Colombia is a massive country and you’ll need several weeks to explore it properly. However, since many travelers (including myself) only have a few, precious vacation days to use every year, it makes more sense to just bite off a small part of this country to explore. There are loads of different ways to do this, but in this post, I’m going to show you the 9 day Colombia itinerary that I used.
In this Colombia itinerary, start your journey in the capital city of Bogotá where you’ll explore museums and the colorful and historic area of La Candelaria. Next, head to Villa de Leyva for an historic, colonial town that is full of picturesque streets. Finish your trip in San Gil, the adventure capital of Colombia where you’ll have your choice of adrenaline filled activities.
While there is so much more to see, I feel like this Colombia itinerary shows three very different Colombian cities and that keeps this itinerary fun and exciting throughout the entire nine days.
Colombia 9 Day Itinerary
Like so many of my itineraries, this Colombia itinerary starts in one city (Bogotá) and ends in another (San Gil). Because of this, you’ll want to look at purchasing a multi-city ticket. In this case, you’ll want to fly into Bogotá (BOG) and fly out of Bucaramanga (BGA). You can reverse this itinerary, but there are no international flights to Bucaramanga, so you’ll have to go through Bogotá to fly to Bucaramanga. So, I personally think it’s better to start in Bogotá.
Now, if you are struggling to find a multi city ticket (as there are few airlines that fly out of Bucaramanga), the other option is to buy a round trip flight to Bogotá. Then, buy a one way ticket from Bucaramanga to Bogotá. Just make sure to allow yourself plenty of connection time. I’ll talk about this a bit more later on in this post.
Now, let’s get in to your nine days in Colombia.
Day 1 – Hello, Bogotá
This itinerary starts in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. There numerous international flights to the city, so catch a flight to El Dorado airport (BOG) and start your Colombian adventure.
From the airport, you’ll need to get into the city. There’s a few ways to do this. The first is to take public transportation, which in Bogotá involves using the city buses. This is the cheapest option but if you’re arriving at night or it’s your first time in South America, this might be a bit much. Luckily, the other option is still affordable.
The second option is to take a taxi. You can either get a yellow taxi (which is cheaper) or a white taxi (Imperial Taxi, which is more expensive). This option is great because you can get directly from the airport to your hotel. Personally, I had planned to use the yellow taxi, but accidentally got in line at the stall for the white taxi. While the white taxis were more expensive, I was able to prepay for my journey with a credit card, which is awesome if you don’t have cash (or smaller bills).
Have your hotel address ready as they will print out a slip for you to give to your taxi driver. From there get into the taxi and enjoy your ride into the city. From the airport to my hotel in La Candelaria, it was about a 40 minute taxi ride (traffic was light) and it cost me 85,000 COP (or just under $20 USD). A yellow taxi would have been about half that price.
Bogotá is a huge city but I recommend looking staying in La Candelaria or Chaperno. La Candelaria is the historic center and its where most of the tourist sights you’ll want to visit are. Chaperno is said to be a bit safer (although I had no issues in La Candelaria), but you’ll be just a smidge further away from many of the museums.
I don’t have much planned for the first day, so settle into your hotel and get over any jet lag. If you have the time and energy, consider joining a walking tour to get your bearings.
Sleep: Bogotá
Day 2 – Exploring Bogotá
Bogotá is a massive city, but I’m giving you just one day to explore. Yes, you could absolutely spend more time in Bogotá, but with only nine days in Colombia, I think it’s better to move faster and experience more variety. So, that leaves us with just one day in the city.
My big recommendations for today include Monseratte, Museo del Oro (The Gold Museum), Plaza de Bolivar, and exploring La Candelaria. With more time, there are loads more museums that you can include on your itinerary. However, for me, these activities took me most of the day.
Monseratte is a mountain with a church that overlooks the city of Bogotá. For those who want an athletic challenge, you can hike the trail to the top of the hill. Just note that this trail comes with 1500 feet of elevation gain. If you don’t feel like climbing up, don’t feel bad. Bogotá is a high city and the hike starts at over 8,500 feet of elevation (nearly 2600 meters).
I live at sea level so I struggled a bit on my first day in Bogotá and climbing up a steep hill just sounded miserable (since I was already huffing and puffing up smaller hills in the city). So, instead of hiking, you can take a cable car or the funicular to the top. I had planned to take the cable car, but when I visited, it didn’t appear to be running, so everyone took the funicular (which cost 29,500 COP). Just as a note, the cable car and funicular run throughout most of the day, but if you plan to hike, you need to start your hike before 1:00 pm.
At the top of Monseratte, you get a sweeping view of Bogotá which really helps to put into perspective just how massive and sprawling this city is. You’ll also find a church, a path with the Stations of the Cross, a small shopping area, and some cafes.
The Museo del Oro, or Gold Museum, is the top rated museum in Bogotá. Entrance to the museum was a very reasonable 5,000 COP. Inside, follow the displays that are in both Spanish and English as you learn about the history of gold in Colombia. The story starts with the ancient inhabitants of Colombia and tells how they worked with gold and continues on until the Spanish arrived. Throughout the museum you’ll see artifacts of the different gold pieces from the various indigenous tribes across Colombia.
Plaza de Bolivar is the main square in Bogotá. You’ll find plenty of vendors, great people watching, and Bogotá’s Cathedral. During my visit, there was an event going on in the square, so most of it was blocked off, which was kind of a bummer. I came back early on my last morning in Bogotá, but it just wasn’t the lively scene I was expecting. Still, take a stroll here. You can walk from the Museo del Oro to the main square along a mostly pedestrian street that is lined with vendors selling every possible tourist item imaginable. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s a fun walk.
The last item I want to mention is La Candelaria. This is the historic center of Bogotá and it’s just fun to explore. The buildings are covered with graffiti and street art, making this part of the city so colorful and fun. Don’t miss out on Plazoleta del Chorro de Quevedo for another lively square. To get the most out of your visit, consider a walking tour if you didn’t do one yesterday.
Sleep: Bogotá
Day 3 – A Day Trip from Bogotá
While you could spend another day exploring Bogotá, I’m going to suggest leaving the city on a day trip to see something different. There’s three options for today.
Option 1 – Zipaquirá and the Salt Cathedral
Option 2 – Guatavita Lagoon
Option 3 – Both Guatavita and Zipaquirá
I chose option 3 which covered both Guatavita and Zipaquirá. This was great because I got to see two unique sites, but it was a very long day.
Zipaquirá is famous for its Salt Cathedral and it’s the first of the Seven Wonders of Colombia. The cathedral was carved out of an active salt mine by miners who had finished their shifts. Inside the cathedral, you’ll follow the Stations of the Cross as you work your way deeper into the mine until you reach the nave and the main part of the cathedral where masses are held.
At Guatavita, you’ll visit stunning scenery. But what makes this place more interesting than any of the other beautiful places you can visit is that this is the basis for the famous Legend of El Dorado. When Spanish conquistadors arrived here, they found gold artifacts along this lagoon and got excited. So they started to excavate to take as much of the gold as they could.
However, the conquistadors decided to melt the artifacts down to make it easier to ship and it was then they realized that the gold they found was actually a mix of gold and other metals like platinum and copper. Learning this, they abandoned their plans at Guatavita and headed further south in the country. While these conquistadors pillaged other regions, it fortunately left this area to retain its beauty.
You can visit one or both of these places on a day trip and it’s your choice which you choose. As mentioned, I did both and for convenience I chose to go with a guided tour. If you’re insisting on traveling solo, I’d stick to just Zipaquirá.
Sleep: Bogotá
Day 4 – Bogotá to Villa de Leyva
Today is the first travel day of your nine days in Colombia. Pack up your things and say goodbye to Bogotá. Today you’ll catch a bus east for the colonial town of Villa de Leyva.
Buses leave from both Terminal Salitre and Terminal Norte, so my recommendation is to go to whichever bus terminal is closest to your accommodation. For me, that meant catching an Uber from my hostel in La Candelaria to Terminal Salitre (it took about 25 minutes and cost about $6 USD). Once at the bus station, find a bus heading Villa de Leyva, buy your ticket and get cozy.
The distance from Terminal Salitre to the bus terminal in Villa de Leyva is only 169 km (or 105 miles). Logically, if you haven’t done any transportation in Colombia, you might think that this shouldn’t take very long. But traffic in Bogotá and mountain roads add a lot of time to your journey. For me, it took four hours from bus station to bus station. Plan your day accordingly.
Once in Villa de Leyva, head to your accommodation and settle in. If you have the energy, go out and have a wander of the picturesque streets of this beautiful city. If you don’t get out today, don’t worry about it. You’ll have all day tomorrow to explore.
Sleep: Villa de Leyva
Day 5 – Exploring Villa de Leyva
It’s now time for your one day in Villa de Leyva. Obviously I recommend taking some time to just wander the historic streets of the city, but there’s a few more things you can do in this city.
My first suggestion is an optional suggestion. If you feel up to it, you can hike up Cerro de la Cruz for views of the city. The views are great, but the trail kind of sucks. It is incredibly steep, particularly once you exit out of the forest. I traveled during rainy season, so parts of the trail were extra slippery. It’s up to you if you do this hike, but I just have to warn that it’s a lot more difficult than I was expecting.
Spend some time at the main square (Plaza Principal). The square is huge and is lined by those beautiful colonial buildings on all four sides. This is a great place for people watching. Plus, you’ll also find the cathedral (Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Villa de Leyva) which is worth a quick visit.
If you like shopping, you’ll find stores lining the streets. Yes, there’s the typical tourist souvenirs but there was also so much many stores selling jewelry.
For a bite to eat, consider trying a milhoja which is a special pastry from this region of Colombia. The most popular place is La Galleta Pasterlia Cafe which had a line for most of the day. It’s also worth noting that they are closed on Tuesdays. Don’t make the same mistake I did. But if even if you don’t eat at La Galleta, there are numerous bakeries throughout Villa de Leyva selling the special treat.
And I have to mention the Museo del Chocolate, or Chocolate Museum. Unsurprisingly, you’ll find a lot of chocolate here, but when I walked it, it seemed to be mostly chocolate covered raisins and chocolate covered espresso beans. Still, the store is absolutely gorgeous and it’s worth stopping by just to see the interior of the store.
Sleep: Villa de Leyva
Day 6 – Villa de Leyva to San Gil
Today is a big travel day and you’ll spend almost the entire day in transit. We’re moving from Villa de Leyva to San Gil, Colombia’s adventure capital. Unfortunately, there are no direct buses between Villa de Leyva in San Gil, so you’ll need to make a connection. There are two options.
The first is the most common way and it involves taking a bus from Villa de Leyva to Tunja. Then in Tunja, you’ll need to transfer to another bus that’s going to San Gil. This is the route I took and it took me about seven hours. It was an hour journey from Villa de Leyva to Tunja, an hour waiting for my bus at the Tunja bus station, and then another five hours from Tunja to San Gil.
The second option also involves a transfer, but instead of transferring in Tunja, you can transfer in Barbosa. Fewer tourists seem to take this route, but is in an option and technically may involve less time on a bus.
Once in San Gil, you’ll need to get from the bus terminal to your accommodation. Your bus will stop at the main terminal, which is a 25 minute walk from the main square. Either walk to your accommodation or take a taxi.
Settle into your accommodation and get ready for two days of fun adventures in San Gil.
Sleep: San Gil
Day 7 – Activities Around San Gil
You have two full days in San Gil and it’s up to you how you spend them. There are plenty of adventure activities including zip lining, white water rafting, bungee jumping, hiking, and so much more. If you’re interested in any of these activities, there are loads of companies in town that offer tours.
If you’re looking for some more independent adventuring, I have three suggestions for you.
Option 1 – A Day Trip to Barichara
For less adrenaline, consider visiting Barichara, which is considered to be one of the prettiest town, if not the prettiest town, in Colombia. According to the woman working at my hostel, this town served as the inspiration for the Disney movie Encanto. To reach Barichara, catch a local bus from the small bus station (Terminalito). Once in the town of Barichara, you can wander the streets and enjoy the beauty of this town. For a bit more of an adventure, hike the Camino Real and walk from Barichara to Guane, which is an even smaller town. The hike took me an hour and a half and once in Guane, I took a local bus back to Barichara.
Option 2- Juan Curi Waterfalls
I found these waterfalls being offered as a tour, but it’s totally possible to visit independently. Head to the small bus station (Terminalito) and catch a bus for Charla. You’ll want to tell the bus drive to drop you at “Las Cascadas”. Once there, you’ll hike into the jungle where you’ll eventually reach the powerful Juan Curi Waterfall. The hike was more adventurous than I was expecting and involved some river crossings, two ladders, and the use of some ropes to guide you. So while it was more adventurous than I expected, I had so much fun and am so glad I visited.
Option 3 – Curiti
For one last independent adventure, catch a local bus to Curiti where you can hike and swim in the waters just north of the city of San Gil. This is the one activity that I didn’t do, since I ran out of time, but it’s a totally valid option and another great one if you’re looking for more independent exploration.
Sleep: San Gil
Day 8 – Activities Around San Gil
You have one more day in San Gil. Pick an activity that you didn’t do yesterday and have fun.
Sleep: San Gil
Day 9 – San Gil to Bucaramanga to Home
This 9 day Colombia itinerary has come to an end, so it’s time to move on. You’ll need to get back to Bogotá to catch your flight out of the country and there are two ways to do it.
The first is to get a bus back to Bogotá. From your travels thus far, you should already know that I’m going to tell you that this will take a long time. The bus will take 7 or more hours to reach Terminal Salitre.
If you’re looking for a faster way, you can fly back to Bogotá. There is no airport in San Gil, you’ll need to first transfer from San Gil to Bucaramanga. Buses depart frequently and take about three hours. Then from the Bucaramanga bus station, you’ll need to get a taxi to the airport (which takes about twenty minutes). From the airport, there are frequent departures direct to Bogotá. The flight takes just under an hour.
How exactly you choose to end your itinerary and return to Bogotá is up to you and your international flight schedule.
A Note About My Experience
This is very close to the itinerary I followed. The only difference was my itinerary was ten days because of flight times. I flew out of Bucaramanga late on day 9, spent the night at a Bogotá airport hotel, and then caught a morning flight home. So, technically, my itinerary was ten days. That said, if I had left earlier in the morning on day 9, I could have gotten an earlier flight from Bucaramanga and then caught and evening flight back to the United States. You’ll just need to look at what flights are available to you.
Itinerary Recap
Day 1 – Arrive in Bogotá. Sleep in Bogotá.
Day 2 – Exploring Bogotá. Sleep in Bogotá.
Day 3 – Bogotá Day Trip. Sleep in Bogotá
Day 4 – Bogotá to Villa de Leyva. Sleep in Villa de Leyva.
Day 5 – Explore Villa de Leyva. Sleep in Villa de Leyva.
Day 6 – Villa de Leyva to San Gil. Sleep in San Gil.
Day 7 – Activities around San Gil. Sleep in San Gil.
Day 8 – Activities around San Gil. Sleep in San Gil.
Day 9 – San Gil to Bucaramanga to Home
Hotels Needed
Day 1-3: Bogotá (3 nights)
Day 4-5: Villa de Leyva (2 nights)
Day 6-8: San Gil (3 nights)
Modifications to This Colombia Itinerary
Let’s say you have slightly more or slightly fewer days. What should you do?
With Less Time
You’ll have to cut something and I would recommend starting with the day trip from Bogotá. Yes, it is nice and I’m glad I did it, but I think it’s so much easier to get back to Bogotá than it will be to get back to San Gil. If you need to cut a day, start with the day trip from Bogotá.
If you need to get this down to a one week itinerary, unfortunately you’ll need to cut San Gil. It’s just too far to get to and with limited time, I just think it’s better to focus on one small area. So, on day 6, catch a bus back to Bogotá.
With More Time
If you have an extra day, it’s up to you where you put it. My extra day was spent in transit due to flight times, but maybe you’re different. In that case, I’d recommend adding your extra day either to Bogotá or to San Gil. With Bogotá, there are so many additional museums you could visit. Plus, you could do a walking tour or even a market tour. If you choose to add that day to San Gil, there are so many activities you can do that with three full days, you still won’t cover absolutely everything.
Can You Reverse This Itinerary?
Technically yes, you can reverse this itinerary. However, if you are only spending 9 days in Colombia, I’d caution against it. As mentioned earlier, there are no international flights to Bucaramanga. When I traveled, the only destination from Bucaramanga was Bogotá. Therefore, if you started in Bucaramanga/San Gil, you’d still have to pass through Bogotá.
When to Do This Colombia Itinerary
This itinerary can be done all year round. While many countries have weather that can change drastically throughout the year, Colombia has just two season: dry season and rainy season.
Dry season is more popular because rain is less likely. Dry season typically runs from December through February or March. Then there is another dry season from June through August.
Rainy season comprises of the other months of the year. April and May and September through November. While it is rainy season, it may not rain every day, but you need to be prepared that it could rain at any time.
While dry season, particularly December through February, is the most popular time to travel, I chose to visit in November. It was rainy season and it did rain every day of my visit. However, the rain typically did not occur until the late afternoon or evening, meaning on most days my mornings were dry and I was able to explore in the dry sunshine.
Final Thoughts
It is absolutely impossible to see all of Colombia in nine days, but I think this itinerary does a good job of giving you a taste of the country. There’s so much variety in the cities and that helps to keep things interesting. So, if you’re looking to dip your feet into Colombia and South America travel, consider using this nine day itinerary.
Continue Your Adventure
Colombia: Start planning your trip with my Colombia Travel Guide and learn about my top Colombia safety tips. Plus don’t my my realistic Colombia Travel Budget.
Colombia Destinations: Learn how to spend one day in Bogotá or day trip from Bogotá to Guatavita and Zipaquirá. To the northeast is the colonial town of Villa de Leyva. From San Gil, day trip to Barichara.
Chile Itinerary: For first time visitors, I recommend my 9 Day Chile Itinerary or my 7 Day Itinerary. Visit the capital city of Santiago, the beaches in Viña del Mar, and head south to Puerto Varas.