2-week road trip in Colombia

You love the bustling streets of cities? You love nature, calm and need to unwind in the sun? What are you waiting for? Get your plane ticket and let’s go!

From North to South, live like a true Colombian while road tripping through breathtaking places where you will make amazing memories and take so many pictures. Discover the small villages that have not been explored by many tourists yet, go on exploring Colombia by visiting the busy big cities.

Here is a glimpse of the beautiful experiences awaiting in this 2-week road trip in Colombia:

• Stroll through the Getsameni neighbourhood and its street art in Cartagena
• Alternate between the beach and an excursion to Tayrona National Park during your stay in Santa Marta
• Visit Bogotá’s Gold Museum, a must-see
• Enjoy Girardot’s relaxed lifestyle while strolling along the Magdalena River
• Discover the beautiful colourful houses and the stunning Cocora Valley in Salento
• Learn to salsa dance in Cali

To travel safely and without any worry on your mind, we recommend Chapka Insurance!

Itinerary of a 2-week road trip in Colombia

Cartagena > Santa Marta > Bogota > Girardot > Salento > Cali > Cartagena

Some practical information before your trip to Colombia

For this itinerary, we recommend renting a car from Hertz. It’s possible to rent it in one city and return it in another without exorbitant prices and limiting hidden costs. However, we prefer to warn you that driving in Colombia is quite an adventure and is not for everyone. With traffic regulations not always respected and roads not always in good condition, it requires a lot of vigilance.

You want to buy a paper travel guide? We recommend this one! In our opinion, it is the most complete, the most visual and the most up to date!

Need a road map to prepare your itinerary? We recommend this one, the most detailed and the most pleasant to read!

Contents: 2-week road trip in Colombia

1- Cartagena – Stop 1 of the 2-week road trip in Colombia
2- Santa Marta – Stop 2 of the 2-week road trip in Colombia
3- Bogota – Stop 3 of the 2-week road trip in Colombia
4- Girardot – Stop 4 of the 2-week road trip in Colombia
5- Salento – Stop 5 of the 2-week road trip in Colombia
6- Cali – Stop 6 of the 2-week road trip in Colombia
7- Cartagena – Stop 7 of the 2-week road trip in Colombia

Itinerary of a 2-week road trip in Colombia: step by step

What to do in Cartagena?

Cartagena is a legendary and very touristy city, and will be a city of many cultural discoveries. It’s the perfect place to start this 2-week road trip in Colombia. 

• Walk through the tagged streets of the Getsameni district to meet the locals and experience life their way.
• Taste the local specialities from the street vendors.
• Learn about the indigenous customs at the Gold Museum in the old part of Cartagena.
• Visit the Palace of Inquisition near Bolivar Park, and admire its baroque architecture.
• Go for a day-trip to the San Felipe de Barajas Castle and learn about Spanish settlement.
• Take a dip at La Boquilla.
• Experience the Carnaval de Barranquilla in the beginning of March, the most colorful carnaval of Latin America.
• 50 km / 31 miles away, take a mud bath at Lodo el Totumo volcano.
• Leave for the archipelago of San Andrés at 1h25 and from San Andrés to Providencia with a few hours of catamaran sailing and you will obtain unforgettable memories on the most beautiful islands of the Caribbean, the Rosario Islands.

Where to sleep in Cartagena?

• Mid-range: Treat yourself to a night’s accommodation at Casa India Catalina, a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. You’ll find a swimming pool and tour desk that are great to have around.
• High-end: The Hotel Boutique Casona del Colegio perfectly blends colonial architecture with a luxurious and environmentally friendly Colombian style. You will be approximately 100 metres from the Cartagena Gold Museum and Bolivar Park, as well as 200 metres from the Inquisition Palace and 1 km from the beach.

What to do in Santa Marta?

Santa Marta, is THE seaside resort in Colombia. From jungle to beaches, it is really worth it! 

• Get to know a heaven on earth, Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino.
• Tan up in the popular neighbourhood of El Rodadero right by the Caribbean sea.
• Discover the village of Minca and its panorama of Santa Marta, a rather unique landscape during this 2-week road trip in Colombia.
• 15min away, discover the fishermen’s village of Taganga.
• 30min away, discover the Tayrona National Park, a perfect alliance between sea, forest and mountain. Beautiful hikes in perspective. We advise you to spend at least 2 days there. If you prefer to spend only one day, we can recommend this tour.
• 2 hours away, relax on the largement beach of Palomino in a calm atmosphere.
• Are you a fan of big multi-day treks and adventures? Then change your stops and spend several days in the lost city.

Where to sleep in Santa Marta?

• Mid-range: If you want to feel at home just a few hundred metres from the beach, head to the Mayva ApartHotel. The hotel is also 3.9 km from the Rodadero Museum and Marine Aquarium and 6 km from the Santa Marta Cathedral.
• High-end: For a unique experience, stay at the Santa Marta Marriott Resort Playa Dormida. With a cruise ship design, enjoy a restaurant, gym and bar. You will have access to a private beach, a communal lounge and a garden.

What to do in Bogota?

A city 2800 m / 9186 ft above sea level, in the heart of the Andes, Bogotá is the capital of Colombia. It is therefore a must to make a stop in the country’s largest city during a 2-week road trip in Colombia.

• You have to do to the Gold Museum, a must-see. Discover the unique gold artworks, highlighting the country’s history and myths!
• Art lover? Botero Museum is made for you! Botero, is a Colombian painter and sculptor left many beautiful artworks for Colombians to be proud of. You will also find other artists’ art there.
• Nature, sports and food lovers, this one is for you. Get on the Cerro de Monserrate funicular, Bogota’s symbol, and get a stunning view over the city. Don’t forget your sunscreen if you don’t want to burn, you’ll be close to sun up there!
• Roam through the city’s neighbourhoods, like La Candelaria, you will be amazed by the many colourful graffitis.
• Have diner at Andres Carne de Res where the atmosphere is lively and colorful and where the typical dishes will fill you up!
• Go shopping the Zona-T.
• 45min away from Bogota, head to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, an underground cathedral ! It’s in a mine!
• To discover the essential places of the city with a guide, we recommend this tour.
• For food lovers, we recommend taking part in a food tour, to discover both the city and its specialities.

Where to sleep in Bogota?

• Mid-range: Located just 100 metres from the centre, Casa Candilejas offers a bar with pool table, a communal lounge and a 24-hour reception. The rooms are spacious and clean.
• High-end: The 93 Luxury Suites & Residences offers spacious and luxurious rooms, a terrace with panoramic views of the city, a garden, a restaurant and a gym. The hotel is also open 24 hours a day.

What to do in Girardot?

Girardot is a river town located approximately 130km southwest of Bogota. This is an authentic stop on this 2-week road trip in Colombia.

• Stroll around the small city of Girardot while enjoying an ice-cream.
• Go do some nautical sports on the Magdalena.

Where to sleep in Girardot?

• Mid-range: End your day in a comfortable flat in Girardot. Perfectly equipped, quiet and clean, Casa Blanca will catch your eye!
• High-end: Located 11 km from the centre of Girardot, the 230m2 Villa Marfelia has an outdoor swimming pool, terrace and garden.

What to do in Salento?

A colourful village, Salento is a paradise on earth. It is also a good base for exploring and discovering this beautiful region during a 2-week road trip in Colombia. 

• Visit the village and end your walk by the mirador of Salento with a panoramic Cocora valley and the Andean Cordillera.
• Eat a steamed trout at Maruja.
• 20 min away, go discover Cocora Valley and go for a hike to discover stunning sceneries. We recommend this organised tour from Salento.
• Less than 2 hours away from Salento, if you have time, go to Manizales, an iconic city that will surprise you.
• Take your time and walk in Los Nevados National Park, discover how coffee is grown at Hacienda Venecia.
• Do not miss the Reserva Ecologica Rio Blanco an off-beaten track gem where you will get to observe many different bird species.

Where to sleep in Salento?

• Mid-range: How about a 600m2 villa for your holiday? The Real House Salento has 3 bedrooms, a living room, a flat screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen with dining area and 2 bathrooms with a shower and a washing machine.
• High-end: A change of scenery is guaranteed at the Reserva Guadalajara – Cocora Valley! Located in the middle of greenery, the hotel offers a restaurant, a bar and a garden. In addition, your rooms will be family rooms with a terrace. To relax, take advantage of the organized parties!

What to do in Cali?

You love dancing? You’ve always dreamed of learning how to dance salsa? Cali is the city of party and salsa, so it couldn’t be better! 

• Learn salsa in the streets of Cali, an authentic experience to be had during this 2-week road trip in Colombia.
• Enjoy the local produce from the market in the gallery of Alameda.
• Stroll along the riverside of Cali and stop to admire the « El Gato del Río » sculpture and take a picture with this bronze cat.

Where to sleep in Cali?

• Mid-range: Meet Adriana and her legendary kindness! She will welcome you in her comfortable San Joaquin B&B so that you can make the most of your rest and holiday.
• High-end: Stay at the world famous Intercontinental Cali! It offers luxurious peach and gold accommodation in an idyllic setting. There’s also a swimming pool and a wellness club.

What to do in Cartagena?

Now you’re back in Cartagena! Take advantage of these few days to finish your 2-week road trip in Colombia before returning to reality!

• Walk through the tagged streets of the Getsameni district to meet the locals and experience life their way.
• Taste the local specialities from the street vendors.
• Learn about the indigenous customs at the Gold Museum in the old part of Cartagena.
• Visit the Palace of Inquisition near Bolivar Park, and admire its baroque architecture.
• Go for a day-trip to the San Felipe de Barajas Castle and learn about Spanish settlement.
• Take a dip at La Boquilla.
• Experience the Carnaval de Barranquilla in the beginning of March, the most colorful carnaval of Latin America.
• 50 km / 31 miles away, take a mud bath at Lodo el Totumo volcano.
• Leave for the archipelago of San Andrés at 1h25 and from San Andrés to Providencia with a few hours of catamaran sailing and you will obtain unforgettable memories on the most beautiful islands of the Caribbean, the Rosario Islands.

Where to sleep in Cartagena?

• Mid-range: Treat yourself to a night’s accommodation at Casa India Catalina, a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. You’ll find a swimming pool and tour desk that are great to have around.
• High-end: The Hotel Boutique Casona del Colegio perfectly blends colonial architecture with a luxurious and environmentally friendly Colombian style. You will be approximately 100 metres from the Cartagena Gold Museum and Bolivar Park, as well as 200 metres from the Inquisition Palace and 1 km from the beach.

Learn more about your road trip in Colombia…

• You want to know all the information about the country? It’s here.
• Then, to rent a car at the best price, we advise you this website.
• To book a flight at the best price, we recommend you this website.
• You are looking for a great travel insurance for your 2-week road trip in Colombia? We recommend this one!

Do not hesitate to share your trip with us, we can’t wait to hear all about your adventures!

If you have any information, good tips, or simply a comment about this itinerary, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below! The whole team will be happy to hear from you!