The beautiful colonial river town Honda and the nearby Lost City of Falan (Ciudad Perdida de Falan), located in the fascinating and little explored Tolima department of Colombia, are two hidden gems and among Colombia’s best-kept secrets.
For me, Honda was love at first sight. The quaint streets and colorful houses, along with its riverside setting, reminded me of a picturesque Mediterranean village. Imagine this combined with Colombia’s exuberant nature and unique culture! To be honest, I wanted to move to Honda immediately or at least open a nice café by the river…
Honda used to be the most important trading port along the mighty Magdalena River during colonial times, and the splendor of that era still subtly lingers in the streets today. Nestled in a lush green valley between two rivers, Honda allegedly boasts more than 40 bridges and is also known as the “City of Bridges”.
Photo by Travelhapp: Streets with a View in Honda, Tolima
Photo by Travelhapp: Evening in Santorini – Ah no! It’s Honda, Tolima.
Photo by Travelhapp: Evening Treasure Hunting in Honda, Tolima
With its picturesque center and nice offer of hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants, Honda is an ideal base for exploring attractions in the surroundings, like the Lost City of Falan or Mariquita. Read more about these destinations below.
Another nice day trip is visiting the private Nature Reserve Hacienda El Triunfo (see website and Instagram), located just 15 minutes away from the center of Honda. This Tropical Dry Forest is home to several endangered endemic species and mammals like howler monkeys, anteaters and wild cats.
You can reach the little village of Falan in about 1 hour by taxi or bus from Honda, passing through Mariquita. From the village center you walk down an unpaved road to get to the entrance of the ecological park of the Lost City of Falan (Ciudad Perdida de Falán).
You have probably heard about the Lost City Trek in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta leading to the archeological remains of an ancient city built by the Teyuna civilization. Falan features a totally different, and little known Lost City: ruins of an abandoned mining town from the 17th century hidden deep in the jungle. When I listened to the stories about the incredible audacity with which colonizers stole gold and silver from Falan, I couldn’t but feel ashamed of humanity.
The Lost City of Falan has only recently become accessible to visitors since Falan, due to its strategic location, used to be heavily affected by the armed conflict in Colombia, involving Guerilla groups, paramilitaries and narcos.
There is a small entrance fee to enter the Ecological Park of The Lost City of Falan. As a female solo traveler, I actually like entrance fees since they usually go with increased safety levels.
While hiking on the beautiful jungle trail along the stunning Morales Creek and passing by several waterfalls, you will discover historic tunnels, ruins of old walls and stone warehouses and even lost vehicle parts. The Lost City of Falan is a true treasure trove for lovers of abandoned places and urbexers. The ecological park also offers several adventure activities like zip-lining, canopying, canyoning and rappelling. The hike takes approximately 3 hours. Don’t forget to bring your swimsuit to enjoy the natural pools and waterfalls!
Photo by Travelhapp: Lost City of Falan Ruins
Photo by Travelhapp: Canopy in the Lost City of Falan Ecological Park
Photos by Travelhapp, Lost City of Falan Near Honda Tolima, Colombia
Mariquita makes a nice stop on your way back from the Lost City of Falan to Honda. The historical center of Mariquita features a beautiful church, some colonial houses and a panoramic main square. However, Mariquita is best known for being the former headquarters of the so-called Royal Botanical Expedition (“Real Expedición Botánica”) in the late 18th century, which was tasked by the king of Spain with exploring and documenting the flora and fauna of “New Granada” (Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela).
To follow the traces of the expedition, you can visit the Second Botanical Expedition House, a beautifully restored 18th-century colonial gem. Wander through its courtyard and admire several species identified in the expedition, including the iconic Cartagena rubber tree, a must-see for nature enthusiasts. The forest just outside of Mariquita (see Bosque Municipal on Google Maps) was one of the epicenters of the Botanical Expedition, chosen as an observation field due to its great variety of flora and fauna.
In the outskirts of Mariquita you can find beautiful nature sights such as Cataratas del Río Medina (a waterfall and natural swimming pool) or Balneario los Caracolies de Cancún (another natural swimming pool, with amenities including a bar). The Lagoon of Silence (Laguna del Silencio), also called Lagoon of the Golden Snake, is a mythological lake nestled amidst a beautiful landscape. When exploring nature sights, it’s best to go in a group and/or with a local guide.
Even though Mariquita is a little closer to the Lost City of Falan compared Honda, I still recommend Honda as a base due to its better amenities.
Photo by Travelhapp: Church at Mariquita’s main square
In my opinion Honda is a great place for solo travelers! It’s easy to reach, it’s small, perfect to explore by foot, and the colonial center is safe. There are poor areas outside of the colonial center, for example across the river, and it is better not to go there alone. Have a look at our Colombia Safety Tips.
Bus connections with surrounding villages are good, but it is also an option to take a taxi since taxis are very affordable in Colombia, especially if you travel in a group. You can try to negotiate a special day trip price with your driver. Join our Colombia Solo Travelers Facebook Group to find other travelers to team up with.
Photo by Travelhapp: Me in Honda, Tolima
Below are some nice hotels and bed and breakfasts in or close to the historical center of Honda. There are not many low budget accommodations available yet in Honda, but the mid-range options offer an excellent price-quality ratio.
Boutique Hotel Posada Las Trampas (Google Maps): A beautiful upscale colonial posada in the historic center, offering amazing views from the upper floors together with a refreshing pool.
B&B Casa Amberes (Google Maps): Friendly B&B featuring cosy rooms, a nice terrace and a pool.
Casa Belle Epoque (Google Maps): Charming colonial hotel, featuring nice breakfast and a small pool.
Honda is very well connected by bus to other interesting travel destinations in Colombia.
Bogotá (3 – 4h): You can reach Colombia’s vibrant capital in just 3-4 hours from Honda (see Rome2Rio). Read our insider tips on Things to do in Bogota. On your way to Bogotá, the pleasant colonial town of Guaduas (view on Google Maps) is worth a stop with its beautiful large main square. In Guaduas you can visit the house of female independence fighter Policarpa Salavarrieta (“La Pola”) and have a coffee in one of the nice local cafes, for example at Yuma. The town is pleasant enough to spend the night and features beautiful natural surroundings, if you like traveling slowly.
Ibagué (2,5h): In less than 3 hours (see Rome2Rio) you can reach Tolima’s capital Ibagué, a great gateway to explore the fascinating off-the-beaten-track Tolima department. Discover surprising things to do in and near Ibagué
Manizales & Coffee Triangle (3,5h): Tolima is part of Colombia’s extended coffee region (Zona Cafetera) and borders with the classical Coffee Triangle, composed of the departments Caldas, Risaralda and Quindio. Bohemian Manizales, the capital of Caldas, can be reached in about 3,5 hours from Honda (see Rome2Rio). Find out what Colombia’s Coffee Triangle has to offer.
Medellin (4h): Not only is Colombia’s traveler favorite Medellin just 4 hours by bus away from Honda (see Rome2Rio), on the road you encounter two more of Colombia’s best kept secrets: Rio la Miel and Embalse Amaní near Norcasia (view on Google Maps) and the Rio Claro Nature Reserve near Doradal (view on Google Maps). We will publish more information about these destinations soon. Also have a look at our tips for activities in and near Medellin.
Read more:
Colombia Travel Inspirations: Top Attractions and Hidden Gems in Colombia
Colombia Travel Tips: General Colombia Travel Advice for Solo Travelers
Colombia Slow Travel Itinerary: Best overland travel routes to discover Colombia
Colombia Off-the-beaten-track: More Secret Tips and Hidden Treasures in Colombia