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Colombia's untrodden paths: discovering the country's hidden treasures

Colombia, a land of breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture, holds in its fold a tapestry of unseen wonders waiting to be explored. This collection of points of interest peels back the curtain on some of Colombia's most captivating yet less-traveled destinations. From serene mountain villages to secret waterfalls and tucked-away colonial towns, each spot promises an experience away from the well-trodden tourist tracks, allowing for intimate encounters with Colombia's rich natural and historical heritage.

Barichara
Barichara

Santander, Colombia

A picturesque town known as the 'Prettiest Village in Colombia' with cobblestone streets and colonial architecture.

Caño Cristales
Caño Cristales

Meta, Colombia

Nicknamed 'The Liquid Rainbow,' this river bedazzles with its kaleidoscope of colors caused by aquatic plants.

La Guajira Desert
La Guajira Desert

La Guajira, Colombia

An arid oasis where the desert meets the Caribbean Sea, home to the Wayuu people.

Gorgona Island
Gorgona Island

Cauca, Colombia

Once a prison island, now a natural paradise famous for its diversity of marine life and unspoiled forests.

Jardín
Jardín

Antioquia, Colombia

A charming town surrounded by lush coffee plantations and quaint scenery known for its colorful balconies.

Punta Gallinas
Punta Gallinas

La Guajira, Colombia

The northernmost point of South America, offering pristine beaches and stunning desert dunes.

Tatacoa Desert
Tatacoa Desert

Huila, Colombia

A mystical badlands-type desert known for striking rock formations and star-gazing opportunities.

Mompox
Mompox

Bolívar, Colombia

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this historic river island enchants with its well-preserved colonial legacy.

Providencia Island
Providencia Island

San Andrés and Providencia, Colombia

This remote Caribbean island offers crystal-clear waters, rich coral reefs, and a laid-back rhythm.

Las Lajas Sanctuary
Las Lajas Sanctuary

Nariño, Colombia

An awe-inspiring Gothic church built across a canyon, attracting pilgrims and tourists alike.

San Cipriano Natural Reserve
San Cipriano Natural Reserve

Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Accessible via unique 'brujitas' (motorcycle-powered carts), it's known for its verdant biodiversity and crystal-clear streams.

Chingaza National Park
Chingaza National Park

Cundinamarca, Colombia

A vital source of Bogotá's water, this park is filled with paramo ecosystems and offers majestic Andean views.

Guadalupe
Guadalupe

Santander, Colombia

This small village boasts the impressive natural wonder of 'Quebrada Las Gachas', a river with a series of natural Jacuzzi-like pools.

Laguna de Guatavita
Laguna de Guatavita

Cundinamarca, Colombia

A sacred lake tied to the legend of El Dorado, set amidst rolling green hills.

El Peñón de Guatapé
El Peñón de Guatapé

Antioquia, Colombia

A massive stone monolith offering 360-degree panoramic views after a climb of over 700 stairs.

Nevado del Huila
Nevado del Huila

Huila, Colombia

An imposing glacier-capped volcano part of Colombia's Central Cordillera mountain range.

Santuario de Fauna y Flora Otún Quimbaya
Santuario de Fauna y Flora Otún Quimbaya

Risaralda, Colombia

A wildlife sanctuary ideal for bird watching and encountering the diverse fauna of the Colombian Andes.

Bahía Solano
Bahía Solano

Chocó, Colombia

A coastal town renowned for its breathtaking beaches, rich biodiversity, and whale watching tours.

Serranía de La Macarena
Serranía de La Macarena

Meta, Colombia

The mountain range housing the famous Caño Cristales and offering spectacular natural scenery.

Cerro de Mavecure
Cerro de Mavecure

Guainía, Colombia

One of the iconic granite hills in eastern Colombia, sacred to indigenous peoples and stunning to climbers.

Playa Belén
Playa Belén

Norte de Santander, Colombia

Known for its peculiar rock formations and tranquil rural setting, this village is a gem for relaxation.

Ciudad Perdida
Ciudad Perdida

Magdalena, Colombia

An ancient archaeological site deep within Sierra Nevada’s jungles, only accessible by a challenging trek.

Palomino
Palomino

La Guajira, Colombia

A tranquil beachside getaway known for tubing down the Palomino River toward the Caribbean Sea.

Salto del Tequendama
Salto del Tequendama

Cundinamarca, Colombia

This impressive waterfall has long drawn visitors and inspired myths, located just outside of Bogotá.

Amacayacu National Park
Amacayacu National Park

Amazonas, Colombia

In the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, this park offers unparalleled biodiversity and indigenous cultures.

Termales de Santa Rosa de Cabal
Termales de Santa Rosa de Cabal

Risaralda, Colombia

Hot springs cascading into natural thermal pools, set against a backdrop of lush green forests.

Valle de Cocora
Valle de Cocora

Quindío, Colombia

Home to the towering wax palms, this cloud forest valley offers hiking trails with spectacular views.

Parque Los Nevados
Parque Los Nevados

Caldas, Colombia

A high-altitude national park encompassing several volcanoes, offering rugged treks and beautiful landscapes.

Barichara A picturesque town known as the 'Prettiest Village in Colombia' with cobblestone streets and colonial architecture.

Barichara
Barichara A picturesque town known as the 'Prettiest Village in Colombia' with cobblestone streets and colonial architecture.
Caño Cristales Nicknamed 'The Liquid Rainbow,' this river bedazzles with its kaleidoscope of colors caused by aquatic plants.

Caño Cristales
Caño Cristales Nicknamed 'The Liquid Rainbow,' this river bedazzles with its kaleidoscope of colors caused by aquatic plants.
La Guajira Desert An arid oasis where the desert meets the Caribbean Sea, home to the Wayuu people.

La Guajira Desert
La Guajira Desert An arid oasis where the desert meets the Caribbean Sea, home to the Wayuu people.
Gorgona Island Once a prison island, now a natural paradise famous for its diversity of marine life and unspoiled forests.

Gorgona Island
Gorgona Island Once a prison island, now a natural paradise famous for its diversity of marine life and unspoiled forests.
Jardín A charming town surrounded by lush coffee plantations and quaint scenery known for its colorful balconies.

Jardín
Jardín A charming town surrounded by lush coffee plantations and quaint scenery known for its colorful balconies.
Punta Gallinas The northernmost point of South America, offering pristine beaches and stunning desert dunes.

Punta Gallinas
Punta Gallinas The northernmost point of South America, offering pristine beaches and stunning desert dunes.
Tatacoa Desert A mystical badlands-type desert known for striking rock formations and star-gazing opportunities.

Tatacoa Desert
Tatacoa Desert A mystical badlands-type desert known for striking rock formations and star-gazing opportunities.
Mompox A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this historic river island enchants with its well-preserved colonial legacy.

Mompox
Mompox A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this historic river island enchants with its well-preserved colonial legacy.
Providencia Island This remote Caribbean island offers crystal-clear waters, rich coral reefs, and a laid-back rhythm.

Providencia Island
Providencia Island This remote Caribbean island offers crystal-clear waters, rich coral reefs, and a laid-back rhythm.
Las Lajas Sanctuary An awe-inspiring Gothic church built across a canyon, attracting pilgrims and tourists alike.

Las Lajas Sanctuary
Las Lajas Sanctuary An awe-inspiring Gothic church built across a canyon, attracting pilgrims and tourists alike.
San Cipriano Natural Reserve Accessible via unique 'brujitas' (motorcycle-powered carts), it's known for its verdant biodiversity and crystal-clear streams.

San Cipriano Natural Reserve
San Cipriano Natural Reserve Accessible via unique 'brujitas' (motorcycle-powered carts), it's known for its verdant biodiversity and crystal-clear streams.
Chingaza National Park A vital source of Bogotá's water, this park is filled with paramo ecosystems and offers majestic Andean views.

Chingaza National Park
Chingaza National Park A vital source of Bogotá's water, this park is filled with paramo ecosystems and offers majestic Andean views.
Guadalupe This small village boasts the impressive natural wonder of 'Quebrada Las Gachas', a river with a series of natural Jacuzzi-like pools.

Guadalupe
Guadalupe This small village boasts the impressive natural wonder of 'Quebrada Las Gachas', a river with a series of natural Jacuzzi-like pools.
Laguna de Guatavita A sacred lake tied to the legend of El Dorado, set amidst rolling green hills.

Laguna de Guatavita
Laguna de Guatavita A sacred lake tied to the legend of El Dorado, set amidst rolling green hills.
El Peñón de Guatapé A massive stone monolith offering 360-degree panoramic views after a climb of over 700 stairs.

El Peñón de Guatapé
El Peñón de Guatapé A massive stone monolith offering 360-degree panoramic views after a climb of over 700 stairs.
Nevado del Huila An imposing glacier-capped volcano part of Colombia's Central Cordillera mountain range.

Nevado del Huila
Nevado del Huila An imposing glacier-capped volcano part of Colombia's Central Cordillera mountain range.
Santuario de Fauna y Flora Otún Quimbaya A wildlife sanctuary ideal for bird watching and encountering the diverse fauna of the Colombian Andes.

Santuario de Fauna y Flora Otún Quimbaya
Santuario de Fauna y Flora Otún Quimbaya A wildlife sanctuary ideal for bird watching and encountering the diverse fauna of the Colombian Andes.
Bahía Solano A coastal town renowned for its breathtaking beaches, rich biodiversity, and whale watching tours.

Bahía Solano
Bahía Solano A coastal town renowned for its breathtaking beaches, rich biodiversity, and whale watching tours.
Serranía de La Macarena The mountain range housing the famous Caño Cristales and offering spectacular natural scenery.

Serranía de La Macarena
Serranía de La Macarena The mountain range housing the famous Caño Cristales and offering spectacular natural scenery.
Cerro de Mavecure One of the iconic granite hills in eastern Colombia, sacred to indigenous peoples and stunning to climbers.

Cerro de Mavecure
Cerro de Mavecure One of the iconic granite hills in eastern Colombia, sacred to indigenous peoples and stunning to climbers.
Playa Belén Known for its peculiar rock formations and tranquil rural setting, this village is a gem for relaxation.

Playa Belén
Playa Belén Known for its peculiar rock formations and tranquil rural setting, this village is a gem for relaxation.
Ciudad Perdida An ancient archaeological site deep within Sierra Nevada’s jungles, only accessible by a challenging trek.

Ciudad Perdida
Ciudad Perdida An ancient archaeological site deep within Sierra Nevada’s jungles, only accessible by a challenging trek.
Palomino A tranquil beachside getaway known for tubing down the Palomino River toward the Caribbean Sea.

Palomino
Palomino A tranquil beachside getaway known for tubing down the Palomino River toward the Caribbean Sea.
Salto del Tequendama This impressive waterfall has long drawn visitors and inspired myths, located just outside of Bogotá.

Salto del Tequendama
Salto del Tequendama This impressive waterfall has long drawn visitors and inspired myths, located just outside of Bogotá.
Amacayacu National Park In the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, this park offers unparalleled biodiversity and indigenous cultures.

Amacayacu National Park
Amacayacu National Park In the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, this park offers unparalleled biodiversity and indigenous cultures.
Termales de Santa Rosa de Cabal Hot springs cascading into natural thermal pools, set against a backdrop of lush green forests.

Termales de Santa Rosa de Cabal
Termales de Santa Rosa de Cabal Hot springs cascading into natural thermal pools, set against a backdrop of lush green forests.
Valle de Cocora Home to the towering wax palms, this cloud forest valley offers hiking trails with spectacular views.

Valle de Cocora
Valle de Cocora Home to the towering wax palms, this cloud forest valley offers hiking trails with spectacular views.
Parque Los Nevados A high-altitude national park encompassing several volcanoes, offering rugged treks and beautiful landscapes.

Parque Los Nevados
Parque Los Nevados A high-altitude national park encompassing several volcanoes, offering rugged treks and beautiful landscapes.