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Best Places to visit in Colombia
If you are an individual searching for the best places to visit while in Colombia, look no further than this guide. Like most natives of a country, I am not immune from under appreciating my country Colombia and all the beauty it has to offer. To locate these magical places usually, for the most part, required massive distances and long journeys to monuments of historical importance or the most picturesque beaches not forgetting the absolutely amazing other places in this amazing country of ours. Ranging from lost cities to jungles and many more places. From the best cities to visit in Colombia to the best beaches, we give you an entire list.
Doesn’t matter what country you are from, I welcome you to explore and be amazed at the best places to visit in Colombia.
Below is a selection of a few places in Colombia which are the best places to visit in Colombia.
Are you looking for Places to visit in Colombia? As a Colombian, I am guilty of not really appreciating the beauty of my own country. Oftentimes we go long distances to find magical places, perfect beaches or historical monuments and forget the many beautiful places that our own country has to offer. Colombia is full of beautiful places to visit, from sandy white beaches to jungles and lost cities, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Wherever you are from I invite you to get to know your own country, you’ll be surprised of all the amazing places it has to offer.
Here is a list of some of the best places to visit in Colombia.
Tayrona National Park is definitely one of the best places to visit in Colombia for travelers that love nature and the exploration of old ruins. The park can be found on the northern Colombian coast, offering a vast array of ecosystems ranging from scrublands to swamps and cloud forests. Numerous travelers are attracted to its beaches, located in very deep bays and landscaped with coconut palms. It has been said that the most beautiful beaches are located in Tayrona. Visitors who are avid birdwatchers can be treated to sightings of the Andean condor. Visitors to the park are also able to visit archeological sites like Pueblito Chairama, the home of the Tayrona, where the park gets its name. Activities like snorkeling, hiking and animal watching are available at the national park.
Things to do in Colombia
This is one of the world’s best destinations for backpackers. It has relaxed beaches adorned with gigantic stones and roads that penetrate the jungle. In the park, you can sleep in a tent, under the stars and the music of the sea.
San Agustin
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For visitors searching for a little town that is laid-back, enveloped by historic ruins and amazing landscapes. One of San Agustin’s intriguing sites is its archeological park containing over five hundred plus statues, monoliths, sarcophagi, and petroglyphs. The majority of stone carvings located in San Agustin were formed around 100 AD- 1200 AD. The stone carvings depict human figures, sneering and smiling monsters. Also animals like snake, jaguars, and birds. The stone carvings are steeped in mystery as nothing is known about the pre-Incan civilization that built the carvings. With no name known, most of the information comes from what archeologists have been able to interpret.
Lots of cultures permeate this Archaeological Park of Huila, where the mystery of stone statues has not yet been revealed by science. After a hundred years of the beginning of scientific explorations, it is still considered an ideal place to visit and explore in Colombia.
Holidays in Colombia
The Cocuy
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Snow!! The last place you think of when you think of snow is Colombia but the truth is you are able to see, touch and have snow fun all in Colombia. The best place to visit for snow is the Cocuy in the northern corner of Boyacá. The great thing about this place is anyone can visit. You don’t need to be a mountain climbing experts to enjoy the amazing landscapes it has to offer.
Believe it or not, you can actually see and touch snow in Colombia, and a good place to do it is this corner of the North of Boyacá. You don’t need to be an expert Mountaineer to climb to the sites from where there are stunning landscapes.
Iguaque (Boyaca)
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To those who have witnessed it, the Iguaque Lagoon’s rise is mesmerizing. Visitors are able to take walks in this wildlife sanctuary to truly appreciate the fogged Moors and forests. An experience to remember, making it one of the must-see places to visit in Colombia.
The rise of the Iguaque Lagoon is unforgettable. Walks between forests and mist-covered Moors make the wildlife sanctuary a truly spectacular place to visit.
Puerto Nariño (Amazonas)
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The Amazon is truly one of the wildest places in the world and Colombia claims a piece of it, thanks to the unique and beautiful town of Puerto Marino, an architectural marvel know to be one of the places to visit in Colombia. The town of Puerto Marino can only be reached from Leticia by both. Thanks to its isolation, there are no motorbikes or cars, everyone gets around using their legs.
There are few places on earth as wild as the Amazon, and few towns so unique and architectural beauty as Puerto Narino, which is reachable by boat from Leticia. There are no cars or motorbikes and people just move on foot.
Eje Cafetero.
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A third of the world’s coffee beans come from Colombia, with production taking place in the subtropical Andean hills referred to as Ẹjẹ Cafetero, Coffee Axis in English. This region is home to an ever-increasing amount of coffee growing plantations which have in recent years commenced tastings, tours and luxurious farm stays for visitors.
Salento is a little resort town known to visitors as a base for visiting the plantations located around the duties of Manizales, Armenia, and Pereira. With natural attractions such as the Cocora Valley which houses the most towering palm trees on earth. Visitors are also able to explore using rented bicycles or for those looking to ease back, the town’s taxis. All these attractions Ẹjẹ Cafetero Colombia’s best places to visit.
The famous Colombian coffee is grown in this region. In here you can see first hand how people work the soil and coffee plantations to perfection. Make sure you stop by a Hacienda that shows the process of coffee making, check out the crops and taste an authentic cup of Colombian coffee.
Lost city.(Ciudad Perdida)
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Ciudad Perdida aka the lost city is one of the best places to visit in Colombia as it is its most renowned hike, a 44-kilometer four-day trek. It is a lost city located deep in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta which were only just rediscovered during the 1970s. The lost city was built and lived in by the Tayrona Indians around the 8th to 14th centuries. The ancient city was proclaimed one of the biggest settlements of the pre-Columbian era found in the Americas, making it one of the best sites to visit in Colombia. The bulk of the site lies under thick jungle and the current indigenous people inhabiting the area have barred excavations, but visitors are able to still view stone stairways and terraces which are still in very great shape. Lone visits to the sites are unavailable so visitors have to schedule a tour in advance from Santa Marta
The Archaeological Park lost city, located in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, captivates foreigners with their paths through forests, where there are suspension bridges, waterfalls, and remains of the Tayrona people.
Tourist attractions in Colombia
Santander
Santander located in the Colombian northeast, right on the border with Venezuela, it had been nicknamed “the land of adventure” by Colombians. With this name comes the opportunity to have a wide range of adventure excursions and adventures. Blessed with historic and breathtaking natural landscapes.
A great place that offers paragliding, rafting, and canyoning as well as numerous other activities sure to speak to the adventure seekers. It is Department often picked by numerous young travelers longing for its lovely landscape dotted with villages like Barichara, Charalá, and San Gil.
With its offerings of rafting, canyoning, and paragliding, among other adventure activities, this Department is chosen by thousands of young travelers who are attracted by the landscapes that provide villages like San Gil, Barichara, and Charalá.
Gorgona
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Gorgona was in the previous century a prison island which today has what can be known as a couple of South America’s best diving spots. With numerous other attractions such as fauna, snakes, monkeys and isolated beaches led by lonely roads into the forest.
On this island – which was a prison in the last century you will find some of the best places are to dive in South America. Among the attractions are also the fauna, like monkeys and snakes, and roads in the forest that lead to isolated beaches.
San Andrés
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Providencia and San Andres archipelago are island groups found in more proximity to Nicaragua than to the Caribbean portion of Colombia. The largest of the two island groups are San Andres which is the capital. Providence Island has a bit of historical note to it, as it was first settled by the English Puritans who created plantations serviced by slaves and took to privateering aka pirates.
When it comes to Palm trees and sandy white beaches, San Andres is one of the best places to visit in Colombia. Situated in the Caribbean visitors are able to diversify or snorkel and enjoy it the rich marine life all in its different shade of blue. Visitors have to understand accommodations are not up to the same standard gotten on other islands in the Caribbean but visitors are sure to have a great time at one of the best places to visit in Colombia.
The transparent waters of the Caribbean are ideal to have the first contact with diving. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, it is possible to make the first dives with scuba diving equipment and obtain licenses to practice. This is truly a tropical paradise, a place of white sand beaches and an amazing nightlife to go with it.
The Tatacoa
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Found in the Department of Huila, this beauty is one of the best places to visit in Colombia thanks to the contrasting colors of the blue sky meeting that of the desert. The Tatacoa is sure to entice numerous visitors looking to stargaze or go for great walks. It is definitely one of the places to visit in Colombia.
The landscapes in which the ochre color of the desert joins the blue color of the clear sky are located in the Department of Huila. This place attracts a lot of fans from the observation of stars. This site also does good walks.
Villa de Leyva
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Located about three hours or less from Colombia’s capital Bogota, Villa de Leva enjoys propinquity but isn’t tainted by modernity. Caressed by the Andean hills of Boyacá, this town is a symbolic museum to the time of Spanish colonialism with whitewashed buildings and a network of cobbled streets. It’s sure to keep visitors coming back. Other attractions include the Museo del Carmen and Museum of Paleontology for the museum lovers. For nature lovers, there is the waterfall called La Periquera. Everywhere around this town just exudes charm, making it one of the best places to visit in Colombia.
This village is located less than three hours from Bogota. Its proximity to the capital is one of its points in favor. Its cobbled streets and its Bohemian style attract visitor all year round. We recommend you to visit the waterfall La Periquera.
Cabo de La Vela (Guajira)
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One of the best places to visit in Colombia is Cabo de La Vela, thanks to its unique meeting of the Caribbean Sea and the desert. Perfect for visitors looking for a little peace and quiet with great accommodation at sensible prices, making it one of the places to visit in Colombia.
This mixture of desert and Caribbean sea is a unique destination where you can find accommodation at reasonable prices. It is the favorite place for travelers, especially foreigners, who come to the country in search of peace.
Best cities to visit in Colombia
Places to Visit in Colombia
Medellin
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Whilst the capital of Colombia is Bogotá, Medellin is the city that ensnares the hearts and minds of visitors. Once named one of the most violent and dangerous cities worldwide back in the early 90s, it has since changed its reputation some 25 years later to signify one word: innovative. Medellin can brag about having a modern mass transit system from the up to date metro system located in the valley that is linked by cable cars of the settlement located in the hills above. Another attraction is a massive abundance of eco-friendly parks, community centers available in most of the disadvantaged neighborhoods. For bookworms, libraries are also available
Visitors can spend all day sightseeing by beginning at Botero Plaza, located in the Old Quarter. Visitors are treated to sculptures numbering twenty-three, donated by Fernando Botero, a well-loved Colombian artist. Right next to the plaza, the Museum of Antioquia is an attraction for those seeking culture. Next to that is the breathtaking Rafael Uribe Palace of Culture. A foray to the top of the hills can be had by using the system of escalators found in Comuna 13 to witness the elaborate murals and vibrantly colored homes the neighborhood is known for. For those visitors searching for a more trendy attraction, El Poblado gives all types of boutique shops, most of the hotels of the city and eateries, making it one of the best places to visit in Colombia
One of the cities getting tons of attention from media outlets all over the world, Medellin is Colombia’s second largest city and a true international destination for you to explore. It’s beautiful mountains, traditional food and culture will ensure that you enjoy your time in Medellin and experience the warmth of its people.
Cartagena
Cartagena is unique to Colombia and to the world. It is a city that combines the colonial charm of forts made with coral and stuccoed housed all wrapped in a pretty package and set along one of Colombia’s best coastline.
The Old Town is the really the winner in this city full of attractions with mazy alleyways darting across Spanish churches and beautiful baroque mansions. These alleyways then lead into plazas kissed by the sun adorned with fountains that complement blooming flowers. For visitors needing a more up to date trend, you have Bocagrande, littered with Pina colada sipping spots, rollerblades, palm trees adorning bikini-clad covered sexy beachfront. With Cartagena, visitors are sure to get the full experience of both old and new to see this place for what it truly is: one of the best places to visit in Colombia.
One of the top tourist destinations in Colombia, Cartagena is famous for its colonial architecture, lively nightlife, and rich history.
As you can see there are plenty of places to discover in Colombia. We hope you enjoyed our list of the best places to visit in Colombia!
Bogota
Founded by indigenous people long before being discovered by a Spanish explorer in 1538, this “Athens of South America” is Colombia’s capital. One of South America’s largest cities, it was once a city to avoid but has since changed its reputation and has become one of the best places to visit in Colombia. Situated 8,600 feet high up in the Andes, it has many locations that are sure to attract visitors. Ranging from a gold museum for those history lovers to a planetarium, and botanical gardens for those visitors that can’t get enough of all the natural wonders Bogota has to offer, and for the outgoing visitor’s cultural events coupled with a bustling nightlife. La Candelária is Bogota’s historical district, saturated with museums, churches, and cafés, making this “Athens of South America” one of the best places to visit in Colombia.
Cali
Located in the middle of the Valle del Cauca, this city of two million exported the rhythms known worldwide as salsa. Santiago de Cali or Cali is a wonderful place to take a breather before heading for the wilds and coffee plantations of Cordillera Occidental. Visitors to the colonial center are treated to beautifully preserved churches reminiscent of the Spanish colonial era, then head over to La Ermita to marvel at Gothicism at its finest. You can also head over to Cerro de lãs Três Cruces to enjoy great views. Visitors in love with adventure and sports can enjoy hiking and biking in the mountains or head over to the massive Estadio Olímpico to watch matches with the locals.
Places to visit in Colombia
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