Colombia is a vibrant, exciting South American country with so much to offer travellers. With just two weeks in Colombia you can still explore the Caribbean coast, cities like Medellin and Bogota and even more rural towns in the Coffee Region. This 14 day Colombia itinerary details where to go, what to do and where to stay in each destination.
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Days 1-3: Cartagena
Start your adventure in Colombia by the Caribbean coast in the beautiful old town of Cartagena. The walled old town, famed for its colorful colonial architecture, has earned UNESCO World Heritage Status.
There is plenty to see within the walled town but if you want to venture a little further, explore the vibrant neighbourhood of Getsamani, visit the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas or discover the coast with an island hopping tour.
Things to do in Cartagena
- Take a walking tour of the old town – take a walking tour to discover more about the history of the town from indigenous communities to colonialists to pirates.
- Visit Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas – This 400 year old fortress is just outside of the old town.
- Watch the Sunset – Head over to the city wall around the Entrada de Santiago and Baluarte de Santo Domingo in the evening to catch a view of the sun setting over the Caribbean sea.
- Explore Getsemani – Getsemani is a colourful, arty neighbourhood just next to the old town. Discover the street art and painted houses for yourself, or take a walking tour.
- Stroll through Centenario Park – you may wander through this park to cross between the historical centre of Cartagena and Getsamani, make sure you look up to the trees when you do! If you’re lucky you may spot a sloth or two.
- Explore the old churches and monuments – You’ll stumble across several historic churches in your time in Cartagena. Don’t miss Catedral de Santa Catalina de AlejandrÃa and Iglesia de Santo Domingo.
- Visit Abaco Book Cafe – half book shop, half cafe, this quirky little spot is the perfect place to escape the Caribbean heat and take a little rest!
- Shop at Las Bovedas – Tucked away in the corner of town under the city walls, you’ll find a row of yellow arches that used to house 18th century dungeons but are now home to several craft and souvenir shops.
Where to stay in Cartagena
Hostel: Viajero Cartagena (also has private rooms!)
Budget Hotel:Â Hotel Casa Augustina
Mid-range:Â Casa Lorenza Hotel
Luxury:Â Casa Pizarro Boutique Hotel
How to get to Medellin from Cartagena
The next stop on this suggested itinerary is Medellin. To travel to Medellin from Cartegena there are two main options – fly or bus.
Flying to Medellin from Cartagena: There are multiple flights a day, taking just over an hour. Click here to check flight times and prices.
Taking the bus from Cartagena to Medellin: The bus option will be much cheaper but takes a lot longer. Buses to Medellin from Cartagena take around 12 hours but there are overnight options so you don’t need to waste a day and you’ll save on a night’s accommodation. Click here to check bus times and prices.
Days 4-8: Medellin
Medellin is Colombia’s second largest city so there is a lot to explore! Whilst the city is known for its troubled history, it has transformed in the last few decades to become a city of culture that welcomes visitors from all over the world.
As the city is so big and there are things to explore on the outskirts too and even day trips, I recommend spending each day in a different area of the city.
Day 4: Downtown Medellin
Explore the central downtown area. You can take a walking tour here to learn more about the city. The main attractions here are Plaza Botera (a square filled with sculptures by Fernando Botero), Catedral Metropolitana de MedellÃn, Placita de Flórez (a traditional indoor market) and the Memory House Museum which exhibits different perspectives on historical conflicts in Colombia.
Day 5: Park Arvi
Escape the city to discover nearby nature in Park Arvi. The park is set in the hills to the east of Medellin and is accessible via cable cars which you can catch from Acevedo Station. In the park, you’ll find hiking trails and food markets.
Day 6: Comuna 13 Tour
Take a tour of the famous Comuna 13 neighbourhood. What was once one of the world’s most dangerous areas has been transformed into a vibrant quarter known for street performances, art and outdoor escalators. Click here to explore tour options.
Day 7: Guatape Day Trip
Day 7: On your final full day in Medellin, take a day trip to Guatape. This colourful town is just 2 hours drive from Medellin. It is famous for a huge rock just outside the town – La Piedra Del Peñol. At the top of the 600 steps, you’ll find a spectacular view over the lake and islands. Click here to view tour options that will take you to the rock and town, many also include a boat trip on the lake.
More things to do in Medellin
- Explore El Poblado – this is a very touristy neighbourhood and likely where you’ll stay. Its very safe and there are lots of great bars and restaurants to explore here.
- Visit Museo El Castillo – to the south of El Poblado, there is a French Medieval style castle. It was actually built in the 1930s for a wealthy doctor. It is now a museum housing a collection of art and historical artifacts.
- Mercado Del Rio – a modern indoor food hall with lots of great dining options.
- Botanical Gardens – if you want a green space without going all the way to Park Arvi, Medellin’s Botanical Gardens are a great option.
Where to stay in Medellin
El Poblado and Laureles are the best areas for tourists to stay in in Medellin.
Hostel: La Familia Hostal (also has private rooms)
Budget Hotel:Â The Garden Lleras
Mid-range:Â Tik by Bernalo Hotel
Luxury:Â Soul Lifestyle Hotel or Lettera hotel
How to get to Salento from Medellin
After the bustling city of Medellin, it’s time to venture into the more rural landscape of Colombia’s coffee region – specifically the town of Salento. Again, you can either get a bus or fly (via Armenia).
Flying from Medellin: You can take a 1 hour flight from Medellin to Armenia. From Armenia Airport, Salento is a 45 minute taxi.
Bus from Medellin: Buses from Medellin to Salento take around 7 hours and there are overnight options available. Click here to check times and prices.
Days 9-11: Salento
Salento was one of my favourite spots in Colombia. The friendly locals and colourful facades of the shops will brighten your day. A stay in Salento isn’t complete without a hike in the Cocora Valley to see the world’s tallest wax palm trees.
Things to do in Salento
- Tour a coffee farm – the valleys around Salento area are packed with coffee farms. Lots offer tours with tasters. We visited Las Acacias coffee farm. Click here to see more tour options.
- Hike around the Cocora Valley – a must see! The full Cocora Valley loop takes around 4-5 hours so bring plenty of water and snacks. You can take jeep from the central Plaza de Bolivar to the starting point of the hike.
- Explore local shops – Wander around the town to explore the many local shops and cafes. Calle Real is a great place to start.
- Visit Kasaguadua Nature Reserve – this nature reserve is a hidden gem on the outskirts of Salento. You can take a two hour tour or even stay overnight in their eco-lodge.
- Take a day trip to Filandia – Filandia is another colourful town nearby. You can easily visit in a day trip or half-day trip by taking a jeep from Plaza de Bolivar.
Click here to read my detailed 3 day Salento itinerary.
Where to stay in Salento
Hostel: try Coffee Tree Boutique Hostel or Viajero Salento Hostel
Budget Hotel: We stayed at Hospedaje La Masia Salento
Mid-range: Hotel Salento Mirador is great central option with views over the valley.
Luxury: take a look at Hotel Kawa Mountain Retreat.
How to get to Bogota from Salento
Our final stop on this tour week tour of Colombia will be Bogota – the capital. You can head back to Armenia to fly there or take a bus.
Flying to Bogota: You can take a 1 hour flight from Bogota to Armenia. From Armenia Airport, Salento is a 45 minute taxi.
Bus to Bogota: A cheaper but longer option is to take a bus from Bogota direct to Salento. This takes around 8 hours. Click here to check times and prices.
Days 12-14: Bogota
Our final couple of days will be spent in Colombia’s capital, Bogota. This is a great spot to end your trip as the airport is well connected with international flights so you can hopefully easily fly home or onto your next destination. Bogota is often referred to as Colombia’s fridge as its much colder than you might expect so be sure to pack layers! The colder temperature is partly due to the high altitude. At 2,640 metres, you may experience altitude sickness here so take it easy and stay hydrated.
Things to do in Bogota
- Hike up Monserrate – I don’t recommend doing this on your first day, give yourself at least 24 hours to adjust to the altitude first before traversing even higher towards the peak of Monserrate. At the top, you’ll find an active church and views over the sprawling city. If you don’t fancy the walk, there is a cable car option too!
- Take a Walking tour – take a walking tour to learn more about the city’s history.
- Visit the Gold museum – Museo del Oro is one of the most popular attractions in Bogota with thousands of gold coins and sculptures on display, many crafted by indigenous communities hundreds of years ago.
- Visit the Botero museum – the Botero museum is an art museum housing collections by Fernando Botero and other Colombian artists.
- Discover Bolivar square – this is a huge plaza in the centre of the historic area of Bogota. The square is surrounded by grand historic buildings including City Hall, the cathedral and Palace of Justice.
- Explore the La Candelaria area – La Candelaria is a historic neighbourhood in Bogota filled with colonial and art deco buildings.
Where to stay in Bogota
Hostel: Viajero Bogota Hostel and Spa (also has private rooms)
Budget Hotel:Â Hotel Casa de la Vega (where we stayed!)
Mid-range:Â Hotel Musica
Luxury:Â Tequendama Bogota
Things to know before you visit Colombia
What to Budget for 2 Weeks in Colombia
The answer to this question depends on whether you are going for budget or luxury and if you are travelling alone. I’ll give a rough estimate based on my experience – we travelled as a couple staying in budget hotels. We travelled to Colombia in May 2023.
Accommodation: Our nightly average was around £20 for two of us.
Food & Drink: Our daily average was £10-15 per person
Transport: If taking buses, budget around £70 per person for this itinerary. For flights, budget for around £200 per person.
Attractions: Budget around £100 per person for tours & tickets.
Overall, I’d recommend budgeting around £400-£700 per person for this two week itinerary. This is not including your flights to and from Colombia.Â
Is 2 weeks in Colombia enough for a first trip?
You’ll always be able to explore more with more time but if 2 weeks is all you have, don’t worry! Two weeks is still plenty of time to explore 3-4 places in Colombia and get a feel for the coast, the cities and rural regions.
Should I fly or take buses between cities in Colombia?
This depends on your preferences, mostly in terms of comfort, budget and time.. You might also want to consider the environmental impact too – bus trips have much lower carbon emissions.
At first look, buses are at least half the price of equivalent plane tickets. However, once you factor in luggage costs and transfers to and from the airports (bus stations tend to be much closer to city centres), the cost of flying can add up significantly.
If you only have two weeks to spend in Colombia, you probably want to maximise time spent exploring, rather than transiting. Therefore a 1 hour flight will look more desirable to an 8-12 hour bus. It’s worth checking if there are night bus options though as this will mean you are not wasting a day sitting on a bus but in contrast, are saving money on a night’s accommodation. Most of the night buses we took in South America were fairly comfortable with reclining seats – it won’t be the best night sleep of your life but you should manage to get some sleep. If comfort is a top priority for you though, I wouldn’t recommend this option!
What is the best month to visit Colombia for this itinerary?
As this 14 day itinerary spans a wide area in Colombia from the coast to mountains, the weather will vary while you’re there. Pack plenty of layers and plan for all weather types. We did this trip in May and had beautiful sunshine in Cartagena but were cold and damp in Bogota. Here is a snapshot of the best months for each location:
Average Weather in Cartagena: 25-32°C all year round. Dry season from December to April. Wettest August to October.
Average Weather in Medellin: Mild temperatures year round of 12-20°C (54-70°F). Rainiest months are April, May, October and November.
Average Weather in Salento: Mild to warm temperatures year round of 13-23°C (54-70°F). Rainiest months are April, May, October and November.
Average Weather in Bogota: Cooler temperatures of around 8-18°C (46-64°F). Rain can be expected year round with April, May and September – October being the wettest months.
Overall, for this itinerary, the best months for visiting Colombia to avoid rain are January, February, July, August and September.