Colombia
"Coffee mountains, Caribbean walls, and salsa nights"
Colombia at a glance
- Best time to go
- December to March is the main dry season, and July to August is a shorter dry spell in many regions. These are also the busiest and priciest periods. The Caribbean coast is often best from about December to April, and Andean cities such as Bogotá and Medellín have two drier windows, roughly December to February and June to August. Humpback whales pass the Pacific coast from roughly July to October.
- How long to stay
- We'd suggest ten days to two weeks for three regions, for example Bogotá, Medellín or the coffee region, and Cartagena.
- Who it's for
- Travellers who like variety: colonial cities, mountains, coffee country and coast.
- Might not be for you if
- You want one climate. Temperatures follow altitude, so Bogotá is cool while Cartagena is hot and humid all year.
Colombia is the comeback story of South American travel — walled colonial Cartagena on the Caribbean, coffee farms in the green Zona Cafetera, and Medellín's reinvention into one of the continent's coolest cities. Warm, cheap, and endlessly hospitable.
Best Time to Visit
December to March (dry season)
December to March (dry season)
The recommended period for the most pleasant weather and best overall experience.
Shoulder Season
Fewer crowds and better prices, with generally acceptable weather conditions.
Off-Peak
Lowest prices and emptiest attractions, though weather may be less predictable.
Getting Around
Colombia is bigger than it looks — cheap domestic flights make hopping between Bogotá, Cartagena, and Medellín easy.
✈️ Avianca / LATAM / Viva
Frequent flights between all major cities, often cheaper than long bus journeys.
🚌 Long-distance Bus
Comfortable overnight coaches connect the coast, coffee region, and Andes.
🚡 Medellín Metrocable
Iconic gondolas linking hillside neighbourhoods to the Metro — a ride in itself.
🚕 Uber / Cabify / DiDi
Widely used in Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali. Safer than street taxis for visitors.
💡 Fly between distant cities and travel overland only where the scenery earns it — the coffee triangle, for instance.
Suggested Itineraries
Cartagena Arrival
Settle in the walled city, sunset apéritif.
Cartagena Walking
Old town, Getsemaní, San Felipe Castle.
Rosario Islands
Full-day boat trip.
Fly to Medellín
Comuna 13 graffiti tour, Metrocable ride.
Guatapé Day Trip
El Peñol rock climb, colourful town, boat on the lake.
Coffee Region (Salento)
Fly to Pereira, drive to Salento, jeep to Cocora Valley for wax palms.
Departure
Coffee-farm morning, fly out from Pereira.
🍋 Not a race. Skip, swap, siesta — the world keeps spinning and you get to come back and finish the story.
Highlights
Must See
- Cartagena walled city
- Zona Cafetera
- Comuna 13 in Medellín
- Tayrona National Park
Local Cuisine
Insider Tip
Fly between regions — Colombia is huge and mountainous, and internal flights are cheap and quick.
Colombia travel questions, answered
When is the best time to visit Colombia?
December to March is the main dry season, and July to August is a second, shorter one for many regions. These are the busiest and priciest months. The Caribbean coast is often best from about December to April, and Bogotá and Medellín are wetter in roughly April to May and October to November. The Amazon is warm and wet all year, slightly drier from July to September.
Do you need a visa for Colombia?
Citizens of roughly 100 countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, EU countries and Australia, can enter visa-free for tourism. Officers usually stamp 90 days on arrival, extendable once, up to 180 days per calendar year. Your passport should be valid for at least six months, and you should have proof of onward travel. Check Migración Colombia for your nationality.
What is Check-Mig and do you need to fill it in?
Check-Mig is Colombia's free online pre-arrival form. Most guides say to complete it shortly before your flight, and airlines and border officers commonly ask for the confirmation, though one guide says it's no longer mandatory. It's free on the official Migración Colombia site, and paid lookalike sites exist, so use only the official one.
When can you see whales in Colombia?
Humpback whales pass the Pacific coast, around places such as Nuquí, Bahía Solano and Juanchaco, roughly from July to October. It's among the wettest coasts in the world, so expect rain either way.
Details last checked 20 September 2026.
More sparks for Colombia
Stories, films and books to keep the daydreaming going.
AI-generated editorial illustration — Unofficial AI-generated editorial illustration inspired by the destination and atmosphere of the film or series. Not an official poster or promotional image.
Narcos
Discover the stunning landscapes of Colombia beyond its troubled past - from Medellín to the Caribbean coast.
Love in the Time of Cholera
by Gabriel García Márquez · Cartagena, Colombia