What to do in Colombia

Historic and trendy Bogotá, city of transformation Medellín, colonial Cartagena and Popayán, swinging Cali and Barranquilla. Colombia’s cities have something for everyone! A city tour with a local is a fun first introduction: not only will you get an “insider’s view” of the city and its history, but the guide will also give tips for the best restaurants and things to do along the way. Extra advantage: you immediately meet other travelers!

Colombia has many beautiful villages where you can have a great time. Watch village life from the square or a terrace and stroll past the beautiful houses and colonial churches in Barichara and Villa de Leyva, north of Bogotá. The villages of Jardín, Guatapé and Jericó are nice side trips from Medellín and in the coffee region are cute villages such as Salento, Filandia, Pijao and Buenavista.

Colombia has more than 50 national parks, ranging from the popular Tayrona National Park on the Caribbean coast to national parks in the Andes Mountains and the Amazon. Check out some of Colombia’s most beautiful national parks here .

From howler monkeys to giant anteaters, pink dolphins and whales; you can spot a wide variety of wildlife in Colombia. Hotspots include the Amazon and the Llanos Orientales. For whale watching Chocó (Pacific) is the “place to be.” Even if you stay in the big cities, nature is often nearby and with a little luck you can even spot wildlife in one of the city parks.

An encounter with indigenous Wayúu children in La Guajira, visits to Kogi and Arhuaco villages during the Ciudad Perdida trek, or meeting an indigenous community in the Amazon; because of its very own customs and traditions, meeting the local communities is a special experience as well as an enrichment of your trip.

Colombia is the 3rd largest coffee exporter in the world, a great place to immerse yourself into the secrets of the “black gold.” The Coffee Triangle (Zona Cafetera) is Colombia’s most famous coffee region, but most coffee is produced in the area of Medellín and the department of Huila, also known for the archaeological site San Agustín. More and more coffee plantations open their doors to tourists. You can take a coffee tour and spend a night at a finca.

Do you like a challenge? Then you are also in the right place in Colombia! You can do extreme sports like paragliding in Medellín, rock climbing in Suesca and the Chicamocha Gorge, rafting and abseiling in San Gil, kitesurfing in Cabo de la Vela. More interested in scuba diving? Colombia has some pristine, protected underwater parks and is a hot spot for diving with whale sharks on Isla Gorgona and much more…. (photo©ParapenteColombia)

Bogotá and Medellín are a paradise if you like shopping! The largest mall in Colombia is located in Medellín. The other major cities in Colombia also have one or more shopping malls. The larger malls have -in addition to the many stores and food courts-, usually a department store like the Éxito or Falabella. There is also a lot for children to do. This makes “a day of shopping” a fun outing for the whole family. Shopping tip: the malls and outlets in Barranquilla and Cali usually have lower prices than in more touristy cities such as Medellín, Bogotá and Cartagena.

With the largest number of bird species in the world, Colombia attracts many enthusiasts, who come to spot birds in such places as. Minca, Jardín, the Llanos, the nature reserves around Cali, into the rainforest Chocó, the Amazon and the Caldas region in the coffee triangle. (photo ©JulianLondoño)

Colombia has a number of well-preserved archaeological sites, such as San Agustín and Tierradentro. You can do a trek to the Lost City Ciudad Perdida and admire the recently discovered Indian drawings at San José del Guaviare. There are also a number of museums well worth visiting, such as the Gold Museum in Bogotá and the Palacio de la Inquisición in Cartagena. If you want to know more about Colombia’s more recent history, a visit to Museo de la Memoria in Medellín is a must. It is a modern, interactive museum, where you will gain insight into the history of the drug conflict. There is a separate room, where the victims of the years of drug violence have been given a face through the many photos and stories.

The setting of Colombia’s most beautiful beaches is impressive; jungle that ends on the beach in Tayrona National Park and Chocó, the isolated Playa Taroa in La Guajira, the uninhabited islets at San Andres and Providencia and the beaches on the Caribbean coast. If you go to the Rosario/ San Bernardo islands and San Andres/Providencia, bring your snorkeling gear!

Due to the enormous variety of coral reefs, fish and other underwater animals, Colombia is a top destination to (learn to) dive, including on the Caribbean island of Providencia. Isolated Isla Malpelo is the ultimate destination for experienced divers to dive with (whale) sharks. Check out our Top 5 Diving in Colombia here, featuring some of Colombia’s best dive sites (photo©ZuBlu)

Put on your dancing shoes and throw your hips into the salsa battle! Colombians are friendly and patient “teachers” who want to teach you the tricks of salsa dancing. Every major city has a dance school or salsa cafe. Hotspot for salsa is Cali. Check the best salsa clubs of Cali here and read about our own experience with Salsa dancing in Cali . One of the other fun places to learn to dance is Cartagena, where you can practice rhythms like champeta and vallenato in addition to salsa (photo©Insider Tours). Here you check the best dance workshops in Colombia.

For us, this is the ultimate place to unwind. The coffee triangle  (Eje Cafetero/Zona Cafetera) is such a place, where you can choose from hotsprings such as Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal and Termales San Vicente. Other chill spots include Paipa and Termales los Volcanes, (from Bogotá), Coconuco (Popayán), Los Ángeles Termal (Neiva) and the thermal pools of Jurubidá in Chocó, which you reach after an hour of hiking through the jungle.

You’ll find these laid-back spots in places such as Minca on the Caribbean coast. In Minca, you can climb on the back of a mototaxi and let the driver take you up the hill to this beautiful spot. Relax with a book in the hammock, or stay for the sunset. Colombia’s most exciting hammocks can be found in Abejorral, one of the villages in the vicinity of Medellín (90km). Here you can enjoy the view from a zipline hammock. Adrenaline rush guaranteed -:)

There are many unknown places in Colombia, which have barely been discovered by travelers. This makes traveling to these areas extra special. For example, you can climb the spectacular Cerros de Mavecure, hike in isolated Mitú, see Colombian cowboys at work in Casanare and hike to pink rivers in emerging eco-destination San José del Guaviare and the better-known pink river Caño Cristales.

If you have a chance to go to Colombia during the Christmas season, don’t hesitate! Colombians are very passionate when it comes to Christmas and have the most impressive Christmas lights and decorations. The Christmas lights (El Alumbrado) are lit as early as the end of November. Particularly beautiful are the Christmas lights in Medellín and Bogotá, near the mountain Monserrate.

The carnival in Barranquilla is one of the most famous events in Colombia. It’s  a celebration for locals and tourists alike, that goes on for days. Also special is the Carnaval de Blancos y Negros in Pasto. During the festival, locals paint their faces black and white, symbolizing the unity between different ethnic groups and cultures. This carnival takes place in January. During semana santa (Easter week) Popayán is the setting for Colombia’s largest Easter celebration, with a variety of religious ceremonies and processions. Other popular events include the Feria de las Flores (flower festival) in Medellín (August) and the salsa festival in Cali in September.

Fernando Botero was undoubtedly the most famous artist Colombia has ever known. His art is best known for the “oversized” sculptures that can be seen in Plaza Botero in Medellín, across from the Museo de Antioquia. It is highly recommended to visit the museum, with a collection of sculptures and paintings by Botero on the 3rd floor. In Bogotá you can also see Botero’s art, in the (free) Museo Botero. One of the most famous paintings in the museum is this parody of the Mona Lisa.

We saved the best tip for last Above all, enjoy the delicious food Colombia has to offer, from street food, comfort food and delicious fresh fruit to the best regional dishes! Read more in this article about Food Colombia