Chingaza National Park
"The tour was great, thank you! Fantastic hike."
Lee O
TripAdvisor · May 2026 · Chingaza National Park
Where to go in Colombia
Best Places to Visit in Colombia
Eight curated destinations — from Cartagena and Tayrona's Caribbean coast to the Coffee Region, Medellín, Bogotá and the Amazon. Each one connects to a private tour or a custom multi-day itinerary built by a local Colombia DMC.
I'm most interested in
- 4.9★ Google & TripAdvisor
- RNT 63720 · Registered DMC
- Bogotá-based since 2018
- 100% locally operated
Best Places to Visit in Colombia
Planning where to go in Colombia? These are the eight destinations our travelers love most — Cartagena, Bogotá, Medellín, the Coffee Region, Santa Marta, Tayrona, Boyacá, the Eastern Plains and the Colombian Amazon. As a local Colombia tour operator and DMC, we connect each region to private tours, multi-day journeys and curated escapes built around your dates, group and pace.
Interactive Map
Select your destination and discover Colombia
Explore each region on the map to discover its landscapes, culture, and signature experiences.
Colombia
designed with intention
Bogotá
Culture, gastronomy & creative energy
Bogotá sits at 2,640 m (8,660 ft) on a high Andean plateau, with a mild spring-like climate all year: between 5 °C and 25 °C depending on the hour and the season, averaging 14 °C by day and around 10 °C at night. It is a capital of nine million people where a colonial quarter, the largest pre-Hispanic gold collection on earth and one of Latin America's most interesting kitchens fit inside the same afternoon.
Monserrate, 3,152 m over the savanna
Places to visit
- Monserrate Hill
- 3,152 m sanctuary reached by cable car or funicular, with the full panorama of the savanna. Skip the line with the Green Trails fast-pass access.
- Gold Museum
- The world's largest collection of pre-Hispanic goldwork: over 34,000 pieces, including the Muisca raft that gave rise to the El Dorado legend.
- Bolívar Square
- The epicentre of the country's political history, framed by the Palace of Justice, the National Capitol and the Primary Cathedral.
- Botero Museum
- Fernando Botero's personal donation: his own work alongside Picasso, Monet and Dalí, in a colonial house with free admission.
- La Candelaria
- Cobbled streets, ochre and indigo facades, university cafés and the Chorro de Quevedo, the spot where the city was founded in 1538.
Areas of interest
- Zona T
- Entertainment and gastronomy hub, with exclusive restaurants, bars, luxury shops and vibrant nightlife.
- Zona G
- Exclusive gastronomic district, famous for its gourmet restaurants and signature cuisine, ideal for food lovers.
- Usaquén
- Charming historic neighbourhood with colonial architecture, picturesque squares, artisan markets and a popular Sunday flea market.
- San Felipe
- Vibrant and bohemian neighbourhood, famous for its growing art scene, contemporary galleries and cultural events.
- La Macarena
- Picturesque and cultural neighbourhood, known for its diverse gastronomic offering, art galleries and cosy bohemian atmosphere.
Outside the city
- Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
- Colombia's first architectural wonder: an underground cathedral carved 180 m deep inside a working salt mine, 50 km north of the city.
- Guatavita Lagoon
- The birthplace of the El Dorado legend, a sacred Muisca crater lake surrounded by native páramo vegetation.
- Villa de Leyva
- A picturesque colonial town with one of the largest cobbled squares in South America, historic architecture and artisan shops.
- Chingaza & Chicaque
- Páramo and cloud forest within 1–2 hours: spectacled bears, frailejones and 300-year-old oaks a short private transfer from downtown.
Local gastronomy
- Ajiaco santafereño
- The city's emblematic soup: three native potato varieties, chicken, corn and guasca herb, served with capers and cream.
- Paloquemao Market
- Bogotá's wholesale market at dawn: lulo, guanábana, mangosteen, feijoa and pitahaya tasted with a local host, plus flowers and hot almojábanas.
- Zona G & Chapinero Alto
- Contemporary Colombian cuisine from chefs sourcing Amazonian, Pacific and páramo ingredients — several of them on Latin America's 50 Best lists.
- Third-wave coffee
- Cupping sessions in Quinta Camacho and Chapinero with single-origin lots from Huila, Nariño and Tolima roasted in the city.
Signature experiences
- Private art & design tour
- Botero and MAMBO with a curator, followed by contemporary galleries in San Felipe and design studios in La Macarena.
- Emerald workshop
- A certified gemologist explains colour, clarity and origin in the world capital of the emerald, with an optional visit to the trading district.
- Sunday Ciclovía
- 127 km of avenues closed to cars every Sunday from 7 am to 2 pm — the best way to read the city at street level.
- Andrés Carne de Res
- The country's most theatrical dining experience in Chía, with private transfer and reserved table.
Tips for your stay
- Weather
- 2,640 m above sea level with a mild, spring-like climate year-round. Temperatures range between 5 °C (40 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F) depending on the season, averaging 14 °C (57 °F) by day and 10 °C (50 °F) at night.
- Clothing & accessories
- The weather can shift from sunny to rainy through the day: bring a compact umbrella, a jacket or coat, light clothing underneath, sunscreen, sunglasses and comfortable closed shoes.
- Transportation
- For comfortable and safe mobility we recommend a private vehicle with a driver at your disposal. For a single transfer, book through your travel agency or hotel, or use secure apps such as Cabify or Uber. Do not hail taxis on the street.
- Altitude sickness
- Also known as soroche, it is caused by low oxygen pressure at high altitude: headache, nausea, blocked ears, dizziness and fatigue. Stay hydrated with small sips of water. We do not recommend ascending Monserrate or visiting Guatavita without acclimatizing first (at least 6 hours). Coca leaf tea eases symptoms without psychoactive effects.
- Currency exchange
- Use exchange offices in well-known shopping centres such as Andino and Avenida Chile. We recommend Smartexchange Bogotá, third floor, store 343, in the Avenida Chile mall.
- Safety
- Keep your passport and valuables in the hotel safe. Walk during the day and preferably in busy areas, avoiding the display of valuables. If you wish to hike up Monserrate on the pedestrian path, do so after 8:00 am and, if possible, with a local companion.
Medellín
Innovation, spring weather & mountain views
Cartagena
Colonial romance & Caribbean magic
Coffee Region
Rolling hills, coffee farms & pure nature
Santa Marta
Sierra Nevada, Tayrona & pristine beaches
Suggested Colombia itineraries
How many days in Colombia?
Most travelers combine 2–4 destinations. Pick a duration to see a curated itinerary you can customize.
4 days
4-day Coffee Region Escape
Pereira · Salento · Cocora Valley — for short getaways.
See itinerary
8 days
8-day Caribbean Discovery
Cartagena · Santa Marta · Tayrona — beaches and culture.
See itinerary 15 days
15-day Grand Colombia Signature
Bogotá · Coffee · Cartagena · Tayrona · Amazon — the full country.
See itineraryOur philosophy of travel
How we travel Colombia
01
Local DMC — no intermediaries
We contract hotels, guides, boats and drivers directly. No reseller markup, no third-party handoffs — better value and full accountability.
02
Bilingual private guides
English-speaking local guides hand-picked per destination — Cartagena, Bogotá, Coffee Region, Tayrona, Amazon. Never a one-size-fits-all package.
03
Risk, compliance & B2B grade
Vetted suppliers, insurance, confidentiality protocols and 24/7 on-trip support — the same standard whether you're a family of 4 or a 200-pax corporate group.
04
Tailor-made by design
Every Colombia itinerary is custom-built around your dates, group, pace and budget. We don't sell fixed departures — we design your trip from a blank page.
Travelers' voices
Verified reviews from real Colombia travelers
4.9· 201+ reviews on Google & TripAdvisor
Green Trails is a good company
"We booked a private tour with them. On time, great guide, clean and large van. Our guide Marta was very knowledgeable and helpful."
maherchicago
Chicago, USA · Mar 2026 · Bogotá City Private Tour
It's a place you have to know
"Excellent! An unforgettable experience: we danced until we got tired, ate rich and the place is decorated very nice."
Passenger538880
TripAdvisor · Mar 2026 · Andrés Carne de Res
FAQ
Traveling to Colombia — Frequently Asked Questions
Everything travelers ask before deciding where to go in Colombia.
Start Planning Your Trip
Ready to discover Colombia?
Tell us about your dream trip and we'll design a tailor-made experience crafted just for you.
Best Places to Visit in Colombia — A Local DMC's Guide
Colombia is a 2- to 3-week destination that rewards travelers who combine regions. Most itineraries pair a colonial city, a nature stop and a Caribbean beach: Bogotá or Medellín for culture, the Coffee Region for landscapes, Cartagena and Tayrona for the coast, and the Amazon for true wilderness.
Where to go in Colombia by interest
Beach travelers head to Cartagena, the Rosario Islands, Tayrona National Park and Palomino. Culture and food lovers focus on Bogotá's La Candelaria, Medellín's Comuna 13 and Cartagena's walled city. Nature and adventure travelers choose the Cocora Valley, Chingaza páramo, Sierra Nevada and the Amazon. Coffee experiences are concentrated in Salento, Filandia and Manizales.
Suggested Colombia itineraries — 4, 8, 10 and 15 days
A 4-day Coffee Region escape covers Pereira, Salento and the Cocora Valley. An 8-day Caribbean discovery links Cartagena, Santa Marta and Tayrona. A 10-day Colombia itinerary adds Bogotá and the Coffee Region to Cartagena. A 15-day grand Colombia trip adds the Amazon and Tayrona for the full country experience.
Private tours and tailor-made trips by a local Colombia DMC
As a local Colombia tour operator and DMC, Green Trails contracts hotels, bilingual guides, boats and private drivers directly. Every itinerary is custom-built around your dates, group and pace — no fixed departures, no shared groups, no third-party handoffs.
We use our own and third-party cookies to improve your experience, analyze traffic and personalize content. By clicking "Accept", you consent to the use of all cookies. You may decline them or read our Personal Data Policy for more information.