Colombia is an up-and-coming vacation spot in South America that has one thing to supply all people. With a various vary of landscapes, from gorgeous seashores to the snow-capped Andes, you may be hard-pressed to search out some other place on the planet fairly prefer it. That’s why making a complete Colombia itinerary isn’t any simple feat—particularly when you solely have 2 weeks!
Positive, the nation has a nasty rap from the times of Colombian drug lords, however these occasions of needing to ask your self “is it secure?” are largely behind this nation. It’s shortly modernizing and opening its arms to the world.
So, if you’re searching for a culturally wealthy vacation spot with a variety of jaw-dropping surroundings and sprawling cities, then look no additional. Right here’s easy methods to spend 2 weeks in Colombia the fitting means.
Methods to Get Round Colombia
Colombia is a reasonably large nation, which signifies that getting round it will probably take a while. That is very true as a result of there are such a lot of locations to go to which are unfold other than each other.
That stated, there are two simple methods of getting between main locations in Colombia: bus and airplane. And the excellent news is that airplane costs are literally fairly low cost. Throughout our journey round Colombia, we discovered Avianca to be essentially the most dependable and fairly priced airline, which took us nearly in all places we needed to go.
However when you’ve got extra time, the buses are even cheaper. You need to use websites like Busbud to search out buses to take you from Level A to Level B. Or you may go to any of the close by bus stations and ask to see the schedules and costs — that is often essentially the most dependable means.
2 Weeks in Colombia Itinerary
Colombia is definitely an enormous and numerous nation, and there’s completely no means you may see every part right here in simply 2 weeks. The next itinerary is designed to soak up a number of the greatest that the nation has to supply and to point out you the highlights.
Though you may actually cram extra right into a 2-week journey, I might not advocate it. It is much better to spend some high quality time attending to know a vacation spot than simply ticking off “must-sees” and by no means actually experiencing the nation.
Having stated all that, let’s get began within the steamy Caribbean metropolis of Cartagena to kick off your 2 weeks in Colombia!
Day 1-3: Cartagena
The colourful streets of Cartagena, ColombiaCartagena is the proper place to reach in Colombia as a result of it’s simple to get round and has a variety of close by sights. You’ll be able to mix relaxation and rest on a seaside with a bit of nightlife and exploring on the town. It’s the proper introduction to Colombian tradition.
Discover Downtown Cartagena
The most effective methods to get an summary of town is to move to Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, which is strategically positioned on a hill exterior of city. After all, the Spanish constructed it right here for that very purpose, because it has a commanding view of all approaches to town.
Subsequent on the agenda is a strolling tour of the historic Cartagena. You’ll be able to all the time do that your self, ticking off the objects as you go, however I choose to take the free strolling excursions in Colombia. They don’t seem to be really “free” as it is best to give a tip on the finish.
Nevertheless, they’re run by locals, and it gives them with a job. Plus, you get actual, native insider information into town, and so they’ll cowl the entire highlights of town and a few locations you wouldn’t usually get to see.
Head to Playa Blanca
Among the greatest seashores within the nation are positioned up north, so Cartagena is effectively positioned to get you a bit of seaside time. Some of the picturesque and likewise handy seashores is Playa Blanca, simply exterior of Cartagena.
You’ll be able to attain it both by boat or street. I choose the water, because it takes simply 45 minutes from the port. In any other case, you may take native transport, however it will probably take at the least two hours.
Social gathering With the Locals
If there’s one place to occasion when you are in Colombia, it’s in Cartagena. It’s famend with each the locals and backpackers, and there are a few nice choices to stay it up right here.
The primary is the Chiva Bus, which is kind of a neighborhood factor. It features a tour across the completely different barrios of town, together with an on-board bar and musicians taking part in native Vallenato music.
If that doesn’t sound like your form of factor, the opposite widespread choice is the Media Luna Hostel occasion, which takes place each Wednesday evening.
The one method to get to Tayrona from Cartagena is by street. You’ll have to get on a few buses and make your means slowly there through Santa Marta.
Santa Marta is round 4 hours by bus from Cartagena, and it’s an additional hour to Tayrona. When you select, you may spend an evening in Santa Marta. It isn’t essentially the most gorgeous metropolis to go to, nevertheless it’s a handy spot to cease for the evening, and it’s additionally a launching level for Minca and the well-known Misplaced Metropolis Trek.
Day 3-5: Tayrona Nationwide Park
Cabo San Juan, Tayrona Nationwide Park, ColombiaTayrona Nationwide Park is maybe the most well-liked park in Colombia, and for good purpose. It combines gorgeous seashores, with untouched magnificence—and all only a day away from Cartagena.
Tayrona is gorgeous and there’s heaps to see there, however don’t anticipate action-packed events. It’s a Nationwide Park, in any case.
Hike to the Numerous Seashores
Tayrona is likely one of the greatest locations to return if you wish to do some mountaineering in Colombia. And even if you’re not usually into mountaineering, it is a great spot to only go for a stroll.
Take a while to hike to the varied seashores, beginning with the most well-liked, Cabo San Juan. But in addition make sure to spend a while on the less-visited ones, too. Some usually are not solely simply as picturesque, however they’re typically abandoned, too.
Go to El Pueblito
This Kogi settlement is an effective way to get a style for the tradition and other people whose land this really is. After all, additionally, you will come throughout a number of the individuals if you end up making your means across the park, however this is a bit more particular to your Colombia itinerary.
Calm down a Little
The most effective issues to do whereas in Tayrona is to only spend a bit of downtime on the seashores or in your lodging. There are few distractions within the park as a result of there isn’t any WiFi, no noise and it’d generally seem to be nothing to do. So, get pleasure from it, and catch your self a bit of R&R.
There are many flights every day trip of Santa Marta airport, and given the gap to Medellin, it’s the most suitable choice. After all, attending to the airport may also be finished a wide range of methods. Some accommodations and hostels supply shuttles, however the most cost-effective choice is a colectivo bus to Santa Marta, then a taxi from downtown.
When you completely should torture your self and go by bus, it is going to take the very best a part of a day (15 to twenty hours) and may not even prevent any cash.
Day 6-9: Medellin & Guatapé
View over Guatapé, ColombiaGetting to Medellin will be finished simply by inner flight from Santa Marta, and it takes simply over an hour. As you land, you will notice the sprawling metropolis that appears to fill each crevice and hill on this valley.
Medellin has moved on from the times of Pablo Escobar, and the individuals right here are literally not an enormous fan of his, so don’t run round asking about him. There’s little or no in the way in which of hazard right here, so long as you are taking the same old precautions of staying away from iffy areas at evening and never flaunting your valuables.
Take a Free Strolling Tour
There are some things it is best to completely do right here to profit from your time in Medellin and, finally, to profit from your Colombia itinerary. The primary, like in Cartagena, is to take a Free Strolling Tour and get to know town as an entire, together with its sordid historical past.
This is not going to solely offer you an awesome overview of the downtown space, however it is going to additionally give you some insider ideas and information, too. You additionally get to see a number of the highlights like Botero Plaza, the place you may see the enjoyable “fats” paintings of Botero, who hails from right here.
Journey the Metro Cable to Arvi Park
One other enjoyable half-day (and even full-day) tour is to move out to the Metrocable that climbs slowly up and over the hills to Arvi Park. This provides you an fascinating perspective into the less-well-off inhabitants of town, in addition to a spectacular view of the realm.
And, the ultimate stretch is thru the center of a fairly wild park, the place you may spend the entire day mountaineering if you want. Or you may merely return to Medellin once more.
Try Comuna 13
On the opposite facet of Medellin is Comuna 13. This was as soon as a spot you’d by no means head as a vacationer. Now, it is filled with them.
You’ll be able to take a tour with a neighborhood and study all about their lives right here, or just experience the escalators to the highest of this hillside group and discover the graffiti-adorned roads. You would possibly even get fortunate and see some super-talented break dancers on the prime.
Go to Guatapé
Guatapé is a well-liked facet journey from Medellin for a purpose. The city is positioned in a water-filled, picturesque area of the nation and has some nice actions to maintain you busy for a day. It’s a must-see in your Colombia itinerary.
It takes round two hours to achieve there from Medellin, so go away early and are available again late if attainable. It’s also possible to spend an evening, nevertheless it’s not mandatory.
The 2 foremost issues you’ll want to see when you are listed here are the large monolith, El Peñol (also called the Guatape Rock), in addition to the attractive colonial city itself. The hike to the highest of the Guatape Rock is a climb up 740 steps. It ought to solely take about 15 to twenty minutes, and also you’ll have spectacular views from there.
Salento is a good distance from Medellin, so if you’re pressed for time, I like to recommend flying, which solely takes 50 minutes. Nevertheless, you don’t land in Salento itself, however fairly the closest massive metropolis, Pereira. From right here you need to both take a taxi immediately or head simply downtown to the bus station, after which take a bus to Salento. Direct with a taxi is round an hour; with the bus combo, it’d take you two or extra, relying on connections.
When you select to take a bus to Salento immediately from Medellin, simply bear in mind that it’s at the least six hours over lengthy, winding roads, which, though scenic, are tremendous time-consuming. When you don’t need to eat that point up out of your Colombia itinerary, we don’t advocate the bus journey. That stated, it’d prevent just a few {dollars}.
Day 9-12: Salento Espresso Area
When you’re a espresso lover, Salento is the place to be!Salento is likely one of the premier espresso areas in Colombia, so if you’re a espresso lover, you’ll by no means need to go away. It’s a lush, hilly space coated with espresso plantations, in addition to well-kept colonial villages like Salento and plenty of others.
Take a Espresso Plantation Tour
The most effective issues you are able to do in Salento is a deep dive into the world of espresso. There are a selection of locations you are able to do excursions within the hills round city. I like to recommend taking as in-depth a tour as you may, as that is actually the place to see how espresso involves your cup and discover the tastes.
Go on a Valle de Cocora Hike
The following hottest factor to do within the Salento area is to hike by way of the Valle de Cocora, which is peppered with the world’s tallest palm timber. There are a variety of choices relying in your health stage—this Colombia itinerary is for everybody!
There’s a full loop down the valley, alongside the river after which again through the wax palms, which is definitely what individuals come to see. This takes round 4 hours. Or, you may head straight to the wax palms, which is round one and a half hours return. There are even horse rides, for these so inclined.
Discover the City
Though really fairly small, it’s value spending just a few hours strolling round Salento and seeing it from all sides. There’s one thing for everybody, from the yummy recent juice bought on the city sq. to the perspective (Mirador de Salento) to the little nightlife and native evening markets on the weekends.
Once more, it’s far simpler to get right here by airplane, which is simply 50 minutes from Periera. Take into account that you’ll need to get to the airport once more. This will add at the least just a few hours.
There’s a day-long bus choice, as effectively, if you wish to save a bit of cash. The journey is break up in two components. The primary is a 45-minute experience to Armenia, the place you then catch the Bogota bus. This will take wherever from seven to 9 hours, so many individuals choose the in a single day choice.
Day 12-14: Bogota
Overlooking town of Bogota.The final cease in your 2-week tour of Colombia is the capital, Bogota. Town itself is just not the jewel of the Carribean like Cartagena, however there are nonetheless just a few issues it is best to see when you are right here. In any case, a part of attending to know any nation is to go to its capital metropolis!
Take a Bicycle Tour of Bogota
In contrast to most different cities in Colombia, the easiest way to see Bogota is by bike. The excursions run out of La Candelaria are the very best, and so they additionally offer you an opportunity to discover this barrio, as effectively. The excursions run twice a day, and so they don’t require reserving. They take you to all an important landmarks, in addition to the native fruit market and some different native highlights.
Climb Montserrat
To get the very best views of Bogota, you completely have to move to Montserrat throughout your Colombia itinerary. You’ll be able to take the simple means up through cable automotive or you may hike. Simply bear in mind that there have been some stories of issues of safety when mountaineering early or late within the day. Locals warn of robberies and assaults, however rumors abound as standard. So do your due diligence earlier than heading up there and err on the facet of warning.
Go to the Museo Del Oro
Earlier than the Spaniards got here to South America and form of “borrowed” all of the gold, the continent was flush with the stuff. And, fortunate for us, they’ve collected a variety of what was left within the fabulous Museo del Oro. It’s proper within the coronary heart of Bogota. When you have some spare time, this place is unquestionably value a go to. If solely to place some future jewellery in your want record.
Colombia is definitely fairly low cost, so this Colombia itinerary might even value lots lower than 2 weeks at residence for a few of us. The next are some tough prices for several types of vacationers:
The Price of Transportation in Colombia
Buses sometimes value round $30 to $40 for journeys between Bogota and Salento, Salento and Medellin, Cartagena and Santa Marta.
Flights sometimes value between $50 and $100 relying on the airline, how far forward you guide, and so forth. Simply bear in mind that the most cost effective airways like VivaAir typically don’t have baggage included. So, though they appear low cost, they arrive with extra prices and sometimes extra delays than Avianca.
The Price of Lodging in Colombia
On the decrease finish of the spectrum, yow will discover hostel dorm beds starting from $10-15 an evening. Hostels round Colombia are fairly respectable, starting from the naked fundamentals to extra “luxurious” hostels in sure cities.
Not about that hostel life? You will discover personal double rooms for 2 individuals starting from between $25-50 per evening in price range accommodations. These gained’t be five-star luxurious accommodations, however you’ll be comfy and also you’ll have your privateness!
The Price of Meals and Drinks in Colombia
When you’re on a good price range in Colombia, you may simply eat on $10-15 per day when you stick with native family-owned eating places and road distributors. You will discover scrumptious road meals like grilled meats and rice and bean dishes for generally only a few {dollars}. Go the place the locals go!
With a much bigger price range, anticipate to pay $20-40 per day for meals. With this price range, you may just about eat wherever you need.
What to Pack for two Weeks in Colombia
Colombia is definitely fairly a various nation by way of climate. You will have to pack for each very heat and sunny climate, in addition to cooler and probably wet climate.
It is usually a rustic that has just a few mosquitoes, and a few of them can carry illness. So that you need to be ready for that, as effectively, earlier than delivery out in your Colombia itinerary.
Right here’s what we advocate you pack.
Swimming Gear
In Tayrona and Cartagena, you can find a number of the most spectacular seashores in Colombia. So make sure to convey your swimming wear, even when it’s just for a fast dip.
Kenny Flowers has a number of the greatest swimwear choices for each women and men, with a wide range of wild colours and patterns (like cheetah print and tropical florals). When you’ve received a wild facet and need to present it off, look no additional.
Whether or not it’s to dry off after a fast dip or since you don’t just like the look of that lodge towel, a microfiber towel will turn out to be useful.
They’re fast-drying, SUPER smooth, and extremely light-weight. Microfiber towels pack up into compact pouches in order that they take up just about no house in your backpack. They’re constructed for journey vacationers, so that you’ll have this factor for years to return.
You’ll be out and about daily, whether or not it’s in a metropolis or mountaineering. So a cushty journey daypack is an absolute should.
Our prime choose for a daypack is the REI Co-op Flash 18 Pack. This daypack is the very best all-around backpack for ANY sort of journey, whether or not you’re mountaineering, commuting, or simply exploring a brand new metropolis!
It’s sensible, it’s unisex, and it comes at an awesome value, too.
The solar is all the time excessive overhead. So hold your self protected always, particularly when on the seaside or mountaineering. A basic ball cap just like the Patagonia Fitz Roy Bear Trucker Hat will do exactly tremendous. (It is available in ladies’s sizes too.)
However girls, if you would like one thing extra beachy and fewer sporty, go together with a packable shade goddess hat. The broad brim provides the last word solar safety, and it packs properly in any baggage.
The Colombian solar can fry an egg at noon. So take a variety of solar safety with you and apply it liberally, particularly in the course of the day.
When you’re going to be swimming or usually having fun with Colombia’s pure magnificence, we advise TropicSport Mineral Sunscreen. It’s biodegradable and eco-friendly, and water resistant in addition. Shield your self AND the setting!
One thing that may undoubtedly turn out to be useful in Bogota and Salento is a rain jacket. Preserve this on the backside of your bag.
The REI Drypoint GTX is our favourite all-around rain jacket. Why? It’s extraordinarily breathable but nonetheless waterproof, it has a really customizable and cozy hood, and it’s improbable for mountaineering due to its stretchiness.
It’s a bit boxy in form, nevertheless it packs properly and is gentle as effectively. And naturally, there’s a model for girls!
Most of the locations you may be strolling are sizzling. So, normally, mountaineering boots usually are not enjoyable to put on. Seize some mountaineering sandals as a substitute.
Eager is a good model for ethereal, light-weight mountaineering sandals just like the Newport H2 (out there in ladies’s too). These sandals have glorious toe safety and so they’re waterproof, so you may ford all of the rivers and streams you want! Admittedly, they’re not essentially the most engaging sandals going, however they’re greater than value your weight in gold if you’re mountaineering in tropical locations.
DEET is likely one of the greatest methods to discourage mosquitoes. And, given the potential hazard in areas within the north, it’s value taking a bottle or two. Malaria is a really actual menace right here, in addition to the zika virus that hit the nation arduous in 2016.
If you’re not a fan of chemical substances, this mozzie repellent will hold these critters at bay.
Relying on the place you’re staying, lots of the higher-end locations may have mosquito nets. However you may by no means be 100% positive, and generally they’ve holes. So all the time convey your individual.
Not solely will this assist defend towards illnesses and viruses, however you’ll have a way more peaceable sleep when you’re not slapping away these annoying little buggers on a regular basis.
A web will pack properly, however hold it separate from smaller objects which will get snarled if you’re packing in a rush.
I by no means go wherever on the planet with out protection from among the best journey insurance coverage corporations, and Colombia is actually someplace you want it. Whether or not it’s simply to cowl frequent chilly drugs or to interchange any stolen objects, you may by no means be too secure. That isn’t to say you will have this stuff occur to you. However unhealthy issues can occur to anybody wherever — even essentially the most ready particular person.
The most effective choices for journey insurance coverage in Colombia is World Nomads as a result of they concentrate on journey insurance coverage and are conscious of the various and assorted points we now have when touring abroad. Make sure to examine them out in our full World Nomads journey insurance coverage evaluation.
Summing up Your 2 Weeks in Colombia
Colombia has a lot to supply that it’s arduous to choose precisely the place to go. However, with the above Colombia itinerary, you’ll get to see a number of the greatest this nation has to supply. And that’s with out lacking out on any of the highest sights.
With simply 2 weeks in Colombia, you may go in all places from historic cities to gorgeous seashores and occasional plantations to fields of towering wax palm timber. Colombia is an up-and-coming vacation spot for a purpose!
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Colombia Itinerary FAQs
What number of days are sufficient for Colombia?
I like to recommend taking at the least 1-2 weeks to go to Colombia.
What’s the most stunning a part of Colombia?
The Rosario Islands are one of the crucial stunning locations in Colombia.
What’s the #1 vacationer attraction in Colombia?
The Caño Cristales is the highest vacationer attraction in Colombia.
The place ought to I am going for the primary time in Colombia?
Cartagena is a improbable metropolis to go to to your first time in Colombia.
What’s the most secure a part of Colombia to go to?
Cartagena is likely one of the most secure locations to go to in Colombia.
In regards to the Writer
Anna Timbrook
Anna was born to journey the world having studied languages all her life. Though she has traveled the world, she now calls Switzerland residence and spends her time writing about her experiences on her journey weblog together with her husband.
