Colombia is one of the countries if not my favorite that I have visited in the world. I had the chance to spend more than 5 months there and I plan to spend more in the future.
But why?
Well Colombia is a beautiful country full of things to do and of course places to visit. From the Caribbean coast to the highlands to the Amazon, Colombia has something for every traveler.
But with tourism just starting to pick up, what are the best places to visit in Colombia?
Well, after several months of traveling between 2017 and 2020, we found the best places to visit in Colombia that every traveler should add to their bucket list! Which The Best Places To Visit In Colombia is:
1. Medellín
Medellin tops the list of places to visit in Colombia. The city was once the most dangerous in Colombia, but now has the trendiest cafes, bars and restaurants. It’s hard to come to Medellin and not enjoy delicious food.
But venture outside the tourist area of El Poblado and you’ll find plenty to do. Some of the best activities are the infamous Comuna 13 tour, the cable car ride to Parque Arvi, and the free Real City walking tour (it’s the best I’ve ever done!)
Due to the altitude of Medellin, the climate is perfect all year round. This gave Medellin the nickname “City of Eternal Spring”. The city is livable, safe and very welcoming.
Medellin is my favorite city in all of Latin America and should be on every traveler’s itinerary to Colombia!
2. Guatape
Guatape is a small town just two hours from Medellin. It is famous for several reasons and probably the most pronounced is El Penol, the 10,000 ton monolithic rock located 5 minutes from town. Locals say the view from the top of El Penol is “the best in the world”, and while I don’t quite agree, I still think it’s spectacular.
The town of Guatape is located on the shores of an artificial lake with hundreds of small islands. You can see it all from the top of El Penol! There is a catch, however: to get this view, you will have to endure over 700 steps to climb to the top of El Penol. Won ? I think so!
Another reason Guatape is one of the best places to visit in Colombia is because it’s the most colorful town I’ve ever seen! The buildings around the town are beautifully colored and decorated with the famous zocalos. Zocalos are the beautiful decorations at the bottom of buildings and you will see them a lot in Guatape.
You can take a day trip to Guatape from Medellin or stay for a night or two. If you ask me that which is better, I would definitely stay a few nights.
3. Garden
Jardin was once a little-known Puebla near Medellin that locals visited to escape the city. Surrounded by coffee plantations, it is considered “the least touristy Salento”. The garden quickly becomes a popular place to visit in Colombia.
