10 Best Things to Do in Colombia

Exploring street art on a graffiti tour is one of the best things to do in Bogota—and it's free, although donations are encouraged. Street art is an important part of Bogota's and Colombia's history and turmoil.

The free Bogota Graffiti Tour runs twice daily and meets at Parque de Los Periodistas. All tours are led by street artists or by associates of the Bogota urban art scene, and last two-and-a-half hours. A Bogota graffiti tour is one of the top free things to do in Bogota and a great way to uncover the history of one of the most popular cities in Colombia.

About one hour from Santa Marta, in the Sierra Nevada mountains, is one of the best national parks in Colombia. While most people just visit for the day from Santa Marta, it's worth staying overnight near Tayrona National Park at the nature resort, Playa Koralia. The resort is situated along a beautiful and secluded beach, and you can pick from a variety of excursions that go into the forest and leave daily from the hotel. The area also has some of the best beaches in Colombia, as well as nearby waterfalls and the Don Diego River.

Walking around the walls of this colonial city is one of the best things to do in Cartagena. Stay at least one night inside the city walls and explore the restaurants, shops, churches, and historical sights. The city itself is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its gorgeous pastel buildings don't disappoint.

There are so many other things to do in Cartagena as well, like visiting the famous Cafe Havana for dancing and day tours to village beach towns, a mud volcano, or the Rosario Islands (more on those later).

A visit to the Salt Cathedral in Zipaquira is one of the most unusual things to do in Bogota (it's an easy day trip from the capital, just an hour's drive). This underground church and reflecting pool are located inside the tunnels of a salt mine, located almost 600 feet below ground. The area also has other attractions, like a theme park, Brine Museum, climbing wall, and a city tour of the area, in addition to a guided tour and light show of the cathedral.

Medellin is now the second-largest city in Colombia, and despite its reputation for turmoil and a drug-fueled history, it's now one of the best cities in Colombia for tourists. Take a historical tour of the city and learn about its connection to the famous drug lord, Pablo Escobar. On this tour you'll see the Monaco building, the house where he died, as well as his grave, all while learning about the drug business in Colombia. It's one of the best things to do in Medellin, and is an important part of understanding Colombia's history.

This archipelago is close to Nicaragua and rich with English history and island culture. A visit to these islands is one of the best things to do in Colombia. San Andres is the largest of the island group and has John Cay Natural Regional Park and La Piscinita Natural Pool, along with restaurants, shops, and 35 diving sites. While smaller, Providencia offers Crab Cay and McBean Lagoon National Natural Park, which have some of the best beaches in Colombia.

About one hour from Cartagena, you'll find the nearly three dozen islands that make up the Rosario Islands. Visiting them is one of the top things to do in Cartagena as a day trip; or, stay overnight in a remote bungalow on the Isla Coralina.

The islands are also called the Coral Islands of Rosario and are one of the national parks in Colombia. They have some of the best beaches in Colombia, most notably Playa Blanca on Isla Baru.

From Cartagena, you can even hire a private boat tour for your group, or take a ferry day tour from the city. On the Rosario Islands, you can choose whether you want to have a booze cruise around the islands or relax in a private bungalow—the choice is yours.

The Andean region outside of Medellin is known for its coffee, and the coffee is strong. Taking a coffee plantation tour is one of the best things to do in Medellin and in all of Colombia. While the actual triangle is defined as the Caldas, Quindio, and Risaralda regions, most tours start in Medellin. The most-visited cities in the coffee triangle are Manizales, Armenia, and Pereira.

Throughout the region you'll find boutique coffee farms, guesthouses, and the world's tallest wax palm trees. Other attractions include horseback riding, a nearby cloud forest, and a tropical fruit market in Filandia. No trip to Colombia is complete without a visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site as it's one of the best places in Colombia for all types of travelers.

Similar to the ancient Maya in Tikal, the Tayrona People mysteriously disappeared during the Spanish Conquest, leaving behind Ciudad Perdida, or the Lost City. Many travel operators offer trips that do this trek, which are typically three to five days in duration. The hike is one of the best things to do in Colombia and offers breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Taking a dip in the mud volcano, El Totumo, is one of the best things to do in Cartagena as a day trip. The "volcano" is about two hours from Cartagena—just be aware that this isn't really a true volcano, it's more like a mound of mud. The mud bath isn't for everyone, but it's fun to get a little dirty—and get a massage while you float in the crater.

The mud is rumored to be rich in magnesium and other minerals essential to your skin. There's a nearby lake to bathe in and wash the mud away. Make sure to tip the locals.