10 Days in Colombia - 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1:  Nature & Family Time in Colombia: Medellín, Tayrona National Park & Cartagena

Suited to active families, this itinerary offers human-powered experiences, such as biking around Medellín, hiking and tubing in Tayrona National Park, and kayaking in Cartagena. Given the level of physical activity, it may be best for older kids or those comfortable with these types of excursions. 

Start with a bike tour of Medellín, including Plaza Mayor and Parque de los Pies Descalzos. Young artists will enjoy a visit to Comuna 13, where they'll see murals and interact with street artists. Then on Day 3, climb up the Rock of Guatapé for panoramic views and family photos and learn about local culture on a tour of Guatapé. Outdoorsy kids will be thrilled with your next stop: Tayrona National Park. Ride inner tubes down the Río Don Diego, watching for howler monkeys and tropical birds en route to the beach. Then, hike through Tayrona National Park to Cabo San Juan beach for a family picnic and refreshing swim.

Invite the kids to help pick coffee while parents sample the organic brew at a farm in Minca. Take a swim at Pozo Azul, then end the day on a sweet note with a chocolate tour and tasting. Continue to Cartagena on Day 7 and encourage the kids to find their favorite Colombian dishes on a food tour. Spark young imaginations with pirate history as you kayak along the coast, then select some traditional sweets to share at Plaza de los Dulces. Spend your final day in La Boquilla, where the kids can try their hand at traditional fishing and learn Afro-Colombian beats in a drum session with local experts. Learn more 

Itinerary #2: Family Fun & Learning in Colombia: Medellín, Zona Cafetera & Cartagena

With educational experiences that include visits to a silletera flower farm, botanical gardens, museums, and a butterfly vivarium, this itinerary is an excellent option for families interested in Colombia's culture, flora, and fauna. There are also opportunities for hands-on experiences, such as a treasure hunt and a chocolate-making workshop in Cartagena.     

Give the kids a birdseye view of Medellín on a cable car ride, then encourage them to engage with interactive exhibits at Explora Park before a family picnic at El Castillo Museum and Gardens. On Day 3, introduce the kids to the craft of silleteros (farmers who arrange flowers on a contraption to be carried on the back) at a Santa Elena farm, and let them gather flowers to add to the arrangement. Catch a flight to Pereira, where you'll experience the Zona Cafetera through all senses, first with a coffee tour and tasting followed by a visit to the Botanical Gardens, home to thousands of species of butterflies.

Entertain the whole family with museums, rides, and shows at Parque del Café, then take a leisurely walk among towering palms in Valle de Cócora (a beautiful setting for family photos, especially of little ones next to the tall trees!). Fly to Cartagena on Day 8 and invite the kids to create their own sweet treats in a chocolate workshop. Play Pirates on Barbacoco's Treasure experience, a scavenger hunt that takes kids around the city, solving riddles, learning history, and even firing cannons along the way. Visit Totumo Mud Volcano on your final day for a chance to play in the mud—sure to be a highlight for little ones. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Colorful Colombia with Kids: Bogotá, Pereira & Cartagena

Adding Colombia's capital to the mix, this trip plan combines urban adventures, including historical tours in Bogotá and a bike tour in Cartagena, with outdoor activities such as bamboo rafting in the coffee region around Pereira. The relaxed pace and variety of kid-friendly activities, including options for drumming and crafting workshops in La Boquilla, make it an excellent choice for all ages.  

Get the kids acquainted with a variety of local fruit on a tasting tour of the stalls at Plaza de Mercado de Paloquemao in Bogotá. Learn some city history and culture on a walking tour, and end the day with a hike (or cable car ride for weary little legs) up Cerro Monserrate. Then it's off to Pereira for a soak in the Santa Rosa hot springs—outdoorsy kids will enjoy the cloud forest setting—and some chorizo Santarrosano (cured sausage with ground corn pancakes). Catch a show, ride the gondola, and walk the educational trails at Parque del Café before taking a bamboo raft ride down the Río La Vieja on Day 5.

A horseback ride at Hacienda el Palomar will be a highlight for the animal lovers among you. If your kids are craving a treat and you're in need of caffeine, head for Hacienda Venecia for a cacao and coffee tasting. Next, on arrival in Cartagena on Day 7, hand the kids a camera and let them capture the lively streets, or take a walking tour and hear pirate tales of the past, then enjoy street eats in Getsemaní. Learn how to catch shrimp and crawfish, then cook them up in a local home in La Boquilla before one last activity: music-loving kids can attend a drum workshop while crafty ones can create their own souvenirs. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Colombia's Coffee Zone & Caribbean Coast for Families

This 10-day itinerary is great for families that want a balance of outdoor exploration (and, of course, coffee and cacao tastings!) in the Coffee Zone, city tours and cultural experiences in Cartagena, and some beach time in Isla Barú. Foodie families will also have the opportunity to prepare Colombian cuisine in a child-friendly cooking class. While this trip is suited to all ages, the comfortable pace, the inclusion of free time, and the engaging activities, such as the music workshop in La Boquilla, make this a perfect option for families with young children. 

Start your Colombia adventure in Armenia, your base for a few nights in the Zona Cafetera. Take the kids to the Valle de Cocora to see the tallest palm trees in the world, then check out the views from the observatory in Salento. Parents can sample coffee on a farm tour, and curious kids will love learning about the chocolate-making process, from bean to bar, on a cacao tour. Enjoy a free afternoon on Day 3 to relax by the pool at Hotel Hacienda Bambusa or ride bikes around the property. Fly to Cartagena and tour the sites, starting with La Popa Monastery for a view over the city and ending with a hot chocolate experience. 

Encourage your children to engage with local musicians in a music workshop at Batambora Drum Workshop School, then join your young chefs in preparing some traditional Colombian dishes in a cooking class. Next, you're off to Isla Barú with a stop en route that the animal lovers in your family will enjoy—the National Colombian Aviary, where you can see toucans and hummingbirds. Invite the kids to choose from snorkeling, kayaking, or just relaxing at the beach, and spend your final full day soaking up the best of Isla Barú before returning to Cartagena for departure. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Ultimate Colombia Family Adventure: Archaeology, Deserts, Beaches & Jungles

This fast-paced trip—which includes jungle hikes and wildlife in Tayrona National Park, a beach day in Santa Marta, stargazing and horseback riding in the Tatacoa Desert, and archaeological exploration in Tierradentro—is best suited to active families with a range of interests. Given the faster pace, it may be better for those with older children or those comfortable with changing locations every couple of days. 

Get off to a delicious start with a fruit tour in Plaza de Mercado de Paloquemao, then take your blossoming artists to see the works of Fernando Botero at Botero Museum before boarding a cable car up Monserrate Hill for family photos from the top. Travel north to Santa Marta and choose a family beach day or a guided walking tour, depending on energy levels and interests. Head to Tayrona National Park for an inner tube ride on Río Don Diego that ends with a swim in the Caribbean Sea. Hike the Sendero 9 Piedras trail and encourage the kids to keep their eyes peeled for monkeys, frogs, and other wildlife.  

Fly to Neiva and continue to Villavieja, the gateway to the Tatacoa Desert. Let the kids stay up past bedtime for a stargazing excursion; space enthusiasts will particularly enjoy the chance to see the planets through the observatory telescope. Spend a full day immersed in the desert with a horseback ride, a swim in a natural pool, a boat ride on the Río Magdalena, and a sunset walk—kids of all ages will be impressed by the rugged rock formations splashed in sunset colors. Take your young explorers to archaeological parks in Tierradentro and San Augustin to see ancient paintings, stones, carvings, and more. Learn more

More Great 10-Day Colombia Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Colombia? Check out these other 10-day Colombia itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.