Colombia is a captivating land rich in cultural heritage and ancient treasures, with countless tales to tell. From sophisticated pre-Columbian civilizations to colonial triumphs and struggles, this country showcases its colorful history with abundant enthusiasm. Here is a guide to eight of the best places to visit in Colombia, each offering a distinct glimpse into its complex past.
1. The Walled Old Town of Cartagena
Ever wanted to visit a historic town that is so ridiculously beautiful as to appear photoshopped in real life? If yes, head straight to Cartagena — Colombia’s most celebrated UNESCO World Heritage town.
Cartagena’s old town is defined, quite literally, by seven miles of defensive walls built in the 16th century to ward off pirates and invaders. Within its protective hold are cobblestone streets, colonial palaces, churches, plazas, and colorful houses with balconies overflowing with flowers. This is undoubtedly one of the most photogenic towns in the world. Yet, behind the stunning façade lies a history of indigenous oppression that pretty much set the tone for Spanish colonialism in the Americas.
To understand Cartagena’s history and significance, visiting two major sites is necessary. The first is the Indigenous History Museum (Museo Historico de Cartagena de Indias) on Plaza Bolivar. It is housed in the former Palace of the Inquisition, which served as the headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition in Colombia. This chapter in South American history may be a hard pill to swallow, yet given Cartagena’s significant role in the subjugation of Colombia’s indigenous population, it is an essential stop for history buffs. The second unmissable attraction is the small yet fascinating Zenu Gold Museum (Museo de Oro), part of a network of regional museums designed to showcase indigenous artistic and cultural wealth.
Insider Tip: To avoid the ubiquitous cruise ship crowds that overwhelm Cartagena daily, wake up early to explore the walled quarter and head up to our next highlight at dawn. This will give you a quieter experience and a legendary sunrise view.
2. Castillo San Felipe, Cartagena
The term “formidable” is often attributed to fortresses around the world, although few are truly worthy of the accolade. San Felipe is definitely one of them! The most impenetrable fortress the Spanish ever built in the New World, Castillo San Felipe sits atop San Lazaro hill, affording jaw-dropping views of the Caribbean and the quaint historic city center of Cartagena.
The castle was constructed to safeguard what had become the most valuable and plundered port in colonial times. Its only job, one it did exceptionally well for over 200 years, was to protect Cartagena’s prized commodities such as gold, silver, cacao, tobacco, and African slaves.
San Felipe’s brilliance lies in its unique design. It is essentially a network of smaller forts connected by underground tunnels. To capture it, invaders would have had to seize every fort sequentially while maintaining control of each one, which proved impossible. The underground tunnels are a popular, albeit eerie, tourist attraction today.
Insider tip: Interested to know more about pirate raids and epic naval battles of yesteryear? Then don’t miss Cartagena’s Naval Museum, which covers Spanish naval exploits from the 16th to the 21st century. Discover more about the ongoing quest to find missing treasures.
3. Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City)
One of Colombia’s most astonishing archeological highlights is the Lost City of the Tayrona people. The citadel predates Machu Picchu by almost 700 years and is nestled deep in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the country’s north. It comprises a sophisticated series of agricultural terraces carved right into the mountainside, tiled streets, and several small plazas. Believed to have been the focal meeting point of several indigenous Tayrona villages, The Lost City was abandoned during the Spanish conquest and swallowed up by the lush jungle for nearly four centuries. It was rediscovered in 1975 and only fully mapped in 2019. Over 200 structures have been unearthed on the site thus far, including aqueducts, homes, and ceremonial halls spread over 80 acres.
One of the best aspects of visiting Ciudad Perdida is that it requires a rather challenging journey — a multi-day trek through lush jungles and past Indigenous villages. This makes it an excellent destination for history enthusiasts who enjoy channeling their inner Indiana Jones. For more insight into the local indigenous civilization that built the city and then mysteriously disappeared, visit the Tayrona Museum in Santa Marta, preferably before embarking on your hike.
Insider Tip: The Lost City and its surrounding indigenous lands are fervently protected. You cannot hike to the archeological site alone, so you must book your permit and take a guided trek through one of five certified agencies based in Santa Marta. The trek is not particularly difficult because, unlike the Inca Trail in Peru, you are not dealing with significant altitude challenges here. Yet the path is slippery, and conditions are always humid, so it is moderately tricky.
4. Popayán (La Ciudad Blanca – The White City)
Little known outside Latin America and one of the most underrated highlights in Colombia, the blinding-white city of Popayán is the country’s religious heart, known primarily for its unique Easter celebrations. Initially founded in 1537, the town played a crucial role in both the Spanish conquest and, three centuries later, Colombia’s fight for independence. The charming historic core is a colonial-era treasure, its white buildings resplendent and wonderfully restored, for the most part. It is one of the best places to visit in Colombia if you love history but could do without the tourist crowds often found on the country’s well-trodden gringo trail (a term jokingly used to describe the most touristy path).
Despite the historical importance of the Popayán, what caught UNESCO’s attention, aside from the town’s gastronomy, is the annual Holy Week procession. The elaborate ritual dates back to the 1500s and features richly decorated floats depicting scenes from the Passion of the Christ (the religious event, not the Hollywood blockbuster), paraded through the town’s main streets. Each day has a dedicated event, be it the procession of the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, the Crucifixion, the Burial, and the eventual Resurrection. The events are incredibly authentic — a startling sight for any visitor interested in religious history.
Insider tip: The processions of Popayán are not only among the oldest religious celebrations in the Americas but also the most important events in Colombia’s religious calendar. Although the city is blissfully uncrowded for 51 weeks of the year, it is overcome with visitors during Holy Week. For fervently religious Colombians, Popayan is a veritable pilgrimage site at Easter. Plan and book your visit months in advance if you can!
5. Museo Nacional Guillermo Valencia, Popayán
Gastronomy and religion aside, Popayán holds a fundamental place in the hearts of Colombians for altogether different reasons. The city played a vital role in Colombia’s fight for independence due to its strategic location and the involvement of its elite in the revolutionary movement.
The city was built upon riches traded between Bogota, Cartagena, and Ecuador over centuries, which explains the extravagant mansions and churches that adorn it. Initially loyal to the Spanish crown, Popayán’s elite would go on to support and amplify the calls for independence, providing financial support, military leadership, and protection to revolutionary leaders. By the turn of the 19th century, Popayán was a hub for intellectuals and politicians.
Colombia was the first nation in South America to gain independence from Spain, and its struggle for freedom is recounted in Popayán’s Museo Nacional Guillermo Valencia. The museum, housed in the former residence of Guillermo Valencia, showcases artifacts, documents, and memorabilia related to the fight for freedom, and exhibits related to Valencia’s life and work.
Insider tip: The Valencias were one of Popayán’s wealthiest families for nearly 200 years, and the family home has been turned into an ardently protected shrine. Visiting is free of charge, but you must walk around with a local guide, which is a silver lining. The volunteer guides are passionate about their task and can tell you more about the city’s history than you could ever read in any guidebook. For this reason alone, visiting the museum should be the first thing you do when you arrive in town.
6. San Agustín Archeological Park
One of the most impressive archeological sites in South America, San Agustin is a must for ancient history lovers. The expansive park protects the most extensive collection of pre-Columbian religious relics on the continent and is also considered the largest ancient cemetery in the world. UNESCO-listed and way off the gringo trail, San Agustin is a jaw-dropping site, replete with more than 500 statues, monoliths, and sarcophaguses, all focusing on death, burials, and funerary ceremonies. Some of the statues are over 2,000 years old.
One of the most endearing aspects of the ancient treasures of San Agustin, apart from their incredible detail and sheer colossal size, is the fact that nothing is known about the people who created them. They remain unknown to this day.
Insider Tip: San Agustin town and its archeological park are in the remote and lush highlands of the Colombian Andes, in one of the most underrated provinces in the country, Huila. The site is less visited because it takes at least four hours to get here by bus from the nearest airport (Neiva), but it is immensely worthwhile if you have the time. It is one of the best places to visit in Colombia if you wish to discover the real side of local life and visit a priceless historical site.
7. La Candelaria, Bogotá
The capital of Colombia, Bogota, is an impressive “catch-all” destination for history lovers. One of the best places to visit in Colombia if you are tight for time and wish to learn more about every aspect of the country’s long-standing history in just a few days.
Considered the cultural heart of the city, La Candelaria is a hive of bustling activity day and night. Its cobbled streets host some of the country’s most prominent historical buildings. The expansive Plaza Bolivar is at its epicenter, framed by the colonial-era National Capitol, Palace of Justice, and the grand Cathedral of Bogota, the first church built in the capital in 1539.
Lovers of ancient history should carve out some time to visit the Museo del Oro, home to the world’s most extensive collection of pre-Hispanic gold artifacts. It is a wonderful way to learn more about the distinct ancient cultures who ruled over these lands before Europeans arrived. If modern art is more up your alley, don’t miss your chance to visit the Botero Museum and all its fantastically rotund displays. Colombia’s favorite sculptor and figurative artist bequeathed over 100 of his works, plus almost 100 other works of art he had collected over his lifetime, to the care of a bespoke museum created in his honor. The collection, which comprises works by Picasso, Salvador Dali, Monet, Matisse, and many others, is now considered one of the most important international art museums on the entire continent.
Insider tip: Bogotá is the third-highest capital in the world, sitting at a lofty 8,660 feet. To enjoy a hassle-free stay, plan to do little more than short walks on your first day in town to help you acclimate to the altitude. Also note that Bogotá is revered for its vibrant street art scene — a guided graffiti tour is a fantastic way to learn about the city’s history, politics, and culture through its colorful murals. It is also a safe way to explore some less touristy neighborhoods.
8. Basilica Santuario de las Lajas
Colombia’s most Instagrammable historical site, the Sanctuary of Las Lajas, boasts an impossibly photogenic location, perched on a bridge about 320 feet above the Guáitara River Gorge. The astonishing Gothic-style church was built between 1916 and 1949 to honor a miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary that occurred on this site 300 years earlier.
Legend has it that the Virgin Mary appeared to a local woman and her deaf-mute daughter sheltering in a cave. A shrine was built on the site almost immediately, and over time, it evolved into the spectacular sanctuary that stands today. The initial shrine is still intact, and you can visit it in an underground chapel. The sanctuary is recognized for its religious, architectural, and cultural significance in Colombia and was consecrated by the Vatican in the 1950s.
Insider tip: Unless you are planning to catch mass at the sanctuary, best to avoid visiting on a Sunday — or any other Catholic holiday. And do dress modestly — this is, after all, the most revered religious site in the country. To capture the site in the best light for photography, head to the La Lajas viewpoint (Mirador de la Lajas) on the opposite side of the gorge.
