You can drive to Colombia, but the route and specific details of your journey will depend on which of the neighboring countries you are arriving from. While Colombia shares a border with five countries, direct road travel is only possible from two – Ecuador and Venezuela. The impenetrable region known as the Darien Gap limits travel from Panama to the north. This means all arrivals from Panama must either fly or take a boat to reach Colombia. The impenetrable Amazon Rainforest also limits travel from Peru and Brazil to the south and southeast of Colombia. Therefore travel by river or air is your only option to reach these countries.
Colombia is situated at the northern end of South America and is intersected by the Equator. The country shares a border with Panama and four other South American countries. The border with Panama is the only land border with any North American country. Colombia’s South American neighbors are Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
Colombia’s dominant geographical features are the rainforest and the Andes Mountains. These two features can make travel challenging in various parts of the country. So, despite Colombia having five land borders, it’s only possible to drive to or from Colombia across 2 of these borders and into neighboring countries.
Road – Colombia is accessible by road from both Ecuador and Venezuela. The most popular border crossing with Ecuador is the Carretera Panamericana between Ipiales and Tulcan. There are several border crossings into Venezuela, with the crossing between Cucuta and San Antonio del Tachira the easiest and most popular. There’s no road crossing with Panama as the Pan-American Highway stops north of the Darien Gap and only resumes again in Colombia. See our Can you drive to South America blog post for more details. The impenetrable Amazon Rainforest limits travel to Peru and Brazil.
Boat – There are boat crossing options in southern Colombia via Leticia in the country’s far south. Boats from both Peru and Brazil sail here and back 3 to 4 times per week. The journey to Manaus in Brazil takes around 36 hours, while the journey to Iquitos in Peru takes around 12 hours. The sailing route from Panama in the north is via Colon and typically arrives in Cartagena. This weekly sailing takes around 18 hours to complete the journey.
Air – Colombia’s capital city of Bogota is well connected to other South American and North American destinations. The city of Cartagena on the Caribbean coast also has a host of international flight connections with neighboring countries.
Whether you’re transiting through Colombia or taking a road trip, there are many amazing things to see and do. Here are five of the very best things to do in Colombia:
Cartagena – This colonial city is rich in history and historic buildings. The 16th-century walled Old Town area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a wonderful place to explore for a day or more. The colorful buildings and quiet streets are a splendid contrast to the bustling and frenetic modern city that lies outside.
Ciudad Perdida – Colombia’s ‘lost city’ is located in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Thought to have been built in 800 AD, this spectacular archaeological site can be visited as part of a 4-day jungle trek, which comes highly recommended.
Bogota– Colombia’s capital city, is home to over 8 million residents. Once avoided due to high crime levels, it’s reinvented itself as a cultural hub and is home to some fine museums, architecture, and restaurants.
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira – Located just outside of Bogota, the Salt Cathedral is an underground Roman Catholic church. Built within the tunnels of a salt mine and 200 meters underground, it’s a stunning and surreal experience to visit.
San Andrés Island – Situated off the Colombian coast in the Caribbean Sea, San Andrés Island is closer to Nicaragua than Colombia. Despite this, it retains a true Colombian identity and is home to some of the best beaches and clearest waters you’ll find anywhere on the planet.
The best time to visit Colombia is between December and March. Although you can still expect some rainfall in the rainforest areas, this is the driest season. This season is also peak tourist season, so expect higher prices and visitor numbers at this time. The second best time to visit is from June to September when moderate rainfall occurs. October to November are the wettest months and are best avoided.
Colombia’s proximity to the equator ensures the country benefits from year-round warm weather. Temperatures drop with altitude as you head into the Andes. This is especially true at night time, so make sure you pack accordingly.
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