’t easy: it takes almost iii hours from the centre of town, in addition to it’s a steady climb into the mountains but, similar all things similar this, it’s worth it.
There are a lot of waterfalls inward the surface area equally well. Two of the best are the Pozo Azul in addition to Marinka. Both direct maintain swimming holes at them too.
Be surely to cheque out the sunset Mundo Nuevo Hostel. It’s an amazing advantage point.
Colombia has a i grand one thousand in addition to i things to do. I lost rail of all the places I kept wishing I had fourth dimension to visit. You tin pass months at that spot (and a lot of people to do). However, I intend this listing is a keen start. My recommendation is that if you’re brusk on time, wing (the autobus rides are long) or precisely stick to i surface area of the province in addition to become inward depth around that region.
Trying to “see it all” inward Republic of Colombia is precisely a recipe for burnout!
Book Your Trip to Colombia: Logistical Tips in addition to Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a inexpensive flying past times using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my ii favorite search engines because they search websites in addition to airlines around the globe in addition to then you lot e'er know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You tin mass your hostel amongst Hostelworld. If you lot desire to rest somewhere other than a hostel, purpose Booking.com equally they consistently render the cheapest rates for guesthouses in addition to inexpensive hotels. I purpose them all the time.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance volition protect you lot against illness, injury, theft, in addition to cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection inward instance anything goes wrong. I never become on a trip without it equally I’ve had to purpose it many times inward the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for 10 years. My favorite companies that offering the best service in addition to value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Looking for the best companies to salve coin with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to purpose when you lot travel! I listing all the ones I purpose to salve coin when I move – in addition to I intend volition assist you lot too!
Want More Information on Colombia?
Be surely to see our robust destination guide on Colombia for fifty-fifty to a greater extent than planning tips!
Photo credits: Liam King, descubriendoelmundo, Erik Cleves Kristensen, Sergio Fabara Muñoz, tacowitte, Triángulo del Café Travel, Luis Pérez, diego_cue
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