About the Journey
Colombia may sound intimidating by name, but in reality, it is an exceptionally rich country—demographically, geographically, naturally, culturally, and in terms of sheer fun and travel appeal. In fact, it is arguably the continent’s most vibrant, most diverse (culturally and ecologically), and most enjoyable country to travel through. Its people are unbelievably hospitable and, strikingly, very happy.
We’re setting out on an adventure through a country that is now generally very safe to travel: we land in the capital, enter the coffee region, swim in the Caribbean, and trek through rainforests.
We design a trip that blends South American everyday life, Caribbean joy, nature, and the road-trip spirit into one coherent journey.
Our Route
The route we recommend is designed to breathe in Colombia’s distinctive air, step into the flow of daily life, and travel closely with this warm, joyful people. Many itineraries are possible in Colombia, but we believe you should, at minimum, see: the capital Bogotá; the Caribbean coast city Cartagena or the centrally located island San Andrés; the world-famous Tayrona National Park and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta; the Armenia coffee region; Medellín; Salento and the Cocora Valley—and we build the trip around these anchors.
Travel Dates and Seasonality
Colombia has a climate suitable for travel year-round. Its climate varies by altitude rather than by season: tropical in the valleys, temperate in higher areas. Because the country sits in the warm climate belt, temperatures don’t shift dramatically across the year; instead, elevation determines how warm or cool it feels.
Rainfall is a bit higher in April–May and October–November, but temperatures stay relatively stable.
We especially like incorporating Colombia into your Peru and Bolivia routes. Outside of that, we run a full Colombia trip once or twice a year. To have us design a trip for you, please get in touch.
Our Route
Bogotá: The capital is where we’ll first encounter Colombia’s cultural “shock” in the best way. That evening we settle into our rooms in the historic district, La Candelaria, and celebrate our arrival. Later, if you’d like, we can spend the night in one of the country’s biggest clubs.
Salento: A tiny town nestled among intensely green mountains—one of the sweetest towns in the coffee region. After a calm morning sipping coffee in the hostel and wandering the streets, we hop into 4x4s and head to the Cocora Valley for a hike.
Cocora Valley: Home to Colombia’s national tree—towering wax palms. Walking among some of the world’s tallest palms (reaching up to 60 meters), we weave in and out of forest on trails of your choosing (2.5 hours or longer). Then, light-hearted from spotting bee-eaters, we return to Salento for the night.
We also visit nearby coffee fincas, walk the plantations, drink coffee exactly where it’s grown, and learn its story—its whole journey until it lands in your cup.
Medellín: Another essential city—often called “one of the world’s most beautiful,” once notorious as Escobar’s center, but today known for flower-filled parks and the feeling of an “Eternal Spring.” You can’t skip it.
Santa Marta: We’re on the Caribbean coast. You don’t come to Colombia and leave without breathing in the Caribbean. We drop into Santa Marta, the first city founded here by the Spaniards, stroll its narrow streets and long beach, and spend the night inside the Caribbean nightlife.
Tayrona National Park: One more reason Santa Marta is so magnetic. Between the Caribbean Sea and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta rising behind it (up to 5,000 m), Tayrona is unique on Earth—rainforest-backed beaches in a singular landscape.
Cartagena: The second Spanish-founded city here—unlike Santa Marta, it has preserved its colonial fabric. Walking its fairy-tale streets becomes our job: to see, to wander, to imagine. The hostel we choose here is among the world’s biggest party hostels.
Islas del Rosario & Playa Blanca: A cluster of 27 tiny coral islands; water shifting between turquoise and purple—layered with color. We take a boat from Cartagena, circle the islands, and after 2–3 hours reach the Aquarium, where we can see marine life (sharks, turtles, dolphins…), eat, and swim. Then we continue to Playa Blanca for the night.
Playa Blanca, Isla Barú: An endlessly long white-sand beach—one of Colombia’s best. We spend an evening in hammocks, slowly breathing in the Caribbean air.
San Andrés: For those who want to end in pure turquoise, in the middle of the Caribbean Sea—this island is perfect. It offers full Caribbean culture and a wonderful sea holiday; we can rent electric vehicles or scooters and spend the day moving from one beach to another.
Why Colombia?
We travel Colombia to live a trip that is joyful, entertaining, delicious, and intensely colorful. This country is one of the most distinctive places on the continent to travel, because:
Until 10–15 years ago, internal conflict made intercity travel difficult—so each city preserved its own culture (music, dance, architecture, cuisine). As a result, every new city feels like a different country.
Tourism, once nearly absent despite Colombia’s appeal, is now awakening—creating a contagious excitement among locals.
That excitement shows up as a strong desire to “show Colombia well,” and an extraordinary hospitality.
Because mass tourism still hasn’t overwhelmed many areas, we can remain inside the normal flow of life.
Tropical fruits here are incomparable in variety; they’re sold everywhere, and fresh juice becomes one of our daily pleasures.
Colombia produces some of the world’s best coffee beans; coffee is sold on streets from thermoses—sometimes with a cigarette offered alongside for those who want it.
Because of its latitude, temperatures stay relatively balanced year-round; and thanks to fertile land, Colombia holds one of the world’s highest biodiversity rates: 3,500 orchid species; 1,876 bird species; 14,000 butterfly species; 456 mammal species; and it ranks first globally for diversity of birds and frogs, and with 258 palm species.
It is also among the world’s most diverse flower producers, a major banana producer, and one of the biggest emerald-producing countries.
Before the Spanish arrived, many communities lived with deep respect for land and nature; even after colonization, “controlling” nature never fully became possible—so people built life by adapting to it.
From Pacific fishing villages to high-altitude Bogotá (2,600 m), from Caribbean beaches to rainforest landscapes like the Sierra Nevada and the Amazon—its geographies are radically diverse.
It has coastline on both the Pacific and the Atlantic.
Nearly half the country’s land cover is dense forest (~53 million hectares); 22 million hectares are plains, wetlands, snowy peaks, and some arid areas; and over 1 million hectares are inland waters.
14% of the country’s area consists of places designated as national parks, protected zones, or conservation areas by UNESCO.
Even small corner shops can hand you a plastic shot cup at any hour—(rum, tequila, whisky, and the national anise-flavored liquor aguardiente)—a kind of everyday freedom.
With more than a hundred festivals across the year, the country often feels like a continuous carnival—people smiling, and when you ask “how are you?”, the answer is almost always “very good.”
It’s easy to socialize with other travelers, because the pleasure of being a tourist in such a different way of life naturally brings people together.
In many cities you’ll run into open-sided party buses blasting music—jump on, roam the streets, and let the city carry you.