Things to Do
TIPS
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Whatever amount of time you think you'll spend in Colombia...double it. There is so much to see and do in the country, you'll essentially never get enough.
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From city life: partying, shopping, dancing, to nature; jungles, cloud forests, and beaches Colombia has every terrain you can think of, including the Andes. Pack for varied weather.
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If you're doing the lost city trek, leave most of your belongings at your hostel in Santa Marta. Trekking for days on end with your whole load, just won't do.
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A good raincoat is your best friend in Medellin, the city of eternal spring.
1. Medellin
From catching a football (soccer) match, taking a ride on the teleferico to Parc Arvi, visiting the colourful, and streetart laden Communa 13, free walking tours, Plaza Botero, all the way to Guatapé, Medellin is one of our favourite places in the world. The food, the people, the...everything. Oh and don't forget to go salsa dancing!
2. Cartagena
This colonial trading post serves as quite the tourist destination these days. You can spend an entire day walking the streets of old town, taking in the sights and sounds, and the local cuisine. There marvelous views from the still standing curtain wall. Catching a sunset for here is nothing short of magical. While the city is overpopulated, and the humidity is intense, the trip to Cartagena is well worth it. Plus, if you're a young backpacker looking for a party, you've come to the right place.
3. Santa Marta
Tayrona Park buckles you in for a 5-6hr round trip hike, but the reward is a white sand beach perfect for a nap, some lunch, and cooling off in the water before heading back. Speaking of long treks, the hike to the Lost City through the coastal jungles can be done over 4-6 days and is said to be the most grueling hike in South America. Minca is also become a big draw for it's biodiversity, cloud forest and hammock in the sky. Oh and make sure you go scuba diving while in Santa Marta we managed our cheapest prices to date here.
4. The Amazon!
Colombia does boast Amazonian Rainforests in the southeast, near the Brazilian border. Indigenous cultures, an absolutely endless amount of wildlife, and dazzling landscapes are just scratching the surface of the things you can marvel at in this region. The jungles can be perilous, and unsafe, so do travel with a guide.
5. Coffee Zone
With traditional architecture, super tasty restaurants, and of course coffee tours, Salento is well-established as a must-do in Colombia. The nearby Cocora Valley hike, a stunning trail through the mountains that passes through farms and cloud forest to arrive at a surreal valley full of the tallest palm trees in the world, is absolutely breathtaking as well. Other highlights in the Coffee Zone include the hot springs of Santa Rosa de Cabal, the mountains of Los Nevados National Park, and taking a hot-air balloon flight over the marvelous landscape.