Quintessentially South American, Colombia offers families a beguiling combination of lively, colourful towns and cities, and incredibly varied and beautiful scenery (from rolling hills covered in coffee plantations to idyllic white sandy beaches, fringed by lush jungle). There are masses of exciting activities to appeal to active families as well as a rich history stretching back millennia.
The country has only recently emerged from a troubled history but is one of Latin America’s real success stories. As you walk around the leafy suburbs of Medellin, with its tree-lined streets, outdoor dining and vibrant street art, the stories of Pablo Escobar and his drug cartel really do seem a very distant memory. This is a country that is looking forward and will welcome families looking for something a little bit different.
It’s not been easy to whittle it down, but here are our favourite things not to miss when holidaying in Colombia with kids, as chosen by our MD Liddy Pleasants and her daughter.
Our Top 10 Colombia with Kids activities
The Don Diego River wends its way from the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains, down to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Float along a pretty section of the river in a pumped-up inner tube, eyes peeled for howler monkeys along the way. Check out our two sample Colombia itineraries packed with fun family-friendly activities.
Willy Jeeps are the traditional kind of jeep used by the US Army but are now an icon of Colombia’s wax palm valleys. This is a highlight of any trip to Colombia with kids, as you ride in the back of a jeep up over a high pass and into a little-known valley covered in huge groves of wax palms. You can stand up on the tailgate and hold on tight as you bump higher and higher into the mountains. See our Best of Colombia sample itinerary which takes you to the Coffee Zone.
The jewel in Colombia’s natural crown, Tayrona National Park is a must on any trip to Colombia with kids. The blissful white sandy beaches are backed by jungle-clad hills where monkeys roam and colourful butterflies flit through the trees. Boat, ride horses, or hike into the park and then dip your toes in the warm waters of the Caribbean. Find out more about places to visit in Colombia.
Colombia is one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world, with landscapes ranging from arid desert to snow-capped peaks, from misty cloud-shrouded valleys to idyllic Caribbean beaches. Unsurprisingly, these varied landscapes are home to a bewildering array of animals, insects and birds (in fact Colombia has more bird species than any other country in the world). Take a hike through the jungle to search for howler monkeys (whose throaty bellow echoes through the forest in the early morning), tarantulas, caiman, scarlet macaws, poison dart frogs and so much more.
For many of those who remember the 80s and 90s, the city of Medellin was synonymous with the Medellin drug cartel, under the brutal control of Pablo Escobar. But over the last 40 years, the city has transformed from the most dangerous place in the world (some districts had a life expectancy of just 17 years) to a thriving, modern, leafy metropolis. In Escobar’s old neighbourhood, the transformation is particularly dramatic, the narrow streets now home to lively bars, souvenir stalls selling Escobar paraphernalia, and brightly coloured murals. If Medellin appeals, then check out our Colombia Off the Beaten Track sample itinerary and our customer reviews.
As a country renowned for its coffee production, any trip to Colombia with kids needs a visit to a coffee plantation! Here you will be able to learn about the process of producing coffee, from where the journey starts with a ripe red fruit sitting on a glossy green bush. See how these are collected, dried, roasted and then ground to make some of the finest coffee in the world. Your visit will of course end with the chance to sample a steaming hot cup of freshly brewed coffee! Active families can cycle to the plantation, for added adventure.
There are a multitude of pretty towns in Colombia, from the brightly painted houses of the coffee district, to the narrow streets of Guatape where the houses are adorned with colourful murals. These are home to many souvenir shops selling a huge variety of traditional handicrafts including woven bags, jewellery, fake football shirts and other trinkets. Give the kids a bit of pocket money and set them a challenge to buy the best souvenir.
One of the more unusual activities in Colombia with kids is to immerse yourself in the thick gloopy mud of the El Totumo Mud Volcano. Strangely buoyant so that you struggle to keep your legs under the surface, this mud is said to have therapeutic qualities. Bathe in the mud before switching to a swamp (yes, really) to wash the mud off. Ta Da, you will look 20 years younger (honest)!
A video about the naval battles between the Spanish and English forces may be a surprise entry on a list of things to do in Colombia with kids, but it earns its place. The impressive Castillo San Felipe Fortress perches on a hilltop outside the city of Cartagena and features a superb introductory video that tells the nail-biting story of how the Spanish defeated the English in Cartagena and maintained supremacy in South America. It doesn’t sound that interesting, but it really, really is! Having watched the video, descend into the tunnels beneath the fortress then head to Cartagena itself for a walking tour of the city. You can visit this Caribbean jewel on both our sample Colombia itineraries.
Blessed with both Pacific and Caribbean coasts, Colombia isn’t short of beach options. The best for families are located on the islands off the north Caribbean coast, a few hours from Cartagena. Here the big waves that lash the mainland are diminished, and there are beautiful crescents of sand gently lapped by the sea, and backed by palm trees. And relax!
Colombia with Kids next steps
Now is a great time to go, before everyone else decides to. So if you’d like to talk with someone who has been, including our MD, recently returned from a holiday there with her daughter, ring us on 01728 752751 during office hours or use our website contact form.
Liddy Pleasants, MD Stubborn Mule Travel
I’d love to hear about your experiences of holidaying in Colombia with kids and see your photos, so do email me at [email protected].
I’d love to hear about your experiences of holidaying in Colombia with kids and see your photos, so do email me at [email protected].