Travel advice for Colombia
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Colombia
Book your individual trip, stress-free with local travel experts
Describe your
ideal trip
Tailor your trip
with a local expert
Book your personal trip
100% securely with us
Find inspiration and
information for your next trip.
Get a local travel agent to
plan your personalized trip.
Book & travel securely with our money-back
guarantee and local expert assistance.
written by James Rice
updated 14.02.2019
Following in the footsteps of legendary author Gabriel García Márquez, James Rice takes us on a literary tour of Colombia.
Gabriel García Márquez, the acclaimed Colombian novelist who died in April 2014, never considered his stories as magical as others supposed. Amused that he was always praised for his inventiveness, he once said: “The truth is that there’s not a single line in all my work that does not have a basis in reality…the problem is that Caribbean reality resembles the wildest imagination.”
Could there be a better advert for his homeland? The Colombian Ministry of Tourism doesn’t think so: it’s adopted “Colombia, Magical Realism” as the slogan for its promotion abroad, borrowing from the literary style attributed to Márquez. And in the wake of his death, more and more readers captivated by his fiction will be heading to Colombia, once off-limits to all but the most adventurous of travellers but now proud to show its magic again. So where best to go, if you’re looking to understand the man whom many considered to be the greatest writer of his age, and his works?
Located around 80km south of Santa Marta in Colombia's northern parts, Aracataca doesn’t yet offer much for the visitor, although the house where Márquez was born and raised by his grandparents is now a simple museum with excerpts from his books, and you can visit the school he attended, the train station that bought in the banana workers, and a statue of Remedios the Beauty (a character from One Hundred Years of Solitude).
Bogota © Shutterstock
Aside from visiting the National University where Márquez studied, the main point of interest is the Centro Cultural Gabriel García Márquez, a space in La Candelaria district dedicated to reading, art and culture. Close by is a large mural with an illustrated timeline of Márquez’s life.
© Shutterstock
As a student, Márquez fled from the political riots in Bogotá in 1948 and arrived in Cartagena, destitute. He slept in a park and was promptly arrested for violating curfew. Not the best introduction to a city, perhaps, though Márquez was later to reflect that his landlady’s first words to him (“You’ll see, in Cartagena everything’s different”) would always ring true.
And so it is for many visitors to this picturesque colonial city on the Caribbean coast, whose colourful history is tied up with gold, piracy and the Spanish Inquisition. Cartagena is the setting for several Márquez novels, most notably Love in the Time of Cholera. For those who want to see the real-life equivalents of places Márquez recast, the Route of García Márquez Tour (three hours) takes in almost 40 sites linked to scenes from his novels, or there’s an excellent self-guided audio tour.
© Inspired By Maps/Shutterstock
Mompox, more than any other town in Colombia, evokes the sleepy, peaceful and dream-like atmosphere of the port towns that Márquez would pass on the River Magdalena when he travelled by boat from the Caribbean coast to Bogotá. The town is also one of the settings for The General in his Labyrinth, which tells of the last days of South American liberator Símon Bólivar.
Mompox is certainly not easy to get to – from Barranquilla, it’s at least six hours by bus, colectivo (minibus) and water taxi – but the arduous journey keeps visitor numbers down and preserves its untouched, backwater appeal. Soaking up the atmosphere is the thing to do here, though do stay at (or at least visit) La Casa Amarilla, whose owners know much about the town’s history and its associations with Márquez.
Unforgettable Colombia
Spend your first days in Colombia exploring its capital city Bogotá before heading further to the coast: Cartagena and Santa Marta will be next on the agenda. From wandering the historic city center to hiking the jungles to a virgin beach, Colombia will be an unforgettable trip!
customize ⤍Colombia: music & arts explored
If you are a lover of the arts than look no further. This trip will bring you culture, art, architecture, music and dance: visit local markets and workshops, admire the graffiti in Bogotá, discover historical city centers and “Fondas” – local bars with exotic decoration and typical Colombian music.
customize ⤍Colombia for nature & adventure lovers
Do you like adventure and nature? Then you're in luck, this trip combines the best of both. Go horse riding through the Risaralda valley and join a bike tour through Cartagena, visit the beautiful Cocora Valley and discover the Coffee Cultural Landscape. There's something for everyone!
customize ⤍Classic Colombia
Colombia's rich culture and traditions make it a fascinating holiday destination: from the streets of Bogotá move on to the stunning Valle de Cocora and Salento with its remarkable wax palms. From Medellín take a day tour to Guatapé before finalizing your trip in coastal Cartagena.
customize ⤍Exploring Colombia
Explore three of the most famous Colombian cities Bogota, Medellín and Cartagena during this 9-day trip. Get to know each city and its unique people by diving deep into the culture, history and traditions.
customize ⤍Colombia: Family Adventure
From city adventures to experiencing a pump in your adrenaline while river rafting and learning more about the different species of birds, monkeys, squirrels, peccary and other species that can be found during an exiting rainforest trail....this truly is a trip packed with family fun activities!
customize ⤍Best Machu Picchu and Galapagos Islands Tour Package
Explore a trio of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in this Machu Picchu and Galapagos tour package! Your journey begins in Quito, home to the Middle of the World. Afterward, fly on over to the Galapagos Islands the best biodiversity hotspot and following with the sublime Machu Picchu in Peru.
customize ⤍Magnificent Colombian Highlights
Discover the vibrant beauty of Colombia. From the bustling streets of Bogota to the colorful charm of Cartagena, this trip has it all. Visit the stunning natural wonders of Puerto Narino and explore the vibrant culture of Medellin.
customize ⤍Traditional Colombia
This 7-day trip lets you explore Bogotá and Cartagena. Be amazed by the Zipaquira's Cathedral of Salt, discover local flavours of the city and learn about Cartagena's culture. To top it off, you will be shown how to dance salsa, the dance of passion.
customize ⤍Fascination Colombia - Medellin & Cartagena
This beautiful trip has you stay in 2 different centers - Medellin and Cartagena. From there, you will explore Colombia's culture and traditions, including Guatape, an authentic cooking class, horseback riding in nature and much more.
customize ⤍Explore more of Colombia with this Rough Guides Snapshot. Book hostels for your trip, and don't forget to purchase travel insurance before you go.
written by James Rice
updated 14.02.2019
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Colombia
Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert
Book securely with money-back guarantee
Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support