11 Best Colonial Towns in Colombia You Can't Miss
We traveled around Colombia for more than two months, and this is our list of the best colonial-era cities, towns, and pueblos in Colombia you must visit. Read our travel guide on the best colonial towns in Colombia and explore beautiful Cartagena, Villa de Leyva, Barichara, Jardin, Bogota, Popayan, Salento, and much more.
Narrow cobblestoned streets, historic neighborhoods, beautiful colonial architecture, all this, and much more packed in a radiant and colorful palette.
Simply put, you can expect this and much more when visiting Colombia, home to many incredible colonial cities.
We've recently been reflecting on our trip to this popular South American country. When we were going through our photos, we immediately knew that colonial cities and towns in Colombia deserve a separate blog post.
Colombia has a long and fascinating history and thanks to it also plenty of beautiful colonial cities and small towns, but which one is worth to visit and which is better to leave out from your plans?
And the most crucial question, how is this list different from other compilations of the best colonial towns in Colombia you can find on the internet?
The answer is simple; we actually visited all the cities and towns on the list by ourselves, so we know what we are talking about.
In other words, we have the answers and tips to help you decide what colonial cities and towns to include in your perfect Colombia itinerary.
We've decided to sort these destinations not alphabetically or per our preferences (that would be almost impossible to do), but in the exact order, we had visited them.
Here are the 11 most beautiful colonial cities and towns in Colombia.
BOGOTA
The largest city, Bogota, Colombia's capital, was the first place ever we had visited in Colombia and the first destination on our long-term trip to South America.
With a population of at least 8 million, the city is much bigger than you would expect.
It's also located on Bogota savanna, which is a high plateau in the Cordillera of the Andes.
And this is something you will notice immediately once you get off the plane.
The average altitude is 2640 meters, and to fully appreciate the lack of oxygen in the air, do the Cerro de Monserrate hike, which is a hill towering above the city more than 3000 meters above sea level with a small church perched on its top.
But back to the colonial part of the story.
Bogota might not be the classic colonial city, but its very center definitely is.
La Candelaria is Bogota's Old Town, a lovely district where you will find all the quaint colonial buildings and, quite surprisingly, a vibrant graffiti scene.
The city center is quite compact and best explored on foot, and from time to time, you can take a break from admiring the colorful buildings and have a coffee.
Bogota was also the place where we quickly realized that we shouldn't take the safety advice for Colombia lightly.
Unfortunately, we realized it after we had been robbed on the street, though as it turned out, losing a phone was a valuable lesson for our future adventures, and we avoided a few more dodgy situations later on.
Even though we love exploring new places on our own, in this place we found it better to go with a local guide who explained to us a lot about Bogota's complicated history.
If you like to book things in advance, look at these two tours: Candelaria Walking Tour or Bogota City Tour.
We decided to join the free walking tour, which was great but crowded.
WHERE TO STAY IN BOGOTA:
Budget: Hotel San Francisco de Asís | Mid-range: Hotel Ibis Bogota Museo | Luxury: Courtyard by Marriott Bogota Airport
VILLA DE LEYVA
The first stop on our itinerary outside the capital of Colombia was Villa de Leyva.
We knew from the very beginning we wanted to visit this town because of its reputation, and our host in Bogota told us this is a place we cannot miss.
He also mentioned that Villa de Leyva is a trendy destination among locals and international travelers, and boy was he right.
Although Villa de Leyva is the top attraction in Colombia, it still keeps its charm, and the historical part of the city hasn't changed much in the past 400 years.
We arrived in Villa de Leyva during the Virgin del Carmen festival, and the main square (which is a true gem and one of the largest squares in South America) was packed with stalls, jumping castles, and the loud music was playing till late at night.
In the end, it was not that bad, and we still enjoyed our trip to Villa de Leyva.
The main reason to visit Villa de Leyva is that the historic part is really well-maintained and very beautiful.
If you think that you get bored easily by the colonial streets and buildings, there are many things to do in the surroundings of Villa de Leyva.
First off, Villa de Leyva is nestled in a beautiful location away from the main highways, at the edge of the stunning mountains and deep valleys. If this will be your first visit to the colonial town in Colombia, you will love it.
When you finish walking around the town center, you should visit Pozos Azules, five blue and green colored lakes about two kilometers from the town.
We hiked there from the village, though you can take a taxi to get there.
Then you should visit these three sites - El Fosil, Convento del Santo Ecce Hommo, and El Infiernito.
We hired a cab for these three sites, and it was easy as you can always find taxis in front of the bus terminal waiting for tourists.
If you are alone, you can ask in the hostel or hotel and join other travelers to share the cost of the trip with you.
One small tip, try to visit Villa de Leyva on weekdays, as the Bogotans flood the city on weekends.
And if short on time, you can take a Villa de Leyva Day Tour from Bogota.
WHERE TO STAY IN VILLA DE LEYVA:
Budget: Casa de Huéspedes Faletto | Mid-range: Villa Gaddiel | Luxury: Hotel Plazuela de San Agustín
BARICHARA
Only 20 kilometers from Colombia's capital of adrenaline, San Gil, lies a small colonial town Barichara.
This picturesque town is often considered one of the most beautiful colonial towns in Colombia, and it's a perfect getaway from busy San Gil.
It is hard to tell which city was truly the most beautiful one, we'll leave the decision to you, but Barichara for sure belongs on the top of our list.
Although it's perfectly fine to visit Barichara on a day trip from San Gil, you should stay in the town overnight to fully soak up the colonial ambiance.
Only this way, you can fully enjoy the peaceful stroll around the cobblestoned streets without the day-trippers and tours around.
Barichara is the prototype of a perfect colonial town and literally has it all.
Beautiful square, a red brick church with a typical cupola, white-walled houses, steep streets, and Colombia flags waving with pride.
What we enjoyed the most about Barichara was the overall feel of this place.
Compared to other colonial towns in Colombia, Barichara was more quiet and peaceful, and the visit was completely stress-free, something that's not granted in popular tourist towns.
When you are in the town and want to stretch your legs a little bit, you can hike to Guane Village via El Camino de Real, which is a 6 kilometers long stone-paved trail built by indigenous people that will take you through spectacular Colombia countryside.
The trail leads mostly downhill and is very lovely, you will get some beautiful views of the valley, and once you arrive in Guane, you can take an exciting jeepney ride back to Barichara.
WHERE TO STAY IN BARICHARA:
Budget: Hostal Casa Nacuma | Mid-range: Achiotte Hotel Boutique | Luxury: Hotel Hicasua y Centro de Convenciones
PLAYA DE BELEN
Traveling in the north of the Santander Department was one of the most exciting adventures we've done in Colombia.
Though we must admit that the small town Playa de Belen was not the main purpose of our visit and it was rather a detour, we liked it nevertheless.
We had so much trouble to find some relevant information about getting there that we almost gave up, but we chose to give it a try anyway, and we were so glad we did.
It might be a good time to reveal the main reason behind the journey to this long-forgotten place in the Colombia countryside.
It was nothing else than Los Estoraques Unique Natural Area, one of the most beautiful rock formations in Colombia, but thanks to the fact that it is best to visit these formations from Playa de Belen, we could kill two birds with one stone.
Playa de Belen is tiny, literally a three-street town, that is very quiet and very picturesque, which is a lovely combination.
In case you would like to explore the town and its surroundings more, there are few places where you can stay overnight, though we based ourselves in a nearby city of Ocana.
WHERE TO STAY IN OCANA
Budget: Hotel Marialu | Mid-range: Hotel Hacaritama | Mid-range: Hotel Real
SANTA MARTA
On the way to Tayrona National Park, we stopped in Santa Marta, a significant port city on the Caribbean coast.
The next day, after we checked into the hotel, where we also stored our heavy backpacks for the next several days, we decided to walk around Santa Marta a little bit with a couple of arepas stuffed with cheese in hand.
It is necessary to say that Santa Marta is a bit rough around the edges, but it is worth giving the colonial town a chance to reveal its charm.
Although we enjoyed walking around the seafront, we didn't like the city beach, especially when we could compare it to beautiful beaches in the national park.
But we quite enjoyed the colorful Centro Historico, which is in high contrast to the modern city districts.
The colonial center is a vivacious place, full of Spanish colonial buildings, churches, parks, bars, and overall it is a nice area to visit.
Even though it's tiny and slightly different from other popular places such as Cartagena.
In case you are a bit tired of colonial town centers and traveling in general, consider visiting two favorite beaches with tourists outside Santa Marta, Rodadero, and Taganga, where you can relax.
As we've mentioned above, Santa Marta is a gateway to Tayrona National Park and other tourist places such as Minca. It is also a base for La Ciudad Perdida trek (The Lost City).
If you decide to visit this city, don't forget that it will be hot in Santa Marta. Like super hot.
WHERE TO STAY IN SANTA MARTA
Budget: Cacao Hostel | Mid-range: Hotel Suite Boutique El Cactus | Luxury: Placita Vieja Hotel Boutique Spa
CARTAGENA
There are many beautiful colonial cities in Colombia, but there is one city that stands above them all. Yes, we are talking about wonderful Cartagena.
When we talked about the contrast of old Spanish colonial and modern buildings in Santa Marta, then Cartagena takes this mix on a completely different level.
In other words, Cartagena is a wonderful blend of tastes, and you will need at least a couple of days to fully immerse in this Caribbean gem.
Take your camera in hand, and get lost in a maze of cobblestone streets lined with colorful houses and doors.
Cartagena's city center is really magical, and we recommend you not to worry about looking for must-visit places and ticking them off the list.
Or visit one of the Spanish forts. Castillo San Felipe de Barajas is only a short walk from the Centro Historico, Fort San Fernando de Bocachica is only accessible by boat.
What we loved about Cartagena the most?
Although it's incredibly touristy, it has that Caribbean vibe that will force you to take things slow, enjoy the moment, relax and have a few drinks.
And with so many things to do in Cartagena, you'll never want to leave.
WHERE TO STAY IN CARTAGENA:
Budget: Hotel La Magdalena | Mid-range: Hyatt Regency Cartagena | Luxury: Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena
GUATAPE
Only two hours bus ride from Medellin lies a tranquil town of Guatape.
A small town in Antioquia Department draws visitors' attention for many reasons.
One of them is the picturesque pueblo itself, known for colorful houses with hand-made tiles called zocalos.
Other reasons to visit this town are highlights such as Gautape dam or Piedra del Penol, a large monolith towering over the valley.
We've created this useful post where you will find all the information about our trip to Guatape from Medellin, but we will focus only on the laidback town in this blog post.
Without any doubt, Guatape is the most colorful town in Colombia. By the time we left Guatape, we had learned like ten new colors.
It’s a little bit cheesy, but still quite adorable.
Being so close to the infamous Medellin, the town can get really crowded, but you can partially avoid the crowds if you decide to stay there overnight.
WHERE TO STAY IN GUATAPE
Budget: Hotel Lagos de Guatape | Mid-range: Oak Tree house | Luxury: Hotel Santa Maria de las Aguas Penol
JARDIN
Jardin enchanted us with vivid colors, laidback atmosphere, beautiful scenery, and quickly became one of our favorite colonial towns in Colombia.
Jardin means a 'garden' in Spanish, and we might see the reason why locals named their pueblo this way.
It seemed to us that once we arrived in Jardin, the time became meaningless.
With activities such as bird watching, hiking, horseback riding, or riding a local cable car, Jardin is a wonderful pueblo for sightseeing but also for relaxing.
And have we mentioned the coffee?
You've probably heard about Colombia and coffee, but you can't fully understand this connection until you arrive in Zona Cafetera or the Coffee Triangle.
And even though Jardin lies a little bit outside of Zona Cafetera, it is also a good place to visit if you love a good coffee.
There is nothing better than sipping a good cup of coffee at the outdoor table on the main square while observing the quiet and sleepy life of Jardin.
And by the way, if you are an avid bird watcher, Jardin is a place where you can spot the famous red-colored Gallitos de Rocas alias cock-of-the-rock.
WHERE TO STAY IN JARDIN
Budget: Hotel Jardin Antioquia | Mid-range: Hotel Kantarrana Urbana Jardin | Luxury: Casa Passiflora Hotel Boutique
SALENTO
From Jardin, we headed directly to Salento. Well, not exactly directly, as we had to change the van and bus during the trip, but after several hours of a horrible ride, we finally arrived in Salento.
Violently colorful balconies, doors, and windows characterize the town's architecture, and despite being one of the most popular pueblos in Colombia, it still has a welcoming atmosphere.
Salento is super popular for a few more reasons besides the cute colonial architecture.
The town is located in Zona Cafetera, and you can visit many coffee farms and try a great Colombian coffee once there.
On top of that, only a 30-minute ride in a jeepney from Salento is Cocora Valley, famous for wax palms and several hiking trails.
We also began in Salento a little bit more challenging 4-day trek in Los Nevados National Park, and it turned out to be one of the best things we've done in South America.
As you can see, you must put Salento on your Colombia itinerary.
Now you only have to figure out how many days you need to spend here.
WHERE TO STAY IN SALENTO
Budget: Hospedaje Vista Hermosa Salento | Mid-range: Casa de las Dos Palmas | Luxury: Hotel Terasu Salento
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
POPAYAN
La Ciudad Blanca alias the White City of Popayan, is a beautiful colonial city in Colombia in the south region of the country and the Cauca department's capital city.
Popayan is often overlooked by western travelers, as it's not on the typical Colombia gringo trail, and you will see more local visitors in the city center than foreigners.
The city has a long history and played an important role during the colonization era in this area.
Soon after the city was founded in the 16th century, Popayan became the seat of Spanish power thanks to its prominent and strategical location.
Popayan is also home to Semana Santa, a traditional Easter event that celebrates the Holy Week. During this week, locals swarm the city, and it might be more difficult to find a place to stay.
We haven't got the chance to see the celebrations, but from what we heard, it must be something to write home about. We had the opportunity to see a similar event in Antigua, Guatemala, and it was an unforgettable experience.
Surrounded by the Andes, Popayan is also a perfect gateway to the Parque Natural de Purace, where you can see a variety of unique flora, majestic condors, or you can climb a volcano to 4700 meters.
When it comes to Popayan and safety, we did not feel any differently while walking around the city than in any other Colombian town.
Though we stayed close to the historical part and didn't wander off to the outskirts.
Always use your common sense in Colombia, and if you start feeling uneasy or don't feel safe, it's time to turn back and return from where you started.
We arrived in Popayan from another must-visit place in Colombia, San Agustin, home to a large Archaeological Park, and took the bus the next day to Ecuador.
To learn more, read our article on Crossing the borders from Colombia to Ecuador.
As we decided to stay in Popayan overnight, we had plenty of time to explore the city.
But we also met a guy on the bus, who just went to see the best of the city sights for a few hours, and later that same day, he took an overnight bus to Ecuador.
If you are traveling to Ecuador and thinking about skipping Popayan, visiting the city just for a few hours might be a good alternative for you.
We believe it's worth it.
WHERE TO STAY IN POPAYAN
Budget: Araracuara Hostel | Mid-range: Hotel La Plazuela | Luxury: Hotel Dann Monasterio
SANTA CRUZ DE MOMPOX
An extra tip on our list is Santa Cruz de Mompox, which we had on our radar for some time. So far, we have put on our list of the most beautiful colonial cities and towns in Colombia places we have visited ourselves.
Still, we must admit, we haven't visited Santa Cruz de Mompox, as it during our last visit simply did not fit in our itinerary for several reasons.
Unlike Popayan, which was on our way to Ecuador, or Playa de Belen, where we visited the Estoraques (that's also the place we chose to visit instead of Santa Cruz de Mompox), it's even further from the main road on the way from Bucaramanga to Barranquilla.
Also, we were kind of scared of potential malaria or dengue risk. On top of that, we would have spent another couple of days just to get there, so we decided to cut it off the list and save it for the next time.
But there are for sure many reasons why to visit this place if you are still considering it.
Santa Cruz de Mompox is a 16th-century UNESCO town on the riverbank of Magdalena River, and because it played an important part in the Spanish colonization of this region, you can find here many notable buildings.
Think of Santa Cruz de Mompox as a travel tip from us, and if you ever have a chance to visit this city, let us know in the comments down below!
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
