The BEST 10-Day Colombia Itinerary

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Planning a Colombian vacation and looking for the perfect itinerary? Look no further, because we have made just that! 

After traveling all over Colombia, and even living in parts of it, we have developed a love for this country. With its tumultuous history, we know how it can be a little nerve-wracking to visit for the first time – it was for me!

We are here to tell you that it is much safer than you think (as long as you use normal street smarts) and to help your travel planning by putting together this ideal 10-day Colombia itinerary. 

We include the top four cities to visit, the best things to do, and some bucket-list-worthy day trips, so you really will experience the highlights!

Colombia 10-Day Itinerary Overview

• Start: Bogota
• End: Medellin
• Highlights: Bogota, Old Town Cartagena, Santa Marta, Tayrona National Park, Minca, Medellin, Piedra del Peñol, Jardin, and more!
• Mode of Transport: Bus, shuttle, and domestic flights

Day 1 Bogota – Explore the City

Bogota is often a traveler’s starting point when visiting Colombia – it was for us! This is Colombia’s largest city and home to the main international airport, so it makes sense that your 10-day Colombia itinerary will begin here. 

Bogota has some gorgeous old buildings with Spanish architecture dating back 500 years. It has that lively atmosphere you’d expect from Colombia’s capital city, and we think it’s the perfect introduction to this vibrant country. 

While it is a large city and full of history, you really only need one day in Bogota. Honestly, there are so many epic places to explore in Colombia and Bogota certainly has some highlights, but you should be able to hit them all in one day. To maximize your time in the city, check out our 1-day Bogota itinerary, or if you just want a few ideas, you can find my top recommendations below.

One more thing – it might be wise to fly to Cartagena this evening. While it will cut your time in Botota short it will give you more time in Cartagena, and trust me, you’ll want it!

Things to do in Bogota

1. Go on a graffiti tour (more of a history tour)

As you explore Bogota, you’ll quickly realize how big of an art scene this city has! There is a TON of street art and some really impressive graffiti. We joined this graffiti walking tour, which was more than just an art tour, it gave us unique insight into the city’s history, culture, and politics through the murals on the street. I thought it was a fantastic way to understand Bogota (and Colombia as a whole) from a local perspective.

This 4-hour tour was also a great way to get our bearings around the city, as our guide took us to some trendy bars and vintage stores in the area and pointed out the best places to eat! We also loved that it was a private tour, so we were able to get more one-on-one time with our guide and ask tons of questions. This tour has multiple departure times, so it’s easy to squeeze into your schedule and it starts at $59 USD, but the price drops the more people you book for.

If that’s out of your budget, there’s also a fantastic free Bogota Graffiti Tour available (don’t forget to tip your amazing tour guides though!). It is also one of the highest-ranked tours in the city! The only downside is that the tour groups can be pretty large (20+ people) so it’s not as personal of an experience. But, these tours are available every day at 10 am and 2 pm and last around 2-2.5 hours. 

Secure your private walking tour here to learn all about Bogota’s iconic graffiti scene!

2. Explore La Candelaria

La Candelaria is one of the most popular neighborhoods of Bogota, full of gorgeous colonial architecture and brightly colored buildings. It’s worth spending a few hours wandering around, taking in the sights.

The most iconic part of La Candelaria is “The Candy Cane Church”. This huge Gothic-style church is unique with its red and white striped paint, making it look like a giant candy cane! You can see even more impressive architecture by visiting the Casa de Nariño (presidential palace) or Plaza de Bolivar, the main square of the neighborhood.

If you need a break from exploring the city, be sure to stop by the Bogota Beer Company! As craft beer enthusiasts ourselves, we were happy to find yummy locally-made beer right here in Bogota.

To make the most of your time in La Candelaria, you can join a guided tour! This walking tour goes super in-depth to the neighborhood’s iconic slights. It’s led by local guides who know all the history and significant sights of La Candelaria, so you’ll learn a ton over your 3-hours of exploring. Best of all, it’s super affordable at only $13 USD! 

Book this top-rated walking tour here with FREE cancellation options!

3. Take the Cable Car up Monserrate Hill

You can get some of the best views of Bogota from the top of Monserrate Hill, and you don’t even have to work very hard to get it! There is a cable car that can take you up the hill in just 4 minutes and take in the views as you go. 

At the top, you’ll see a beautiful Catholic sanctuary, lovely gardens, and even three different restaurants. You can spend as long as you’d like up here, but enjoy the views and hang out for a while. We loved seeing Bogota from above, and the cable car was simply fun! For the most memorable experience, head up the hill around sunset for the best views, then grab a drink at the top as the city begins to light up!

You can get tickets directly at the ticket office, which is where the cable car takes off from! Tickets are 29,500 COP (around $7 USD) roundtrip and on Sundays, it’s only 17,500 COP (about $4) roundtrip.

Of course, you can walk up Monserrate Hill if you really want to but I wouldn’t recommend it – especially with just one day in the city. The trek is about 2,600 feet in elevation gain over 3.2 miles/5.1 km roundtrip, so it’s a workout!

Monserrate Hill is located about a 10-minute drive from La Candelaria. The cable car runs on Monday through Saturday from 12-11:30 pm, and from 10 am to 4:30 pm on Sundays. 

4. International Emerald Museum

Did you know Colombia is the largest producer of emeralds in the world!? They make up 70-90% of the emerald market worldwide. Colombian emeralds are super clear and have a gorgeous deep green color, some deposits date back 30 million years!

There’s a lot of fascinating information to learn about this major export, and we found visiting the International Emerald Museum to be a unique stop while in Bogota. We got to learn all about Colombia’s emerald empire and spend some time gazing at all the gorgeous gems. This is a private museum located in the Edificio Avianca skyscraper. 

You can visit Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. Tickets are 6,000 COP (about $1.50 USD).

5. Visit the Salt Cathedral

The Salt Cathedral is a super unique sight near Bogota. It’s actually a functional cathedral, but it has been carved inside an old salt mine! I’ve seen beautiful cathedrals before, but none as unique as this one. 

The cathedral was carved starting in the 1930s by miners who needed a place to pray before work each day. It’s quite a story about how the cathedral got to the grand size that it is today, but you can learn all about it when you visit for yourself!

It’s located in Zipaquirá, a small town about 45 minutes outside of Bogota. I highly recommend booking a tour to visit, it makes all of the logistics easier! 

This private transfer option is great for a quick 1-day Bogota itinerary, as it has flexible departure times to fit around your schedule. Plus, it makes the whole process of traveling between the two places much easier. Prices depend on your group size, but with 4 people, it’s only $57 USD per person. This doesn’t include entrance to the Salt Cathedral or a guide, just the transportation. 

If you want a more in-depth experience, you can book this 6-hour guided tour of the Salt Cathedral. You’ll learn all about the history, construction, and influence the cathedral has endured throughout its lifetime – there are a lot of fascinating things to learn here! This option provides entrance fees, a guide, and transportation from Bogota. It is a longer tour and not quite as flexible as the others, so with just one day in the city, this tour will be the main event. 

Book your private transfer option before it sells out or the 6-hour tour from Bogota here! 

Where to Stay in Bogota

Even though there are so many great areas to stay in Bogota, we think the city center is the best option! It’s centrally located for many of our activities, and only about a 15-minute drive from the airport. Here are our top picks:

Tequendama Suites (Luxury) – A 5-star hotel with amazing city views and a rooftop bar – the perfect place to relax!

Hotel San Francisco de Asís (Mid-range) – A comfortable option without breaking the bank, within walking distance of the top historic sights.

Spotty Bogotá Centro (Budget) – Top-rated hostel with dorms or private rooms available.

Day 2 Cartagena – Explore the City

The next two days of this itinerary are in Cartagena, which is arguably one of the most beautiful cities in Colombia! You’ll either arrive this morning or the night before, after taking a quick 1.5-hour flight from Bogota. 

The first day is all about exploring the city! Starting with the iconic Old Town, which was a fortified city built in the mid-1500s to protect the people from pirates. The Spanish-colonial architecture has been well-maintained and this part of the city is an established UNESCO site. To say it’s beautiful is an understatement, it was easily one of the spots that made us fall in love with Colombia! 

Day two will boast the stunning Caribbean coastline, this is another reason people love visiting Cartagena. You’ll get a chance to spend a day exploring, enjoying the clear blue water and white-sand beaches. Here are our top things to do in Cartagena, but if you want a step-by-step guide, check out our ultimate Cartagena itinerary here!

Things to do in Cartagena

1. Old City walking tour

Easily, one of the first things you’ll want to do is start exploring Old Town Cartagena. Walking around will give you a glimpse of the city’s old beauty and historic charm, from beautiful churches to generations-old shops. While it was fun wandering around on our own, we thought that taking a walking tour was an even better way to dive into Old Town’s culture. 

This private walking tour was a super personalized way to experience some of the top sights. We learned all about the Plaza la Aduana and Torre de Reloj, as well as hidden gems that focus on the local and artistic side of Old Town. But what really made this tour valuable was our guide, who told a lot of history along the way.

This two-hour walking tour was the perfect way to start our time in Cartagena, as we really got a feel for the city. It has multiple departure times during the day and is $74 USD. 

If this private tour is a bit out of your price range, there’s a fantastic free walking tour that hits similar city sights. These tours can be a bit crowded, but if you don’t mind the causal nature of a free walking tour, it’s a good option! Just be sure to tip your tour guides – that’s how they make their money!

Check availability and book this private walking tour of Old Town Cartagena here!

2. Eat at La Cevicheria

If you like tasty seafood, spicy ingredients, and tons of fresh flavor – you must go to La Cevicheria! Cartagena has incredible seafood, it sits right on the Caribbean after all, and this is the creme de la creme of seafood restaurants. Even though ceviche technically originated in Peru, I personally think the Colombian version is better because they serve it with coconut too – YUM!

Not only did they perfect the craft of ceviche, but I also loved the atmosphere. It’s super welcoming and hospitable, and if you get a table outside, you can enjoy the cobblestone street and quaint city vibes. La Cevicheria isn’t a well-kept secret though, I’ve seen wait times lasting a few hours. So my top suggestion is going during the off-peak hours – we went at 3 pm and got a table right away!

They are open daily from 1-10:30 pm, so be sure to add this to your agenda! Prices are very reasonable for some of the best seafood in Cartagena.

3. Explore Castillo de San Felipe

I think the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas is the most impressive in Cartagena’s old architecture! This fortress was once a powerful tool used to defend the Spanish colony against pirates, the French, and the British as they all tried to invade. It’s almost 500 years old and sits on top of San Lazaro Hill – you can just imagine how menacing it looked back in the day!

Today, it’s really cool to explore while you’re in Cartagena. You can either wander around on your own or hire a guide if you want more in-depth information. There are informational signs all around, but we always find it valuable to hire a guide! While we visited, we learned about the fort’s massive tunnel system below, and all the lookout points from above – it was super impressive.

You’ll want about 1 to 2 hours to explore the fort in its entirety. It can get a bit crowded, so I recommend arriving early, this will let you avoid the heat of the day too!

Entrance to Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas is about $5 USD, and tour guides can be hired for about $4 USD, so be sure to have some Colombian pesos with you!

4. Walk the fort wall at sunset

Old Town Cartagena is simply beautiful, once you see for yourself I’m sure you’ll agree! However, the absolute best views of this historic city can be found at sunset. We love chasing a good sunset, and while exploring Cartagena, we found the best to be right from the fort wall! You can see the bay and the historic buildings, all of it together is perfectly magical. 

Sunset will usually take place from 6:30-7 pm, but you can find out the exact time of sunset here! Grab a beer from one of the vendors and take in the views. After sunset, there are lots of restaurants along the wall, so it sets you up perfectly to enjoy the rest of the evening!

5. Go dancing at Café Havana

We loved experiencing all of Colombia’s vibrant energy, and of course that extends to its nightlife! Even if you can’t dance as well as a true Colombian, you can still go out and have a lot of fun at Café Havana in Old Town Cartagena. 

Even though you’re in Colombia, this popular bar has a Cuban influence, so there’s great live music and lots of salsa dancing. Sometimes you can even catch a famous Cuban singer, which makes the place even more lively. 

Be prepared for high energy and crowds, but it’s a fun way to end your day. Since this place is so popular, it can get really busy! We suggest getting there around 9 pm if you want to get a spot to sit, otherwise, be prepared for standing-room-only! They also have a cover charge of about $15 USD, so be sure to bring cash.

Café Havana is open until 3 am every day of the week (except closed on Mondays) and you can catch the live bands playing Wednesday to Sunday. We had such a good time here, and even though we were tired and had sore feet from dancing all night, it was totally worth it!

Where to Stay in Cartagena

The best area to stay in Cartagena is Old Town, so you can take in all the history and easily walk to the best city sights. Here are my top three picks for any budget!

Casa Claver Loft Boutique Hotel (Luxury) – Large, renovated lofts in a 17th-century building, with a heated rooftop pool and breakfast included.

Ayenda El Viajero #2 (Mid-range) – Spacious, comfortable rooms right in the center of Old Town that are still affordably priced.

Maloka Boutique Hostel (Budget) – Not your typical hostel – all rooms are private, with shared or private bathroom options, and include breakfast and AC!

Day 3 Cartagena – Rosario Islands and Sunset Cruise

Morning – Visit the Rosario Islands

The Rosario Islands are some of the most beautiful islands we’ve ever explored, and they are very easy to visit from Cartagena. They are one of Colombia’s national parks and are gorgeous with clear blue water and white sand beaches – you won’t believe your eyes when you see them!

We joined this full-day tour of the Rosario Islands, which was a great mix of relaxation and adventure activities. 

The majority of this excursion is on the boat and we love sailing around on a catamaran because they feel so luxurious! We stopped at two different spots to snorkel and swim. The clear water makes for some fantastic snorkeling, we even saw sea turtles! The rest of the time we enjoyed being on the boat with the fun crew, good music, a tasty buffet lunch, and the bar (keep in mind, alcoholic beverages are at your own expense). 

This tour doesn’t let you get off at any beaches, but we honestly had a great time enjoying the water and the boat, and the views were incredible all day! It includes your snorkel gear, lunch, and non-alcoholic drinks. You can book it for $91 USD for a full day of adventure, which we think is a pretty good deal considering how long it is. 

Dates are limited and this tour is popular – don’t miss out by booking this tour here!

Evening – Sunset Cruise

Just in case you haven’t had enough cruising time today, we wanted to throw in one more can’t-miss Cartagena activity – a sunset cruise! This Cartagena Bay sunset cruise was such a fun experience, and the views were gorgeous.

The cruise lasted for 1.5 hours, which was just enough time to enjoy the sunset and also the open bar! It’s only $35 USD per person so it was budget-friendly and easy to squeeze into our itinerary. Even though we spent all day on the water, it was really nice having a relaxed evening and taking in the sunset. I still think about this cruise today!

Check availability and reserve your spot on this cruise here – it’s likely to sell out!

Day 4 Santa Marta

Santa Marta is another historic coastal city in Northern Colombia, but it has a totally different vibe from Cartegena! This is one of my favorite cities in all of Colombia, and besides heaps of fun things to do, there are also some epic day trips from here. 

If you like beautiful beaches, mountains, and hikes, you’ll love Santa Marta! It is known as the gateway to Tayrona National Park and Minca, and if you have more time, the Lost City Trek.

It’s about a 3-hour drive from Cartagena to Santa Marta, and while there are flights available, we recommend taking this private transfer. Taking a shuttle is less hassle, cheaper, and honestly takes about the same amount of time as flying. You can book this shuttle for $245 USD per group of 4, so it’s not too expensive for a private car, and much quicker than the bus. Once you get to Santa Marta and check into your hotel, you’ll have the rest of the day to explore the city!

Things to do in Santa Marta

1. Visit the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum)

If you’re a history fan, you’re really going to enjoy Santa Marta. We stopped by the Museo del Oro, which is the Gold Museum, and it was surprisingly really good! I have to be honest, I don’t love museums, especially in South America where most of the information is only in Spanish. However, this was a great museum, in both English and Spanish, and had a lot of unique artifacts – I loved my time here! 

There are ancient gold artifacts that are well preserved and give a lot of information about the previous civilizations of the area. There was a lot more to learn than just the history of gold (which was still very fascinating to learn about). You only need about 30 minutes to explore the museum, and it’s free to enter so it’s a great quick stop.

2. Visit the Simon Bolivar Museum

Simon Bolivar played an essential part in leading Colombia to independence from Spain back in the early 1800s. He died in Santa Marta, and the building still stands today! It is now a contemporary art museum and is a tribute to the great Simon Bolivar.

We really enjoyed the art in this museum, and there is a bit of history here too, as you can imagine. Your time spent here can vary depending on how long you like to linger in museums, but we spent about 45 minutes here. The grounds are really beautiful to wander around!

The museum is located in the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino complex, about a 15-minute drive from the city center. It’s conveniently located next to the Dreamer Hostel, which is the most popular hostel in Santa Marta. Entrance to the museum and complex is about $6 USD and it’s open daily!

3. Wander the Historical Center

A visit to Santa Marta isn’t complete without exploring its historic center, which is where all the action is! Parque de Los Novios is where we like to start – from here you can wander through the cobblestone streets, check out the brightly colored houses, and find lots of local restaurants, cafes, and shops. 

This area is pretty quiet during the middle of the day, as it’s pretty hot around here. I suggest coming in the late afternoon or after 5 pm, that’s when all the locals will be out! Spend a few hours enjoying the slow vibes of this charming neighborhood, and grab dinner and drinks. 

To get the most out of exploring the historical center, join this private city tour! We love taking city tours, especially in cities that ooze history and culture – it’s the best way to learn about all the sights you’re walking past. It also takes you to the Museo del Oro (as mentioned above), the Catedral de Santa Marta, and Parque de Los Novios. So you’ll see the highlights and get more in-depth information from the guide. 

This 3-hour tour is $63 USD and includes transportation from your hotel. 

Reserve this walking tour of the city in advance with FREE cancellation options!

4. Watch the sunset at “Sunset Bar”

As I’ve mentioned on this itinerary already, we love sunsets! So of course, we added a sunset viewpoint while in Santa Marta. Siete Mares Santa Marta is a fun bar and restaurant that overlooks the marina and the Caribbean Sea. As you can imagine, this is the best spot to catch the sunset!

Best of all, it’s an elevated bar so you get unobstructed views. We like to grab drinks here as the sun goes down, and they do have a full restaurant. The food isn’t the most exciting, but it’s definitely a great spot for pre-dinner drinks!

Related Read: Check out our full blog on the top things to do in Santa Marta for even more options!

Where to Stay in Santa Marta

The best area to stay in Santa Marta is near downtown. This will put you within walking distance of key sights, and there are a lot of options in this area! Here are a few recommendations:

Grand Marina Santa Marta (Luxury) – High-end apartment style rooms with a sea view and everything you’ll need for a relaxing stay.

Color Hostel (Mid-range) – Very comfortable hotel rooms that are still moderately priced. Offers a pool and breakfast!

La Brisa Loca (Budget) – A lively hostel located right in town with private and dorm rooms available.

Day 5 Santa Marta – Day trip to Tayrona National Park

Tayrona National Park is perhaps Colombia’s biggest “can’t-miss” sight, it’s truly incredible! While I think spending a night in the park and having more time to enjoy it is the ultimate option, taking a day trip is a great choice for this 10-day itinerary. 

With limited time in the city, organized tours are the best way to maximize your time. The most popular and unique tour from Santa Marta is this full-day sailing tour lets you enjoy the journey as you sail on a yacht to Tayrona’s Coastal Park. I can’t think of a better way to enjoy the beautiful Caribbean waters than this!

Departing from Santa Marta Marina at 11 am, we spent a few hours sailing to the national park, stopping to enjoy the views and fish for a while!

Once we reached Bahia Concha, we had the rest of the day to hang out. They provided snorkel gear and paddleboards, so I spent hours in the water! You can also enjoy the beach or hang out on the boat – it’s a really relaxing day. Lunch is a fresh fish feast, and it’s seriously so good, and alcoholic beverages are available to purchase on board.

We loved this tour because it was a seamless way to enjoy Tayrona National Park. Best of all, it is only $67 USD for a full 8 hours of exploring! And you aren’t sacrificing quality for this affordable price, Luis and his crew are seriously amazing – we had the best day on the water.

Before you go, be sure to check out our guide to visiting Tayrona National Park here!

Don’t miss out on this top-rated tour! Book it here with FREE cancellation options.

But, if you’d rather explore Tayrona’s jungle, you can join this private hiking tour! It includes transport from Santa Marta and they purchase the national park tickets for you, which is great because I found it a little confusing. I hope you brought your sense of adventure because this 2-hour hike isn’t for the faint of heart. But it was worth it once we got those stunning coastal views and could cool off in the ocean!

We had 2 hours to hang out on the gorgeous Cabo San Juan beach, which was so relaxing. I recommend bringing lunch and plenty of water because the tour doesn’t provide any food or drinks. Then we embarked on the 2-hour hike back! This tour is a good option for those who like outdoor adventure and want to have more of an exciting day, rather than a lazy beach day.

This tour gets cheaper the more people you have, starting at $220 USD each for two people. So grab your group of friends and lace up your hiking boots – this is the best way to experience Tayrona National Park’s beautiful landscape!

Check the dates available and reserve your spot on this hiking tour here.

Day 6 Santa Marta – Day trip to Minca

You’ve experienced Colombia’s beautiful coast and beaches, now it’s time to explore its famous mountain landscape. One of the main reasons we love Santa Marta is that it’s a great launch point to explore the mountains and my favorite quaint town, Minca. Within Minca’s rolling hills, you’ll find the perfect climate for growing coffee and cocoa – so taking a full-day tour to explore this vast landscape is a must!

We went on this full-day coffee and cocoa tour, which also included a lot of hiking. We took off from Santa Marta at 9 am and embarked on the 45-minute drive up the mountains. Instead of driving straight to the coffee farm, we took the 2-hour hike to get there. It sounds like a lot, but the trail was mostly flat (not entirely though), and our guide took it nice and slow so we could enjoy the scenery.

All of our efforts were rewarded once we reached the coffee farm, as we got a cup of delicious coffee here! We also took a tour of the farm and learned about the whole process of getting from bean to cup. Afterward, we took a short walk up to the waterfall and went for a refreshing swim!

Next up, we stopped for a yummy traditional Colombian lunch, followed by a cocoa-based dessert. This is also where we learned about the significance of cocoa in Colombia’s history (which is pretty long-standing) and how it’s farmed and produced. It was really interesting, and best of all we sampled plenty of cocoa-based things. 

All in all, we loved this experience and our guides made the whole day fun. It honestly flew by! Be sure to wear comfy clothes and good hiking shoes, and also bring a swimsuit. This tour lasts for about 9 hours and is $90 USD. 

This is one of the most popular tours to Minca – reserve it in advance here!

Day 7 Medellin – Explore the City

We are coming to our last leg of the trip and heading to Medellin! You can either fly out on the evening of day 6 after your Minca tour or catch a flight on the morning of day 7. It’s only an hour and 15-minute flight, so that will leave the afternoon or a full day to explore the city. You’ll have the next four days in Medellin, with a couple of day trips planned and the entire last day to hang out here before you fly out. 

Medellin is an awesome city, we loved it so much we’ve visited multiple times and even lived here for a stint. There are heaps of things to do in Medellin (check out our full guide here) and a lot of history to explore. What I really love about this city is how beautiful it is – surrounded by mountains and full of green spaces, complemented by the local art, and the welcoming locals. Despite its bad reputation in the 90s, the locals have worked hard to clean up Medellin and love sharing their culture with travelers.

I could drone on about how awesome this city is, but let’s dive into the top things to do. And if you want more information, you can get the full scoop on our Medellin itinerary blog here!

Things to do in Medellin

1. Go on a free walking tour

We recommend joining a walking tour as your first activity in Medellin, it’s the best way to get your feet wet in a new city! Medellin is also home to one of the best free walking tours we’ve ever been on. It’s actually known as one of the top free walking tours in Latin America, so you’ll learn a ton and see the best sights all in one fell swoop. 

This free walking tour is available Monday to Saturday at 10 am and 2:30 pm. The guides are like walking encyclopedias and will give a ton of information about the city, they can also answer nearly every question thrown their way! We appreciated that they took us to the top city sights and some of their local favorite spots so we got a more authentic look at Medellin. 

The tours last 3.5-4 hours and must be reserved online 24 hours prior. You can reserve your free walking tour on the company’s website here so it doesn’t fill up! Even though these are free tours, it’s recommended to tip, as that’s what the guides live off of. People usually tip $10-$15 USD, and we thought it was well worth that amount!

2. Ride the Medellin Metro Cable up to Parque Arvi

There are a handful of cable cars in Medellin used to transport locals up to the neighborhoods at the top of the steep hills. They have also turned into a tourist attraction because the views up here are incredible! Plus it’s fun to ride in the cable car and see how the locals live. 

The cable cars are part of the Metrocable system, which encompasses the trains, gondolas, buses, and trams. So you can buy passes that allow you to access all these forms of transportation!

Out of the six Metrocable routes, we think the Parque Arvi is the best for views! It’s a bit of a shuffle to get there, so follow along. You’ll first need to get to the Acevedo Station (you can take the train from Poblado or wherever you’re at in the city, then hop on the cable car from there). This ride should be included in your metro ticket, and you’ll get off at Santa Domingo. 

From the Santa Domingo station, you’ll transfer to the next cable car to head up to Parque Arvi – this will require a new ticket which is $12,500 COP (about $3 USD) and you can buy it at the station. This will take you to the Parque Arvi Metrocable station where you’ll get the best views of the city and a unique glimpse of the neighborhood! 

It’s best to head back down well before 6 pm when the last cable cars leave!

3. Join a Comuna 13 tour

Comuna 13 is like the beating heart of Medellin. It played a significant role in the city for decades and was at one point one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the world due to drug and gang violence. Don’t worry – we aren’t sending you into an unsafe neighborhood! Comuna 13 has changed immensely over the years and is now a safe, welcoming community, full of beautiful graffiti and lots of culture. 

We went on a guided tour to Comuna 13 to really dive into the history of this fascinating place. This food and street art tour is one of the best Comuna 13 experiences out there. You’ll spend 3 hours walking around the neighborhood as your local guide tells you all about the street art and murals that cover the streets (they are gorgeous!). This is also a bit of a food tour, so you’ll stop by local vendors and sample some authentic Colombian food, like empanadas and mango ice cream. 

Nothing helps you dive into culture more than art and food, so this tour is perfect for that! It’s only $22 USD and covers all your expenses. And with over 4,000 5-star reviews, you know you’re getting a fantastic experience! 

Be sure to read our entire guide about visiting Comuna 13 before you go!

Read the thousands of positive reviews and book this unique tour of Comuna 13 here!

4. Go on an ATV Tour

If you like the outdoors and a bit of excitement in your travels like I do, you’ll love taking an ATV tour in Medellin! I couldn’t keep myself away from those gorgeous mountains and ATV tours are always a great time, so this was an easy addition to my itinerary. We got the best views from the trails above the city and had a great time zooming down the dirt roads and big hills – it was a blast!

I recommend going on this private half-day quad tour, which provides all the gear you’ll need for the day, transportation from your hotel, and a typical Colombian lunch. We had a few hours on the ATVs and stopped for pictures, viewpoints, and by a waterfall. Our guide not only led us on the trails but also told us some history and his local perspective on living in Medellin. It felt like an experience most people don’t get when they visit the city!

This was one of my top experiences while in Medellin, I’d recommend it to anyone looking to get outside of the city. You can book this tour for $170 USD per person.

Don’t miss out – reserve your spot on this tour here and pay later!

5. Learn about coffee on a coffee tour

If you’re heading to Colombia, you’re already well aware of its incredible coffee culture. The best coffee is grown here, and there are more coffee plantations than you can count. So taking a coffee tour in Medellin is an essential addition to your itinerary!

We love this half-day coffee farm tour because it’s easy to fit into your schedule, and it’s a fantastic tour all around. As coffee lovers ourselves, we were eager to learn about the production side of it all. So we were thankful for this small group tour so we could ask a lot of questions and get more of a one-on-one experience as we saw how the coffee goes from plant to roasting.

Of course, this included tasting the final product! We got to try a few different roasts and our coffee expert guide explained all about them. I swear his explanation made the coffee taste better! This tour is available as a small group for only $69 USD or as a private tour for $99 USD per person. 

Check out the 700+ glowing reviews and book this epic tour before you go here.

Where to Stay in Medellin

I recommend staying in El Poblado while in Medellin! This is where we like to base ourselves because it has amazing food, is close to a lot of city sights, and is safe to explore during the day and at night. Here are my top three choices for any budget:

Elcielo Hotel & Restaurant (Luxury) – A 5-star hotel with a pool, bar, restaurant, spa, and luxurious rooms.

14 Urban Hotel (Mid-range) – Great location in El Poblado with comfortable rooms, breakfast included, and an on-site restaurant.

Los Patios Hostel (Budget) – A popular hostel with a rooftop pool and a tiki bar – dorm rooms and private rooms are available.

Related Read: Now that you’ve got your itinerary sorted – check out our guide to planning your Colombia trip for the rest of the details!

Day 8 Medellin – Day trip to Guatape

Just 2 hours outside of Medellin is the city known as “Colombia’s most colorful town” – Guatape! Besides its vibrant charm, there is also the famous Piedra del Peñol, a massive monolith that you can climb to the top. This is certainly one of those towns that you simply have to visit, so we are squeezing in a day trip (although if you can come back and spend more time here, I’d highly recommend it!). 

This full-day tour from Medellin is one of the best ways to get to Guatape. Upon departing from the meeting point in Medellin, start the 2-hour journey to Guatape and stop for a traditional Colombian breakfast along the way. The guides do a great job of pointing out spots along the way, so the drive goes by pretty quickly. Once you get to Guatape, the first stop is Piedra del Peñol.

I hope your legs are ready because it’s a 750-step climb to the top. Don’t worry if you’re not in the best of shape, you can go slow and take lots of breaks – it’s worth it once you get to the top! You see the expansive Lake Guatape and beyond, I couldn’t believe how stunning these views were!

After you descend the monolith, the pace of the tour changes with a relaxing lunch and time to stroll through the colorful streets of Guatape. I loved wandering through the local shops and seeing the cobblestone streets lined with umbrellas and other decorations. We learned about the history of this town, and how art plays a significant role in their culture, and you can certainly tell!

The last excursion is a scenic boat ride on the Peñol Guatapé Dam. The views were stunning the entire way and we even passed by the ruins of Pablo Escobar’s former residence, Hacienda La Manuela. This is a bit of a long day, but totally worth it because all these activities give a unique look at Colombian culture. 

This tour is a smoking deal at $37 USD! It lasts about 10 hours and includes breakfast, lunch, transportation, the boat ride, and your amazing guide. It doesn’t include entrance to Piedra del Peñol, which is about $5 USD, or any souvenirs you might want to buy (I sure did!). 

Check out the 3,600+ 5-star reviews and book your spot on this tour here!

Day 9 Medellin – Day trip to Jardin

Today is your last full day in Colombia! I know it’s been a busy nine days so far, but we have one more epic day trip that gives a whole new perspective of the country. Jardin is a quaint town in the mountains and is famous for its coffee – seriously it’s world-famous! So today’s activity is taking a full-day trip to explore the small town and dive into its coffee culture.

We joined this full-day tour which took us from Medellin to Jardin, and more! It was another long day, about 10 hours in total, but we loved Jardin and had the best time with our guide. We also appreciated that this was a private tour, so we could move at our own pace and have a relaxed day as we explored. 

The 2-hour drive was really beautiful, and once we got to Jardin, our first stop was at the coffee farm. We got to pick coffee beans, see the roasting process, and learn about the history and evolution of the coffee industry. I loved the coffee-tasting demonstration, where we tried multiple methods of roasting and brewing to see the differences – it was fascinating!

Next, we got to explore the town, starting with the historic cable car! We loved the cable car ride in Medellin, but this was even prettier with the rolling hills and coffee farms in the distance. We stopped for a yummy lunch at the top of the cable car station, paired with amazing views. 

Our guide then took us on a little tour of Jardin’s downtown, where we saw the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (a stunning church) and explored the town. There are a ton of quaint local shops, and of course, we stopped for another cup of coffee!

This full-day tour is $199 USD, which is a bit pricey but it’s totally inclusive, so we think it’s worth it!

Don’t miss out on this unique experience – book your tour in advance here with FREE cancellation!

Day 10 Medellin – Explore the city and fly out

And just like that, it’s day 10 of this Colombia itinerary! If you are flying out in the afternoon, at night, or the following day, you can spend today exploring more of Medellin. Hit any activities you missed, or squeeze in a day trip if you have a bit more time – check out our favorite day trips from Medellin here! Here are a few more suggestions for fun activities you can do in the city on your final day:

Things to do in Medellin

1. Go paragliding

Add a little excitement to wrap up your time in Colombia! Paragliding isn’t just a fun activity, it’s also a great way to enjoy the scenery, especially in an area as beautiful as Medellin. Best of all, this paragliding tour is only 3.5 hours, so you can squeeze it in before your flight!

You’ll sail over the mountains and get to take in the views as the experienced instructor safely glides you down. It’s a really fun experience, and if you’ve never done it before, this is the best place to try it! Prices start at $59 USD, and there are a couple of options available, depending on your time and budget. 

They don’t provide transportation, but the company is super helpful so if you reach out before you go, they can help arrange it. 

Check availability and book this paragliding experience here. 

Related Read: For more options, check out our 3 favorite paragliding tours in Medellin!

2. Food tour 

Colombian food is some of my favorite cuisine, and I personally think Medellin has the best in the country! It will be impossible to try the whole array of amazing dishes, so we like taking a food tour to maximize your tasting abilities!

We went on this private food tour when we first moved to the city just so we could figure out the top spots and foods to eat. We spent 4 hours exploring the city, tasting tons of amazing foods, and getting the local tips and tricks from our guide. 

If you travel for the love of food (like we do) this is a can’t-miss experience! I still dream about the food on this tour, such as chocolo arepas, butifarra, and empanadas. They also included Aguardiente, which is the traditional alcohol of Colombia. I personally think this drink is pretty horrible, it was even described as being paired with empanadas to wash it down, which I certainly did! But, you have to give it a try. 

This tour includes all of your food and alcohol tastings as mentioned for $109 USD. It’s available every day except Mondays and Saturdays, so be sure to book in advance to secure your correct date!

Don’t miss out – book this private food tour in advance here!

3. Watch a football match

I don’t think there’s any pastime in Colombia that’s more loved than football (or soccer, as some might know it). So going to a game was high on my bucket list, and the energy was palpable. Medellin’s two football teams are the Atletico Nacional and the Independiente Medellín. Between the two teams, it’s easy to catch a game! 

Both teams play at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium. If you choose to go on your own, you can simply buy tickets when you get to the stadium. Prices vary depending on where you sit but you can expect to pay around $10 USD and it’s cash only. 

I was a little worried about feeling safe and coordinating logistics, so I joined a tour with Medellin Football Tour and had a great experience. It was so fun going with a local who loves football and told me a ton of history about Medellin’s relationship with the sport. We even got to hang out for drinks before the game, and he provided transportation so it was a really relaxed experience. 

In all honesty though, you can go to the stadium by yourself and feel completely safe. The crowd is welcoming, and if you sit by the barras bravas section, you can experience all the energy of the superfans!

4. Jardín Botánico Medellín

If you need a little bit of downtime as you explore Medellin, head to the Jardín Botánico Medellín (Medellin Botanical Gardens). This is a little slice of paradise right in the city, I honestly forget I was in one of the most bustling cities of Colombia! 

It’s free to enter and you can easily lose an hour or two wandering around here – it’s quite large! There are always a lot of locals hanging out, and it can get pretty busy during the weekends. It’s a great spot for families, as kids love the animals in the little lake. We brought some books and enjoyed a shady tree for a bit when we were tired of walking. 

The gardens are easily accessible from the metro. Get on at Poblado and travel to Universidad Call.73 #52-40, then it’s a brief walk to the park!

Thanks for reading!

Ten days in Colombia go by quickly, especially when you’re trying to see as much as possible. If you follow this itinerary pretty closely, you will certainly experience the highlights of this wonderful country. Colombia has a special place in our hearts, and after experiencing it for 10 days, I’m sure it will leave an impression on you too!

If you found this blog helpful, be sure to browse our other Colombia blogs! We have traveled all around the country and love sharing our expertise, experiences, and top tips. Here are a few resources to inspire your travels!

Southern Colombia Guide – Get “Off the Beaten Track”

The Ultimate Guide to San Andres Island, Colombia

20 BEST Places to Visit in Colombia