Home > Getaways > Travel > The most beautiful villages to visit in Colombia
A land of forests, jungles and deserts, Colombia is also home to endearing typical villages that exude an authentic vibe. Here are eight of them to discover in this magnificent Latin American country.
Hidden amidst pastureland and coffee plantations in the Antioquia department in the north-west of the country, Jardín is one of those pretty rural villages to which Colombia holds the secret. Wander around its cobblestone streets, past typical Paisa houses with colourful doors and balconies. Wearing hats, boots and a poncho over their shoulder, men ride around on horseback in a friendly Wild West ambience.
More under-the-radar than its neighbour Salento, life in this lovely village in Quindío centres around coffee growing. Right at the heart of Eje Cafetero (a coffee-growing region in the centre of Colombia), Filandia is picture-postcard perfect: verdant valleys dotted with fincas (traditional farms), white houses with painted windows, balconies of flowers, etc. You need only watch life go by from one of the terraces in the main square.
This colourful village lies two hours from Medellín. Known for its Piedra del Peñol, an enormous 220 m-high rock, Guatapé stands out with its expressive sculpted façades. Suns, flowers, llamas, donkeys and dolphins leap above the waves… For more than a century, all the bas-reliefs (zócalos) here have been decorated by the inhabitants themselves. Stroll through the streets to admire these works within hand’s reach.
You can’t miss this village in the north-east of the country, built on a mountainside in the Andes. From the cathedral through the cobblestone streets to the whitewashed houses, the village founded in 1705 appears to be made entirely of stone. Craftsmanship workshops can also be discovered in every corner of the place, after a rafting or paragliding trip.
Created in the middle of the Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta wetland, the largest in Colombia, in the Magdalena department (north), life in this pile-dwelling village is determined by the caprices of the lagoon. Houses on stilts, fishermen in dugout canoes, small boats to get around, a few shops, a school, a church, etc. Behind this picture-postcard image, Nueva Venecia hides a more complex reality and above all a resilient and supportive population.
A bastion of Altiplano culture in the north of the country, this peaceful village with deeply rooted traditions is gently opening up to tourism. It has to be said that it is good to live surrounded by coffee plantations, fincas and lush valleys. A leading destination for religious trips, the village counts no fewer than 17 churches! Along the colourful narrow streets, a few artisans also fashion the famous carrieles (shoulder bags). A beautiful souvenir!
Set on the banks of the Magdalena River to the south of Cartagena and to the north of Colombia, Mompox, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, takes travellers on a gentle journey back into the past. With colonial architecture, richly decorated churches, and water all around, you would think that you were in Macondo, the village created by Gabriel García Márquez in One Hundred Years of Solitude.
Nestled at the foot of the Andes Mountains a few hours from Bogotá, the village of Villa de Leyva is primarily known for its Plaza Mayor, one of the largest squares in Latin America. Entirely cobbled, it is surrounded by colonial buildings with white walls that offer a striking sight once night falls. Also don’t miss Octavio Mendoza’s Casa Terracota, the largest terracotta house in the world.
Casa TerracotaVereda MonquiraVilla de Leyva, Boyacácasaterracota.com
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