Trying to gather a list of nice places to visit, unforgettable experiences, and breathtaking moments? We already did the homework for you with this bucket list of the best tourist attractions in Colombia that you just can’t miss.
All you need to do is put the list into action on a fantastic journey of your own!
Connect with the wildest part of Colombia with this bucket list adventure
Begin this tour with a sense of the wild beauty that some Colombian tourist attractions hide, those that have been protected by nature and promise to renew your soul.
1. Fly over the largest rainforest reserve in the world
Image of a warm, colorful sunset in the Colombian Amazon
There’s a hidden world in the middle of Colombia’s Amazon called Serranía de Chiribiquete National Natural Park. Symbolically located deep in the heart of the country, it easily holds our number one spot on this bucket list.
This captivating landscape was declared a Cultural and Natural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco in 2018 and 14% of all animal species on earth call its 4.3 million hectares home. If this wasn’t stunning enough, its majestic geological formations preserve human-created artwork dating back over 20,000 years!
You can even explore this paradise by plane, flying over the area to appreciate the tepuis, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and rainforest from above. This is definitely one of the Best places to visit in South America, but how can you get there? Simply take a flight from Guaymaral airport north of Bogotá, the capital of Colombia.
2. Sleep under the stars in one of Colombia’s four deserts
Just 30 minutes away from the city of Neiva, an abrupt change in the landscape takes center stage. By day, varying shades of orange paint an unforgettable landscape, while at night an abundance of stars join you for company.
This is the Tatacoa Desert, a tropical dry forest that is undoubtedly one of the best tourist places to add to your bucket list through Colombia. A place where cacti of different shapes and sizes reign, some growing up to five meters, and where extensive labyrinths of earth and plateau deliver unparalleled majesty.
It is here, like nowhere else, where you can appreciate the best starry sky, either from the La Tatacoa Astronomical Observatory or from the comfort of glamping, making it one of the world’s best places for couples to travel.
Discover some bucket list visits that represent the urban culture of Colombia
Colombia’s big cities enrich the country with their style, tradition, and art. Not only do they embody the past, but they also build a future every day through a refreshing urban landscape.
3. Walk among urban art in Medellín
Let yourself be surrounded by the 'paisa' culture of Medellín, also known as the "City of eternal spring" due to the warmth of its people and year-round pleasant climate, while you tour a vibrant art scene throughout its streets.
Enjoy the creative air of the city streets, including 23 works by Colombian artist Fernando Botero, and dive into an epicenter of culture: the Comuna 13. If you like to travel alone, book an urban art and graffiti tour to discover a curated collection of works that represent the incredible cultural transformation here.
4. Visit studios of talented artists in Cartagena de Indias
Without a doubt, “La Heroica” or “The Heroic City”, as Cartagena de Indias is also known, will surprise you on every corner. Its streets are full of history and culture, inviting you to stay and explore it nonstop. Begin with the San Felipe Castle, an iconic point of the city that was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
Afterwards, take a stroll to Getsemaní, an old bohemian neighborhood where graffiti art adorns every street. Tour galleries and even visit the studios of renowned local artists who the city inspired for an unmissable tourist attraction and must-see for any bucket list.
Schedule your experience in the ancient streets of Getsemaní in Cartagena through one of the many urban art and graffiti tours that the city offers.
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For a moment you’ll wonder if you’re witnessing heaven on earth, as few tourist attractions can warm your soul and make time stand still as these do.
5. A paradise in the middle of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is also on this list
Just 45 minutes away from the city of Santa Marta is Minca, a destination located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park where you can go hiking and find natural freshwater wells and coffee farms.
The Marinka waterfalls in Minca, near the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
The impressive Marinka Falls originate from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a haven for bathing and enjoying the soundtrack of nature. Go for a swim, rent a large hammock to relax, or why not, take advantage of the fact that you are in the middle of a vast cocoa growing area and prepare some artisan chocolate!
6. Enjoy the vastness of a lush green valley
The landscapes of the Cocora Valley will captivate you instantly. Located in the heart of the Coffee Cultural Landscape, this nature reserve is home to the tallest wax palms in the world, a national emblem of Colombia which can measure up to 70 meters in height.
The Cocora Valley wax palm trees are the highest in the world.
This undisputed destination of best tourist attractions in Colombia was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco is a must on any list if you are a nature lover, enjoy bird watching and crave fresh mountain air.
When traveling here, you must pass through Salento, a picturesque town of colorful houses just 16 miles from Armenia, another great stop on your trip through Colombia.
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Now that you know about these six experiences, what are you waiting for? Let’s start crossing them off your bucket list!
