3-Week Itinerary in Colombia This Summer

Hi there, We’re heading to Colombia for 3 weeks from the 9th to the 29th. Here’s the itinerary we’ve planned: Week 1 – Bogotá, mountains, hike in Páramo de Ocetá (8 nights) August 9: Arrival in Bogotá (1 night) August 10–12: Villa de Leyva (2 nights) August 12–14: Monguí + Páramo de Ocetá (2 nights) August 14–17: Barichara (3 nights) Week 2 – Authentic coffee region: Jericó, Pijao, Buenavista (6 or 7 nights) August 18–20: Jericó (2 nights) August 20–21: Salento Hike in La Carbonera August 21–24: Pijao (3 nights)

For the last week, we’re torn between: -The Pacific Coast – Nuquí/Jurubidá (5 or 6 nights) -The Caribbean Coast – Cartagena + Rincón del Mar / Bahía de Cispatá or Tayrona

We’re traveling with our 20-month-old baby, who’s used to traveling and handles transportation and hikes really well. We plan to rent a car and take domestic flights to get around easily.

We’re looking for a trip a bit off the beaten tourist path and would love your thoughts and recommendations on the itinerary and the final options. Caribbean or Pacific? Is Tayrona crowded? Is the park really worth the detour, or is the Pacific coast just as beautiful and wild?

The Pacific coast will undoubtedly be much less crowded since it's far more difficult to access, but it's becoming a trendy destination, so... something to consider. We didn’t have time to go there, and it really weighed on the budget, especially since we had to park our 4x4 during that time!

We spent a good week on the Caribbean coast. While traveling long-term in Colombia, we had hesitated a lot about going to Tayrona (see our review here), but in the end, we really enjoyed it because we love hiking as a family, and it’s one of the most beautiful walks in Colombia—and one of the most stunning spots on the Caribbean coast. Of course, it’s touristy, so you have to leave early in the morning to avoid the crowds, return to the campsite for a nap, and go back out for a walk in the evening. That way, you avoid the big groups. For the beaches, walk as far as possible, and then there’s almost no one!

Rincón del Mar requires a big detour from Cartagena (which we really liked, even though it’s quite touristy—some nice museums to visit!). Even though we loved the place (after a year in South America), it’s more for the chill vibe—there’s still nothing exceptional there (the people who go are often those staying in Colombia for a long time).

Be careful: in August, it’ll be very hot and humid on the Pacific coast for the baby, so adjust your hiking schedule accordingly.

Haha, it's the new trend now—wanting to "get off the tourist trail" by going to the most touristy spots in the country... and when you actually suggest real off-the-beaten-path routes, people don’t want them—it’s too complicated for them.

Anyway, that said, if you *really* want to get off the beaten path, don’t set foot on the Caribbean coast near Rincon del Mar, Cartagena, or anywhere like that. For the *real* off-the-beaten-path Caribbean side, fly into Montería and head to the coast between Arboletes and Necoclí.

For the Pacific coast, it’s still not too crowded, so pretty much anywhere (except maybe Buenaventura) you won’t be bothered by crowds. The beaches are huge and beautiful, though the tidal range is massive, and everything is still very wild. We spent a week in the village of Pangui near Nuquí—it was amazing, except for the weather :/

Tayrona Park is great, and the Santa Marta area is a solid spot for chilling and some gorgeous beaches. Personally, I think the beaches in that zone are way prettier than in Rincon del Mar, for example.

1 week in the colonial villages 1 week in the Kf zone 1 week by the sea (Pacific or Caribbean) It’s a good balance.

You’re not overrun by hordes of tourists in Colombia. It’s just busier in Cartagena or Tayrona. I haven’t been to the Pacific side, but since you’re in a "Red" zone (check France Diplomatie’s advice), I’m a bit doubtful about keeping busy for a week (whale watching aside).