Route through colombia in 14 and 21 days (itinerary + map)


A fascinating country in every sense, Colombia is one of the most desired destinations for travelers from all over the world who want to enjoy colorful cities, unique landscapes and villages anchored in time without forgetting its people, culture and gastronomy that will captivate you as soon as you arrive.

This special feature also plays a complicated role when deciding which places to include in your trip, as this is considered one of the most complete countries in the world and it is not easy to plan a balanced route that includes most of the country’s attractions.

To make this easier, in this post we want to help you with the proposal of a route through Colombia in 2 and 3 weeks designed for travelers who want to know the attractions of this country that we are sure will not leave you indifferent.

Based on our trip to Colombia, during which we visited most of the must-see places in Colombia, we leave you with what we believe is the best route through Colombia in 14 and 21 days. Let’s start!

Colombia in 14 days

One of the first important things to keep in mind, if you only have 2 weeks to make this trip, is that you will have to decide which places or areas you want to visit, since due to distances and travel times, it is impossible to include all the tourist attractions of the country.

Based on this premise, we wanted to propose a very complete option for the route through Colombia in 14 days, designed especially for travelers who want to make the most of their time on this trip, which includes some of the most important cities in the country, several charming villages and some natural places that we are sure will surprise you as soon as you arrive.

In addition, the proposal is designed to start in Bogota and leave in Medellin, although the order can be reversed, and to make it by public transport, since in this case, the option of renting a car is not valued by the large distances from one area to another.

Remember that you can modify this itinerary to your liking and of course substitute one area for another or one city for another that fits more with your travel style, although we believe that in this case it is essential to assess the time of transfers and the ease of arrival as there are areas that are more difficult to access.

We recommend reading this post on tips for traveling to Colombia and this one on safety in Colombia before traveling to make the experience unique and unforgettable.

  • Day 0: Flight to Bogota
  • Day 1: Bogota
  • Day 2: Bogota – Zipaquira Salt Cathedral – Bogota
  • Day 3: Bogota – Villa de Leyva
  • Day 4: Villa de Leyva – Bogota – flight to Cartagena de Indias
  • Day 5: Cartagena de Indias
  • Day 6: Cartagena de Indias
  • Day 7: Cartagena de Indias – Rosario Islands
  • Day 8: Cartagena de Indias – Santa Marta
  • Day 9: Santa Marta – Tayrona Park
  • Day 10: Tayrona Park – flight to Medellin
  • Day 11: Medellin
  • Day 12: Medellín – Santa Fe de Antioquía – Medellín
  • Day 13: Medellín – Guatapé – Piedra del Peñol
  • Day 14: Guatapé – Medellín – flight back to Medellín

Itinerary through Colombia in 2 weeks with Eje Cafetero

In case you want to visit the Eje Cafetero, which is one of the most emblematic areas of Colombia, you should have about 3-4 days and discard some of the places that we had proposed in the previous route. It is important to be clear that you will have to fly from Cartagena de Indias, Bogota or Medellin to Manizales, Pereira or Armenia where you can rent a car to explore this area that we assure you, will not leave you indifferent.

Our proposal, taking into account a balanced itinerary, would be as follows:

  • Day 0: Flight to Bogota
  • Day 1: Bogota
  • Day 2: Bogota – Zipaquira Salt Cathedral – Bogota
  • Day 3: Bogota – Villa de Leyva – Bogota
  • Day 4: Bogota – flight to Cartagena de Indias
  • Day 5: Cartagena de Indias
  • Day 6: Cartagena de Indias
  • Day 7: Cartagena de Indias – Tayrona Park
  • Day 8: Tayrona Park – flight to Eje Cafetero (Manizales, Pereira or Armenia)
  • Day 9: Eje Cafetero
  • Day 10: Eje Cafetero
  • Day 11: Eje Cafetero
  • Day 12: Flight Eje Cafetero – Medellín
  • Day 13: Medellín
  • Day 14: Medellín – return flight

Colombia in 21 days

In this proposal we recommend you to visit in addition to all the places included in the first proposal of 2 weeks, places like the Eje Cafetero and San Andres, which can be the perfect cherry if you want to disconnect for a few days in a paradisiacal beach area.

  • Day 0: Flight to Bogota
  • Day 1: Bogota
  • Day 2: Bogota – Zipaquira Salt Cathedral – Bogota
  • Day 3: Bogota – Villa de Leyva
  • Day 4: Villa de Leyva – Bogota – flight to Cartagena de Indias
  • Day 5: Cartagena de Indias
  • Day 6: Cartagena de Indias
  • Day 7: Cartagena de Indias – Rosario Islands
  • Day 8: Cartagena de Indias – Santa Marta
  • Day 9: Santa Marta – Tayrona Park
  • Day 10: Tayrona Park – flight to Medellin
  • Day 11: Medellin
  • Day 12: Medellín – Santa Fe de Antioquía – Medellín
  • Day 13: Medellín – Guatapé – Piedra del Peñol
  • Day 14: Guatapé – Medellín – flight to Eje Cafetero (Manizales, Pereira or Armenia)
  • Day 15: Eje Cafetero
  • Day 16: Eje Cafetero
  • Day 17: Eje Cafetero
  • Day 18: Eje Cafetero – Flight to San Andres
  • Day 19: San Andres
  • Day 20: San Andres
  • Day 21: San Andres – flight back

In case you have more time, we recommend you to visit the Tatacoa Desert and San Agustin, two places that we are sure will not leave you indifferent. You can find all the information to visit these places in our trip to Colombia in 46 days.

Points of interest of the route through Colombia in 2 and 3 weeks

In this section we leave you a kind of travel diary, in which day by day we make a summary of the places you will visit, recommendations and important aspects to take into account.

In addition to this information we include a section in which we recommend accommodation in each of the destinations and extra information on each of the places with articles on how to get to each of them and our suggestions on what to see and do.

We recommend you read them carefully before organizing the route to have all the important details and not miss anything.

Day 1: Bogota

The Colombia itinerary in 2 and 3 weeks will start in Bogota, one of our favorite cities in the country, where you can enjoy places like the Cerro de Monserrate, the neighborhood of La Candelaria, the Gold Museum, the Plaza de Bolivar and the Botero Museum, which are some of the must-see places to visit in Bogota.

To not miss anything of the city we recommend you to follow this route through Bogota in one day or this Bogota in two days in case you have an extra day in the city or the day of the flight you arrive early and want to start with the visits.

If you want to know the history and the most interesting places of the city, we recommend you to book this panoramic tour or this free tour, considered one of the best free tours in Bogota free in Spanish.

Day 2: Excursion to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira from Bogota

Today we propose a day trip to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira from Bogota, known for being the first wonder of Colombia.

Carved completely in salt and 180 meters underground is this incredible temple that with its incredible history and majesty, has become one of the most visited places in the country.

You can go to Zipaquira in about two hours from Bogota by public transport, tourist train or if you do not want to worry about anything, booking this excursion to the Salt Cathedral, with guide in Spanish and all inclusive.

Remember to read the post we link you in the extra information to have all the details about how to go, what to see, recommendations…etc.

Day 3: Excursion to Villa de Leyva from Bogota

Colombia in 14 and 21 days continues with a visit to Villa de Leyva, which is one of the 17 Colombian towns declared of national cultural interest by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

Although the town is relatively small and all points of interest are close to each other, we recommend staying overnight to enjoy more peacefully what is said to be one of the most beautiful towns in Colombia.

Note that the distance between Bogota and Villa de Leyva is about 120 kilometers, but public transport takes about 3:30-4h to cover the distance, so we recommend you to get up early and take the first bus to make the most of the time.

Another option, if you don’t want to worry about anything, is to book this all-inclusive tour with Spanish speaking guide.

Day 4: Villa de Leyva – Bogota – Flight to Cartagena de Indias

The trip through Colombia in 14 days and 21 days continues with a complete change of scenery to visit one of the most touristy, beautiful and incredible cities in the country: Cartagena de Indias.

If, as we suggest, you have stayed overnight in Villa de Leyva, you will have to take public transportation to return to Bogota and from there, go to the airport to take the flight to Cartagena de Indias.

Keep in mind that this air route is very common so all airlines do it regularly and you can find flights at different times and prices.

Another option would be to go by bus but think that it would not be the most advisable if you are going to travel only 2 weeks since this route is about 23-24 hours from Bogota to Cartagena de Indias.

Remember that it is important to have extra time to make the trip between Villa de Leyva and the airport and also to have the time established at the airport before taking the flight.

Once in Cartagena de Indias, if you have arrived in the afternoon, we recommend you to take the rest of the day as a first contact with the city and enjoy one of the most charming and colorful cities in the country.

Day 5, 6 and 7: Cartagena de Indias, one of the cities that you must include in Colombia in 2 weeks

The first two days we propose to dedicate entirely to Cartagena de Indias, one of our favorite cities in the country, which we are sure, will not leave you indifferent.

Something important to keep in mind is that although the city has many tourist sites that we recommend you not to miss, it also has another great attraction: strolling through its historic walled center, declared a World Heritage Site, which will offer you unique moments.

Among the places to visit in Cartagena de Indias that you can not miss are:

  • Plaza de los Coches
  • Walls of Cartagena de Indias
  • Plaza de la Aduana
  • San Felipe de Barajas Castle
  • Getsemaní Neighborhood
  • Neighborhood of San Diego
  • Bolivar Park

We recommend you to follow this route of Cartagena de Indias in one day and this one of Cartagena de Indias in two days in order not to miss anything and enjoy the city to the maximum.

In case you do not want to worry about anything and want to know all the details of the city we recommend you to book this free tour, considered one of the best free tours in Cartagena de Indias, this full tour with tickets and dinner cruise, which is the perfect cherry on top of these two days.

On the third day our proposal is that you take a day trip to Islas del Rosario, a unique paradise where you can visit Playa Blanca de Baru, Isla Grande, Isla Cholon and Agua Azul beach as well as activities such as snorkeling, lunch and sailing. You can book the excursion to the Rosario Islands here.

Day 8: Cartagena de Indias – Santa Marta

Our proposal of the trip through Colombia in 14 days/21 days continues with a visit to Santa Marta, gateway to the Tayrona Park for many travelers, which is also a charming town, much quieter than its neighbor Cartagena de Indias and that we are sure, will give you unforgettable moments.

It is important to know that although both cities are separated by only 226 kilometers, by public transport it will take you about 4 hours to make the journey, so we recommend you to leave on the first bus in the morning to be able to spend the whole afternoon getting to know the town.

Among the places not to be missed in Santa Marta are the historic center, the Simón Bolivar Square, the Gold Museum, the Parque de los Novios, Carrera 3 or Callejón del Correo, Carrera 5, the Basilica of Santa Marta, the Malecón and the Paseo Bastidas.

Day 9: Santa Marta – Tayrona Park

The Colombia itinerary in 2 and 3 weeks continues with a visit to Tayrona, one of the most famous and visited natural areas of the country that will not cease to amaze you.

In this case you can choose to make a one-day visit and return to Santa Marta or stay one night to sleep and the next day in the morning or afternoon, depending on the time of your flight to Medellin, go to the airport in Santa Marta.

Our proposal is for the latter option because you can enjoy this place with more tranquility and live a unique night if you stay at the hotel that we propose that is inside the park.

The journey from Santa Marta to Tayrona is about an hour, although we recommend you to get up early to make the most of the day by trekking Cabo San Juan, you can not go by transport, in about 3 hours, passing by some of the most beautiful beaches in the park.

Although we always recommend you to read the additional information in all destinations, in this case it is especially recommended since the access and entrances to the Tayrona Park are not particularly easy to understand without information.

Day 10 & 11: Tayrona Park – flight to Medellín

Today you will take a flight to Medellín, which depending on the time of day, will allow you to spend more or less time in Tayrona. We recommend that you try to fly around noon so that you can have breakfast at leisure, spend the last hours in the park and then go to the airport in Santa Marta.

This way you will also have part of the afternoon to get to know Medellin, a city with a unique history that we are sure will not leave you indifferent.

Among all the places to visit in Medellin that you can not miss are:

  • Plaza de Botero
  • Comuna 13
  • San Javier Subway
  • Museum of Antioquia
  • Berrío Park
  • San Antonio Park
  • Park of the Lights
  • Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture

Day 12: Excursion to Santa Fe de Antioquia from Medellin

Considered the oldest municipality in the region, whose historic center remains practically intact, our proposal for a two-week trip through Colombia continues with a day trip to Santa Fe de Antioquia from Medellín.

In addition to its history, this town stands out for its architecture and atmosphere, through which you can travel back in time and discover how many of the Colombian cities were like years ago.

The trip from Medellin is about an hour and a half and having a fairly small historic center you can make this visit in one day perfectly.

Among the places you can not miss are the Plaza Mayor Simon Bolivar, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Temple of Our Lady of Chiquinquira, the Church of Santa Barbara, the Temple of Jesus of Nazareth, the Museum Juan del Corral, the Plaza de la Chinca and best of all, stroll through the historic center to watch life go by.

In case you don’t want to worry about anything and want to get to know the town with a Spanish speaking guide, we recommend you to book this excursion to Santa Fe de Antioquia.

Day 13 and 14: Excursion to Guatapé and Piedra del Peñol

As in Tayrona, in this case we recommend that you choose to spend the night in Guatapé, always bearing in mind that in order to do so you must have the flight back on the 14th in the afternoon or evening.

If this is not the case, you will have to return to Medellin in the afternoon or evening to take the last flight of the route through Colombia in 2 weeks. In case you have 3 weeks, the proposal continues flying to Eje Cafetero.

The trip from Medellín to Guatapé by bus is about 75 minutes and it has a stop at Piedra del Peñol, where we recommend you to stop to start today’s visits.

The Piedra del Peñol also known as Peñol de Guatapé is a granite monolith of 250 meters, from which you have unique views, which has become one of the most visited places in the country.

It is important to know that in order to reach the top of the Peñol de Guatapé and its impressive viewpoint, you must climb the 659 steps, which were built on one of the edges of the rock.

After this visit our proposal continues to Guatapé, one of the most colorful and beautiful towns in Colombia that we assure you, will not leave you indifferent thanks to its skirting boards, which adorn almost all houses and stores.

Among the places you can not miss are:

  • Main Park
  • Plazoleta de los Zócalos
  • Carrera 29 or Umbrella Street
  • Remembrance Street
  • Community Historical Museum
  • Malecon
  • Piedra del Peñol Viewpoints

In addition to all these visits we recommend you to take a walk through the center to experience the atmosphere of this beautiful town.

In case you don’t want to worry about anything, we recommend you to book this excursion to Guatapé with boat ride included.

Day 15 to 18: Coffee Triangle

Colombia in 21 days continues with a visit to the Eje Cafetero, one of the most incredible places in the country. Please note that this information is also valid for the Colombia in two weeks tour substituting from day 9 to 12 or other destinations, depending on your tastes.

Declared a World Heritage Site in 2011 for its landscape and coffee culture, creating what is known today as the Coffee Cultural Landscape, the Coffee Axis was declared a World Heritage Site in 2011 and is located in the departments of Caldas, Risaralda, Quindio and Tolima.

Although we dedicated 8 days to this area of Colombia, according to our experience, to be able to enjoy it, a minimum of 4 days would be necessary, the time we advise you to dedicate to enjoy the most incredible things to do in the Eje Cafetero, among which you can not miss the visit to Salento, Filandia and Pijao as well as the visit to a coffee farm, trekking through the Cocora Valley and relax in the Santa Rosa de Cabal Hot Springs, as icing on the cake of the route through the Eje Cafetero.

It is important to keep in mind that the best way to tour this area of Colombia is by rental car, as this will allow you to have total freedom of schedules and movements.

We recommend you to read the post about tips for traveling to the Eje Cafetero to know all the details of this incredible place in Colombia.

Day 19 to 21: San Andres

Known for being one of the most touristic places in the country, the island of San Andres is the perfect icing on the cake for the Colombia itinerary in 3 weeks.

With a unique offer, both in hotel infrastructure and restaurants, paradisiacal beaches and a sea known as the sea of the 7 colors for its shades of blue, we assure you, it is a destination that will become part of your favorite places.

Of course, we don’t want to lie to you. San Andres also has its shadows and unfortunately the management of tourism is not as responsible as it should be and there are still activities with animals, which are outside what can be considered responsible tourism and some areas accumulate garbage because they do not have an adequate collection system.

It is for this reason that we recommend you to get informed before doing any of these activities and especially read this post about things to see and do in San Andres to enjoy the most of paradise without forgetting the responsibility we have as travelers.

Colombia in 14 and 21 days with excursions

In case you do not want to worry about anything, you have the possibility of hiring organized excursions to visit all the places that we propose in this tour of Colombia in 2 and 3 weeks.

  • Day 0: Flight to Bogota – transfer from airport to hotel
  • Day 1: Bogota: panoramic tour or free tour
  • Day 2: Excursion to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira
  • Day 3: Excursion to Villa de Leyva
  • Day 4: Bogota – flight to Cartagena de Indias – transfer to the airport in Bogota and transfer in Cartagena de Indias
  • Day 5: Cartagena de Indias: Free tour
  • Day 6: Cartagena de Indias: Full tour with entrance fees and dinner cruise
  • Day 7: Excursion to the Rosario Islands
  • Day 8: Excursion to Tayrona Park
  • Day 9: Excursion to Santa Marta or excursion to Tranquila Beach
  • Day 10: Cartagena de Indias: transfer in Cartagena de Indias – flight to Medellin: transfer in Medellin
  • Day 11: Medellin: Free tour or full Medellin tour
  • Day 12: Excursion to Santa Fe de Antioquia
  • Day 13: Excursion to Guatapé and boat tour
  • Day 14: Medellín: free tour Comuna 13 – transfer in Medellín – flight to Eje Cafetero
  • Day 15: Salento: Tour of Salento and Cocora Valley
  • Day 16: Salento: Salento: Visit to El Ocaso Coffee Farm
  • Day 17: Salento: Excursion to the thermal baths of Santa Rosa de Cabal or excursion to Córdoba, Pijao and Buenavista.
  • Day 18: Flight to San Andres – transfers in San Andres
  • Day 19: San Andres: Tour to the Cays
  • Day 20: San Andres: San Andres tour (back to the Island) – dinner cruise
  • Day 21: San Andres: transfers in San Andres – flight back to San Andres

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