Things to do in  Colombia

Deep turquoise water surrounds the archipelago of the Rosario Islands, and lively coral reefs swarm with sealife. This island group off the coast of Colombia is home to mangrove forests and underwater fields of seagrass, with white sandy beaches backed by bright green vegetation. Despite its proximity to Cartagena, you’ll feel like you’ve fully escaped the city with a trip to this biodiverse haven.

Bogotá’s main square is built on a grand scale, from a landmark statue of Simón Bolívar to the 16th-century La Catedral Primada. In between is a colorful crowd of vendors, travelers, and downtown workers. A starting point for exploring the historic La Candelaria neighborhood, the Plaza de Bolivar is a key stop for visitors to Bogotá.

On the shores of the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir, the 19th-century town of Guatapé is one of Colombia’s most photographed sites. And it’s easy to see why: The town’s brightly painted buildings and serene natural setting make for some stunning shots. However, the crowning glory of this quaint Colombian pueblo is Piedra del Peñol, a monolithic rock that towers 721 feet (220 meters) above sea level.

With its brightly colored buildings, colonial landmarks, and bougainvillea-covered balconies, it's easy to see why Old Town Cartagena is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights include the leafy Plaza de Bolivar, the striking Clock Tower (Torre del Reloj), and the Gold Museum (Museo de Oro), home to a glittering collection of gold and pottery of the Zenú people. It’s the ideal place to wander aimlessly within its 16th-century walls, as every corner brings a photo opportunity.

The lake is divided between Peru and Bolivia, which bookend its beauty with the small cities of Puno and Copacabana, respectively. Both are fine bases to explore the lake's amazing islands, replete with hotels and restaurants.Carved into a warren of salt mines 623 feet (190 meters) below the ground, Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral (Catedral de Sal) is one of Colombia's most unique religious attractions. Venture inside to see chapels and altars carved directly into solid rock and gaze at the largest cross ever built in a subterranean church. But that's not all there is to see—other highlights include a replica of an ornate door from St. Peter's Basilica and a mining route.

Baru Island, which sits in the glass-clear waters of the Caribbean, south of Cartagena, has long been touted as one of Colombia’s most serene beach resorts. The aptly named Playa Blanca is the undeniable highlight, an expanse of powdery white sand perfect for spending a day swimming and sipping tropical cocktails.

The popular image of a volcano is of a towering mountain, spewing lava, but Totumo Mud Volcano presents a less imposing picture. At only 50 feet (15 meters) tall, this volcano is the smallest in Colombia. Rather than molten rocks, the volcano is filled with warm, bubbling mud. Along with the nearby Cienaga del Totumo lagoon, the spot is nature’s answer to a spa.

Towering 10,341 feet (3,152 meters) tall at the edge of Bogotá, forested Mt. Monserrate (Cerro de Monserrate) can be spotted from across the city. Set like a pearl on the summit is the Monserrate Sanctuary, a 17th-century church whose shrine is a major pilgrimage place for Colombian Catholics.

The graceful and carefully planned Spanish colonial city center, known as La Candelaria, is the oldest part of Bogotá, Colombia. Now a vibrant hub of activity for young artists, bohemian university students, and hip indie businesses, La Candelaria centers on Plazuela del Chorro del Quevedo, the spot where the city was founded in 1537.

Some historians say that if it weren’t for San Felipe de Barajas Castle (Castillo San Felipe de Barajas), South America would now speak English. The 14th-century fortress protected the coastal city of Cartagena from English invasion, allowing the Spanish to maintain their rule. Besides the role it plays in Colombia’s history, the castle attracts visitors with its panoramic harbor views.

Now a museum dedicated to currency, the Bogota Mint Museum traces its origins back to the 1620s, when the Spanish king ordered gold coins to be minted en masse. Today it's a great place to not only see cool coins, many of which are centuries old, but to also learn about the history of Colombia from the 17th century until the modern age.

A short train ride from the skyscrapers and international art galleries of modern Medellín’s El Centro is Pueblito Paisa, a monument to Colombia’s colonial past. The little village (pueblito) is a re-creation featuring traditional white-washed houses, a picture-perfect central plaza, and spectacular views of Medellín’s surrounding mountains.

Gold Museum (Museo del Oro) is one of the city’s most popular attractions. It sparkles with more than 55,000 priceless archaeological and artistic treasures. Only a fraction can be displayed at any one time, laid out to tell tales of pre-Colombian mining, manufacturing, and metallurgy of pre-Hispanic Colombians.

The Cocora Valley (Valle de Cocora) is like a postcard-perfect version of rural Colombia, with lush rolling hills, mist-capped mountains and tall, slender palm trees. Tucked into foothills at the heart of the country’s UNESCO-listed “Coffee Cultural Landscape,” the serene valley makes a worthy detour from nearby Salento.

Plaza Botero is one of Medellín’s most important outdoor spaces, home to 23 bronze sculptures of chubby cats, voluptuous women, and fat fingers designed and donated by Colombian artist Fernando Botero. Beneath swaying palms and native ceiba trees, snack on street food and snap photos alongside the larger-than-life sculptures.