Colombia map & highlights
Colombia’s huge size (you could fit the UK into it almost five times), combined with its stunning but often impenetrable landscapes, mean you’re just not going to see it all in one trip, so do your research and decide which places inspire you the most. The good news is that every destination has several attractions: colonial villages are also gateways to hiking and biking havens; the Zona Cafetera is the hub of some heady salsa, and the magnificent cities of the Caribbean coast are just a short boat ride or hike away from stunning beaches. Roads are generally good, and comfortable to travel on. However, you’ll still be dependent on the short, cheap flights to whisk you off to the coast, mountains or Amazon; they’ll save you several days’ traveling.
Our Colombia Vacations
Colombia vacation, small group
From one enticing town to the next, a two week tour of Colombia
From
US $1451 to US $2559
14 days
ex flights
Highlights of Colombia vacation, tailor-made
Bogota, Coffee Region, Medellin & Cartagena - Tailormade
From
£1850
14 days
ex flights
Colombia vacation, tailor made
Amazing Colombia from Caribbean to Amazon, tailor made
From
€1920 to €3340
27 days
ex flights
Colombia small group tour
A comprehensive overview of Colombian diversity
From
US $3190 to US $3730
15 days
ex flights
Off the beaten track vacation to Colombia
Adventure through Colombia - highlights and off the beaten track
From
£2528 to £2535
16 days
ex flights
Colombia tour, Colombia encompassed
An amazing 20 day adventure through Colombia
From
US $2238 to US $3869
20 days
ex flights
Small group vacation to Colombia
One of South America's most beautiful and interesting countries
From
US $3449 to US $3699
13 days
ex flights
Colombia adventure vacation, viva Colombia
Experience nature & culture on this fantastic adventure
From
£3445
13 days
ex flights
Colombia vacation, San Agustin and the Amazon
Off the beaten track Colombia vacation
From
£3074
13 days
ex flights
Salsa vacation in Cali, Colombia
Salsa vacation in Cali during annual World Salsa Festival
From
£975
8 days
ex flights
Colombia vacation, Andes, Amazon & Caribbean
Explore the Andes, Amazon Jungle and Caribbean Coast
From
£1995
13 days
ex flights
Biking vacation in Colombia
Road cycling in the beautiful 'Eje Cafetero' coffee region
From
US $3979 to US $4499
13 days
ex flights
Colombia highlights tour
Roundtrip Colombia, from coffee tasting, art and history to the Caribbean coast
From
€2190
17 days
ex flights
Cartagena to Bogota vacation in Colombia
A fast-moving and well-rounded introduction to Colombia
From
US $775 to US $1289
8 days
ex flights
Colombia highlights tour, 12 days
12 day small group tour through Colombia
From
US $1690 to US $2210
12 days
ex flights
Luxury Colombia vacation
Experience coffee hacienda, islands, history & landscapes
From
US $5595
9 days
ex flights
Colombia vacation, cities and coast
Explore the cultural heart of this vibrant country
From
£3125 to £3245
17 days
ex flights
Anchorage to Tierra Del Fuego tour by overland truck
Epic overland trip from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego
From
£11975
210 days
ex flights
Colombia bird watching tour
Explore Colombia and discover it's 1900 bird species
From
£4995
16 days
inc UK flights
Turtle conservation in Colombia
Work with researchers along the beautiful Caribbean coast
From
US $2295
8 days
ex flights
Colombia luxury vacation, 9 days
Sensorial experiences in an undiscovered destination
From
US $5000
9 days
ex flights
Colombia chocolate tour with Amelia Rope
Cultural and chocolate tour with Amelia Rope
From
£4725
13 days
ex flights
Colombia to Peru overland tour
Overland tour through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru
From
£1870 to £1935
38 days
ex flights
Classic Colombia small group tour
Discover the history, charms and rhythms of Colombia
From
US $3715
14 days
ex flights
Colombia cycling vacation
Cycle among the beauty and vibrancy of enigmatic Colombia
From
US $2025 to US $2345
8 days
ex flights
Colombia walking vacation
Colombia adventure, wildlife, walking high Andes & Caribbean
From
€2590
19 days
ex flights
Colombia small group tour, Colombian odyssey
An epic journey through Colombia
From
US $5935
21 days
ex flights
Colombia to Brazil overland tour
Spectacular overland adventure from Colombia to Brazil
From
£5075 to £5255
97 days
ex flights
Vegan hiking tour to Lost City, Colombia
Hike, swim & take pineapple pit stops on this jungle trek!
From
US $825
7 days
ex flights
1. The Amazon
2. Aracataca & Mompós
3. Cali
4. Cartagena
5. Medellín
6. Pacific Coast
7. Popayán
8. Salento & the Zona Cafetera
9. San Agustín
10. San Gil
11. Tayrona National Park
12. Villa de Leyva
2. Aracataca & Mompós
3. Cali
4. Cartagena
5. Medellín
6. Pacific Coast
7. Popayán
8. Salento & the Zona Cafetera
9. San Agustín
10. San Gil
11. Tayrona National Park
12. Villa de Leyva
The Amazon
1. The Amazon
The Amazon covers over a third of Colombia; the gateway town of Leticia on the Peru-Brazil border is only accessible by air. Start your jungle exploration at the Ethnographic Museum, before traveling along rivers to isolated lodges and private reserves, past macaws and pink dolphins. Take jungle treks, look down from canopy walkways and visit the village of Mocagua for a different perspective of this rainforest.
Aracataca & Mompós
2. Aracataca & Mompós
Gabriel García Márquez was born in the pretty town of Aracataca in 1927, and some say it is the real life setting for the mythical town of Macondo, featured in One Hundred Years of Solitude. Today, his family home is a museum. A five hour drive away, sleepy, swampy Mompós also feels like something out of Gabo’s novels, with its whitewashed, colonial buildings, shaded plazas and riverside setting where time appears to stop.
Cali
3. Cali
Cali is synonymous with salsa; the city even has its own style, featuring frenetic footwork which is incredible to watch. Taking a class – or trying your luck with a partner in a local bar – is highly recommended! Cali’s lowland setting gives it a tropical climate, and its culture is influenced by its large Afro Caribbean population. Visit the gothic-style La Ermita church, then head to Barrio San Antonio for sweeping city views.
Cartagena
4. Cartagena
Time seems to have stood still in Old Cartagena, a magnificent, colonial, Caribbean city where every candy coloured building presents a photo opportunity. Bougainvillea tumbles down the wooden bars on the double height windows, and the sound of hooves on the cobbled streets is eerily evocative. If you can tear yourself away, take daytrips to the mangroves, mud volcano or tiny offshore islands.
Medellín
5. Medellín
Colombia’s second city has managed to shake off its notorious past as the home of Pablo Escobar. Pay homage to Medellín’s other famous son, Fernando Botero, whose statues and paintings decorate the plazas and museums. Explore lush parks, baroque churches and the Museo Antioquia, which documents the city’s history from pre Colombian times through the violence of the 20th century, up to the modern day.
Pacific Coast
6. Pacific Coast
Remote, sweltering and little developed, Colombia’s Pacific coast has barely opened to tourism and is generally only accessible via plane. But there are ample rewards for those who reach these tropical shores flanked by Choco Rainforest. Stay at a stunning ecolodge, trek to waterfalls and enjoy deserted beaches. In July-Nov, keep an eye out for migrating humpback whales; guides can take you to the best beaches to spot them.
Popayán
7. Popayán
Founded in 1537 by the Spanish, Popayán is one of Colombia’s oldest cities. Vast amounts of gold were transported through here in the colonial era, and the wealth is still visible in the beautifully preserved, whitewashed center. There are many gorgeous churches, and Popayán’s Easter processions have been recognised by UNESCO. Don’t miss the stunning, 18th century haciendas in the surrounding countryside.
Salento & the Zona Cafetera
8. Salento & the Zona Cafetera
Tucked away into Colombia’s lush Zona Cafetera, Salento is a very pretty – and friendly – base for excursions out into the surrounding cloud forest and coffee plantations. You’ll learn how the beans are grown, harvested and processed, often by hand. A top activity is a hike through the lush, green Cocora Valley, lined with spindly, 60m-tall quindío wax palms, the symbol of Colombia.
San Agustín
9. San Agustín
San Agustín Archaeological Park protects hundreds of pre Colombian statues and burial sites dating to between the 1st and 5th centuries AD. As South America’s largest collection of religious and megalithic monuments, including representations of gods and mythical creatures, it is hardly surprising it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The origins of the people that created these stone carvings remain a mystery.
San Gil
10. San Gil
San Gil is Colombia’s undisputed capital of adventure sports. Use the town as your base and take daytrips out to the Chicamocha Canyon – which has South America’s longest cable car; trek to the Juan Curi waterfall; kayak or raft along rivers; or explore the nearby caves. If you’re after calmer adventures, visit colonial Barichara. Just 45 minutes away, it’s said to be Colombia’s prettiest village.
Tayrona National Park
11. Tayrona National Park
Dreamy, tropical coastline, lush rainforest and soaring mountains, all within sight of one another; Tayrona is a dream destination. Over 400 bird species, from parrots to condors, inhabit this park; keep an eye out for monkeys and iguanas too. The secluded Caribbean beaches with their offshore reefs have no road access so you’ll have to hike, though you can drive to pre-Colombian ruins in the mountains.
Villa de Leyva
12. Villa de Leyva
This gorgeous, whitewashed town looks pretty much as it did when it was founded in 1572, with its chunkily cobbled streets, tiled roofs and enormous plaza – the largest in the country. It’s great for people watching with a coffee or cold Águila beer, but make sure you get out into the surrounding landscapes, great for trekking and mountain biking. Check out the dinosaur fossil and tranquil blue ‘pozo’ pools, too.
Our top Colombia Vacation
Colombia vacation, small group
From one enticing town to the next, a two week tour of Colombia
From
US $1451 to US $2559
14 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2019: 21 Dec
2020: 4 Jan, 18 Jan, 1 Feb, 15 Feb, 29 Feb, 14 Mar, 28 Mar, 11 Apr, 25 Apr, 9 May, 23 May, 20 Jun, 4 Jul, 18 Jul, 1 Aug, 15 Aug, 29 Aug, 12 Sep, 26 Sep, 10 Oct, 24 Oct, 7 Nov, 21 Nov, 5 Dec, 19 Dec
2021: 2 Jan, 16 Jan, 30 Jan, 13 Feb, 27 Feb, 13 Mar, 27 Mar, 10 Apr, 24 Apr, 8 May, 22 May, 5 Jun, 19 Jun, 3 Jul, 17 Jul, 31 Jul, 14 Aug, 28 Aug, 11 Sep, 25 Sep, 9 Oct, 23 Oct, 6 Nov, 20 Nov, 4 Dec, 18 Dec
2019: 21 Dec
2020: 4 Jan, 18 Jan, 1 Feb, 15 Feb, 29 Feb, 14 Mar, 28 Mar, 11 Apr, 25 Apr, 9 May, 23 May, 20 Jun, 4 Jul, 18 Jul, 1 Aug, 15 Aug, 29 Aug, 12 Sep, 26 Sep, 10 Oct, 24 Oct, 7 Nov, 21 Nov, 5 Dec, 19 Dec
2021: 2 Jan, 16 Jan, 30 Jan, 13 Feb, 27 Feb, 13 Mar, 27 Mar, 10 Apr, 24 Apr, 8 May, 22 May, 5 Jun, 19 Jun, 3 Jul, 17 Jul, 31 Jul, 14 Aug, 28 Aug, 11 Sep, 25 Sep, 9 Oct, 23 Oct, 6 Nov, 20 Nov, 4 Dec, 18 Dec
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Colombia or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Travel times in Colombia
The following times give you a rough idea of the travel times between the main attractions in Colombia.
Sample Colombia itineraries
Andes and Caribbean (14 days):
Bogotá > Villa de Leyva > Tatacoa Desert > San Agustín > Tierradentro > Cali > Santa Marta > Tayrona National Park > Cartagena
Western Colombia (14 days): Bogotá > Guatavita Lake > Coffee Region > Valle de Cocora > Medellin > Cartagena
Pacific Coast (10 days): Bogotá > Medellín > Santa Fe de Antioquia > Nuquí, Pacific Coast > Bogotá
Bogotá > Villa de Leyva > Tatacoa Desert > San Agustín > Tierradentro > Cali > Santa Marta > Tayrona National Park > Cartagena
Western Colombia (14 days): Bogotá > Guatavita Lake > Coffee Region > Valle de Cocora > Medellin > Cartagena
Pacific Coast (10 days): Bogotá > Medellín > Santa Fe de Antioquia > Nuquí, Pacific Coast > Bogotá
More about Colombia
The best time to go to Colombia is in December to March, when the Andes are drier.
Our Colombia travel guide explores this often misunderstood country where, as the tourist board once claimed, 'the only risk is wanting to stay'...
When it comes to things to do in Colombia, you’ll be torn between its vibrant culture and its astonishing nature.
Cali, on Colombia’s Pacific coast, is often referred to as the capital of salsa, and several distinctive styles have been formed here, which are performed not only in the city’s many dance venues and many prestigious salsa events every year.
With colourful colonial cities overflowing with flowers and spectacular national parks hiding secluded beaches only accessible via hikes through dense jungle, its little wonder Colombia’s Caribbean coast is the grand finale on most tours through the country.
From Cali to Cartagena, Colombia’s cities are shaking off their dangerous reputations and reinventing themselves as some of the most fascinating, forward-thinking cities in South America.
Tours through Colombia’s Zona Cafetera reveal the traditional coffee-making process, where coffee is still picked by hand, bean by bean from trees growing in rows up steep mountainsides.
Explore one of South America’s most important archaeological sites at San Agustín, hidden among verdant valleys lined with cloud forest, sugar cane and coffee plantations.
Colombia is pretty new to tourism, so its development in the next few years will be crucial in ensuring that this industry is sustainable and responsible...
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Nick Harris] [Rear-view mirror: Dan Gold]
[Amazon Milk Frog: Laura Wolf]
[Santa Barbara Church - Mompós: sergejf]
[Salsa: Joakant]
[Cartagena: Luis Vidal]
[Medellin: Juan Saravia]
[Beach - sunset: Christian Holzinger]
[Plaza - Popayan: Car710]
[Cocora Valley: Taavi Randmaa Randmaa]
[San Augustin statue: Laurent de Walick]
[San Gil: Lina Trochez]
[Tayrona National Park : David Shankbone]
[Villa de Leyva, Boyacá: Diego Andrés Alvarez Marín]
[Road - Boyaca: Dogoff Zambrano]
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