creator synthesis · MMXXVI 27 spots · 33 citations

What 11 travel creators agree you should do · Updated July 14, 2026

Things to do in Colombia.

The top things to do in Colombia, by creator consensus: San Andrés Island, Hollywood Beach, Cocora Valley — 3 creators independently recommend San Andrés Island. We watched 32 videos from 11 travel creators covering Colombia and ranked every place by how many of them independently recommend it — so the spots at the top aren't one person's opinion, they're consensus.

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Most-recommended: San Andrés Island Volpe Where Are You 1M subs

Ranked by creator consensus

5 of 27 spots independently recommended by 2+ creators

Latest source June 2026 · 48% from the last two years

↻ Updated: +6 creators, grew 25→27 since May 2026

  1. 01 San Andrés Island 3 creators
  2. 02 Hollywood Beach 2 creators
  3. 03 Cocora Valley 2 creators
  4. 04 Salento Coffee Farms 2 creators
  5. 05 Guatapé Lake 2 creators

+22 more spots, sourced & cited below ↓

Cartagena

5 spots
№ 01

Playa Blanca (Barú Island)

beach 1 creator

Creators describe this as Colombia's wildest, most crowded beach destination—a chaotic but stunning stretch of sand on Barú Island reachable from Cartagena. Volpe notes the journey is hectic but ultimately worth it, with the beach packed with vendors, tourists, and a party atmosphere.

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VO

Volpe Where Are You

@volpewhereareyou · 1M subs

Volpe calls Playa Blanca on Barú Island a paradise with a wild, overcrowded vibe and says the chaotic journey from Cartagena is worth it for the beach experience.

→ Paradise in Colombia (Is It Worth It?) @ 0:01

№ 02

Bocagrande Beach

beach 1 creator

A long urban beach in Cartagena's Bocagrande district where local models reportedly gather at sunset for what locals call a 'beach runway.' Creators warn of persistent vendor scams throughout.

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Volpe Where Are You

@volpewhereareyou · 1M subs

Volpe visited Bocagrande Beach after a local recommended the Hollywood Beach section at sunset, but documented relentless vendor scams across the entire stretch.

→ Colombia's DIRTIEST Beach 🇨🇴

№ 03

Hollywood Beach (Playa Hollywood)

beach 2 creators

A specific section of Cartagena's coastline known among locals as a spot where models and stylish locals gather at sunset. Both Volpe and Globe TakeOver TV filmed here separately.

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VO

Volpe Where Are You

@volpewhereareyou · 1M subs

A local recommended Volpe visit Hollywood Beach specifically for the sunset model scene, which he found at the far end of Bocagrande.

→ Colombia's DIRTIEST Beach 🇨🇴

Also covered by

  • GL

    Globe TakeOver TV 1K

    Globe TakeOver TV visited Playa Hollywood in Cartagena, documenting the beach and its local atmosphere. [watch]

№ 04

Bazurto Market

market 1 creator

The Continental DRIFTER describes Bazurto as one of the most popular places to eat in Cartagena, built on local seafood and tropical fruits with a distinct Spanish, African, and indigenous cultural blend.

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CO

The Continental DRIFTER®

@continentaldrifter · 2K subs

The Continental DRIFTER highlights Bazurto Market as the go-to food destination in Cartagena, praising its unique cuisine rooted in local seafood, tropical fruits, and a tri-cultural Spanish, African, and indigenous heritage.

→ Food Tour in Cartagena Colombia - Colombia Travel Vlog 🇨🇴

№ 05

XO Rooftop Bar

nightlife 1 creator

Globe TakeOver TV specifically visited this rooftop venue as part of Cartagena's nightlife scene, calling it a standout spot for an evening out in the city.

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GL

Globe TakeOver TV

@globetakeovertv · 1K subs

Globe TakeOver TV explored Cartagena's nightlife and featured XO Rooftop as a notable venue for an evening out.

→ 🇨🇴 💎 CARTAGENA COLOMBIA NIGHTLIFE- XO Roof Top

Barranquilla

1 spot
№ 01

Carnaval de Barranquilla

festival 1 creator

Volpe describes Barranquilla Carnival as one of the biggest and wildest street parties in the world, featuring dancing, local food, nonstop music, and massive parades—with a strong caution to watch your pockets in the crowds.

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VO

Volpe Where Are You

@volpewhereareyou · 1M subs

Volpe went deep into Carnaval de Barranquilla 2026 and called it one of the world's biggest and wildest street parties, warning visitors to guard their belongings in the chaotic crowds.

→ Surviving Colombian Street Party 🇨🇴

Santa Marta

4 spots
№ 01

Rodadero Beach

beach 1 creator

Volpe visited this Santa Marta beach with a Venezuelan friend and documented both the beautiful sunset colors and the relentless vendor pressure, noting tent rentals run 50,000 pesos for four chairs until 6 pm.

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VO

Volpe Where Are You

@volpewhereareyou · 1M subs

Volpe noted that beach tent rentals at Rodadero cost 50,000 pesos with four chairs until 6 pm, and flagged constant vendor approaches as the biggest downside to this otherwise scenic Santa Marta beach.

→ Venezuelan Girl and Colombian Beach...Paradise or Scams? 🇨🇴 @ 2:36

№ 02

Taganga

neighborhood 1 creator

Vida Travel describes this small seaside beach town just outside Santa Marta as a laid-back spot with friendly locals, unique handcrafts, and fresh food—a quieter alternative to the main city.

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Vida Travel

@vidatravels · 3K subs

Vida Travel highlighted Taganga as a chilled-out beach town just outside Santa Marta, praising its authentic feel, local crafts, and fresh food.

→ The Sea-Side Beach Town of Taganga! (Colombia)

№ 03

Santa Marta Fish Market

market 1 creator

Ayngelina calls Santa Marta one of the best food cities in Colombia and recommends starting at its fish market, which she describes as clean and fresh without the smell you might expect, with stalls showcasing the city's Afro-Caribbean, Spanish colonial, and Indigenous Tairona culinary influences.

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AY

Ayngelina

@ayngelina · 40K subs

Ayngelina says to start any Santa Marta food exploration at the fish market, praising it as clean and fresh with a cuisine shaped by three distinct cultural influences found nowhere else on Colombia's coast.

→ COLOMBIA'S Most Underrated City 🇨🇴 SANTA MARTA is Amazing

№ 04

Tayrona National Park

nature 1 creator

Volpe trekked through Tayrona National Park with a guide, describing the jungle trail as genuinely dangerous but ultimately leading to a paradisiacal beach reward—a challenging but iconic Colombia experience.

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Volpe Where Are You

@volpewhereareyou · 1M subs

Volpe described the jungle trek through Tayrona National Park as dangerous but ultimately worth it, emerging at a stunning beach that felt like a hidden paradise on the Colombian coast.

→ Venezuela Girl Takes Me To Secret Beach 🇨🇴

Caribbean Coast

2 spots
№ 01

Palomino

neighborhood 1 creator

Volpe describes Palomino as a relaxed beach town a couple of hours from Santa Marta with a single main street leading straight to the beach, surrounded by jungle, known for hippie vibes, Afro house beach parties at night, and a burger happy hour for around $10.

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Volpe Where Are You

@volpewhereareyou · 1M subs

Volpe described Palomino as a chilled jungle-beach town with one main street, beach parties with Afro house music at night, and a $10 burger happy hour worth trying.

→ Venezuelan Girl Takes Me Into The Jungle 🇨🇴 @ 0:54

№ 02

Palomino Beach Night Parties

nightlife 1 creator

Per Volpe, Palomino Beach is known for Afro house beach parties at night, a distinct vibe that sets this small coastal town apart from other Colombian beach destinations.

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Volpe Where Are You

@volpewhereareyou · 1M subs

Volpe noted that Palomino beach has been known for interesting parties on the beach at night, specifically Afro house events, and planned to investigate them firsthand.

→ Venezuelan Girl Takes Me Into The Jungle 🇨🇴 @ 5:56

Medellín

2 spots
№ 01

Comuna 13

neighborhood 1 creator

Volpe visited this famous Medellín neighborhood with a local guide (Nataly Martinez, known as the 'hood girl from Comuna 13'), who took him on a tour of her community and surrounding areas of Medellín—one of the city's most storied transformation stories.

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Volpe Where Are You

@volpewhereareyou · 1M subs

Volpe explored Medellín's famous Comuna 13 with a local resident who grew up there, getting an insider's tour of the neighborhood and areas beyond it that most tourists don't see.

→ This Medellín Girl Changed My Whole Trip… 🇨🇴

№ 02

Sabaneta (Lady Barber District)

neighborhood 1 creator

Volpe visited this small Medellín suburb specifically to experience its renowned lady barber scene, where barbers offer eyebrow threading, beard trimming, hot wax, and other specialty treatments—a uniquely local Medellín experience.

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Volpe Where Are You

@volpewhereareyou · 1M subs

Volpe visited a lady barber in Sabaneta near Medellín and experienced a full menu of services including eyebrow threading, hot wax, nose hair treatment, and facial work at a local barbershop.

→ Colombian Barber Gives it ALL To Me & I Cried 🇨🇴

Antioquia

1 spot
№ 01

Pablo Escobar's Hacienda Nápoles

experience 1 creator

Vida Travel toured the sprawling property of Colombia's most infamous drug lord, which includes a swimming pool, dock, security watchtower, and club—offering a look at one of the world's most notorious histories.

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Vida Travel

@vidatravels · 3K subs

Vida Travel toured Pablo Escobar's huge property in Colombia, documenting the swimming pool, dock, security watchtower, and club as part of a historic look at the infamous drug lord's estate.

→ A TOUR OF PABLO ESCOBAR'S MANSION PROPERTY!

Salento

2 spots
№ 01

Cocora Valley (Valle de Cocora)

nature 2 creators

Multiple creators highlight Cocora Valley outside Salento as home to the world's tallest wax palm trees, which can reach 60 meters (200 feet). Cuppa to Copa adds that the valley is also a gateway to coffee farm tours and spectacular Andean landscapes.

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Vida Travel

@vidatravels · 3K subs

Vida Travel called the Cocora Valley a must-see for its iconic wax palms that grow up to 60 meters tall, calling them a truly spectacular sight in the hills outside Salento.

→ Coffee Region with The TALLEST Palm Trees in the WORLD! (Salento, Colombia)

Also covered by

  • CU

    Cuppa to Copa Travels 2K

    Cuppa to Copa described Cocora Valley as the headline attraction of the Eje Cafetero region, pairing a hike among the world's tallest palms with nearby coffee farm visits and the quieter alternative base of Filandia. [watch]

№ 02

Salento Coffee Farms

experience 2 creators

Cuppa to Copa spent three days in Salento and Filandia exploring coffee farms to learn about production firsthand, describing it as the perfect weekend trip from Medellín or Bogotá in the heart of Colombia's Eje Cafetero.

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Cuppa to Copa Travels

@cuppatocopa · 2K subs

Cuppa to Copa visited coffee farms around Salento to see production up close, calling the Eje Cafetero the perfect weekend escape from either Bogotá or Medellín.

→ Salento, Colombia: Valle de Cocora (Cocora Valley), Salento coffee tours & Filandia, Quindio

Also covered by

  • NO

    Nomadic Tour 923K

    Nomadic Tour traveled to Colombia's coffee countryside and visited a coffee farm (Finca Sendero Cafetero), describing it as a journey to meet the real Colombia beyond the cities. [watch]

Guatapé

1 spot
№ 01

Guatapé Lake (Lake Peñol)

nature 2 creators

Globe TakeOver TV took a boat out on Lake Peñol for the day, and Eat See TV recommends staying at a lakeside luxury hotel to fully enjoy Guatapé—describing it as deserving more than a day trip from Medellín.

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Globe TakeOver TV

@globetakeovertv · 1K subs

Globe TakeOver TV spent a full day on Lake Peñol in Guatapé on a boat with friends, calling it a chill hangout spot on the water.

→ 🇨🇴 Guatape Boat Party ] A Chill spot to hang out

Also covered by

  • EA

    Eat See TV 132K

    Eat See TV argued that Guatapé deserves a full 3-day stay rather than just a day trip from Medellín, especially when staying at a lakeside luxury hotel for a relaxing and adventurous escape. [watch]

Santander

1 spot
№ 01

Quebrada Las Gachas

nature 1 creator

Cuppa to Copa calls this the Santander region's answer to Caño Cristales—a shallow river covered in beautiful red and purple algae with natural jacuzzis of varying sizes and depths, located near the quiet rural town of Guadalupe, about 5 hours from Bogotá.

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CU

Cuppa to Copa Travels

@cuppatocopa · 2K subs

Cuppa to Copa described Quebrada Las Gachas as one of Colombia's best-kept secrets—a colorful algae-covered river with natural pool jacuzzis near the quiet town of Guadalupe, Santander, calling it a stunning and authentic hidden gem.

→ Colombia's hidden gem: Guadalupe & Quebrada Las Gachas, Santander, Colombia | Las Gachas Guide

Bogotá

3 spots
№ 01

Salto del Tequendama (Tequendama Falls)

nature 1 creator

Cuppa to Copa took a half-day bus trip from central Bogotá to this famous waterfall, which holds deep significance in Muisca indigenous culture and features a allegedly haunted historic hotel now open as a weekend museum.

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CU

Cuppa to Copa Travels

@cuppatocopa · 2K subs

Cuppa to Copa made a half-day trip from central Bogotá by bus to Tequendama Falls, highlighting its sacred Muisca cultural history and the haunted former hotel that now operates as a weekend museum.

→ Salto del Tequendama, Bogota: Top things to do in Bogotá, Colombia | Tequendama Falls Guide

№ 02

La Candelaria / Bogotá Historic Breakfast Scene

food 1 creator

Daily Drop Pro started their Bogotá trip with breakfast at a historic restaurant called La FSA, ordering traditional Colombian tamales and café con leche—describing the meal as one of the best breakfasts they'd ever had, costing just 58,000 pesos.

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DD

Daily Drop Pro

@dailydroppro.travel · 17K subs

Daily Drop Pro called breakfast at a historic Bogotá restaurant (La FSA) one of the best meals they'd ever eaten, with traditional tamales and café con leche for just 58,000 pesos.

→ Our FIRST TIME in SOUTH AMERICA | 3 Days in Bogota, Colombia @ 4:24

№ 03

Bogotá Farmers Market (Paloquemao or local popup flower market)

market 1 creator

Daily Drop Pro visited a local farmers market with a Bogotá resident guide, describing it as their favorite in the city and famous for an extraordinary variety of tropical fruits unlike anywhere else—complemented by a popup flower market nearby.

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DD

Daily Drop Pro

@dailydroppro.travel · 17K subs

Daily Drop Pro was taken by a local friend to a farmers market described as the best in Bogotá, marveling at the sheer variety of tropical fruits and a nearby popup flower market.

→ Our FIRST TIME in SOUTH AMERICA | 3 Days in Bogota, Colombia @ 5:47

Ipiales

1 spot
№ 01

Las Lajas Sanctuary

other 1 creator

Nomadic Tour visited this breathtaking cathedral built dramatically between two cliffs near the Ecuador border, calling it one of Colombia's most iconic and surreal landmarks—well worth a stop on an overland journey into Colombia from the south.

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NO

Nomadic Tour

@nomadictour · 923K subs

Nomadic Tour visited Las Lajas Sanctuary the day after arriving in Colombia from Ecuador, calling this cathedral built between two cliffs one of Colombia's most iconic and surreal landmarks.

→ Got Attacked and Robbed While Entering Colombia 😭

San Andrés

2 spots
№ 01

San Andrés Island

island 3 creators

Multiple creators highlight San Andrés as Colombia's top beach destination, famous for its Siete Colores (seven shades of blue water), world-class scuba diving, Johnny Cay, Rocky Cay, and the Natural Aquarium. Volpe calls it the best Colombia offers for beaches and local culture, though notes it's a pricey island.

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VO

Volpe Where Are You

@volpewhereareyou · 1M subs

Volpe visited San Andrés Island and called it the best Colombia has to offer for beaches and local culture, though warned it is notably pricey compared to the mainland.

→ Colombian "Naughty" Island Wasn't What I Expected 🇨🇴

Also covered by

  • CU

    Cuppa to Copa Travels 2K

    Cuppa to Copa explored San Andrés visiting the Natural Aquarium just off the coast and a day on Johnny Cay, describing it as a stunning paradise islet with the clearest, bluest sea imaginable. [watch]

  • GO

    gogibgo 5K

    Gogibgo's top-5 guide covered Centro, San Luis, Playa Zarpada, Rocky Cay, and scuba diving, calling San Andrés a paradise island famed for its seven colors of blue water and world-class diving. [watch]

№ 02

Isla de Providencia

island 1 creator

Cuppa to Copa spent four days on this rustic Caribbean island accessible only via a short flight from San Andrés, touring it by golf buggy, swimming with wild turtles at Crab Cay (Cayo Cangrejo), and walking across Lover's Line to Santa Catalina Island—calling the waters the most turquoise they'd ever seen.

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CU

Cuppa to Copa Travels

@cuppatocopa · 2K subs

Cuppa to Copa called Providencia Colombia's best paradise beaches destination, accessible by a 16-minute propeller plane from San Andrés, highlighting a golf buggy island tour, turtle snorkeling at Crab Cay, and the most turquoise water they'd ever seen.

→ Isla de Providencia, Colombia: Explore Providencia Colombia's rustic Caribbean Island's best beaches

Cali

2 spots
№ 01

Cali (Cartel History & Street Culture)

neighborhood 1 creator

Nomadic Tour explored Cali as a city with a fascinating but risky character—historically controlled by the Cali Cartel and still considered one of Colombia's most dangerous cities—and received an unexpected police escort while navigating its streets as a foreign tourist.

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Nomadic Tour

@nomadictour · 923K subs

Nomadic Tour explored Cali's real street culture and cartel history, receiving an unexpected police escort and describing the city as one of Colombia's most fascinating yet risky travel destinations.

→ Lady Police Suddenly Escorted Me in Colombia's Infamous Cartel Capital 🇨🇴

№ 02

Petronio Álvarez Pacific Music Festival

festival 1 creator

The Best - Worst Travel Vlog Ever documented this Afro-Colombian cultural festival in Cali, known as Petronio, which celebrates Pacific Coast culture through music, dance, and food.

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UN

The Best - Worst Travel Vlog Ever

@unreelinvestments · 2K subs

The Best - Worst Travel Vlog Ever attended the Petronio African music festival in Cali, capturing this celebration of Afro-Colombian Pacific Coast culture through food and live music.

→ Petronio African festival in Cali Colombia #travel #colombia #food #calicolombia

Creators catalogued

11 contributors · cited above
VO
Volpe Where Are You

1M subs · 10 vids

CU
Cuppa to Copa Travels

2K subs · 5 vids

GL
Globe TakeOver TV

1K subs · 4 vids

NO
Nomadic Tour

923K subs · 3 vids

VI
Vida Travel

3K subs · 3 vids

EA
Eat See TV

132K subs · 1 vid

DD
Daily Drop Pro

17K subs · 1 vid

AY
Ayngelina

40K subs · 1 vid

GO
gogibgo

5K subs · 1 vid

CO
The Continental DRIFTER®

2K subs · 1 vid

UN

Frequently asked

7 questions
What are the top attractions and highlights creators recommend in Colombia?

Across creators, the must-see list consistently includes Medellín (especially its urban transformation), Cartagena's walled colonial city and Castillo San Felipe, the coffee region town of Salento and Cocora Valley, and the reservoir town of Guatapé with El Peñol rock. Vida Travel's highlights reel also flags Colombia's Caribbean coast and nightlife as non-negotiable stops. Eat See TV's 5-day Medellín itinerary adds Comuna 13, an urban coffee farm, and a local football match to the mix.

Are there hidden gems in Colombia that most tourists skip?

Several creators flag spots well off the standard tourist trail. Cuppa to Copa Travels spotlights Quebrada Las Gachas in Guadalupe, Santander — a shallow river covered in red and purple algae sometimes called Santander's answer to Caño Cristales — just five hours from Bogotá and largely unknown. The same channel highlights Isla de Providencia, a rustic Caribbean island only reachable via San Andrés, for its turquoise waters and sea turtle snorkeling at Crab Cay. Ayngelina calls Santa Marta one of Colombia's most underrated cities, praising its Afro-Caribbean, Spanish colonial, and Indigenous Tairona food culture as something you won't find anywhere else on the coast.

What is there to do in Medellín's Comuna 13, and is it worth visiting?

Per The Continental DRIFTER®, Comuna 13 was once the most dangerous neighborhood in Colombia but is now a celebrated cultural destination featuring world-class street art, outdoor escalators, a slide, street food, and the chance to meet local graffiti artists. Eat See TV's 5-day Medellín itinerary also includes the neighborhood as a highlight of the city. Both creators frame it as a graffiti and culture tour experience that reflects Medellín's remarkable urban reinvention.

What food tour and dining experiences do creators highlight in Colombia?

The Continental DRIFTER® covers a Cartagena food tour centred on the Bazurto market, where local seafood and tropical fruits reflect Spanish, African, and Indigenous culinary influences. Touchdown Money Travel dives into El Poblado's dining scene in Medellín, rating 12 restaurants from romantic to cheap casual and noting that a rib-eye steak with two sides can cost as little as $16. Ayngelina dedicates a full video to Colombia's regional breakfast dishes, arguing the country offers the world's best breakfasts — varying significantly from coast to Andes.

What day trips from Medellín do creators recommend?

Guatapé is the most-cited day trip, with Eat See TV going further and recommending a full 3-night stay at a lakeside hotel to properly enjoy the town beyond a rushed day visit. ExpatCrib offers a contrarian take, suggesting El Retiro — a quieter Antioquia town reachable by metro and bus from El Poblado — as an easier and more peaceful alternative that beats Guatapé for those wanting to avoid a long journey. Vida Travel also covers Guatapé as part of its Colombia highlights, pairing El Peñol rock with the Pablo Escobar mansion property nearby.

What unique or offbeat activities can you do in Colombia?

The Continental DRIFTER® highlights riding 'la brujita' — a motorized rail cart nicknamed the Witch — into the natural reserve village of San Cipriano near Cali, calling it one of the most unique train rides he's ever taken. Gogibgo covers San Andrés island's top five activities, including snorkeling at Rocky Cay, exploring the seven-colored sea (Siete Colores), and world-class scuba diving. Vida Travel documents a tour of Pablo Escobar's sprawling mansion property in Guatapé, complete with a pool, security watchtower, and dock, which draws significant visitor interest.

What should visitors do in Cartagena beyond the famous walled city?

Cuppa to Copa Travels recommends exploring the up-and-coming Getsemaní district and visiting Castillo San Felipe as well as the walled centro histórico, and pairs a Cartagena stay with an overnight trip to Isla Barú — a beach island just 45 minutes away. The Continental DRIFTER® steers food-focused visitors toward the Bazurto market for an authentic taste of Cartagena's Afro-Caribbean and Spanish-influenced seafood cuisine. The same video notes Cartagena's distinct cultural blend as a major draw beyond its colonial architecture.

How this guide is built

Synthesized from 32 videos across 11 Colombia-focused YouTubers (combined audience: ~2.2M subscribers), filtered to videos that specifically named Colombian attractions, neighborhoods, beaches, markets, or experiences—excluding off-topic content covering Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, Peru, and other non-Colombia destinations.

Every attraction is sourced from a named creator's video. Updated July 14, 2026. Browse Colombia channels.