Best Destinations In Colombia For Adventure Lovers

September 22, 2023 | by: Kuoda Authors

If you’re ready to embark on a heart-pounding journey to South America, then these incredible destinations in Colombia for adventure will be perfect for you! Not only will you get to explore some of the most remarkable landscapes in the world, but you’ll also gain incredible mental and physical benefits for challenging yourself.

While it’s always nice to lounge on relaxing beach fronts or take a serene mountain vacation, adrenaline-pumping activities can actually improve your overall health.  Whether it’s a light hike or an intense canyoning adventure, adventure travel is a great way to step outside your comfort zone, gain self-confidence, and strengthen your physical abilities – all while seeing the world. Add a few of these excursions to your next South American vacation, or visit them all to immerse yourself in the adventure completely!

Uncover Minca, Colombia’s Hidden Gem For Adventure

Explore Minca’s lush jungles and cliff-jump at Pozo Azul.

Sometimes the best travel adventures take you off the beaten path, which is why the first destination to add to your bucket list is Minca. This small village situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains offers so much more than meets the eye. As you step out of the main town and venture into the surrounding nature, an exciting world begins to reveal itself.

Dense jungles cover the mountains around Minca that are waiting to be explored. One can’t-miss site here is Pozo Azul where travelers can go cliff-jumping off a waterfall. Start the day with a one-hour hike from the main town into the jungle. Your real adventure begins when you arrive at the three natural pools which vary in size. You can choose to relax in the first pool which is much shallower, but if you’re looking for that thrill head a bit further up the trail and enjoy an afternoon cliff jumping over a beautiful waterfall.

The ecosystem surrounding Minca is also an extremely biodiverse region of Colombia, making it a great place for birding adventures. Birding is a much more peaceful way to engage with the great outdoors if you’re looking for a less physically demanding activity. Minca is home to a legendary birding guide named “Jungle Joe” who will be a brilliant guide for any type of nature lover!

For a photo-worthy adventure that will take your breath away, head to the massive hanging hammocks at Casa Elemento. This boutique hotel is home to the world’s largest hammock that hangs over the jungle. If heights make your stomach twist, this is a great way to test your limits and grab some stunning pictures to remember the adventure.

Go On A Multi-Day Trek To The Lost City of Colombia

A 4-6 day trek through the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, camping in hammocks by a river, leading to the Lost City.

Spend a week traversing through the Colombia mountains as you seek out the ancient Lost City. Also known as Teyuna, archaeologists estimate this city was built around 800 CE, which predates the iconic Machu Picchu by 650 years. What remains of the city is a collection of intricate terraces covered by lush jungle foliage, making it look like something straight out of an adventure film. And if you choose to embark on this adventure, you will definitely feel like the main character of that film.

Trekking here typically takes 4-6 days for average fitness levels, hiking for several hours a day through the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range. As you climb up and down the mountains toward the archeological site, you’ll walk right next to a beautiful river that allows you to cool off regularly and refresh your energy. Each night, you’ll set up camp and fall asleep in a hammock, soothed by the symphony of crickets, frogs, and birds living in the jungle.

By day three of your trek, you will reach the Lost City and explore the ancient ruins with guidance from your trek leader. After climbing 1,200 moss-covered steps, the remains of a once bustling town will reveal themselves. The archeological significance of this site is quite astonishing. It is believed to be the former political center for the Tayrona people, and at the height of its existence, served as a home for over 8,000 people. Once the city fell, it was completely lost until 1972, when treasure hunters fell upon the site and started looting what remained in the land.

Not only is the trek a historically significant adventure but also a great way to completely disconnect from the outside world and immerse yourself in the beauty of Colombia’s jungles. It’s a perfect destination in Colombia for adventure that challenges your body and invigorates your mind as you focus on just enjoying the natural world around you.

Dive Underwater With A Snorkeling Adventure In San Andres

Easily reach San Andres from Cartagena, a small island with vibrant snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities.

Crystal blue Caribbean waters and white sandy beaches aren’t just made for slow days laying in the sand. In fact, the picturesque San Andres Island is actually one of the coolest beach destinations in Colombia for adventures under the sea.

Getting to the island is quite easy from Cartagena, where you can book a short flight to the small island about 90 miles off the coast. Although San Andres is only ten square miles in size, it has plenty of exciting things to do. One of the best is the snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities! Spend a day diving around the coral reefs just a few hundred yards offshore, and a world of color will come alive before your eyes.

Snorkeling will be the most suitable for a majority of travelers, but if you have your scuba diving certification then you will be able to get up close with some of the amazing marine life! However, either option is an unforgettable experience. So few places in the world have water as clear and clean as this part of Colombia, so it’s a worthwhile journey for adventurers who love water sports.

You can also swim out to a small rocky island, known as Rocky Cay if you want a one-0f-a-kind excursion featuring a real-life shipwreck! Getting to Rocky Cay will require you to swim and walk across a stretch of water that ranges in-depth, but it’s nothing too difficult. Once you make it to the tiny island, you can swim around to spot some of the tiny but colorful fish living in the shallows. Continue braving the waters for another quarter-mile and you can explore a real-life shipwreck!

Plan Your Adventure to Colombia With Kuoda

Whether you want to push yourself to the limit and try as many adventures as possible, or you simply want a luxury vacation to Colombia with some fun surprises mixed in, Kuoda can help you plan the trip of your dreams. Exploring these exciting destinations is always better with the help of local guides, which we’ll be sure to book for you so you don’t stress about any of the logistics. Talk to one of our adventure experts today and start organizing your fantasy excursion!