Trip Ideas for Colombia

Colombia has plenty of far-flung locations that make for a perfect tour of the country or side trips to your main travels, but it takes time to get there. If your timeframe doesn’t allow for a long overland trip, consider flying to these great destinations from the major cities.

Getaways close to airports in larger cities such as Santa Marta, Neiva, Montería, and Yopal are served by various major airlines. Check smaller airlines such as Satena (Colombian toll-free tel. 01/800-091-2034) or Aerolínea de Antioquia (Colombian toll-free tel. 01/800-051-4232) for the smaller destinations.

A plane lands at Olaya Herrera Airport in Medellín. Photo © Yhonatan Moreno, licensed Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike.

From Bogotá

• Hacienda La Aurora: See wildlife like never before at this cattle ranch and nature reserve in the Llanos. (Airport: Yopal)
• Caño Cristales: Discover the secret of the multicolored waters at this serene national park in the southern Llanos. (Airport: La Macarena)
• San Agustín: You’ll be blown away by Colombia’s best-preserved archaeological site, nestled in the rolling mountains south of Neiva. (Airport: Neiva)
• Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona: Enjoy a quick beach break at the spectacular PNN Tayrona. Be sure to save some time for a jungle hike to El Pueblito, remnants of a former Tayrona settlement high in the mountains. (Airport: Santa Marta)

From Medellín

• Pacific Coast: Breathtaking sunsets, remote beaches, and the chance to see visiting humpback whales make for a memorable getaway from Medellín. (Airport: Bahía Solano or Nuquí)
• Capurganá: On the Panamanian border, Capurganá is a Darien Gap outpost, home to tropical rainforest and wild beach landscapes. (Airport: Acandí or Capurganá)
• Reserva Natural Viento Solar: Rejuvenate at this nature reserve set in tropical dry forest along a strip of forgotten coast north of Montería. (Airport: Montería or Tolú)

From Cali

• Parque Nacional Natural Isla Gorgona: Colombia’s version of the Galapagos Islands was also once its Alcatraz. You’ll have this incredible island park almost all to yourself. (Airport: Guapi)

Excerpted from the First Edition of Moon Colombia.