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🇨🇴 Itinerary · Colombia · 7 days

1-week Colombia itinerary 2026: the essentials

7 well-paced days: Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena. The essential format for a first trip to Colombia, with domestic flights, costed budget and detailed transport.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

7 days

Stops

3 places

Average budget

€1,200-1,800

Total distance

~1,600 km

Profile

First time

Season

Dec-Mar

Bogotá 2d · Medellín 2d · Cartagena 3d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

Colombia 1-week itinerary map: Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

7 days, day by day

1

~€55/day

Bogotá · Arrival and altitude

  • Morning Arrival at El Dorado (2,640 m). Rest to acclimatise to the altitude.
  • Afternoon Colonial La Candelaria district, Plaza de Bolívar.
  • Evening First dinner in the Zona G, scouting out arepas and ajiaco.
🛌 🛌 La Candelaria · e.g. colonial boutique hotel (2 nights)·🚖 Taxi or Uber from the airport·Colombia guide →
2

~€50

Bogotá · Gold, art and Monserrate

  • 9am Museo del Oro (pre-Columbian goldwork collection, €1).
  • 12pm Lunch then the Botero museum (free, works by the master).
  • 4pm Funicular to Monserrate (3,152 m), view over the city.
  • 8pm Evening in the Zona Rosa.
3

~€70

Bogotá → Medellín · City of eternal spring

  • Morning Flight Bogotá → Medellín (1h, ~€45).
  • Afternoon Comuna 13 on a guided tour: street art, escalators, history.
  • Evening Dinner in the trendy El Poblado district.
🛌 🛌 El Poblado · e.g. design hotel in Provenza (2 nights)·✈️ Domestic flight
4

~€55

Medellín · Guatapé day trip

  • 8am Day trip to Guatapé (2h drive): climb El Peñol (740 steps), view over the lakes.
  • 1pm Colourful village of Guatapé, lakeside lunch.
  • 6pm Back to Medellín, cable-car ride for the night view.
5

~€75

Medellín → Cartagena · Colonial Caribbean

  • Morning Flight Medellín → Cartagena (1h15, ~€50).
  • Afternoon First walk of the walled old town, ramparts at sunset.
  • Evening Dinner on Plaza Santo Domingo, tropical fruit juices.
🛌 🛌 Walled centre · e.g. colonial casa (3 nights)·✈️ Domestic flight
6

~€50

Cartagena · Old town and Getsemaní

  • Morning San Felipe de Barajas castle (€6), history of the walled city.
  • 2pm Getsemaní district: murals, lively squares.
  • Evening Sunset at Café del Mar on the ramparts.
7

~€60

Cartagena · Rosario islands and departure

  • 8am Boat trip to the Rosario islands (Islas del Rosario), snorkelling, beach.
  • 4pm Back to town, last purchases (coffee, emeralds).
  • Evening Cartagena airport (CTG), return flight via Bogotá or Madrid.
⛵ Boat + ✈️ return flight

How much

Budget for this itinerary (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€1,200

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €750
  • 🏨 Hostel: €18/night
  • 🍽️ Set lunch: €8/day
  • ✈️ 2 domestic flights: €95
  • 🎫 Activities: €90
Recommended

Comfort

€1,550

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €800
  • 🏨 Boutique hotel: €55/night
  • 🍽️ Mixed dining: €22/day
  • ✈️ Domestic flights: €110
  • 🎫 Activities + guides: €140

Premium

€3,000

per person

  • ✈️ Business class: €1,700
  • 🏨 5★: €180/night
  • 🍽️ Renowned tables: €55/day
  • 🚖 Private transfers throughout
  • 🎫 Private tours + private islands: €350

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

You're here

1 week

1 week

Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena. The essential format.

2 weeks

2 weeks

Add the coffee region and the wild Caribbean coast of Tayrona.

1 month

1 month

The grand tour, from the Andes to the Amazon and the Tatacoa desert.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

Over 7 days, Colombia is best covered by air: the mountain roads are slow and winding. This itinerary rests on 2 domestic flights (Bogotá-Medellín-Cartagena) and Ubers in town. Budget ~€95 for domestic transport.

✈️

Flight Bogotá → Medellín

€45 · Avianca, Latam, Wingo · 1h

✈️

Flight Medellín → Cartagena

€50 · 1h15 · book early

🚖

Uber and taxis in town

rides at €3-6 · safer than hailing on the street

🚌

Guatapé day trip

shuttle or bus from Medellín · 2h drive

⛵

Boat to the Rosario islands

~€35 for the day · departs Cartagena harbour

Adapt by season

One dry season per region, not one for all

Colombia has no winter or summer, but alternating dry and wet seasons that vary with altitude. December to March is the main dry season, ideal everywhere: cool Bogotá at 19°C, mild Medellín at 24°C, hot Cartagena at 31°C on the Caribbean coast. July-August offers a second dry window. Avoid April-May and October-November, the two rain peaks. On the coast, the heat stays constant year-round.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In January 2025, I took the 7am Medellín → Cartagena flight rather than the afternoon one: the walled city at 9am, with no crowds and no blazing heat, is worth the early start.
  • • Keep Cartagena for the end: you finish by the Caribbean after the altitude of Bogotá.
  • • Comuna 13 on a guided tour rather than solo: the historical context changes everything.
  • • The Monserrate funicular at sunset for the view over Bogotá.
  • • The Guatapé day trip: climbing El Peñol rewards the 740 steps.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Skip Guatapé (a day trip) if you would rather have an extra day in Cartagena.
  • • Book the domestic flights well ahead: prices rise fast.
  • • Plan a buffer day in Bogotá if the altitude tires you on arrival.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Is one week enough to discover Colombia? +
For a first taste, yes: Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena give the country's three faces (Andean capital, city of spring, colonial Caribbean). The coffee region and Tayrona, however, need 2 weeks.
Do you need domestic flights in Colombia? +
Yes over 7 days. The mountain roads are slow (Bogotá-Medellín by bus takes 9h versus 1h by air). Avianca, Latam and Wingo link the major cities for €40 to €70 if you book early.
Is Colombia safe for tourists? +
The tourist zones (Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, coffee region) are safe with the usual precautions: do not flash valuables, use Uber at night, avoid wandering alone in certain districts. The situation has improved markedly.
What budget for a week in Colombia? +
Budget €1,200 backpacking and €1,550 in comfort per person, flight from Europe included. Colombia stays affordable: set lunch €8, boutique hotel €55.
What is the best time? +
December to March, the main dry season, ideal in every region. July-August offers a second window. Avoid April-May and October-November, the two rainy seasons.
Do you need a visa for Colombia? +
No for most Western travellers: no tourist visa for a stay up to 90 days. Passport valid for 6 months after return. No mandatory vaccine, but yellow fever is recommended for the Amazon.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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