Colorful colonial street with pastel buildings in Cartagena's walled city, Colombia Colorful colonial houses along a cobblestone street in La Candelaria, Bogota Monserrate church and sanctuary on hilltop above Bogota skyline, Colombia Comuna 13 colorful murals and outdoor escalators Medellín

Best 10 Days in Colombia — from Medellín

Medellín → Bogotá → Cartagena → Salento

10 days · 4 cities · 16 activities · route optimized by distance

A mix of art & culture, walking tours, and history. A moderate mix of walking and active experiences, with a mix of self-guided and guided activities. Includes 5 must-see landmarks.

Highlights: Walled City (Ciudad Amurallada) Walk, Guatapé & El Peñón Rock Day Trip, Museo del Oro (Gold Museum), Comuna 13 Street Art & Escalators, La Candelaria Historic District Walk

Arriving Wed, Jul 1 Change

This variant starts in Medellín instead of the default, with the route re-optimized from that entry point.

Your Route — ordered to minimize backtracking

16+ activities scored and ranked · route optimized across 4 cities

Where you'll stay
Hotel in Medellín · From $45/night +3 more
See lodging →
Trip cost
~$657 total · $66/day
See budget →
Top picks
Guatapé & El Peñón Rock Day Trip, Comuna 13 Street Art & Escalators, Plaza Botero & MAMM
See itinerary →

Day-by-Day Schedule — heavy and light days alternate so you don’t burn out

Medellín

Medellín 6 stops · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 1 Wed, Jul 1 Full Medellín View on map
Morning El Peñón de Guatapé granite rock above reservoir Colombia
Guatapé & El Peñón Rock Day Trip$~10 hrs

Climb 740 steps up the iconic granite monolith above a colorful lake town

$30 Verified Mar 2026 📍 Map
Afternoon Comuna 13 colorful murals and outdoor escalators Medellín
Comuna 13 Street Art & Escalators$~3 hrs

Visit Medellín's famous hillside barrio transformed by art and innovation

$12 Verified Mar 2026 📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in Medellín

El Poblado / Laureles / Envigado

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Travelers book: The Charlee Hotel $100-160/nightHotel Dann Carlton Medellín $90-130/nightPatio del Mundo $35-60/night
Book Hotel in Medellín from $45/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 2 Thu, Jul 2 Moderate Medellín View on map
Morning Plaza Botero bronze sculptures in downtown Medellín
Plaza Botero & MAMM$~2 hrs

See 23 Botero bronzes in the free open-air sculpture plaza

📍 Map
Afternoon Medellín Botanical Garden Orquideórama pavilion
Medellín Botanical Garden$~2 hrs

Relax in Medellín's lush free botanical garden with 4,500 plant species

📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in Medellín

El Poblado / Laureles / Envigado

wifibreakfastair-conditioningpool
Travelers book: The Charlee Hotel $100-160/nightHotel Dann Carlton Medellín $90-130/nightPatio del Mundo $35-60/night
Book Hotel in Medellín from $45/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 3 Fri, Jul 3 Moderate Medellín View on map
Morning Metrocable Line L rising above Medellín hillside barrios
Parque Arví Cable Car & Nature Reserve$~4 hrs

Ride the aerial cable car to a cloud forest nature reserve above Medellín

$6 Verified Mar 2026 📍 Map
Afternoon
Free Day in Medellín$~6 hrs

A free day to explore Medellín at your own pace

🏨 Hotel in Medellín

El Poblado / Laureles / Envigado

wifibreakfastair-conditioningpool
Travelers book: The Charlee Hotel $100-160/nightHotel Dann Carlton Medellín $90-130/nightPatio del Mundo $35-60/night
Book Hotel in Medellín from $45/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 4 Sat, Jul 4 Light Medellín
🏨 Hotel in Medellín

El Poblado / Laureles / Envigado

wifibreakfastair-conditioningpool
Travelers book: The Charlee Hotel $100-160/nightHotel Dann Carlton Medellín $90-130/nightPatio del Mundo $35-60/night
Book Hotel in Medellín from $45/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Medellín → Bogotá
3h ~$60 Quick 1-hour flight from Medellín to Bogotá

Bogotá

Bogotá 5 stops · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 5 Sun, Jul 5 Full Bogotá View on map
Morning Monserrate church and sanctuary on hilltop above Bogota skyline, Colombia
Museo del Oro (Gold Museum)$~2h 30m

Explore the world's largest pre-Columbian gold collection

$4 Verified Mar 2026 📍 Map
Afternoon Colorful colonial houses along a cobblestone street in La Candelaria, Bogota
La Candelaria Historic District Walk$~3 hrs

Wander Bogotá's colonial old town with vivid street murals

📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in Bogotá

Zona Rosa / Chapinero / La Candelaria

wifibreakfastair-conditioning24-hour front desk
Travelers book: Casa Dann Carlton $90-140/nightHotel de la Opera $70-100/nightMy Suites Bogotá $40-70/night
Book Hotel in Bogotá from $50/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 6 Mon, Jul 6 Moderate Bogotá View on map
Morning
Botero Museum$~2 hrs

Free museum showcasing Fernando Botero's voluminous sculptures and paintings

📍 Map
Afternoon
Ajiaco Dinner — Bogotá's Iconic Soup$~1h 30m

Warm up with Bogotá's beloved chicken and potato stew

$8 Verified Mar 2026 📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in Bogotá

Zona Rosa / Chapinero / La Candelaria

wifibreakfastair-conditioning24-hour front desk
Travelers book: Casa Dann Carlton $90-140/nightHotel de la Opera $70-100/nightMy Suites Bogotá $40-70/night
Book Hotel in Bogotá from $50/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Bogotá → Cartagena
3h 30m ~$70 Short 1.5-hour flight from Bogotá to Cartagena on the Caribbean coast

Cartagena

Cartagena 4 stops · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 7 Tue, Jul 7 Full Cartagena View on map
Morning Colorful colonial street with pastel buildings in Cartagena's walled city, Colombia
Walled City (Ciudad Amurallada) Walk$~3 hrs

Stroll through Cartagena's UNESCO-listed colonial walled city

📍 Map
Afternoon Panoramic view of Cartagena's fortified old city and Caribbean coastline, Colombia
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas$~2 hrs

Explore the massive Spanish colonial fortress defending Cartagena

$8 Verified Mar 2026 📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in Cartagena

Ciudad Amurallada / Getsemaní / Bocagrande

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Travelers book: Hotel Casa San Agustín $180-260/nightHotel Boutique Don Pedro de Heredia $80-120/nightHotel Bantu $50-80/night
Book Hotel in Cartagena from $60/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 8 Wed, Jul 8 Moderate Cartagena View on map
Morning Getsemaní barrio colorful street art Cartagena
Getsemaní Street Art & Neighborhood Walk$~2h 30m

Discover vibrant murals and local energy in Cartagena's coolest barrio

📍 Map
Afternoon Café del Mar sunset view from Cartagena city walls
Sunset at Café del Mar$$~2 hrs

Watch the Caribbean sunset from Cartagena's famous rampart bar

$12 Verified Mar 2026 📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in Cartagena

Ciudad Amurallada / Getsemaní / Bocagrande

wifiair-conditioning24-hour front deskpool
Travelers book: Hotel Casa San Agustín $180-260/nightHotel Boutique Don Pedro de Heredia $80-120/nightHotel Bantu $50-80/night
Book Hotel in Cartagena from $60/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you

Salento

Salento 3 stops · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 9 Thu, Jul 9 Full Salento View on map
Morning Cocora Valley towering wax palm trees in mist Colombia
Cocora Valley Wax Palm Hike$~5 hrs

Hike through misty valleys of Colombia's iconic towering wax palms

$5 Verified Mar 2026 📍 Map
Afternoon Coffee farm picking ripe red cherries Colombia
Coffee Farm Tour$~2 hrs

Visit a working coffee finca and learn the full bean-to-cup process

$12 Verified Mar 2026 📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in Salento

Calle Real / Central Salento

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Travelers book: Plantation House $40-60/nightHotel Salento Real $25-40/nightHostal Camino Real $15-25/night
Book Hotel in Salento from $30/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 10 Fri, Jul 10 Salento
Checkout & Depart

Check out of your hotel, grab a final breakfast, and head to the airport. Safe travels from Salento!

Where You’ll Stay

Estimated total: $344–$516

Trip Budget Estimate

$657 estimated total per person
$66 per day
Lodging $430
Activities $97
Transport $130

Estimates based on listed activity prices and hotel rates. Actual costs vary by season, availability, and personal spending.

Typical range for Colombia

$300 – $3,000 per person for 10 days

Budget: $30/day — Hostels, almuerzos, local buses Mid-range: $100/day — Boutique hotels, restaurants, domestic flights Luxury: $300/day — Luxury hotels, fine dining, private tours

Similar Destinations

Similar vibes, fewer crowds — destinations our algorithm rates as close matches to Colombia.

🧳 Practical Info for Colombia

📄 Visa
Visa-free for US, EU, UK, CA, AU citizens for up to 90 days.
💵 Tipping
10% at restaurants, often included as "propina voluntaria" on the bill. Confirm before adding more.
💱 Currency
Colombian Peso (COP). Cash preferred at street vendors and smaller shops. Cards accepted in cities.
🔌 Power
110V, Type A/B plugs. US/CA devices work without adapter; EU/UK travelers need one.
📶 Connectivity
SIM cards at airports (Claro, Movistar, Tigo). Good coverage in cities; Coffee Region and rural areas may have gaps.
🚨 Emergency
123 (general emergency)

✈️ Getting Around Colombia

✈️ Flight

Avianca, Wingo, and LATAM fly Bogotá to Cartagena, Medellín, and Cali. Overland travel is slow due to mountains.

🚌 Bus

Comfortable inter-city buses connect major cities. Bolivariano and Expreso Brasilia are reliable operators.

🚇 Metro

Medellín's metro and cable cars are world-class. Bogotá has TransMilenio rapid bus system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Colombia safe for tourists?

Major cities (Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena) and tourist areas are generally safe. Use registered taxis, avoid flashing valuables, and check advisories for rural areas.

What is the best time to visit Colombia?

December-March and July-August (dry seasons). Colombia is equatorial — temperatures vary by altitude, not season. Bogotá (2,640m) is cool year-round.

How much does a week in Colombia cost?

Budget: $30-50/day. Mid-range: $80-150/day. Luxury: $250+/day. Colombia offers excellent value — a set lunch (almuerzo) costs $2-4.

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