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 an English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Expect stories of conquest, slavery, independence, San Pedro Claver, pirates, Gabriel García Márquez, salsa, and champeta. Guides such as Dani, Legacy, Robert, Álvaro David, and Ingrid also share food tips and local customs. The $12 price includes the guide’s tip.

“The guide, Legacy was his name, was great. Entertaining. Lots of good information. Was varied in what he covered - we even got to dance a bit. He seemd a bit nervous that he was talking a lot - there had been a negative review - but he should not be concerned. He does an amazing job giving great information. Great thing to do early in your stay in Cartegena”

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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 with a local English or Spanish guide such as Miguel, Santiago, Carolina, or Daniel. Over about three hours and 8 km, you’ll see Botero Plaza, Junín Street, La Alpujarra, the Park of Lights, and hear clear stories through wireless audio about Paisa culture, railways, conflict, and renewal.

“Santiago was outstanding. He explained the historical significance of each place we visited. He gave good tips about Medellín and other Colombian cities. Highly recommended.”

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3.Shared Tour Cali’s Historical Downtown

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

Walk about 7 km through Cali’s historic center with Beyond Colombia, starting at La Merced and passing churches, theaters, plazas, museums, and the Río Boulevard. Your English-speaking guide, possibly Cristian, Fernando, Juliana, Lem, or another local expert, connects salsa, food, slavery, social protest, soccer, and the city’s arts scene.

“Really enjoyed this tour with Christian, you can tell he has a genuine passion for what he does! He broke down the history of Cali really well, the tour was fun and engaging! This is the 2nd tour we have done with beyond Colombia and they were both super interesting would definitely recommend 👌🏻”

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

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

Follow a Spanish-speaking guide through central Cali, from Plazoleta Jairo Varela to Cimarrón Salsa Bar. You’ll connect salsa with local history, street art, popular culture, and peaceful resistance, while learning dance steps, playing instruments, and finding places to eat and hear live music. Guides may include Cristian, Christian, or Juliana.

“Awesome tour. Great information. Our guide Cristian, had great energy. He explained the history of the city, importance of salsa, we played instruments, and he even taught some dance steps. Highly recommend.”

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

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

Spend about 150 minutes walking through La Candelaria with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide such as Juliana, Byron, Leo, or Santiago. Visit Bolivar Square, Chorro de Quevedo, Concordia market, Botero’s Museum area, El Embudo alleyway, and other key sites while learning about Bogotá’s origins, El Bogotazo, chicha, graffiti, and local life.

“Good tour, Juan was very knowledgeable and portrayed the history in an unbiased way. He was super helpful for our needs and limitations. Highly recommended”

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6.Medellin Historic Walking Tour

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

Walk central Medellín with Real City Tours and an English-speaking local guide such as Suzy, Dio, German, Hernan, Pablo, or Julio. You’ll visit Alpujarra, Plaza Botero, El Hueco, Parque Berrío, and San Antonio Park while learning how the city changed. Expect history, personal stories, street scenes, photo stops, and useful food tips.

“Hernan makes the perfect combination between historical knowledge of the city and entertainment. Excellent tour!!! Five stars.”

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7.From Medellín: Private Pablo Escobar History Tour

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

Spend four hours with a private English- or Spanish-speaking guide tracing Medellín’s Pablo Escobar era. Visit the Parque de la Memoria, Escobar’s neighborhood, grave, and death site, with an optional Comuna 13 stop. Guides such as Manuel, Jhon, Carlos Andres, and Andres add local context and personal stories.

“Our tour guide was an absolute legend and we would highly recommend him. Took us to all the famous Escobar spots and even to Comuna 13 as well at the end! Thanks a lot!”

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8.Historical tour Bogota

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · from $19

This three-hour walking tour leads you through Bogotá’s historic center, La Candelaria, La Concordia, and Las Aguas. Guides including Paula, Jennifer, Ricardo, Diane, Rodrigo, and Carlos have led past groups. Expect colonial landmarks, the Botero area, chicha, Gaitán’s story, market stops, and practical city tips. The tour runs in rain, so bring an umbrella.

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9.Cali: Walking tour of the historic center

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

Walk Cali’s historic center with a local guide such as Julio or Marcela, visiting churches, plazas, museums, salsa landmarks, and riverfront streets. You’ll sample a typical local drink, try fruit, and see how colonial, Indigenous, religious, and musical traditions shape the city. The group is limited to seven people.

“Visit with Marcela , who is a very good guide and knows how to interest you. It is a journey into culture, life, food and of course salsa. RecommendAuto-translated”

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10.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 private chiva through Buga with bilingual audio in English or Spanish. The route passes the Basilica of the Lord of Miracles, San Pedro Cathedral, Cabal Park, the Municipal Theatre, and other landmarks. Carlos, Sebastián, Miguel, or Sandra may accompany your group, with tastings of regional sweets, wine, and a Valluna empanada.

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11.7-hour City Tour of Historic Bogotá with Monserrate

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

Spend seven hours exploring Bogotá with a private English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Ride up Monserrate, walk through La Candelaria, visit the Gold or Botero Museum, taste Colombian fruit and coffee, and travel by private shuttle from your Bogotá accommodation. Guides such as Juan Carlos, Carlos, Lifred, and Juan have been especially well received.

“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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12.Santa Marta A Historical & Street food Experience

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

Meet a history, journalism, or anthropology guide in Santa Marta’s center for a walk through the Tairona Gold Museum, Bolívar Park, the cathedral, Los Novios Park, San Francisco Church, and San Miguel Cemetery. You’ll taste a local drink and may sample ceviche, lulo, fruit juice, and empanadas, with English and Spanish tours available.

“We enjoyed the gold museum and learning about the Tayrona people as well as the history of Santa Marta, the architecture of the buildings and Gabriel Garcia Marquez murals. Great to taste traditional food and drinks of the area as well. My only critique was that it was supposed to be 2 hours and was closer to four, but with that being said we loved Sergio, in addition learning about the history we asked a lot of basic questions about the area and he gave us ideas of things we should do and see while here. He was very personable and easy to talk to. Very evident that he enjoys…”

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

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

Travel from Cartagena’s Crespo district to La Boquilla for a private three-hour visit with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Paddle through mangrove tunnels, try casting a traditional fishing net, learn about Afro-Caribbean life, then eat a local seafood lunch and walk along the beach. Guides may include Alex or Luis.

“We loved everything the guide was so nice the food it’s included all perfect”

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14.Cartagena Instagrammable History

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 29 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $70

Walk Cartagena’s old streets with a private guide who shapes the route around your photo goals. You’ll study colonial facades, hear about Colombia’s African-American past near San Pedro Claver Church, visit a rooftop view of the cathedral, explore colorful Getsemaní, and look for free-roaming sloths, monkeys, and iguanas in Parque Centenario. A refreshing drink is included.

“My personal experience with Mr. Garcia was Second-to-None. This gentleman truly defines the meaning of Quality and Service. He knows how to show a Great Time to visitors in Cartagena, and how to cater for his customers. If necessary, he would go out of his way to make any one person feel his/her absolute best while visiting the city. My wife and I booked a few tours with his company: Playa Blanca, Cartagena City Tour, and the Emerald Tour. Without any hesitation, I would recommend Guianza Express to any one person wanting to visit Cartagena.”

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15.From bogota: Salt Cathedral tour a Cultural Heritage Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 23 reviews · 6 hours · from $70

Travel from Bogotá with a driver-guide to Zipaquirá’s underground Salt Cathedral, carved from a former mine. You’ll see the 14 Stations of the Cross, an illuminated main nave, salt chapels, and colonial streets before free time for lunch. English and Spanish support is available, with audio guides in four other languages.

“O passeio foi muito bom! O guia, Sr. Sebastián, foi extremamente atencioso e fez toda a diferença na experiência. O transporte também foi ótimo, tudo muito bem organizado. Foi um passeio interessante, enriquecedor — realmente vale a pena fazer!”

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