Travel Guide: All you need to know to visit the Andes region of Colombia

The Colombian Andes region is the heart of the country’s economic activity. It is home to the country’s 3 largest cities (Bogota, Medellín and Cali) and is home to 75 th of the total population!

When you arrive in Colombia, the Andes mountain range divides into 3 different chains that cross and cut the country from south to north, with peaks over 5.000 m high.

Colombia’s Andean region is also its most popular tourist destination, along with the Caribbean coast.

Visit the colombian andes region

Andes DESTINATION IN FIGURES

• Surface area: 25% of the total territory (282.540 km²)
• Population: approx. 37 million
• Indigenous population: approx. 400.000 divided into 16 ethnic groups
• Departments: Antioquia, Boyacá, Caldas, Caquetá, Cauca, Cesar, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Huila, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindío, Risaralda, Santander, Tolima, Valle del Cauca
• Main cities: Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Bucaramanga, Manizales, Cúcuta, Pereira, Ibagué, Pasto, Popayán, Neiva, Armenia, Tunja
• Climate: Temperate to cold
• Average altitude: 2000 m
• Highest point: Nevado del Huila (5750 m)
• Average temperature : 17°C

All our posts about the Andes region

Visiting Colombian Andes region

The Colombian Andes region offers many possibilities for discovery and visits: sublime heritage villages, majestic hikes amid unique landscapes, páramos, volcanoes, coffee culture, magical rivers and waterfalls… and each region has its own culture, identity and traditions.

Must-sees in the Colombian Andes

Visiting Colombia’s Andean region

There’s so much to see and discover in this region of the Colombian Andes! It’s hard to know where to start, but a few must-sees have become part of the traveller’s itinerary.

Bogota, its Candelaria and gold museum, of course, Medellín, Botero, comuna 13 and the colors of Guatape, the coffee region, Salento and the Cocora valley, the magnificent villages of Villa de Leyva and Barichara, San Agustin and its archaeological site… the sites of interest are legion!

The Tatacoa desert, the Cocora valley and the Los Nevados Natural Park in the coffee region, as well as the Chicamocha Canyon in Santander and the Cocuy Natural Park in Boyaca are among Colombia’s most beautiful landscapes.

The Colombian Andes off the beaten path

Visiting Colombia’s Andean region

When it comes to getting off the beaten track, the Andes offer a simply infinite playground… Colorful villages like Salento, of which there are dozens in the Coffee region, just need to be curious: Filandia, Pijao, Salamina, Jerico, Jardin, Marsella, Aguadas…

There are also other heritage villages around Bogotá, Honda, Guaduas… Guadalupe, Raquira, Mongui, Gijon, Playa de Belen in Boyaca and Santander like… Popayan, Silvia, Ipiales and its Las Lajas sanctuary… and of course the perhaps most underrated big city, Cali, its Salsa and its barrio San Antonio.

Peaks, waterfalls, páramos, rivers and little-known natural sights – the Andes region has it all! Las Gachas, Chingaza, Los Farallones, Puracé, Sumapaz, Oceta, Rio Samana… and there’s so much more..