Colombia · HISTORICAL TOURS

The 15 Historical Tours in Colombia Worth Your Morning

32 tours  ·  from $12

A trip has one spare day and a hundred ways to spend it. These 15 historical tours earn the slot, priced and timed so the decision takes minutes.

Cartagena: Historic Center and Getsemaní Shared Walking Tour - From Plaza Cervantes to the Clock Tower
Cartagena Tours, Historical Tours, Shared Tours, Shared Tours in Cartagena, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Cartagena, Walled City & Getsemaní Tours

Cartagena: Historic Center and Getsemaní Shared Walking Tour

1.Historic Center and Getsemaní Shared Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,716 reviews · 2h 30m · from $12Our pick

Walk from Plaza Cervantes through Cartagena’s Walled City and Getsemaní with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide such as Dani, Legacy, Robert, or Álvaro. Expect colonial landmarks, forts, slavery history, indigenous culture, street art, local tips, tropical shade, and a little salsa or champeta. The $12 price includes the guide and paid tip.

“We liked the tour with Legacy our guide he was very entertaining and made the tour really fun! We really recommend the activity. It allows you to either refresh your knowledge or see things from another angle.”

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Shared Tour Cali's Historical Downtown - La Merced to the Río Boulevard
Cali Tours, Historical Tours, Shared Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shared Tour Cali’s Historical Downtown

2.Shared Tour Cali’s Historical Downtown

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 143 reviews · 2h 30m · from $13

Explore Cali’s historic center on a shared English-language walk with Beyond Colombia. Follow a route from La Merced through the Calima Gold Museum area, major plazas, theaters, churches, and the Río Boulevard while learning how Afro-Colombian culture, salsa, soccer, drug trafficking, protest, and the arts shaped the city. The tour costs $13 and includes a chontaduro tasting when available.

“unfortunately this tour didn't happen, but the guy offered me a replacement market food tour instead which was really good, Fernando was fantastic 👌”

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Medellín: History & Local Life Essentials Tour on an E-Bike - Starting at Ciudad del Río and the Creative District
Bike Tours in Medellin, Cycling Tours, E-Bikes, Historical Tours, Historical Tours in Medellin, Medellin Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Medellín: History & Local Life Essentials Tour on an E-Bike

3.History & Local Life Essentials Tour on an E-Bike

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 130 reviews · 3h 30m · from $48

Ride a comfortable e-bike from Ciudad del Río through Medellín’s center with a bilingual local guide. You’ll visit Botero Plaza, San Antonio Park, Parque de las Luces, Plaza Mayor, and Parques del Río, while learning about art, conflict, renewal, and daily life. Guides including Dayana, Dani, Toto, and Andrés have earned especially warm praise for their humor and care.

“Dayana was an amazing host. I had an amazing time riding the streets of Medellin. Dayana is a very safe and cautious rider so you don't have to worry about anything as you enjoy your bike ride. She is very passionate about the culture, the history, and the people of Medellin. I learned a lot during the ride as we stopped at historical locations throughout the city. I only wish I had more time in Medellin. I feel I would enjoy that bike ride every day.”

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Historical Shared Tour Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance in Cali - Parque de las Piedras and the city’s meeting places
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Historical Shared Tour Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance in Cali

4.Historical Shared Tour Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance in Cali

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 107 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $14Top rated

Walk through central Cali with a Spanish-speaking guide such as Cristian or Juliana, linking salsa, graffiti, and popular resistance. You’ll visit ten city landmarks, learn dance steps, play instruments, see murals, and finish at Cimarrón Salsa Bar. The three-hour tour costs $14, excludes food and drinks, and accepts up to 30 people.

“The tour guide Cristin was amazing he was very knowledgeable and made what would be a boring experience fun. I would highly recommend doing this tour”

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Shared Tour of Bogota's Historic Downtown (La Candelaria) - Bolivar Square and the making of a capital
Bogota Tours, Historical Tours, Shared Tours, Shared Tours in Bogota, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shared Tour of Bogota’s Historic Downtown (La Candelaria)

5.Shared Tour of Bogota’s Historic Downtown (La Candelaria)

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 100 reviews · 2h 30m · from $13

Start beneath the red umbrellas outside Bogotá’s Museo del Oro, then walk through La Candelaria with an English or Spanish-speaking guide. Expect Bolivar Square, Chorro de Quevedo, El Bogotazo, Botero, graffiti, an emerald market, and a possible chicha tasting. Guides such as Juliana, Lorenzo, Leo, Santiago, and Byron bring the city’s past into focus.

“Very good foot tour. Excellent guide in Byron. Great use of 3hours.”

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Medellin Historic Walking Tour - Meeting at Alpujarra and reading the city’s old center
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Medellin Historic Walking Tour

6.Medellin Historic Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 86 reviews · 3h 30m · from $14

Walk central Medellín with an English-speaking local guide from Real City Tours. Over 210 minutes, you’ll see the Old Railroad Station, Alpujarra, Botero Square, El Hueco, and San Antonio Park while learning about Paisa culture, art, politics, and the city’s hard-won changes. Guides include Suzy, Germán, Hernán, Julio, Carolina, and Dio.

“Carolina had a lovely personality and was very knowledgeable. We are glad we did the tour. And thank you for the local vegan resto recommendation. Although Google had predicted the meeting point was only 10 minutes away from our hotel, it actually took a full 30 minute so we were late. I appreciate the various whatsup messages they sent to help us catch up and meet the group. A proactive customer service oriented group, kiddo.”

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From Medellín: Private Pablo Escobar History Tour - Barrio Pablo Escobar and the problem of simple heroes
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From Medellín: Private Pablo Escobar History Tour

7.Private Pablo Escobar History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 84 reviews · 4 hours · from $63

Spend four hours with a private English- or Spanish-speaking guide visiting Parque de la Memoria, Barrio Pablo Escobar, Escobar’s grave, and the house where he died. Guides such as Carlos Andres, Manuel, Andres, and Jhon bring local context to the story. You can also add Comuna 13, Medellín’s famous open-air graffiti gallery.

“If you choose one daytrip in Medellin. This is it👍”

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Historical tour Bogota - Plaza de Bolívar, where the city story begins
Bogota Tours, Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Historical tour Bogota

8.Historical tour Bogota

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · from $19

Spend about three hours walking Bogotá’s historic center with guides such as Paula, Ricardo, Jennifer, Diane, or Carlos. Visit Bolívar Square, Teatro Colón, Chorro de Quevedo, La Concordia Market, the Eje Ambiental, and Rosario Square while learning about El Dorado, Botero, García Márquez, the Bogotazo, Colombian politics, food, and daily life.

“Paula is a phenomenal tour guide, brimming with knowledge about Colombia's history and politics. Her tour included a memorable stop at the Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center, enriched by her insightful commentary and love of literatuRead more”

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Cali: Walking tour of the historic center - Walking into Cali’s traditional center
Cali Tours, Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Cali

Cali: Walking tour of the historic center

9.Walking tour of the historic center

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $41

Join Valley Adventours for a 2 to 3 hour walk through central Cali. Guides such as Julio and Marcela bring the city’s churches, gold artifacts, salsa culture, local fruit, and colonial streets to life. Groups are limited to 7, with a typical Cali drink included.

“Excellent guide. Wonderful historical knowledge. English was great. This was awesome all around - So many people skip Cali, but it has a rich history of its own.”

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Trekking History and Indigenous Heritage in Minca + Cacao & Coffee + Waterfall - Starting at Minca’s Central Park
Chocolate & Cacao Tours, Chocolate Tours in Santa Marta, Coffee Experiences, Hiking & Trekking, Hiking Tours in Santa Marta, Historical Tours, Santa Marta Tours, Tour Reviews, Waterfall Tours

Trekking History and Indigenous Heritage in Minca + Cacao & Coffee + Waterfall

10.Trekking History and Indigenous Heritage in Minca + Cacao & Coffee + Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 63 reviews · from $41

Meet your bilingual guide in Minca’s Central Park for a medium-level trek through Tayrona heritage trails. Visit Cabanas Bosque Cacao, an Arhuaco family farm, to learn about coffee, cacao, and Indigenous traditions, then relax at a natural waterfall if conditions allow. Guides may include Jorge, Andres, or Santiago.

“Jorge was a great guide! Really enjoyed this informative tour and would recommend!”

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Visit Palenque with natives : history, culture and ancestral legacy - Benkos Bioho and the Story of Resistance
Cartagena Tours, Historical Tours, Palenque Cultural Tours, Tour Reviews

Visit Palenque with natives : history, culture and ancestral legacy

11.Visit Palenque with natives : history, culture and ancestral legacy

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $102

Spend about 6.5 hours in San Basilio de Palenque on a private cultural tour from Cartagena. Native guides such as Neudis, Romeo, Royman, and Victor introduce you to Palenque language, music, medicine, murals, boxing, religion, and food. Transport, water, and lunch are included, with translation available when arranged.

“The enhanced knowledge that I have gained as a result of this tour has changed my entire life. Learning about The Palenque Natives has been enlightening and inspiring. Our private tour guide, Neudis was pleasantly intelligent along with our translator, Liliana who is a jewel and a joy to know made the tour an unforgettable experience. This tour is a must while in Cartagena”

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Chiva Private Cultural Tour with Audio Guide in Buga - Cabal Park, the theatre, and the city’s public spaces
Cali Tours, Chiva Bus Tours, Guided Tours, Historical Tours, Private Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Chiva Private Cultural Tour with Audio Guide in Buga

12.Chiva Private Cultural Tour with Audio Guide in Buga

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 49 reviews · 2 hours to 2 hours 40 minutes (approx.) · from $15

Explore Buga by private chiva with an English or Spanish audio guide, passing the Basilica, Cathedral, theatre, bridge, and Castle. Stops include Cecilia Payán sweets, regional wine at Cava Montoro, Amaretto Café, and a Valluna empanada. Guides such as Carlos, Sebastián, Miguel, and Sandra may accompany the ride.

“This tour is short and sweet! It was the perfect way to spend a Thursday afternoon in Buga. The tour gives you historical details of the sites while the audio explains detals and history of the city and each stop.”

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7-hour City Tour of Historic Bogotá with Monserrate - Walking the old streets of La Candelaria
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7-hour City Tour of Historic Bogotá with Monserrate

13.7-hour City Tour of Historic Bogotá with Monserrate

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 47 reviews · 7 hours · from $118

Spend seven hours with a private bilingual guide such as Juan Carlos, Carlos, or Lifred, visiting Monserrate and Bogotá’s historic center. Ride up the mountain, see La Candelaria, Plaza de Bolívar, Botero Museum, and the Gold Museum, then taste Colombian fruit, juice, and coffee prepared by a professional barista.

“I had a great time on my tour of Bogota. I was over on business and didn’t have much time and this tour allowed me to fit a lot in, in a relatively short time. Would have like a like more time to pick up some souvenirs, but other then that, it was perfect”

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Santa Marta A Historical & Street food Experience - Starting at Casa de la Aduana and the Tairona Gold Museum
Dining Experiences, Food & Drink, Food Tours, Historical Tours, Santa Marta Tours, Tour Reviews

Santa Marta A Historical & Street food Experience

14.Santa Marta A Historical & Street food Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 41 reviews · 2 hours · from $56

Walk Santa Marta’s old center with a bilingual guide in English or Spanish. Visit the Tairona Gold Museum, cathedral, parks, churches, cemetery, and historic streets while learning about Tayrona culture. The experience includes a local drink and may include ceviche, lulo, juice, and empanada tastings, though food stops can vary.

“We enjoyed the gold museum and learning about the Tayrona people as well as the history of Santa Marta, the architecture of the buildings and Gabriel Garcia Marquez murals. Great to taste traditional food and drinks of the area as well. My only critique was that it was supposed to be 2 hours and was closer to four, but with that being said we loved Sergio, in addition learning about the history we asked a lot of basic questions about the area and he gave us ideas of things we should do and see while here. He was very personable and easy to talk to. Very evident that he enjoys…”

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Pablo Escobar Historic Tour and Cable car - At Jardines Montesacro, the grave and family connection
Cable Car Tours, Historical Tours, Historical Tours in Medellin, Medellin Tours, Pablo Escobar Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Pablo Escobar Historic Tour and Cable car

15.Pablo Escobar Historic Tour and Cable car

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 38 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $65

Spend about four hours with City Vibes Tours visiting Pablo Escobar’s memorial park, grave, former prison ruins, and the Los Olivos rooftop linked to his death. Guide Jaime is noted for clear historical explanations. The tour ends with an included cable car ride near Comuna 13. Bottled water and fees are included, but lunch is not.

“Jaime was our tour guide and he was EXCELLENT! The tour was very informative and we learnt a lot. We also enjoyed the tour to the fullest.”

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New in Historical Tours

★ 4.3Flower Farm & Silletero History TourFrom $7023 reviews
★ 3.6PRIVATE TOUR OF MAIN SQUARES, HISTORICAL SITES + LOOKOUT POINTFrom $593 reviews
★ 5.0Tour to The Cathedral – History of Pablo Escobar and his ImpactFrom $1603 reviews
★ 5.0Pablo Escobar Historical Tour Complete ExperienceFrom $18015 reviews
★ 4.8Medellin downtown: History and culture through fun storiesFrom $06 reviews
★ 4.5Salt Cathedral tour a Cultural Heritage TourFrom $7023 reviews
★ 5.0Complete Tour in Comuna 13: Graffiti, History and Street DelightsFrom $1611 reviews
★ 5.0History, Culture & Coffee ExperienceFrom $1525 reviews
★ 4.4Candelaria Unveiled: Cool-tural Heritage Walking TourFrom $166 reviews
★ 4.9Bogota’s Historic Center and Monserrate in one dayFrom $1168 reviews
★ 4.9Walking tour of the historic centerFrom $3718 reviews

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Comuna 13 Tours52Street Art31Pablo Escobar Tours44Cable Car Tours19City Tours93Walking Tours45
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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