13 days in Colombia & Costa Rica Itinerary

The site of the continent's first Spanish colony, Cartagena retains much of its colonial flavor thanks to a World Heritage-listed old town, encircled by old walls and protected by imposing fortresses.

Get in touch with nature at Aviario Nacional de Colombia and Playa Puntilla. Centro Historico and Cathedral Basilica of St. Catherine of Alexandria will appeal to history buffs. There's lots more to do: take a stroll through Barrio Getsemani, make a trip to Baluarte de Santo Domingo, steep yourself in history at Plaza de la Proclamacion, and explore the historical opulence of Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas.

To find where to stay, more things to do, maps, and more tourist information, you can read our Cartagena tour itinerary maker tool.

San Francisco, USA to Cartagena is an approximately 14-hour flight. The time zone difference moving from Pacific Standard Time to Colombia Standard Time is 3 hours. Traveling from San Francisco in May, things will get warmer in Cartagena: highs are around 90°F and lows about 79°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 29th (Sat) early enough to travel to Bogota.

Colombia's heart and soul, Bogota has earned the nickname "Athens of South America" thanks to its abundance of universities, libraries, and lower-level schools.

Do some cultural sightseeing at Zona G Bogota and Iglesia de San Francisco. Escape the urban bustle at Laguna de Guatavita and Parque Natural Chicaque. When in Bogota, make a side trip to see Centro de Memoria El Cuartico in Valledupar, approximately Valledupar away. The adventure continues: see the interesting displays at Gold Museum (Museo del Oro), take an in-depth tour of Casa Museo Quinta de Bolivar, take in the spiritual surroundings of La Catedral Primada, and walk around Parque Metropolitano Simon Bolivar.

For traveler tips, more things to do, reviews, and other tourist information, use the Bogota attractions planner.

Getting from Cartagena to Bogota by flight takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: fly; or drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Cartagena in May, expect Bogota to be cooler, temps between 67°F and 50°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 2nd (Wed) early enough to travel to San Jose.

A trip to San Jose, the capital, commercial center, and cultural hub of Costa Rica, gives you a chance to experience the lively atmosphere and rich cultural past of this vibrant country.

Kick off your visit on the 3rd (Thu): play a few rounds at Tee Times Costa Rica Golf Tours, indulge in some personalized pampering at some of the best spas, then admire the masterpieces at Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, and finally stop by Chieton Moren. Keep things going the next day: get a new perspective on nature at Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Salle, then stroll through Spirogyra Butterfly Garden, then take an in-depth tour of Jade Museum, and finally get engrossed in the history at Museo Nacional De Costa Rica.

To see reviews, traveler tips, ratings, and tourist information, use the San Jose day trip planning site.

You can fly from Bogota to San Jose in 6.5 hours. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 1 hour traveling from Bogota to San Jose. Plan for a bit warmer temperatures traveling from Bogota in June, with highs in San Jose at 81°F and lows at 67°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 5th (Sat) so you can travel back home.