Is Colombia Worth Visiting? 7 Reasons to Travel
Beautiful colonial towns, sizzling Caribbean beaches, free-spirited locals… There’s a lot going for Colombia.
It’s quickly becoming the most popular country for tourists to visit in all of South America, where we can combine seeing epic landscapes with a more cultural experience too.
In this article we’ll list some of the best reasons to visit Colombia, as well as cover any other important information you’ll need to know.
Is Colombia worth visiting?
Our short answer: Yes! This awesome South American country has literally everything you’d ever want from a backpacking trip while exploring the Americas.
The beaches are some of the best on the continent, and you’ll also get to see a ton of exotic animals in the Amazon Jungle and at sites like the Lost City and Tayrona National Park.
Speaking of scenery, we can also head into colonial towns within the mountainous Andes as well as explore the remote dunes of the Guajira Desert.
Colombia is also a great place to kick back and enjoy the local culture. The people here are very friendly and outgoing, and meeting locals will make your experience 100% better.
Don’t forget to try the local cuisine too, with dishes like Ajiaco, Bandeja Paisa and Arepas amongst the must-tries.
Where is Colombia?
Colombia is located in the far north of South America, and borders Venezuela to the east, Ecuador and Brazil to the south as well as Panama to the north.
It’s important to know that only the borders of Brazil and Ecuador should be attempted to be crossed. This is because the Panama border is a large swathe of unpoliced jungle (the Darien Gap), and the Venezuela border is known for high corruption and theft by officials.
The best time to visit Colombia is during the dry season, which for most parts of the country falls between December until April. Here we can enjoy sunny blue days at the beach and when exploring around, although there will of course be more crowds during this time too.
Is Colombia Safe?
This is one of the biggest questions we get asked about Colombia, and especially as many like to only talk about the horror stories or tales from a not-so-close past.
The truth is that these incidents happen to those who go looking for them, whether that’s being drunk and engaging with prostitutes, or walking along a dimly lit beach by yourself at night. 100% of it is avoidable and in your control, and it’s easily done too by choosing to take measured risks when arriving somewhere new on your trip.
Overall Colombia is quite safe as long as you keep this in mind, and also as you avoid drinking the tap water (which is something you have to actively be 100% sure of here).
However, if you’re looking for the overall safest destinations to visit, then we’d say:
- Salento
- Bahia Solano
- San Andrés Island
- Tayrona National Park
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7 Reasons to Visit Colombia
Are you still wondering if Colombia is really worth the visit? Here are 7 awesome reasons why you should explore this awesome South American nation.
1. Explore the rainforest of Tayrona National Park
Even though it’s become one of the most popular sites in the country, Tayrona can still often feel like a remote slice of jungle paradise (given daily entries are limited).
Located just an hour east from Santa Marta, here there are many secluded tropical beaches to enjoy the Caribbean rays and blue waters. Of course Cabo San Juan remains very popular, however it’s still worth going to enjoy those iconic views.
We highly recommend staying overnight or for a few days here, as most tourists come for just a day meaning they will all start leaving in the mid-afternoon.
2. Hike around the Coffee Triangle
Situated right in the heart of the country, the Coffee Triangle in Colombia is another famous region which is known for its beautiful valleys, waterfalls and of course rich coffee farms (which rank as some of the very best on the planet).
Salento is a great place to base yourself as you explore the region, where you can head to many fincas and get a local tour.
From here it’s also easy to visit the Bosque de Palmas – a remote area with beautiful hiking trails and massive palm trees measuring as tall as 60 meters!
The closest cities with airports here are Pereira and Armenia, both of which are also within the Coffee Triangle.
3. Enjoy the City Highlights of Medellín
By far one of the must-visit city destinations to include on your itinerary around Colombia, Medellín has a real unique local culture.
Here we can head to various museums to learn about its sobering past, and then on a gondola tour to Comuna 13 to see how communities are growing and leaving the past behind.
Whilst eating a Bandeja Paisa is a must here, you’ll also want to check out other local attractions such as the Plaza Botero, Parque Arví as well as the Pueblito Paisa.
Don’t forget to head to the nearby national gem of Guatapé from Medellín as well, where you can also climb the Piedra de Peñol monolith.
4. Go Salsa Dancing in Cali
Colombian culture is loud and proud, and continues to maintain its traditions like never before (similar to that of both Venezuela and the Dominican Republic).
Rooted into the nation is its love for all things dance, with Salsa especially being one of the more popular amongst both locals and tourists who visit here.
Of course, we can find awesome salsa scenes all over the country, however nothing can beat Cali – which is often regarded as being the Salsa capital of the world.
Be sure to head to the Topa Tolondra whilst here, where you can see the pros get to work (where you can also join in too!).
5. Head off the beaten path into the Guajira Desert
If you’re looking for a true unexplored wilderness when in Colombia, then the Guajira Desert will make you feel like you’re living in another world when compared with many of the very touristy sites.
Just a few hours east of Santa Marta, this desert can be reached by using a bus and local transport, with the town of Cabo de la Vela remaining one of the most popular for a remote beachside stay.
From here you can also head on a tour into the heart of the Guajira where you can meet the indigenous Wayuú Tribe, walk over the orange dunes and also visit Punta Gallinas – the northernmost point in all of South America.
6. Soak up the Sun on San Andrés Island
Within mainland Colombia we’ll find tons of beautiful beaches, and especially along the Caribbean coast near Cartagena and Santa Marta.
However if you’re looking for the ultimate Caribbean paradise, then you’ll want to head to San Andrés Island.
Located some 750 km north of the nation, you’d be forgiven for thinking they’re an island of their own (especially how close they are to Nicaragua in Central America) – however they remain Colombian and can be visited with an easy flight from most major cities in Colombia.
Be sure to visit Johnny Cay Island whilst here, and also enjoy the more Caribbean-style cuisine and atmosphere.
7. Venture around Bogotá and the Colombian Andes
The capital is usually the first place we’ll arrive into – and it’s worth making the most of your time when here. Bogotá is located within the Colombian Andes, meaning we can see some pretty impressive mountainous landscapes around the region.
You’ll first want to take the gondola up Monserrate mountain for some breathtaking city views, where you can also eat a tasty Ajiaco up-top in the local restaurants.
From Bogotá there’s many worthwhile day trips to head on, such as to Lake Guatavita as well as to the colonial jewel that is Villa de Leyva.
Is Colombia worth visiting?
And that’s all for our guide on why you should visit Colombia.
One of the most diverse countries in all the Americas, Colombia has pretty much everything you’d ever want from a backpacking trip.
Whether that’s idyllic Caribbean beaches, friendly locals or exploring the remote Andes, even the most difficult-to-please traveler will be spoiled for choice here.
Be sure to read our Backpacking Colombia Itinerary for more ideas on how to plan your own route around this incredible South American country.
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