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You know when people say 鈥淯hh Colombia鈥檚 amaaaazing, it just has everythinnggggg鈥�. Well, I鈥檓 here to bloody well prove it. I鈥檝e painstakingly compiled all of my top entries for an ultimate Colombia bucketlist – all of the best places to go in Colombia that are well and truly worth your time. Of course, this still only just scratches the surface of what the country has to offer, but I commend anyone who鈥檚 managed to tick all of these off – I haven鈥檛 even after 9 months!
There are plenty of Colombia must-sees that everyone goes to by default (the blue markers on the above map), but also other tourist attractions in Colombia that people haven鈥檛 really heard of as often, or aren鈥檛 feeling adventurous enough to make a more arduous journey to (orange). THEN there are the truly off the beaten path places to go in Colombia, which I鈥檝e left for the end (purple). Put in the effort and thou shalt be rewarded!
After this ultimate bucketlist of places to go in Colombia, you may also enjoy reading:
The Colombia must-sees
Piedra El Pe帽ol, 骋耻补迟补辫茅
One of those places to go in Colombia that you have to see to believe. La Piedra, or the rock, is just a short bus ride away from the incredibly vibrant town of 骋耻补迟补辫茅, and climbing the 659 steps of this crazy landmark will get you views of the insane man-made 骋耻补迟补辫茅 Lake. Visiting the town and rock is a Medell铆n day trip you cannot allow yourself to miss!
Comuna 13, Medell铆n
Probably the most well-known neighbourhood in all of the land, Comuna 13 (鈥�Comuna Trece鈥� in Spanish) is an impoverished barrio that holds a painful history of cartel violence and lawlessness. However, what brings visitors here in droves is the story of how it pulled itself out from the rubble and became one of 惭别诲别濒濒铆苍鈥檚 star children in demonstrating how providing the right socio-economic support to a community can turn everything around.
That being said, still please make sure you get a and don鈥檛 just turn up on your own to have a wander.
Guatavita Lake
An easy day trip from 叠辞驳辞迟谩, Lake Guatavita holds centuries of secrets in its emerald waters.
Nestled in a crater-like valley, Lake Guatavita was supposedly used by the indigenous Muisca people to perform ceremonies involving throwing gold and other treasures into the depths. When the Spanish heard this, they started work on what is now known as the Legend of El Dorado.
Villa de Leyva
One of the best places to go in Colombia to see all the beauty of colonial architecture whilst still keeping a finger on the pulse of its pre-Spanish history. Villa de Leyva is the region of Boyac谩鈥檚 most famous 鈥榳hite town鈥�, revered for its quaint cobbled streets and humongous plaza.
All around the town, you鈥檒l find a huge list of things to go and explore, from dinosaur fossils to waterfalls and a collection of phallic stones used by the indigenous ancestors of the land to celebrate fertility.
Monserrate, 叠辞驳辞迟谩
This is usually people鈥檚 first stop on their first day arriving in the country. Despite the Lonely-Planet-Chapter-One-Page-Oneness of it all, it really is among the must-see tourist attractions in Colombia.
Take a cable car or tram up to the monastery at the top of the mountain that looks over 叠辞驳辞迟谩, and soak up the views of this sprawling capital (clear day dependent!).
Cartagena: Walled City & Getseman铆
The Walled City of Cartagena has been sitting at the top of tourist attractions in Colombia for decades now, as a hotspot for cruises at the edge of the Caribbean Sea. However, now that global interest in Colombia has exploded, the Walled City has grown exponentially as a solid Colombia must-see destination, with the outer barrio of Getseman铆 being dragged into the excitement street by street.
Expect to be blown away by the bustle of the locals, the beauty of the architecture, the smell of the foods and (ironically) the complete lack of breeze.
Isla Bar煤 and the Rosario Islands
A Colombia must-see when you鈥檙e visiting Cartagena. There are so so many available tours from the city to the Rosario Islands and Isla Bar煤, but I recommend staying a night or two instead of taking the day trip options.
All of the islands offer slightly different vibes, from family beach fun to mangrove kayaking to local village living to luxe getaways, so have a research before you go!
Parque Tayrona
Without doubt, home to the most beautiful beach this country has to offer. Luckily for future generations, Parque Tayrona is a protected national park, which keeps it clean and well-monitored.
Unless you want to pay for a , you do have to hike a couple of hours to reach the best beaches (my favourite is La Piscina, though Cabo San Juan is the most famous), but there鈥檚 no way you should be letting that get the way of you visiting this paradisiacal tourist attraction in Colombia.
Minca
Seen all those pics on Instagram of good-looking millennials chilling out on a large net hanging over the jungle? That鈥檚 Minca, baby.
Not far from Santa Marta, Minca is a little step into the jungle of the North coast, where there鈥檚 not much to do other than hike to waterfalls and relax with a beer.
La Cuidad Perdida
This is a that obviously you wouldn鈥檛 catch me dead doing, but I鈥檝e yet to meet someone who did do it and didn鈥檛 love it.
Said to be the Machu Picchu Inca Trail of Colombia, this trek takes you through villages, to lakes and into jungles until you reach the so-called 鈥楲ost City鈥�; ruins of an ancient city that was only discovered in 1972.
Salento & Valle de Cocora
A brightly-painted town in the lush green mountains of Colombia鈥檚 coffee region. Not to be missed is a coffee farm tour and hike through the Cocora Valley, where you鈥檒l see the world鈥檚 tallest wax palm trees.
While Salento can no longer be called sleepy, there are still a few places to go in Colombia’s coffee region for some peace and quiet, such as the nearby town of Filandia.
Cali
Home of salsa, and a vibrant taste of the loud colourful life in the sweltering dips of Valle del Cauca.
Cali is an absolute Colombia must-see for music and dance-lovers, and its Callejeros street food tour will pique the interest of any foodie. As places to go in Colombia go, this ones is hottttt.
The less-visited places to go in Colombia
Leticia
Right on the tri-border where Colombia, Peru and Brazil meet, is the gateway to the . From here, you can explore the sights, sounds and wildlife of the rainforest, and even catch a 4-day boat down the river to Manaus.
It’s yet another totally different view of Colombia, and one that will have you so enthralled that you might just forget the rest of the world actually exists.
Tatacoa Desert
While this lesser-visited of the Colombia must-see is actually just an arid area and not technically a desert, it sure does resemble one! Tatacoa鈥檚 moon-like landscape are a wonder to behold, especially if you camp there under the stars at night.
Every year there is a huuuuuge electronic music festival there in October where things get pretty wild, but otherwise it鈥檚 a serene place to get lost in the orange rockiness.
La Chorrera
Honestly, I鈥檓 not sure why Cascada La Chorrera isn鈥檛 better known. The tallest waterfall in Colombia sits just an hour鈥檚 drive and 1.5 hour hike (each way) from the city centre of 叠辞驳辞迟谩. It鈥檚 a moderately easy hike, and coupling it with a visit to the nearby town of Choach铆 gives you a real glimpse into how rural Colombians live.
惭辞尘辫贸虫
While it鈥檚 more or less well heard of, 惭辞尘辫贸虫 is one of those rarely attempted places to go in Colombia for the simple fact that it鈥檚 an arse-ache to get to.
However, dragging backpacks from taxi to bus to taxi/motorbike to chulupa river boat to taxi and then walking the rest of the way in 34-degree heat to find the hostel was somehow worth it for the yellow stunners that this riverside town offers.
La Guajira Peninsula
This is the most northern of all places to go in Colombia, and sits next to the border with Venezuela. On this faraway peninsula, you鈥檒l see where the desert meets the sea, which makes it one of the top tourist attractions in Colombia that hardly anyone can be bothered to travel to. It鈥檚 a great spot for kite-surfing, and learning about the still-strong indigenous culture of the Wayuu people.
Please note that there has been some civil unrest there for the last year or so, so keep up-to-date with the news before you make any solid plans to visit.
颁补辫耻谤驳补苍谩
Taking you over to the other side of the North of Colombia, 颁补辫耻谤驳补苍谩 is the town right before the Panamanian border. It鈥檚 perhaps not known for having the most luxurious of beaches, but it鈥檚 a far cry from the crowds of the Rosarios, at least. Surrounded by the jungle of the Darien Gap, there are plenty of hikey things to do to fill your time if you鈥檙e not into sand and sea.
Bring your passport and you can pop over to Panama for the day by foot, or take a boat tour out to the ultimate paradise of the San Blas Islands.
Barichara
Touted as the most beautiful pueblo in all of Colombia, Barichara is a colonial dream up in the mountains of Santander.
Quaint, quiet and always blooming with pretty flowers, Barichara is a lovely getaway for a couple of days of peace, especially if you’ve come from our next destination.
San Gil
The adventure capital of Colombia! San Gil is one of the top places to go in Colombia for adrenaline junkies who want to try their hand at level 5 white water rafting, paragliding or waterfall rappelling, to name just a few activities on offer in the area.
Plus, the town gives you fascinating insight into Santander life.
Islas de San Bernardo
A little further down the Caribbean coast from the Rosario Islands, this cluster of islands (most notably Isla Mucura) makes a great alternative for people wanting to find places to go in Colombia to dodge the crowds. It鈥檚 a tad more difficult to get to from Cartagena, but it鈥檚 no pain no gain in this part of the world!
Santuario de las Lajas, Ipiales
If you鈥檙e coming up overland from Ecuador, Ipiales will be one of your first places to go in Colombia. Not far from the town sits the magical architectural wonder of Santuario de las Lajas; a grey cathedral bridging two mountainsides to commemorate a miracle that allegedly happened there centuries ago.
It鈥檚 difficult to explain how awesome it is until you鈥檙e actually there.
Salinas de Galerazamba
Salinas de Galerazamba, also known as the Pink Sea, is one of the tourist attractions in Colombia garnering a lottttt of interest recently, though as of yet not huge numbers of people actually go (do your thang, Instagram).
You can to the pink sea (which is this colour at certain times of the year due to a nearby salt mine) directly from Cartagena.
Isla de Providencia
Did someone say paradise?! Isla de Providencia is another of the places to go in Colombia that people just cannot be arsed to make the effort to get to. However, bag yourself a place on one of the 16-seater propeller planes from Isla San Andres and you surely will not regret your decision.
Isla de Providencia is my happy place, with a perfect blend of white sands, turquoise waters and laidback creole culture.
Colombia off the beaten path
Cerros de Mavecure
Found in the east of Colombia, these are three mighty granite hills – that now I think about it, quite resemble El Pe帽ol at 骋耻补迟补辫茅 – sticking out of the riverside in the terrain near In铆rida. They are seen as a sacred site for the local indigenous people, and it鈥檚 fairly easy to see why they might come to that conclusion.
You have to get there by boat, and can only climb one of the looming rocks.
颁丑辞肠贸
Anybody like whales? Yeah?! Whales?! Get yourself down to the Pacific region of 颁丑辞肠贸 (in towns such as El Valle, Bahia Solano or Nuqu铆) between June and October to catch sightings of humpback whales coming to breed and raise small young all along the coast.
Whales aside, the Pacific coast also has a totally different vibe to the rest of Colombia, maybe due to the fact that the coastal towns don’t have any roads connecting them to the country. Jungle hits black-sanded sea in this beautiful part of the world.
Los Llanos
You won鈥檛 find tourist attractions in Colombia鈥檚 plains as you will a whole new side of the culture out in the outback. Think cattle ranches and wildlife safaris in the country鈥檚 eastern flank.
Most visitors use Yopal as a base when visiting Los Llanos.
Quebrada Las Gachas, Guadalupe
Ok, so you know I absolutely rave about this place. It鈥檚 actually getting a little embarrassing now, but QUEBRADA LAS GACHAS IS INCREDIBLE AND IF YOU WERE TO CHOOSE ONLY ONE OF THE PLACES TO GO IN COLOMBIA IT SHOULD BE THIS ONE.
Honestly, I鈥檓 not sure if it even deserves to be called off the beaten path anymore with the amount I鈥檝e been spreading the word about it, but these natural plunge pools deep in a purple-algae river are something that I鈥檒l never forget.
Ca帽o Cristales
The bigger, more colourful, harder to get to and way more expensive version of Quebrada Las Gachas, situated in the region of Meta, scarily close to some of the parts of the country that are still guerilla-controlled. This is one of those places to go in Colombia that are only for the adventurous, as it will involve a couple of days of travel and hiking (!).
So there鈥檚 my bucketlist of places to go in Colombia! As you can see, it鈥檚 pretty extensive, with plenty that didn鈥檛 quite make the cut. Let me know in the comments how many you鈥檙e planning on ticking off!
After this ultimate bucketlist of places to go in Colombia, you may also enjoy reading:
Liked this bucketlist of tourist attractions and places to go in Colombia?
Give it a save on Pinterest to be able to refer back these Colombia must-sees later 馃檪
Last Updated on 24 February 2026 by 17草视频
Wow. Some simply stunning images and travel destinations. A bit tough to choose a favourite but Guatavita Lake looks pretty impressive and those plunge pools. I’ve seen a lot of South America but not Colombia, not yet.
Thanks! Guatavita Lake really is one of Colombia’s gems.
I have a long list of places to visit in South America! I am definitely adding Tattacoa and La Chorrera to my list! Thank you for sharing
You’re welcome 馃檪 Let me know if you need any help planning a trip!
I do agree with you, this is truly a nucketlist!
Vising Isla Bar煤 would be a dream come true, even though I would dread the lonmg journey from Sweden 馃槢
It’d be worth it! There are now direct flights to Cartagena from London so you could do it in just two legs from Stockholm 馃檪
Ok, you have convinced me. My bf and I have been talking a while about travelling Colombia and Ecuador. Covid has delayed the plans somewhat. Thinking a month in Colombia? Would that be enough?
A month could certainly get you round the top sights! I’d say a few days in 叠辞驳辞迟谩 (more if you want to do day trips out the city), 4-5 days in Medell铆n with day-trips and then get yourself up to the Caribbean coast and start exploring as you please 馃檪 You’d have time to get up to Isla de Providencia as well which is my favourite place on earth.
I really enjoyed reading this extensive post as I really want to get to Columbia one day. It has everything a traveller could possibly want. Mountains, beaches, charming towns, a colourful history. Fabulous.
Thank you, to me it’s the perfect destination for any travel style!
My trip to Colombia was full of awe and surprises. I was very impressed by the friendly, caring people and the energetic artsy work everywhere. Hope to be able to visit again very soon.
Me too, think I’ll be booking a flight as soon as it’s deemed safe!
We were looking at Cartagena before the pandemic hit. Now, I see there are a lot more great places to check out in Columbia! Hope we can make it one day!
Fingers crossed! Revisiting Colombia will be top of my list once it’s safe again.
It’s so sad what happens to communities like Comuna 13, where the government aren’t helping them they’re easy pickings and at the mercy of cartels who are willing to support them for their own, but only have their own interests at heart. I hadn’t realized that it had turned itself around. I still have that vision of it being lawless. But isn’t that always the way. When bad things are happening in a neighbourhood it gets reported, but when good things happen – that slips the net and they’re not spotlighted.
Colombia is on wishlist since long as there are so many amazing things to see here. I loved Piedra El Pe帽ol, 骋耻补迟补辫茅 and this really looks very unique. Also the colorful walled city of Cartagena and Getseman铆 looks very vibrant and good to know it is a foodie place too.
When you come to Cali Colombia you should go to the MULATO CABARET, the best exponents of Salsa dance in the world with a show of international stature. Regards