Coffee hills, Caribbean walls and cities that dance until late.
Colombia packs astonishing variety into one country. Cartagena's walled old town glows with bougainvillea and colonial balconies, Bogotá sits high in the Andes with the Gold Museum and La Candelaria, and Medellín climbs its valley by cable car. The Coffee Region's green hills lead to the tall wax palms of the Cocora Valley, and Tayrona National Park meets the Caribbean in jungle-backed coves.
Days start with strong local coffee and arepas, and end with salsa in Cali or live music on the coast. Buses are cheap but slow over the mountains, so short domestic flights are popular. December to March is the main dry season and the best time overall, with July and August also good in much of the country.
Best time to visit Colombia
January, February, December.
Places to visit in Colombia
Cartagena: Colombia's Caribbean jewel, a walled old city of flower-draped balconies, plazas and seafood, with islands offshore.
Bogotá: Colombia's capital sits at 2,600 metres, with a colonial old quarter, the superb Gold Museum and a creative food scene.
Medellín: A mild valley city transformed by cable cars, parks and public art, surrounded by green mountains and coffee country.
Coffee Region: Colombia's coffee-growing heartland, with working fincas, colourful towns like Salento and the towering palms of the Cocora Valley.
Tayrona National Park: A coastal national park where rainforest runs down to Caribbean coves with giant boulders, reached on foot along jungle trails.
Ciudad Perdida: The stone terraces of an ancient Tayrona city deep in the jungle, reached only on a multi-day trek.
Villa de Leyva: A beautifully preserved colonial town in the highlands north of Bogotá, with one of the largest plazas in the Americas.
San Andrés: A Caribbean island far from mainland Colombia, known for water in many shades of blue and an English-speaking Raizal culture.
Essentials
Currency: Colombian Peso (COP)
Language: Spanish
Plugs: Type A / B, 110 V
Driving: Right side
Time zone: UTC−5
Tipping: A 10% tip is often suggested on restaurant bills
Getting around: Short domestic flights save time; buses cover every route but are slow in the mountains
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking