Best Places to Visit in Colombia, South America
Best Places to Visit in Colombia, South America
Cast all of your outdated ideas aside - like drug wars and gangsters - and you'll find that Colombia is a nation brimming with confidence and rushing headfirst into a more peaceful and prosperous future. In this land of contrasts, you'll encounter snow-capped Andean peaks, tropical Amazonian jungles, turquoise Caribbean coasts, and two sun-kissed deserts. You'll also find a host of spectacular attractions at the places in between, from the bustling cities of Bogotá and Medellin to the quiet colonial village of Mompox. Above all else, the famous Colombian hospitality will undoubtedly find you coming back for more.
1.Medellin
2.Caño Cristales
3.Tayrona National Natural Park
4.Cartagena
5.Mompox
6.The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira
7.Bogota
8.The Alpine Circuit: Suesca, La Mesa de Los Santos, La Florián, and Cocuy National Park (Colombia’s Andes)
9.The Lost City
10.Leticia
21 Most Incredible Places to Visit in Colombia
Be sure to visit desktodirtbag.com/colombia for the best resources in helping you to plan your trip to Colombia.
Most Incredible Places to Visit in Colombia
Cartagena
Let's start with the most obvious places, Cartagena, since it is Colombia's #1 tourist destination, and for pretty good reason. This old, walled city draws visitors through its colorful corridors, past exotic fruit vendors and sucks you in.
Tayrona National Park
Tayrona National Natural Park is probably the crown jewel of Colombia's national park system, an ecological paradise where palm-tree lined white sand beaches tuck up against crystalline blue waters.
Cabo de la Vela in La Guajira
For unforgettable beaches that are far less touristy than those in Cartagena or Tayrona, you should make a point to head to Cabo de la Vela along the Guajira region.
El Cocuy
For a total change of scenery you can (slowly, thanks to the high altitude) make your way to El Cocuy, located near the border of Venezuela, high in the Andes mountains.
San Gil
San Gil is located near the big city of Bucaramanga, and it remains one of my all-time favorite mid-size towns. San Gil is known as the adventure sports capital of Colombia, thanks to the many fun outdoor activities available in the area.
Villa de Leyva
Ville de Leyva is located a few hours from Bogota, and it is among the best preserved colonial towns in Colombia, with very little in the way of development over the past 400 years.
The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira
Perhaps among the most unique churches in the world, the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira is a Catholic church built inside the tunnels of an underground salt mine, more than 200 meters underground.
Bogota
Bogota is the large and bustling capital city, a place that can be somewhat chaotic and overwhelming, but nonetheless is worth visiting as Colombia's most cosmopolitan city, filled with arts, culture, entertainment, food, and much more.
Caño Cristales
Caño Cristales is a unique natural attraction known as the red river or the river of seven colors, due to the phenomenon of naturally occurring algae during certain times of the year which turns the river into unreal colors.
Amazonas
Most visitors to Colombia explore only a tiny fraction of Colombia and never make it over the Andes to Los Llanos (the plains) and the Amazon. Again, this is a place that you need to fly to in order to visit, as there are no roads that will take you to Leticia.
San Andres & Providencia
Finally, the last of my recommended places to visit in Colombia that involves flying, is a trip to the idyllic Caribbean islands of San Andes and Providencia. These two islands are actually located closer to Nicaragua than Colombia, but are nonetheless part of Colombia.
Medellin
Medellin at first blush isn't the prettiest city (although the surrounding landscape most certainly is) but it is a place that beats with life, energy, and rejuvenation.
Guatape
Not too far outside of Medellin, you'll find the cute little town of Guatape with colorfully painted buildings and a plethora of things to do in this pleasant little tourist town.
Cali
Cali is often overlooked compared to Cartagena, Medellin, and Bogota, but it has its own interesting vibe and story... For one, this is the salsa dancing capital of Colombia, so if that's on your list at all, then you've got to come to Cali.
Tatacoa Desert
Crossing back over one of the cordillera mountain ranges from Cali, you will find the intriguing Tatacoa Desert, just north of Neiva. Here you will find what we usually call badlands in English, where strangely colored desert formations lay out before you.
San Agustin
South of Tatacoa, the landscape turns from desert to jungle, where you will find the town of San Agustin. The principle draw here, beyond the waterfalls and beautiful landscapes, is the San Agustin Archeological Park.
Popayan
The white city of Colombia was a huge surprise for me, and is certainly among my top favorite mid-size cities... Arguably even more attractive then some of the more famous colonial cities like Barichara or Villa de Leyva.
The Coffee Axis
The Coffee Axis, or Coffee Triangle consists of the area surrounding the three cities of Manizales, Armenia, and Pereira. This is where the majority of the Colombia's top coffee is cultivated.
Los Nevados
Los Nevados is another one of the top national parks in Colombia, which rivals El Cocuy in terms of the mountainous terrain and snowcapped peaks.
Valle de Cocora
Perhaps one of the most unique and impressive sights in Colombia is the Valle de Cocora, where wax palms stretch high into the area above the verdant green ground.
Las Lajas
Finally, my last recommendation in the top places to visit in Colombia is one that sits practically on the border with Ecuador in the far south... The Las Lajas Sanctuary.
Tales From the Road: Bird Songs and Sunsets in Leticia, Colombia
I travel to a lot of places knowing that I will never return. The Amazon has never been one of those places. Adam and I just touched down in Leticia which is on the tricountry border of Brazil, Colombia and Peru. We will now commence the Amazon portion of our trip. Our first day was a good start.
I'm Ivan the Intrepid, a budget travel and lifestyle blogger... person. I'm currently traveling Colombia and Peru and will be posting some goofy vlog posts until I get back home and can put together some more useful posts. Be sure to subscribe and check out some of my other projects:
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What to do in Bogota, Colombia?
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