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How many days in Colombia? 9 days from Bogota to the coffee hills and Cartagena
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Colombia's main sights sit in three separate worlds: the cool Andean capital at 2,640 metres, the green coffee mountains and the hot Caribbean coast. Roads between them are slow, so fly: domestic flights take about an hour. Give it nine days, in this order: Bogota, Medellin, the Coffee Region around Salento, and Cartagena to finish on the coast.
Short answer
Seven days covers Bogota, Medellin with Guatape, and Cartagena. Nine days adds the Coffee Region, with a farm visit and the walk among the wax palms of the Cocora Valley.
The 9-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Bogota: La Candelaria and Monserrate
Morning. Start in La Candelaria, the colonial centre, at Plaza de Bolivar with the cathedral and Congress. Walk 5 minutes to the Botero Museum, free, with dozens of Fernando Botero's rounded figures and his own collection of European art.
Afternoon. The Gold Museum (Museo del Oro, a few thousand pesos, free on Sundays) holds tens of thousands of pre-Hispanic gold pieces, including the Muisca raft linked to the El Dorado legend. Allow 2 hours.
Evening. Ride the cable car or funicular up Monserrate (about COP 30,000-35,000 return) to 3,152 metres for sunset over the city, then eat ajiaco, Bogota's chicken and potato soup, in La Candelaria.
Take the altitude seriously on day one: walk slowly, drink water and skip alcohol until the evening.
Day 2: Zipaquira Salt Cathedral and Usaquen
Morning. Go 50 km north to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, a church carved inside a salt mine 180 metres underground, about 1-1.5 hours by car or tour (entry roughly COP 100,000-120,000 for foreigners).
Afternoon. Lunch in the colonial square of Zipaquira, then return to Bogota's north and Usaquen, a former village with a Sunday flea market, cafés and craft beer.
Evening. Dinner in the Zona G or Chapinero, the city's food districts.
Bogota is cool all year, about 7-19°C, and rain often comes in the afternoon. Pack a waterproof and a warm layer.
Day 3: Medellin: Comuna 13 and the Metrocable
Morning. Fly about 1 hour to Medellin. From José María Córdova airport the drive down to the city takes 45-60 minutes. Base yourself in El Poblado or Laureles.
Afternoon. Take a guided tour of Comuna 13, once among the most violent districts in Latin America, now known for its outdoor escalators, murals and hip-hop. Local guides tell its story best; tours cost about COP 60,000-100,000.
Evening. Ride the Metro and Metrocable gondolas over the hillside neighbourhoods at dusk (a metro fare is about COP 3,500), then eat bandeja paisa, the region's huge plate of beans, rice, pork crackling, egg and arepa.
Keep your phone out of sight on the street and use ride apps at night.
Day 4: Guatape and El Penol
Morning. Take a bus from the Terminal del Norte, about 2 hours, or a day tour to El Peñol, a granite rock about 200 metres high. Climb its 740 steps (about COP 25,000-30,000) for the view over a reservoir full of islands.
Afternoon. Walk 10 minutes into Guatape, a small town whose houses are decorated with zócalos, painted relief panels at the base of the walls. Take a boat on the reservoir past the ruins of Pablo Escobar's old estate.
Evening. Dinner in Provenza, El Poblado, or on La 70 in Laureles.
Go on a weekday; on weekends and holidays the queue to climb El Peñol can be long.
Day 5: To the Coffee Region: Salento
Morning. Fly 35-45 minutes to Pereira or Armenia, or take the 6-8 hour bus through the mountains. From either airport, Salento is about 1 hour by taxi or bus.
Afternoon. Walk up Calle Real, Salento's street of painted balconies, and climb the steps to the Alto de la Cruz lookout over the valley.
Evening. Eat river trout with patacón, a flattened fried plantain, the local speciality, and try the game of tejo, throwing a metal disc at targets of gunpowder.
Book early for Colombian holiday weekends (puentes).
Day 6: Cocora Valley and a coffee farm
Morning. Take a Willys jeep from Salento's main square to the Cocora Valley (about 30 minutes, a few thousand pesos). Walk among the Quindio wax palms, Colombia's national tree, which grow up to 60 metres. The full loop takes 5-6 hours; the short walk to the palms about 1.5 hours.
Afternoon. Visit a coffee farm near Salento, a 30-45 minute walk or short jeep ride, for a tour from plant to cup, about COP 30,000-60,000.
Evening. Dinner on Salento's square.
Start Cocora early: clouds often cover the palms from midday, and the trails turn muddy after rain.
Day 7: Cartagena: the walled city
Morning. Fly to Cartagena, direct or via Bogota. The coast is around 30-32°C all year.
Afternoon. Enter the walled city through the Clock Tower gate and wander from Plaza de los Coches to Plaza Santo Domingo, with Botero's reclining woman, past wooden balconies and bougainvillea.
Evening. Walk the city walls at sunset, then cross into Getsemaní for street art, Plaza Trinidad and salsa bars.
A firm "no, gracias" works with insistent vendors; agree on prices before any carriage ride.
Day 8: Castillo San Felipe and La Popa
Morning. Visit Castillo San Felipe de Barajas (about COP 30,000-35,000), the largest Spanish fortress in the Americas, with tunnels built to defend the port. Go at opening to avoid the midday heat.
Afternoon. Take a taxi up to the Convent of La Popa for a view over the bay and the towers of Bocagrande.
Evening. Dinner in the old town: ceviche, fried fish with coconut rice, and a limonada de coco. A good restaurant costs COP 80,000-180,000 per person.
Try an arepa de huevo, a fried corn arepa with an egg inside, from a street stall for breakfast.
Day 9: The Rosario Islands
Morning. Take a boat from the Muelle de la Bodeguita to the Islas del Rosario, about 1 hour across open sea, for snorkelling over coral and white sand. Day trips cost roughly COP 150,000-350,000.
Afternoon. Swim and eat fried fish at a beach club, or sleep at an island eco-lodge. Playa Blanca on Barú is cheaper but very crowded.
Evening. Return by about 16:00 for a last dinner in Getsemaní.
Bring cash for the port tax and extras; the sea can be rough from December to March.
Only have 7 days?
With 7 days, drop the Coffee Region: two days in Bogota, two in Medellin with Guatape, and three in Cartagena.
Got extra days?
With 12 days, add Santa Marta and Tayrona National Park (about 4 hours from Cartagena), or the colonial towns of Villa de Leyva and Barichara.
Where to stay in Colombia
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | La Candelaria, Laureles, Salento centre and Getsemaní | Hostels and simple guesthouses close to the sights and nightlife. | COP 120,000-220,000 |
| Mid-range | Chapinero (Bogota) and El Poblado (Medellin) | Safe, walkable districts full of restaurants, near metro and taxis. | COP 250,000-450,000 |
| Mid-range | Coffee farm stays near Salento | Wake up on a working finca with a valley view. | COP 250,000-450,000 |
| Comfort | Boutique hotels inside the walled city of Cartagena | Colonial mansions with plunge pools and roof terraces. | COP 800,000-2,000,000 |
Getting around
Fly between regions: Avianca, LATAM, Wingo and Clic link Bogota, Medellin, Pereira, Armenia and Cartagena in 35 minutes to 1.5 hours, often COP 150,000-400,000 one way booked ahead; check baggage fees. In cities, use ride apps or registered taxis at night. Bogota has the TransMilenio buses and Medellin an efficient Metro.
What to eat in Colombia
In Bogota, try ajiaco and, for breakfast, changua, a milk and egg soup. In Antioquia, the bandeja paisa is a day's food on one plate. On the coast, eat fried fish with coconut rice. Taste the fruit juices: lulo, maracuyá, guanábana. A set lunch, the menú del día, with soup, main and juice, costs COP 15,000-25,000.
Best time to visit
Colombia has no single season: temperature depends on altitude. December to March and July to August are generally drier; the Andes see more rain in April-May and October-November. Bogota is about 14°C on average, Medellin 22-28°C and Cartagena 30-32°C all year. Christmas, New Year and Easter are busy and expensive, especially in Cartagena.
Month-by-month weather for Colombia →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | COP 70,000 | COP 160,000 | COP 450,000 |
| Food & drink | COP 60,000 | COP 120,000 | COP 250,000 |
| Sights & tickets | COP 30,000 | COP 80,000 | COP 150,000 |
| Local transport | COP 60,000 | COP 120,000 | COP 200,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about COP 220,000 | about COP 480,000 | about COP 1,050,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Colombian pesos (roughly COP 4,000-4,200 to US$1); transport averages the domestic flights. Foreign tourists can usually have the 19% IVA removed from hotel bills by showing the passport entry record.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Colombia safe for tourists?
The main tourist route of Bogota, Medellin, the Coffee Region and Cartagena is visited safely by millions each year, but petty theft and scams are common. Do not flash phones or jewellery, use ride apps or registered taxis, and never accept drinks from strangers, especially in Medellin's nightlife. Avoid remote rural areas that your government advises against, and check current travel advice.
Should I fly or take buses in Colombia?
Fly between regions. Bogota to Medellin is about 1 hour by air and 9-10 hours by bus; Medellin to Cartagena is 1h15 by air and 12-13 hours by road. Buses make sense for short legs like Medellin to Guatape or Pereira to Salento. Book flights a few weeks ahead for the best fares.
What do I need before arriving in Colombia?
Most European and North American visitors need no visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Fill in the free online Check-MIG migration form within 72 hours before your flight. Carry proof of onward travel, as airlines may ask for it. A yellow fever vaccine is recommended for some jungle areas, not for this route.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
It helps a lot. Hostels, tour agencies and smart hotels speak English, but taxi drivers, small restaurants and buses usually do not. Learn basic phrases and use a translation app. Colombians are patient with learners, and the Spanish of Bogota is clear and relatively slow.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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