6 Most Beautiful Villages In Colombia
This guide covers seven of the prettiest villages and small towns in Colombia, from Santander and Boyacá to the Coffee Region.
I’m using “village” in the travel sense here, since several are officially classified as towns or municipalities. If you’re deciding when, or where to go, this Colombia travel guide will help you plan your trip.
Barichara
Barichara sits in Santander in northeastern Colombia and is often the first place that comes to mind when travelers talk about the country’s prettiest colonial villages. Whitewashed houses with terracotta roofs line sloping stone streets, while churches and sandstone buildings glow in the warm afternoon light. Its historic center has been recognized for its unusually well-preserved colonial architecture and original urban layout.
Highlights
- Wander Barichara’s whitewashed colonial streets.
- Visit the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
- Stop at viewpoints overlooking the Santander countryside.
- Walk the historic Camino Real from Barichara toward Guane.
- Explore local artisan shops, cafés, and stone workshops.
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Villa de Leyva
Villa de Leyva lies in Boyacá, a few hours north of Bogotá, and has one of the most impressive historic centers in Colombia. Cobblestone streets run between white colonial buildings with wooden balconies and tiled roofs, eventually opening onto the enormous Plaza Mayor, which covers roughly 14,000 square meters. Because the town experienced relatively little modern development for centuries, much of its colonial appearance has survived.
Highlights
- Walk across the enormous cobblestone Plaza Mayor.
- Explore colonial streets and hidden courtyards.
- Visit Casa Terracota.
- See fossils and paleontological sites outside town.
- Explore vineyards and countryside around Villa de Leyva.
Guatapé
Guatapé is one of Colombia’s most colorful villages, sitting in the hills of Antioquia about 79 kilometers from Medellín. Many houses are painted in vivid combinations of red, blue, yellow, green, and orange, with decorative zócalos running along the lower sections of their façades. The surrounding reservoir adds another layer of scenery, creating a maze of blue waterways and green islands around the town.
Highlights
- Photograph Guatapé’s colorful zócalos and painted houses.
- Walk along Calle del Recuerdo.
- Climb El Peñón de Guatapé for panoramic views.
- Explore the reservoir by boat.
- Stay overnight for quieter streets in the morning and evening.
Salento
Salento sits high in Colombia’s Coffee Region in the department of Quindío, surrounded by lush mountains, coffee farms, and deep green valleys. Traditional buildings painted in bright colors line Calle Real and the streets around Plaza de Bolívar, while the town’s elevated setting provides beautiful views across the surrounding countryside. Salento’s historic center is also included within UNESCO’s Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia.
Highlights
- Walk along colorful Calle Real.
- Hike among the wax palms of the Cocora Valley.
- Tour a working coffee farm.
- Climb to Alto de la Cruz for views over the countryside.
- Explore the surrounding Coffee Region and mountain landscapes.
Most visitors use Salento as the gateway to the Cocora Valley, where towering wax palms rise dramatically above mountain pastures. You can also tour coffee farms, climb to the Alto de la Cruz viewpoint, or travel deeper into the highlands toward Los Nevados, featured among Colombia’s most beautiful national parks.
Monguí
Monguí is tucked high in the mountains of Boyacá and has a much quieter, more traditional atmosphere than many of Colombia’s better-known tourist towns. Cobblestone streets, whitewashed houses, stone buildings, and mountain views surround the central plaza, while the town’s history and architecture earned it recognition as one of Colombia’s heritage towns.
Highlights
- Wander the cobblestone streets around the historic center.
- See the Basilica of Our Lady of Monguí.
- Walk across the historic stone bridge.
- Visit a traditional soccer-ball workshop.
- Hike through the nearby Ocetá Páramo.
Filandia
Filandia sits in the northern part of Quindío, surrounded by rolling coffee country on the western slopes of Colombia’s Central Andes. The village is filled with brightly painted houses, wooden balconies, cafés, and traditional architecture, but its mountain setting is every bit as appealing as its streets. Its historic center forms part of UNESCO’s Coffee Cultural Landscape.
Highlights
- Explore colorful streets and traditional balconies.
- Have Colombian coffee around the main plaza.
- Climb the Mirador Colina Iluminada.
- Visit coffee farms in the surrounding countryside.
- Combine Filandia with nearby Salento and the Cocora Valley.
Sara Miller
Kylie Jones
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