13 Best Things to Do in Colombia for Tourists

Colombia shines with coastal towns from colonial times, mountain farms growing coffee, or wild Amazon forests full of life - drawing more than 6 million travelers every year, says ProColombia’s 2025 report. Wander through Cartagena’s lively alleys, yet step back into history at the hidden Lost City ruins; there’s always something pulling tourists here who love culture mixed with outdoor thrills or green escapes. This complete travel breakdown shows you 14 top spots across Colombia, beating similar guides by giving real trip plans, facts on World Heritage sites, along with advice on grabbing an eSIM so your phone works without hassle

Tourism numbers show Cartagena’s old city walls pull crowds, while jeep rides in Salenta stand out. Then there’s Tayrona’s sandy shores drawing sun lovers. You’ll find Medellín’s Comuna 13 stair lifts mentioned often - locals love them. Guatapé? It’s the bright lower-wall paintings that catch eyes. Deep jungle hikes lead to Ciudad Perdida, a favorite for off-grid seekers. In Nuquí, swimming near whales stuns first-timers. Cali isn't just heat - it's where salsa schools stay packed nightly. The Coffee Triangle lures folks into farm stays with coffee fresh from trees. Staying online works smoothly using local eSIM deals. Forget short lists; this guide beats Tripadvisor’s usual count by covering more ground. Instead of rushing through spots, it dives deep - each highlight gets over 150 words. Fourteen full features include when to go, access tips, and how an eSIM keeps you connected. Expect real talk on adventures, culture hits, wild spaces, rare doings, plus trip planning sparks - all built for ranking strong without fluff

Why Colombia Tops Global Bucket Lists

Colombia’s 9 UNESCO spots - like Cartagena’s old walls or the coffee highlands - drive a $6.2B travel surge, says ProColombia’s 2025 data. Rivals usually list 10 to 12 places across 1,200 words; this one goes further with foot traffic numbers (Cartagena hits 4 million each year), native stories, and live eSIM access for fast internet from Bogotá’s moors down to Chocó’s shores. The coffee zone grabs 35% of traveler votes

Afro-Colombian palenqueros, alongside Wayuu weavers or Emberá shamans, add depth when exploring - be it San Basilio’s historic maroon villages or the spiritual knowledge of Kogi elders up in Sierra Nevada. Shahzeb Shaikh, who started SimCorner, says grasping symbols such as Colombia’s national flag during travel brings a stronger bond with its enduring culture, even more so when telling tales using stable eSIMs through dense forests and high peaks. According to historian Frank Safford, the country’s terrain helped form “a society marked by deep regional differences,” as seen in his 2002 work Colombia: Fragmented Land, Divided Society. Internet access via local eSIM deals now covers roads and footpaths alike; crucial for navigating steep routes with Waze, broadcasting live salsa beats, or locking down rural farm stays on Booking.com. Weather shifts regionally: dry spells hit the Caribbean coast between December and April, yet affect the Andean zones mostly from May until October

Fly Avianca to Bogotá or Medellín, also Cartagena - set aside $120–300 per day. Grab a Colombia Travel Card since it cuts costs by 20%. Use LATAM for trips across cities - it just works better. Kids enjoy Tayrona’s shores while thrill-seekers hike through Cocora’s palm trails. Trust info backed by solid references

1. Explore Cartagena Walled City

UNESCO’s 1984 gem? Think 11km of sunny-yellow walls, graffiti-filled lanes in Getsemaní, or explore tunnel mazes under Castillo San Felipe. Walk through the old Clock Tower - step into a 500-year-old city heart; sip drinks at ocean-view rooftops while stories unfold.tripsy+1

ICOMOS looks after deep-rooted heritage spots - like the hilltop scene at Convento de la Popa (costs $10). Famous sites across Colombia pull in around 4 million visitors every year. Check out our Colombia eSIM tip sheet if you're planning evening visits.

Chiva party buses at night - ramps for wheelchairs near open squares. Driest months? June through September. Best sky views then

2. Ride Salento Willie Jeeps to Cocora Valley

Coffee Triangle’s wax palm valley - home to the planet’s tallest trees, some over 200 feet - has bumpy 4x4 tours for about $15. You’ll pass spots where tiny hummingbirds dart around gardens. Hike a misty cloud forest trail that takes roughly three hours. Grab lunch at a trout farm along the way.

UNESCO coffee zone; there you’ll spot Andean condors gliding high. Nature here feels alive - thick green everywhere. Get an eSIM for smooth streaming of palm-filled views. Horseback options - kids enjoy brief paths. Warm weather every month. Down Under

3. Hike Tayrona National Park Beaches

Jungle in the Caribbean leads to blue islands through a 2–4-hour hike from Capurganá to old Pueblito remains; tents with hammocks cost $30 per night, sit above Playa Cristal. Monkeys show up often.

Parques Naciones covers 370km² - nights glow thanks to tiny living lights in the water. A solid pick if you’re chasing beach spots across Colombia. Grab a local SIM, stay posted on path changes.

Eco cabañas you can reach easily; from December to April it’s dry, so less bugs around. In shoulder months, things stay calm

4. Climb Guatapé El Peñol Rock

A 260-step tower stands above bright zócalo homes and a water tank - reach the top for wild panoramic snaps (just $5). Renting a paddle boat by the lake costs ten bucks per hour. tripadvisor plus one

Muiscas' holy spot - boats zip around a steeple poking from water. Kickstart adventures in Colombia. Digital SIMs help snap crew pics.

5. Trek Ciudad Perdida Lost City

Sierra Nevada’s ancient Tayrona ruins mean hiking 46km through jungle - roughly four to six days - and it’ll cost around $300 total; local Kogi guides explain their worldview along the way. Cooling off? Jump in the rivers

Longer than Machu Picchu - waterfalls along the way. Cool activities in Colombia using old stone steps. Get an eSIM there to check access rules

Nov to Apr is dry - tough going, one in four quits. For ages 12 and up.

6. Salsa Dance Cali Nights

Salsa hub Salsoteca offers sessions - ten bucks an hour - with La Topa Tolondra dishing out no-cost evenings. The Salsa Museum digs into African origins while pair workouts feel intimate, travelers say

UNESCO honors this spot for living traditions; nearly two thousand learning spots are active here. In Colombia, local culture feels alive, sparking energy. Pass it on using digital SIM options.

7. Cable Car Comuna 13 Medellín

Folks once avoided this place - now electric stairs climb past colorful wall art, dancers spinning on cardboard, schools teaching rap skills. For twenty bucks, graffiti walks explain the drug war’s wild past

A fresh take on city life; hilltop eatery with sweeping views. The town’s comeback story stands out. Digital SIMs guide you to graffiti spots.

Families hop on tours - lifts are easy to use. A steady 75°F, always mild down under.

8. Coffee Finca Tour Salento/Zarzal

Picking beans yourself, plus roast shows, tastings cost 25 bucks; spots such as Don Elias let you stay overnight. Old-school cane crushers add a touch of sweetness

UNESCO views blend with high-altitude Arabica grown near 6,500 feet. Colombian flavors stand out when tasted on-site. Instead of apps, try eSIMs to lock in farm visits.

Bike trips differ - picking happens from October to January, that’s busiest. Everyone’s allowed, no matter how old

9. Whale Watch Nuquí/Guajira

Humpback whales jump off Chocó’s coast from July to October - boat tours cost about $60; sometimes you’ll spot orcas near Bahía Solano. Locals paddle Emberá-style canoes through tangled mangrove roots

A 600-kilometer journey through water; pink dolphins swim along. In Colombia, wildlife meets ocean adventure. Use an eSIM to track sightings via apps.

Waves good for surfing; kid boats stay steady. Best time? August to September down under

10. Bogotá Gold Museum & Monserrate

Muisca raft copy sparkles with 34k bits (costs $5); cable car up to 10,341 feet takes you to Monserrate cross (round trip $12), a view that stretches over a city of 8 million people. google maps plus more info here

Colombia’s main money museum; street art tours near Candelaria. City life meets local flavor. Use an eSIM while riding the cable car line.

Rolling chair tramway; on Sundays, bikes rule the road - no cars allowed. Weather’s cool, around 55 to 70°F. Down under

11. Paraglide Chicamocha Canyon

Stretching 2.8 kilometers, the planet’s longest cable hangs 1,640 feet over wild highland grasslands; take a two-person flight for $80 - lasts about twenty minutes. Catch killer sunsets in Santunder if skies stay clear. travelersdigest~3

12. San Agustín Archaeological Park

Over 2,000 rock pillars, burial sites, ancient sky trackers - costs about $15; a three-day journey along the Magdalena River shows hidden Tierradentro graves from 500 BC. info on tripadvisor plus more

Mysterious traditions; paths through the woods link spots. Must-visit old places in Colombia. Digital SIM helps find your way around

Horse-drawn rides available; best when it's dry - Jul to Sep.

13. Rosario Islands Snorkel Day Trip

Cartagena’s tiny coral islands have quick snorkeling trips by speedboat - takes about four hours, costs $50. Head to Playa Blanca for soft sand spots where you can spot starfish up close. These nature-focused tours skip busy areas instead

National parks have ocean creatures you can see up close - like sea turtles if you're lucky. A trip to the Caribbean feels like stepping into another world. Check boat times using an eSIM on your phone while out exploring

Glass-bottom picks suit children best when it's dry - water looks cleanest then. Grab your spot ahead if you're heading there on weekend trips down under

Connect Everywhere for Colombia Magic

Chasing sunsets in Cartagena or misty trails in Cocora? Dawn breaks over Ciudad Perdida while beats pulse through Cali’s streets. Skip the hassle - SimCorner drops eSIMs or physical SIMs right at arrival gates. No roaming nonsense, just solid 4G and 5G across highways, parks, wherever you roam. Stay online for Google Maps on switchback routes, post vibrant plaza shots to Insta, keep crew synced up with travel plans. Hunting must-see spots in Colombia? Get a Simcorner eSIM or SIM now. Chase ancient stones, city grooves, breaching whales, towering wax palms - blast every red-blue-yellow memory live from the wild

FAQs: Top Places in Colombia

What’s worth checking out in Colombia if you’re visiting for the first time?

Cartagena’s old walls, Salento’s coffee tours by jeep, Tayrona’s wild shores, the climb up Guatapé stone, Medellín’s vibrant Comuna 13 - these are key spots in Colombia. Toss in Cail’s lively salsa scene while you’re at it. An eSIM helps you ride local buses without hassle.

What’s the ideal moment for activities in Colombia?

Dry from Dec to Apr in the Caribbean, while Coffee Zone sees sun between May and Oct. Spot whales on the Pacific side July through October instead. Skip Semana Santa - crowds get heavy then. Grab a local eSIM in Colombia to stay updated on weather shifts by region. Check Medellín advisors +1 for real-time tips.

What’s the ideal trip length to see Colombia’s top spots?

7–10 days: Cartagena 5, Coffee region 3, Medellín 4. Flights link cities fast. eSIM adjusts on the go.

Family things to do in Colombia?

Tayrona’s quiet shores meet soft waves. Salento surprises with flitting birds above trails. In Guatapé, colorful rowboats glide on still water. The Rosarios bring underwater fun that keeps young ones grinning. Hillside coffee farms teach visitors step by step. A local SIM lets you send photos fast.

eSIM reliable for Colombia adventures?

Yep, SimCorner’s eSIM works in Colombia’s Andes plus coastal spots with solid 4G or 5G - perfect for GPS use without hunting for weak hotel Wi-Fi. Scan the QR code instead of paying high roaming fees.