30 days in Colombia Itinerary

Colombia's heart and soul, Bogota has earned the nickname "Athens of South America" thanks to its abundance of universities, libraries, and lower-level schools.

Bring the kids along to Gold Museum (Museo del Oro) and Catedral de Sal de Zipaquira. Step out of Bogota to go to Tierra Negra and see Laguna de Guatavita, which is approximately 1h 25 min away. There's still lots to do: take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Monserrate, don't miss a visit to Bolivar Square, stop by Vitrina Guayca, and explore the world behind art at Museo Botero del Banco de la Republica.

To see more things to do, other places to visit, and more tourist information, use the Bogota itinerary builder app.

Brussels, Belgium to Bogota is an approximately 16-hour combination of train and flight. You'll gain 6 hours traveling from Brussels to Bogota due to the time zone difference. Expect slightly colder temperatures when traveling from Brussels in July; daily highs in Bogota reach 21°C and lows reach 10°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 4th (Sat) so you can travel to Mongui.

Monguí is a town and municipality in Boyacá Department, Colombia, part of the Sugamuxi Province a subregion of Boyaca. Kick off your visit on the 5th (Sun): take in the architecture and atmosphere at Church of Topaga, then identify plant and animal life at Paramo de Oceta, and then snap pictures at Puente Real De Calicanto.

To see photos, traveler tips, where to stay, and other tourist information, refer to the Mongui trip builder.

Traveling by car from Bogota to Mongui takes 4 hours. When traveling from Bogota in July, plan for a bit warmer days in Mongui, with highs around 29°C, while nights are warmer with lows around 28°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 5th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Barichara.

A charming town of just over 7,000 people, Barichara displays rustic, dusty orange-colored architecture, protected by the Colombian People's Heritage Network.

On the 6th (Mon), experience rural life at Cafe Alfania, stroll the grounds of Cementerio Barichara, then get great views at Salto Del Mico, and finally take in the architecture and atmosphere at Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepcion.

To see where to stay, more things to do, other places to visit, and more tourist information, you can read our Barichara day trip website.

Traveling by car from Mongui to Barichara takes 6 hours. Traveling from Mongui in July, expect little chillier with lows of 21°C in Barichara. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 6th (Mon) early enough to travel to Santa Marta.

Many visitors begin their Santa Marta holiday, surrounded by urban clutter and heavy traffic, expecting little from the city in terms of historical importance.

Start off your visit on the 7th (Tue): stop by Yo Amo Santa Marta and then explore the wealth of natural beauty at Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona. On the next day, tour the pleasant surroundings at Playa Blanca and then discover the deep blue sea with a scuba or snorkeling tour.

For traveler tips, ratings, where to stay, and other tourist information, read Santa Marta online driving holiday planner.

Getting from Barichara to Santa Marta by combination of taxi, flight, and bus takes about 7.5 hours. Other options: drive; or do a combination of taxi and bus. Traveling from Barichara in July, expect Santa Marta to be a bit warmer, temps between 39°C and 30°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 8th (Wed) early enough to go by car to Palomino.

Start off your visit on the 9th (Thu): take a tour by water with Tubing in Palomino River and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Playas de Palomino.

For traveler tips, reviews, where to stay, and more tourist information, go to the Palomino online trip itinerary builder.

Traveling by car from Santa Marta to Palomino takes 2 hours. In July, daily temperatures in Palomino can reach 41°C, while at night they dip to 31°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 9th (Thu) so you can go by car to Minca.

A Minca vacation takes you to a small mountain village nestled above Santa Marta in the Sierra Nevada.

On the 10th (Fri), identify plant and animal life at El Dorado Bird Reserve, get engrossed in the history at Museo del Cacao de Minca, and then examine the collection at Museo Minca - Memorial Museum of the Sierra Nevada.

For traveler tips, other places to visit, more things to do, and tourist information, you can read our Minca vacation builder site.

Drive from Palomino to Minca in 2 hours. Expect a daytime high around 39°C in July, and nighttime lows around 30°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Fri) to allow enough time to travel to San Andres Island.

The coral San Andres Island boasts a rich colonial history, exotic beaches, and a laidback, tropical lifestyle.

Kids will appreciate attractions like Johnny Cay and Playa de San Luis. There's much more to do: identify plant and animal life at La Piscinita, pause for some serene contemplation at Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana, kick back and relax at Cocoplum Bay, and pause for some photo ops at Plaza Canon de Morgan.

For traveler tips, reviews, photos, and other tourist information, go to the San Andres Island day trip planning site.

Fly from Minca to San Andres Island in 6.5 hours. Expect a bit cooler weather when traveling from Minca in July: highs in San Andres Island hover around 35°C, while lows dip to 29°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 13th (Mon) so you can travel to Cali.

Learning how to salsa may be the most popular thing to do in Cali, but this giant city in southwestern Colombia represents more than just the "Salsa Capital of the World." Home to over 2 million people, thriving Cali serves as a major commercial and industrial center in South America, boasting the fastest-growing economy in Colombia.

On the 14th (Tue), see the interesting displays at Museo Aereo Fenix, then admire nature's wide array of creatures at Zoologico de Cali, and then examine the collection at Caliwood Museo de la Cinematografia. Keep things going the next day: learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at El Refugio Foundation and then pause for some photo ops at Cristo Rey.

For maps, other places to visit, more things to do, and more tourist information, read our Cali trip planner.

Traveling by flight from San Andres Island to Cali takes 4.5 hours. Traveling from San Andres Island in July, Cali is slightly colder at night with lows of 22°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Wed) to allow time to drive to Salento.

Founded in 1842, the town of Salento represents the oldest established settlement in Quindio.

On the 16th (Thu), identify plant and animal life at Kasaguadua Natural Reserve, then browse the exhibits of Region Paisaje / Landscape Region, and then explore the striking landscape of Bosques de Cocora. Here are some ideas for day two: get the adrenaline pumping with an extreme tour and then appreciate the views at Valle del Cocora.

To find photos, more things to do, traveler tips, and tourist information, refer to the Salento driving holiday website.

Drive from Cali to Salento in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In July, daytime highs in Salento are 34°C, while nighttime lows are 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Fri) early enough to drive to Montenegro.

Named after the dark trees covering the area's hills, Montenegro (literally Black Mountain) sits in a verdant zone irrigated by three major rivers.

Kick off your visit on the 18th (Sat): pause for some serene contemplation at Parroquia Jesus Maria y Jose, find something for the whole family at Panaca, and then don't miss a visit to Eje Cafetero (Zona Cafetera). Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: get outside with Canopy Los Caracolies and then gain insight with Parque del Cafe.

To find ratings, more things to do, where to stay, and other tourist information, you can read our Montenegro trip builder app.

Drive from Salento to Montenegro in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In July, plan for daily highs up to 34°C, and evening lows to 20°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 19th (Sun) early enough to travel to Medellin.

Nestled between rising hills in a narrow valley, Medellin serves as an energetic melting pot of people from all socio-economic classes.

Kids will appreciate attractions like Walking tours and medellin 2000m DESCENT. There's still lots to do: meet the residents at Parque Explora, pause for some serene contemplation at Parroquia la Nina Maria, contemplate the waterfront views at Laguna de Guatape, and stop by Duna Store.

To see traveler tips and other tourist information, read our Medellin route planning site.

You can fly from Montenegro to Medellin in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of taxi and bus. In July, daily temperatures in Medellin can reach 34°C, while at night they dip to 20°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 22nd (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Jardin.

El Jardín, often simply referred to as Jardín, is a town and municipality in the southwest region of Antioquia, Colombia. Kick off your visit on the 23rd (Thu): explore the fascinating underground world of Cueva del Esplendor, then take an in-depth tour of Casa Museo Clara Rojas Pelaez, and then don't miss a visit to Centro Historico de Jardin.

For traveler tips, other places to visit, where to stay, and more tourist information, go to the Jardin trip itinerary maker site.

Drive from Medellin to Jardin in 3.5 hours. In July, daytime highs in Jardin are 34°C, while nighttime lows are 20°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Thu) so you can travel to Nuqui.

Nuquí is a municipality and town in the Chocó Department, Colombia. Kick off your visit on the 24th (Fri): contemplate the waterfront views at Rio Jovi.

To see other places to visit, photos, ratings, and tourist information, you can read our Nuqui trip planner.

The Route module can help you plan travel from Jardin to Nuqui. Plan for much warmer nights when traveling from Jardin in July since evenings lows in Nuqui dip to 35°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Fri) to allow time to travel to Capurgana.

Kick off your visit on the 25th (Sat): enjoy the sand and surf at Bahia el Aguacate.

To find traveler tips, where to stay, photos, and tourist information, refer to the Capurgana online holiday builder.

Explore your travel options from Nuqui to Capurgana with the Route module. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 25th (Sat) so you can travel to Isla Baru.

Lying south of Cartagena, Isla Baru was connected to the mainland until the construction of the Canal del Dique.

On the 26th (Sun), enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Blanca. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: look for all kinds of wild species at Aviario Nacional de Colombia and then enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Puntilla.

To see maps, photos, and tourist information, you can read our Isla Baru trip builder app.

Explore your travel options from Capurgana to Isla Baru with the Route module. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 27th (Mon) to allow time to travel to Cartagena.

The site of the continent's first Spanish colony, Cartagena retains much of its colonial flavor thanks to a World Heritage-listed old town, encircled by old walls and protected by imposing fortresses.

Kick off your visit on the 28th (Tue): steep yourself in history at Walled City of Cartagena, then make a trip to Plaza Santo Domingo, and then make a trip to Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 29th (Wed): take in the spiritual surroundings of Convent of Santa Cruz de la Popa, then make a trip to Plaza de Bolivar, then steep yourself in history at Sanctuary of Saint Peter Claver, and finally enjoy the sand and surf at Miramar Beach Club.

For photos, reviews, ratings, and more tourist information, go to the Cartagena trip planner.

You can ride a ferry from Isla Baru to Cartagena in 3.5 hours. July in Cartagena sees daily highs of 38°C and lows of 30°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 30th (Thu) early enough to travel back home.