Is Colombia Worth Visiting? (13 Reasons Why It Most Definitely Is)

Thinking About Traveling To Colombia But Wondering What Is So Special About This South American Country Or If It Is Really Worth Visiting?

As a former resident of Colombia (I lived in the Coffee Region), I explored nearly the entire country during my time here and experienced all the good and bad that Colombia has to offer, and while I might not choose to live here again, I do highly recommend visiting this South American country (all the specific details and reasons below), especially for outdoor, nature, and adventure lovers.

🇨🇴 Why Is Colombia Worth Visiting

After living in and traveling around Colombia, I still tell everyone it’s a place they should definielty add to their bucket/travel list because it’s worth visiting for so many reasons:

Ridiculously Beautiful Nature

The nature in this country is beyond beautiful, and some of the most incredible that I've ever seen.

I spent many years living in the dusty brown desert of Arizona, so when I first saw the luscious green mountains of Colombia, I was mesmerized, and lucky enough to wake up everyday in the beautiful mountainous Coffee Region (I lived in Pereira and worked in Santa Rosa de Cabal).

If I could only give one reason why Colombia is worth visiting, it would be because of how ridiculously beautiful it is.

Ancient, Colonial, & Modern History

The history was one of the main reasons I wanted to visit Colombia and why I thought it was worth visiting.

As a history major (that studied a lot of Latin American history) the ancient, colonial, and modern histories were a main draw for me moving to and traveling around Colombia.

Ancient – Colombia has lots of prehistoric and pre-Hispanic history, especially in places like Villa de Leyva, San Agustin, and the Lost City

Colonial – the Spanish Inquisition and Simón Bolívar histories were some of my favorite to see in areas like Bogota, Villa de Leyva, and Santa Marta

Modern – the drug trafficking and Pablo Escobar histories aren’t the most popular subject here, but as someone who studied it in school, I enjoyed seeing and learning more about it in a respectful way (mostly in Medellin)

Cheap Travel

One reason why Colombia is definitely worth visiting is because of how cheap it is compared to other destinations like the US and Europe.

Compared to destinations in the US or Europe, Colombia is such an economical place to visit, especially when you wait to book flights or hotels once you’re in the country (I got super cheap “Colombian” prices when booking stuff in country).

A Hikers Paradise

Hiking trails are all over the country, leading to some of the most incredible views.

I fell in love with hiking in Colombia after having amazing adventures like summiting a glacier, passing through a palm tree valley, descending down to a double waterfall, hiking up to hot springs, riding along a river lined with mountains and waterfalls, and walking next to a jungle with monkeys in the trees.

A Few Hiking Trails That Make Colombia Worth Visiting:

Cocora Valley in Salento (I went counterclockwise on the Acaime trail)
Santa Sofía in Villa de Leyva (I biked this from Villa de Leyva)
San Agustin to La Chaquira (I rode horseback here)
Nevado Santa Isabel Glacier near Pereira (I took a tour here)
La Florida – El Manzano in Pereira (I saw monkeys here)

Diverse Landscapes

Colombia is such a diverse place, considering the size of the country.

Before visiting, I expected all of Colombia to be jungle-like, but I was way off. Colombia does have jungles, but it also has deserts, snowcapped mountains, hot and humid beaches, dry valleys, cold high altitude cities, and spring-like mountainous regions.

The variety you get from exploring a relatively small country like Colombia, is a main reason why it’s worth visiting and why you should plan a longer trip here if possible.

Diverse Weather

The weather varies greatly depending on where you are in the country.

With diverse landscapes comes diverse weather, and the climate in Colombia definitely varies depending on where you are. In the Coffee Region where I lived, it was spring-like year round with plenty of rain (which I loved).

Other parts are chillier (like Bogota and Pasto), some share spring-like temperatures (like Medellin), some valleys are dry and hot (like Cali), and some coastal areas are hot and humid (like Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Barranquilla).

Friendly Locals

The people in Colombia are incredibly welcoming and friendly, which really makes this country worth visiting.

Colombians are typically extremely friendly, helpful, and welcoming to tourists, possibly because of their difficult past that kept tourism away for so many years. It’s very easy to make friends in Colombia or just approach people and ask for help.

Relatively Safe

Despite its rough past, Colombia is generally a safe place for tourists now, as long as normal safety precautions are practiced. I went all over as a solo female traveler and never felt in danger.

Tips To Be Extra Safe Here:

Avoid Late Nights Out – especially alone or with alcohol
Don’t Stray From Populated Areas – especially at night
No Dar Papaya – a Colombian saying for not creating easy vulnerable situations
Don’t Hail Taxi’s – certified taxi’s or Ubers are best
Avoid Street Food – typically unhealthy and easy to get food poisoning
Don’t Carry Everything Around – keep money scattered and use a money belt for easily concealed items
Don’t Carry An Official Passport – I suggest carrying a copy of your passport when out exploring
Avoid Airbnb’s – too many horror stories and not always cheaper

A Great Place To Adventure

Colombia is a country worth visiting for those that love to adventure.

Some of my most adventurous moments in life have taken place in Colombia from hiking up glaciers and riding horseback through pre-hispanic sites to descending into a salt mine and mountain biking to dinosaur fossils and colonial monasteries.

Colombia is the perfect adventurous destination, and definielty worth visiting for those that like adrenaline bucket list-type activities.

Unique Experiences

The glacier hike near Santa Rosa de Cabal is still one of my favorite adventures.

Colombia also has lots of unique experiences that shouldn’t be missed by anyone willing to give them a try.

Some Of My Favorite Unique Experiences Were:

Descending into a Salt Mine
Hiking up a glacier
Going to a Coffee Theme Park
Playing Tejo (like cornhole but more explosive)
Attending a local futbol game
Climbing the Guatape Rock
Volunteering in Pereira
Seeing a full Kronosaurus dinosaur
Horseback Riding through ancient pre-Hispanic sites
Seeing the previous Escobar home turned theme park

Loads Of Festivities

Colombia is one of the most festive countries in the world, with the most holidays.

When I was applying to teach in Colombia, one of their main selling points was that they have the most official holidays, 18 to be exact (12 of which are religious).

Some Festivities Worth Seeing While Visiting Colombia Include:

Popayan Semana Santa
Barranquilla Carnaval
Valledupar Vallenato Festival
Medellin Flower Fair
Bolivar Independence Fair
Cali Fair
Pasto Blacks and Whites’ Carnival

2nd Most Biodiverse Country

Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world.

With Colombia’s extremely diverse environment, it makes sense that it’s the 2nd most biodiverse country in the world with more bird, amphibian, butterfly, and frog species than anywhere else.

There’s also a sliver of the Amazon in Colombia, where you can be immersed in the Amazon without disturbing the wildlife or their habitats.

Endless Sightseeing

There is an endless amount of things to see and do in this South American country.

Colombia is such a fantastic place to explore and while visiting on a short trip is still worth it, there’s so much to see and do here that you could easily spend months and not see everything (I lived here and still wasn’t able to see every single inch of the country).

❌ Reasons Why Colombia Might Not Be Worth Visiting

While I think Colombia is definitely worth visiting, there are a few downsides that might make others think twice.

While I would disagree, some may find a few of these downsides reasons why Colombia isn't worth visiting.

Need For Spanish

In most places, fluent English isn’t widely spoken and when it is, those tourists are often charged higher rates.

Unhealthy Cuisine

Colombian food isn’t very healthy (lots of fried dishes), though there are some allergy friendly and vegan options in some areas.

Some Safety Concerns

Colombia is generally safe (for smart travelers), but you should always be alert, aware, and cautious of your surroundings and belongings.

Transportation Hassles

For those that speak Spanish, getting around Colombia is easy and cheap, but others might find it confusing and not worth the trouble.

Connection Issues

Even with data, Colombia doesn’t always have reliable cell service, especially in rural areas, which can be unsettling for those used to relying on phones.

🔁 Sum Up: Is Colombia Worth Visiting?

If you’re like me and you love historical, nature, city, or adventure trips, Colombia has it all and is definitely a country worth visiting, despite a few of the downsides like communication difficulties, connection issues, and the need to be more vigilant and aware of your surroundings. I recommend the Coffee Region for the most beautiful nature, Bogota for the best city, and San Agustin and Villa de Leyva for historical sites.