Colombia was one of my favorite countries to figure out while backpacking. I spent a month and a half there in January – February 2022 for a total of 44 days. There are an endless amount of things to do in Colombia from beautiful beaches to hikes and deserts and islands. I started in Medellin and bused down to the Coffee Triangle and visited Salento (which is the town that inspired Encanto!) and Jardin, and then back to Guatape, and flew to Cartagena, and explored all along the northern coast such as Isla Rosario, Taganga, Santa Marta, into the La Guajira desert and back. 
Visiting Colombia will erase all preconceived notions you may have once had about this country based on media or what people who have never visited told you and replace it with the best memories of people and places you’ll ever have. The only way to experience this incredible country is to see for yourself. 
This map shows the route I took.
Check out my Tiktok about my Colombia guide if you want a shorter, visual version of this.
Colombia is great for backpackers because there’s a pretty extensive bus system, domestic flights are very affordable, there are so many other solo travelers to travel with.
All of the hostels I stayed at and listed are super backpacker and solo traveler friendly.
Colombia is so big and you can easily travel in the country for months. Some places that I missed that I want to go back to are: Cali, the Pacific coast, Tatacoa Desert, Bogota, Leticias for the Amazonas, and San Gil. It’s also very popular to sail from Colombia to Panama or vice versa through the San Blas Islands which is also something I wanted to do. 
Some places were a little more complicated to get to and you might have to take colectivos which are shared vans that you hop into and get out when you’re where you need to go.
Let’s get started! I started my trip in Medellin because anyone who has been to Medellin only has good things to say about the city.
Fly into Medellin
I spent a week in Medellin and it’s a city that everyone loves. The energy in the city is just electric. There’s Latin music playing everywhere, there’s so many people out and about, it really makes you feel alive.
Where to stay: Viajero Hostel
It’s located in El Poblado neighborhood which is a great place to stay if you’ve never been to Medellin and feels very safe. Viajero is a chain hostel that is consistently good. They’re a bit pricey but if you’ve never been to Medellin, it’s an easy option and they have a rooftop with hot tubs that’s super social.
Things to do:
- Tour of Comuna 13 and graffiti tour
- Walking tour
- Visit a viewpoint at el Mirador de Yeyo
- Take a day trip to Guatape (I actually spent a few days there which I would recommend more)
- Go out to a salsa bar at calle 70 or Gringo Tuesdays (Super touristy but can be fun)
- Visit park Parques del Rio Medellin
- Visit the Botero Museum (one of my personal favorite artists)
Places to eat:
- Mondongo’s Restaurant for local Colombian food
- Pergamino Cafe
- El Cielo restaurant for a nice dinner
- Nomada coffee shop
- Hongbao for ramen
Bus to Salento (Valle de Cocora) 
Salento is famous for the Valle de Cocora and it’s part of the coffee triangle. The Valle de Cocora is one of my favorite hikes that I did in Colombia. You’ll see the tallest palm trees in the world there! The town inspired Encanto and is so colorful! 
I already have a Salento Weekend Itinerary posted to reference!
Where to stay: Coffee Tree Boutique Hostel
Things to do:
- Hike Cocora Valley
- Take a coffee farm tour: If you go into town as ask one of the jeeps, they’ll take you to a coffee farm.
- Explore the town
Bus to Jardin or fly to Cali (I bused to Jardin)
Jardin is a beautiful small town in between Salento and Medellin. It’s a bit harder to get to and you have to take 2 separate buses but it’s still worth visiting! If you take the bus from Medellin, it’s much quicker.
Where to stay: Sgt. Pepper’s Hostel
Things to do:
- Take the cable car up to see the city
- Explore and hike the waterfalls nearby
- Go to the viewpoint of Cafe Jardin
- Visit the cave, Cueva de los murcielagos
Where to eat:
- Cafe Macanas
- Dulces del Jardin for delicious baked goods
- Bon Appetit for amazing Italian food
- La Parrilla de mi Pueblo for traditional Colombian food
Bus to Guatape
I spent a few days in Guatape which is a very chill, little adventure town about an hour from Medellin. Most people will take a day trip there but if you want to relax and not rush yourself, it’s worth spending 2 days here. I just went to the bus stop in the morning and got a ticket to take the bus. The most famous thing to do in Guatape is to climb the rock, El Peñón, but you can also go paragliding, take a boating trip, visit Pablo Escobar’s old house, etc. 
I also have a Guatape guide already on the blog with all the activities I did.
Where to stay: Lake View Hostel
Fly from Medellin to Cartagena
After Guatape, I took a bus back to Medellin and took a flight to Cartagena for about $30. You can also take an overnight bus and it takes around 12 hours. And I was so excited to be back on the coast! Cartagena is super lively and filled with street musicians and art. The walled city is beautiful and Getsemani is my favorite neighborhood there. 
Where to stay: Casa Zahri 
Things to do:
- Take a walking tour, the history in Cartagena is fascinating, especially the Getsemani neighborhood
- Go to a beach club like Wala beach club or Playa Bocagrande for the free beach and enjoy the water and sun
- Watch the sunset and get drinks at Plaza de Reloj
- Visit park Centenario and see the sloths
- Take a boat day to one of the neighboring islands like Isla Rosario or Baru
- Take a coffee class at Cafe del Mural
- Go out to Alquimico, a super hip, huge bar
- Live Lula pub for karaoke
Where to eat:
- Demente Bar for tapas food
- Restaurante San Valentin for amazing seafood (fancier)
- Roses d amour jardin for the cutest brunch spot
- Porthos steakhouse for casual burgers
- Tahini Kebab for amazing Lebanese food
- Mirador Gastro Bar for rooftop vibes and views
Take a boat to Isla Rosario
I wanted a true beach vacation for a few days so I went to Isla Rosario for a few days.
Where to stay: Secreto Hostel
I came to Isla Rosario because I specifically heard how nice Secreto Hostel was. When I visited, it was only $10 a night so it was super worth it and not that expensive for what I got and there were a bunch of activities to do near the hostel and bonfires and parties. It looks like the hostel is much more expensive now with mixed reviews so be cautious if you choose to stay.
Things to do:
- Go snorkeling to a sunken ship
- Visit a beach club
Take a bus to Santa Marta and Taganga
After Cartagena, I took a bus to Santa Marta and stayed one night there and another two nights in Taganga. Taganga is a small beach town where you can scuba dive. Santa Marta is a pretty big city so the vibes are more city instead of beach. Santa Marta is also famous for the start of the Lost City Trek.
Where to stay: Viajero Hostel Santa Marta and Divanga Hostel in Taganga
Things to do:
- Go out in Santa Marta with the hostel pub crawl
- Do the Lost City Trek
- Scuba dive in Taganga
Go to Riohacha for La Guajira Desert Tour 
From Santa Marta, I went to La Guajira for a 4 day tour which is one of my favorite “off the beaten path” spots and super worth visiting. It’s the northernmost tip of South America and the sunsets there are magical. Most people take a tour in La Guajira which is what we did since you’re driving through the desert and the population is the most indigenous in Colombia.
We bused to Riohacha which is where the tour started from.
Where to stay: Hostel Laguna Sala
Here is my guide for the La Guajira tour.
Bus to Palomino from Riohacha
Palomino is perfect for backpackers and digital nomads. The vibes are super chill and the main activities to do are walk around town, go to the beach, and visit cafes. 
Where to stay: El Zoo Hostel for a nice pool and breakfast
Things to do:
- Go to the beach
Where to eat:
- Cafe Holss for delicious vegetarian food
- Casa Nostra for amazing pizza
- Barba Beach Arabic food for amazing falafel
- Casa Cocotte for a super unique menu
Visit Tayrona National Park for my last stop in Colombia
I took a colectivo aka a shared van from Palomino to Tayrona National Park in under an hour which is pretty famous in Colombia. You can camp inside the park and sleep in tents or hammocks that are provided. I stayed at a hostel about 10 minutes from the park. You can get your tickets at the door and there are multiple entrances. There weren’t too many food options. I just stopped when I saw a spot or ate at the hostel. 
Where to stay: Origen Hostel where I stayed or Journey Hostel which is pretty famous
Things to do:
- Explore the park for a few days, go to the beaches, do some hiking, take a horseback ride. There are a bunch of monkeys in the park to watch!
