Colombia: The Perfect 4-Week Itinerary
Get inspired by our perfect Colombia 4-weeks itinerary and enjoy your travels. Creating an ultimate itinerary for a country you've never visited can be challenging. This Colombia itinerary includes all the best places to visit and tips on where to stay and how to get. Enjoy the luxury of having one month in this wonderful country!
Colombia is a diverse country. From paradise beaches, mountainous peaks, volcanoes, hilly landscapes, colonial cities, archeological gems, red-hot deserts to famous Colombian coffee, the country has so much to offer that you probably won't be able to take everything in during only one visit.
But with our 4-week Colombia itinerary, you will get a sample of the best places this increasingly popular South American country has to offer.
When traveling in Colombia, you must consider that distances between cities are often vast, and it takes time to get from one place to another.
Especially if you travel on a budget or want to get a more authentic experience by traveling by bus. Some of the roads are unpaved, or they very often wind through the Andes.
Moreover, Colombia is right now in the middle of their infrastructure revolution; it means that there are many reconstructions along the road that can slow down your travels.
Our average speed on a bus was less than 40 km/h, which was bad. Generally, always count with two hours delay to be safe and on schedule.
The overall safety in Colombia has improved vastly, but we recommend traveling during the day if possible, and in the large cities, it might be better to take a taxi.
COLOMBIA ITINERARY
We spent in Colombia a bit over two months. This experience gave us the chance to take it slowly and visit many places.
Also, we were now able to create this one month Colombia itinerary for backpackers, who have the luxury of having so much time for a country that stole our hearts.
And without being too dramatic, we hope that when you follow our designated path, Colombia will steal your heart too.
This travel itinerary includes a bit of everything as we did our best to squeeze all must-visit places in Colombia into our itinerary, so now, we can only wish you to enjoy your travels!
DAY 1-3: BOGOTA
Bogota, Colombia's capital, is a great place where to start getting to know the country. We think that Bogota is a bit underrated city, and it indeed takes a while to appreciate this city.
Our only advice? Keep your eyes wide open and give Bogota a chance.
How to enjoy the time in Bogota?
On the first day, we recommend exploring Museo del Oro, which is the famous museum of gold, and then walk around La Candelaria. La Candelaria is the historic part of Bogota that dates back to the colonial towns.
You can find here many wonderful cobblestone streets lined with interesting buildings, churches, coffee shops, and plazas.
On the second day, take a free walking tour around Bogota. It is a perfect way to learn more about the history and get to know locals people and their thinking about their city better. After, have a coffee and go to the Emerald Museum.
On the third day, it is time to hike to Cerro de Monserrate (or take a cable car) to get better views of Bogota. It is also a great way to acclimatize as a few places we visit on this itinerary are in higher elevation.
Later, you can tour some of the museums in the city on your own, watch street performers or search for interesting graffiti on the walls as Bogota is famous for the vibrant street art culture.
Beware of pickpockets, especially on the crowded Carrera 7. To stay safe, make sure you read our highly informative article - How To Stay Safe in South America.
Most of Bogota's areas are safe; the most recommended departments to stay in are La Candelaria, Chapinero, Zona Rosa, or Zona T.
For more information, check our blog post A Complete Guide to Bogota.
WHERE TO STAY IN BOGOTA
Budget: Hotel San Francisco de Asís | Mid-range: Hotel Ibis Bogota Museo | Luxury: Courtyard by Marriott Bogota Airport
DAY 4-5: VILLA DE LEYVA
Only four hours by bus from Bogota lies the colonial town, Villa de Leyva.
Have we already mentioned that Colombia offers an incredible array of cute colonial towns? Well, Villa de Leyva is one of them.
The town features colonial architecture, one of the biggest squares in South America, and the hilly surroundings are just stunning.
As we sometimes like taking things slowly and there are plenty of things to do in Villa de Leyva, we recommend you to arrive there early in the morning from Bogota and then enjoy a peaceful afternoon just walking the town's photogenic streets.
By the way, having a fully charged mirrorless camera all the time is one of the best tips we can give you, as Colombia is so colorful, it would be a shame at least not to try to capture it all.
The next day, you can take a taxi and explore other features in the proximity of Villa de Leyva - Pozos Azules, El Fosil, Convento del Santo Ecce Hommo, and El Infiernito.
In case you prefer to spend your time more actively, you can hike to a viewpoint overlooking the town or rent a bike to explore the off the beaten path.
WHERE TO STAY IN VILLA DE LEYVA:
Budget: Casa de Huéspedes Faletto | Mid-range: Villa Gaddiel | Luxury: Hotel Plazuela de San Agustín
DAY 6-7: SAN GIL & BARICHARA
To get to San Gil from Villa de Leyva, we recommend you take a bus to Tunja, the main transportation hub here, and in Tunja, switch to a direct bus to San Gil.
We took the bus to Arabuco, and it was not the best option, as getting to San Gil was much more challenging.
San Gil is Colombia's adventure capital. The city is well-known for the lush green scenery that perfectly combines sightseeing and adrenaline activities.
You can either try paragliding, rafting, downhill biking, and for those of you who prefer more laidback activities, there is an option to explore El Gallineral Natural Park in the heart of San Gil.
Also, we really enjoyed a half-day trip to Juan Curi Waterfall.
Another alternative to enjoying your time in the region is taking a short bus ride to a nearby colonial town, Barichara.
Barichara is often nicknamed the prettiest town in Colombia, and although we do not want to set your expectations super-high, we can only recommend you to go and see by yourself.
Nevertheless, strolling around pretty clean streets is welcoming after spending yesterday's night in busy San Gil. In case you are not excited to see a small colonial town, there's another reason to travel to Barichara.
The reason is called El Camino Real, which is a traditional, 6 kilometers long route that leads from Barichara to an even smaller town, Guane.
The trail is very picturesque, and once you get to Guane, take a jeep back to Barichara.
It is possible to spend a night in Barichara and enjoy the more authentic atmosphere after all one-day tourists depart, but we decided it was wiser to get back to San Gil to catch a morning bus to Santa Marta.
As we had more time than one month, we decided to break the journey in Ocana and visit Playa de Belen and Los Estoraques the next day.
It is a detour, though. You might prefer to take a night bus to Santa Marta directly.
WHERE TO STAY IN SAN GIL
Budget: Bacaregua Hostel | Mid-range: Hotel Campestre Casona del Camino Real | Luxury: Hotel Alejandria Resort
DAY 8: SANTA MARTA
Even though we believe in our suggested itinerary, you might consider traveling from Santa Marta to Cartagena and visit the northern part of the country later on, but it is only up to you.
We headed to Santa Marta instead and visited Cartagena right after.
Santa Marta is an unusual city. The city center is quite picturesque, but beaches and waterfronts are rather ugly, and this area is not recommended to wander around after the dark.
Most of the travelers head to Santa Marta for a different reason, though. It is a getaway to a popular park, Tayrona National Park, and you can also start here at the Lost City Trek.
We spend the day in Santa Marta by exploring the colonial center and buying things for a few days we had planned for Tayrona.
Most of the hotels in Santa Marta offer luggage storage if you do not want to carry all your stuff in the park.
WHERE TO STAY IN SANTA MARTA
Budget: Yulucky Hostel | Mid-range: Masaya Hostel Santa Marta | Luxury: Hotel Suite Boutique El Cactus
DAY 9-11: TAYRONA NATIONAL PARK
Tayrona is one of the must-visit places in Colombia. Even though the park can be visited only one day, to appreciate it fully, we found three days to be an optimal amount of time.
From Santa Marta, take a regular bus to the borders of Tayrona National Park.
What is important to know, the park is not only about sitting on the beach and watching waves, but it is also about hiking as from the park's entrance, you need to walk to reach the best beaches. Be ready for a sweaty hike, though.
What can you do in Tayrona National Park?
You can relax on pristine beaches, try to spot rare animals in the jungle, or do treks to some of the most important archeological sites. For instance, we did a hike to El Pueblito indigenous village.
It is possible to spend all nights at one campsite, or you can sleep each night in a different place, and what more, even walk through the park without the necessity to walk the same way you arrived.
It is good to know that Tayrona is one of the top travel destinations for both locals and foreigners, so it is always better to make a reservation well in advance.
Another important information is to set your expectations right. Because of the easy accessibility, many people find the park too crowded, but we think it was still pleasant, and we even spent there not three, but four days.
To plan your time in the park, read our Tayrona NP Ultimate Guide and Tayrona Itinerary before you go.
Ensure that you buy your park permit in advance in the peak season, and do not forget that the park closes its gate from late January throughout February (dates sometimes change, check out the up-to-date info before your travels).
Before you buy your flight tickets to Colombia, make sure to check out this article Best Time to Visit Colombia.
WHERE TO STAY IN TAYRONA NP
Budget: Ecohotel Yachay Tayrona | Mid-range: Playa Brava Teyumakke | Luxury: Senda Casa Tayrona Los Naranjos
DAY 12-13: CARTAGENA DE INDIAS
Once you get from Tayrona National Park to Santa Marta, you can spend here another night, pick up your stuff from hotel storage, and the next day in the morning continue your Colombia journey to one of the top travel destinations, Cartagena de Indias.
Cartagena is one of the most important cities in Colombia that dates back to the colonial towns. It takes only four hours to get from Santa Marta to Cartagena.
For many, Cartagena is the crown jewel of Colombia and a destination that must be included on every itinerary, no matter if you travel on a tight budget or you prefer staying in high-end hotels.
Cartagena is here for everyone as it offers an endless list of activities and things to do.
Although you could stay in Cartagena for several days without getting bored, we think two days is an absolute minimum to get the sense of the place.
How can you spend your day in Cartagena? You simply cannot miss exploring the Walled City.
The historical center is beyond amazing. Cartagena's streets with strikingly colorful houses with cute balconies are very photogenic, so grab your camera and start searching for the best photo opportunity.
Apart from that, you should also visit the famous fort Castillo San Felipe de Barajas or the lesser-known San Fernando de Bocachica Fort.
We also took some colorful pictures in Cartagena so check them out for more inspiration!
WHERE TO STAY IN CARTAGENA:
Budget: Hotel La Magdalena | Mid-range: Hyatt Regency Cartagena | Luxury: Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena
DAY 14-15: MEDELLIN & GUATAPE
To save time, it is better to take an overnight bus from Cartagena to Medellin. In general, we found these overnight buses between the most touristy places in Colombia safe and quite comfortable.
The next stop on our four-week Colombia itinerary is Medellin.
There's probably not a most infamous city in entire South America than Medellin, and this second-largest city of Colombia certainly deserves your attention.
Once the most murderous city, Medellin has been slowly transforming, and the shadow from the past is slowly disappearing.
To understand the city's architecture and, most importantly, what local people had to go through during the long cartel war, take a free walking tour.
The tour guide showed us the best of the city center, and we learned really a lot. There are many things you should know before visting Medellin, one of them is that you should not mention the name of Pablo Escobar in public.
After we explored Medellin's center, we took a cable car to Arvi Park, where we enjoyed walking in the forest and extraordinary views from the top of the hill over the valley and the sprawling city.
Another alternative is taking a Comuna 13 tour. If there's one more thing we would suggest you to visit in Medellin, it would be Museo de la Memoria - be prepared for a very powerful experience.
Another alternative is taking a tour to Comuna 13. If there's one more thing we would suggest you to visit in Medellin, it would be Museo de la Memoria - be prepared for a very powerful experience.
For the second day in Medellin, we can recommend visiting Guatape, one of the most colorful towns in Colombia.
It is less than two hours' drive from Medellin, plus you can also see one of the world's largest monoliths, Piedra del Penol, that is along the way.
This trip is absolutely doable on a one-day excursion.
WHERE TO STAY IN MEDELLIN
El Poblado: 574 Hotel | Laureles: Hotel Medellin Gold | Belen: Hotel Zona Verde | Envigado: Arame Hotel | El Centro: Medallo Social Hostal
DAY 16: JARDIN
A laidback town, 4 hours from Medellin, became one of our favorite placec in Colombia. Jardin is not yet advertised in guidebooks, but maybe thanks to it, the town has a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.
Jardin is a very colorful pueblo, where time has stopped. The town is nestled between nearby green hills, and this location is perfect for many activities.
Jardin is very small, so no worries, you'll get the most of it in only one day, but of course, feel free to amend this itinerary, extend your stay if possible and explore the best things to do in Jardin.
We cannot forget to mention drinking coffee on the main square. The square is filled with colorful chairs and tables, where you can just sit and watch life go by.
The second most popular activity in Jardin is walking its colorful streets and taking in the atmosphere.
When time allows, make sure you take the old cable car to the top of the hill to get stunning views of the area. And the list of the best things to do in Jardin does not stop here.
Go for a hike to the nearby hills, take a horseback riding tour, or later in the afternoon, visit a reserve perfect for birdwatching of the very photogenic cock-of-the-rock.
Honestly, we hope you will enjoy Jardin as much as we did.
WHERE TO STAY IN JARDIN
Budget: Hotel Jardin Antioquia | Mid-range: Hotel Kantarrana Urbana Jardin | Luxury: Casa Passiflora Hotel Boutique
DAY 17-18: SALENTO
The next stop on our Colombia itinerary is Salento, which is about 8 hours drive from Jardin. After Cartagena, we are not afraid to say it is another destination every traveler visits.
Salento is a small colonial town nestled in the green hills of Zona Cafetera, which is, as the name suggests, an area rich in coffee production.
Even if you are already tired of visiting colonial towns, you cannot skip Salento by no means as there's a lot to see and do. Also, Salento is a perfect gateway for visiting a wonderful national park, but more about it later.
Two days in Salento, or rather a day and a half, should be enough to cover the basics when considering the long drive.
First of all, make sure you visit a coffee farm to see the whole process from the plant to a tasteful cup of coffee on your table.
Then, you certainly have to explore Salento itself. Again, the town is very colorful but yet different from the places we've already visited.
The next day should be dedicated to hiking in the Cocora Valley. You've probably already seen the iconic photos of tall wax palms.
Well, the Cocora Valley is the place to find them.
Wax palms are national trees of Colombia and definitely worth your time. We decided to hike the whole loop that took us about five hours, but it is also possible to walk a shorter trail that will get you to the valley as well.
WHERE TO STAY IN SALENTO
Budget: Hospedaje Vista Hermosa Salento | Mid-range: Casa de las Dos Palmas | Luxury: Hotel Terasu Salento
DAY 19-22: LOS NEVADOS NATIONAL PARK
We must admit that before we traveled to Colombia, we had never heard about this Los Nevados National Park.
Nowadays, we consider it as a dark horse and will recommend it to everyone all over again.
Why should you visit Los Nevados National Park? One of the reasons is the easy accessibility, from either Salento or Manizales.
But most importantly, it is an insanely wonderful place that features a unique exosystem, grasslands, lakes, snow-capped mountains, and farms, where local people live in a still very authentic way.
We were absolutely blown away and so glad we decided to take the 4-day Los Nevadost NP trek that showed us the best of the national park.
In case you do not want to dedicate that much time to this destination, fine.
But we recommend spending at least two days to appreciate the beauty and use these two extra days for exploring other places or take a rest as this itinerary is really packed with tips on must-visit sites.
It is important to know that hiring a knowledgeable guide is highly recommended because of poor signage and low clouds and mist that can confuse a first-time traveler.
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.
Make sure your travel insurance also covers high altitude hiking.
Travel smarter and safer!
DAY 23: MANIZALES
If you follow our footsteps, then you'll finish the hike in Manizales. In case your plans are a bit different, we still think Manizales, Colombia's university city, is worth at least one day of your time.
Manizales sits on the hills of the deep valley, and the best way to get from the bus terminal to downtown is by cable car, which offers wonderful views.
There are a few things to do in Manizales that you'll manage in only one day.
To get from Salento to Manizales, you need to switch buses in Pereira, but it's straightforward.
WHERE TO STAY IN MANIZALES
Budget: Casabella Hotel | Mid-range: Hotel Pop Art Las Colinas | Luxury: Hotel Carretero
DAY 24: MANIZALES - NEIVA - TATACOA DESERT
We'll spend this day on our itinerary on the bus to the Tatacoa Desert. As you can see, we simply want to show you how diverse Colombia is.
We've already seen beaches, colonial towns, large cities, mountains, wildlife, and now it is time for the desert.
From Manizales, take a bus to Neiva, which is the capital of the Huila department.
In case you still have energy, jump on a bus to the Tatacoa Desert immediately, but if tired, leave it for the next morning; the drive is quite short.
WHERE TO STAY IN NEIVA
Budget: La Cabrera Hotel Boutique | Mid-range: Hotel Neiva Plaza | Luxury: GHL Hotel Neiva
DAY 25: TATACOA DESERT
The Tatacoa desert is the second largest desert in Colombia (the largest one is far north, and it is a bit complicated to reach it).
Although it is not technically desert, it definitely feels as it was. Make sure you pack sunscreen, sun hat, and reusable water bottle.
Tatacoa desert still felt like a place that is not on the backpacker's traditional route.
Still, we often love incorporating not that popular places in our itineraries as it is always fun. This destination is rather known among locals, but it has a lot to offer, even if you have only one day.
First of all, you should not skip the hiking part. Tatacoa desert has two parts, and you can hike in both - in the Red Desert and Gray Desert.
Both parts offer wonderful views of amazing rock formations, something we rather know from old western movies.
Then, you should definitely miss relaxing by the pool to survive the midday heat, and in the end, if the sky is clear, is one of the highlights of stargazing as there's almost no light pollution in the Tatacoa Desert.
You can find more rustic hotels in the desert itself, or only a few kilometers away is the town Villavieja, which offers more options.
WHERE TO STAY IN TATACOA DESERT
Budget: Qji Glamping Biohotel | Mid-range: Payande - Tatacoa | Luxury: La Casa del Angel Hotel
DAY 26-27: SAN AGUSTIN
San Agustin is one of the most important archaeological sites in Colombia. It is yet another town that we think deserves more attention, but two days should give you enough time to see the best attractions.
First of all, you cannot miss the San Agustin Archaeological Park that is home to hundreds of statues and tombs scattered not only here but even in the towns' surroundings.
The park will, for sure, eat up a few hours of your time.
On the next day, join either a horseback riding tour or jeep tour designed for travelers to explore the wonderful landscape around San Agustin.
As our itinerary is coming to an end, you have several options, depending on your next plans.
You can either continue down south via White City of Popayan and cross borders to Ecuador. Or, depending on your flight, you can take an overnight bus to Cartagena.
In our case, we assume you are making a loop, so we'll direct you back to Bogota, where our one-month-long adventure started.
WHERE TO STAY SAN AGUSTIN
Budget: Hotel La Gaitana | Mid-range: Masaya San Agustin | Luxury: Akawanka Lodge
DAY 28: BOGOTA
The last day of the fourth-week ends in Bogota. Plan your last day, depending on your flight schedule.
If it is in the evening, consider booking a hotel room to rest before the tiring journey.
In case you still have enough energy, go to the city center, say goodbye to this wonderful country, and maybe, visit few last places you hadn't time to see at the beginning of your trip.
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.
