• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Layer Culture

Latin America Travel & Culture Blog

  • Start Here
    • About
    • My Story
    • Travel Bible
  • Travel Tips
    • Travel Gear
    • Dan’s Checklist
    • Medellin Tips
    • Culture Shock
    • Travel Safety
  • Destinations
    • Mexico
    • Colombia
    • Central America
    • South America
    • Jamaica
    • Brazil
  • Resources
    • Safety Gear
    • Learn Spanish
    • Travel Journals
    • Backpacking
    • Latin Culture
Home / Travel Tips

One Week in Colombia Itinerary

Travel Tips Last Updated · Dec 9th, 2022 · Daniel James

medellin airport colombia

Are you thinking of spending just one week in Colombia?

Although it’s not much time to get to know everything, you have time to get a taste of what this diverse country has to offer.

In one week, I found that if you choose the right locations, you can still see and learn so much about Colombia without wasting any time.

Table of Contents

  • One week in Colombia
    • Arriving in Colombia: Day 0-2
    • Flying to Cartagena: Day 2-3
    • Santa Marta From Cartagena: Day 3-4
    • Arriving in Riohacha: Day 4-5
    • Palomino: Day 5-6
    • Bus to Santa Marta: Day 6-7
    • Got Travel Insurance for Colombia?
  • How to Spend a Week in Colombia

One week in Colombia

No matter if you are visiting Colombia as a first-time traveler or an avid backpacker I have tried and tested this one-week itinerary for anybody who is looking for ideas on what to do.

jose maria cordova medellin
Jose Maria Cordova in Medellin

I recommend you keep your one week in Colombia flexible so you’re able to chop and change. Or fit it to your specific needs, I have allowed for a variety of routes that you can take.

If you’re flying internationally to Colombia, there are many options, but most travelers I speak to arrive in Colombia via Bogota or Medellin.

Arriving in Colombia: Day 0-2

Arriving to: Bogota or Medellin.

Let’s suppose you arrive in one of the two most important cities in Colombia, either Bogota or Medellin.

what to do in Medellin comuna 13
The Comuna 13 Tour Medellin is popular right now

I’d recommend you spend two nights getting to know either one of these cities.

In Medellin, for example, you can visit the following cultural landmarks in the space of 2 days.

  • Arvi Park
  • Puelblito Paisa
  • Botanical Gardens

There are many things you can do in the city without traveling far.

If you want more ideas on what you can do in Medellin in a short space of time read this article I designed with some ideas.

solo-travel-bogota-street-vendor
Street Vendor serving Coconut

If you spend two night in Bogota for your introduction to Colombia, you can find many things to do including the following:

  • Salt Museum
  • Bogota food tour
  • Explore the Candelaria

Bogota is a metropolitan city that is usually overlooked by backpackers due to its mammoth size and complicated transport system.

There are some great day trips from Bogota you can do, some of which last just half a day if you’re trying to fit more in.

Flying to Cartagena: Day 2-3

Flying from: Medellin or Bogota.

Once you have had time to settle in and get familiar with the Colombian culture you will be prepared for the best part of your trip.

cartagena colombia
Explore the Walled City of Cartagena

From Medellin, you can arrive at Rafael Núñez international airport within the space of an hour.

With only a week in Colombia, there is no need to take public transportation which can take up to 12 hours.

It’s worth noting also that Cartagena is one of the most important tourist attractions in Colombia.

Some things that you can do include:

  • Explore the Walled City
  • Rosario Islands
  • Fidel Salsa Bar

Whilst you’re here Getsemani is a neighborhood you can’t afford to miss during this one week trip to Colombia.

getsemani cartagena
Mural in getsemani

In just a short walk from Cartagena’s old town, you literally walk for 5-7 minutes and you’re there.

The streets of Getsemani are full and vibrant. This is a neighborhood that has revolted against the mayor gentrification of its sister neighborhood and you can witness this through the art.

A must for any traveler looking for an authentic tourist destination in Colombia.

Santa Marta From Cartagena: Day 3-4

Bus from: Cartagena Bus Station.

From Cartagena, I recommend you continue moving by land. You can easily get from Cartagena to Santa Marta by bus in a few hours.

fruit man santa marta
Fruit man in Santa Marta

If you leave the bus station in the early morning you can get to Santa Marta by the mid-late afternoon.

Check into somewhere like Park Hotel which is situated right on the pier and it even has a pool you can access.

You’ll get a private room for a competitive price. From Park, drop off your bag and make your way to the Marina and check out the beach.

The Marina is a great place to watch the sunset and prepare yourself the evening. Also, another good place to sip on some freshly made Colombian exotic fruits without walking all the way up to the market.

cartagena to santa marta
View from my hotel

Novios park is a great place to spend your evening in Santa Marta. Outside of that other things you can do include:

  • Go to Taganga
  • Craft Market
  • Tairona Gold Museum

Most people head to Minca from Santa Marta or to Tayrona Park but for this one week in Colombia itinerary, we’re going outside of the box.

A lot of travelers underestimate how easy it is to get to Taganga.

If you do fancy it, you can jump on the bus near the Marina and within 20-30 minutes you’ll be in Taganga bay looking a the incredible view.

Arriving in Riohacha: Day 4-5

Bus from: Santa Marta Bus Station.

Day 4 will require another early start because you’ll head over to Santa Marta’s bus terminal. From here you’ll take the bus to Riohacha.

riohacha colombia
Statue at the beach in riohacha

See this Riohacha travel guide for more. The idea here is that you go to the furthest point of this itinerary and work your way back.

Arriving in Riohacha you’ll quickly get acquainted with the Malecon and the beach area.

I checked in at the Bona Vida Hostel after reading some great reviews and wasn’t disappointed.

One full day and an evening is enough time to be able to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea here, plus see the best sights Riohacha has to offer.

  • Riohacha Beach
  • Buy a Wayuu bag
  • Walk along the Malecon

Riohacha is the capital of La Guajira so it is one of the best places to buy a Wayuu bag without going in the desert.

Not to mention the price: you’ll pick up a bag for around $35,000COP.

I also found some Wayuu bags with unique colors that I had not seen in other parts of Colombia. Imagine, in Cabo de la Vela they’re cheaper.

love riohacha sign
love riohacha sign

Moving on after breakfast and a couple of hours on the beach you can check out of the hostel and head back over to Riohacha’s bus station.

The bus to Palomino from Riohacha costs $25,000COP but you can get it for $15,000COP if you haggle a little but try not to offend anyone.

Palomino: Day 5-6

Bus from: Riohacha Bus Station.

Arriving in Palamino you’ll need to get off the bus somewhere along the long road back to Santa Marta.

palomino beach colombia
Palomino beach

Your bus driver will know to stop there if you have booked a ticket, but keep your eyes open – you’ll know when you get there.

From the main road (facing Santa Marta) you make a right and walk down a dirt-path road towards the beach.

One of my favorite places to stay was Casa Colibri which is within 5-7 walking distance of the beach.

Some things you can do in Palomino include:

  • Surfing at the Beach
  • Go river tubing
  • Soak up the hippy vibes

You’ll find Palomino is a very laid-back beach town. It offers an interesting mix of local life with the typical backpacker’s paradise feel.

The idea for coming here is to get one step closer to nature and feel more connected with Colombia’s natural beauty. Aside from river tubing and surfing, though, Palomino beach is a place to relax.

palomino river
palomino river

Unlike Riohacha this is a rural destination that offers a more rustic beach experience. The first thing you’ll notice is how rough the sea is. So get ready!

If you’re on a backpacker’s budget and want something a bit closer to the beach, I found Kanta Sana hostel which is a great option too.

Palomino will definitely help you to appreciate the tranquilness of the beach in Riohacha.

Bus to Santa Marta: Day 6-7

Bus from: Palomio (Main Road).

After a night of beach, relaxing, and partying in Palomino, you’ll be equipped to either spend another night in Santa Marta.

Or, you can head to Tayrona Park and spend the day and night there.

tayrona national beach
Beach at Tayrona National Park

I visited Tayrona Park in the space of one day before, and although I spent most of the day walking, you can still make it to the beach, relax for a couple of hours, and have time to eat at one of the restaurants.

In the same day, you could easily do the following:

  • Visit the Beach
  • Hike or Horse Ride (to get to beach faster)
  • Eat at Resturant

Then get back to the front gates all before it goes dark. However, if you want to avoid all the walking and effort you could get off the bus at Costeno beach along the way for a night of sunsets and awesome pizza.

For me, the experience of being in the park for me is the epitome of the whole experience.

Tayrona Park is a place where I feel I always need to go back to so, enjoy it whilst you can. Unless you spend a week inside the park and get bored, I’m confident you’ll always want to go back.

I once traveled to Tayrona Park from Cartagena directly, but you can stop off on your way back from Palomino, the bus passes by the entrance.

One way or another, I always manage to find my way back to this national treasure. So, still consider going in, even if it’s just for the daytime.

Got Travel Insurance for Colombia?

travel insurance
🔒 World Nomads provides Travel Insurance

Designed by travelers, for travelers, World Nomads covers more than 150 adventure sports and activities so you can explore your boundaries.

How to Spend a Week in Colombia

Now you have some ideas on how you can spend a week in Colombia.

With so many amazing places to visit in Colombia with just one week, you’ll need to be very selective about where you go.

As I mentioned at the beginning, with the country being so diverse, there is so much to see.

I like to spend time in specific regions and think spending the best part of one week in Colombia exploring the Caribbean coast is a great idea.

Feeling inspired? See this guide to planning a trip to Colombia for even more tips and advice for exploring the country while you’re there.

📌 Like this article? Pin it…

lima day trips
lima day trips
Did this give you ideas on how to spend your one week in Colombia?

💬 Leave a nice comment or let’s start a conversation below!

“Dear friend! Some links in this post contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, book a hostel or sign up for a tour, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support means a lot and helps me to keep traveling and maintaining the quality of this site for you.”

Filed Under: Travel Tips Tagged With: Colombia, South America

Daniel James

Helping thousands of people worldwide with independent travel in Latin America. Layer Culture means to dig deeper into the ideas, customs, and behavior of a group of people.

Primary Sidebar

Meet Dan 👋🏽

south america travel with dan

After spending years on the road Dan is now offering to help you find your feet in Latin America; inspire you to learn Spanish and get you started on your adventures. Learn how to travel longer and stronger!

Yes Dan, help me!

Need something specific?

Recent Posts

  • Safest States in Mexico 2023 Guide
  • Is Punta Cana safe? 2023 Travel Guide
  • Is Guatemala safer than Mexico?
  • Tulum vs Cancun
  • Is San Luis Potosi safe? 2023 Guide

Footer

  • South America Safety
  • Connect with locals
  • Dan’s Travel Bible

Work with Dan

  • Be a Travelpreneur
  • About This Blog
  • Ask Me Anything

Travel Tips

  • South America Safety
  • Connect with locals
  • Dan’s Travel Bible

Get Inspired

  • South America Itinerary
  • Central America Safety
  • Solo Travel Tips

Learn Spanish

  • Learn Spanish Conversation
  • Become Fluent in Spanish
  • Top Places to Learn Spanish

© 2023 · Daniel James · Built on Genesis · See my site Policies

Layerculture is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com Other affiliate programs linking to other recommended products and services are also used.

This website uses cookies to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
279 shares