Caribbean old towns, coffee hills and Andean cities.
Colombia spans Caribbean and Pacific coasts, the Andes and the Amazon. It suits travellers who enjoy colourful towns, coffee country, salsa and biodiversity. It is known for Cartagena's walled city, Medellín's transformation and the Coffee Cultural Landscape. The US government currently advises visitors to reconsider travel, so plan routes carefully and stay informed.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
Cartagena's old town is ringed by colonial walls and full of colourful balconies. The San Felipe fortress guards the city.
The coffee region has green hills, farms and colourful towns. Farm tours explain growing and roasting.
Cocora is a valley of tall wax palms, Colombia's national tree. Loop hikes start from the entrance.
Tayrona has jungle-backed beaches and Indigenous heritage. Trails lead to coves like Cabo San Juan.
Comuna 13 is a hillside neighbourhood known for street art and outdoor escalators. Local guides explain its history.
El Peñol is a huge rock with steps to the top over a lake landscape. Guatapé town has painted houses.
La Candelaria is Bogotá's historic centre with colonial houses and street art. The Gold Museum is nearby.
The Gold Museum holds thousands of pre-Columbian gold objects. It explains Indigenous cultures.
Ciudad Perdida is an ancient Tairona city in the jungle reached by a multi-day trek. Only licensed operators lead it.
This underground church is carved inside a salt mine. Lights add to the atmosphere.
San Agustín has hundreds of ancient stone statues in green hills. It is one of South America's major sites.
Villa de Leyva is a colonial town with a huge cobbled square. Fossils and deserts lie nearby.
The Rosario Islands are coral islands with clear water near Cartagena. Boat trips run daily.
Caño Cristales is a river that turns red with aquatic plants from about June to November. Access is by small plane and guided tour.
Mompox is a colonial river town that time seems to have passed by. It is known for filigree jewellery.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Caribbean colonial city.
history, beaches · Open the city guideSpring-like city.
culture, nightlife · Open the city guideCapital and museums.
culture, gateway · Open the city guideCoffee country.
nature · Guide comingTayrona gateway.
beaches, gateway · Guide comingColonial town.
history · Guide comingKnown as the salsa capital; a base for Valle del Cauca (see government advice for surrounding areas).
music, nightlife, food · Guide comingAdventure sports hub near Barichara.
adventure, rafting, villages · Guide comingHot coast with colonial towns.
Cartagena, Tayrona, Lost City
Mountain region around Medellín.
Medellín, Guatapé
Green hills and farms.
Salento, Cocora, Manizales
Cool capital and colonial towns.
Bogotá, Zipaquirá, Villa de Leyva
Wetter, more remote area with Afro-Colombian culture and archaeology; check government advice for each department.
Cali, San Agustin, Popayan
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: December to March and July to August. These are the drier months in most of the Andes and the Caribbean.
Climate depends on altitude more than season: the coast is hot all year, Bogotá is cool, and rain is common in April to May and October to November.
January. Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.
85°F daily high, 81°F average, 0.1 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
US State Department Level 3 (reconsider travel) due to crime, terrorism, unrest and kidnapping; some regions are do not travel, and drugging is a risk in cities.
Domestic flights are cheap and quick; buses are slow on mountain roads.
Good value for food, stays and flights.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Check current visa and entry rules on the visa types page of Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (cancilleria.gov.co), and your own government's travel advice, before you book, as rules change. |
| Plugs | Type A, B; 110 V, 60 Hz |
| Tap water | varies |
| Tipping | A 10 percent service charge is often suggested. |
| Payments | Cards in cities, cash in small towns. |
| Emergency | 123 police and ambulance, 119 fire |
| Etiquette | Colombians are warm and polite. Avoid jokes about drugs and never leave drinks unattended. |
| Driving | On the right |
| Between cities | Domestic flights are the best way between regions. Buses are cheap but slow. Use apps or registered taxis rather than hailing in the street. |
| Main airports | BOG, MDE, CTG, SMR |
| Ride apps | Uber |
Indigenous cultures such as the Muisca and Tairona lived here before Spanish colonisation in the 16th century. Colombia gained independence in 1819 under Simón Bolívar. Much of the late 20th century was marked by armed conflict involving guerrillas, paramilitaries and drug cartels. A 2016 peace agreement with the FARC improved security in many areas, though some regions remain unsafe.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.