Colombia with Kids

Colombia is an AWESOME country to visit, especially with kids. However, you should know where you’re going. And, there’s some spots you’ll want to avoid.

Don’t let people deter you, Colombia is an amazing spot to bring your children. They’ll learn a ton about Colombian culture and they’ll see some amazing nature. Plus, it’s cheap! In a lot of spots that we went to you can find a great lunch deal (‘menu del dia’) for around $5. Not street food either! A real meal at a restaurant.

I’ve been to Colombia three times for a total of about 3 months. Here’s what I’d do if I was traveling to Colombia with kids. This itinerary is best with about 10-12 days.

This itinerary includes 3 main places – Medellin, Jardin, and Salento. These are all in Colombia’s central region. There are plenty of other places to visit – it just depends on how much time you have, and how comfortable you are traveling with kids in areas with varying safety.

Notably, I excluded the Northern Region that includes Cartagena, Santa Marta, Minca and Tayrona National Park. I also excluded the capital, Bogota. While there are definitely some cool spots to see – the heat, decreased safety, and inconvenience of travel are not really worth it if you’re bringing your kids, in my opinion.

First Stop – Medellin (3-4 days)

Medellin is definitely the best big city in Colombia to visit. And since you will have to fly into somewhere to get your feet on the ground in Colombia, Medellin should be the place.

Here are the top things you should do in Medellin.

Comuna 13 Tour – Zippy Tours Recommended! (full review here) – Take public transit to get to the start of the Tour
Metro Cable to Parque Arvi – Medellin has a BEAUTIFUL cable system that takes you into the mountains surrounding the city. Parque Arvi is also just awesome. Don’t miss this.
Day Trip to Guatape – Recommend You Go with a Tour just because its easier and more convenient. However, if you want to give your kids the raw, local experience, you can definitely do it by public bus. The bus ride is comfortable and safe – so its doable for sure. The only reason I recommend the tour is because it’s more convenient (leaves from your hotel) and is literally cheaper than doing the day trip on your own. Only downside is you’re on the tour’s timetable to explore Guatape.
Hike Cerro de las Tres Cruces – Amazing 1 hour hike that gives you a great view of Medellin. This is something you can do without a tour where you can see an authentic and safe Colombian neighborhood. I lived in Medellin for a month and I did this hike at least 5 times. It’s awesome and not too long.

Second Stop – Jardin (3 days)

Jardin is about a 3 hour bus ride from Medellin and should definitely be visited with kids. It’s a small town in the mountains that’s very safe with a ton to do. Here’s what you need to do in Jardin.

Cueva del Esplendor – Awesome waterfall at a farm in the hills. Go with a tour, or hike here.
Seven Waterfalls Hike – Right near Jardin, no tour needed. Walk yourself for as long as you want.
Cafe Jardin & Cristo Rey Viewpoint – Walk or tuk-tuk here from Jardin. Amazing views.
Visit a Trucheria – Trout farms are one of the main things to do in the area. Visit a trout farm, catch your own trout, then bring it over to the restaurant to have them cook it up for you!
Dulces de Jardin – Awesome pastries – best in Colombia! Kids will love them. Plus, a beautiful garden to sit and enjoy them.
Explore the main square – Kid friendly, safe, and beautiful.

Third Stop – Salento aka “The Cocora Valley” (3 days)

To get here is a bit tricky. You can either do a long 2 bus rides, or you can bus back to Medellin, fly to Pereira, then take the hour long bus ride to Salento. I’d recommend flying to Pereira as the bus ride through the mountains can be rough. Salento is AWESOME and is a must-visit!

Hike the Cocora Valley – World famous. Get a bagged lunch before you go from Brunch de Salento.
Visit Santa Rita La Cascada & the Finca – This was our favorite part of the area. A beautiful, peaceful finca with horses, dogs, etc + waterfalls and hills to explore. You could easily spend 3-4 hours here!
Take a Coffee Tour – We recommend Luger Coffee Finca. There are tons of Coffee farms to visit here – some are bigger than others.

After Salento, I would recommend flying back to Medellin, then flying home.

Add-ons for your Colombia Trip

If you have another week, you could add on the North of Colombia. Meaning some combination of Cartagena, Santa Marta, Minca, Tayrona National Park, and/or Palomino.

Personally, I would fly into Santa Marta and stay outside the city. Santa Marta is a bit dangerous and there’s not much to see here. I’d take a taxi to Minca and spend a few days in this jungle “town”. After Minca I’d head to Tayrona National Park.

The big cities in the North – Cartagena & Santa Marta – are a LOT different than Medellin. I wouldn’t come here with kids as the drug scene is much more prevalent. Also, it’s a LOT hotter up here as you’re no longer in the mountains, so everything is much harder.

Another option is to explore the capital Bogota, however I also wouldn’t recommend this. Bogota is much more dangerous than Medellin, the weather isn’t quite as good, and there’s less to see and do here for tourists. However, if you want your kids to see what the capital city is like, you could definitely do it. The tourism industry here just isn’t as built up as it is in Medellin.

Conclusion – Colombia with Kids

Let me know if you have any questions. Happy to help you with your trip to Colombia! It is definitely worth bringing your kids, BUT you have to know where you’re going and what you’re doing. There are definitely some places where you shouldn’t go, especially with kids.

Sam