I have to give up at least one place for two weeks itinerary. Which one? Barichara? Jelico – Salamina? Isla de San Bernardo? Coffee farm? Valle de Cocola?

I will visit Colombia in mid September for two weeks. I want to see as many as I can, the Colombian typical landscape and culture. I prefer trekking rather than relaxing on the beach. I’m solo, and don’t have enough time to be off the beaten track, but just following the major touristic loop is not my idea.
Here is my itinerary, it looks too tight for two weeks, and I have to omit at least one place. Which one I should miss?Please give me some advice.

1. Barichara + El camio Real hiking, vs. Jelico – Salamina, vs. Salento + Villa de Cocora hiking
   Talking about the colonial town, if I visit Jelico + Salamina, is Barichara a kind of similar? How about El camino Real? Or it is worth to visit El camino Real? I’m not stick to Salento, but I’ll go there because of Villa de Cocora hiking.
2. Isla de San Bernardo one day tour?
   Is it worth to go? I’ve never seen Caribbean sea, and they say Isla de San Bernardo is better than Isla del Rosalio/Playa Blanca near Cartagena, but in case San Bernardo is OK place compare to world- wide standard, I will omit this one day tour and stay longer in green area.
3. Piedra del Renal + Guatape vs. Santa Fe de Antiquila ?
   Which one is recommended for one day visit from Medellin? Even if I cut these places, I get only one day, so I think I can visit one of them.
4. Hacienda Venecia coffee tour from Manizales?
   If I can join some kind of coffee tour in Jelico – Salamina region, I may skip Hacienda Venecia.
5. San Agustin?
   When I choose all the places above, I have to skip San Agustin at the end. But Southern Colombia seems different from northern area, that’s why I ask your advice.
6. Sapaquira / Nemocon maybe ?

Itenerary
Arriving at Bogota airport
　by night bus to San Gil
Day 1,2 Barichara + El camino Real hiking
by night bus to Cartagena via Bucaramanga
Day 3 Cartagena
Day 4 Cartagena to Turu
Day 5 Isla de San Bernando one day tour
by night bus to Medellin
Day 6 from Medellin, Piedra el Penol + Guatape (or Santa Fe Antiquira) , continue to Jelico
Day 7 Jelico to Salamina
Day 8 Salamina to Manizales
Day 9 Manizales, to Hacienda Venecia stay
Day 10 coffee farmtour by Hacienda Venecia, to Pereia
Day 11 Salento, valle de cocola hiking, to Pereia
by night bus to San Agustin via Pitalito
Day 12,13 San Agstin
by night bus to Bogota
Day 14 Bogota, mainly Museum
15 Bogota, Zapaquira / Nemocon

Thank you for your help!

Hola.
We are now in Colombia. We visited the country many times... have been to most of the places you say.
Travelling around COlombia is hard, many mountains... tiring... too many night buses...
Maybe interesting you check flights with Viva Colombia, they have great promos.
I will stay more time in Cartagena and skip Tolú.
Very short stay in Cartagena, Medellin, Bogota...
too many places for 2 weeks.
Suerte!

Arriving at Bogota airport
　by night bus to San Gil
Day 1,2 Barichara + El camino Real hiking
by night bus to Cartagena via Bucaramanga
Day 3 Cartagena
Day 4 Cartagena to Turu
Day 5 Isla de San Bernando one day tour
by night bus to Medellin
Day 6 from Medellin, Piedra el Penol + Guatape (or Santa Fe Antiquira) , continue to Jelico

Well, you lost me on day 6. I can't read all the rest, because there's no way you can see all of these places; you haven't included enough time for travel by bus. You'll need to slow down and concentrate on less destinations with 2 weeks.

With 2 weeks, you're not going to have time to see every little colonial town you listed. You'll be challenged just to fit in SanGil/Barichara, Cartagena, Medellin and nearby places, and the coffee region including Salento/Cocora valley.

If you can only go to one place from Medellin, go see Guatape.

Thank you for your advice.
The main question is whether Barichara + El Camino Real can be missed when I visit the other colonial town such as Jelico, Salamina. If so, I will fly from Bogota to Cartagena directly instead of two long night buses, Bogota- Sangil, Sangil - Cartagena, then take some time in other town. What do you think? It is the beginning part of my trip, so I have to decide it before I start.
As sonyain's help, when I cut tulu + Isla de San Bernardo, I will also use flight from Cartahena to Medellin. Yes, I've check the vivacolombia's site, and surprised to know the price then began to think of flight rather than long distance bus. Medellin is the transit hub for me, and will spend little time only in bus terminal.

Hola.
Barichara is nice but not to take 2 night buses when you have limited time in Colombia.
Better take a flight Bogotá to Cartagena.
Cartagena is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Colombia (even if it´s a big town). At least 2 or 3 days there (you can go to the islands, tour, Caribbean). Also beaches.
Then flying to Medellin could be a good option!
We are going to Medellín soon (don´t know yet), but you should at least give one day for the city... San Fe de Antioquia is only 2 hours away...
Then start heading south.... maybe stop in Jerico (we don´t know the place...) not too far from the main road... and go to Eje cafetero. Salento is nice, small, tourist town . Kind of colonial too (but not too old). Valle de Cocora is wonderful.
Then Bogotá is around 10 hours away by bus...
Bogotá has also a nice colonial part, La Candelaria. And a wonderful museum of Gold. At least 2 days there.
Villa de Leyva is great and not that far from Bogotá. You could go there for one night.
Plan well. Less is sometimes better, specially in long time trips in Colombia.
Enjoy!

I went for about three weeks and visited San Gil/Barichara, Tayrona, Cartagena, and Medellin with Guatape for a day trip. I don't think your plan is feasible as the bus rides are long and they way you have it now you will just experience the bus and not the towns. Internal flights are quite cheap if you book on the Colombian sites and in advance-we are going again soon and one internal flight was 35USD and the other 42USD so consider that for getting around as well. ADA and Satena will need to be booked through an agent for using a foreign credit card.

If so, I will fly from Bogota to Cartagena directly instead of two long night buses, Bogota- Sangil, Sangil - Cartagena, then take some time in other town. What do you think? It is the beginning part of my trip, so I have to decide it before I start.

Yes, this is a much better plan: fly to Cartagena, fly to Medellin, and then you have time for most of the places you listed, Jelico, Salamino, Salento, Valle Cocora etc. But you still don't have time for San Augustin, which would take 4 days out of your schedule, what with the transport.

Medellin may just be a transit hub for you. But it would be a shame if you missed riding the cheap teleferico up to one of the high points in Medellin. For lots of tourists, that's one of the high points of their Colombia trip.

Thank you for your advice! I’m still considering my tight itinerary, but I’ve got one domestic flight with viva Colombia. (I struggled in the credit card payment, but finally it’s done.) Hope to see you in Colombia!

Barichara is fabulous if you like very quiet, no traffic at all, beautiful walks and a perfect climate. Cartegena was beautiful but sooo humid it was exhausting. Minca was lovely, as is Barichara. I'm hiking the Camino Reals this week. Will post how it goes.

This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.