14-Day Colombia Itinerary | The Colombia Guide

Two weeks in Colombia is enough to move through five distinct regions without feeling like you’re just ticking boxes. This loop adds Cali, Guatapé and the Amazon to the standard highland-coast route, giving you salsa floors, lake towns, wax palms and jungle in a single trip.

Fly into Bogota El Dorado (BOG) and out of Cartagena Rafael Núñez (CTG). Book domestic flights at least two weeks ahead — Avianca and LATAM are the main carriers; WINGO and JetSmart sometimes undercut on competitive routes.

Days 1–2: Bogota

Arrive at El Dorado and head to La Candelaria or Chapinero, depending on your budget.

Accommodation: La Pinta Hotel Boutique Hostel has dorms from COP 55,000 and private rooms from COP 170,000. Mid-range: Hotel de la Opera on Calle 10 charges COP 380,000–480,000 for a double, steps from the Teatro Colón.

Day 1 essentials: The Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) on Carrera 6 is the starting point — admission is approximately COP 5,000 for foreigners; free on Sundays. Walk to Plaza Bolívar and buy street empanadas from the carts at COP 2,000–4,000 each. Take the cable car up to Monserrate (COP 28,000 round trip) for city views at dusk.

Day 2: The Sunday market at Usaquén is the best artisan market in Bogota — antiques, coffee, ceramics. Afternoon: a graffiti tour of La Candelaria (from COP 30,000 per person, tip-based). Evening at Andrés Carne de Res in Chía if your budget stretches — a full meal with drinks runs COP 90,000–180,000 per person.

Days 3–4: Cali

Fly or take the overnight bus from Bogota to Cali. Flights run approximately COP 180,000–250,000 one way; the overnight bus takes 8–10 hours and costs COP 80,000–120,000.

Cali is Colombia’s salsa capital and the city with the most distinctive local identity. The San Antonio neighbourhood has the best budget accommodation and is walkable to most attractions.

Day 3: The Cerro de las Tres Cruces hike starts at dawn (free, guided group tours depart from Avenida 4N at 5:30am on weekends). Afternoon: visit the Museo La Tertulia (COP 12,000 entry) on the riverside and walk the Malecón del Río. Dinner at El Solar in San Antonio — mains from COP 35,000.

Day 4 (Salsa): Take a salsa class at Son de Salsa on Avenida 5N — a 90-minute group class runs approximately COP 40,000. The evening is for Juanchito: the dance corridor east of the city where locals go to dance. A taxi is COP 25,000–35,000 each way; entrada to clubs runs COP 20,000–30,000.

Days 5–6: Coffee Region — Salento and Cocora Valley

From Cali, take an early bus to Armenia (3 hours, COP 50,000–70,000) then connect to Salento by shared jeep (45 minutes, COP 12,000–16,000). Alternatively, fly Cali to Pereira and jeep from there.

Day 5: Arrive in Salento and decompress. The main street, Calle Real, is lined with speciality coffee shops. Café Jesús Martín does pour-overs from COP 6,000. Coffee farm tour at Finca El Ocaso costs approximately COP 30,000–45,000, and is an excellent introduction to the full production cycle.

Day 6: The Cocora Valley hike is the highlight. Chiva jeep from the square (depart 6:30am, COP 5,000–8,000 each way). The full cloud-forest loop takes 4–6 hours and culminates in the open valley of wax palms — Colombia’s national tree. Rent rubber boots at the trailhead for COP 10,000 if your shoes aren’t waterproof.

Days 7–8: Medellin

Jeep back to Pereira then fly to Medellin José María Córdova (30 minutes, from COP 150,000 one way). Alternatively, bus from Armenia takes 4.5 hours.

Day 7: El Poblado is the tourist district; Laureles is more authentic and calmer. Black Sheep Hostel in El Poblado has dorms from COP 58,000. Mid-range: Hotel El Poblado Boutique charges COP 290,000–420,000.

The Metro is the backbone of Medellin — a single journey costs COP 3,400 with a Metro card (COP 5,000 upfront from any station). Use it for Commune 13.

Day 8: Take the Metro to San Javier station for Commune 13 — the outdoor escalators run 6am–10pm free of charge. Guided graffiti tours with local youth start at approximately COP 40,000 per person. Afternoon: cable car Line L to Parque Arví (COP 8,500 return) for forested trails above the Aburrá Valley.

Day 9: Guatapé

A day trip from Medellin. Buses depart from the terminal on Calle 48 every 30 minutes from 7am (COP 20,000–25,000 each way, 2 hours). Alternatively, many tour operators in El Poblado offer guided day trips from COP 60,000–80,000 per person including transport.

La Piedra del Peñol is the 200-metre granite monolith with 649 stairs cut into the crack. Entry is approximately COP 22,000; the climb takes 20–25 minutes. Views over the reservoir and 360 islets are spectacular.

The village of Guatapé itself has Colombia’s most photogenic streets — colourful colonial facades with intricate zócalos (bas-relief panels) covering the lower walls. Lunch at any of the lakeside restaurants runs COP 30,000–50,000.

Days 10–11: Leticia — The Amazon

Fly Medellin to Leticia (approximately 2 hours, COP 350,000–550,000 one way). Leticia is the only commercial airport in the Colombian Amazon and the gateway to river-based jungle travel.

No visa or permit is required for the Colombian side of the border. Cross to Tabatinga (Brazil) on foot — the border is informal. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry.

Day 10: Arrange a river tour through your hotel or a registered agency. Amazon Jungle Trips and Reserva Natural Tanimboca both operate responsible wildlife tours from approximately COP 120,000–200,000 per person per half-day. Night canoe trips to spot caimans on the river cost around COP 80,000–120,000.

Day 11: Visit the Isla de los Micos (Monkey Island) — a private reserve in the middle of the Amazon River where several primate species live semi-freely. Access is via boat tour from Leticia (COP 80,000–100,000 including the boat). Return to Leticia for the evening flight back toward Cartagena (typically via Bogota).

Days 12–14: Cartagena

Fly from Leticia (via Bogota) to Cartagena — budget COP 400,000–650,000 for this sector or book as two separate tickets to save. Taxi from Cartagena airport to the walled city runs approximately COP 25,000–35,000.

Day 12: The Walled City (Las Murallas) needs at least a full afternoon. Walk the walls for free; the interior has the best food in the city. La Cevichería on Calle Stuart (book ahead) is the most celebrated seafood spot — mains from COP 55,000. Castillo San Felipe de Barajas (COP 35,000 entry) is the 17th-century fortress overlooking the bay.

Day 13: Getsemaní is the neighbourhood immediately outside the walled city. Street art, ceviche carts (COP 10,000–15,000), and the best nightlife in Cartagena. Daytime: join a half-day boat trip to Playa Blanca on the Barú Peninsula (from COP 80,000 per person including snorkelling) or the Rosario Islands (from COP 120,000).

Day 14: Depart from Cartagena Rafael Núñez. Arrive early — check-in can be slow during peak season.

Budget Summary (Per Person, 2026 Estimates)

Category	Budget	Mid-Range
Accommodation (per night)	COP 55,000–100,000	COP 250,000–480,000
Meals (per day)	COP 35,000–70,000	COP 100,000–200,000
Domestic flights (6 sectors)	COP 1.2M–2.0M	COP 1.2M–2.0M
Activities (14 days)	COP 300,000–500,000	COP 600,000–1.2M
14-Day Total	from COP 3.5M	from COP 7.5M

Practical Notes

Best time: December–March is the driest and most popular. July–August is also good. Leticia has rain year-round — pack accordingly.
Flights: Book the Leticia sector first — it sells out fastest and prices spike on short notice.
Yellow fever: Required for the Leticia sector and recommended for all jungle areas. Get vaccinated at least 10 days before travel.
SIM card: Claro or Tigo SIM from Bogota airport. A 5GB data pack runs approximately COP 25,000–40,000. An eSIM for Colombia activates before you land.
Currency: Carry COP cash in Leticia and Salento — card acceptance is limited outside cities.
Insurance: Travel insurance for Colombia is particularly important for this route — the Amazon segment and any adventure activities should be covered before departure.

14-Day Colombia Itinerary: Full Country Loop