2. Februar 2024
Keine Kommentare
Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, is located in the Andes Mountains, which provides stunning views and unique experiences. If you are planning a trip
Perfect 2-Week Itinerary for Colombia: A Comprehensive Guide
Are you looking for the perfect 2-week itinerary for Colombia? Look no further. This South American gem has so much to offer, from its stunning landscapes to its rich cultural heritage. In this article, we’ll take you on a journey through Colombia’s most iconic destinations and secret spots, providing you with all the information you need to plan your dream trip.
Jump to...
1. Basic Information about Colombia
Colombia is generally safe for tourists, but it’s important to take precautions and stay aware of your surroundings like any country. Take an Uber at night or in empty places and don’t showcase your valuables or jewelry.
The best time to visit Colombia is during the dry season, which runs from December to March and July to August. We visited Colombia in October and had decent weather all the time.
Visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. Some countries are exempt from needing a visa, while others can get a visa on arrival or need to apply for one in advance. You can check if you need a visa or not here. Flying to Colombia your airline will ask you for an onward (flight or bus) ticket. Be sure you can present one or if you don’t have travel plans yet, get a „loaned“ onward ticket here.
The cost of traveling to Colombia depends on your travel style and preferences. Generally, it’s possible to travel on a budget of around $30-$50 per day. We think you get a fair value for the money you spend!
While it’s certainly helpful to speak some Spanish, it’s not necessary. Many Colombians speak some English, especially in tourist areas. But it’s always better to know some basic phrases in Spanish as the locals will appreciate it.
2. How to Get Around
Getting around Colombia is relatively easy, with a range of transportation options available. Here are a few recommendations:
- Flights: If you’re traveling between destinations that are far apart, consider taking a domestic flight with Avianca or LATAM. Domestic flights are pretty cheap, we used Wingo a lot.
- Buses: Buses are a popular way to travel within Colombia. Companies like Bolivariano and Expreso Brasilia offer comfortable and affordable bus services.
- Taxis/Uber: Taxis are widely available in Colombia, but make sure to only use licensed taxis, especially in major cities like Bogotá and Medellín. That’s why we recommend you use Uber as it’s always possible to check the identity of the driver, the license plate, and the car.
3. Bogota (2 Nights)
Bogota is the capital and largest city of Colombia. It’s a bustling metropolis with a rich cultural heritage, diverse cuisine, and plenty of things to see and do. It is the perfect starting point for your Colombian adventure. We stayed at the Spotty Bogota Centro for 11€/12$ per person. It’s located in a skyscraper and when you’re lucky, you’ll get a room on the upper floors and have an awesome view over the city. It also has a restaurant, pool, gaming area, and gym. Other good options seem to be Torre Acqua Lofts, Torre Ventto Lofts (both are nice apartments in a skyscraper), or Hostal R10 (a nice hostel option).
We did a free walking tour through the different neighborhoods of the old town and loved it. La Candelaria is a historic neighborhood that is home to many of Bogota’s most iconic landmarks, including the Plaza de Bolivar, the Cathedral of Colombia, and the Gold Museum. Visitors can also admire the colorful street art and colonial architecture. If you’re a fan of the Netflix series Narcos, you’ll recognize some squares.
You definitely should take the cable car or funicular up to Mount Monserrate which is located 3.200 above sea level. It’s also possible to hike the pedestrian trail up to Mount Monserrate. This mountain peak offers stunning views of the city and the surrounding Andes mountains. Once at the top, you can also explore the church and market.
4. Salento (2 Nights)
On the way from Bogota to Medellin, it’s a good idea to stop in Salento! Salento is a picturesque town in the heart of the coffee region. Here, you can explore coffee farms, hike through the Cocora Valley, and immerse yourself in the local culture. Salento is also home to the tallest palm trees in the world, some of which grow up to 60m tall.
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to go there, as there was huge flooding when we visited Colombia. But if we would plan a trip for you and that’s what this post is all about, we would definitely include it.
5. Medellin (4 Nights)
Next, head to Medellín, the city of eternal spring. It got this name because it is so green and the weather is always pleasant. Explore the city’s vibrant street art scene, take a cable car to the top of the hill for breathtaking views, and learn about the city’s history at the Casa de la Memoria. Our personal highlight was visiting Comuna 13.
El Poblado is the area, where you should look for a hotel and we can recommend Viajero Hostel and it’s an awesome choice, where we paid about 17€ per person per night in a double room. Alternatively, you can also party on the rooftop of the neighboring Los Patios Hostel. If you don’t like hostels check out La Martina Hotel Boutique just around the corner. There we paid about 18€ per person per night including breakfast.
Just outside of Medellín, you’ll find the charming town of Guatapé. This colorful town is known for its unique architecture, stunning views, and outdoor activities. Don’t miss climbing the 740 steps to the top of the Piedra del Peñol for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. It’s a perfect destination for a day trip.
We were so surprised by Colombia’s second-largest city and stayed for a week in total. If you wanna know more about Medellin, read our article about this beautiful city!
6. Santa Marta & Tayrona National Park (3-4 Nights)
Take a domestic flight from Medellin to Santa Marta on the Caribbean Coast. Santa Marta is a coastal city known for its beaches and as a gateway to Tayrona National Park. It is a stunning park with beautiful beaches, hiking trails, and ancient ruins. In Santa Marta, we stayed at the Akuamarina Hotel. It was 12,50€/14$ per person including breakfast for a double room. It was a decent place and only 10 minutes by foot to the center. We would also recommend the Distrito Hostel or República Bahía Santa Marta Hostel (nice community hostels), Masaya Santa Marta (good location with pool), Hotel Boutique ADAZ (also decent location), or Placita Vieja Hotel Boutique Spa (a more upscale option).
Tayrona National Park is a protected area on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush tropical forest. Be sure to arrive early as there will be queues at the park entrance. Opening hours of the park are 8 am to 5 pm and the entrance is 14,50€ or 17,20€ depending on the season.
Our favorite destination inside the park was Cabo San Juan. The hiking trail there takes you 2 1/2-3 hours through the jungle and, depending on the weather (it rained the whole night before we went), also through swamp and mud. We had to take our shoes off halfway through and continue wading barefoot. It was an adventure but so worth it! This iconic beach is one of the most beautiful we have ever seen, with clear blue waters, white sand, and dramatic rock formations. If you are adventurous, you can also camp overnight in a hammock at the beach. You can also reach Tayrona National Park on a day trip from Santa Marta.
Here’s an absolute secret tip: we stayed at Costeño Beach Hostal, one of the best hostels we’ve ever stayed in. It’s located right next to the Tayrona National Park (only 20 minutes by scooter), directly at the beach with a beautiful pool, delicious food and drinks for reasonable prices, and lots of activities! If you wanna visit the park from there you can take a motor taxi to the entrance, hike to Cabo San Juan and take a boat back to the beach in front of the hostel in the afternoon. It was a perfect day!
7. Cartagena (2-3 Nights)
Finish your trip in Cartagena, a stunning colonial city on the Caribbean coast. It’s a 5-hour bus drive from Santa Marta to Cartagena. Explore the city’s vibrant Old Town, visit the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, and relax on the beautiful beaches. We had our hotel in Getsemani which is an up-and-coming neighborhood known for its street art, trendy cafes, and nightlife scene. It’s a great place to experience the local culture and meet friendly locals.
We stayed the first night in a dorm at Casa Zahri Boutique Hostel. After that, we tried Casa San Juan which is located even better but pretty noisy. Alternatively, we recommend staying at Hotel Casa Cytia (nice location with pool), Life is Good Cartagena Hostel (nice rooms with a small rooftop pool), Voila Getsemani (very cool Boutique hotel), or Hotel Casa del Gobernador (luxury option).
The Old Town of Cartagena is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the heart of its colonial charm. Visitors can wander the narrow streets, admire the colorful buildings, and explore the historic plazas and churches. The best way to explore the old town of Cartagena is with a Free Walking Tour. We did our tour with Beyond Colombia (like in Bogota) and loved it.
8. Thing we missed but you shouldn't
Popayán: one of Colombia’s most beautiful colonial towns, known for its whitewashed buildings and rich history.
San Andrés: A Caribbean island known for its stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters. San Andrés is located in front of Nicaragua but it belongs to Colombia. So you have to take a flight from the Colombian mainland.
Minca: highest coastal mountains in the world. It’s famous for its natural beauty, biodiversity, and eco-tourism activities. A lot of our friends went to Minca and they loved it. The views are amazing and it just has a relaxed vibe.
9. Conclusion
We were very surprised by Colombia. It is a beautiful country that has so much to offer. From vibrant cities to stunning natural landscapes, it’s a destination that should be on every traveler’s bucket list. Medellin even became one of our favorite cities in South America and Costeno Beach was one of the best hotels ever. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your dream trip to Colombia today!
Subscribe
0 Comments
Newest
Blogging costs time and money. Do you want to value our work? We appreciate a tip in our virtual coffee fund at PayPal, so we can keep our website running.
Are you planning a trip?!
Then these platforms might help you. We use them for all our travels and if you use them, too by clicking the link we earn a small fee. Yet, you don’t pay extra, but we can keep this site running. Win-win!
Pinterest
Facebook
WhatsApp
More Adventures
16. November 2023
Keine Kommentare
Before we traveled to Peru, we didn’t have this city on our radar at all. But we can tell you now: don’t miss Arequipa! We
7. Februar 2023
Keine Kommentare
What stories haven’t you heard about Medellin? Once the most dangerous city in the world, it has changed dramatically since the death of Pablo Escobar.