In case you are like me, who loved the dramatic illustration of the drug lord, Pablo Escobar, and Colombia within the well-known Netflix sequence Narcos, you’ll have second ideas about visiting Colombia. I am right here to report that the stigma surrounding violence within the nation is totally gone.
Right this moment, Colombia presents guests quite a lot of distinctive experiences, similar to being round among the friendliest individuals in South America, studying the gorgeous salsa dance that’s second to none, and experiencing nature that has but to be ruined by mass tourism.
This itinerary will cowl all the data it is advisable to backpack via Colombia independently whereas having fun with every little thing the nation has to supply.
Colombia One Month Itinerary Map
Fast Abstract: One Month Colombia Itinerary
[Show More]
One Month Colombia Itinerary
When most individuals come to Bogota, they normally keep within the Downtown space. Dare I say, that isn’t one of the best place to be, as it could get a bit sketchy, as some locals had warned me. When you find yourself in Bogota, keep within the Zona Rosa space, the place you’ll be able to have entry to the good events Bogota has to supply.
In your first day, from Zona Rosa, take an Uber to downtown and take a look at the Plaza de Bolívar sq. and the colonial a part of the town on the foot of the hill.
Go to the Botero Museum, one of many happiest museums I’ve ever been to, that includes a group of Botero’s greatest work. On high of that, it’s free.
No time to learn?
Don’t be concerned. It can save you this web page to Pinterest and are available again later.
Save for Later
As soon as you might be executed, be sure you go up Monserrate and watch because the solar units behind the horizon and the town lights mild up. That is presumably considered one of my favourite locations in Bogotá.
In case you are there on a Tuesday night time, be sure you drop by Vintrash bar close to Zona Rosa and get to know Colombians and study some Spanish at their weekly Gringo Tuesday occasion.
For those who’re there on a Sunday, throughout the day, take an Uber and go to the Usaquén Flea Market. Each Sunday, the locals come out and collect at this market, indulging themselves within the solar, avenue performances, and all of the cool hipster objects they will purchase there.
In case you are on the lookout for extra actions to do right here, be sure you take a look at among the out there excursions and day journeys.
Getting From Bogota to Santa Marta
After spending a number of days in Bogota, it is time to go to the tropical north, and place to begin is Santa Marta. To get there, I extremely advocate you fly with VivaColombia. They’re a low-cost airline within the area, and a flight from Bogota to Santa Marta should not price a lot.
When you arrive in Santa Marta, there can be a public bus ready so that you can go to the town middle. From the airport, it should not take greater than half an hour to get to the middle, the place you’ll be able to simply stroll to your lodging.
Santa Marta (1 night time)
From Bogota, take a flight and fly to Santa Marta. From the airport, take a public bus to the town middle and keep there for an evening earlier than heading elsewhere. There is not a lot to see in Santa Marta itself, however the surrounding space has rather a lot to supply. From Santa Marta, you’ll be able to discover Tayrona Nationwide Park, Minca, and even embark on the well-known Misplaced Metropolis trek.
In case you are on the lookout for extra actions to do right here, be sure you take a look at among the out there excursions and day journeys.
The place to Keep in Santa Marta?
Getting From Santa Marta to Tayrona Nationwide Park
From Santa Marta, you’ll be able to take an area bus to Tayrona Nationwide Park and hike for about an hour or two to achieve the campground.
To get the bus to Tayrona, you’ll have to go to Santa Marta’s Central Market and take an area bus to Palomino. Then, you will get off at El Zaino and stroll into Tayrona Nationwide Park.
The bus ought to price round 10,000 COP, and the doorway payment to the nationwide park ought to be round 61,500 COP (15 USD, which is sort of costly in my view).
Tayrona Nationwide Park (1 night time)
The subsequent day in Santa Marta, go on a 2-day hike and tenting journey to Tayrona Nationwide Park, a fantastic inexperienced area situated within the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, proper by the northern coast of Colombia and it’s best recognized for its lovely crystal clear water and unimaginable seaside, a terrific place to calm down in.
You possibly can both camp at one of many many tents right here or you’ll be able to sleep in a hammock proper by the seaside. They constructed a makeshift open-air pavilion with a whole bunch of hammocks only for this.
There’s additionally a restaurant the place you’ll be able to order meals, however the line can get fairly lengthy at time for supper, so be sure you plan forward and get in line earlier than that occurs.
Spend the night time on the camp right here and make your means again to Santa Marta the following day as we proceed our journey throughout the northern coast of Colombia. Personally, it was just a little too crowded for me, however the surroundings was good and the hike was not too tough. A superb place to get acquainted with the wealthy nature right here.
In case you are on the lookout for extra actions to do right here, be sure you take a look at among the out there excursions and day journeys.
Getting From Santa Marta to Minca
To get from Santa Marta to Minca, you’ll have to get a collectivo from the collectivo cease by the Central Market (be sure you affirm the placement along with your lodging earlier than you go to Minca, because the bus cease may change round).
The collectivo ought to price round 8000 COP and take about one hour to reach in Minca.
Minca (1 night time)
From the recent and humid Santa Marta, visiting Minca goes to be a breath of recent air for you. Positioned within the espresso area of the north, Minca presents you a terrific likelihood to see the gorgeous mountains of northern Colombia on a motorcycle, style among the most interesting espresso within the nation, and discover solitude in the course of the mountain as you calm down on the large hammock at Sierra Minca Hostel.
Whenever you arrive within the city, you will notice a bike stand the place you’ll be able to rent them to point out you round. A lot of the issues are fairly far aside, so I extremely advocate getting a motorcycle.
First, go to Finca Victoria espresso farm and get a dose of their most interesting espresso whereas studying about how the farm operates. Be fascinated by the truth that a few of their tools is from 1892 and the good methods through which they function with out the usage of electrical energy.
As soon as you might be executed, inform your moto-taxi driver to take you to the Los Pinos viewpoint, cease for a photograph, after which head to Sierra Minca Hostel.
Spend an evening there and luxuriate in nature whereas capturing cool photographs with the enduring hammocks they’ve on-site. The subsequent day, head again to Santa Marta for an additional night time, and begin planning your epic journey to the Misplaced Metropolis of Colombia!
In case you are on the lookout for extra actions to do right here, be sure you take a look at among the out there excursions and day journeys.
Getting From Santa Marta to The Misplaced Metropolis
To get to the Misplaced Metropolis, you’ll have to go on a tour. There are excursions that vary from 3-6 days, which can take you thru the jungles of the Andes to seek out the Misplaced Metropolis.
Ebook a Tour to the Misplaced Metropolis
The Misplaced Metropolis – La Ciudad Perdida (4 nights)
I used to be unable to do the trek as a consequence of my workload and timing, however I’ve met many individuals who loved mountaineering the trek to the misplaced metropolis. To get there, you’ll have to first e book a tour. The realm will not be very accessible, so it will take you 4 days to do the trek and since not many individuals have the time to do it, you may need to go together with a non-public tour which can set you again round 600 USD.
It will likely be considerably cheaper if you happen to be part of a bunch tour, however it’s not really easy to seek out. It’s best that you just spend the primary day in Santa Marta and go searching for a tour company to assist set up this for you. The tour will offer you locations to sleep, normally hammocks, and meals, with a information to navigate the deep jungle of the Andes to the forgotten misplaced metropolis. Watch out for bugs and mosquitoes, because the north of Colombia could be fairly tropical and the bugs love that.
In case you are on the lookout for extra actions to do right here, be sure you take a look at among the out there excursions and day journeys.
Getting From Santa Marta to Cartagena
After you might be again in Santa Marta, you’ll be able to spend another night time there earlier than going to our subsequent vacation spot, Cartagena. To get from Santa Marta to Cartagena, you’ll be able to take an early bus from the Santa Marta bus terminal to Cartagena. The journey ought to take not more than 5 hours, and it ought to price you about 30,000 COP. Yow will discover the bus schedule on-line right here.
Cartagena (2 nights)
The subsequent day, you’ll be able to take an early bus to Cartagena. The journey mustn’t take greater than 6 hours. Cartagena is a colourful colonial metropolis on the northern coast of Colombia. It’s presumably one of the crucial photogenic colonial cities in Colombia, therefore the variety of vacationers one can find right here. Regardless of it being a bit crowded, the previous city and its colourful colonial buildings are undoubtedly price seeing.
You can even expertise a beautiful sundown from the highest of Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas fortress, situated only a few minutes drive away from the middle. It’s a fantastic colonial fortress with a surprising view of the town and a ton of historical past you’ll be able to study.
Not gonna lie, after spending a number of days in Santa Marta and Tayrona Nationwide Park, it was nice for me to get again to a vigorous metropolis like Cartagena. The road is stuffed with colours with individuals popping out in droves, avenue meals carts in all places, and avenue performers entertaining passersby. It was a breath of recent air, and you’ll get pleasure from it.
In case you are on the lookout for extra actions to do right here, be sure you take a look at among the out there excursions and day journeys.
The place to Keep in Cartagena?
Getting From Cartagena to Medellin
To get from Cartagena to Medellin, you’ll find flights as little as 39 USD on Expedia, and it’ll prevent 15 hours of a really lengthy bus journey. For those who want taking an in a single day bus, you’ll find the bus schedule on-line right here.<
Medellin (5 nights)
Medellin has rather a lot to supply by way of mountaineering and tradition. As a few of you might know, Medellin was the stage for the drug lord Pablo Escobar and his reign of terror. So, as a way to perceive the historical past of the town and the place it got here from, occurring a Pablo Escobar tour may assist you to perceive the reality concerning the battle just a little bit extra.
You can even do one other espresso tour in Medellin that offers you entry to non-public properties on the hills across the metropolis and see what sustainable dwelling is all about. I went to one of many espresso farms and was fascinated by how they have been in a position to develop nearly every little thing they wanted, along with espresso, on the identical farm.
In case you are there on a Tuesday or Saturday night time, you’ll be able to jump over to Dancefree Workshop to study a free Colombian salsa dance lesson from energetic {and professional} instructors. You can even ask to bounce with anybody you need. One of the simplest ways to study is by asking a Colombian there to show you as you stumble your means via the dance flooring. They love to assist out struggling foreigners.
Parque Arví presents a terrific nature hike, full with guides and amenities. This one is a bit more tamed, and I’d counsel you go together with the free information they supply since it’s fairly tough to determine your means across the thick forest of the park.
Inside attain, there’s a hike referred to as Tres Cruzes, and you’ll full it in an hour. From the highest, you’ll be able to get pleasure from a pleasant view of the town and the mountains that encompass it.
In case you have an additional day, be sure you go to Guatape for a day journey to one of the crucial photogenic locations within the space. Take a bus from the terminal to El Peñol and climb up the La Piedra meteorite, a 10-story-high rock that fell to Earth hundreds of thousands of years in the past. The view from up there may be nothing in need of extraordinary. See the photographs above if you happen to do not imagine me.
In case you are on the lookout for extra actions to do right here, be sure you take a look at among the out there excursions and day journeys.
The place to Keep in Medellin?
Getting From Medellin to Salento
You will get a direct bus from Medellin’s Terminal Del Sur bus station to Salento by way of Flota Occidental Bus Firm. The journey ought to take about 7 hours and value round 47,000 COP per individual. To e book a bus ticket on-line or verify the schedule, you are able to do it right here.
Salento (2 nights)
Salento is the place the journey is at. Spend a full day mountaineering across the Cocora Valley, the place all of the tall palm bushes are. Stand up to Finca Acaime for a pleasant, heat espresso break, and witness the hummingbirds up shut.
From the finca, hike down and across the valley to finish the loop. The cool a part of the valley, the place you’ll be able to see all of the tall palm bushes up shut, is on the finish, so be affected person.
To get to Cocora Valley, it’s a must to be within the metropolis middle early within the morning, round 8 am, and get a jeep there. The jeep runs very often, however the earlier you go, the much less crowded it is going to be. You possibly can comply with my full journey information beneath:
In case you are on the lookout for extra actions to do right here, be sure you take a look at among the out there excursions and day journeys.
The place to Keep in Salento?
Getting From Salento to Popayan
To get from Salento to Popayan, you’ll have to go to the Salento bus terminal and get a bus to Cali as early as attainable. Then, you’ll have to get one other bus from Cali to Popayan.
All the journey will take about 6-7 hours, relying on how lengthy you’ll have to look forward to the bus from Cali to Popayan. There are a number of buses working from Cali to Popayan, so you shouldn’t have to attend very lengthy. It ought to price you round $20 for the whole journey. Yow will discover the bus schedule on-line right here.<
Popayan (3 nights)
After a reasonably stress-free itinerary, it’s time for an actual journey. Close to Popayan, there’s a volcano referred to as Purace, the place you’ll be able to go to by way of public transportation and an area information will take you to the highest and again.
To get there, you’ll have to take a bus at 5AM from Popayan Terminal and inform the driving force to drop you off at Purace (Termales de San Juan) to the trailhead by 8AM earlier than beginning an 8-hour epic hike to the summit of the volcano and again.
The path takes you thru a non-public property, so you’ll want an area information to information you to the highest. You need to be capable of rent a information from Purace Registration Workplace, in addition to get breakfast in case you have not packed any for the journey.
The path is lengthy and rugged, and the wind is unbearably robust, so be certain you pack sufficient layers for the hike. I used to be mountaineering in shorts however I had a fleece and an outer shell jacket. Lengthy pants could be a lot better, on reflection so do not be like me! The view from the path is nothing in need of spectacular.
I didn’t have one of the best climate on the summit, however at the least I’ve this canine to have fun my success with me . He adopted us all the best way from the workplace to the summit! An actual hero, I would say!
After the primary day of mountaineering the volcano, relaxation up and take a stroll across the white colonial city of Popayan for a day. The town is sort of charming, with white-washed colonial buildings scattered throughout the town, so be sure you spend a while and discover when you are right here.
The place to Keep in Popayan?
Getting From Popayan to San Agustin
To get from Popayan to San Agustin, it’s a must to get on a collectivo from Popayan Bus Terminal, and it’ll take you to San Agustin via one of many bumpiest roads ever. This half won’t be the spotlight of your journey, however when you arrive in San Agustin, it would make all of it worthwhile. I promise you. The journey takes round 5-6 lengthy hours and will price about 35,000 COP. Yow will discover the bus schedule on-line right here.
San Agustin (2 nights)
San Agustin is a gateway city to one of many many Pre-Columbian historic websites that may solely be discovered on this area. The town is a good place so that you can dive deep into the wealthy historical past of the indigenous individuals right here with loads of historical stone statues scattered round many archaeological websites.
Parque Arqueologico is one such website, and I extremely advocate taking a tour to see the others. Since San Agustin is a small city in the course of nowhere, transportation is tough to return by. By taking a full-day tour, you get rid of the difficulty of getting from one place to a different and again.
The day tour normally features a go to to a sugar cane manufacturing unit and a number of other gorgeous waterfalls within the space, a few of that are situated on personal properties. You need to be capable of set up a shared group tour out of your lodging in San Agustin or you’ll be able to e book a non-public tour right here.
From San Agustin, it’s a must to make your means again to Popayan and take a day bus to Pasto, our final cease earlier than crossing the border into Ecuador.
In case you are on the lookout for extra actions to do right here, be sure you take a look at among the out there excursions and day journeys.
The place to Keep in San Agustin?
Getting From San Agustin to Pasto
From San Agustin, it’s a must to make your means again to Popayan once more (I am afraid) and take a day bus to Pasto, our final cease earlier than we cross the border to Ecuador.
You need to be capable of take any bus from Popayan to Pasto, as there isn’t any distinction between the bus firms. Get the one with the schedule that works greatest for you. The Popayan to Pasto journey takes round 5-6 hours, which is 10-12 hours in complete when mixed with one other journey. So, I extremely advocate you begin from San Agustin as early as you’ll be able to. Yow will discover the bus schedule on-line right here.
Pasto (1 night time)
For the reason that journey from San Agustin to Pasto could be horrid, you will need to cease in Pasto so you’ll be able to get up early within the morning and make your method to the border of Ecuador. You in all probability are questioning why I am taking you to the border city between Colombia and Ecuador as a substitute of going straight to Quito, proper? Effectively, this is why.
Proper on the border, there’s a cathedral constructed on the aspect of a mountain referred to as Las Lajas. The cathedral is wonderful and photogenically situated in between 2 cliffs and it’s undoubtedly price a go to in case you are planning to cross the land border to Ecuador. I would not advocate it if you happen to do not plan to cross the border as it’s fairly far south from all the opposite sights in Colombia.
Take a morning bus from Pasto Bus Terminal to Ipiales, and from Ipiales, you’ll find loads of taxis to take you to Las Lajas. Stroll across the cathedral for a bit, and if you find yourself able to depart, get one other taxi and inform them to drop you off on the border. Then, cross the border to Ecuador and head to Quito.
In case you are on the lookout for extra actions to do right here, be sure you take a look at among the out there excursions and day journeys.
Colombia Journey Video
Watch it on Youtube
Why Go to Colombia?
Colombia is a rustic that lacks large sights to attract in vacationers like its neighbors, Ecuador (Galapagos), and Peru (Machu Picchu). Nonetheless, the nation compensates for that with its loopy enjoyable dance tradition, wonderful choice of espresso, and a terrific many hidden gems for vacationers such as you to find. From the suspiciously tall palm bushes in Salento to the gorgeous coastal colonial city of Cartagena, one month is an ideal period of time to get to know the nation and perhaps study some salsa within the course of.
When to Go to Colombia?
The months with the best variety of vacationers are from December to February, however Colombia covers a variety of climates – from the recent and humid coast of the north to the mountainous, typically moist Andes area. So, if you happen to plan to journey the entire nation, you’ll very seemingly expertise all of those climates. That stated, I feel one of the best time to go to Colombia is throughout the shoulder season proper earlier than the excessive season. This fashion, the climate is kind of secure, and the price of touring continues to be comparatively low-cost in comparison with the excessive season.
The right way to Get to Colombia?
One of the simplest ways to get right here is to fly into Bogota. There are a number of flights from the US and Europe that go on to Bogota. I’d advocate you flick thru Skyscanner or Expedia to discover a low-cost flight from the place you reside to Bogota that most closely fits your itinerary.
How To Get Round Colombia?
Vacationer buses supply probably the most comfy and most secure method to get across the nation. Though the street situation in Colombia will not be one of the best and will get worse as you journey south, you’ll be able to choose for an inexpensive home flight as a substitute.
VivaColombia presents an affordable means so that you can skip a 20-hour bus journey with out breaking the financial institution, though they’re typically delayed and never one of the best service you will get.
In large cities like Medellin or Bogota, the most secure and quickest method to journey round is by Uber. It’s dependable and comparatively low-cost, extra so than getting a taxi. In Medellin, the sky prepare can be a viable choice.
Which vacationer SIM card is greatest for Colombia?
Replace: In case your cellphone helps eSIM, I extremely advocate trying out Airalo, a worldwide eSIM market. It lets you keep related affordably whereas touring in Colombia with out having to modify out your bodily SIM card.
Gone are the times once you wanted to scramble to discover a native SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You should buy an eSIM earlier than your arrival, and you will be good to go. In case your cellphone does not assist eSIM, right here is how one can get an area SIM card in Colombia:
Suggestions: To remain related with individuals at residence, ensure that you might have a VPN, similar to ProtonVPN, put in earlier than touring. It is FREE, and you’ll achieve entry to providers that could be blocked in sure nations.
Each day Funds
This location is cheaper than most nations, but it surely’s not exceedingly low-cost. Anticipate to spend round $30 – $50 USD per day per individual, which incorporates each lodging and meals.
Please take into account that these are recommended day by day budgets primarily based by myself model of journey, which leans extra in direction of the finances aspect of issues. For those who intention to stay to this finances, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, eating out solely sometimes, and being comfy with the most affordable and most handy modes of transportation, which frequently contain a substantial quantity of strolling.
What to Pack for Colombia?
As you might already know, I’m an advocate of sunshine touring, and certainly, packing mild for a journey like this can be a distinctive artwork type. Listed here are some packing suggestions on your upcoming journey to Colombia:
- Strolling/Mountaineering Sneakers: With all of the strolling and attainable mountaineering throughout your journey, a cushty pair of footwear is a should. I like to recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Basic Boat Sneakers which are my go-to pair for lengthy strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for decent climate, pack a number of breathable shirts on your outside adventures.
- Shorts/Denims: Anticipate plenty of strolling throughout your travels? You should definitely pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi’s denims for when the climate cools. For girls, leggings are wonderful for each cold and hot climates, so take into account packing some as nicely.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder climate, layering is the important thing, and a fleece jacket makes a wonderful insulating layer. I like to recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for ladies).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is nice for windy or wet circumstances. I extremely advocate the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for ladies). It is light-weight, breathable, and even is available in a cool orange coloration.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the perfect backpacker’s towel as a consequence of its lightness, fast drying, and compressibility.
- Digital camera: You also needs to pack digital camera on your journey as a way to seize all the gorgeous experiences you may need. I like to recommend the Sony a7R V digital camera along with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which might be the highest-performance digital camera and lens mixture you will get proper now.
- Energy Financial institution: Preserve your electronics charged on the go together with a 20,000+ mAh Energy Financial institution.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Path Water Bottle is a good insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on mountaineering trails. It’s light-weight and might hold your water chilly or heat for greater than 12 hours. It is a complete game-changer.
- Common Adapter: You may want only one common adapter to plug in your electronics in any nation you go to.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will assist you to save area in your backpack and hold all of your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to on a regular basis digital camera backpack. It is massive sufficient to hold all my journey gear, and it comes with loads of slots and pouches. Plus, it is fashionable as hell!
- Massive Backpack: You’ll need a big backpack to hold all your stuff. I like to recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With wonderful weight distribution and a lifetime assure, you’ll be able to’t go flawed with Osprey.
Additional Studying for Colombia
I hope you discovered this Colombia journey information helpful. In case you are on the lookout for one thing to learn that may assist you to plan your Colombia journey even additional, be sure you take a look at the articles beneath.