Best cities and towns to visit in Colombia in 2024

If you’re planning a trip to South America this year, Colombia welcomes travellers to salsa, explore and sunbathe on both the Caribbean and Pacific coastlines.

Famed for arabica bean cups of coffee, skyscraping wax palms and Barranquilla Carnival, the “Gateway to South America” offers diverse culture woven between the rainbow of pueblos, cosmopolitan cities and emerald mines.

With a tempting climate blessing the country’s 32 departments year-round and festivals from Jericó to Medellín beating Colombia’s reggaeton drum in most months, the expansive shore expertly hosts bucket-list travel trips.

The capital of Bogotá and Cartagena city, already well known in the tourist arena thanks to their markets and world-renowned carnivals, meet under-the-radar rural towns built for adventure and the heart of coffee country inland – so knowing where to start can be tricky.

We’ve rounded up the best of Colombia’s cities and towns, from colourful Salento to jungle-topped Santa Marta, to help plan your next holiday itinerary.

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Guatapé, Antioquia

Home to the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir watersports haven and peaked with El Peñol rock, Guatapé is Colombia’s most colourful pueblo and the colonial old town street of Calle del Recuerdo shines with intricate facades adorned in blue and orange. Though the aforementioned monolithic rock may be a 740-step climb to the summit, the sprawling views of Guatapé’s isles and bays are well worth it.

Where to stay

Hotel Los Recuerdos offers a heated infinity pool overlooking El Peñol Reservoir, elegant bedrooms and even onsite nightlife for holidaymakers looking to bask in views of the town’s famed 200m rock.