Cali
One block east from Iglesia de la Merced, this excellent museum displays more than 600 pieces of intricate gold jewelry, as well as ceramics used in…
Must-see attractions in Colombia
Casa del Primer Congreso de las Provincias Unidas
Villa de Leyva
On October 4, 1812, legislators met here to install the First Congress of the short-lived United Provinces of New Granada and elect its first president,…
Minca
This lovely spot is a 1½ hour walk from Minca – or a 10-minute moto-taxi ride (COP$9000) – and is a surprisingly impressive set of two waterfalls, with…
Popayán
One of the best of its kind in the country, this museum on the grounds of Universidad del Cauca is noted for its extensive collection of insects,…
Museo Arquidiocesano de Arte Religioso
Popayán
You don't have to be an expert on religious art to be impressed by this collection of paintings, statues, altar pieces, silverware and liturgical vessels,…
Barranquilla
The confusingly named Museo Romántico is actually a museum of the city's history, featuring quirky exhibits relating to Barranquilla's past, its famous…
Puerto Nariño
For a bird’s-eye view of the village and the surrounding jungle and Amazon, climb this impressive wooden tower ('nai-pata' means 'treehouse' in the Ticuna…
San Andrés
At the southern tip of the island, the Hoyo Soplador is a small geyser where sea water spouts into the air (up to 20m at times) through a natural hole in…
Medellín
Occupying a mock-Gothic castle built in 1930 in El Poblado, the Museo El Castillo was once home to a wealthy Antioquian landowner. Inside are the family’s…
Minca
This small coffee, cacao and fruit farm is a family-run, organic business that visitors are welcome to tour to see the various stages of growth, harvest…
Caribbean Coast
Most of the tourism infrastructure if the Islas de San Bernardo is on Isla Múcura, where tours stop for three hours of free time. Here you can rent…
Medellín
Constructed with funds from European immigrants, this fine church inaugurated in 1803 is the only colonial-style temple in the city and features a stone…
Medellín
This spectacular 14m-high, 975-tonne, concrete-and-bronze sculpture by Rodrigo Arenas Betancur symbolizes the circle of life. Look out for the corn husk…
La Guajira Peninsula
This gorgeous bay has several islands, to which boat trips are often made on tours. A large colony of flamingos also calls the shallow waters of this…
Pereira
Within the grounds of the Universidad Tecnológia de Pereira, the botanic gardens has orchids, exotic bamboos, hummingbirds and medicinal plants, and…
Caribbean Coast
Despite its name, this is more of a rustic zoo than a water world (though there is a foggy-windowed aquarium here). You'll also find monkeys, pink…
Cali
Overlooking the Río Cali, this striking neo-Gothic church houses the 18th-century painting of El señor de la caña (Lord of the Sugarcane) that survived…
Medellín
Medellín's most important church stands guard over Parque Berrío and was constructed in the 1770s on the site of an earlier wooden structure. It features…
Popayán
This late 18th-century building is full of period furniture, paintings, old photos and documents that once belonged to the Popayán-born poet who lived…
Bucaramanga
In Parque García Rovira, this diminutive chapel is Bucaramanga's oldest surviving church; it was erected in stone from 1748 to 1750. Its simple…
Leticia
A visit to Leticia's central square, which is filled with some fairly bizarre civic art and sculpture, is best made just before sunset when you can…
Cali
This neoclassical church dating from the 18th century is most renowned for the adjacent Torre Mudéjar, an unusual brick bell tower that is one of the best…
Catedral de la Sagrada Familia
Bucaramanga
Facing Parque Santander is Buca's most substantial piece of religious architecture. Constructed over nearly a century (1770–1865), it's a massive,…
San Andrés
Located just south of El Cove, La Piscinita is a good site for snorkeling. It has usually calm water, plenty of fish (which will eat out of your hand) and…
Medellín
Next to the lookout Cerro Nutibara you'll find the Museo de la Ciudad, a small museum dedicated to the history of Medellín that often showcases…
Pereira
The centerpiece of Plaza de Bolívar is Rodrigo Arenas Betancur's 8.5m-high, 11-tonne bronze statue of the Liberator, naked on horseback, urging his…
Guatapé
A small museum with a somewhat random collection of trinkets and objects from around the town. There's little in the way of explanation. You'll have to…
Barranquilla
Barranquilla's best art museum fills its space with rotating exhibitions from its larger permanent collection, which includes nationally renowned painters…
Bucaramanga
One of Bucaramanga's best preserved colonial mansions, the Casa de la Cultura is currently occupied by an educational institution, but visitors are free…
Medellín
This public space in front of the Museo de Antioquia is home to 23 large, curvaceous bronze sculptures by renowned local artist Fernando Botero, including…
Medellín
On the campus of the Universidad de Antioquia, this museum has an interesting collection of pre-Columbian pottery, as well as galleries devoted to art and…
Barranquilla
On the 1st floor of the building of the Universidad del Atlántico, this museum displays a small collection of pre-Columbian pottery from different regions…
Barranquilla
This modern cathedral was completed in 1982. Don't be put off by its squat, heavy, somewhat bunkerlike exterior – go inside. The beautiful interior…
Leticia
Come here to observe fishmongers selling local gamitana and pirarucú fish, buy fresh fruit and veggies and browse a limited selection of local handicrafts…
Medellín
Young travelers will enjoy this expansive science museum, which features a fine aquarium full of species from Colombian waterways as well as an…
Pereira
Arguably the best art museum in the region (bar Medellín's offerings), this place showcases thought-provoking exhibits by Colombian and South American…
Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona
As you might guess from the name, La Piscina boasts calm waters that are reasonably safe for swimming and snorkeling. Snorkeling gear costs COP$30,000 per…
Villa de Leyva
This colonial mansion has an intimate courtyard with an abundance of plants and trees surrounding a fountain. The front section houses shops, and there's…
Popayán
The youngest church in Popayán's center, this neoclassical cathedral was built between 1859 and 1906 on the site of a previous cathedral, which had been…
Bogotá
This small baroque cathedral has more to see than its bigger brother next door, the Catedral Primada, including six large paintings by Gregorio Vásquez.
