Colombia’s Wonders: 16 Spots Where Ancient History Meets Outdoor Adventure

Outside its vibrant cultural centers, Colombia, known as The Country of Beauty, offers myriad ways to connect with the land—the literal and figurative roots of the country. Here, there are centuries of stories hidden underground and lurking among the trees. Through the country’s diverse topography, adventure travelers, history buffs, and nature nerds can find uniquely tactile experiences that reflect Colombian culture through the earth and the elements. To enhance exploration, the country was divided into six distinct tourism regions based on accessibility and sustainability criteria: preserving the Caribbean and Pacific regions, separating the Andes into Western and Eastern zones, combining the Amazon and Orinoco areas, and establishing the Colombian Massif as its own region.

In contrast to museums featuring pre-Columbian artifacts behind sheets of glass, the places on this list immerse visitors in the nexus of ancient archaeological sites and contemporary Indigenous communities. For example, salt mines have been transformed into tourist attractions that honor both the country’s history of building wealth through salt, and its modern Catholic identity.

Waterfalls, meandering rivers, mountain trails, and caves in isolated national parks all make an appearance here; but the crown jewel might be a “lost city” in the mountains that was built 650 years before Machu Picchu in Peru. Travelers looking for less hiking and more chilling might consider a day of decompression and exfoliation in a volcanic mud bath. 

There are also a few places here for travelers who want something more eccentric and family-friendly, like a quirky amusement park and a two-story house made completely of clay.

You’re going to have to work to experience many of these sites. Most are located in small towns and remote regions, and some are only accessible by the most physically fit and intrepid travelers. But the reward is an intimate experience of some of Colombia’s most unique, mysterious, and awe-inspiring wonders.