Colombia is a country bordered to the south by Ecuador and Peru, to the west by the Pacific Ocean, to the north by the Caribbean Sea of the Atlantic Ocean, and the east by Venezuela and Brazil. Characterized by having a Capital District and 32 departments that are grouped into 6 natural regions and comprise a population of 52 million inhabitants living in 1104 municipalities; where the majority of the inhabitants reside in the center of the country, on the Cundiboyacense plateau and in the natural region known as the Bogotá savannah, which is where its capital is located Bogotá.
Colombia's official currency is the Colombian peso, the country's area code is “+57” and the most widely spoken language in the territory is Spanish. Although in some regions they use another 69 languages, of which 65 are indigenous languages and the other four are: Palenquero, Creole (Creole language), Romaní or Romaníes, and the Colombian sign language.
Both the towns and the cities in Colombia are identified as being tourist destinations highly visited by people from all over the world due to its variety of natural ecosystems, the charm of its inhabitants, its exuberant sunsets, the Colombian highways in incredible landscapes, its colonial and indigenous historic centers, its gastronomy and the abundant natural wealth that goes from its paradisiacal beaches, both in the Pacific Ocean and in the Caribbean Sea, up to its highest mountains high that are the snow-capped mountains.
The Climate in Colombia of most towns to visit is even warm tropical. Colombia, being located in the equatorial zone, does not change the hours in which the sun rises or sets, therefore the weather seasons do not occur as in most countries of the world; so there is only a dry season and a rainy season. The first, the dry season, occurs from December to February and from June to August with maximum temperatures of up to 35° C. The rainy season in Colombia is during the months between March to May and September to November with average temperatures of 13 °C in most regions of the country.
Something very attractive about tourism in the towns of Colombia is to travel places like the Piedra del Peñol, the Las Lajas Sanctuary, the Nemocón Salt Mines, the Pantano de Vargas Monument, the Pozos Azules and Puerto Nariño in the Amazon. Other good plans are to walk through landscapes such as the Guatapé reservoir, Playa Grande in Taganga, the Cocorá Valley, the Boyacá town in Duitama, Málaga Bay, and the Marinka Waterfalls.
Before traveling to Colombia, we recommend that you learn about the wealth of customs of the Colombian natives. Some important ones are:
- Colombians love to drink coffee, they call it “Tinto” and you can buy it almost anywhere
- Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world
- Colombia is the country of arepas and plantains
- In December, Colombians decorate the facades of their houses with lights for Christmas
- In Colombia you don't go out to a party but to a rumba
- A typical plan in Colombia is to go to the farms on weekends
- On December 7th they celebrate the day of the little candles
- It is normal to ask for the ñapa
- A friend in Colombia is called a partner
- Colombians speak Spanish but each department has a different accent when speaking
- There are words in Colombia that can have many meanings, depending on the moment or the expression
- Colombia is located in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Ocean, the Amazon rainforest, the Orinoco basin, and the Andes
In terms of culture, the beautiful Colombian towns are recognized for their cheerful, enterprising, and "berraco" character, their typical celebrations or festivals, their rhythms such as salsa, cumbia, and vallenato, and their ethnic richness.
But the truly special thing that stands out in most Colombian towns is its gastronomy. Yes or yes, you should try some typical dishes such as the bandeja paisa, the ajiaco, the mote de queso, the pandebono, the sancocho, the mondongo, the suckling pig from Tolimense, the tamale, the fried fish, the coconut rice, the veal a la llanera, rice pudding, empanada, hogao, cholado, rib broth, guacamole, crab soup and different arepas such as arepa de huevo, arepa de choclo, arepa paisa, stuffed arepa and arepa santanderean.
Colombia is without a doubt home to the most beautiful and picturesque towns in all of South America. So that you can fully enjoy what this beautiful country has to offer you, we have left you a route through the Colombian destinations that for us we consider the best towns in Colombia to which you should go; In each one we recommend beautiful places to visit, the best hotels to stay in and the most famous restaurants.
Some are small towns but have their charm, others enjoy an excellent climate, others are surrounded by incomparable natural beauties, some Colombian towns have a beautiful beach, gastronomic wealth, historical wealth or have a colonial, coastal style, colorful and ancient that makes them magical; that's why it's good to visit everyone:
Aguadas
It is a town in the coffee region with intact paisa traditions located north of the department of Caldas. It is the capital of the traditional aguadeño hat and headquarters of the National Festival of the Colombian Paisa, an autochthonous Andean rhythm.
At get to Aguadas you will fall in love with the landscape formed by the coffee crops around the town.
Malaga Bay
It is a bay in the Pacific Ocean located in the municipality of Buenaventura in the department of Valle del Cauca and is the destination in Colombia where humpback whales arrive in the months between July and November.
At get to Malaga Bay you find different beaches and in each one there are small towns or hamlets formed by the islanders. The most visited beaches are Juanchaco, Ladrilleros, La Barra, La Bocana, Playa Termales, and Maguipi.
Barichara
It is considered one of the most beautiful towns in the country, it is in the department of Santander Colombia and 3 hours from Bucaramanga. At get to barichara you find cobbled streets, Andalusian-style houses, and a Main Square surrounded by restaurants to try the gastronomy of the department.
Barú
It is a beach delimited by the bay of Cartagena de Indias in the Bolívar department and is located 1 hour from the historic center. When you upon arrival in Baru by car or by boat, you find beautiful white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and cays surrounded by mangroves and multicolored corals. The attractiveness of Barú is that you can also find lodging options.
Buga
It is one of the oldest towns in Colombia, it is located north of Valle del Cauca and 45 minutes from Cali. Guadalajara de Buga is a town with colonial architecture, known as "La Ciudad Señora" and when you arrive you will find a historic center where the Basilica of the Lord of Miracles is located; a work of art that took 15 years to build.
Capurganá
It is a very small town in the department of Chocó, near Acandí and very close to the border with Panama. For get to Capurganá it can only be done by air or sea. A place you should visit in Capurganá is the natural pools of Capurganá de la Coquerita.
Chinchiná
It is a town located 18 km from Manizales in the department of Caldas. At get to Chinchiná you will find the world's largest coffee cup and coffee farms located on the outskirts of town. Some offer guided tours of the coffee farms.
Cocorná
It is one of the paisa towns in eastern Antioquia located two hours from Medellín. At get to Cocorná you come across a wealth of water from multiple rivers of virgin water, waterfalls, streams, and puddles ideal for its warm climate. A place that you should visit is the Melcocho River.
Coveñas
It is a small town in the north of Colombia within the department of Sucre and with beautiful white sand beaches and a very calm sea to relax. The great biodiversity of Coveñas is its true tourist attraction, such as the mangroves of the Ciénaga La Caimanera and a 14-kilometer-long beach that borders the Caribbean Sea.
Duitama
More than a town, it is a small city called "La Perla de Boyacá". Duitama is highly visited due to the "Pueblito Boyacense" which is a place with a replica of the architecture of each of the main towns in the department of Boyacá.
El Totumo
It is a town located in the department of La Guajira, near the municipality of San Juan del Cesar and 70 km from Riohacha. At get to Totumo you will find many spas with natural pools of crystalline waters from the Cesar River, with wells of different depths and ecotourism trails.
Entrerríos
It is one of the towns in Colombia with the best quality of life, which is why it is called "La Suiza Colombiana". Entrerríos is located to the north of Medellín, it is a town with a cold climate and upon arrival, you will find 12 villages with cattle farms, beautiful green landscapes and the Piedra del Peñón on Cerro del Balsa.
Florián
It is a town with mountainous landscapes, with a cold climate, located to the south of the department of Santander and only 5 hours from Bogotá. At get to Florian you will find rivers and majestic waterfalls such as the Ventanas de Tisquizoque, ideal for ecotourism.
Guatapé
It is one of the most visited towns in Colombia due to its cobbled streets, picturesque houses, and colonial architecture. The beautiful town of Guatapé is located to the west of Medellín, in the middle of the great Guatapé dam, and upon arrival we recommend you visit the Plazoleta De Los Zócalos, walk through the streets of the center, tour the Pier and climb the Piedra del Peñol.
Calles del Pueblo de Guatapé AntioquiaHonda
It is a Colombian heritage town due to its colonial architectural treasures where the Viceroys of Spain lived. To get to honda you can do it by car from Ibagué since it is located north of the department of Tolima.
Ipiales
It is a small religious town in Colombia that is very visited due to its proximity to the Sanctuary of Las Lajas. For get to Ipiales you can do it by car from Pasto since it is located in the south of the department of Nariño, on the border with Ecuador.
Providencia Island
It is a paradisiacal and magical island of Colombia, considered a hidden pearl of the Caribbean Sea. Something very characteristic of Providencia is that it is the place where they speak "Creole" the most and also the unity of the islanders since they do not monopolize the types of businesses but rather share the tourist offer.
To get to Providencia Island you can only from San Andrés, either by plane or catamaran. On the island, you can enjoy white sand beaches, multicolored waters, and virgin keys.
Minca
It is a small coffee town on the outskirts of Santa Marta in the department of Magdalena and on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada; which makes its climate cool.
At get to Minca you can do bird watching, sleep in giant hammocks, walk through the coffee crops in the surrounding farms and bathe in the famous Marinka Waterfalls.
Monguí
It is a heritage, colonial, and cold climate town located north of the department of Boyacá and very close to Tunja. Monguí is also a small town with traditions such as wearing ruanas and numerous soccer ball factories.
Some places to visit within the urban area are the Plaza Mayor and the Calicanto Bridge. In its surroundings, you should visit the ecosystem of the Páramo de Ocetá.
Palomino
It is a coastal town in the department of La Guajira. At get to Palomino you find an extensive beach, an unforgettable sea where you can surf, a beautiful river perfect for tubing, and a wide range of hotels.
Queremal
It is a small town located near Dagua, within the department of Valle del Cauca and 90 minutes from Cali. The Queremal is a characteristic destination for its climate; the mornings are sunny, the afternoons are “foggy” and the nights are cold. A place to visit very close to the town is the El Manto de la Virgen Waterfall.
Salento
It is one of the most beautiful towns in Colombia and is located in the coffee region within the department of Quindío. At get to Salento you find intact colonial architecture, a lot of craft shops, and restaurants with spectacular views of the mountains.
Among the important places you should visit is the Cocora Valley, the La Patasola Natural Reserve, and the Santa Rita Waterfall.
Saint Bernard Islands
There are 10 coastal islands found in the Caribbean Sea between Cartagena and Santiago de Tolú. Its beaches are white sand and surrounded by mangroves and corals. To get to The 5 Best Islands of the San Bernardo Archipelago you can do it by boat from Cartagena but it is cheaper and faster to do it from Tolú.
San Cipriano
It is a small town within a Nature Reserve that bears the same name and is located on the highway from Cali to Buenaventura. For get to San Cipriano you can only do it through "the little witches"; They are handmade wooden wheelbarrows with metal wheels wedged to slide along the old railway tracks.
Some places that you should visit within the reserve are the Cascada del Amor, the Cascada Grande, and the Barbacoana waterfall.
Sonson
It is a historic town, with beautiful landscapes, colorful houses, and a cold climate, located in the south of Antioquia. At get to Sonson you must visit the Grandparents' House, the Pantágoras Archaeological Room, and the Cemetery.
In its surroundings you will find abundant natural wealth such as the Páramo de Sonsón, the Santa Mónica Waterfall, and the Morro La Vieja.
Taganga
It is a fishing village located north of Santa Marta famous for its beach, the tranquility of its waters, and its gastronomy. At get to Taganga you find several white sand beaches that border the Caribbean Sea, a viewpoint to the north of the town, and several areas for diving.
Something very characteristic of the town is its party atmosphere at night. Some numerous hotels and discos start the party early and continue on the beach until dawn.
Tolú
It is a small town located very close to Coveñas in the department of Sucre. Tolú is highly visited for being the largest town in the department and for being the starting point to paradisiacal islands in the Gulf of Morrosquillo such as Isla Múcura, Santa Cruz del Islote, Isla Palma, La Casa en el Agua and Isla Tintipan.
Villa de Leyva
It is one of the most beautiful Colombian heritage towns in the country and is located in the department of Boyacá. Villa de Leyva preserves its colonial architecture with cobbled streets, a huge square in the center of town, and several museums that exhibit the history of Colombia. As for places around, we recommend you visit Casa Terracota and Pozos Azules.
Thanks, we just want you to save time and money. In return, support us by sharing this guide with your networks
It costs you nothing but you help us a lot!