Christmas in Colombia is unlike anywhere else in Latin America. The country takes the festive period seriously - Christmas lights illuminate entire rivers, cities erupt in salsa concerts, and the Caribbean coast empties beaches in peak-season sunshine. This 10-day route was designed for the December 20 to January 2 window, covering the three cities that do Christmas best: Bogotá, Cartagena, and Medellín.
Book well ahead. This is Colombia’s most expensive and most heavily-booked travel window.
Day 1–2: Bogotá - Festive Capital
Fly into El Dorado International Airport. Bogotá is not everyone’s first choice for the holidays, but the city is genuinely festive in December: parks in Chapinero and Usaquén are strung with lights, the Parque de la 93 and Zona Rosa fill with outdoor markets, and temperatures are cool enough (around 12–16°C at night) to make it feel like Christmas.
Day 1: Take the Teleférico up to Monserrate for aerial views over the city (COP 35,000 return by cable car; queues are shorter in the morning). Afternoon: wander La Candelaria, the historic centre, to see the colonial churches draped in Christmas lights. Iglesia de La Tercera Orden and the neoclassical Catedral Primada are both worth visiting - free entry.
Day 2: The Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) deserves a morning - entry is COP 4,000 for foreigners and the collection of pre-Columbian goldwork is the most comprehensive in the world. Afternoon: head to Usaquén, the neighbourhood in the north, which has a Christmas craft market on Saturdays and Sundays through December. Good restaurants, quieter than the tourist centre.
Accommodation: Casa Dann Carlton in Zona Rosa from approximately COP 450,000 per night is a reliable mid-upper option. Budget: Masaya Bogotá hostel in La Candelaria from COP 75,000 per dorm.
Days 3–6: Cartagena - Colonial Christmas
Fly Bogotá to Cartagena (1 hour; from COP 120,000 one way with Avianca, Latam or JetSmart - book early for December dates). Taxi from Rafael Núñez Airport to the walled city: approximately COP 30,000–40,000.
Cartagena in December is at its best. The Caribbean dry season has arrived, daytime temperatures hover around 28–32°C, and the city is packed with a festive energy that extends from the walls deep into Getsemaní and the beach suburbs of Bocagrande.
Day 3 (Walled City): The historic walls are the starting point. Walk the Murallas circuit at dusk - the light is perfect and the sea breeze drops temperatures. Castillo San Felipe de Barajas (COP 35,000) is the 17th-century fortress that defended the city; the underground tunnels are worth the full tour. December 11 is Cartagena’s Independence Day - if you arrive in early-to-mid December, the city stages parades, performances, and the Festival Internacional de Cine de Cartagena (film festival).
Day 4 (Getsemaní and Beaches): Getsemaní, immediately outside the walled city, is the neighbourhood for murals, local food, and nightlife. Grab a mid-morning tinto (black coffee, COP 1,500) from a street cart and walk the colourful streets. Afternoon: head to Bocagrande or take a taxi to the quieter Playa de la Boquilla (COP 15,000–20,000) for a few hours on the sand. Beach chairs run COP 10,000–15,000 per sun bed.
Day 5 (Rosario Islands): Book a half or full-day boat trip to the Islas del Rosario from the Muelle Turístico at 8am (group tours from COP 90,000 per person including snorkelling). December to April is when visibility is clearest - calm seas and minimal rainfall make this the ideal window. Private boat hire from COP 350,000 for groups of 4 or more.
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Day 6 (Cartagena Christmas Eve): If December 24 falls during your stay, this is the evening to be in the walled city. Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) is Colombia’s main celebration: families gather, there are fireworks from private terraces, and the streets of the old city are loud and festive after 9pm. Book a restaurant table well ahead - Alma by Charlie and El Gobernador both do special Christmas Eve menus from approximately COP 180,000 per person.
Accommodation: Hotel Boutique Casablanca in the walled city from COP 650,000 per night in December peak. Mid-range: Hotel Movich Casa del Alférez from COP 480,000. Budget: El Viajero Cartagena hostel from COP 80,000 per dorm.
Days 7–8: Santa Marta and Tayrona
Bus from Cartagena to Santa Marta: approximately 3.5 to 4 hours, COP 40,000–60,000 with Brasilia or Berlinas del Fonce. Alternatively fly Cartagena to Santa Marta (35 minutes, from COP 100,000).
Santa Marta in December is the perfect counterpoint to Cartagena’s colonial intensity: laid-back, with easier access to beach and jungle.
Day 7 (Tayrona National Park): Take an early bus from Santa Marta’s market area towards Tayrona (COP 8,000–12,000 to the park entrance, about 45 minutes). Entry is COP 64,000 for foreigners (as of 2026). Walk the main trail to Cabo San Juan del Guía (approximately 2.5 hours) for the most photographed beach in Colombia. Hammock stays at Cabo San Juan run COP 80,000–120,000 per night. Return to Santa Marta by 4pm if not staying in the park.
Day 8 (Santa Marta City + Taganga): Santa Marta’s El Rodadero beach is calm and flat - good for swimming. The historic centre around Parque Simón Bolívar is smaller and easier to walk than Cartagena’s. Afternoon: head to nearby Taganga (COP 5,000 by taxi, 10 minutes) for snorkelling and a more informal beach-bar atmosphere.
Accommodation: Casa del Prado boutique hotel in Santa Marta’s historic centre from COP 350,000 per night. Budget: Minca Hostel from COP 60,000 per dorm.
Days 9–10: Medellín - Alumbrado and New Year
Fly Santa Marta to Medellín (1 hour; from COP 130,000). Medellín in December and early January is the most visually spectacular version of the city - the Alumbrado (Festival de las Luces) has run annually since 1954 and now involves millions of lights along the Río Medellín, the Parque de las Luces, and throughout El Centro.
Day 9 (El Poblado and Alumbrado): Check into El Poblado, the tourist neighbourhood set on a hillside above the city. Late afternoon: walk the Parque de las Luces near the Palacio de la Cultura (free). As darkness falls, the river walk from the Puente de la Madre Laura south to Parque de los Pies Descalzos transforms with the Alumbrado installations. This is best after 7pm. December 7 (Día de las Velitas) is the night when families place candles on doorsteps throughout the city - a uniquely Colombian tradition.
Day 10 (Nueva Año / New Year): If January 1 falls during your stay, Medellín is an excellent city to see in the new year. The main fireworks are launched from Cerro Nutibara and visible from much of El Poblado. Parque Lleras in El Poblado is the centre of gravity for the international crowd - restaurants and bars run parties from 10pm. Book tables by mid-November.
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Accommodation: Hotel Dann Carlton Medellín in El Poblado from COP 420,000 per night. Mid-range: The Charlee Hotel from COP 380,000. Budget: Los Patios Hostel from COP 70,000 per dorm.
Key Practicalities
Flights: Book domestic legs as far in advance as possible. December 20–26 and December 30–January 2 are the heaviest travel days; prices spike 30 to 50 percent on these specific dates. Flying a day either side of peak dates (December 19, December 27–29, January 3) is meaningfully cheaper.
Currency: COP. ATMs are widely available in all cities. Budget approximately COP 200,000–350,000 per day for mid-range travel (accommodation, meals, entry fees, local transport) excluding flight costs.
Safety: All four cities covered in this itinerary are established tourist destinations with functioning tourist infrastructure. Use registered apps (Cabify, InDriver) rather than hailing street taxis. Keep phone and camera discreet in markets and on public transport.
Weather: Caribbean coast (Cartagena, Santa Marta) is dry and sunny: 28–32°C. Bogotá is cool: 7–18°C - pack a light jacket. Medellín is mild: 18–25°C.
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Related reading: Cartagena vs Santa Marta, Colombia Dry Season Itinerary and Caribbean Coast Itinerary.