The 15 Best Colombia History Tours

1.Cartagena: Historic Center and Getsemaní Shared Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,716 reviews · 2h 30m · from $12Our pick

Walk from Plaza Cervantes through Cartagena’s Walled City and Getsemaní with English or Spanish guides such as Álvaro, Dani, Legacy, Robert, and Ingrid. Expect colonial landmarks, slavery-era history, music, dancing, street art, local tips, and a close look at Cartagena’s mixed cultural roots.

“Manuel was so well informed of the history that I got a well rounded understanding of the evolution of Cartagena and it’s multiethnic people. Manuel was a late substitute but it was to my benefit”

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2.Shared Medellín Downtown Tour with Wireless Audio

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 315 reviews · 150 minutes - 3 hours · from $13

Walk Medellín’s historic center from Botero Plaza to La Alpujarra and the Park of Lights with a local English or Spanish-speaking guide. Expect art, railroad history, Paisa culture, and frank discussion of the 1980s and 1990s, supported by wireless audio.

“The tour was great, but also very long. We couldn‘t enter both churches, but that was because of a national holiday. It was fun getting to know more about the history off the city and particular buildings and some turning points in history. Although not completely unbiased like the description said. It was still very informative and I did learn new things about Medellin, and partly Colombia. The only downside off the tour was, that the inner city was riddled with beggars and crackheads that beg you for money in the most pushy ways. This is a goverment issue, and not a tour issue. I wished the inner city was…”

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3.Shared Tour Cali’s Historical Downtown

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 143 reviews · 2h 30m · from $13

Walk Cali’s historic center with an English-speaking Beyond Colombia guide such as Cristian, Fernando, Juliana, or Lem. Over about 150 minutes, visit key plazas, churches, theaters, and riverfront sights while learning how Afro-Colombian culture, salsa, drug trafficking, and social revolt shaped the city.

“Fernando took time to get to know the group, was very friendly and had a good knowledge of the city. We were exploring the city whilst the city was getting ready for the persistent and he’s tried to find different routes to our destinations. Stopped for food and some local drinks o”

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4.Historical Shared Tour Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance in Cali

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 107 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $14Top rated

Walk through central Cali with a certified Spanish-speaking guide such as Cristian or Juliana, tracing salsa culture, street art, and community resistance. Expect ten stops, music, dance steps, murals, city views, and a finish at Cimarrón Salsa Bar. Food and drinks cost extra.

“Juliana was amazing on our tour today, we learnt so much about salsa and really enjoyed walking around Cali as well. Definitely recommend this experience if you’re in town here!”

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5.Shared Tour of Bogota’s Historic Downtown (La Candelaria)

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 100 reviews · 2h 30m · from $13

Meet Beyond Colombia’s English or Spanish-speaking guide beneath red umbrellas at the Gold Museum. Walk roughly 7 km through La Candelaria, from Chorro de Quevedo and Bolivar Square to graffiti alleys, chicha tasting, Botero’s area, and stories of El Bogotazo.

“Leo was amazing!!! Very friendly and knowledgeable! He made the long walks feel like a breeze. I really enjoyed my time!!”

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6.Medellin Historic Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 86 reviews · 3h 30m · from $14

Spend 210 minutes walking central Medellín with guides such as Suzy, Germán, Julio, Dio, and Hernán. See Alpujarra, Plaza Botero, El Hueco, and San Antonio Park while learning about Paisa culture, the city’s past, and daily life. Metro tickets, lunch, and museum entry cost extra.

“Great! From the very beginning Hernan ensured to already have everyone’s name memorized. He is so passionate about Medellin, and it showed. One of the best walking tours I’ve been in, which definitely says a lot of traveling full-time since November of this year and I’ve taken walking toward each destination, and this is by far one of my favorites if not the favorite.”

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7.From Medellín: Private Pablo Escobar History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 84 reviews · 4 hours · from $63

Spend four hours with an English- or Spanish-speaking private guide, visiting Escobar’s grave, the former Monaco site, Barrio Pablo Escobar, and the house where he died. Guides such as Manuel, Jhon, Carlos Andres, and Andres add local context. Comuna 13 may also be included.

“If you choose one daytrip in Medellin. This is it👍”

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8.Historical tour Bogota

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · from $19

Walk Bogotá’s historic center with guides such as Paula, Ricardo, Jennifer, or Diane. In about three hours, you’ll visit Plaza de Bolívar, Chorro de Quevedo, La Concordia Market, and Rosario Square while learning about El Dorado, Botero, Gaitán, García Márquez, Colombian politics, food, and daily life.

“The tour was very informative! Please take this tour if you get the chance. You’ll learn all about Bogotá’s historical events”

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9.Cali: Walking tour of the historic center

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $41

Join Valley Adventours for a 2 to 3 hour walk through central Cali with guides such as Julio or Marcela. Visit La Merced, the Calima Gold Museum, historic churches, salsa landmarks, and the Río Cali, with a typical drink and local fruit along the way.

“My guide Julio was incredibly knowledgable and engaging. I was really lucky as I was the only one who had booked that morning so effectively had my own 121 tour guide. Fully recommend!”

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10.Premium Pirate Beach Adventure, Open sea Rope Swing, Drinks+Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $100

Spend 6 to 7 hours aboard La Fantastica Pirate Ship, cruising Cartagena’s harbor to Fuerte de San Fernando de Bocachica and Tierra Bomba. You’ll get a guided fort visit, fish lunch, boat cocktails, beach time, pirate costumes, and an open-sea adventure, with guides such as Isabel and Joshua leading the day.

“Such an amazing experience. You get this historical aspect while visiting the fort and then it’s a short walk to the most relaxing beach atmosphere I’ve ever encountered. Loved it from start to finish.”

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11.Chiva Private Cultural Tour with Audio Guide in Buga

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 49 reviews · 2 hours to 2 hours 40 minutes (approx.) · from $15

Ride a traditional chiva through Buga with English or Spanish audio, stopping for Valle del Cauca sweets, regional wine, and Colombian coffee. Guides such as Carlos, Sebastián, Miguel, and Sandra add local context as you pass the Basilica, San Pedro Cathedral, Cabal Park, the Municipal Theatre, and other landmarks.

“This tour is short and sweet! It was the perfect way to spend a Thursday afternoon in Buga. The tour gives you historical details of the sites while the audio explains detals and history of the city and each stop.”

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12.7-hour City Tour of Historic Bogotá with Monserrate

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 47 reviews · 7 hours · from $118

Spend seven hours exploring Bogotá with a private bilingual guide, visiting Monserrate, La Candelaria, Plaza de Bolívar, the Gold Museum, and Botero Museum. Guides such as Juan Carlos and Lifred are praised for clear history talks, while fruit and coffee tastings add local flavor.

“It was very interested and informative tour around the city. The guide, rather young boy, Lifred is great, knows much about the city and the country, listen to you, and makes the tour close to your interests. Great!”

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13.Bogota scooter tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Ride an electric scooter through Bogotá with guides such as Miguel and Alejandro, stopping at Chorro de Quevedo, Plaza de Bolívar, the Planetarium, and the emerald district. Expect a small group, city history, street art, some hills, and a Jaguar Coffee finish.

“Miguel the guide was fabulous. The place where you depart as well: The Jaguar cafe. The tour showed much more than I expected and you become a part of the city! Ideal to discover Bogota!”

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14.Santa Marta A Historical & Street food Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 41 reviews · 2 hours · from $56

Meet in Santa Marta’s historic center for a guided walk through the Tairona Gold Museum, colonial churches, plazas and San Miguel Cemetery. With an English or Spanish guide, you’ll learn about Tayrona culture and sample a local drink, with food stops described as part of the experience.

“The tour is very expensive and is not value for money. The guide hurried through the experience. It felt very rushed.”

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15.Mangroves, cultural fishing, black heritage town and lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 29 reviews · 3 hours · from $49

From Crespo, you’ll visit La Boquilla with a local guide such as Alex, paddle through mangrove channels with a fisherman like Luis, try casting a net, and eat a traditional seafood lunch by the beach. The private three-hour outing is offered in English or Spanish.

“Everything was just as described, our guide was knowledgeable and easy to talk to about anything. 10/10”

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