15 Reasons to Visit Colombia

Written By: The Planet D

Guest Writer Aram Balakjian shares his reasons to visit Colombia and why it is more than cocaine.

There are few countries so bound by a single association as Colombia is to cocaine. In many corners of the world, Pablo Escobar simultaneously stands as the most famous drug lord of all time and the most famous Colombian.

Yet Colombia is a country rich in diversity, beauty, and ecology (in fact it is the second most bio-diverse country in the world after Brazil).

Reasons to Visit Colombia

15 Reasons to Visit Colombia
15 Reasons to Visit Colombia

Cocaine? It’s a mere footnote. Here are 15 reasons to visit Colombia.

15. The best view in the world

reasons to visit colombia best view in the world

The view from the top of “La Piedra” (The Rock) in Guatape, a climb of 649 steps.

The reservoir was formed during construction of a hydroelectric dam in the 1960s and now produces approximately 13% of Colombia’s electricity.

14. A desert that is not a desert

colombia tourism desert

The view out to Tatacoa Desert, a tropical dry forest with a rich, colourful terrain, teeming with life both past and present; it is considered one of the largest vertebrate fossil sites in the Americas and as such has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site.

Read: Salar de Tara – An Awesome Alternative to Salar de Uyuni

13. Storms from the gods

things to do in colombia storm of the gods

As the rainy season arrives, lightning strikes the city of Medellin.

Because Colombia is hot and mountainous, storms are often delivered in epic fashion.

At peak times of the year, these storms form a constant dramatic backdrop to the city.

Read: 17 of the World’s Best City Skylines in Photos

12. Mysterious worlds in the sky

what to do in colombia

The view down to a small lake in Los Nevados National Park.

Altitudes reach over 5,000m in the park, meaning visitors often find themselves observing brutal rock formations, cascading waterfalls and snow capped volcanoes, through passing clouds.

11. Driving roads to die for

reasons to visit colombia driving dangerous roads

The road which winds its way through Chicamocha Canyon is a great driving experience, with the scenery to match. Chicamocha Canyon is over 2km deep and is considered Colombia’s own Grand Canyon.

In true Colombian style, it even has a mini theme park at the summit!

Read: 4X4 Off Road Driving in Ireland

10. Skies that burn

visit colombia skies

Due to the intense sunshine and changeable clouds, sunsets in Colombia can seem to set the sky alight.

This one was captured over the town of Chachagüí.

9. Fruits you have never seen

reasons to visit colombia

Biodiversity does not just mean plants and animals, Colombia has a myriad of edible diversity too!

Here a man holds up a Cherimoya (Custard Apple) he is selling. Inside the fruit is filled with hard black seeds which are covered with a sweet silky skin that can be gently sucked off, one by one.

Read: Moroccan Cuisine – Foods to Try and How to Eat Them

8. The tallest palm trees in the world

colombia has the tallest palm trees in the world

It’s an odd thing to claim, but once you have seen the incredible wax palms of the Valley called Cocoura, you will understand why it is a claim worth making.

The trees here can reach heights of up to 60m and cover the green rolling hills like goose-pimpled hairs.

7. A road you might actually die for

colombia roads

The “Trampoline de Muerte” (Trampoline of Death) is also known as “Adios mi vida!” (Bye bye my life!).

It is Colombia’s most dangerous road and it’s not hard to see why.

Despite work in recent years to add barriers, large sections of this dirt road, which is prone to landslides, remain unprotected from the sheer drops.

In 2011, more than 500 people lost their lives along this route which connects the town of Mocoa (home to the recent tragic landslides) to the city of Pasto.

6. The Amazon

colombian amazon

When you fly from Bogota to Leticia, the Colombian town deep in the Amazon Rainforest, all you can see out of the plane window is endless green canopy, for two hours!

Once you arrive, the Amazon has endless wonders to offer the adventurous explorer.

Read: What to Expect on an Amazon River Cruise

5. A Desert that meets an ocean

colombia travel deserts and mountains

Right at the top of Colombia is La Guajira, a vast desert which is virtually untouched by the modern world. Here, on the northern most tip of South America, the deep turquoise of the Atlantic ocean washes up against golden sands, populated by little more than pelicans and crabs.

4. An ocean that meets a rainforest

colombia travel rainforest

Cross over to the other side of the country and you will find an equally isolated coastline, only this time it’s the Pacific ocean that crashes against long white sand beaches that lead directly into the wild rainforest.

And if you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the whales that bask in the deep waters a little way from the shore.

3. A Gothic church in an unlikely place

travel colombia gothic church

The Colombians take their Catholicism very seriously. So seriously that they built Las Lajas Sanctuary in this canyon.

The church was built between 1916 and 1949, inspired by a miraculous sighting of the Virgin Mary at the site in 1754.

Read: 18 Things to do in Rio de Janeiro

2. Landscapes of epic proportions

reasons to travel to colombia landscape

Colombia does not just do landscapes, it does epic landscapes.

This is the Juanambú Canyon – 50km north of Pasto – which has been carved into the rock over thousands of years by the flow of the Turbio river.

1. A people worth meeting

number 1 reason to visit colombia the people

Where Colombia’s diversity really shows through, however, is in its people.

From the kids playing on the isolated beaches of La Guajira, to the indigenous people of the Pacific coast, to the enthusiastic young volunteers building homes in Medellin’s favelas, Colombia is as diverse in its population as it is in its ecology.

There is one thing that all Colombians have in common, however: their genuine smile.

About the author: Aram Balakjian is a traveller, photographer, and writer from London. He recently spent 7 months in Colombia exploring the country. Check out his blog The Road Untold and follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO. 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

  • Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
  • Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

About The Planet D

Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine, the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

Leave a Comment

19 thoughts on “15 Reasons to Visit Colombia”

  1. Amazing pictures and great article, I wish there were more posts about Colombia that do not remind us of of that painful history we want to forget. I am from Colombia myself and after living for almost 20 years in the UK my, my London life is coming to an end as my roots pull me back. My dream project is to set up a hostel in my native town of Santa Rosa de Cabal, this is in the coffee region and my little town is famous for the hot springs, I hope to one day in the not so far away future have the opportunity to show the hidden gems that so often missed in tourists itineraries because only locals know about them, mi casa es su casa 🙂

    Reply
  2. Inspiring article and fantastic photos. But how exactly could one of the most dangerous roads on earth dubbed ‘adios mi vida’ be in a bcuket list of reasons and motives to visit Colombia? 😉 I do think we found our next estination though!

    Reply
  3. Loved your Photos. but, Someday we hope that articles praising Colombia will not start with cocaine and Pablo. It hurts the country to continue with this bad rep. Wouldn’t you think tice before visiting or investing after reading your intro?We have made great strides since hewas killed, winning all sorts of international acclaim. You didn’t emphasize that.

    Reply
  4. Colombia is one of my favorite countries from my travels across South America. Truly a spectacular place. Thanks for trip down memory lane.

    Reply
  5. What a beautiful country, not to mention your photos. They are just excellent! Articles like these really show the beauty of a country, so people can see the real Columbia – and not just what they have heard or seen on TV. I have almost always found the people to be the best part of each place I have been to. It is always great to spend time with, and get to know, the local people. Aram… continue taking photos. I really enjoyed them.

    Reply
  6. Beautiful article! Colombia is a truly amazing place. Colombia’s equatorial position affords it a diversity of landscapes matched by few countries. People there are incredible, who ensure you leave with a different impression than the one you landed with.

    Reply
  7. Great post! I cannot wait to go to Columbia! We are planning on heading there this next winter. How long do you suspect would be enough time to spend in Columbia to see a lot of things? I know it’s a strange question, but we have wanted to go for years and almost did from Panama in 2015 but the ferry couldn’t bring our car we drove from the states over until September. It was July. So we didn’t make it. We can’t wait to go however and your post only wets the appetite even more. Thanks!

    Reply
  8. I had to read this after seeing the featured image of Guatape. That place is surreal and climbing to the rock is an adventure in itself. Not to mention one of Pablo’s old houses is located along the water.

    Reply
  9. Wow! You make me crazy for Colombia. It makes me like to book my tickets now for Colombia. Great Pictures, Good to Read! I am also traveler and love to visit on different places. I didn’t know these things about Colombia.

    Thanks!

    Reply
  10. Colombia is truly an underrated country with a bad reputation that it doesn’t deserve. You have shown some of the best sides of an incredible country – but I´m sure there´s so much more hidden beauty to be discovered! I feel like Colombian culture has something in common with Brazilian culture: open, friendly people, breathtaking landscapes and nature, and a love for music and culture. I loved Rio when I was there, and loved the mix of modernity and nature that you can also find in Colombia.

    Reply
  11. OMG! Looks like you had a blast! Your photos make me want to go to Colombia, too! Hopefully soon…. i recently planned las Vegas trip through BookOtrip, after read this article, i really excited to go Colombia…

    Reply
  12. These photos are absolutely stunning! There are so many things about Colombia, This gives a virtual tour of Colombia with your photos. Thanks for sharing this wonderful images with us.

    Reply
  13. I love the title of this. Yes, there’s plenty of reasons to visit Colombia other than the cocaine, lol. When I was originally planning my trip there, I was so stoked to go to Las Lajas! It looks stunning. Unfortunately my trip got postponed, so I’ll be making it a priority for later this year.

    Reply
  14. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about Colombia lately! This photos are just incredible and I think a trip to Central and South America is in order! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  15. Wow! Looks like a country with a little bit of everything. I’d love to see those palm trees – I’m so used to only seeing them in deserts that I’d love to go somewhere green enough for cows to graze beneath them. And odd and wonderful sight!

    Reply
  16. That’s the great thing . If you don’t have much money, you can travel for really cheap. If you have a lot of money, you can find really nice accommodations, and it’s still not very expensive compared to other countries.

    Reply