10 days in Colombia itinerary
Welcome to our 10 days in Colombia itinerary.
This thriving country is full of culture and epic sceneries, from the famed coffee region of El Eje Cafetero to the beaches along the Caribbean coast.
Within Colombia’s big cities such as Medellin and Cali, you can also find some really heated nightlife scenes, as well as a variety of attractions which range from ancient museums to unusual landscapes.
10 days in Colombia Itinerary
In this guide, we’ll explore Colombia, which includes the very best things to see. We’ll also include our very own customized 10 day Itinerary for those who are heading here.
From lounging on some of the most beautiful beaches in South America to hiking amongst the largest palm trees in the world, let’s now explore the very best of this diverse country with our 10 days in Colombia itinerary.
Getting to Colombia
Most travelers arriving in Colombia will be heading to the capital of Bogotá. The El Dorado International Airport is located here and is by far the best connected in the country (and a good contender for the continent too).
You’ll find daily, direct flights here from destinations all over the world.
The other main way is by crossing in through Ecuador, which is popular amongst travelers on a longer backpacking route through South America. There are also land borders with Venezuela and Peru, as well as the river border with Brazil (you’ll need to take a short boat ride to cross over).
Last but not least, you can also enter from Panama, where you’ll embark on an unforgettable, 3/4 day boat ride crossing the ocean and visiting the San Blas Islands. It leaves from Panama City and finally makes landfall in Cartagena.
Other Things to know: Travel Tips
When traveling on our itinerary through Colombia, we recommend a minimum daily budget of $25 per day. With this budget you’ll be staying in a good quality dorm room (in a hostel), and will mostly be eating in local restaurants.
You should also have some budget leftover for some beers at night, or for heading to an inexpensive attraction. Other costs such as international flights, travel insurance or long-distance buses are not included in this budget.
Staying safe is quite a popular topic for Colombian travel, which is understood given the country’s past reputation. However things have improved considerably in the past few decades, with many places like Medellin and Santa Marta proving to be relatively safe. You can see Dan’s guide to backpacking Medellin for specific areas to stay.
There are still some areas to be wary of (neighborhoods in Cali and Bogotá for example), however, with good preparation you’ll most likely have no issues.
Those keen to try authentic foods (and also keep costs down) will want to fully make the most of the menu ejecutivos in this country.
For just $1-2, you can have a two-course meal and a drink included, where you’ll also be able to try many tasty Colombian dishes!
Of course, it’s worth going to more upscale restaurants too where the quality is better, however, those on a strict budget will very much welcome this option.
Colombia Itinerary (10 Days)
Now lets explore our personalised 10 day Colombia itinerary.
Here we’ll explore 4 of the very best destinations, including what we recommend seeing and doing in each.
Day 1: Bogotá
We first land in the capital, given its so well connected both within and outside of South America. We spent 3 days in Bogotá but for this guide we suggest one.
With just 1 day here, we recommend staying within the area of Candelaria, which is an artsy neighbourhood close to all of the best attractions.
Here you can explore the Plaza de Bolívar, which is the main square with important buildings along its periphery such as the Catedral Primada as well as the Capitolio Nacional.
From here you can walk to the Museo Botero which is close by, which is famous for its unorthodox art and paintings (the building itself is pretty stunning too). Just before sunset, you’ll want to make your way up to Monserrate, which is the mountain that overlooks Bogotá.
There’s a cable car you can take up (or it’s a 30 minute walk if you prefer), and at the top there’s an ancient monastery as well as some seriously impressive views.
Given we only have 1 day in Bogotá, we recommend heading on this all-inclusive tour where you will see all of the above with your knowledgeable guide.
Days 2-3: Manizales
After spending a busy day in Bogotá, we’ll now take the 8 hour bus up to the town of Manizales, which is located within the famous Coffee Triangle of Colombia.
Arriving early we can check out the main plaza which includes the picture-perfect Manizales Cathedral (it’s the tallest in all of Colombia).
From here we’ll make our way to the Bosque de Palmas, which is a region known for its extremely tall palm trees as well as some of the best coffee on the planet (the micro-climate here is said to have near perfect growing conditions).
On either of your two days here, it’s also worth heading to Los Nevados National Park. This mountainous area is full of glacial lakes and imposing volcanoes, and is a must for the adventure-seekers out there. This day tour is a perfect option, where you’ll also be able to relax in some hot springs.
Days 4-6 Medellin
Having tasted coffee and seen some extraordinary landscapes, it’s now time to head to Medellin. We shared how to spend 3 days in Medellin recently. The bus takes roughly 5 hours to arrive, so it’s worth waking up really early and leaving.
Medellin has transformed its identity in recent times to a much safer and pleasant city to visit (it used to be one of the most dangerous cities in the world).
Taking a tour around Comuna 13 is a must, where you can learn about the (true) history of Pablo Escobar and his cartel, as well as being home to many stunning murals. Other things worth doing in Medellin include heading up to Parque Arvi, as well as enjoying the vibrant nightlife scenes in El Poblado.
You’ll also want to explore the surrounding Antioquia region when here too. One of the must-visits has to be to Guatapé, which is a colourful town nestled within the Andes.
Here you can explore the colourful murals and buildings along its winding streets, as well as visiting the rather odd Piedra de Peñol – a 220m rock that towers above the rest of the countryside and nearby lakes.
The best way to see Guatapé and the nearby landscapes is with this highly rated tour, which includes breakfast, lunch as well as an additional boat ride.
Days 7-10 Santa Marta
Once we’re finished with Medellin, we’ll now take a short flight over to Santa Marta which is situated on the Caribbean Coast. Otherwise it’s a pretty lengthy 23 hour bus (which isn’t worth it given the short nature of our itinerary).
Santa Marta is known for its abundance of incredible beaches, which continually rank as some of the most beautiful on the continent.
Tayrona National Park is one of these, which has several stretches of white sand as well as treks into the jungle that encompasses the whole region. You can even camp overnight here too!
The city itself doesn’t have too much going for it, although the Malecón de Bastidas and the Parque de los Novios are nice to walk around and grab lunch at. Instead, Santa Marta is very much about the surrounding region.
Minca is a beautiful mountainous town worth visiting, and with this tour you can explore the best coffee and cocoa growing spots. The nearby Guajira desert which is perfect for those after an off the beaten path experience.
From Santa Marta you can easily take a flight back to Bogotá for your international departure flight. Alternatively, you can travel to Cartagena, before moving onto Panama and the rest of Central America.
Best time to visit Colombia
Colombia is mostly hot year round, especially along the coast and within the jungle. Further into the Andes it can get slightly cooler, however there’s still some warm afternoons here too.
The overall best time to visit in between the months of December to March, which marks the winter season. This is when rainfall is generally at its lowest, which makes areas like Santa Marta much more pleasant for a visit.
If you can, we’d recommend heading in late January if February, as this is off-peak season and will be less expensive. As you can imagine, heading around Christmas time will see a hike up in prices (both flights and accommodation).
Colombia Backpacking Tips
Below you can find a list of our top recommendations for Colombia:
- 🛏 Hostal R10 (Bogotá), Ayenda Mountain Hostel (Manizales), The Wandering Paisa (Medellin), República Bahía (Santa Marta)
- 🌮 Many of the best Colombian dishes (like Bandeja Paisa) are made using the staples of beans and meat. Arepas are also a tasty dish, although it’s commonly disputed their origin between Colombia and neighboring Venezuela. Within a menú ejecutivo you’ll also be able to try various local dishes, such as Ajiaco and even Empanadas in certain places.
- 🌴 Monserrate, Cocora Valley, Comuna 13, Guatapé, Tayrona National Park.
- 🍺 The best nightlife is found within the major cities, and on this itinerary, this means Bogotá and Medellin. The latter in particular has many notorious zones such as El Poblado, within literally everything from techno clubs to local salsa bars. Along the coast you’ll also find many bars with a more tropical style feel (in Santa Marta, and nearby Barranquilla if you decide to head there for some time).
- 💡 Whilst the safety situation has definitely improved in recent years, you’ll still need to be cautious when walking around (especially in the big cities). We recommend carrying this Money Belt, which will keep all valuables secure and hidden.
Got Travel Insurance for Colombia?
10 days in Colombia Itinerary
The sizzling scenes and heat of Colombia alone sway most travelers to head here. And given its also home to many incredible landscapes and interesting cities, it’s a must-visit when heading to this area of Latin America.
In this itinerary, we’ve covered everything you need to know about Colombia. This includes the best destinations to visit, our top recommendations as well as a customised 10 day itinerary when heading here.
Be sure to come back to this article whenever you need help planning, or even to suggest your own tips once you’ve completed the adventure yourself.
See our full backpacking Colombia guide for more tips.
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
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