Colombia’s destination guides on this site cover where to go: Medellín, Cartagena, the Coffee Region, and the rest. This hub covers what to do once you are there, for the specific activities that draw visitors to Colombia on their own merits and that cut across more than one destination: the Ciudad Perdida trek, San Gil’s adventure sports, whale watching on the Pacific coast, scuba diving, birdwatching, and hiking in the high-altitude national parks.
These are the activities that, for a specific type of traveller, are the actual reason to visit Colombia rather than a pleasant addition to a city-based trip. Colombia is the most bird-diverse country on earth, has humpback whales visible from shore for four months of the year, and contains one of the most demanding and rewarding multi-day treks in South America. None of that is adequately covered by a destination guide organised around cities.
Trekking and Hiking
The Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) Trek: A 4 to 6-day guided trek through the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta to a pre-Columbian city predating Machu Picchu. The single most demanding and most rewarding hiking experience available in Colombia.
Hiking in Colombia’s National Parks: A round-up of Colombia’s best day hikes and multi-day treks outside the Lost City, from the wax palms of the Cocora Valley to the glaciers of El Cocuy and the volcanic landscape around Los Nevados.
Adventure Sports
San Gil: Colombia’s Adventure Sports Capital: White-water rafting, paragliding, canyoning, and caving in a single small town in Santander, easily combined with a visit to the colonial town of Barichara nearby.
Wildlife and Nature
Whale Watching on the Pacific Coast: Humpback whales migrate to Colombia’s Pacific coast from June to October to breed, visible from boats and in some cases from the shore itself, around the remote towns of Nuquí and Bahía Solano.
Scuba Diving in Colombia: World-class diving around the San Andrés and Providencia archipelago, plus accessible reef and wreck diving along the Caribbean coast near Cartagena and Santa Marta.
Birdwatching in Colombia: Colombia has more recorded bird species than any other country on earth. This guide covers the main birding regions, from the Coffee Region cloud forests to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
Planning an Activity-Focused Trip
Most of the activities on this hub require more advance planning than a standard city visit: the Ciudad Perdida trek must be booked through one of a small number of licensed operators, whale watching is strictly seasonal, and San Gil’s adventure sports are weather-dependent. Each guide below covers the specific booking and timing considerations. For general trip planning, see how many days to allow and when to visit, both of which reference these activities where the timing genuinely matters.
For corrections or updates to this guide: contact@allaboutcolombia.com.
