Colombia is a land famous for its coffee and chocolate, but it is also a country synonymous with an infamous drug lord. There is, however, far more to the country than first meets the eye.

It is a country that has transformed in recent years to become a haven for backpackers looking to get off the beaten path in South America.

Colombia is brimming with rich, diverse landscapes and is home to countless destinations that are waiting to be explored.

In this guide, we are going to walk you through 5 remarkable things to do in Colombia so you can start to create the ultimate Colombia travel itinerary.

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Explore The Walled City of Cartagena

A wonderful little city on the Northern coast of Colombia, within the Caribbean coast region, Cartagena is a stunning blend of colonial architecture and tropical beaches.

Historically, the city, founded in 1533, was a vital trade link between Latin America, the Caribbean and mainland Europe. Nowadays, despite still boasting the 3rd busiest seaport in the Caribbean, Cartagena is more renowned for its welcoming tourism industry.

Nowhere in the city is this more apparent than within the famous, old town stone walls. Draped with colourful Flor de Mayo Orchids, Balconies hover over the cobbled streets as a wealth of classical churches and spires dominate the skyline.

The walled city and fortress was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984, and its friendly character and leafy plazas are a charming welcome to the South American continent.

Relax in one of the many courtyards with a cafés de Olleta, Colombia’s traditional way of drinking coffee, before admiring the colonial architecture on an aimless stroll through the old town.

In the evening, enjoy a drink at one of the many outdoor bars that line the fortress walls, watching the sunset over the Caribbean ocean.

For a novel way to unearth the allure of Cartagena, the walled city kayak tour allows visitors to discover the charm of the city from the ocean. On the 2-hour tour, you will explore the exterior walls of the antiquated fortress while learning about Cartagena’s tumultuous past.

In Cartagena, time slows down. Unwind and relax as you uncover this colonial treasure on the Caribbean coast.

Take a walking tour through Comuna 13

Deep in the heart of Medellín lies one of Colombia’s most notorious neighbourhoods.

Once labelled the ‘most dangerous community in the world’ due to its incredibly high murder rate and the rapid displacing of its residents, Comuna 13 is an unbelievably fascinating and humbling place to visit.

In recent times, the area has experienced rapid urbanisation and has revolutionised into the central cultural hub of Medellin. Residents, who used to be ashamed and embarrassed of their neighbourhood, are now proudly parading tourists around their hometown streets.

At the height of the Colombian drug war, comuna 13 was riddled with gang violence, illegal trafficking, police raids and a high cartel presence. Today, comuna 13 is more readily associated with colourful murals, street art performances and walking tours.

The best way to discover the revitalised neighbourhood is through a comuna 13 graffiti tour with a local guide. As mentioned, residents are now proud to live in Medellin and are eager to show curious visitors around their favourite friendly precincts.

In 2011, the Medellin government announced the opening of an impressive 1260-foot outdoor escalator within Comuna 13. The escalator, one of the largest of its kind in the world, is free to use and shortens a commute through the community from half an hour to less than 5 minutes.

The escalator has only enhanced the regeneration of the district and has become a firm favourite for curious travellers from around the globe.

Colombia is no longer the country we all saw on the news toward the beginning of the millennium, and nowhere is this more evident than within the colourful walls of comuna 13. Medellin is now one of the best cities to visit in South America, and a visit to Comuna 13 is a must-do activity when staying in Colombia.

Visit Guatapé Town and El Peñón de Guatapé

One of the best things to do in Colombia is to take a day trip to Guatapé from Medellin. The town, though famous in its own right, is perhaps best known for the giant land formation that lies a matter of minutes away - El Peñón de Guatapé.

El Peñón de Guatapé is a vast, rock structure that juts out of the ground and stands at an impressive 200m high.

Made from Granite, the stand-alone rock formation is believed to have been created due to the surrounding area being eroded by huge floods thousands of years ago. The more durable granite was less susceptible to erosion, and hence, the monolith remained.

Visitors to El Peñón de Guatapé are able to scale the side of the formation via a concrete staircase that winds its way up one side of the rock. With 740 steps to climb, ascending to the top is by no means an easy feat.

To motivate you along the way, each of the 740 steps is numbered in yellow writing so you can track how far you have come. The best thing about the numbers is that they keep you focused on each step, so you don’t get tempted to spoil the view until you reach the pinnacle.

At the top of the ascent, you are greeted by a small refreshment stand selling salted mango and bottles of water and the main viewing platform. From this viewpoint, you are able to look out across one of Colombia’s most stunning landscapes - an extraordinary series of winding rivers and lakes.

Once your knees have stopped wobbling as you reach the ground again, it is time to head towards the colourful town nearby.

Guatapé Town is a photogenic little town famous for its vibrantly decorated houses, although nobody knows why the town is so colourfully painted. People say that some families began to paint their houses in bright colours one year and it just evolved from there.

Irrespective of the motivation behind the decorating, what remains is a gloriously animated town that has become a haven for photography fanatics.

Wander the streets in search of authentic Colombian treats and gifts before parking yourself on one of the many coffee shop balconies that overlook the main square.

Refuel with an ice cream before meandering through the streets for one last photo opportunity. Strolling through the multicoloured streets is guaranteed to be one of the highlights of your trip to Colombia.

In many cases, it is possible to combine El Peñon de Guatapé and the Guatapé town with a boat trip to visit the nearby former dwelling of Pablo Escobar. We went on a brilliant tour that offers all 3 activities in one day-trip from Medellin.

Take a ride on the Monserrate Cable Car

Riding on the Monserrate cable car is a remarkable activity that is possible in Colombia’s mercurial capital city, Bogota. Operating since 1955, the cable car connects the city centre with the mountain of Monserrate.

The cable car was originally constructed to cater for many pilgrims wanting to visit the shrine on top of the mountain.

During the colonial era, a religious group known as the Brotherhood of Vera Cruz asked for permission to build a small religious retreat on the top of the mountain. Their request was granted, and so the church of Monserrate was created.

Visiting the church has become one of Colombia’s most popular tourist activities, largely due to the unrivalled views of downtown Bogota.

Cerro de Monserrate dominates Bogota’s skyline, and from the top, 3152m above sea level, you are treated to spectacular panoramic views of the capital.

The cable car takes a little over 4 minutes to complete its 820m journey from the Circunvalar Station (located on 26th Street) to the mountain's peak.

More adventurous travellers can hike to the top of Cerro de Monserrate, just as the original pilgrims did all those years ago. The walk takes around an hour if you are an experienced hiker, but the gradient can pose a challenge to those with less experience.

We’d recommend making the hike at weekends wherever possible, or at least in busier periods, as the route does have a history of theft in quieter times. It is popular to ride the cable car up to the top and take a stroll back down the mountain.

Though the cable car ride is a wonderful venture in itself, the unprecedented views of Bogota make the experience all the more remarkable.

Visit the ‘Adventure capital of Colombia’ - San Gil

In the Northeast of Colombia, roughly 192 miles (300km) from the capital city Bogota, lies the little town of San Gil.

Known as either the ‘tourist capital of Colombia’ or the more intriguing ‘adventure capital of Colombia’, San Gil is a popular town to visit on any backpacking itinerary through South America. Reaching San Gil is typically done via 2 routes.

The 6-hour bus journey from Bogota takes you through some of Colombia’s most beautiful landscapes, and one of the things you should know before backpacking through South America is that the standard of long coach journeys on the continent is far superior to any bus route in Europe or North America.

An alternative to the 6-hour coach journey is to jump onboard a 1-hour flight from Bogota to the town of Bucaramanga. Though shorter, this option still requires a further 1.5-hour onward bus journey to the town of San Gil.

Awaiting you in San Gil is the prospect of braving some of South America’s most adrenaline-fuelled and bucket-list-worthy activities. White water rating, kayaking, hiking and caving are all popular ventures in this quaint Colombian town.

Just over an hour away, the Parque Nacional del Chicamocha is an eco-park that offers visitors the chance to enjoy paragliding over the breathtaking Chicamocha Canyon. With a maximum depth of 2000m, the canyon is the second-deepest in the world, and flying over it makes for a truly unforgettable experience.

San Gil has thoroughly earned its reputation as the adventure capital of Colombia. If the thought of abseiling down a waterfall or white water rafting over grade 4 rapids sounds like something you’d be interested in, then San Gil must be added to your list of places to visit in Colombia.

The list of once-in-a-lifetime activities you can do in San Gil is endless. It truly is going to be the highlight of your Colombia excursion.

There we have it, folks, a complete guide to 5 of the most remarkable things you can do in Colombia.

Colombia is an under-appreciated country on the South American continent and is certainly less-revered than its popular neighbours. We hope this guide has encouraged you to think differently about Colombia and inspired you to visit this much-maligned country.

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Colombia is brimming with rich, diverse landscapes and is home to countless destinations that are waiting to be explored. In this guide we are going to walk you through 5 remarkable things to do in Colombia , so you can start to create the ultimate Colombia travel itinerary.