Planning a Colombia vacation? Ingrid Vultorius, our Head of South America, shares why she believes Colombia sparkles!
Coffee, emeralds and hidden treasures in Colombia
From pristine beaches to grand, colonial cities, the mythical road to El Dorado and the pulsating beats of tango and salsa around every street corner – Colombia is brimming with treasures. Here are our favorites.
After you have read this article, you might also like to have a look at this guide on the best times to visit Colombia. This will help you plan your trip to enjoy its historical and cultural attractions. Here are our favorites.
1 Cartagena de Indias
The Caribbean jewel in Colombia’s crown, uncover lively, cobbled streets, beautifully preserved architecture, colorful facades and trendy cafes and boutiques in Cartagena. Discover the city with our experienced local guide, taking in impressive sights from the imposing Fort San Felipe to the winding streets and alleyways of the Old Town, stopping at hidden eateries, sampling authentic dishes and visiting lesser-known gems along the way.
2 Gold Museum in Bogota
Live the El Dorado dream at the fascinating Museo del Oro of Bogota, where carefully preserved ancient artifacts occupy pride of place, along with more than 55,000 pieces of gold! Bogota‘s collection is laid out in thematic order, over three storeys. While audio guides are available, the collection is best discovered with a local expert who is familiar with the offerings.
3 Coffee Region
A wonderfully verdant UNESCO World Heritage site, discover lush landscapes of the Coffee Region, diverse wildlife and birds, plantations and charming villages, with your favorite cuppa in hand. How about a sumptuous stay and cacao tour at a sprawling, historic plantation? Or a horseback ride through the valley with an experienced groom and local expert? Afterwards, we’ll help you lie back and relax at Santa Rosa de Cabal’s hot springs too!
4 Cocora Valley
Tucked away in the Central Cordillera of the towering Andes, Cocora Valley boasts majestic wax palm trees, picturesque valleys and plenty of hiking and outdoor activities. The cloud forest is part of the Los Nevados National Natural Park and set about 2000 meters above sea level! Armed with an experienced guide and a local expert, ride your horse across the region until you reach a restaurant overlooking the valley – our little secret that we’re happy to share with you!
5 San Agustin Archaeological Park
Unearth the archaeological treasures of an unknown, ancient civilization at this UNESCO World Heritage site, which is home to the largest collection of megaliths and monuments in all of South America! Not just these incredible feats of architecture, there are also luxurious hacienda stays, horseback explorations and adventure in store for you at San Agustin!
6 Tayrona National Park
Indulge your love for nature! Lush rainforests, diverse wildlife, tranquil lagoons, beautiful coves and archaeological wonders await you at Tayrona National Park. Not just the usual trails, with a naturalist to accompany you, take a walk down one of the lesser-known trails to explore the forest and get to hidden beaches – you can also learn more about the park’s history, local culture, native flora and fauna along the way.
7 Colonial Villages
Beautifully preserved pastel facades, quaint cobbled streets, exquisite churches and cathedrals, and old-world charm – step back in time at Colombia’s colonial cities of Barichara, Villa de Leyva, Filandia and Salento. At our favorite villas, haciendas and boutique hotels – handpicked by experts – you’ll also find a charming blend of history, rich culture, tradition and local heritage.
8 Emeralds
Spawning the myth of the famed El Dorado which brought the Spanish Conquistadors to their door, Colombian emeralds have adorned her people for centuries. Mined in the eastern Andes, these jewels are known for their rich color and perfection, often associated with magic, and readily available in major cities of Colombia. Even today, you can find emeralds aplenty in Bogota – our local guides will be happy to assist you in viewing collections or visiting trusted merchants!
9 Magdalena River
How about a luxury cruise down the Magdalena River – one of the greatest rivers in South America and the lifeline of Colombia. Rising in the Cordillera Central, the river meets the ocean at bustling Barranquilla and has enables riverine trade for centuries! Book your private guide and experienced staff onboard, to pamper your through your journey and help you see the best sights along the way!
10 El Dorado
The legend of El dorado, a hidden city of riches, has inspired gold lust and folklore for centuries. High up in the Andes, Guatavita was believed to be the source of El Dorado by the Spanish, who recovered gold artifacts from the lagoon many centuries ago. Visit the region with an experienced Enchanting Travels guide, following in the trail of Spanish Conquistadors and exploring hidden trails and routes that few others know of! If you are tempted to visit this amazing country, start off by having a look at our Colombia travel guide. Our experts will be glad to answer your questions, advise you on the top ten things to do in Colombia, and create a customized itinerary for you.
Discover the top ten things to do in Colombia with our best guides, chauffeurs and local team. For your private, obligation-free and completely customized Colombia vacation, get in touch with us right away.
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Popular Trips to Colombia
15 Days
from
$5,590 USD
/ person
Experience the best of Colombia as you traverse through the country, staying at exceptional boutique hotels and witnessing the many natural, cultural, and historical highlights along the way. Start your trip in Bogota and explore the most famous attractions of the Colombian capital, such as the Plaza de Bolívar and the La Candelaria district, on…
15 Days
from
$6,590 USD
/ person
Uncover the popular highlights and the hidden gems on this Colombia tour. From the bustling streets of Bogota to the cobbled streets of tranquil Villa de Leyva, the coffee culture and traditions of the Andean region, leisurely hacienda stays, couture and salsa at Medellin, and the pristine beauty of Tayrona National Park – Colombia is…
15 Days
from
$4,790 USD
/ person
This Colombia tour is the perfect introduction to the best-loved highlights: vibrant cities, colonial heritage, archaeology, culture, museums and Gold Rush. With visits to the lush coffee region, hiking and island stays, experience the Colombian countryside and beaches too!
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Best Places To Visit
Best Time To Visit
Set right on the equator with the Pacific Ocean on its west and the sparkling Caribbean Sea to its north, Colombia enjoys a warm, tropical climate with little variation throughout the year. Here’s an overview of what to expect on Colombia tours.
Travel Guide
What are the most important things to keep in mind while planning your Colombia vacation? Is it safe to exchange money in the country? What is the process for obtaining a Colombian visa? Find answers to all these questions and more in our Colombia travel guide.
History
As the gateway to South America from the North American continent, and owing to its strategic location at the confluence of the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans, expect an incredibly diverse history on your tour!
The Enchanting Difference
Incredible agency that pulled together an incredible trip with thoughtful details. Everyone’s seamless and safe, letting me fully enjoy the adventure. The price was 100% worth it!
Adriana Davila
Canada
Our trip to Colombia was absolutely amazing! Every detail was organized, and the local guides were excellent! The hotels, excursions, food, and travel details were perfect. There was excellent communication from the team during the entire process, and we were able to navigate smoothly even when traveling with two small kids. We had a wonderful vacation and will absolutely be booking with Enchanting Travels again!
Aakriti Carrubba
USA
Enchanting Travels kept in touch everyday. There was a day we wanted to change itinerary and Kevin got that arranged right away and kept us informed.
Kim Clausen
USA
Enchanting Travels was a dream to work with and I highly recommend! They created a custom trip and really listened to everything we wanted to incorporate and took care of all the details from start to finish. The hotels, activities and guides they vetted were all incredible. I look forward to planning another vacation with them!
Yuka Kobayashi
USA
Enchanting travel created a personalized experience, with Lisa and Samuel working with us on the planning of the trip. The itinerary and the guides provided were excellent, and gave us a good understanding of the history and culture of the three diverse regions we visited. Accommodations were per our needs. We would readily use Enchanting Travel for any future trips.
Satish Singh
USA
Enchanting travels was a top not travel company that was able to be current with the changing world situations. At a last minute country safety issues they were able to provide us with wonderful options so a trip could still be taken on desired dates like it had been planned all along! Great customer service!
Debra Davidson Scott
USA