16 Days in Colombia - 6 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Colombian Andes to the Caribbean Coast: Bogotá, Salento, Medellín, Tayrona & Cartagena

The variety on this highlights itinerary is an excellent option for travelers seeking an active adventure combined with cultural activities. Hit the top sights of Bogotá, hike to the crater-shaped Laguna de Guatavita, sample Columbian coffee on a farm in Salento, experience the street food scene of Medellín, and learn about the city's transformation, tour Cartagena by bike, explore the mangroves on a canoe excursion in Boquilla, and end on a high note with a private beach experience in the Rosario Islands.

Get to know Bogotá with a tour of the highlights, including Plaza de Bolívar, and a visit to Paloquemao Market, where you'll taste local eats, such as empanadas. Hike to Laguna de Guatavita, then visit Zipaquirá to see its Catedral de Sal, a Roman Catholic church built in an underground salt mine. Continue to Pereira, where you'll unwind in the Santa Rosa Hot Springs before transferring to Colombia's coffee region. With Salento as your base, you'll visit a coffee farm, hike Valle del Cocora (Cocora Valley), and raft the Río La Vieja, as the ancient Quimbay people do: on a bamboo raft.

Fly to Medellín, and learn about the city's transformation on a tour that includes Comuna 13. Climb the steps to El Peñón de Guatapé (the Rock of Guatapé) and take a boat ride at the Guatapé Reservoir before sampling street food on a tasting tour. Fly to Santa Marta and tour the sites, including Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, then continue to Tayrona National Park for a hike. Learn about Indigenous culture on a visit to Taironaka Nature Reserve, then head to Cartagena for a bike tour. Experience Boquilla's natural beauty on a canoe excursion, and cap off your trip with a private beach experience in the Rosario Islands. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Diverse Culture & Nature in Colombia: From Bogota to the Caribbean

First-time visitors eager to make the most of their time will appreciate the fast pace and the variety of activities on this alternate highlights itinerary. You'll embark on a history tour in Bogotá, experience stargazing in the Tatacoa Desert, visit archaeological parks in San Agustín, learn about Indigenous culture in Popayán, take salsa lessons in Cali, sample street food in Cartegena, and go sailing and snorkeling at Isla Múcura.

Visit Bogotá's neighborhoods, including the artistic district of La Macarena, before catching a flight to Neiva. Experience the Tatacoa Desert via tuk-tuk and walking tours, then enjoy stargazing at the Astronomical Observatory. Transfer to San Agustín for a coffee farm tour followed by a horseback ride to archaeological sites that include La Pelota. Continue to Popayán for a gastronomy tour, then learn about local heritage with a visit to the Indigenous Reservation of the Guambiano-Misak Community. Gain further understanding of medical plants and Misak culture on a visit to Casa Payán en route to Cali.

Taste tamales and more on a gastronomy tour of Cali, then practice your salsa steps in a dance lesson. Fly to Santa Marta for a tour of the historic center and beach hopping in Tayrona National Park. Sip Colombian coffee at La Victoria Coffee Farm and swim at the Marinka waterfalls en route to Cartagena. Visit Convento de la Popa and the San Felipe de Barajas hilltop castle, then refuel with a Cartagena street food tour. Spend your final days sunbathing and snorkeling at Isla Múcura, or add an optional island activity such as kayaking before toasting your adventure at Café del Mar. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Colombia's Caribbean Gems: Beaches, Jungles & Indigenous Culture

Combine Indigenous-led experiences with coastal and island exploration on this beach and jungle-forward trip. You'll have the chance to visit the Indigenous communities of the Sierra Nevada and La Guajira, hike and beach-hop in Tayrona National Park, spend time snorkeling and sunbathing, and then join a bioluminescence tour in the Rosario Islands.

Start in Santa Marta with a tour of the significant landmarks, including the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, then head to Palomino for a tubing excursion on the Don Diego River. Learn about environmental conservation in the Sierra Nevada de Santa and visit the house of Mamo Agustín in Seviaka, where you'll get to know some of the Indigenous community. Shop Wayuu handicrafts and textiles on a free day in Riohacha before transferring to La Guajira Peninsula, where you'll visit the Manaure Salt Flats, hike to the sacred Pilon de Azucar, trek the Taroa Dunes, and join a Wayuu weaving activity.

Relax on the beaches of Mayapo, then continue to Minca on Day 8 for a coffee farm tour and tasting. Hike to Arrecifes Beach, then beach hop along the coast of Tayrona National Park. Then on Day 11, you'll transfer to Cartagena for a bike tour followed by a canoe excursion in Boquilla and a mud bath at Totumo Volcano. Spend a couple of days soaking up the best of the Rosario Islands with some snorkeling and a bioluminescence tour before returning to Cartagena to enjoy your final day sunbathing at Playa Blanca, souvenir shopping and people watching at Mercado de Bazurto, and sipping sunset drinks at Café Cocktail del Mar. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Active Exploration of Colombia's Natural & Cultural Highlights

Opt for this active itinerary, which is ideal for energetic travelers looking to experience Colombia through outdoor adventures. You'll take a walking tour of Bogotá, hike in Chingaza National Park, go whitewater rafting on Río Calderas, and enjoy horseback riding in Manizales. The inclusion of coffee tours in Salento and Jardín makes it a match for coffee lovers as well, and photographers will appreciate the opportunities to capture otherworldly landscapes and unique ecosystems at Chicaque Natural Park, La Romera Natural Reserve, and Cerro Bravo Volcano.

On arrival in Bogotá, admire the colorful buildings in La Candelaria, ride the cable car up Cerro Monserrate for views over the city, and join a game of tejo. Experience the páramo (high-altitude plateau) on a hike in Chingaza National Park on Day 3, then enjoy bird-watching in the cloud forests of Chicaque Natural Park. Catch a flight to the coffee region for a walk among the palm trees of Valle del Cocora, a coffee tour at Finca El Ocaso, a rafting trip down the Río La Vieja, and a basket-weaving workshop. Next, tour Hacienda Venecia on horseback, keeping an eye out for some of the 260 species of birds found here.

Explore the lunar landscapes of Valle de las Tumbas and take a dip in the Otono hot springs before ascending the  Cerro Bravo volcano for panoramic views. Transfer to Jardín for a village tour, then continue to Medellín, where you'll take a nature walk to La Miel Waterfall. Head out of the city and climb the steps to the Rock of Guatapé, join a whitewater rafting adventure on the Río Calderas, and go bird-watching in the La Romera Nature Reserve. End your journey with a Medellín tour that will help you appreciate the city's transformation and street art, then savor one last Colombian meal and coffee. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Colombia's Ultimate Bird-Watching & Wildlife Tour

Bird-watchers and wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy the excursions on this wildlife tour, which includes a visit to the National Aviary of Colombia in Cartagena, toucan spotting at Cerro Kennedy, a tour of a primate rehabilitation center, two days of bird-watching in the Río Blanco and Timanú Reserves, and a wildlife night walk in the Amazon. There are also opportunities to learn about Indigenous cultures in the Amazon with cultural exchange at Uitoto Maloca and a cooking lesson with a Tikuna grandmother.

Begin with a fruit-tasting experience in Cartagena before heading to La Boquilla, where you'll learn traditional fishing techniques, then return to the city to see nearly 200 bird species at the National Aviary of Colombia. Next, it's off to Tayrona National Park for a tubing adventure on the Don Diego River, followed by a hike. Continue to Minca for a coffee tour before hiking to Cerro Kennedy, where you may spot toucans, hummingbirds, and more. Fly to Pereira and relax in the Santa Rosa hot springs, then continue to Manizales for two days of bird-watching in the Río Blanco and Timanú Reserves.

Fly to Leticia on Day 10 to begin your Amazon experience. Engage in a cultural exchange at Uitoto Maloca, then see nocturnal wildlife on a night walk. Take a speedboat to the Mocagua community and learn about preserving ancient traditions. Get acquainted with jungle ecosystems at Natutama Interpretation Center, then prepare a traditional dish with a Tikuna grandmother. Go bird-watching at the Correo and Tarapoto Lakes on Day 12, keeping an eye out for pink river dolphins, returning to Leticia and shopping for souvenirs before flying to Bogotá for one final bird-watching excursion in Chingaza National Park. Learn more

Itinerary #6: Best of Colombia's Cities, Coffee Country & Caribbean Coast

Cover a lot of ground on this best-of itinerary as you taste your way around Bogotá's Paloquemao Market, shop for handicraft souvenirs in Ráquira, hike to Guane for a visit to the archaeological and paleontological museum, and take a cable car across the world's second-largest canyon. You'll also ride horses in Manizales, enjoy a cultural heritage tour of Jericó, visit an organic flower farm in Santa Elena, climb El Peñón de Guatapé, and toast your trip with a rum tasting in Cartagena. 

Visit Bogotá's most important landmarks, then fuel up on fruits, tamales, and more at Paloquemao Market before heading to Cerro Monserrate for a hike. Stop by Zipaquirá's "Salt Cathedral" en route to Villa de Leyva, where you'll tour Plaza Mayor and then admire traditional handicrafts in Ráquira. Take a scenic drive to Barichara for a hike on the Camino Real to Guane, where you'll visit the archaeological and paleontological museum. Make a stop at Chicamocha National Park for a cable car ride over the world's second-largest canyon, then catch a flight to Pereira, where you'll relax in the Santa Rosa hot springs.

Continue to Salento on Day 7 for a coffee tour and tasting, followed by a walk in the verdant Cocora Valley. Transfer to Manizales for a horseback ride, then visit Jericó, where you'll take a cultural heritage tour. Your next stop is Jardín for a tour of the charming coffee village. Next, you'll head to Medellín and learn about the city's transformation before visiting an organic flower farm in Santa Elena and climbing El Peñón de Guatapé. Fly to Cartagena, where you'll see the city sites by bike, then indulge in a private beach in the Rosario Islands, followed by a rum tasting back in Cartagena before departure. Learn more

More Great 16-Day Colombia Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Colombia? Check out these other 16-day Colombia itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.