Fancy for an unconventional Colombian adventure? Maybe you’ve already done the typical tourist route. In 2018, I hit the usual spots. And even though they are spectacular, I wanted to explore this beautiful country deeper. So a year later I came back and have been lucky enough to see places in Colombia I didn’t even know existed.
In this post, I’ll share 7 places to visit in Colombia you probably won’t hear much about, but should definitely visit:
Places to visit in Colombia – Santander
I visited the following places from Bucaramanga (aka La Ciudad Bonita) – All were super easy to get there from there. I’ve linked to step-by-step more complete guides.
1. Chicamocha Canyon (Cañón del Chicamocha)
I only heard about the canyon when I spent a month in Bucaramanga. It’s a well-known attraction for Colombians but not so much for foreign tourists. Perhaps that’s why I struggled to find out how to get there.
Anyway, I was impactado by El Cañón del Chicamocha. I didn’t seem real. Like how can nature give us something so beautiful? You look out and it’s just mountains layered on top of each other as far as the eye can see. It’s spectacular.
And they’ve done a great job of making it a perfect tourist attraction. Here are a few things you can do there:
- Take the cable car to the other side of the canyon (not for the faint-hearted).
- Zip-line and chair swing along the canyon
- Learn about the history of the Santander uprising against the Spanish – along with an amazing sculpture depicting it.
- Chill at the waterpark. Yes. Waterpark.
I’ve written about how to get there here if you fancy it.
2. Barichara (el pueblo más bonito de Colombia)
The title “pueblo más bonito” gets thrown around a lot in Colombia, but Barichara is bloody pretty. The colonial town is about an hour away from San Gil and it’s hawwt.
I recommend a few nights so you can check out the viewpoint “Mirador Salto del Mico”
And do the hike to Guane; a small village annexing Barichara. The hike is about an hour and a half along a cobbled road originally used by the indigenous population. It’s best to do it early in the morning to beat the baking sun.
Check out my guide to both Barichara and Guane here.
3. Las Gachas de Guadalupe
Las gachas (which actually translates to porridge) are a series of sinkholes along an algae-covered river near the cute town Guadalupe. The algae blossoms under the water giving a magical red and yellow coloring.
You may have seen photos of Caño Cristales toward the south of Bogota which has become popular over the years. It’s kinda like that. But smaller and less touristic.
Despite my epic fail of going in the dry season *cries in Spanish* I had to let you know about this lesser-known gem. Here’s how to get there and the full low down.
Places to visit in Colombia – Tolima
The following places we got to from Ibagué. Again, check out the links for the full travel guides.
4. Murillo
Murillo is the highest town in Tolima at 2950 meters above sea level. The backdrop is the impressive snow-capped Nevado Ruiz. From the town, you can hike through Paramo Leonora, visit the hidden laguna del Corazon, walk past la Cascada colores, and bathe en Los termales (thermal baths).
It’s a beautiful few days. If you’re looking for an unconventional, you’ll learn everything you need to know in this post.
5. Toche
Another cute town in Tolima (about 3 hours from Ibagué), Toche is home to the largest palm forest in the world – yep, bigger than the more well-known palm forest in Salento.
The town is right next to one of Colombia’s most active volcanoes, Cerro Machín. And guess what? You can stand pretty much in its crater…
We only spent a few days there but It’s one of my favorite experiences in Colombia so far for sure. You can read the full low down here.
Places to visit in Colombia – Chocó
There was bugger all online about Nuqui which is why I felt compelled to write a how to get there guide. It seems complicated but is straightforward from Medellín by plane.
6. Nuqui
You may have ventured to Cartagena or Santa Marta on the Carribean coast region, but what about the pacific coast?
The department of Chocó is a very different vibe to the touristic, colorful, sandy beaches in the north of Colombia.
I visited Nuquí, one of the towns along the coast. As we ripped through the matte green waters, the damp beach and overhanging palms reminded me of Jurrasic Park.
This was as off-the-beaten-path place to visit in Colombia as it gets. The experience was unforgettable.
You can chill on the beach, hike into the jungle, visit nearby communities, and if you’re lucky see the whales and their babies.
I’ve written about how to get to Nuquí and what to do here.
Places to visit in Colombia – Antioquia
7. San Carlos
Most tourists looking for a 1 or 2-day break from Medellín don’t go much further than Guatapé. Maybe to the next bus stop, San Rafael (also worth visiting), but not as far as my favorite pueblo in Antioquia so far, San Carlos.
A pueblo that doesn’t see many foreign tourists. But home to some of the most breathtaking landscapes, waterfalls, and charcos (rapid type rivers) I’ve seen in South America. And above all, some of the warmest and kindest people that I had the pleasure of meeting during my trip.
We spent a few days exploring the rivers around the town. And then climbing el Tabor, another impressive mountain with epic panoramic views of Antioquia.
Everything you need to know about San Carlos is here.
En fin.
I’ve left a few off the list that could have made the cut. Places to visit in Colombia like el Páramo Sonsón or Ibagué. Both hermosos. But I think those 7 are a good start. If you’d like any more advice, hit me up in the comments!
Nick
