Wander Cartagena's walled colonial old town
Pastel-colored balconied buildings behind centuries-old fortifications, liveliest in the cooler evening hours after the midday Caribbean heat eases.
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South America
Things to do in Colombia
Colorful colonial cities, coffee-growing hills, Caribbean and Pacific coastlines on the same map, and a reputation that's shifted dramatically from its turbulent past toward one of South America's most exciting destinations.
Explore Colombia on the map →Budget$
Best for10-14 days
CapitalBogota
VisaVisa-free entry for up to 90 days for US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders.
CurrencyColombian peso (COP)
LanguagesSpanish
InternetGood in cities, variable in rural and Amazon regions
Typical lodging$20–$50/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage110V / 60Hz (Type A/B plug)
Time zoneUTC-5
Emergency number123 (unified emergency line)
Dialing code+57
★★★★★ Culture★★★★★ Adventure★★★★★ Food
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled or filtered water recommended. 10% at restaurants is common.
Colombia is the only South American country with coastlines on both the Caribbean and the Pacific, and its geography spans Andean peaks, Amazon rainforest, and desert within a single country. Its coffee region, the Zona Cafetera, produces some of the world's most sought-after arabica beans in a landscape recognized as a UNESCO Cultural Landscape.
When to go
Dry season (Andes/Bogotá region)December–March
The most reliable window for Bogotá, Medellín, and the coffee region, with less rain and clearer mountain views.
First wet seasonApril–May
Increasing rain in the Andean interior; the Caribbean coast stays comparatively dry and hot.
Mid-year dry seasonJune–September
A second, shorter dry window inland, plus good conditions on the Caribbean coast around Cartagena.
Second wet seasonOctober–November
The wettest months in the Andean interior; plan around this window for hiking-heavy itineraries.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
8Ride the cable car up to Comuna 13, Medellín
A once-notorious neighborhood transformed through public escalators and cable cars, now known for street art telling its own story of change.
Explore the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
An underground Catholic church carved into a working salt mine outside Bogotá, with chambers lit dramatically in colored light.
Explore Bogotá's Gold Museum
The world's largest collection of pre-Hispanic gold work, over 34,000 pieces tracing Indigenous metallurgy long before Spanish arrival.
Wander Bogotá's La Candelaria neighborhood
The colonial historic center, with colorful facades, street art, and the Botero Museum's distinctively rotund sculptures and paintings.
Visit the San Alejo flea market in Bogotá
A monthly antiques and curiosities market in Bogotá's Chapinero neighborhood, popular with locals as much as tourists.
Explore Villa de Leyva's colonial square
One of South America's largest cobblestone plazas, in a whitewashed colonial town that's changed remarkably little since the 16th century.
Explore the Museo del Oro Quimbaya and old town of Armenia
A quieter coffee-region base than Salento, with its own gold museum and easy access to nearby coffee farms and the Cocora Valley.
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Adventure & outdoors
2Trek to the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida)
A multi-day jungle trek to pre-Columbian ruins predating Machu Picchu by roughly 650 years, accessible only on foot with a licensed guide.
Paraglide over Medellín's Aburrá Valley
Tandem paragliding flights launch from hills above the city, with the metro cable cars and skyline visible below during the descent.
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Food & drink
4Tour a working coffee farm in the Zona Cafetera
Hands-on tours near Salento and Manizales cover the full process from bean to cup, set against a UNESCO-listed landscape of rolling hills.
Eat bandeja paisa in Medellín
A hearty regional plate of beans, rice, ground beef, chorizo, plantain, avocado, and egg: a full meal built for a working day, not a light lunch.
Drink a tinto (Colombian coffee) at a Bogotá café
Small, strong, and often sold from street carts, tinto is Colombia's everyday coffee ritual, distinct from the export-grade beans sold abroad.
Try arepas from a street vendor
Grilled or fried corn cakes, split and filled or eaten plain alongside a meal: the ubiquitous Colombian staple, with regional variations nationwide.
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Nature & scenery
3Hike among the wax palms in Cocora Valley
The tallest palm trees in the world, up to 60 metres, rising out of a cloud-forest valley near Salento, one of Colombia's most photographed landscapes.
Whale-watch off the Pacific coast near Nuquí
Humpback whales migrate to Colombia's remote Pacific coast to breed, visible on boat tours from small, jungle-backed fishing villages.
Go birdwatching in the Colombian Amazon near Leticia
Colombia holds the world's highest bird species count, and the Amazon region near Leticia offers guided lodges deep in the rainforest.
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Beaches
2Relax on the beaches of the Rosario Islands near Cartagena
A coral archipelago a short boat ride from Cartagena, with clear water good for snorkeling away from the mainland's heat and crowds.
Explore Tayrona National Park's jungle beaches$18–20
Caribbean coastline backed by dense jungle and Sierra Nevada peaks, reached by a hike or horseback ride from the park entrance.
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Nightlife
1Dance salsa in Cali, the salsa capital of the world
Cali's salsa scene is considered among the best globally, with dedicated dance clubs and even beginner classes for visitors most nights.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for Colombia?
Most Western passport holders, including US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian citizens, can enter visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism.
▾Is Colombia safe to visit now?
Tourism has grown enormously as security has improved over the past two decades, and major cities and tourist routes (Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, the coffee region) see millions of safe visits yearly. Standard precautions apply, and it's worth checking current advisories for specific rural regions before venturing off the main tourist trail.
▾Medellín or Bogotá, which is the better base?
Medellín has a milder climate, the famous Comuna 13 transformation story, and easy access to the coffee region; Bogotá is higher-altitude, more culturally dense with museums, and a better base for the Zipaquirá salt cathedral and nearby hikes.
▾Is Cartagena worth the trip beyond the old town?
Yes if paired with the nearby Rosario Islands or a Caribbean beach day, the walled colonial city alone is compact enough for 1-2 days before you'll want to venture out to the coast properly.
▾What altitude issues should I plan for?
Bogotá sits at roughly 2,640 metres, high enough to cause mild altitude effects for some visitors. Take it easy on your first day and stay hydrated before tackling any strenuous activity.
▾How much does it cost to visit Tayrona National Park?
Foreign visitor entry runs around COP 77,500 (roughly $18-20) in high season, dropping in the low season, plus a separate small insurance fee collected at the gate. The park closes for about a month early in the year for ecological rest, so check dates before planning around it.
