Tips and travel experiences by bus in Colombia

I visited Colombia in January 2016 and I’m heading back from August 6th to 17th with the same airline to see how things have changed. Starting August 18th, I’ll continue with independent exploration. I prefer slow travel and enjoying places at my own pace. Any tips—especially for getting around or must-see spots—are welcome!

Thu Aug 06. Fly Montreal to Bogotá 20:55-04:05+1 Air Canada Fri Aug 07. Bogotá Sat Aug 08. Bogotá Sun Aug 09. Bogotá Mon Aug 10. Fly Bogotá to Medellín Tue Aug 11. Medellín - Explore Guatapé Wed Aug 12. Comuna 8 & Hill of Values - PM Fly to Pereira Thu Aug 13. Montenegro Fri Aug 14. Salento - Cocora Valley Sat Aug 15. Fly to Cartagena Sun Aug 16. Explore Cartagena Mon Aug 17. Explore Cartagena Tue Aug 18. Fly Cartagena to Cali 12:20-14:55 Latam Wed Aug 19. Cali Thu Aug 20. Cali Fri Aug 21. Cali Sat Aug 22. Bus Cali to Popayán 09:00-13:00 Sun Aug 23. Popayán Mon Aug 24. Popayán Tue Aug 25. Popayán - Day trip to Silvia (Market Day) Wed Aug 26. Overland Popayán to Tierradentro by public transportation 4h, 100km Thu Aug 27. Tierradentro Fri Aug 28. Tierradentro Sat Aug 29. Overland Tierradentro to Garzón via La Plata Sun Aug 30. Bus Garzón to San Agustín 10:30-13:00 Mon Aug 31. San Agustín Tue Sep 01. San Agustín Wed Sep 02. San Agustín Thu Sep 03. San Agustín Fri Sep 04. Overland San Agustín to Tatacoa Desert via Neiva Sat Sep 05. Tatacoa Desert Sun Sep 06. Fly to Bogotá via Neiva 16:00-17:00 Latam Mon Sep 07. Bogotá Tue Sep 08. Fly Bogotá to Montreal 09:00-16:30 Air Canada

I made a mistake—Colombia instead of Bolivia—I don’t know how to delete the post!

I made a mistake - Colombia instead of Bolivia - I don’t know how to delete the message !

Hi Hoai, I thought it was odd that I’d visited Bolivia a bit and couldn’t find my notes in your itinerary 😉 I reported it to the mods—they should fix it themselves. Safe travels! I don’t know Colombia, so I can’t help you out...

Hello

I prefer slow tourism and enjoying places at my own pace.

Sun Aug 30. Bus Garzón to San Agustín 10:30-13:00 Mon Aug 31. San Agustín Tue Sep 01. San Agustín Wed Sep 02. San Agustín Thu Sep 03. San Agustín Fri Sep 04. Overland San Agustín to Tatacoa Desert via Neiva

I see you’ve planned several days in San Agustín... I went there in 1979. Unless there have been major changes since then, apart from visiting the archaeological site and a nice waterfall not too far away, I don’t think there’s much else to see. Personally, I took a bus from Neiva (a town with a western vibe—lots of horse riders) to San Agustín. Back then, San Agustín was a dead end; no roads led out of it. Maps even labeled it "Carretera en proyecto." So, I walked to Popayán in 3 days via mule trails through the Central Cordillera, passing by the sources of the Magdalena (Colombia’s longest river). Each night, I stayed in a village (for a small contribution). Great memories! Even though the road has certainly been built since then, if you want to travel slowly, walking the route (in the opposite direction) might be an option.

I hope there have been some changes since then. I'll use it as a base camp to explore the region and rest.

Hello Hoaitran, We (three long-time retirees) returned from Colombia three days ago, full of wonderful memories after three weeks there. Colombia is a must-visit as soon as possible, as prices will certainly rise with the influx of tourists. We organized the trip with a local agency (taxis and guides most of the time) to make it more comfortable for our age, and this choice proved very useful, if only for the driving. The condition of the roads is very poor except on major routes, but you must be very attentive as you’re never safe from a pothole or uneven surface. Plus, motorcycles need to be watched very closely, especially in cities. One guide told us that motorcycle fatalities outnumber those from drugs. For our part, we didn’t visit the Caribbean coast, but we do regret missing Cartagena (we had to make a choice). Bogotá is a beautiful city in the upscale neighborhoods. It’s packed with diverse activities and is very tourist-friendly. Monserrate is a must-see, of course. Medellín is also worth discovering. It’s very modern, with the only surface-level metro in Colombia—useful despite its limitations. Don’t hesitate to take the cable car for the view over the city. Comuna 13 is surprising with its tourist activity. We didn’t explore the Pacific coast. Five days in San Agustín seems like a lot. However, you should visit Filandia. It’s a very colorful town with magnificent facades. The Tatacoa Desert is a must. Another visit: El Estrecho del Magdalena and, nearby, a family working with banana bark fiber to make fine fabrics and tablecloths. It would be a shame to miss Salento and its Cocora Valley, with the wax palms that can grow up to 90 meters tall (very crowded). Not far from Medellín, Guatapé (a very beautiful town) and its El Peñol Rock, with 750 steps leading to a stunning view of a vast lake with boating and residences owned by people from Medellín. Flight from Medellín to Bucaramanga. We traveled from Bucaramanga to Bogotá for our last five days, passing through Barichara, a very beautiful town, and its Camino Real to Guane. Then, Villa de Leyva and its large square. Fossils are everywhere in this town. We’ll keep great memories of the incredible variety of flowers, fruits, birds, and the kindness of the people. Don’t forget to visit a *finca* for coffee, cocoa, or tobacco. Have a great trip—it’s sure to be amazing!