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Things to Do in Colombia
From the Lost City trek to salsa dancing in Cali to coffee farm tours in Salento - practical, city-by-city guides to the best experiences Colombia has to offer.
In Bogotá, the free Sunday CiclovĂa closes 120 kilometres of roads to cars from 7am–2pm - a good way to orient yourself and join local cyclists, rollerbladers, and joggers. The Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) houses the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian gold and is free on Sundays; allow 2 hours. The cable car to Monserrate (3,152m above the city) costs around 19,100 COP return and gives panoramic views; the walk up takes 1.5 hours and is busy on weekends.
MedellĂn's most-discussed experience is the Comunas escalators in San Javier, the outdoor electric staircases that connect hillside communities - free to use, and the surrounding neighbourhood has become an open-air art space. Plaza Botero outside the Museo de Antioquia holds 23 oversized bronze sculptures and is always open. The MetroCable (Line L) up to Parque ArvĂ takes 30 minutes each way and deposits you at a nature reserve with hiking trails; cable and tram entry costs around 5,600 COP.
In Cartagena, the walled city (Ciudad Amurallada) is walkable in a morning - the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas fort ($20,000 COP entry) and a sunset walk along the city walls from the Café del Mar area are the standard highlights. Day trips to the Islas del Rosario depart from the Muelle de los Pegasos and include snorkelling; organised tours run $80,000–120,000 COP ($20–30) including transport and lunch.
Tayrona National Park, 35 kilometres from Santa Marta, requires a 2-hour walk from the entrance at El ZaĂno to reach the main beaches at Cabo San Juan and La Piscina. Park entry is around 60,000 COP for foreigners. Hammock accommodation at Cabo San Juan costs $15–20/night; bring your own food or use the in-park restaurant. The park closes periodically (typically February and September) for environmental recovery - check before booking.
The Lost City (Ciudad Perdida) trek in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is a 4-day, guide-obligatory trail that must be booked through one of six licensed operators in Santa Marta; prices start at approximately $350 per person all-inclusive. The trek predates Machu Picchu by roughly 650 years and involves river crossings, jungle sections, and a final staircase of 1,200 steps to the terraces. No independent access is permitted.
Across Colombia
Attend the Feria de Cali: Tours, Shows & Hotel Booking Guide
Feria de Cali runs December 25–January 2: how to book Salsódromo seats, salsa tours, and hotels before they sell out. Practical tips for first-timers.
Barranquilla Carnival 2027: Dates, Parade Schedule & Ticket
Barranquilla Carnival: Colombia's biggest festival, 6–9 Feb 2027. World's second-largest after Rio. Parade tickets from COP 80,000.
Best Tours in Bogotá: Top Experiences
Best tours in Bogotá: La Candelaria walking tours, Salt Cathedral, Zipaquirá, bike tours, and Monserrate. Verified picks with prices.
Best Tours in Cali: City, Salsa and Day Trips
Best tours in Cali: Cristo Rey city tour, salsa night tour, Buga and Calima day trips and Farallones hikes, with operators and price ranges.
Best Tours in Cartagena: Top Experiences
Best tours in Cartagena: walled city walking tours, Rosario Islands, Getsemani murals, and chiva party buses. Verified picks with prices.
Best Tours in Colombia: Top Experiences
Best tours in Colombia: Cartagena walking tours, MedellĂn Comuna 13, Bogotá Salt Cathedral, Lost City trek and more - verified GYG picks.
Best Tours in MedellĂn: Top Experiences
Best tours in MedellĂn: Comuna 13, Guatape day trips, paragliding, Pablo Escobar tour, and city cable cars. Verified picks with prices.
Cali City Tour: Cristo Rey, Tertulia and Downtown
Cali city tour with Cristo Rey, Museo La Tertulia and the historic centre: what the route covers, operators, price ranges and when to go.
Caño Cristales: Colombia's Rainbow River at La Macarena
Caño Cristales, Colombia's Rainbow River at La Macarena: a guide to the red, yellow, blue and green river plants and how to visit.
Cartagena Old Town Walking Tour & Rosario Islands Day Trip
Cartagena Colombia day tours: guided old town walks, Rosario Islands snorkelling and Castillo San Felipe: prices, booking tips and what to skip.
Ciudad Perdida Trek: Routes, Operators and What to Expect
Ciudad Perdida trek guide: 4–6 day routes, licensed operators from approx $350 USD, difficulty rating, and full packing list for the Lost City.
Cocora Valley Day Trip from Salento: Tours, Jeeps & Prices
Plan your Cocora Valley day trip from Salento: jeep times, tour operators, prices, and what to book in advance for the wax palm valley.
Coffee Farm Tour in the Eje Cafetero: Pereira & Armenia
Tour a working Colombian coffee farm in the Eje Cafetero near Pereira: pick cherries, see wet processing, and cup single-origin coffee.
Feria de las Flores MedellĂn: Colombia's Flower Festival
Feria de las Flores in MedellĂn: the silletero parade, concerts, and guided tours. How to plan your August visit, book tickets, and find hotels.
Festival de Manizales Tours: Folklore, City & Coffee Farm
Festival de Manizales in January: the tours, cultural shows, and coffee farm day trips worth booking, with transport options and hotel picks.
GuatapĂ© Day Trip from MedellĂn: Tours & El Peñol Rock
Guatapé day trip from Medellin: organised tours vs independent bus, El Peñol rock climb, reservoir boat trips, what's included, costs, and timing advice.
Medellin City Tour: Comuna 13 Street Art & Cable Car
Explore MedellĂn's transformation on a guided city tour: graffiti hillsides of Comuna 13, cable cars, and views over the Aburrá Valley.
Paragliding in MedellĂn: Launch Sites, Operators & Prices
Paragliding in MedellĂn: San Felix and El Peñol launch sites, operator prices from approx $60 USD, what to expect, and booking tips.
Paragliding in San Gil: Colombia's Best Tandem Flights
San Gil is Colombia's paragliding capital: we cover operators, prices, the best season to fly, what to expect on a tandem flight, and where to stay.
Rosario Islands Day Trip from Cartagena: Tours & Tips
Rosario Islands day trip from Cartagena: catamaran tours, snorkelling stops, what's included, costs, and tips to get the most from the trip.
Salsa in Cali: Schools, Salsotecas & the Salsa Festival
Salsa dancing in Cali: named schools with prices, the best salsotecas, World Salsa Festival dates, and tips for both beginners and experienced dancers.
San Andrés Diving & Snorkeling: Colombia's Caribbean Island
Dive and snorkel in San Andrés, Colombia: top dive sites, operators, PADI courses, snorkeling spots, prices in COP and when to go.
Tayrona National Park: Complete Guide from Santa Marta
Tayrona National Park guide: entry fees, best beaches, how to get there from Santa Marta, accommodation inside the park and what to expect.