Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in South America and a treasure trove of vibrant culture, pristine nature, breathtaking landscapes, and warm hospitality. From the sun-kissed beaches of the Caribbean coast to the majestic mountains of the Andes, Colombia is a paradise for travelers seeking unique and unforgettable experiences.
In this article, we’ll take you on a journey through the top things to do in Colombia, from outdoor escapades and cultural experiences to culinary delights and wellness retreats.
Best Things to do in Colombia
Photo by Joel Carillet, Paragliding in Bucaramanga
Colombia is paradise for outdoor and adventure lovers, adrenaline seekers and extreme sports enthusiasts. Many places offer a diverse set of fun activities to engage in.
Top outdoor and adventure activities in Colombia include:
Jungle Trekking: For example, you can trek to the Lost City in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (Ciudad Perdida) and do jungle tours in Colombia’s Amazon region near Leticia and Puerto Nariño, or near Mocoa in the Putumayo region.
Mountain Trekking: You can trek in Colombia’s snow peaked mountains, for example, in the Los Nevados National Park near Manizales, or at Nevado del Cocuy.
Hiking: Hiking is possible almost everywhere in Colombia since the natural scenery is stunning throughout the country. The great thing about Colombia is that you can find fascinating hiking trails even very close (or inside) big cities like Bogota, Medellin, Cali and Bucaramanga.
Paragliding: There are a lot of great paragliding sites in Colombia where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the landscape from high above, for example near Medellin and Bucaramanga.
Caving: Colombia has many interesting caves to explore. You may want to check out Cueva de los Guácharos (Huila, featuring the Guácharo birds which make impressive primordial sounds), Cueva del Esplendor (Antioquia), and Cueva de los Aviones (Santander, featuring waterfalls), among others.
Canopying, zip-lining: Zip-lining is very popular in Colombia and a lot of outdoor destinations and nature reserves offer you the possibility to move through the tree canopy. A hidden gem for canopying is the Lost City of Falan in Tolima.
Abseiling, rappelling, rock climbing, bouldering: Popular destinations for rock climbing and rappelling include Suesca and Tobia (not too far from Bogota), the department of Santander and many other places in Colombia.
Biking & Mountain Biking: Mountain biking is a national sport in Colombia and you will see motivated bikers pedaling up steep hills all over the country. Just rent a bike wherever you cherish the landscape.
Motorbike Tours: Another great way to explore Colombia is by motorbike. Several tour agencies in Colombia specialize in motorbike rentals and tours, for example Colombian Riders in Santa Marta (see on Google Maps).
Other adventure activities: This list could go on and on since almost any adventure and outdoor activity you can think of is possible in Colombia due to the country’s mega-diverse landscape and climate zones.
Photo by MikeLane45, Pink Dolphin
Colombia’s unique geographical position close to the equator and its wide range of ecosystems offer unforgettable wildlife encounters. As one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, Colombia is home to over 1,900 bird species and a vast array of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
Here are is just a small selection of unique wildlife experiences to explore:
Photo by gstockstudio, Kayaking
With two oceans, numerous rivers and lakes and an endless amount of waterfalls, Colombia offers water activities around every corner.
Here are some fun water sport and beach activities you can do in Colombia:
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling: Santa Marta and Taganga are great places to learn diving in Colombia without spending a fortune, and the marine life in the nearby Tayrona National Park is amazing. Other great diving and snorkeling sites in Colombia include, for example, San Andres and Providencia (near Nicaragua) and Islas del Rosario (near Cartagena). Discover the best dive spots in Colombia!
River Rafting, White Water Rafting: San Gil, Bucaramanga, as well as other places in the department of Santander, are especially known for their great river rafting experiences. That being said, you will find excellent opportunities for white water rafting also in other parts of Colombia, for example near Bogotá (Tobia), Medellín and Cali (Pance).
Canyoneering: Colombia is a country full of waterfalls. No matter where you are, do a quick Google search and you will most likely find some place nearby to practice canyoneering and waterfall rappelling.
Kayaking and Canoeing: You can do kayaking in Colombia in different places, for example, in Guatape (near Medellin), in San Gil (river Fonce), in the El Cocuy National Natural Park (in the north-eastern Andes), in the Uramba Bahía Málaga National Natural Park (near Buenaventura), and in many other rivers, lakes and or in the oceans.
Surfing: The Mendihuaca area at Colombia’s northern Caribbean coast (between Santa Marta and Palomino) is a great place for surfing with several good surf schools at the beach. Read more about Mendihuaca and nearby idyllic beach Playa Los Angeles. Other great surf destinations in Colombia include Tayrona National Park, Palomino, Nuquí (Chocó), Isla Fuerte (Córdoba), and some beaches between Barranquilla and Cartagena.
Kite-Surfing: La Guajira is Colombia’s top destination for kite-surfing and provides a totally otherworldly scenery with its huge sand dunes by the sea. There are also some emerging kite surfing hotspots between Barranquilla and Cartagena.
Beach life: With its many beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters, Colombia has much to offer to sun worshipers and beach lovers. Among Colombia’s best beaches are Playa Blanca on Isla Baru (near Cartagena), the beaches inside Tayrona National Natural Park (close to Santa Marta), Playas Mayapo (in La Guajira), Sapzurro, Bahía Solano and Nuqui (all three in Chocó) and the beaches of San Andres and Providencia. Not all beaches are suitable for swimming, though. Check if there are any warning signs before jumping into the water.
Colombia’s five big cities Bogotá, Cali, Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Medellin, offer a wide array of cultural and urban activities to choose from, but also in smaller towns like Manizales and Ibague you can discover a lot of things to do. Among the best places to experience the typical Colombian music and dance scene are Cali, Cartagena and Barranquilla.
Here are the top urban and cultural activities in Colombia:
Admire Street Art & Graffiti: Bogotá, Cali, Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Medellin, all have an excellent street art scene. Often it’s possible to take tours to learn more about the social and political background of the murals.
Visit museums: Bogotá, Medellin and Cali are home to some of Colombia’s most important museums and also feature a vibrant contemporary art scene with innovative galleries.
Attend festivals and fairs: Colombia hosts numerous festivals and fairs over the year. There are interesting book fairs in Bogotá and Medellin, Bogota hosts a huge theater festival, the Carnival of Barranquilla is among the most colorful carnivals of the world, Ibague features excellent music festivals, and so on and so on…
Participate in art workshops: Colombia is full of art and artists. You can find super interesting artistic workshops, encompassing everything from painting, to ceramics and textile art, at very accessible prices in a lot of places. They are usually in Spanish but language shouldn’t be a barrier in artistic creation.
Learn to dance: Colombian’s love to dance! To join them, learn to dance Salsa or try another typical Colombian dance (Cumbia, Champeta, etc.). Cali is a great place to learn dancing as it has a huge number of world class dance schools.
Attend life concerts: Music is always present in Colombia, and there are many fantastic local bands around. You can find excellent live concerts by local bands, for example in Cartagena’s Getsemani neighborhood, in Barranquilla, in Bogotá or in Cali.
Dive into the history of Colombian music in Palenque: The friendly Afro-Colombian town Palenque near Cartagena is considered the birthplace of many Colombian music and dance styles.
Photo by Reg Natarajan, CC BY 2.0 (mod.)
Photo by Travelhapp, Coffee farm in Huila
With its location close to the equator, diverse climate zones, and innovative chefs, Colombia has all the prerequisites to spoil your palate. From exotic fruits you never heard of, to the most unique coffee flavors, and surprising fusion dishes – Colombia has it all.
Top tips for culinary experiences in Colombia include:
Visit local food markets: Great places to experience local market hustle and buzzle are, for example, the Paloquemao Market in Bogotá, the Bazurto Market in Cartagena, or Plaza Minorista in Manizales, to name just a few. Local markets often feature a restaurant corner on the upper floor, and you can find food stalls with street food nearby.
Try the “menu del dia” in a “corrientazo”: The menu of the day at a simple local restaurant (“corrientazo”) is available at lunch time for less than 5 USD or EUR and includes a starter (soup or fresh fruit), a tasty main dish and a fresh juice or lemonade. Just head to the place where you see most locals (or ask the locals to recommend you “un buen corrientazo”).
Attend a cooking class: Attending a cooking class is a great way to learn about the local cuisine and regional ingredients. Search for cooking classes in the cities where you like the food best. Cartagena is a great place to take a cooking class if you cherish Caribbean sea food.
Visit a coffee farm: Even though “Zona Cafetera” (coffee region) usually refers to a specific region of Colombia (around the “coffee-triangle” Manizales/Caldas, Armenia/Quindío, Pereira/Risaralda), you can find coffee farms all over Colombia. It’s well worth visiting several farms in different regions as the flavor is very distinct. In the department of Huila a bike path is being created along the “Magic Coffee Route”!
Visit a cacao plantation: Apart from great coffee, Colombia also produces excellent chocolate. You can visit Cacao plantations, learn about the production process and do tastings in several cacao producing areas of Colombia, for example in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, in the Huila department and in the Santander department.
Photo by Eliana Reyes, Art Therapy Day Retreat
I have been living in Colombia for several years now and perceive the country as very artistic and spiritual. Colombians have a strong connection with their ancestral roots and with nature. Art has always played a large role in healing processes, most recently in the work with people affected by the Armed Conflict. Engaging in art-related and spiritual experiences in Colombia can be a truly transformative experience.
Here are some ideas for activities around art therapy, wellness, mental health and spirituality:
Yoga Retreats: You can encounter some amazing Yoga Ashrams set in an absolutely stunning natural scenery in Colombia. Check out Vanadurga Ashram (Google Maps), 3 hours from Medellin, or Gambhira Eco Yoga Village (Google Maps), Goloka Eco Village (Google Maps) and Los Vedas Spa Campestre (Google Maps) in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
Art Therapy Retreats: I’m part of a small professional community of trained art therapists in Colombia (arTE Colombian Art Therapy Association – website in Spanish). Apart from day-to-day therapeutic work, we sometimes offer art therapy retreats in beautiful places in nature. Please contact me via email (nicole@travelhapp.com) or write me a message onInstagram to learn about our current program. Studying, practicing and participating in art therapy in Colombia has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life.
Spiritual Nature Experiences for Women: Innovative women-led tour operators, like Cali-based Mujer Nativa (Instagram), offer amazing experiences around female identity, connection with nature and wellness.
Stargazing: Colombia features some stunning deserts and mountains that are just perfect for gazing at the starts and connecting with the universe. Great start gazing places include the Tatacoa Desert in Huila, the deserts of La Guajira and the astronomical observatory of mountain town Manizales, as well as the various Nevados of Colombia.
Hot springs & thermal baths: You will find relaxing hot springs in stunning natural settings all over Colombia, for example the scenic Santa Rosa de Cabal Hot Springs near Pereira, the surprising hot springs near Ciénaga and Santa Marta, and many additional thermal baths in the Andes, for example near Bogotá, Medellín and Manizales.
Photo by Travelhapp, San Agustin Archeological Park
There is no shortage of historically relevant and archaeologically interesting sites in Colombia. The most famous ones include the historical centers of Cartagena and Bogotá, the Lost City in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Archeological Park of San Agustin.
However, the whole country is full of historical evidence telling fascinating tales about Colombia’s pre-columbian and colonial past, as well as its more recent history. The Chiribiquete National Park with its over 20,000 years old Rock Paintings has recently become a UNESCO world heritage site (see Colombia Off-the-beaten-track). And there are a lot more ancient petroglyphs still hidden in the jungle and largely unexplored all over the country.
Some activities in Colombia are easier, safer or more fun to do in a group rather than alone. Join our Colombia Solo Travelers Facebook Group to find other solo travelers near you. (Our focus is on female solo traveler needs and interests.)
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