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The best things to do in Colombia, South America, for tourists include exploring vibrant cities, hiking in Tayrona National Park, and visiting ancient sites such as the Lost City and San Agustín. You can visit the white sand beaches along the Caribbean coast and discover natural wonders.
International travellers can find a diverse culture, adventure, history, and breathtaking landscapes. A visit to Colombia means experiencing colourful colonial towns, lively music, flavorful cuisine, and mountain viewpoints.
Whether you are an adventure traveller or a digital nomad, Colombia provides endless opportunities to explore. In this guide, I will discuss the best things to do in Colombia, South America. Similarly, I will discuss the effective connectivity solution for your travel to Colombia.
While Colombia is a gem, there are many other best countries to visit in South America that you can explore on your trip. Colombia is a top destination in South American, popular with tourists. It offers perfect biodiversity, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes from Caribbean beaches to Andean peaks.
Travelers can explore historic cities, hike in Tayrona National Park, and enjoy their time according to their budget.
Here are the primary reasons to visit Colombia.
Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world. It features incredible flora and fauna, spanning ecosystems from the Amazon rainforest to the Tatacoa Desert.
The country is known for its culturally rich cities, including Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena. You can explore the colonial architecture and urban environments.
You can relax on Caribbean beaches in Tayrona National Park and explore the Islands like Rosario.
Colombia has a coffee culture; you can visit the Coffee Axis (Coffee Triangle). In the rural culture, you can experience the high-altitude coffee plantations.
Colombians are famous for their friendly nature. They are welcoming, making travellers feel at home.
You can experience diverse weather, such as the "eternal spring" in Medellín or tropical heat on the coast. The geography makes travelling to diverse regions efficient.
If you are an adventure seeker, you can go hiking to the Ciudad Perdida (Lost City). Tourists can also go scuba diving, paragliding, and whale watching.
Colombia's Caribbean coast is an ideal destination, offering cultural depth, adventure opportunities, and remarkable value. The coastline is 1,600 kilometers long, featuring jungle-backed beaches in protected national parks and Spanish colonial cities.
Tayrona National Park is called Colombia's coastal crown jewel. Here, the jungle meets the white sand beaches of the Caribbean Sea. This ecosystem supports an extraordinary concentration of biodiversity.
The park protects 15,000 hectares of land and 3,000 hectares of marine environment. It is one of South America's most important areas. Tayrona's most iconic white-sand beach, lined with coconut palms, creates picture-perfect Caribbean scenes.
You will cross rivers and spot wildlife, including colourful birds and capuchin monkeys. December to March is the best time with pleasant weather.
You can use the Colombian eSIM to stay connected, providing essential navigation and emergency contact capabilities in remote coastal areas. Staying connected is vital, but you should understand how do roaming charges add up to avoid unexpected bills while exploring.
Cartagena is the most stunning city in South America. If you are a nature lover, it may be the ideal city to visit. You can explore the colourful streets, flowered balconies, and the ancient stone walls.
Horse-drawn carriages move across the plazas, and many historic houses are now stylish boutique hotels. Travellers can join free walking tours in the old town. Outside the city, visitors can explore the Islas del Rosario, a group of small islands known for clear water and excellent snorkelling among coral reefs.
Playa Blanca is a relaxing destination where tourists can explore the white-sand beach and warm Caribbean waters. In the evening, the old town's roof bars offer a stunning view of red rooftops and the shining Caribbean Sea.
Santa Marta is a city that serves as a gateway to both Tayrona National Park and the legendary Lost City Trek. Nearby, you can visit white sand beaches with your family.
The fishing village of Taganga is a fascinating place for scuba diving. The Caribbean coast around Santa Marta offers crystal-clear waters, providing excellent visibility for exploring coral reefs.
La Guajira is a remote Caribbean coastal destination where desert landscapes meet the turquoise ocean. If you plan to visit the beaches of Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas, you will need rugged 4x4 vehicles and a travel guide.
Caribbean Sea islands are the best spot for beach lovers and world-class scuba diving. Providencia is a smaller island with powder-soft beaches that are ideal for tourists. The old Providence McBean Lagoon National Park here protects exceptional coral reef ecosystems.
Here, you can experience the unique English-speaking Raizal culture, blending Caribbean, African, and Colombian influences. You can explore the colourful wooden houses and enjoy the exceptional coconut-spiced seafood.
Colombia is well known among tourists for its ancient sites. Colombia’s pre-Colombian ruins offer an authentic experience for international travellers.
San Agustín Archaeological Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known for housing the largest collection of pre-Columbian stone statues. The area is spread across the green hills of the Huila region.
It is unusual for travelers exploring 600 stone sculptures with many shamans wearing large headdresses. There are no words on the statues and tombs here, which makes them a mystery to tourists.
Central Park contains several areas called Mesitas that hold the best-preserved statues. Alto de los Ídolos is one of the sites that needs extra travel time. La Chaquira is another site carved into a cliff and overlooking the Magdalena River valley.
Travellers can ride through coffee farms and visit multiple sites. Nearby, you can also visit the Estrecho del Magdalena, where Colombia's largest river narrows to just 2.2 meters.
Tierradentro Archaeological Park is a mysterious ancient site. The park is famous for its underground tombs, called hypogea, which offer a unique experience for travellers.
You can visit the tombs by walking down spiral staircases. Inside, the tombs are decorated with geometric paintings in red, black, and white. The site has an ancient ventilation system that remains effective at keeping the tombs dry.
Visitors must hike between tomb groups, which may be tiring and require good physical fitness. This effort keeps the site quiet and peaceful, with far fewer tourists than San Agustín.
Tierradentro is ideal for travellers to explore the history, nature, and places in a peaceful environment.
Exploring the natural beauty is one of the best things to do in Colombia, South America. The country’s landscapes offer a unique experience you can't find anywhere else in the world. You can see the tallest palm trees on Earth and colourful rivers, making the country a top destination.
Cocora Valley is one of the most stunning natural sights to visit. It is known to tourists for the Quindío wax palm, Colombia’s national tree. The trees are the tallest in the world, growing nearly 60 meters high.
Visiting the valley feels like the prehistoric world with bright green fields stretching across the land. The most popular hike in the valley is a 5- to 6-hour loop trail that starts at the Valley of the Palms and enters the cloud forest.
While walking, you will cross the small rivers using simple wooden bridges before returning to the palm-filled valley. Early morning is the best time to visit. The light is soft, and the views are perfect for photos.
Salento is the nearby town that is the main base for visitors. It is well known for colourful paisa-style buildings painted in bright yellows, blues, and reds.
You may heard of the famous, beautiful river in South America called Caño Cristales. It is often known as the River of Five Colours because of its rainbow-hued flow.
If visiting this river is your main priority, ensure to visit Colombia from July to November. During these months, a special water plant called Macarenia clavigera turns bright red. Yellow algae, green moss, blue water, and black rocks add colour and create a flowing rainbow.
To visit this masterpiece, you can fly from Bogotá to La Macarena, then continue by boat and hiking. The area is remote, and you can enjoy clear swimming pools, small waterfalls, and scenic viewpoints with few tourists.
The Tatacoa Desert is the second-largest desert in Colombia. Visiting the area, it feels like you are on Mars because of its red and grey rock formations. Walking through this area, you will explore the deep canyons and strange rock shapes.
Fossils found here show that the sea once covered the area. Tatacoa is also famous for stargazing. The skies are obvious at night. The Milky Way is bright and easy to see. An astronomical observatory offers guided night sky viewing.
Natural pools are a cool place to swim in the desert. The best time to visit the place is early morning or late afternoon. Midday heat can rise above 40°C, which is very intense.
The best thing to do in Colombia is to explore the Amazon region, where you will experience the unforgettable rainforest. It is one of the most accessible parts of the Amazon in Latin America. Leticia is the main entry point and is located at the border of Colombia, Peru, and Brazil.
Travellers can go deep into the jungle by boat to experience the rainforest up close. Ensure to travel with the guide to help spot wildlife such as pink river dolphins, howler monkeys, and colourful birds.
During the river trips, you will explore the indigenous communities living along the Amazon. Visitors learn about plant medicine here, fishing methods, and ancient beliefs about nature and the universe.
April to July is a perfect time visit the Amazon rainforest. During this time water level is higher, which makes travel easy. Water level is lower from August to November, revealing sandy riverbanks and improving wildlife viewing.
The Colombian Amazon is ideal for visitors who love adventurous travel and exploring natural sites.
The Coffee Cultural Landscape in Colombia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The destination is ideal for coffee lovers to see how coffee beans are processed.
The Coffee Triangle of Colombia includes three regions: Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío. It is the central area of Colombia’s coffee production. The coffee culture here is over 150 years old.
The country is a top coffee producer, and Arabica coffee is among the most famous. The area here has rich volcanic soil and steady rainfall, making it ideal for growing high-quality coffee beans.
It is one of the most rewarding experiences for travelers to work on a coffee farm and learn how coffee is made. Guides explain the procedure, and you can begin by planting young coffee plants.
Farmers hand-pick ripe red cherries, and beans are removed from the fruit and fermented to develop flavor. These are then dried in the sun and finally roasted to produce the coffee powder.
Many farms offer hands-on activities and allow the visitors pick coffee cherries, use simple machines, and roast small batches. The farms offer warm hospitality and comfortable rooms surrounded by working plantations.
In this area, Salento and Filandia are the ideal spots to see the colorful paisa-style buildings, craft shops, and local coffee roasters.
Salento is th famous destination in Colombia’s Coffee Triangle, best to visit for its colorful houses and lively streets. Visitors can buy mochilas, local coffee beans, and handmade crafts for their family and friends.
The most distinctive feature of Salento is Willys Jeeps. These colorful old vehicles serve as shared taxis, taking visitors from the town square to the entrance of the Cocora Valley. Getting this ride is an excellent experience.
The town offers a relaxed atmosphere and excellent coffee shops. The area is the perfect spot for backpackers, coffee lovers, and travelers who want to slow down.
Salento is generally crowded in peak seasons. The best alternative with fewer crowds is Filandia. The town offers the same charming paisa-style architecture in more peaceful surroundings.
Mirador Tower is a popular spot in town that requires effort to climb. But here you can enjoy the authentic and fresh coffee taste in local coffee shops. Prices are often lower than in tourist-heavy towns.
Sitting in the main plaza allows visitors to watch daily life and enjoy the calm atmosphere. Filandia is an ideal destination for travelers to explore Colombia's coffee region while enjoying authentic small-town Colombian life.
Don’t miss trying the Colombian cuisine. Try the Colombian famous dishes such as Bandeja Paisa, savory Arepas, crispy Empanadas, and the rich chicken-potato soup Ajiaco.
The fruits you should try in Colombia include Lulo, Granadilla, Guanabana, Zapote, and Maracuya. Similarly, Limonada de Coco, Aguardiente and coffee are the well-known drinks.
Connectivity is essential, especially when you are traveling internationally. To stay connected with friends and family in Colombia and other South American countries, you need a reliable internet connection.
Frequent travelers and nomads generally use roaming plans or local SIM cards to access data. But international roaming charges are high; you may be charged $10 for an MB.
Similarly, a physical SIM is ideal, but it takes time to connect and may not allow you to keep your primary number active. Therefore, eSIM is the only cost-effective solution to avoid high charges and connectivity issues.
What is the best eSIM for visiting Colombia, and how can you buy it?
Multiple carriers offer eSIM plans for travelers, such as Airalo, Nomad, Holafly, and others. However, I recommend Yaalo for its advanced, user-friendly connectivity plans. Yaalo offers eSIM data plans for 200+ destination including Colombia.
Each country's eSIM includes unlimited and fixed plans. Each plan includes short and long-term data based on your trip duration. The data plans are affordable and meet users' data needs without incurring data roaming charges.
The following are the benefits Yaalo offers to its users.
Note: Embedded SIM does not work in all devices. Only the latest devices are compatible with eSIM technology. Therefore, please confirm your device's eSIM support on the device's official website or contact your carrier.
You can buy the Colombian eSIM online or download the Yaalo eSIM app from the App Store or Play Store. Once you purchase the travel eSIM, the carrier will send you the activation instructions and a QR code to install the eSIM on your iPhone or Android device.
Before setting up eSIM, ensure your device is connected to WiFi.
eSIM will automatically be activated once you land in Colombia. Yallo eSIM ensures network coverage throughout the country, whether you are in a remote or populated area.
For travelers, there are multiple things to do in Colombia, South America. The country offers a diverse range of Caribbean coast white-sand beaches, ancient archaeological sites, the world's tallest wax palms, and vibrant street art.
Visiting Colombia in South America is a more satisfying experience for international travelers. You can visit white-sand beaches, ancient archaeological sites, vibrant street art, and try the famous cuisine.
Don’t forget to have a connectivity solution. Buy the Yaalo eSIM for Colombia to avoid the high data roaming charges. eSIM offers effortless QR code activation with instant connectivity. It ensures a seamless connection throughout your journey.
Yes, you can use eSIM in Colombia to stay connected. Purchase the Yaalo eSIM to access 4G or 5G network coverage throughout the country. It ensure to provide the seamless connection without roaming charges.
The cheapest months to visit Colombia are April, May, September, and October. It is rainy time in Colombia. But ideal for budget travelers with lower prices on flights and accommodation.
The ionic destinations for travelers in Colombia are the walled city of Cartagena, the beaches of Tayrona National Park, and the towering wax palms of the Cocora Valley.
