In a nutshell
- Colombia is an incredibly diverse country — it has everything you could want from a South America trip, from cool cities to dream beaches to lush rainforests.
- To give you a solid first impression and some real inspiration for your trip to Colombia, we’re sharing our 22 favorite things to do in Colombia — all personally visited.
- The absolute top highlights are the cities of Medellín and Cartagena, the Coffee Triangle with the Valle de Cocora, and the stunning Caribbean beaches.
- Ready to explore? Here’s everything you need to know about the best places to visit in Colombia.
Orientation: Where to Find Colombia’s Highlights — With Map
For a quick overview, we’ve marked all 22 of our top picks on a map of Colombia.
The Most Beautiful Cities in Colombia
Colombia is incredibly rich in culture and history — which means its cities are absolutely worth your time. Here are our top recommendations.
Medellín
While Medellín was the most dangerous city in the world in the early 1990s, it’s now a genuine tourist magnet and, in our opinion, the coolest city in Colombia.
There’s so much to see and do in Medellín. Our standout favorite is the Comuna 13 neighborhood, which has a heartbreaking but fascinating history and is now totally colorful and hip.
A great contrast is the city’s beautiful green spaces — like the Botanical Garden and Parque Arvi, perched on a hillside at the edge of the city. You can only get up there by cable car, which is an experience in itself.
More about Medellín here:
Cartagena
Quite different from Medellín is Cartagena, a city on the Caribbean coast in the north. It’s one of Colombia’s oldest and most historically rich cities — a place where you can really dig into Colombia’s past.
The must-sees in Cartagena include the Fortress of San Felipe de Barajas, the stunning old town, and the city walls.
With temperatures above 86°F year-round, Cartagena is seriously hot. After a day of sightseeing, you’ll probably just want to jump in the ocean — and the beautiful Caribbean islands just off the coast are perfect for exactly that.
Read our articles about Cartagena:
Bogotá
Bogotá is the capital and largest city in Colombia. Since most international flights route through Bogotá, it ends up on almost every Colombia itinerary.
Honestly, it’s not one of our personal favorites — but it does have some genuinely cool things to see, including the La Candelaria historic district and the Cerro Monserrate viewpoint.
Read our articles about Bogotá:
Cali
Cali isn’t exactly a beauty, but it has its own charm. What makes it special is the atmosphere — shaped entirely by salsa culture. It’s no coincidence that Cali is the world capital of salsa. People dance in the streets day and night. If you want to learn the moves, this is definitely the place to do it.
The prettiest corners of the city are the Iglesia Ermita along the Cali River and the hip San Antonio neighborhood, where you’ll find cute cafés and a lovely park with great views over the city. An even better panorama awaits at Cerro Tres Cruces, reachable by a solid hike.
Our hotel tip for Cali: Magic Garden House
Santa Marta
Santa Marta is the oldest city in South America and sits right on the Atlantic coast. It’s not a particularly beautiful city — and yet nearly every traveler stops here. Why?
It’s all about the surroundings. This is where some of Colombia’s most stunning attractions are concentrated, making Santa Marta the perfect base for day trips.
Top things to do nearby include exploring Tayrona National Park with its dream beaches and tackling the Ciudad Perdida hike through the jungle. The small town of Minca, with its many waterfalls, is also absolutely worth a detour.
Read our article about Santa Marta too:
The Most Beautiful Beaches in Colombia
Colombia is best known for its stunning Caribbean coastline — and with all the dreamy islands and laid-back beach towns, it’s easy to see why.
San Andrés
Colombia sits on the Caribbean, so gorgeous beaches come with the territory. Some of the most beautiful beaches in Colombia are on the island of San Andrés, located out in the middle of the Caribbean and best reached by plane.
San Andrés is a picture-perfect island — white sand, turquoise water, the works. You’ll find luxury hotels as well as more budget-friendly places to stay. In the evenings, the beach clubs bring a lively scene.
Popular activities on San Andrés include snorkeling and diving.
Diving Experience on San Andrés
Isla Providencia
Providencia Island sits about 90 kilometers north of San Andrés and is noticeably less crowded than its neighbor — which is exactly why we think the beaches here are just a touch more beautiful.
Our favorite spots are South West Bay and Fresh Water Bay. The crystal-clear water makes Isla Providencia ideal for snorkeling and diving.
The best way to get there is by boat from San Andrés. You can also spend the night — though don’t expect big hotels. It’s mostly small guesthouses, which honestly adds to the charm.
Our hotel tip for Isla Providencia: South West Bay Cabañas
Tayrona National Park
Tayrona National Park is one of our personal top picks in Colombia. Located near Santa Marta on the Atlantic coast, it’s famous for its absolutely stunning beaches.
Beyond dream beaches like La Piscina and Cabo San Juan, the park has beautiful hiking trails where you can spot exotic wildlife — think monkeys and toucans.
For something really special, you can also stay overnight inside the national park. We go into all the details in our guide to Tayrona Park.
Read our article about Tayrona National Park:
Islas del Rosario & de San Bernardo
The Rosario Islands are an archipelago of 28 islands and a popular day-trip destination from Cartagena, reachable in about 45 minutes by boat.
Not far away is another island group: the Islas de San Bernardo, located two hours from Cartagena.
Both archipelagos offer paradise beaches and great snorkeling. They’re also quite similar to each other — so in our opinion, visiting one is enough.
By the way: Santa Cruz del Islote in the San Bernardo Islands is one of the most densely populated places on Earth. It’s made up of 100 tightly packed houses where 1,200 people live — on just 1.2 hectares! For comparison: a soccer field is about one hectare. Pretty wild, right?
Catamaran Tour to the Rosario Islands
Private Boat Tour to the Rosario Islands
La Guajira and Palomino
La Guajira is the region that forms the northeastern tip of Colombia along the border with Venezuela. At the start of the region lies the popular beach town of Palomino. The beach here is lined with palm trees, and you can try tubing on the Palomino River — a fun, laid-back activity.
Further north, the landscape turns to desert. A popular spot is Cabo de la Vela, where you’ll find beautiful desert beaches and excellent conditions for kitesurfing. It’s easiest to book your trip to Cabo de la Vela in Palomino or Santa Marta.
Our hotel tip for Palomino: Palomino Sunrise
Pacific Coast
With so many Caribbean beaches stealing the spotlight, most people forget that Colombia also has a stunning Pacific coast. The upside? It’s often skipped on a Colombia itinerary, which means it’s far less crowded.
Beyond beautiful beaches like Almejal and Playa Juan De Dios, the Pacific coast is a paradise for wildlife lovers. Whale watching is a hugely popular activity here, as many whales inhabit these waters.
For more action, head to one of the surf beaches. The town of Nuqui is a great base and has a solid range of places to stay.
Our hotel tip: Lodge El Amargal
Nature Highlights in Colombia
Colombia has so much more to offer than just beaches — think rainforests, towering mountains, and desert landscapes. Here are the natural highlights you really shouldn’t miss.
Valle de Cocora
The Valle de Cocora is the most popular attraction in Colombia’s Coffee Triangle — the name for the region around Pereira, where coffee plantations cover the hillsides. But the area is famous not just for its coffee. It’s also home to Colombia’s iconic wax palms.
These towering palms grow especially beautifully in the Cocora Valley. A hiking trail winds through the unique landscape, passing viewpoints where you can snap some seriously stunning photos. The national park entrance fee is 15,000 COP.
The Valle de Cocora is right next to the town of Salento, which makes a perfect base. You can easily pair a hike into the valley with a visit to a coffee plantation — a great combination for a full day out.
Guided Tour to the Valle de Cocora and a Coffee Plantation
Read our article about the Valle de Cocora too:
Ciudad Perdida
Ciudad Perdida is one of Colombia’s most significant archaeological sites — and it’s even older than Machu Picchu in Peru. It was built around 700 AD by the Tayrona people.
Today, the Lost City is a top experience that can only be reached via a guided, multi-day hiking tour through the jungle near Santa Marta. Most tours last four days and cost 1,750,000 COP.
Read our trip report on the Ciudad Perdida hike too:
Leticia on the Amazon
Like Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia, a large portion of Colombia is Amazon territory. The main gateway for exploring the Colombian Amazon is Leticia.
The town sits at the very south of the country on the Amazon River, right at the borders with Brazil and Peru. From here, multi-day jungle tours take you to spot exotic wildlife, explore by boat, and visit indigenous communities.
The quickest way to reach Leticia is by plane from Bogotá. Once there, you’ll find a range of great places to stay.
Our hotel tip for Leticia: Cabañas Yakuruna
Tatacoa Desert
The Tatacoa Desert shows you yet another completely different side of Colombia — and it’s not technically a desert at all, but a tropical dry forest.
You’ll find remarkable sandstone formations that look like a kind of mini-canyon. What makes it especially unique is the contrast between a red zone and a gray zone, each with totally different colored rock formations.
The Tatacoa Desert is still something of a local favorite that most tourists overlook — which means fewer crowds and a more authentic feel. The nearest larger city is Neiva, where you’ll find the most accommodation options.
Our hotel tip for Neiva: GHL Hotel Neiva
Caño Cristales
While Peru and Argentina have rainbow mountains, Colombia has a rainbow river — also known as the Five Colors River.
Forbes Magazine named it the most beautiful river in the world, and it’s easy to see why. From June to October, the river glows in shades of red, yellow, green, blue, and pink. The photos of this natural wonder are absolutely jaw-dropping.
Despite all this, Caño Cristales remains one of Colombia’s lesser-visited attractions. Part of the reason is that the area around Serranía de La Macarena National Park was rebel territory for a long time, making visits impossible for years.
Today the area is open to tourists again, but getting there is complicated and guided tours to Caño Cristales are on the pricier side.
3-Day Tour from Bogotá to Caño Cristales
Small Towns and Culture
Last but not least, here are some genuinely charming villages and cool cultural highlights that make Colombia so special.
Barichara
Barichara is, for us, the most beautiful town in Colombia. It’s in the mountainous Santander region near Bucaramanga, and its colonial architecture is truly something special.
Every street and every house is absolutely adorable. You stop feeling like you’re in Colombia — it feels more like a picturesque little town in Spain.
Barichara sits on a hillside, and if you walk to the top, you’re rewarded with a beautiful vista over the surrounding valley and mountain range. Up here you’ll also find the Salto del Mico viewpoint — a great spot for some memorable photos.
Our hotel tip for Barichara: La Loma Barichara
San Gil
Not far from Barichara is San Gil — known as the adventure sports capital of Colombia. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you’ll love this place. Bungee jumping, canyoning, paragliding, rafting, and so much more — it’s all here.
We’re especially fond of the Chicamocha Canyon, which is a little reminiscent of the Colca Canyon in Peru, but far less touristy. A paragliding flight over the canyon is a seriously fantastic experience — you can book it through a travel agency or your hotel in San Gil.
Our hotel tip for San Gil: Hotel Santorini
Salento
We already mentioned Salento as the perfect base for the Valle de Cocora — but the town itself is a genuine highlight. It’s full of cute, colorful houses, and great coffee is available absolutely everywhere.
The main street, Calle Real, is perfect for a leisurely stroll, and from Salento’s viewpoints you’ll enjoy great views over the town and the surrounding landscape.
Our hotel tip for Salento: Terrazas de Salento
Read our article about Salento too:
Guatapé
The small, colorful town of Guatapé sits on a huge reservoir near Medellín. The star attraction is the Piedra del Peñol — a massive granite rock of volcanic origin located just about five kilometers from town.
Around 650 steps lead to the top, where you’re rewarded with a stunning panorama of the breathtaking landscape below.
Guatapé itself is also worth a wander, with charming alleyways, colorful houses, and a lovely waterfront promenade.
Day Trip to Guatapé from Medellín
Catedral de Sal
The Catedral de Sal is a truly one-of-a-kind church. It’s located inside a salt mine about 180 meters underground. During your visit, you’ll walk through underground tunnels and discover 14 small chapels and many impressive salt formations.
Fair warning: the Catedral de Sal is quite touristy and has lost a bit of its charm over the years. There are even cafés inside, and souvenirs are sold everywhere.
Our tip: Every Sunday at noon, a church service is held inside. It’s a genuinely authentic experience and well worth timing your visit around.
The town of Zipaquirá, where the Salt Cathedral is located, is also really worth seeing. It’s about 50 kilometers north of Bogotá.
The whole thing makes for a great day trip from Bogotá.
Skip-the-Line Ticket to the Salt Cathedral
Guided Tour from Bogotá to the Salt Cathedral
Hacienda Nápoles
Hacienda Nápoles is the former country estate of drug lord Pablo Escobar. The property covers around 3,000 hectares.
As one of the wealthiest people of his time, Escobar had enormous dinosaur statues, luxury residences, a landing strip, and much more built on the grounds.
Today the estate operates as a kind of theme park with a zoo, pool areas, and more. At the same time, a museum tells the full story of Escobar — and that story is anything but light.
