Country itinerary · Colombia
7 days in Colombia
A route that follows geography, not a list: Medellín, Bogotá and Cartagena.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Juan Gómez, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Spend 3 days in Medellín, 2 days in Bogotá, 2 days in Cartagena. The stops are ordered to keep travel short — about 889 km in total. Go in June–July and December–March for good conditions everywhere.
Key facts
- Stops
- 3
- Total distance
- About 889 km
- Start
- Medellín
- Best months
- June–July and December–March
Days 1–3: Medellín
Spring-like Andean valley city of cable cars, Botero sculptures and paisa food
Medellín fills the narrow Aburrá Valley at about 1,500 metres, which gives it mild weather all year and the nickname 'City of Eternal Spring'.
- See: Plaza Botero, Museo de Antioquia, Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe, Comuna 13 and the outdoor escalators, Metrocable ride and Parque Arví
- Eat: Bandeja paisa and Arepa paisa
- Stay: El Poblado — Upscale, leafy hillside district of hotels, malls and the Parque Lleras nightlife
Days 4–5: Bogotá
About 239 km from Medellín.
Colombia's capital sits on a high plateau at about 2,600 metres, backed by the forested Eastern Hills and the white church on Monserrate.
- See: Museo del Oro, Monserrate, Plaza de Bolívar and Museo Botero
- Eat: Ajiaco santafereño and Chocolate santafereño
- Stay: La Candelaria — Colonial old town of museums, churches, street art and hostels below the Eastern Hills
Days 6–7: Cartagena
About 650 km from Bogotá.
Cartagena de Indias was one of Spain's main ports in the Americas, and its old town is still enclosed by about 11 km of stone walls.
- See: The walled city, City walls and bastions, Castillo San Felipe de Barajas and Getsemaní streets and Plaza de la Trinidad
- Eat: Arepa de huevo and Carimañola
- Stay: El Centro — The walled city's grand plazas, churches and boutique hotels in restored colonial houses
The route at a glance
| Stop | Days | From previous stop |
|---|---|---|
| Medellín | 3 | Start |
| Bogotá | 2 | 239 km |
| Cartagena | 2 | 650 km |
Total straight-line distance between stops: about 889 km. June–July and December–March suit every stop on this route.
What 7 days in Colombia costs
Estimated spend per person on the ground, excluding flights, from the daily ranges in our destination research. Prices change; treat these as planning figures.
| Stop | Days | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medellín | 3 | $90–$165 | $240–$450 | $750–$1,800 |
| Bogotá | 2 | $70–$120 | $180–$340 | $560–$1,400 |
| Cartagena | 2 | $80–$140 | $220–$400 | $700–$1,800 |
| Total | 7 | $240–$425 | $640–$1,190 | $2,010–$5,000 |
Cartagena is the priciest stop (moderately priced for international visitors) and Medellín the least expensive (affordable), so a longer stay in Medellín stretches the budget.
Questions travellers ask
+Is 7 days enough for Colombia?
It covers Medellín, Bogotá and Cartagena at a steady pace.