Introduction
After decades of civil unrest, Colombia has rebuilt itself and established its place as the new "it" destination. From colorful seaside towns to large metropolitan cities, Colombia has it all. Despite spending a week there, we felt like we barely scratched the surface on everything the country has to offer. The one-week itinerary below provides a great introduction to the country's vibrant culture, history, and perhaps most importantly, food.Â
7-Day Itinerary
DAY 1 - BOGOTĂâ
Early Lunch @ La Puerta Falsa. This restaurant is known for their traditional ajaico and tamales. I suggest getting there early to avoid a line.â
Museo del Oro. The gold museum is the meeting point for the free historical walking tour. The walking tour is 3 hours long and covers the Botero Museum, Simon Bolivar Square, La Candelaria neighborhood, among many other places. Highly recommend the tour, don't need to spend more than 30 min in the museum.
La Candelaria. After the tour, spend some more time in this neighborhood lined with shops, cafĂ©s, and vibrant street art.â
Dinner @ AndrĂ©s Carne de Res. Dance the night away at the original location in ChĂa. Be sure to make a dinner reservation and hire a car/book Uber in advance. I recommend making a reservation no earlier than 7:45pm for the full experience.â
DAY 2 - BOGOTĂâ
Coffee Tasting. Be sure to visit a cafĂ© to sample some Colombian coffee.â
Free Street Art Walking Tour. I highly recommend taking a second walking tour that covers the street art throughout BogotĂĄ. Learn about the history behind the vibrant murals in the city.â
Monserrate. Hike or take the cable car to the top of Monserrate and enjoy the view of BogotĂĄ from atop. Be sure to check out the church at the top. Perfect place to watch the sunset.â
Dinner @ Central Cevicheria 85. Walk around  Chapinero, a more affluent neighborhood before heading to Central Cevicheria for dinner.  I recommend making a reservation on a weekend night.
DAY 3 - CARTAGENAâ
Morning Flight BOG > CTG.
Late Lunch @ Carmen. Probably the best meal we had on this trip. Highly recommend.â
Getsemani. Spend a few hours wandering through the old cityâs shops and plazas. You can also take a free walking tour to learn about the cityâs history, but in my opinion, it wasnât that great.â
Sunset Drinks @ CafĂ© del Mar. Relax and enjoy a nice sunset from this open cafĂ© and bar located on the city wall. 10/10 would recommend.â
Café Havana. After dinner, head to this café and bar to enjoy live music and salsa dancing. Located outside the old city, but is walking distance.
DAY 4 - CARTAGENAâ
Breakfast @ Ely Gourmet CafĂ©. Great place for coffee and pastries.â
Rosario Islands Beach Day. Charter a boat to take you to one of the Rosario Islands where you can lounge on the beach and go swimming, boating, and snorkeling. Lunch is typically included.â
Dinner @ Alma. After freshening up, head here for an amazing dinner. Be sure to try the  lobster risotto with oxtail marmalade.â
Donde Fidel Salsa Dancing. Enjoy live music and dancing at this small cafĂ© that spills out into the street.â
DAY 5 - CARTAGENAâ
Abaco Libros y CafĂ©. Grab a quick bite to eat at this cool cafe.âCastillo de San Felipe de Barajas.Take a Chiva bus to the fortress and spend an hour or two wandering around and learning about its history.â
Lunch @ El Boliche Cebicheria. Amazing ceviche restaurant. Make a reservation in person 1-2 days before as they are very popular.â
Getsemani. Spend the rest of the afternoon in the old city before hopping on a flight to Medellin.â
Evening Flight CTG > MDE.â
DAY 6 - MEDELLĂNâ
Barrio Transformation Tour. Highly recommended walking tour of most densely populated neighborhood in MedellĂn. Learn about its history, the struggle of its people, and the different faces of the cityâs recent transformation.â
Cable Car. Take the cable car to the subway station and head to El Poblado. Enjoy the sweeping views of the city from all directions.â
El Poblado. Spend the rest of the day in this trendy neighborhood with lots of boutiques, bars, and cafés.
DAY 7 - MEDELLĂNâ
Free Walking Tour. Gives a good overview of the city and its history. Typically 3 hours long.â
Late Lunch @ Hacienda Junin. Try the traditional regional dish called the Bandeja Paisa.â
Flight out of Colombia.
Logistics
VISA INFORMATION
All US and EU citizens who do not also hold Colombian citizenship must present a valid passport to enter and leave Colombia. US and EU citizens do not need a Colombian visa for a tourist or business stay of 90 days or less. Holders of passports issued by Cambodia, China, India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam are granted visa-free access for a maximum of 90 days if they hold visas or residence permits issued by the US or a Schengen Area country. The visa exemption also applies to US Green Card holders. Holders of US or Schengen visas must ensure their visa is valid for at least 180 days from their arrival date. Be sure to check your countryâs requirement via official sources.â
LANGUAGE &Â CURRENCY
The official language of Colombia is Spanish. We found that most people in the hospitality industry spoke English, but there were times we had to break out our high-school level Spanish. The currency of Colombia is the Colombian Peso. As of July 2023, 1 USD = 4,129 Colombian Pesos.â
GETTING AROUND
Getting around Colombia is fairly easy. We took flights between each city. Within a city, we either walked, took an Uber, or had our hotel arrange a car â such as from the airport in BogotĂĄ to our hotel and to/from AndrĂ©s Carne de Res. We even took public transportation in MedellĂn after the Barrio Transformation Tour so that we could see the city via cable car. The subway system there was not too difficult to figure out.If you want, in Cartagena, you can hop on a Chiva bus during the day to various attractions or at night for a party bus atmosphere. It will take you through various historical neighborhoods while providing you with live music, dancing, and rum.
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