Joining tours and activities offered by local guides and agencies is a great way for solo travelers to make the most out of their trip to Colombia. Explore the country, learn interesting things and meet new people while supporting the local economy and communities. In general you get very good value for money when doing tours in Colombia, no matter if you go with an individual guide or with a tour company.
Colombia has an incredibly varied offer of tours and experiences, which is – I think – both due to the extreme diversity of the country and to the enthusiasm and motivation of local guides and tour operators. One day you may join a free walking tour or graffiti tour through the city, the next you may visit a coffee farm and learn about the production process, and the day after you can go trekking in snow-capped mountains or the jungle.
Since the peace contract in 2016 Colombia has been able to offer a much safer and more tranquil travel experience. It’s now possible to access pristine natural territories that were formerly inaccessible because of the presence of guerrilla and paramilitaries. Actually, some former guerrilla fighters have become tour guides with the help of resocialization programs. These people know the Colombian jungle like no one else and can teach you a lot.
I think, both the delay in tourism and the country’s deep connection to nature and heritage, have helped Colombia to avoid the errors of other countries and start off with a much more socially and environmentally conscious form of tourism. You will notice this commitment when talking to your guides.
In Colombia’s bigger cities and main travel destinations, like Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena, it’s quite common to find free walking tours and other free tours, which may include free graffiti tours, free bird watching expeditions, free hikes, and more.
I usually include good free tours in my destination guides (“things to do in…”) since they are a great way for solo travelers to experience a place and meet other people. You can book many interesting free tours in Colombia online at Civitatis.com*.
Tipping: It is customary to give your tour guide a tip at the end of the tour as a sign of appreciation. The amount is up to you and may vary depending on tour length and your satisfaction I recommend giving at least around 6-12 USD (ca. 25,000-50.000 COP), but it could also be 15-20 USD.
Private tour guides in Colombia are very affordable compared to some other countries. Bilingual guides charge a little bit more than Spanish-only guides. The final cost depends on several factors, e.g. group size, destination, etc. As a rough orientation, if you are a group of 5, in some places you may already get a personalized high-quality tour for several hours, paying 100.000 COP each (without transport, food, entrance fees and other additional costs).
If the destination is rather easy to reach with public transport, hiring an individual guide may be a good and sometimes cheaper alternative to a package, especially if you manage to get a group together to split the costs.
For nature destinations, it’s usually already a good idea to go with a guide if you simply want to avoid getting lost. Colombia’s nature is a strong and willful lady and she enjoys herself taking back human-made trails or paths. Even your guide may sometimes need to think for a moment in order to remember where the trail is hiding.
Tipping:
If you were happy with your tour and want to give a tip to your tour guide, a value of 10-20% of the total tour cost is a good orientation.
As a solo female traveler, I was delighted by the number of female tour guides in Colombia! In fact, I had often missed seeing women guides when traveling in other countries. It’s a great way to connect with local women and see Colombia through their unique eyes.
Here are some extraordinary female tour guides!
Marta is not only a very experienced local tour guide, but also an artist, art teacher and social activist. Learn about life in Colombia from this inspiring woman!
Types of tours: architecture, music & art tours, artist workshops, ecological tours, local markets & culinary experiences, picnics, therapeutic hikes, etc.
Destinations: Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Boyacá
Languages: Spanish, English, French
Paula dedicates her life to important community work with women and children in La Guajira. She is also a knowledgeable bilingual local guide that may engage you in some thought-provoking conversations about responsible and sustainable travel.
Types of tours: eco- and community tourism, Wayuu cultural tours
Languages: Spanish, English
Claudia is an experienced bilingual local guide, enthusiastic about introducing travelers to the wonders of Santa Marta and its incredible Sierra Nevada.
Types of tours: city, nature
Languages: Spanish, English
Local tour operators in Colombia offer good value for money all-inclusive tour packages. Tour package rates may vary, mainly depending on the following factors:
Tours that require less motorized transport are, for example, cheaper. A 3-day/2-night tour can start at around 800.000 COP per person (check USD & EUR), but could also cost more than 2.000.000 COP per person due to the factors mentioned before.
Note on exchange rates: Some tour operators in Colombia offer to pay either in COP or in USD. It’s worth checking the current exchange rate at the time of booking to find out what’s most convenient for you since the COP/USD exchange rate is fluctuating a lot. Also pay attention whether the total cost includes IVA (VAT) or not. (The IVA/VAT refunds for tourists only apply to purchases of goods, not services.)
On platforms like GetYourGuide*, Civitatis* and Viator*, you’ll often see the terms “Private Tour,” “Shared Tour,” and “Small Group Tour.”
Questions or comments? I’d love to hear them! Reach out on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.
Last Update: May 2, 2025
*Affiliate links: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links (marked with *). If you choose to book through them, you support my work on Travelhapp – at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services I trust and believe will bring value to you.
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