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Here is the ultimate budget backpacking Colombia travel guide and your best resource on how to travel Colombia on a budget as a solo traveller on a budget!
Colombia is seriously my favorite country on earth, and that means a lot considering my home country is Jamaica (a pretty awesome country). Contrary to popular belief, I felt very safe as a Black solo female traveller.
I spent 1.5 months in Colombia but I was only supposed to spend 30 days; I ended up extending my trip because I loved the country so much! This country is home to the nicest people on earth, fresh produce, jaw dropping scenery, and basically any climate and nature you can think of.
From the tropical breeze and crystal clear beaches in Isla San Andres to the cool mountain breeze of Bogota, Colombia has something to offer for nearly every traveller. This trail guide will feature the ins and outs of traveling Colombia and how to have the best trip of your life!
Learn how to save money for travel the budget backpacker way!
Best things to do and see in Colombia- Backpacking Colombia
Visit the Palenqueras in Cartagena Did you even visit Colombia if you didn’t take a picture with the Palenqueras? These ladies carry around fruit in baskets on top of their head and they beautifully represent the Afro population of Palenque, the first free town of Africans in the Americas. Posing for a picture with them costs about 2000 COP per person so make sure to have your cash ready if you want a pic!
Swim in the gorgeous beaches on Isla San Andres San Andres is seriously and easily my favorite place in Colombia. Well, technically it’s not actually located in Colombia, it’s in the Caribbean Sea right next to Nicaragua. However it is a territory of Colombia and I have to say they have THE best beaches in the entire country. I happily celebrated my 22nd birthday here and woke up to crystal clear beach water every day- it’s the perfect destination for swimming and diving!
Lost City Trek Arguably one of the coolest things to do in Colombia! The 5 day tour can cost about $200-$250 USD and in that is covered 3 meals per day, a hiking guide, and one of the best experiences of your life.
Hike the Tallest palm trees in the world in Cocora Valley I have to say, visiting cocoa Valley was an absolute must for my trip backpacking Colombia. The entire experience was seriously enchanted, I felt like a Disney princess in a tropical jungle with my own movie series. The landscape was incredible, even the ride to the valley was seriously cool! It was a true once in a lifetime experience!
Tayrona National Park A must see on the Caribbean coast! If you’re not able to get to Isla San Andrés or any of the other islands near Cartagena, Tayrona should be high on your list. It’s got stunning beaches with a beautiful scenery, and you can even sleep there!
Sit back and enjoy Minca This small town was such a breath of fresh air! Located up in the mountains near the Caribbean coast, Minca was one of my favorite spots in Colombia. It’s pretty laid back and chill with many hiking spots and the best waterfalls to explore. If you’re looking for a nice place to meditate and reset, Minca is the town!
Go to a futbol game I am by nomen’s whatsoever a sports person, like at ALL. However attending a futbol game in Medellin was SO cool and such a lively experience! It was such a fun way to spend the evening and a great experience of local Colombian culture.
Explore Medellin Learn about the history and recent past of Colombia and her struggles in Medellin. There is plenty to do there and it’s also a digital nomad’s heaven so you’ll never be bored. From salsa dancing to historical museums to Comuna 13, Medellin is a must visit if you’re backpacking Colombia.
Tatacoa Dessert If you’re an adventure and adrenaline junkie, you need to head over to the Tatacoa dessert. It’s basically like if Arizona and Mexico had a baby and placed it in Colombia, this dessert is not one short of amazing. From the red desert, the grey desert, and the Xilopalos trail, there is so much to experience in this area!
Admire the beauty in Guatape If you’re going to Medellin you’ve got to visit Guatape, a gorgeous picturesque town about an hour away. It’s got the well known mountain peak (that is totally worth climbing for the pics) and is cheap to get to with public transportation.
How much you need
I spent 1.5 months (about 45 days) in Colombia and spent about $1,500 USD which equally to about $33 USD per day. Backpacking Colombia can totally be done much cheaper, however this was a birthday trip for me, so some days I was staying in nice airbnbs and doing fancy tours!
I think it’s very impressive I was able to have a fantastic birthday, eat out, and take flights (with baggage included) and still have been on a somewhat budget. I would personally suggest a $30-$35 USD budget per day including all accommodation, food, activities, and miscellaneous.
A healthy budget of $850 can easily last a budget backpacker one month staying in the cheapest hostels and cooking most of the time. $1400 can be suggested for a backpacker a bit more on the boujee side who prefers to stay in nicer hostels and eat out every so often.
Solo travel Safety Tips in Colombia- Backpacking Colombia
There is a saying in Colombia, don’t give papaya; it basically means don’t set yourself up for trouble. Walking around with the newest iPhone in one hand and your fancy gamer laptop in the next for all to see is definitely giving trouble.
I visited Colombia as a 22/23 year old solo female traveler and I felt very safe! That being said, I am also a well seasoned traveler and have been to over 20 countries and 5 continents by myself. Staying safe in Colombia is similar to staying safe anywhere, having street smarts. Here are some safety tips to follow for backpacking Colombia.
Leave the jewellery and fancy clothes at home. The more basic the better, when I’m walking around a country I’m not familiar with, I always wear a basic t-shirt and everyday shoes, especially if I’m alone.
The more you look like a local, the better. I will say that I blended in quite well because many locals same my share ethnic and physical features so I looked a lot less like a gringa (even though I was hehehe). However, people could tell I was coming from a different country when I would dress up, so keep that in mind.
Do NOT walk alone at night. I mean it, be smart about your decisions. Most of the horror stories I heard happening to tourists and backpackers were usually at night down a dark alley because someone wanted to save a couple of bucks. Whenever I wanted to go out at night, I would take an uber that wouldn’t cost more than $5 USD. No amount of money saved is your life.
Leave your valuables at the hostel. Don’t walk around with your passport- instead opt to carry a photo copy of it. I never walk around with my physical credit/debit cards as everywhere accepted TAP/contactless on my phone.
Take the bus- It is definitely not the most luxurious option whatsoever but we’re here for a good time! While busses do take a while to reach the destination, they’re always cheaper than flights and you don’t have to pay extra for luggage! Consider taking a night bus and bringing a kindle to stay cozy and entertained until you reach your destination.
Learn Spanish!! Me looking like a local and also speaking Spanish absolutely saved me during my time in Colombia. Simply learning the basics such as numbers and how to ask for help can make or break your time backpacking Colombia.
Learn more about my solo female travel safety tips here!
How to save money in Colombia- Backpacking Colombia
Saving money while backpacking Colombia all depends on the type of budget you’re on. If you’re on the tight backpacker budget, or the budget I was on, a bit more of a bounce backpacker. During my 45 days, I stayed in all the top digital nomad hostels like Los Patios and Viajero and was spending in between $15 – $40 USD her night for a bunk.
Since Colombia has started to gain popularity amongst the backpacker scene, hostel prices have gone up. Have no worries, the countries tourism is still quite affordable, you just have to know where to look. You can find a super cheap hostel for $10 per night, however this may be far from the city center which means you’ll have to travel out a lot.
Stay out of the city Using Medellin as an example, Los Patios is the best accommodation for digital nomads but comes at a hefty $31 per night. How much you spend and budget for your backpacking Colombia trip will all depend on the luxuries and amenities you want.
Take über- Taking uber is a must, trust me. I took uber everywhere in the country and it was typically dirt cheap! Renting a car is just way too expensive (and not that safe) and I never spent more than $10 on a ride. Just keep in mind that uber sis technically illegal in Colombia and be sure to sit in the passenger’s seat instead of the back as drivers can be pulled over.
Another way to save money is to avoid tours and take yourself out on tours! There are many free walking tours around the country and so many things you can easily do by yourself if you’re willing to go on an adventure. Also, if you’re in Medellin and want to go to Guatape, might I suggest doing a DIY by yourself via public transportation instead of overpaying for a super touristy guide as well?!
Go grocery shopping and cook your food- This is the difference between spending $500 a month on food and $100. Cooking your own meals is absolutely key as a budget backpacker and the best way to save money wherever you are in the world. The meals may not seem to be much at fist but they certainly add up after a while!
Bring a reusable water bottle- In plenty of the hostels I stayed at in Colombia, the tap water was drinkable and one place in Minca even had a filtration system! Constantly buying water gets really expensive, especially in such a hot country. However, it is important to listen to your stomach (and locals!) to see if the water in your city is safe to drink.
When to visit Colombia
Colombia’s main seasons are their dry (from December to March) and their cloudy or rainy season (from September to October). When I visited Colombia, it was from December to January and the weather in each city I visited was spectacular!
Do keep in ind that I listed during some of the most popular times during the year! March tends to still have great weather and prices as well.
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