We loved Colombia as it is a beautiful and diverse country where we spent a whole month, yet we still couldn't see everything. Overall, we were very satisfied with our itinerary, but in hindsight, we would make a few minor changes. Here's a quick overview of our travel route, listed chronologically: (You can find a detailed description of each destination here)
1 night in Cartagena
5 nights in Rincon Del Mar
6 nights in Cartagena (Language and Dance School)
1 night in Santa Marta
2 nights in Palomino
1 night in Tayrona National Park (See our article about the Tayrona Nationalpark)
2 nights in Palomino
1 night in Guachaca (YAY Sustainable)
5 nights in Medellin (With a trip to Guatape, El Peño)
2 nights in Salento and Cocora Valley (See our article about the Cocora Valley)
1 night in Cali
Destinations where we would spend less time:
Minca: We were somewhat disappointed with Minca and would prefer to safe overnight stays there in favour of other destinations. Although the waterfalls are beautiful, they are already crowded an hour after opening. The entire village is very touristy, with inflated prices for tours. Additionally, the area is not ideal for longer hikes, as most trails lead along paved roads. Nonetheless, we saw some beautiful birds and parrots in Minca, and those interested in coffee or cocoa tours will also find plenty to enjoy there. Personally, we didn't take a coffee tour because it was quite expensive, and we had already done one in Vietnam.
Palomino Flamingo Tour: Although very touristy, we really enjoyed Palomino and would definitely plan to spend a few more nights there. On our last day, we took an expensive tour to the nearby Santuario de Fauna y Flora los Flamencos. We cannot recommend this tour. Although we saw some flamingos relatively close up, the lagoon was not particularly spectacular, and the guides did not speak German.
Santa Marta: We had read in advance that the city doesn't offer much for tourists, and we weren't particularly keen on visiting it. We were only there for a stopover on the way from Cartagena to Palomino. While the city does have a beautiful beach promenade, we would recommend that those with limited time go directly from Cartagena to Palomino.
Cali: From Cali, we flew on to Chile, so we spent our last night there. During a short walk through San Antonio, we actually felt relatively safe, but the high security fences around houses and shops gave us an uneasy feeling. Apart from salsa dance lessons, we didn't know what else to do there for another day
Destinations where we would have liked to spend more time:
Guachaca: Guachaca is a real hidden gem and was one of our unexpected highlights. It is located between the Tayrona National Park and Palomino and exudes a lonely and untouched jungle charm. With Yay Sustainable, we perhaps had the most beautiful (and affordable) accommodation of our entire Colombia trip. We hiked through the jungle and bathed alone in the Rio Guachaca while toucans flew overhead. Unfortunately, we only spent one night there and would have loved to stay longer. In hindsight, we would swap the 2 nights in Minca for additional days in Guachaca.
Salento: We really enjoyed the 2 nights we spent there. The Cocora Valley with its gigantic palm trees is an absolute must-visit and the most beautiful hike we did in Colombia. The village of Salento also has a very relaxed vibe, with nice cafes and restaurants, and somehow doesn't feel as touristy as it actually is. The surroundings of Salento are also beautiful, and we would have liked to spend another night or two there to do other hikes in the area.
Are you just starting to brainstorm whether Colombia is the perfect destination for you? Check out our quick Pros and Cons of traveling to Colombia.
