Colombia is one of those intriguing countries that sparks curiosity and is a bit unexplored. Due to the high crime rate in the country until a few years ago, there are even, at present, areas and places in Colombia that are quite dangerous to visit. However, it is not impossible to visit the country safely and there are such incredible places that you could not not visit them.
When we started talking about the possibility of visiting Colombia there were places that I was sure I wanted to visit, but the truth is that I knew little about the country and I was very excited about the possibility of exploring beyond the popular places.
After visiting several cities, towns, natural environments... that left me wanting more, there are some places that you cannot miss if you are going to travel to Colombia. So in this post I tell you about the 15 most beautiful places to see in Colombia. Remember that whenever I list destinations I do not do it in order of preference, the 15 places are spectacular.
THE 15 MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO SEE IN COLOMBIA
1. Capurgana
Capurgana is a pedestrian and very quiet town on the Caribbean coast. The spectacular landscape, with dense tropical jungles, paradisiacal beaches and several perfect places for diving.
The town itself is very charming, with one-storey houses, quiet streets, places that serve freshly squeezed juices and a very relaxed atmosphere.
Here is the El Cielo Nature Reserve, with many trails through the jungle, along the river and several waterfalls and waterfalls.
If you feel like doing some trekking you can also do it on the Capurganá Ecotourism trail. It is a well marked path where you enter the jungle and from where you find viewpoints. The natural environment is incredible, yes, keep in mind to bring a good mosquito repellent, plenty of water and a cap or hat.
2. Sapzurro
Sapzurro is another idyllic town 10 minutes from Capurgana, the best way to get there is by speedboat.
Here you will find paradisiacal beaches, without masses of tourists. Here the ideal is to arrive with a good book, something to eat and drink and your goggles and snorkel tube. Spending the day here is a real wonder. It is one of the most beautiful areas of the country without a doubt.
3. Cabo de la Vela
With a strong wind and a beautiful beach, Cabo de la Vela is a perfect spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing.
On our trip through Colombia we were amazed by the change in landscape of this place. With reddish sand beaches and desert areas.
Of course, do not expect to find great cultural places to visit or charming towns nearby. The greatest charm of Cabo de la Vela is its coastal area. Here you can eat incredibly well, especially fresh fish and shellfish, as well as being very cheap.
4. Barichara
I fell in love with Barichara completely. For many Colombians, Barcihara is the most beautiful city in the country, some say even Cartagena de Indias. And there I leave it to you to decide which one you stay with. It is true that the town is beautiful, and it has a completely different charm than Cartagena, which makes Barichara so special.
It is a very quiet small colonial city, with cobblestone streets, white-walled houses and some red and orange brick buildings. What I like the most about Barichara are the number of secret patios full of plants that you can find walking through its streets and alleys.
Do not miss visiting the viewpoint over the canyon, the Parque de las Artes, the church and the Suárez River where there is a serene walk along its shore.
Here a very traditional dish is grilled ants, if you dare, do not hesitate to tell me about the experience, I was not so brave.
5. Villa de Leyva
Following the route of very charming towns in Colombia, we could not leave out Villa de Leyva. The town is quiet and you can walk its cobbled streets in a disorderly way. Handicrafts are very popular here, so it is common to find little shops and you can even access some of the workshops.
In the vicinity of Villa de Leyva there are fields, trails and more lush jungle areas where you can visit the popular waterfalls in the area.
Here you can visit the Casa Terracotta, which was built by Octavio Mendoza.
6. Mongi
Mongui is a charming colonial town with cobblestone streets, white-walled houses, many national monuments, and a serene, laid-back atmosphere. As in all the most rural areas of Colombia, here an hour has more than 60 minutes, so when a taxi driver tells you to pick you up in 20 minutes, calmly keep in mind that it can be 30, 40 or even 50 minutes... Relax we are on vacation!
The population is known for the production of handmade leather balls. You can visit the different factories and buy some as a souvenir.
7. Guatape and Penol
From Medellín we visited Guatape on an excursion. Although you can make the journey here on your own, the time we already had in this area was more limited, so the tour offered us the possibility of visiting Guatape in the same day.
Guatape is a city of colorful streets, and here it is hot and humid, so you take the opportunity to walk through its streets with a fresh juice of its tropical fruits.
If you feel like it, you can walk along the shores of the lake, even take a bath.
The most popular thing in Guatape is the peñol. A gigantic rock with incredible 360º views from above. To go up you must climb 750 steps. The effort is worth it.
8. Salento
There are coffee fields throughout the country, but most of the producers are in the region called the Coffee Triangle or coffee axis.
The small town of Salento is very similar to Guatape, all its houses are covered in white with colorful roofs and wooden doors.
In order to enjoy some beautiful views you must go along the main street in the direction of the viewpoint. The main street is the most atmospheric place in the city with small shops, restaurants, bars...
In Salento you can do some tours to visit the coffee fields, where you can enjoy a spectacular natural environment.
9. Cocora Valley
The Cocora Valley is located in the central mountain range of the Colombian Andes in the heart of the coffee region.
In this place grows the Palma de Cera del Quindío, the national tree of Colombia. The landscapes offered by this enclave are truly unique.
This tree can reach 60 meters in height and only grows at an altitude of between 1,500 and 3,000 meters above sea level. It is very curious to see “palm trees”, more typical of coastal areas, at this point. The landscape of the very green valley with the wax palms rising so high is one of the images that has stuck with me the most from my trip to Colombia.
The best way to visit the area and safely is to do it from Salento (25km away) with some of the excursions.
10. Cartagena de Indias
Cartagena de Indias is one of the most beautiful cities in Colombia, and they say the most romantic. The historic center is a small walled city, full of streets and small colorful houses. It is an essential stop on your trip to Colombia, you cannot miss it on your itinerary.
You can read more about Cartagena de Indias in the post: Cartagena de Indias, the most romantic city in Colombia
11. Tayrona National Park
From Santa Marta you can enjoy one of the natural wonders of Colombia; Tayrona National Park. An ideal place to spend a few days off. Here you will find paradisiacal beaches, tropical jungles and all kinds of activities to do in the middle of nature.
You can read more about the Tayrona National Park in the post: What to see in Santa Marta and the Tayrona National Park.
12. San Andres Island
In Colombia there are many coastal areas with spectacular beaches. If you want to enjoy the sea, the beach and practice some water activities, San Andrés is a great option.
I tell you much more about San Andrés and the other beach options from Cartagena de Indias in the post: The most beautiful beaches in Cartagena de Indias
13. Glass spout
Caño Cristales is the red river of the Colombian jungle. Until just a few years ago, it was unthinkable for tourists to know this place, since it was a very dangerous area due to drug trafficking.
Nowadays, it is possible to visit it and as soon as you arrive you realize that this place is magical and hopefully (selfishly thinking) it does not become very popular.
The presence of algae is the cause of the appearance that the water has been dyed that color. But although the red ones are the predominant ones, it does not mean that they are the only ones. In fact, the name is not a coincidence, since, depending on where we look, we will have the sensation of being in front of a red, yellow, green, blue or black river. It is located in the Sierra de la Macarena, in the interior of Colombia. It does not reach 100 km in length, nor does it exceed 20 meters in width, but its vision is unique, full of rapids, waterfalls, mails and small natural pools. Rich in corals and algae, there are no fish in its waters, but the vicinity of the river is rich in fauna. La Macarena can boast of being home to some 420 species of birds, ten species of amphibians, 43 species of reptiles and eight primates.
To get to know this place, you have to follow some rules, for example, the use of repellents and sun creams is prohibited, to wear a fresh long-sleeved shirt and long pants... among other rules.
This place is spectacular!
14. Ipiales
Ipiales is a small Andean city located in the western half of Colombia, near the border with Ecuador. The most impressive thing about the city and the reason that travelers come here is its imposing Gothic-style church and its double-arched bridge, which are located in an unusual place. On the Guaitara River. This church and this place is called as Santuario de las Lajas.
It was built in the 20th century exactly on the spot where, according to belief, the Virgin Mary appeared to a mother and her daughter in 1754.
15. Visit some of its cities
Surely you will arrive in Medellín, Cali or Bogotá. Including cities in your tour of the country is inevitable, in each of them you will find historical, colonial places, full of art, culture and beliefs.
In the blog you will find an article for each city with all the essential places. You can see all the articles from this link.
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Colombia a lot and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
If you liked this article, subscribe to the blog so you don't miss the next destinations, curiosities, travel tips and inspiration for your trips.
A hug and see you soon!