We spent one unforgettable week in Colombia with our kids over March Break, and let me tell you—it was one of the most fun and spontaneous family vacations we’ve taken. There were a few misadventures – but they’re memories we’ll laugh back on for years to come. If you’re wondering whether Colombia is kid-friendly, the answer is a big yes! We explored a few different Colombian cities, flying from Bogotá to Cartagena and Medellín, and discovered so many amazing things to do with kids along the way. If you’re planning a 7-day Colombia itinerary for families, this guide is full of real-life tips, must-see spots and fun experiences to help you plan your own adventure. From colourful streets to kid-approved eats, Colombia with kids is a vibe we totally recommend!
One Week in Colombia with Kids: The Ultimate Family Itinerary
Traveling From Toronto to Colombia
Which Cities to Visit in Colombia
Things to do in Bogota with Kids
Cartagena Activities for Families
How Many Days Should We Spend in Colombia?
General Tips for Visiting Colombia With Kids
What We Spent Travelling in Colombia as a Family
7 Day Colombia Itinerary For Families
Traveling From Toronto to Colombia
As usual, I waited until the last minute to book a flight and I was originally tracking flights from Toronto to Cartagena. This is where most articles told families should go. Then I chatted with two gents I know who travel to Colombia often and they told me that I really should explore Medellin and Bogota. Well, I was confused but spotted a flight from Toronto to Bogota that involved a couple layovers (including an overnight in Miami on the return) and the deal was too good to pass on. All four of us flew from Toronto to Bogota on American Airlines for $2550 all in. For March break, I thought that was a great deal. Apollo is still considered a child as he’s under 12 years of age so his ticket was $50 cheaper than ours.
On the way to Bogota, we had two layovers – 4 hours each in Miami and in La Guardia. Since I’m a huge lounge girlie, I figured we’d lounge hop and maximize the benefits on my American Express Platinum Card. Canadian card holders are allowed to bring in 2 guests at no extra charge and they will allow you to pay extra for the additional guest. We ended up paying USD35 for Apollo (child rate) and that enabled us all to access the Centurion Lounges for 24 hours. This meant that we didn’t have to pay anything when we got to Miami for our next 4 hour layover there. Yes, we had 8 hours of layovers and technically speaking, we could have reached Colombo in the time it took us to get to Colombia but we didn’t mind. We chilled in the Centurion Airport Lounges, catching up on work and enjoying the complimentary food and drink. Our flights were fairly uneventful and we enjoyed the free Biscoff and drinks on board. Akira and I also benefited from some load balancing efforts and ended up in Business Class for the quick flight from Toronto to New York!
Our return journey had only one layover but it was an overnight one where we had to collect our checked bag and then re-check it again for the flight the next day. I thought our bag would be tagged right through and packed an overnight bag but that was clearly not needed. Luckily we didn’t have to pay the bag fees again because it was showing as one flight purchase. So, if you are paying for checked bags and have a long layover that requires you to re-check your bags, remember to hold on to that receipt. We showed that to the check-in agent and he swiftly checked in our bag!
Colombia Visa
Do Canadians need a visa for Colombia? Yes and no…. For U.S. and Canadian citizens, a visa is not required for tourist or business stays of 90 days or less in Colombia but you do have to pay for your entry permit on arrival. You can also extend your stay by up to 90 additional days, for a total of 180 days per calendar year, by applying for an extension at Colombian immigration authorities. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in Colombia. You must complete and submit the online Check-Mig form on the Migración Colombia website between 72 hours and one hour before departure. I did this for us but no one asked for it upon landing. That said, our immigration process was quick (so perhaps they had the information I submitted on their end) and I was able to pay our fee with our credit card. Only Chris and I had to pay this as the kids were under 14 years of age (Exemptions to the fee include destinations in the San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina archipelago, holding a valid Colombian visa, being under 14 or over 79 years old or being a crew member).
Internal Flights in Colombia
Given that we were so last minute with our decision to spend March in Colombia, we decided to land in Bogota and see how we felt about additional travels. We were hoping to visit Cartagena, but we weren’t fully sold on it. Chris and I also chatted about how some local flights were cheaper to purchase when we were in destination (like when we did Chile in a week) compared to buying them from Canada. So, we just turned up in Bogota and internal booked flights as we felt like.
We ended up flying LATAM and JetSmart and learned a few things along the way. First up, internal flights are relatively cheap compared to Canada. Even last minute purchases (we once booked a flight 3 hours before the flight) ended up costing CAD100 a person each way on average. There are three main local carriers and Avianca is the one we didn’t get to fly. Not all airlines have great websites and we really struggled with this. We had multiple timeouts and credit card issues. What we learned was that it was much easier to book flights on the Spanish sites (we had some locals assist us when Google Translate wasn’t working) and we learned that not all airlines offer discounts for kids. JetSmart proved to be the cheaper option because they had discounts for kids but the savings weren’t much. Between the two, we preferred flying LATAM mainly because they had WiFi onboard to access their entertainment system. Our Bogota to Cartagena LATAM flight had charging ports though our one from Medellin to Bogota didn’t – luck of the fleet draw! LATAM also offered free snacks (lentil chips/cookies) and drinks (water/coffee/tea/pop) on board.
With both these airlines the most basic fare only allowed you to bring a personal item – we expected this and only had a backpack each (which was considered a personal item) and paid for the checked bag separately. We also took risks and let the airline assign seats (they always sat us together or 2 and 2).
If you plan to roam around domestically in Colombia, flights are a very easy way to explore the country. AND you can bring as much liquid as you want because there’s no liquid restrictions on domestic flights! We had a last minute delay with our JetSmart flight from Medellin to Bogota where they pushed our flight back by 6 hours (making it difficult for us to get our return flight from Bogota to Toronto) but their customer service was great and they credited the flight costs to our credit cards (we were buying one way flights so this was very convenient). We then bought tickets on LATAM for a flight departing at our original time and headed to the airport right after booking the flight!
Which Cities to Visit in Colombia with Kids?
It was so difficult trying to narrow down the best places to visit in Colombia with kids but we did it! I think each family will have their own reasons for choosing the different places. If you love salsa, then Cali (Santiago de Cali) should be on your list. If we had more time, Salento’s coffee region would have been on our list, as would have Villa de Leyva for their Paleontology museum and horse back riding adventures. Many people told us to add Santa Marta and Tayrona National Park to our list of places to explore in Colombia but in the end, we explored Bogota, Cartagena and Medellin as a family and below is how we spent our days in each of those cities.
Things to do in Bogota with Kids
We spent three nights in Bogota as a family and we stayed at a HomeExchange in the Chicó Norte neighborhood, which is part of Chapinero in northern Bogotá.Bogotá was way more spread out than I expected, but even with just one full day in the city (the other day we did a day trip), we still managed to get a good feel for it.
A couple of things I want to mention about Bogotá—first, they have planned water cuts. The night we landed, there was no running water, so no shower after a long travel day. It came back the next morning, so it wasn’t a huge deal (and honestly, having grown up with water and power cuts, I get it), but still… crawling into bed feeling grimy was not ideal.
The tap water is safe to drink, but most homes have built-in filters, and restaurants typically offer bottled water for purchase.
Also, Bogotá sits at 2,640 meters (8,660 ft) above sea level, so altitude sickness is a real thing. Thankfully, none of us got sick, even with two busy days of walking and exploring—though I was definitely out of breath more than usual!
And one last thing—please eat the street food in Bogotá. It looked amazing, but I assumed I’d find similar options in other cities. I was very wrong. Major regret not trying more of it while I had the chance!
- Join a Bogotá Food Tour
This is definitely a highlight for us. I connected with True Colombian Experience on Instagram and truly connected with their ethos of exploring local gems. If you’re looking for an authentic food experience, join their Bogotá Food Experience Tour. We lucked out with a private tour and our guide Melissa was fantastic. We learned about the local history, the traditions behind some of the main dishes and got a deeper understanding of the Colombian food culture. We walked to 7 different food spots within the historic La Candelaria neighborhood and sampled a variety of traditional foods. I love that they took us to family-owned businesses and that there were hands-on experiences to keep the kids entertained. While most of the dishes did have meat or cheese, Chris (a pescatarian who doesn’t like cheese) said he had enough options that he was full by the end of the tour.
We tried local fruits and drinks at the District Market Square La Concordia (it’s a cute spot to roam around for snacks and drinks) and because this was a private tour we were able to linger a bit longer and grab a few beers here!
Learning to make Arepas was a really cool experience and I love the work being done at La Aldea Casa Cultural. We were there for the class as part of the True Colombian Experience Food Tour but there were many local vendors and a pop up market during our visit. It felt like a close knit community there.
We also learned about Colombian chocolate at Di Amato Chocolateria Restaurant (I was also able to purchase a cheese hot chocolate on my own!).
And there were many other stops. We sampled some fresh ceviche at Maria Tomasaa (and tried the delicious Corozo juice) and popped into a bakery that’s in a museum and had our first Colombian Tamalee.
Oh, if you want a cool but traditional patio, check out Fulatinos . They have multiple rooms in the house but if you go to the very top, you will enjoy quite the view with your traditional meal.
The plan was to have a traditional soup for our last stop but given that we were with kids, our guide decided to end at a gelato shop instead and this was a great way to end our tour because we were able to choose from flavours that included the fruits we’d tried earlier in the day. Not all ice cream shops have these flavours so I’d highly recommend stopping at Selva Nevada if you have a chance.
As I mentioned, our True Colombian Experience guide, Melissa, was absolutely amazing and knowledgeable. She even let us pop into art galleries along the way and she paid one of the buskers so the kids could take a photo with the tin man!
Once our tour ended, we were given enough instructions to roam around on our own and we took in the downtown vibes. Sadly I was too stuffed and didn’t try any of the amazing street food I saw.
Ride the cable car to Monserrate
I wanted to catch sunset here but that didn’t happen. We did manage to take a quick uber to see the night views and also lucked out that there were no lines to go up (coming back was another story though). You can purchase tickets upon arrival and if you want to hike up you certainly can but given the elevation we opted to use modern technology to transport us! There’s a funicular and a cable car to transport visitors up the 10,000+ ft. mountain but only one might be open during your visit. I was hoping to take one up and the other down but the night we visited only the cable car was running.
The kids were exhausted—we had just landed in Colombia earlier that day and had already done a food tour—so we didn’t linger too long. We took in the panoramic views, popped into the church and did a quick browse through the shops, but that was about it. If you time it right and arrive before the shops close, you could easily spend an hour or two up here. There are also a few restaurants if you want to grab a bite with a view.
According to their website, “the Monserrate mountain’s importance stretches back to the indigenous Muisca, who dubbed it Quijicha Caca (Grandmother’s Foot), and they would watch the sun – represented by their god Sué – rise from behind the mountain every June solstice.” I was told to buy tickets online but we were too spontaneous to do that and lucked out with no line ups at 7 p.m. for the ticket booth but there was a long wait to get a cable car from the top to the bottom!
Visit the Gold Museum
We were told that the Gold Museum was a MUST DO Bogota attraction and so we made our way here after the food tour. Sadly, we were just too tired to fully appreciate this museum, so if you’re visiting Bogotá with tweens, I’d say you can probably skip it. That said, I do understand the significance—Museo del Oro houses the largest collection of pre-Colombian gold artifacts in the world, which is pretty incredible. It’s located on one corner of Santander Park, and kids 12 and under get in free. Tickets for ages 12 to 59 were less than CAD $2, so it wasn’t a big expense to walk through quickly, even if we didn’t linger.
Botero Museum and Usaquén Sunday Market
These were both on my list of things to do in Bogota but sadly we ran out of time. I wish we did the Botero museum over the Gold one, to be honest!
- Visit a Bogotá Mall
I know malls sound boring but when it’s hot and you want to chill, the malls are a great spot. The mall we visited reminded me of the Dubai malls-not for the grandeur but because it had cool restaurants and bakeries inside. We popped into Atlantis Plaza Shopping Mall to grab some dairy free milk for Apollo and a few toiletries the kids needed (this is what happens when you ask them to pack!).
- Take a Day Trip to Zipaquirá and Guatavita
I highly recommend taking a day trip to see the Salt Cathedral and “hike” Guatavita. Ideally you could spend a night or two in the area because it did seem like a perfect spot for slow travel. However, if you’re limited on time like we were, taking a day trip with True Colombian Experience is the perfect way to get a deep understanding of the area, its history and the culture. Our guide Diego picked us up from our Home Exchange and we spent 12 hours with him and our driver.
The drive to Guatavita town took about an hour and a half and we dug into a hearty breakfast as soon as we got there. I got to try local delicacies like Changua (milk soup), Caldo de Castilla (rib soup), Tamal and popular breads like Almojabana and Pan de Yuca. All of this was included in the tour. (We had breakfast at Cafeteria Cafe y canela).
If you didn’t know, this is where the famous El Dorado ritual took place—where gold was offered to the gods. As we soaked in the stunning views, Diego taught us about the local flora. It was fascinating to learn about plants that play a vital role in trapping water. One important takeaway: never touch any plants unless you’re told it’s okay. We learned about a species that’s now extinct simply because tourists kept touching it—and it dies on contact. Such an eye-opening reminder to tread carefully in nature!
To end our day, we stopped in for a BBQ dinner and enjoyed more local delights as part of the tour. Chris got a vegetarian meal here and we got to sit at a table with a Canadian flag! (We had dinner at Restaurante La Catedral Llanera).
Cartagena Activities for Families
Cartagena was a Colombian city that came highly recommended by my party-going and solo traveller friends. And online, many blogs told us how family friendly Cartagena was. However, Colombian friends and those who travel there often told us that it’s an easy one to skip out on. Having visited Cartagena with kids in tow, I have my own opinion of course. This is a city that you could spend a night or two in easily. It’s vibrant and had a great mix of beach access, old city charm and Miami-esque seaside vibes. It’s also geared for tourists which I know can be a bit of a turn-off for many but also makes it easy to find tours and experiences.
We actually liked it but I have a feeling that we got a good mix of local and tourist experiences because we opted to book a Home Exchange close by to the airport. Our Home Exchange not only had condo vibes we’re used to but it came with an awesome pool and a house keeper who did our linen, took us shopping and cooked a meal for us. It reminded me of our days in Morocco!
Would I have loved staying in one of the fancy hotels within the Walled City? Absolutely! It was such a vibe in there! It reminded me of the M’dina in Marrakech in some ways. However, we were really craving some R&R and that’s exactly what staying in the Crespo neighbourhood meant. We shopped at the local supermarkets and fish shops and felt safe roaming around. Boccagrande is what locals call “mini Miami” and is filled with condos right by the beach if you want easy beach access. Getsemani is another popular artsy neighbourhood when you’re thinking about the best areas to stay in Cartagena.
So, if you have a few days, here’s some fun things to do in Cartagena with kids!
Explore the Walled City on foot or by horse-drawn carriage
I kept taking Ubers from our Home Exchange to the Walled City because I truly loved the vibe here. I hear it’s quiet in the day time and that the coffeeshops are charming to laze the day away at but it’s the evenings that saw me returning. Shops are open late, restaurants are fantastic and you can catch some epic sunsets. Yes, there’s a strong Police presence here and I heard about mischief happening but once again, the kids kept us safe. Beyond being hollered by restaurant servers to dine at their spot, we didn’t encounter any seedy invitations.
Things are a bit on the pricier side here but I highly recommend getting lost in this UNESCO World Heritage site. As you explore, appreciate that you’re surrounded by cobblestone streets, colonial buildings, plazas and vibrant colors.
We dined at a a couple fabulous Cartagena restaurants during our visit. Catch sunset (and happy hour drinks) at on rooftops like La Santa Guadalupe. Roam around this space because each room of the house is a dinning area!
If you love ceviche and seafood, you must dine at Anthony Bourdain approved La Cevicheria. We walked in and lucked out with a table but wait times can be long from what I’ve heard (they do not accept reservations). Our meal here was truly fantastic and whether you’re looking to dine indoors or outdoors, it passes the vibe check!
If you prefer live music with your dinner then Mistura is a great fusion Caribbean-Sushi spot. It was an interesting mix of flavours here and while I didn’t LOVE LOVE LOVE it like I did with the other two Cartagena meal recommendations on this list, Chris and the kids did. Once again this restaurant is housed in a grand mansion and the music started around 7 p.m. We lucked out without a reservation here too!
While I do love the side street patios, I didn’t have time to chill on one. For our last meal in Cartagena, Chris made reservations at El Arsenal Rum Box (it wasn’t busy and we’d have been able to get a table had we walked in). I highly recommend drinks and nibbles here and be prepared for many surprises.
The kids were invited to shake up their own cocktails and I loved that this was a complimentary offering. Akira and Apollo looked good behind the bar – hahahah ! This would NEVER happen in Canada!
Chris and I received complimentary rum shots and our meal here ended with free chocolate and flowers.
The food was solid, as was the service. Definitely a must visit spot if you’re looking for a fun night out.
Roam Around Bocagrade and Getsemani
We felt safe roaming around, stopping in at the Mall (where we found a tour for our next outing-more on that below) and taking in the beach town vibes.
Getsemani is colourful and vibrant – a day light visit will yield great pictures and sunset by the beach in Bocagrande is magical. You can rent chairs and umbrellas if you’re planning to spend the day at the beach.
- Take a Day Trip to the Islands
Everyone told us that we HAD to spend some time on the islands around Cartagena and we noticed that there were many day trip options. I researched the various options and the idea of paying to spend a day at one of the many beach resorts on the islands didn’t make sense to us (mainly because we had an awesome pool at our Home Exchange and there were beaches nearby without needing to go on a boat). We aren’t group tour sorta folks but I know that there are times when group tours do make sense. We had chartered our own boat when we were in Malta and I debated on doing the same here but I couldn’t find a reliable source so I ended up booking a group tour. The tour that caught my eye was the one that called out the option to snorkel around an “Escobar plane”. I was intrigued! Truth be told, no one knows for sure whose plane it is but there’s definitely a sunken plane you can swim around!
The tour company sent an Uber to pick us up and we ended up being one of the first to arrive (which worked out great because we got seats at the front of the boat) and we waited for the tour bus bringing folks from the Walled City. We ended up leaving an hour later than what we were told and sadly for us, after the 45 minute speed boat ride to get there, they barely stopped for 15 minutes by the plane. Chris, the kids and one guy were the only ones who went off to snorkel. By the time I got the kids off the boat, I saw that the staff on board were starting to tell each other that it was time to leave. I was VERY confused.
In an ideal world we would have spent at least 30 minutes here. Especially because the next stop was to a very questionable aquarium. The reviews online told me that this wasn’t a place we would feel comfortable in because most of the creatures were held in small captive spaces despite being in the middle of the sea. So while everyone (minus one gent) got off for an hour long excursion, we were taken to a quiet spot to snorkel.
This was perfectly our beat! Only regret here was that I didn’t travel with our own snorkel gear because their snorkel kit only included masks!! We would have had a way better experience had we brought our full kit. Be sure to ask your tour company about what exactly is provided.
Next up it was time to visit Cholon. I didn’t know what Cholon was but I do now! It’s a party island where tour groups make you stay way too long at! I would never have experienced this if it wasn’t part of the group tour and so I am glad we got to try something new. You get off the boat and stand waist deep in water next to a table in the sea. At this point vendors swim around you showcasing everything from sea shells to oysters and the hope is that you’ll purchase items as you wait. You can also order drinks which you have to pay for and since you’re in the water – you probably didn’t bring your wallet. Right? Not to worry, the guides on your boat will float you the cash and you can pay them when you get back on the boat. Things certainly weren’t cheap here!
There was music and there were ladies offering massages. We looked on and sipped on the free beer we brought with us from our boat. Did I mention that the tour included unlimited drinks? I thought there’d be pop for the kids but they only had coke and no juice for them. We can a local beer that was refreshing enough on a hot day and the kids drank water.
The main reason we were here was for lunch that was included in the tour. Little did we know we’d have to wait an hour and a half (they really try to upsell you while you wait) for our food. When the food did arrive, it was quite good actually! Kids had chicken, Chris had the veggie plate and I enjoyed some fried fish. Each of our dishes was accompanied by plantains, coconut rice and salad.
I assume most people just pee-ed in the sea but it would be really gross because you were standing so close to each other in fairly still waters. Chris had to pee and he went in search of a bathroom only to discover that it was 5000 COP to use it. We had to pay our boat dudes once we got back on! This was a very INTERESTING experience and one that we won’t forget anytime soon.
Our next stop on the tour was Isla Barú which was gorgeous!!! By now we knew the drill and rushed into the turquoise blue waters whilst most folk sat in the shade. We pretty much had the whole section to ourselves and I took some fun pictures here. Highly recommend an hour or two here. The cost of drinks here was also a bit more reasonable.
Our final stop was a relaxing beach area with hostels and food stalls nearby. The kids played with the sand while Chris and I lounged on the complimentary chairs that were provided for our group. I was told we were on Azul Island but if you’re trying to map the exact location, I would look for Banana Beach as we were on that strip. Food and drink was reasonably priced here too – but of course I was drinking the free beers from the boat!
Overall this was a learning experience for us. We definitely would have preferred a private tour but if we’re going to budget somewhere, a group tour is a good way to do so. We just need to ask questions and ensure they spend more time at the sunken plane! Our return journey was bumpy but I’m so glad neither kid got sick. We were dropped off by the walled city which was a lovely surprise because it enabled us to catch sunset and have dinner there on our last night in Cartagena.
Tips : Take towels, boat shoes, snorkel gear, water proof bag, sunscreen and a good attitude! Don’t bring anything valuable and ensure you pack light because everything stays on the boat when you get off. I was glad I had small bag which I was able to bring to the table for the lunch excursion.
Exploring Medellin with Kids
So this is a city that frequent visitors to Colombia recommended and I wasn’t sure what to expect because I didn’t see any major attractions whilst researching. Having visited, I get the charm. This is a Colombian city where expats settle into. There’s cute neighbourhoods, fantastic restaurants and breweries, malls, coffee shops and everything you need to live a charming life. I heard more folks speaking English here than Spanish which was a bit shocking after the other cities we’d been through.
So what does one do here and what did I find here that is now the best place I’ve ever experienced?
- Roam Around Medellin
Medellin is definitely a city that should be explored with no agenda. We ended up booking a hotel in the Poblado neighbourhood and while I can’t recommend the hotel (it looked great online but things did not match up when we arrived!) it did enable us to walk around and discover some great dining spots and cute pop up markets.
Have breakfast at Gardenia and pop by the Santafé Mall for some shopping. Be sure to grab some coffee beans from Cafe TIPICA and maybe you’ll receive a free tasting like we did!
We also had a great meal at A L’Ambique and highly recommend a visit if you have at least two hours to spare. I say this because while service is attentive, the food does take a while to be made. Which is totally fine because the vibe and craft drinks will keep you busy. We really enjoyed our time in this bar that’s spread across many floors. Between the jungle plants and most random artifacts everywhere, you won’t know where the time went. Of course the food was a great combo of cuisines that makes this a truly unique resto-bar in Medellin (and anywhere in the world to be honest).
If the kids decide they want to try Colombian McDonald’s, let them! We obliged as we were seeking shelter from some monsoon like weather and the kids got to try the local happy meal. It wasn’t that great and definitely nothing like the one in Malta.
- Drink and Eat in Provenza
This is a very lively spot and the bars looked super fun. We popped by here during a rain spell so we didn’t enjoy it as much but if you’re looking for a night out, this is certainly the place for it.
- Experience Comuna 13 on a Food and Graffiti Tour
This was truly the highlight of Colombia and it’s an experience that’s like none other I’ve had anywhere in the world. Comuna 13 is one of the best places to experience Medellín’s transformation firsthand. It’s safe for visitors, filled with energy and offers an immersive cultural experience. If you’re going to Colombia with your tweens, it is an exciting stop for street art, music and food!
We signed up for a pay what you can tour that initially caught my attention because it said it was a food and spray painting tour. There was no spray painting involved but there was food! I am actually glad we didn’t spray anything because Comuna 13 is a very space and it has some amazing graffiti already.
We ended up with Esteban as our tour guide and it was so wholesome to be lead through the various levels by someone who grew up and still lives in Comuna 13. Back in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Comuna 13 went through some incredibly tough times. Because of its location, it became a key route for drug cartels, guerrilla groups and paramilitary forces, which led to a lot of violence and instability in the area. In 2002, the government launched Operation Orion, a major military intervention meant to push out these armed groups. While it did reduce some of the violence, it also came with serious human rights concerns and left behind a complicated legacy that the community is still working through today. Our guide told us how grateful he is for the tourism industry and how the installation of escalators and opportunity to learn English has kept him on the straight and narrow.
Since then, government programs, community initiatives and tourism have played a major role in its transformation. Today, Comuna 13 is a symbol of resilience and social change.
While it’s famous for its remarkable transformation from one of the most dangerous areas in the world to a vibrant hub of art, culture and tourism-getting to hear about what that transformation journey was like, was truly special.
My advice is to ensure you spend some time in this vibrant community. The street art, impromptu rap sessions, music that floods the alleyways and bustling vibe captured my heart and I also felt totally safe here. Get lost in the steps and walk into the shops. There are guides all around the main street and I’m sure many of them are great. Esteban was our fave though!
We also found a spot to enjoy Bandeja Paisa which is a traditional Colombian dish. It contains beans, rice, arepa, chorizo, plantain, chicharrón, avocado and beef. Very hearty and enough to share with the kids!
How Many Days Should We Spend in Colombia with Kids?
The answer to this question is spend as much time as you can. The country is relatively spread out and while you can take buses and trains, flights are your best bets. We spent a week and visited 3 cities with a few day long side trips in those destinations. After a week I felt like I got a great taste of the place but I know there’s so much more we could have explored, if we were there for longer.
Is Colombia Safe for Kids?
Yes it is. As with any place, be street smart and diligent with your belongings. Whenever we visit South America, I feel like more people are concerned for us. I understand that the area has had a troubled past but to be honest, we’ve never felt unsafe in South America. This was the first trip to Colombia with kids in tow and I felt safer than our kid free trips to Chile and Argentina. Kids are almost like your safety buffer because the culture has a deep respect for family and children. No one approached us with shady business during our week in Colombia with kids. The one time anyone approached us was when Chris was walking by himself (the kids and I were lagging behind) and he was approached by two ladies asking for donations. We watched our belongings and was aware of our surroundings at all times. As a result, we had no issues. As mentioned earlier, some areas did have a vigilant police presence, and I assume those tourist areas are a bit more prone to pick pocketing and scams than the other places we visited.
General Tips for Visiting Colombia With Kids
Ubers are cheap. There’s other apps called Cabify and InDrive which can be cheaper at times but we found Uber the easiest with the fewest cancellation rates.
WhatsApp is the main way to contact various tour guides and businesses.
Weather in March was varied throughout the country. Bring layers. We encountered rain in Medellin every couple hours (but it was brief) and it was insanely hot in Cartagena while Bogota was more fall-like temps.
IF you’re wondering what to wear in Colombia, I think layers are your safest option. Bring shorts and swim suits but also bring a rain jacket and long sleeved shirts. The sun was very intense even in March so keep that in mind. Pike on the sunscreen!
We used our credit card in most places but the one hotel we stayed at charged us a 5% fee for paying with card. Ironically they double charged us and couldn’t even return the money back to the credit card and insisted that I provide them with my bank details. Needless to say, I was not comfortable doing so and luckily my credit card company delt with it for us. So keep in mind that refunds can be tricky because most credit card terminals are linked to a bank account – not as easy as it is here in North America.
Speaking of cash, we exchanged some money from the Bogota airport Money Exchanger and we later attempted to pull money from the various Bank terminals but decided that the additional charges didn’t make sense and using our credit card was better (and I get points!!).
While we did find a fair number of folks who spoke English, a majority of our conversations were in Spanish. Our family does not know Spanish and used Google Translate to communicate because it was very easy to do so.
What We Spent Travelling in Colombia as a Family
We spent about 7,200 CAD travelling around Colombia for a week as a family.
Our costs having spent a week in Colombia as a family (2 adults and 2 kids – ages 11 and 13) are as follows
International Flights + luggage : CAD 2640
Visa charges : CAD 195 (COP 270,000 per adult)
Domestic Flights s + luggage : CAD 1,186 (3 flights for 4 people)
Accommodations : CAD 160 (3 nights of hotel – rest were HomeExchanges where we pay an annual fee of USD 220 for unlimited stays for the year based on points we have accumulated)
Food and Drink : CAD 1120 (dinners were always about CAD 100-150, drinks and quick lunches were about CAD 50-75 for 4 people)
Ubers/Cabify : CAD 160 (we took about 22 rides in total)
Attractions and Tours : CAD 1430 (this includes the value of the tours we were hosted on)
Foreign Exchange : CAD 120 (cash for random small purchases and tips)
Shopping : CAD 207
7 Day Colombia Itinerary For Families
Day 1- Arrive, Food Tour and Monserrate
Day 2 – Day trip : Guadavita and Salt Cathedral
Day 3 – Depart for Cartagena and explore the Walled City
Day 4 – Day trip to Islands
Day 5 – Getsemanie, Boccagrande or beach day
Day 6 – Depart for Medellin and take a Comuna 13 tour
Day 7 – Explore downtown Medellin and depart
