Colombia · DAY TRIPS

The 15 Day Trips in Colombia That Set the Tone

63 tours  ·  from $26

The good ones fill weeks ahead and the best go first. Book the top 15 early. Each entry carries its price, its length and the thing that sets it apart.

Bogota: Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral and Lake Guatavita Day Tour - The morning ride from Bogotá to Guatavita Town
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Bogota: Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral and Lake Guatavita Day Tour

1.Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral and Lake Guatavita Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 551 reviews · 12 hours · from $61Our pick

Travel from Bogotá to Guatavita Town, the sacred lagoon linked to El Dorado, then walk ecological trails before visiting Zipaquirá’s remarkable Salt Cathedral. Guides such as Sebastian, Sergio, Diego, and Camilo explain Muisca traditions, salt mining, plants, and Colombian history in English and Spanish. Transport and entrance tickets are included, but lunch is extra.

“The destinations in Zipa and Guatavita are a must see for a Bogota trip. And having an excellent guide like Camillo and a safe driver like Andres makes this event a super memory. I can only recommend this excursion.”

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Cartagena: Rosario Islands Day Tour with Snorkel & Lunch - Isla Grande: Snorkeling, White Sand, and Clear Water
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Cartagena: Rosario Islands Day Tour with Snorkel & Lunch

2.Rosario Islands Day Tour with Snorkel & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 402 reviews · 8 hours · from $95

Spend eight hours island-hopping from Cartagena with English or Spanish guide support. Snorkel near Isla Grande, eat fish, chicken, or vegetarian lunch at Baru, then relax at Tierra Bomba’s private beach and pool. Guides such as Franklin, Jesús, David, and John Wayne have been praised for attentive service, but the pace is brisk and the sea can be rough.

“My family and I had an amazing experience, this tour definitely felt different for the others. Our guide David Santiago was excellent, he was very informative, charismatic and friendly all the qualities a guide needs, he even warned us about prices and help us with our jetski rental at the beach. Worth every penny.”

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Medellin: Guatapé Day Trip & Boat to Pablo Escobar's Estate - Leaving El Poblado on the themed bus
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Medellin: Guatapé Day Trip & Boat to Pablo Escobar’s Estate

3.Guatapé Day Trip & Boat to Pablo Escobar’s Estate

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 365 reviews · 10h 30m · from $64

Spend about 10.5 hours exploring Guatapé from Medellín by colorful themed bus. You will cruise to Hacienda La Manuela, see Pablo Escobar’s abandoned estate, visit Peñol Rock and Guatapé, and choose paid extras such as ATVs, jet skis, or paintball. Guides including Mario, Cesar, Naomi, and Sebastian have led recent departures in English and Spanish.

“We had a great day with Cesar and Alex, they were very kind, told us a lot and it was a day full of activities.”

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Santa Marta: Sailboat day tour to Tayrona Park - Snorkeling and paddle boards from the anchored boat
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Santa Marta: Sailboat day tour to Tayrona Park

4.Sailboat day tour to Tayrona Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 352 reviews · 7h 30m · from $64

Meet the Sonata sailboat at Santa Marta’s International Marina for a 7.5-hour trip to Bahia Concha. You’ll pass Taganga Bay, Granate Bay, and Aguja Island, then swim, snorkel, paddle board, and eat grilled fish on the beach. Captain Carlos and the crew handle the sailing, with Spanish and English support available.

“I highly recommend this tour. The trip to the beach in Tayrona Park went smoothly both ways, the beach was absolutely wonderful, the water was clear, and everything was very clean. Transportation, and all details were very well organized. Sometimes on the boat it’s hard to stay out of the sun, so come prepared as it’s a little over an hour each way, and it’s easy to take a lot of sun before you even get to go out on the beach.”

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Full Day Tour of Five Premium Islands in Cartagena - Isla Grande snorkeling and the sunken plane
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Full Day Tour of Five Premium Islands in Cartagena

5.Full Day Tour of Five Premium Islands in Cartagena

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 337 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $110

Spend a fast-moving day from Cartagena visiting Bocachica, the Rosario Islands, Isla Grande, Cholón, Agua Azul, and Playa Tranquila Baru. You’ll snorkel with a mask, eat a chicken, fish, or vegetarian lunch, and may stay after sunset for glowing plankton. Guides such as Alex, Jafet, William, and Luis Alejandro have earned strong praise.

“Overall, it was a pretty good experience. Tour guide was helpful, good lunch, interesting islands... the only thing is they PACK you into the boat- no room to move and no shade from the sun. Also the drink prices on the island were outrageous. 12 dollars for a tiny drink and no one takes card. BRING PLENTY OF PESOS if you plan on having a few drinks and dinner on the beach. It also was a pretty long day (12 hours) if you stay for the bioluminescent trip so just plan accordingly.”

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Half-Day Tour of Cartagena by Air-Conditioned Vehicles - San Felipe Fortress and Cartagena’s military story
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Half-Day Tour of Cartagena by Air-Conditioned Vehicles

6.Half-Day Tour of Cartagena by Air-Conditioned Vehicles

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 105 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $55

Spend four hours seeing Cartagena by air-conditioned vehicle and on foot. Visit La Popa, San Felipe Fortress, the walled city, Getsemani, modern Cartagena, and Las Bovedas. Guides such as Nico, Richard, Adalberto, and Enrique are praised for clear bilingual explanations, though pickup times and English narration can vary.

“Really great guide - extremely knowledgeable about Colombian history and specifically of the city of Cartagena. Great stops”

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Santa Marta: Minca Coffee, Cocoa, & Waterfall Full-Day Trip - Walking through Minca’s green mountain country
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Santa Marta: Minca Coffee, Cocoa, & Waterfall Full-Day Trip

7.Minca Coffee, Cocoa, & Waterfall Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 102 reviews · from $78

Travel from Santa Marta to Minca for a full day of jungle walks, natural river pools, coffee tasting, cocoa making, and lunch with mountain views. Guides such as Tony, Gustavo, and Sadam have led guests through the route in English and Spanish. Expect steep sections, insects, and plenty of time on foot.

“Pickup from hostel was seamless. Gustavo knows his stuff and took the time to educate us on a range of topics. Great fun!”

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Full Day Tour from Cartagena through Barranquilla and Santa Marta - Barranquilla through six quick stops
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Full Day Tour from Cartagena through Barranquilla and Santa Marta

8.Full Day Tour from Cartagena through Barranquilla and Santa Marta

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 94 reviews · 13 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $85

Leave Cartagena at 4:00 a.m. for a packed day in Barranquilla and Santa Marta. You’ll see major monuments, walk Santa Marta’s center, visit the Tayrona Gold Museum, eat lunch, and spend time at El Rodadero Beach. Guides such as Charlie, Estiven, and Mario have been praised, but confirm language and prepare for a very long ride.

“This tour picked us up early at our hotel at around 4:45am, not knowing much of the details of the transportation we find that it’s a large charter bus with about 50 other people joining the tour. We rode to get breakfast which was an arepa and small cup of coffee, tasted good. Then headed over to Barranquilla where we passed through to see the landmarks. We did not go inside the city and explore. Then we made it to Santa Marta and where we had another tour guide which whom was terrific, in Santa Marta we were taken to a hotel to get served lunch which was delicious! Then…”

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Magical Full-Day Tour Through The Mangroves And The Beach In Isla de Barú - Leaving Cartagena for the Barú Peninsula
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Magical Full-Day Tour Through The Mangroves And The Beach In Isla de Barú

9.Magical Full-Day Tour Through The Mangroves And The Beach In Isla de Barú

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 90 reviews · 7 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $45

Spend 7 to 9 hours on Barú with a bilingual guide, beach time at Mambo Beach, a 30,000-peso lunch voucher, a mangrove boat trip, and snorkeling when conditions allow. Guides such as Gabriel and Jose have earned praise for their friendly help, but pickup, language, boat safety, and timing can vary.

“Playa Blanca/Magical tour is a must! The tour guides Gabriel and Jose were super friendly. The drive gives you a glimpse into the non tourist areas which I can appreciate. The beach club was nice and the staff attentive without being overbearing. The short ride through the mangrove is worth the somewhat chaotic ride to the snorkeling area. The guides were great, however I was thrown into the front part of boat that was beyond capacity (no actual seats left) and offered no life jacket. Even with the minor inconveniences, I would recommend this tour if you are looking to explore the area and be one with nature.”

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Coffee Farm Experience Private Day Tour - Coffee tasting, coffee liquor, and the lunch choice
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Coffee Farm Experience Private Day Tour

10.Coffee Farm Experience Private Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 81 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $110Top rated

Travel from Bogotá to Hacienda Coloma near Fusagasugá with a private guide such as Luis, Nataly, Leslie, or Cristian. Walk among coffee plants, learn the full seed-to-cup process, visit orchid gardens, taste coffee and coffee liquor, and add a traditional Colombian lunch. Expect a scenic ride and about eight hours on the road and farm.

“The whole experience is really nice, we learned aq lot about coffee and the process. The guide knows what is she doing and you can tell she knows everything about the subject. Was a lot of fun too. Loved it. Thank you Gaviota :D”

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Neiva: Guided Day Trip to the Tatacoa Desert with Lunch - Villavieja and the Magdalena River
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Neiva: Guided Day Trip to the Tatacoa Desert with Lunch

11.Neiva: Guided Day Trip to the Tatacoa Desert with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 76 reviews · 1 day · from $129

Meet your guide in Neiva or Villavieja from 8:30 a.m. for a full day with Juan, Serafin, Camilo, or another bilingual guide. Visit Villavieja, cruise the Magdalena River, walk Tatacoa’s red and gray zones, eat a local lunch, swim in a desert pool, watch sunset, and see planets through telescopes.

“Seraffin and Camilo as our tour guide where amazing! very knowledgeable a lot of information that really added to the experience they really wanted we enjoyed it at our own pace. Ivery worthwhile! you can buy cold water along the way:)”

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Cartagena: Rosario Island and Mangroves Private Day Trip - The road from Cartagena to Barú
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Cartagena: Rosario Island and Mangroves Private Day Trip

12.Rosario Island and Mangroves Private Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 73 reviews · 9 hours · from $244

Travel privately from Cartagena to Barú and the Rosario Islands with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide such as Luis, Sofia, Valentina, or Jonathan. Enjoy breakfast and lunch in a local home, cruise through mangroves, snorkel above coral, visit a beach, and adjust the day to suit your group.

“The trip is a delightful way to experience both the country outside of Cartagena and the Rosario islands. Be warned you have some lovely time on the beach and in the water snorkeling but it is not nearly enough! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the local wildlife (including fish), history of the area, and flexible to what we want. We ate local meals in a local home and had a place to wash off afterwards. Conditions at the home that serves as a base are primitive but authentic and sanitary. Great communication to make sure our questions were answered before the trip.”

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Cartagena: Baru Island & Playa Tranquila Day Trip with Lunch - The one-hour ride across to Barú
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Cartagena: Baru Island & Playa Tranquila Day Trip with Lunch

13.Baru Island & Playa Tranquila Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 67 reviews · 8 hours · from $26Best value

Spend about eight hours traveling from Cartagena to Barú, then walk to Playa Tranquila for swimming, sun, photos, and a typical lunch of fish or chicken, coconut rice, patacón, and salad. English and Spanish assistance is offered, but beach chairs, tents, drinks, and snorkeling cost extra. Expect a rustic walk and a busy public beach area.

“The beach we visited was truly beautiful and definitely the highlight of this trip. Unfortunately, the overall tour experience didn’t match the expectations set in the description. Our guide didn’t speak any English and there was very little interaction or explanation throughout the day, which made the experience feel disconnected. The food was also minimal, and contrary to what was advertised, the only option available was fish instead of the seafood casserole mentioned in the description. While the destination itself was stunning, the tour experience could be improved. Based on this, I wouldn’t fully recommend it unless there are changes made.”

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Private Half-Day Tour to Comuna 13 in Medellín. - Reading the city from the electric escalators
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Private Half-Day Tour to Comuna 13 in Medellín.

14.Private Half-Day Tour to Comuna 13 in Medellín.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $65

Spend 3 to 4 hours exploring Comuna 13 with a private guide such as Alexander or Juan Carlos. Ride Medellín’s cable car, walk the electric escalators and graffiti route, hear the area’s story, and enjoy hotel pickup and drop-off for $65 per person.

“Incredible experience! The Comuna 13 tour was inspiring, safe, and full of local culture. Highly recommend!”

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Guatape and Peñol Rock Full-Day Tour - The flooded village story at Old Peñol
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Guatape and Peñol Rock Full-Day Tour

15.Guatape and Peñol Rock Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 49 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $118

Travel by private vehicle from Medellín to Guatapé, Peñol Rock, the dam, and the replica of Old Peñol. Your guide may be Fabio, Juan, Joe, or Elver, with time for lake views, colorful streets, and local history. The tour lasts about eight hours and includes hotel pickup and drop-off.

“The walk to the top of the mountain, country side, boat ride, coffee shop and Guatape square. ……………. Good music”

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New in Day Trips

★ 4.5Palenque African Roots Day TourFrom $10533 reviews
★ 3.7Santa Marta and Tayrona Park Day TripFrom $1759 reviews
★ 5.0Sierra Minca Day TourFrom $9010 reviews
★ 3.9Playa Cristal in Tayrona Parque Day TourFrom $7028 reviews
★ 4.2San Basilio de Palenque Private Day TourFrom $1644 reviews
★ 4.0Sanctuary of Flamingos Day TourFrom $1246 reviews
★ 3.5National Aviary and Playa Blanca Plankton Full-Day TourFrom $8317 reviews
★ 4.4Santa Fe de Antioquia Guided Day TripFrom $616 reviews
★ 4.5Day Trip to a Jardin Coffee PlantationFrom $16516 reviews
★ 4.4Day trip with Transport, Food & BoatFrom $498 reviews
★ 5.0Guatapé & Coffee Farm, all in one dayFrom $1573 reviews
★ 4.0FULL DAY BARRANQUILLA AND SANTA MARTA 1 DAY from CartagenaFrom $913 reviews
★ 4.5Jardín, Andes, and Hispania Day TripFrom $7019 reviews
★ 4.6Guatapé Day Trip with El Peñol Rock and LunchFrom $849 reviews
★ 4.2Rosario Islands Day TripFrom $1808 reviews

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Where to go in Colombia

Pick a coast, a city or a coffee farm.

Out on the water

Rosario ReefsBarú BeachesBoat DaysSnorkellingDiving

In the cities

Comuna 13Walled CityStreet ArtThe Escobar YearsWalking Tours

Coffee and cacao farms

Coffee FarmsFinca DaysCacao KitchensFruit MarketsFood Tours

Beyond the city

Salt CathedralCocora ValleyTayronaParaglidingWaterfalls