Andean mountains, beaches and Caribbean joy; Amazon rainforest, indigenous traditions, of black and Hispanic origin. Colombia is a colorful and multicultural melting pot ready to delight any traveler who is open to tasting its diversity. Therefore, it is worth investing in staying longer and discovering the country’s many nuances. But those who can just pop in and come back can also enjoy a lot, just divide their time intelligently. To help, we have put together some travel itinerary suggestions for Colombia for those with 7, 15 and 20 days. You can use them as a base, mix one with the other, remove and add things to create your own. Take the opportunity to leave your suggestion in the comments too!
Seven-day itinerary through Bogotá and surroundings
If your flight arrives and leaves the Colombian capital and you have little time, it’s best to enjoy the attractions of the city and its surroundings, without inventing fashion and making long journeys on a trip that already has a tight schedule. Set aside three days to get to know Bogotá and its various museums, fairs, nightlife and gastronomic hubs.
Read too: What to do in Bogotá: complete 4-day itinerary
On the fourth day, take a trip back to Zipaquira, to see the beautiful Salt Cathedral. To get there, the easiest way is to rent a car. Those who prefer to go by public transport can take the Zipaquira line (or just Zipa) from the Portal Norte intercity bus platform (line B74 leaves you there, leaving the center). Ask the driver to drop you off at the Salt Cathedral. You will need to walk another 20 minutes to the ticket office.
On the remaining days you have options: you can do another return trip to Guatavita and visit the Golden Lagoon, a place where, according to historians, the pre-Columbian ritual that gave rise to the legend of El Dorado was carried out. A little further away is Vila de Leyva, a charming colonial city for those who want to take a break from the metropolis and enjoy the tranquility of the cobblestone streets, historic buildings, the traditional Mercado Campesino and the archaeological sites of the Muísca culture that were found in the region. Vila de Leyva is 170 kilometers from Bogotá, but the journey there can take up to two and a half hours, so consider spending the night there if you can.
Those who have the energy and manage to make all three trips will have a lot to tell, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, you can choose between two of the day trips listed and leave more time to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Bogotá.
An alternative to a seven-day itinerary is to divide your time between four days in Bogotá and three days in Medellín or Cartagena de Indias, if you want to get out of the capital region for a bit.
Seven-day itinerary through the Colombian Caribbean
If what you want is heat and the beach, there’s no reason to waste time in gray and cold Bogotá. Another very common gateway for Brazilians to Colombia is Cartagena de Indias. With flights there operated by Avianca, Copa Airlines, Latam and Delta – usually with a stopover in Lima or Bogotá, it’s true -, the colorful city on the Colombian coast can now be the first destination on a trip around the country.
Read too: What to do in Cartagena de Indias
Leave the first day to be enchanted by the historic center of Cartagena and the second for the Getsemaní neighborhood and the Castle of San Felipe de Barajas. For the rest, go splashing around in the Caribbean sea. Baru It is the closest and most popular beach in the region, but also the most crowded. Spend a day or two there before heading to Big Island, the main one of the Rosario Islands. Spend the three days there and take advantage of the time to go on boat trips and visit the archipelago’s beaches, which are by far the best beaches in Cartagena.
15 or 20 day itinerary through Colombia
With 15 days it is possible to create a travel itinerary around Colombia that includes the country’s main cities. Start the journey by Bogota, where you will stay four days. From there, fly to Cali, a city known for its colonial architecture and for being the world capital of salsa. Spend three days there (maybe even taking a few Latin rhythm lessons) and head, also by plane, to Medellín.
Travel itineraries in Colombia: Medellín. Photograph: By Xela Person
In Medellín, stay another four days and then fly to Cartagena de Indias, where you should spend two or three days, depending on your planning. Any travel itinerary in Colombia ends up including many flights, as the country’s geography is divided between mountains and forest and makes traveling by land very difficult.
Travel itineraries in Colombia: Tayrona National Park
Anyone who has 20 days will need to make a decision here: the first is to fly to Saint Andrew and spend the rest of the time in this Caribbean paradise. The second, my favorite, is to take the bus to Santa Martaspend a day there, and then head to the Tayrona National Parka natural reserve between the sea and the Sierra Nevada that is considered a sacred place for the indigenous populations of the region.
Read too:
• What to do in Santa Marta
• Complete guide to visit the Tayrona National Park
• What to do in San Andrés: tips from the Colombian Caribbean
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