Colombia

Colombia family holidays

Colombia is arguably South America’s most colourful, vibrant, and fun-loving country. Having languished off the tourist radar for decades, it is now back and a Colombia family holiday promises adventure with a sizeable dash of Latin pizzazz. From snow-capped Andean peaks to palm-fringed Caribbean beaches, this is a country of incredible variety that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

Bathers on beach at Tayrona National Park, Colombia with kids activity

Colombia’s spectacular scenery is legendary, not least the coastline at Tayrona National Park

Colombia is now a wonderfully family-friendly destination. Former seedy cartel hotspots have been transformed into safe and welcoming neighbourhoods. There may be stories told of Pablo Escabar, but these days the streets of his district are crammed with bustling markets, colourful murals and energetic street performers.

Outside the city, you can explore the mist-covered mountains of the coffee district, where giant wax palms poke through the clouds. Or sail down a tributary of the Amazon, with hummingbirds flitting around, and howler monkeys calling to each other from the forest canopy. There are the ruins of lost cities rising out of the jungle and beautiful colonial churches sitting on charming Spanish-style plazas.

And then at the end of the day, you can spend the night in a traditional family-run haciendas or luxury boutique hotel.

Pretty streets of Cartagena, Colombia family holidays

Cartagena is, without doubt, one of the prettiest colonial cities in South America

Why take the kids to Colombia?

Colombia is so incredibly varied and diverse that each different stop is like its own mini-break. On any Colombia family holiday, you’ll hop from rainforest to city to beach to coffee plantation all in one trip. And each location has its own unique activities. Some of our favourites include:

Chilling out in a hammock on an idyllic Caribbean island
Climbing El Penol rock for wonderful views
Dining al fresco at an open-air restaurant in trendy Provenza
Exploring the colourful colonial towns of Guatape & Salento
Taking a ‘willy jeep’ into the mountains of the Coffee Zone
Spotting armadillo, crocodile, and howler monkeys in Los Llanos
Hiking between beaches in Tayrona National Park
Watching the sunset from beautiful Cartagena

This beguiling combination of activity, landscape, history, culture and beach means that a Colombia family holiday is guaranteed to put a Calypso hop in your step. After all, who doesn’t love a country where you can ride in a Willy Jeep and see a ‘fat Mona Lisa’ hanging in the country’s most prestigious art gallery? Or where you can hike and horse-ride beneath snow-capped peaks one day, then kayak or snorkel in the aquamarine waters of the Caribbean the next.

For more inspiration and photos, see our Colombia with Kids Top 10.

Hike in the Cocora Valley, go horse riding, learn about coffee farming, and zip-line in Colombia’s Coffee Zone

Getting around Colombia

Colombia may look small on the map when compared to Brazil, its neighbour, but this is a big country. And the topography, with rolling hills, soaring peaks and dense jungle mean that it takes time to explore by road. Fortunately there is an efficient and comparatively inexpensive network of local flights which connect the different areas. Most of our Colombia family holidays will therefore include a few flights to allow you to see all of the highlights of the country, from the Amazon to the Caribbean to the Pacific.

Family in Colombia, selection of the best holiday destinations for families

Enjoy a wealth of exciting family-friendly activities at Guatape

Family holiday itineraries to Colombia

All of our Colombia family holidays are bespoke, which means that they are tailor-made for your own specific family, taking into account the ages of your children, your interests, your budget and so on. However, to give you an idea of what you could do on a family holiday in Colombia, have a look at our sample itineraries, Best of Colombia and Colombia Off the Beaten Track.

Also, check out some of the places that you might like to include on a Colombia family holiday, and if you need further inspiration, have a look at our gallery. See our handy When to go to Colombia chart to find out more about the weather. Or simply get in touch and we’ll be delighted to advise you on the best Colombia family holidays for you and your family.