The highlights of your Colombia trip
To get to know Colombia, it is not only important to visit varied destinations. The activities you can do there are equally important. Go Local Travel! has therefore selected the best highlights for you per location. This way you can really get out what's in it, without having to sort it all out and arrange it yourself. For each destination you will find a short description of the location, activities, accommodation and the possibility of extending the route. Below is an example of a widely used route through Colombia. Finish this trip with your own personal touches, which you can find at Colombia's unique locations.
Bogotá
| Colombia's capital, Bogotá, is a city with many faces, from modern, futuristic buildings to colonial churches and houses. The city is situated at an altitude of 2600 meters and is the fourth highest capital of South America after La Paz (Bolivia) and Quito (Ecuador). More than 7.5 million people live in Bogotá. Although Bogotá is virtually on the equator, the average daily temperature due to its high location is only 18 degrees (9 degrees at night). |
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Activities: Bogotá is a city where there is a lot to do. A city tour and a visit to the gold museum can hardly be missed. Monserrate, the mountain of almost 3152 meters, which you can see from all sides, is easy to enter by cable car and gives fantastic views. For example, a day trip is zipaquira's salt cathedral. You can also go here by steam train. Want a real active day? Then visit Bogotá by bike: there are routes along all the well-known historical buildings of the Candelaria district. Or with an hour's drive you can go rafting on the River Negro.
Stay: You stay in the beautiful district of La Candelaria where we have found a cosy, small atmospheric hotel in a historic building. Our comfort option is a colorful hotel with patio and hammocks and a small coffee bar. It only has 7 rooms and therefore a nice B&B atmosphere.
| Neiva is located between two foothills of the Andes. The whole area is very low, at about 500 meters above sea level, and is therefore very warm. In addition, it is in the shadow of the Volcano Huila which with 5750 meters can be called seriously high. This volcano and the adjacent mountains ensure that there is a rain shadow over the area. From the village of Villaviejo you can visit the desert. Rivers created by the rare but intense rainfall have a labyrinth of gullies carved through the red-colored sand that is a stark contrast to the bright, blue sky. The desert is really insanely beautiful. |
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Stay: This night there are not too many demands on the hotel. It's the starry sky that has to do it! You stay in a tent to enjoy the desert 100%. If desired, we can arrange a hotel in a nearby place.
| Centuries-old statues can be viewed in San Agustin, a city of 30,000 people. The oldest finds date back to 3000 BC and extend into Spanish rule. These are graves in the form of miniature hunebedden. The special thing is that many graves are protected by guards carved in stone. Often the peaks of the mountains are chosen for the graves, beautiful views but sometimes brisk walks. This location differs from the even more authentic Tierradentro because burial chambers have been found there. |
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Stay: You stay here in a matching accommodation: a lovely hacienda completely free in nature and a garden full of colorful flowers and beautiful views.
| Cali has about 3 million inhabitants and is the largest city in the country after the capital Bogotá. Coffee, cotton, sugar cane, meats and soybeans are traded in the city. The city has a cosy atmosphere that suits a university town. The aqueduct and cathedral are the main tourist attractions. It is usually nice and warm during the day and cool with the mountains and a height of 1000m in the evening. |
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Activities: The centre is fun to visit, as are the many terraces and small streets of Cali. The metro is easy to travel through the city. The city has many historic buildings and of course a salsa lesson should not be missed. A trip to the special zoo in Cali: Zoológico de Cali is also always worth while. For a sporty accent you can also go mountain biking here and make delicious treks from Pance. For kitesurfing this is one of the best places in Colombia.
Stay: You will stay in the historic part of San Antonia in a matching building. The hotel has several patios and garden with fountain, to be able to enjoy the evening's wonderful temperatures and relax from the day's activities.
| Pereira is the capital of the Department of Risaralda. It is located in the coffee zone of Colombia and with more than half a million inhabitants is the largest city in the region. It is characterized by a unique phenomenon, namely the existence of 8 microclimates, depending on the altitude. The settlers had its economic strategic location, fertile soil, and good weather soon discovered. The settlers grew large quantities of high quality coffee in the mineral-rich volcanic soil of the Andes. It is still the most important crop in the area. It's a real university town and looks a bit like the Swiss Alps. |
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Activities: In addition to the museums, the parks are also worth while. From here you have nice views and you can take nice walks. A night out is well worth it and of course the coffee tours.
Stay: A stay in a hacienda with its own coffee plantation can not be missed in this region. This stay also has a very familiar character. In our luxury package we have a very spacious hacienda with a lovely swimming pool.
| Medellín is a city in northwestern Colombia and colombia's second city with more than 2.5 million inhabitants. At the end of the 20th century, the city faced a great deal of violence and crime, including the Medellín cartel, led by Pablo Escobar. In recent years, the city has become a lot safer and crime rates have fallen dramatically. Medellín is located in the Valle de Aburrá at 2100m and is known as the city of eternal spring. |
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Activities: As an option you can do several day tours these days, some are recommended: the metro cable. Nice view of the mountains towards Park Arvi. The park itself is also really worth a day trip. Reality city tour of the Pablo tour, Museo de la Universidad de Antioquia, Paraque Explora (aquarium), Laguna de Guatape (2 hours drive but nice ride), Jardin Botanico de Medellin
Stay: In Medellin we have found a special (small-scale) place in the historic area. With only a few rooms, it's not hard to feel at home here. For the luxury package we remain small-scale, but more in the boutique atmosphere.
| For most the first place of arrival in the Caribbean. Temperatures in Santa Marta are between 19 and 32 degrees Celsius at sea level. Santa Marta has an important port function. For a relaxing beach holiday it is not the best starting position. The historic center is the main attraction and beautiful sunsets are almost a certainty. Tayrona park and the idyllic fishing town of Tanganga are nearby. |
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Activities: Besides being an ideal starting point for visiting the Caribbean coast, Santa Marta is also a great place to visit. The historical center is interesting to look at. It is also a good place to organize a dive tour to the nearby coral reefs.
Stay: The beach is not far walk, so you can quickly enjoy a lovely breeze. A refreshing pool is also tasty, so also our preference. It is a somewhat larger hotel here, but equipped with all the comforts. With the more luxurious option we use a small boutique hotel, of course completely complete.
| Cartagena is no small town and already has more than 1 million inhabitants. In addition to being the largest port town, it also has a very rich history beginning in 7000 BC. Many colonial buildings are found in the old city, including the Palace of the Inquisition, the Cathedral, the Santa Clara Convention and a Jesuit school. The city centre has been a World Heritage Site since 1980. Around the city there are a number of defences that are worth visiting such as the castle, the city walls surrounding the Old City (las Murallas); and the forts of San José and San Fernando. Beautiful views from the historic walls over the sea, the city and the new neighbourhoods. |
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Activities: Apart from city tours with live music in the evening and a visit to the beach, there are many trips possible. For example Volcan de Lodo, freely translated the Mud Volcano, 50 km from Cartagena. About thirty kilometres southwest of Cartagena, the Islas de Rosario (Rosario Islands) lie in a protected national park with a wide variety of tropical fish and sharks. Diving is also possible from Cartagena.
Stay: The stay is as colourful as Cartagena itself. With the many nice seats you will be sure of some relaxing days here in the small hotel. For the luxury variant we definitely have one of the toppers right up against the beach or on one of the islands off the coast.
| About 150 kilometres north of the capital Bogotá, you'll find the picturesque Villa de Leyva in Boyaca Province. A lovely place with cobblestones invested streets, the white houses, the immense Plaza Mayor. And then the town is also surrounded by mountains. This colonial village undoubtedly has an appeal. The city was founded by the Spanish in the sixteenth century and was at the time a popular destination for Spanish rich and even royal families to recharge and relax. A lovely village to walk around or visit one of the parks like Parque Ricaurte or Parque Antonio Nariño. |
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Activities: Apart from strolling through the picturesque village and peaceful culture, it is an ideal place for a nice brisk walk. Further in the area: A horseback ride is well worth it here too, Pozos Azules and for many it is Iguaque Park (climb from 2900m to 3800m one of the altitude points or the village of Ráquira, also called the City of the Potts
Stay: The stay is in a suitable hacienda on the outskirts of the village. Lovely spacious room and with the beautiful garden and views it is outdoors also enjoyable.
| Barichara is called the most beautiful village in Colombia and has been on the list of national monuments since 1978. This is one of the best preserved colonial villages in the country and is not inferior to Villa de Leyva, Guatapé, Mompox or Mongui. With the advantage that the temperature is pleasant between 20 and 30 degrees all year long. It is wonderful to walk through the colonial streets of Barichara and enjoy colonial antiquity. Surrounded by immense mountains, beautiful waterfalls, endless cave systems and numerous rivers. |
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Activities: Walking through the streets paved with clay-colored stones, you'll traverse the tree-lined squares and overgrown walls of the houses covered with clay tiles. You can also view the Suarez River Canyon, where rafting is popular, from the city. From here you can see the trails on the mountains and admire the unforgettable sunsets.
Stay: The stay is in a suitable hacienda on the outskirts of the village. Lovely spacious room and with the beautiful garden and views it is outdoors also enjoyable.