Color, coffee & Caribbean light
Restored mansions, coffee fincas, private guides, and coastal lodges brought together across Colombia’s most rewarding regions.
Why we love Colombia
Vibrant, warm-hearted and bursting with rhythm, Colombia is the comeback story of South America, and it wears it well. Wander the bougainvillea-draped streets of walled Cartagena, sip coffee straight from the source in the Coffee Triangle, stand beneath the towering wax palms of the Cocora Valley, or trade the city for the jungle-fringed beaches of Tayrona. Then there's Medellín, the "City of Eternal Spring," where salsa spills out of every doorway after dark. Bienvenidos!
Two coastlines with different characters
Green valleys, fincas, and mountain towns
History, art, and food across three cities
A starting point for your perfect escape
We're good company, and we give great advice
Cartagena, coffee country, Medellín and the jungle-fringed beaches of Tayrona. We string them together with the right flights, so your days go to the good stuff.
Colombia is changing fast, and so are its best places to stay. We keep our list current.
Colombia has more bird species than any other country on Earth. We know the lodges and guides to find them.
An absolutely unreal experience. Attention to detail was exceptional. Every activity was planned to perfection, transportation was arranged, and we didn't have to worry about a thing. I do not have enough good things to say about this trip. The service [Osaviva] provides is worth every penny and more.
Logistics taken care of
Adrienne and team were so easy to work with, and truly took the detailed logistical stress off of planning AND getting through our vacation. They worked to finalize the perfect itinerary and answered lots of questions and have the scoop on the best tours and best places to stay!
Quick replies
I have nothing but good comments with regards to what I experienced throughout the process. Adrienne was always quick on her replies and everything went flawless. I highly recommend [Osaviva].
A worry-free vacation
I loved our trip scheduled with [Osaviva] all of the activities and resorts were stunning. With vehicle transfers included it was truly a worry free vacation.
Our top picks
Cartagena
Three restored colonial houses form Hotel Casa San Agustín in Cartagena’s walled city. Its 20 rooms and 11 suites retain frescoes, carved wood, and an original aqueduct that now crosses the courtyard pool.
Colombia
Cartagena
Casa Pestagua occupies the restored mansion of the Count of Pestagua in Cartagena’s walled city. Sixteen rooms and suites surround courtyards, a long pool, rooftop water features, and richly preserved 18th-century interiors.
Colombia
Cartagena
Only seven rooms occupy Amarla, an adults-only colonial house in Cartagena’s walled city. Colombian craft, a rooftop pool, and space for just 14 overnight guests create one of the city’s most intimate hotel stays.
Colombia
Cartagena
Casona del Colegio places 13 rooms inside a restored colonial house near Cartagena’s Plaza de Bolívar. Contemporary Colombian design, a rooftop pool, La Sierra Spa, and room sizes from 24 to 70 square meters distinguish it from more traditional old-city hotels.
Colombia
Barú
Sofitel Barú Calablanca places 188 sea-facing rooms and suites beside a private beach on Barú. Five outdoor pools plus a children’s pool, several restaurants, a full spa, and extensive family facilities make it Colombia’s most complete large beach resort.
Colombia
Barú
Hotel Las Islas disperses approximately 55 large bungalows through 28 hectares of tropical forest and Caribbean shoreline on Barú. Treetop rooms rise eight to twelve meters above the ground, while sea-level categories add direct water access or private pools.
Colombia
When we plan a trip
Cartagena
Explore stone ramparts, colonial churches, shaded courtyards, and plazas filled with restaurants and street life. A private guide can add context to the city’s Spanish, African, and Caribbean history.
Cocora valley
Follow trails through pasture and cloud forest beneath wax palms that can reach more than 50 meters tall. Routes range from shorter valley walks to longer circuits through the hills near Salento.
City views
Ride the metrocable above the city, explore public art and neighborhood projects with a local guide, then spend time among the restaurants, cafés, and galleries of El Poblado or Laureles.
Caribbean coastline
Walk through tropical forest toward the beaches and rocky coves of Tayrona National Park. Wildlife, heat, trail conditions, and swimming access vary, so the route should be chosen carefully.
Coffee country
Walk through coffee fields in Quindío and learn how cherries are picked, processed, dried, roasted, and brewed. Smaller farms often make time for a longer conversation with the growers behind the cup.
Andean highlands
Explore Barichara’s sandstone streets and artisan workshops, then follow part of the historic Camino Real through open countryside toward the village of Guane.
The things travelers ask us most about Colombia, from getting between cities to finding the best Caribbean beaches. Have a question we haven't covered? Send it to
December to March is the driest period in most of the country, with a second dry spell in the Andes from June to August. The Caribbean coast is hot year-round.
By plane. Domestic flights are short and affordable, while mountain roads are slow. Bogotá to Cartagena is about 90 minutes in the air.
Bogotá sits at about 2,600 m, so take the first day slowly. Medellín is lower, at about 1,500 m.
It closes for set periods each year to let the ecosystem recover and for ceremonies held by the Indigenous communities who live there. Check dates before planning around it.
The main harvest in the Coffee Triangle runs roughly October to December, with a smaller one from April to June.
The Colombian peso. Cards work well in cities, and cash is handy for markets and small towns.
