Colombia is a beautiful South American country that has it all. From coffee and cacao tours or the birthplace of salsa to beautiful Caribbean islands and busy cities, Colombia has a little bit of everything. It is filled with wonderful places to visit and needs to be on everyone’s bucket list. Here are the top fourteen must-see places to visit in Colombia.
TOP 14 Must-See Places TO VISIT IN COLOMBIA
1. BOGOTA
Located at an elevation of 2,640 m (8,660 ft) Bogota is the capital of Colombia. The most popular place to stay is in the historical district, La Candelaria. In addition, the city is famous for its’ incredible and legal street art. Be sure to go on the Bogota FREE Street Art Walking Tour when you are there.
Check out this article for more information about Bogota: 10 THINGS TO DO IN BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
2. CARTAGENA
Cartagena is a coastal city famous for Caribbean culture and history. It is the original port that the Spaniards used to colonize Colombia and is commonly used in Hollywood action movies. The city is very hot and humid so be sure to pack summer clothes. The seafood found in Cartagena is to die for as well so be sure to visit a ceviche place while you are there.
Learn more about Cartagena here: WHAT TO DO IN CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
3. SANTA MARTA
Santa Marta is a 5-hour bus ride from Cartagena. You can book a shuttle bus in Cartagena and it is faster and better than the public bus. The city of Santa Marta doesn’t have a lot to offer but it is the gateway to all the beautiful places around it. From Santa Marta, you can start the Lost City Trek, take a day trip to Minca or visit Tayrona National Park. It is also a great place to learn how to scuba dive.
Check out this article to learn more: 10 THINGS TO DO AROUND SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA
4. MINCA
Minca is a small mountain town that many people end up staying in for way too long. It has a relaxing and peaceful energy to it that draws people in each year. The town is about 1 hour from Santa Marta by bus. From Minca you can go on day hikes, visit a coffee plantation, learn about how cacao is turned into chocolate, swim in a waterfall and sit on the famous giant hammock.
Check out this article to learn more: WHY YOU NEED TO EXPLORE MINCA, COLOMBIA
5. TAYRONA NATIONAL PARK
Tayrona National Park is one of the more popular and famous tourist attractions in Colombia. It is common to go to the park and camp inside. There are hostels inside the park as well but they are farther away from the good beaches. To reach the best beaches you either need to start your day trip very early or spend the night in the park.
Learn more about Tayrona National Park here: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EXPLORING TAYRONA NATIONAL PARK
6. SAN ANDRÉS
San Andres is a Caribbean island that is geographically closer to Nicaragua than Colombia. It is a tax free island that attracts both foreigners and Colombians each year. If you enjoy scuba diving this is a great island to explore. It is also a shopping island and has great carribean food.
Check out this article to learn more about San Andres: WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE TRAVELING TO SAN ANDRES
7. PROVIDENCIA
While Providencia is one of the harder places to visit in Colombia it is completely the extra money and effort. The island of Providencia is a 20-minute flight from San Andres. The only way to get there is by flying from San Andres or taking a 4-hour boat ride from San Andres. The island is small enough to go around the whole island on a motorbike in 40 minutes. It is famous for Caribbean culture, food, and spectacular scuba diving.
Learn more about Providencia by reading this article: TRAVEL GUIDE TO PROVIDENCIA, COLOMBIA
8. MEDELLIN
Most famous for its’ connection to Pablo Escobar and famous regatón artists such as J Balvin and Maluma, Medellin is a beautiful city to explore. It has transformed into a safe and thriving city with endless things to do and see. The most popular thing to do is visit Comuna 13. If you are interested in the tour be sure to look into tours that directly support the Comuna 13 community so that your money goes to the people.
9. GUATAPE
Next on the best places to visit in Colombia is the beautiful town of Guatape. This town is a two-three hour bus ride from Medellin. It is famous for La Piedra Penol, a giant rock that overlooks the entire town. The city is also full of beautiful colors and streets. The town is small and best explore on a day trip or a short weekend trip.
10. JARDÍN
The small town of Jardín is a wonderful place to visit if you are looking to be in nature and find some peace and serenity. There are fabulous and beautiful hikes in all directions starting from Jardín. The town itself has a small plaza for food but is very small. You can get to Jardín by bus from Medellin. The ride is roughly 5 hours.
11. SALENTO
This coffee-farming town is the place to go to learn about great coffee. Colombia exports coffee all over the world and it is famous for its smooth and sweet flavor. In Salento, you can visit coffee plantations and learn about how coffee is made. You can also visit Valle de Cócora, a National park famous for the tallest and oldest Palm Trees in the world.
12. CALI
Cali is the birthplace of salsa and the place to go for dancing and nightlife. Every night is a party night when visiting Cali. The busiest time of year is in December because there is a salsa festival for the whole month. Never the less you can take classes, dance at salsa bars and see shows all year long.
13. SAN CIPRIANO
San Cipriano is a small river town located about 3 hours from Cali. You can take a local bus to the town entrance and then back to Cali. I recommend just going for a day trip. The city is well known for its go-cart train, the San Cipriano river and of course the beautiful hiking in every direction.
14. POPAYÁN
Popayan is a small city roughly 3 hours south of Cali. It was the original Capital of Colombia before it was switched to Bogota. Popayan is a great weekend trip from Cali or a great stopping point if you are headed to Ecuador from Colombia by bus. Be sure to try the delicious food, watch the sunset at the viewpoint and go on the FREE walking tour to learn about the history of the city.
Learn more about Popayan here: WEEKEND TRIP TO POPAYAN, COLOMBIA
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Overall Colombia is a beautiful country. It is filled with endless things to see, do and explore. Colombia was by far one of my favorite places to explore and I would go back in a heartbeat. Whether you are looking for the mountains, a big city, nightlife, or the beach Colombia is the place to be.
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