Colombia Tour & Trip Reviews

What to Look For in Colombia Tour Reviews

Most Colombia trip reviews tend to focus on some or all of these 5 key areas, not all of which may be relevant to you: tour guides, economic value of the tours, travel accommodations and sleeping arrangements.

Remember, just because you see a 1-star review doesn’t necessarily mean that person disliked the country.

Reviewers of Colombia tours sometimes do not take into account how large the country is. This is why many Colombia tour itineraries focus on activities in specific cities and regions as opposed to traveling across the country. Therefore, travel time between locations is an important aspect consider when choosing your trip.

Similarly, frequent travel between locations in Colombia may be exhausting for those who are not used to it or are not accustomed to the altitude or time change. This may have been a factor in negative reviews for Colombia tours, yet do not reflect the performances of the companies themselves.  

Most issues with Colombia tours also came from the loose nature of certain tour itineraries. Coupled with a lack of structure, travelers in Colombia felt that the freedom to explore cities was difficult to use to its fullest potential without intimate knowledge of the country which a tour guide is meant to provide. Similarly, the negative responses to travel in Colombia referred to the inexperience of certain, younger tour guides. While they were all described as friendly, some Colombian tour participants felt that their tours through cities and museums would have benefited from a more seasoned guide.

Travelers to Colombia who gave a lower reviews also mentioned that the sleeping arrangements and accommodations negatively impacted their ability to feel satisfied during their tours. Some felt that the hotels were not held to the standard they expected and others referred to personal experiences of sleeping in hammocks.

While adventurous to some, sleeping in a hammock may not be the choice for all travelers in Colombia who require more support at night. Although Colombia is a developed country, hotels and other places to lodge may differ on their meanings of “premium” and “value” sleeping accommodations. On the flip side, Colombia tour companies were consistently applauded for their reliability in providing wheelchairs or motorized scooters to travelers who needed them during active tours.

The overwhelmingly positive reviews of tours in Colombia gravitate around the architectural beauty of the country, coupled with authentic food experiences in coffee fields, rainforests and restaurants. Reviewers of Colombia tours for both 50+ travelers and those of younger generations were quick to highlight the “natural” aspects of their tours through Colombian cities.

Tours that included jungles treks to see the vast biodiversity amongst ruins or the cultural openness found in Colombian cities and their inhabitants were heavily praised. This successful integration of nature into Colombia tours added to their authenticity for travelers, who felt a more personal connection to the sites they visited and tour guides, shop owners, and other locals whom they encountered.

Cycling tours were specially mentioned, as this method of travel seems to be the easiest through Colombian cities and the most scenic way to experience outdoor tours. Colombia bike tours were also the ones that reviewers said were the most structured when compared to city tours that included free-days for travelers to explore the museums and other attractions on their own.

With regards to this freedom, it's important to remember that the majority of museums and some stores are closed on Mondays. While this allows for time to discover other less apparent parts of Colombia, it is an important fact when planning a city tour that includes free time which falls on a Monday.

Overall, travelers to Colombia stated a shift for the better in their view of the country, as exposure to the local traditions and history of the country gave them a more personal and positive perspective.

If you want a professional take on traveling in Colombia, see the Travelstride Colombia Guide »