Planning to spend a week in Colombia? Seven days is enough time for a solid exploration of one region, or you can divide your time between two cities. Where you go depends on your interests. Historic Cartagena and the beautiful Caribbean coast remain the most popular short trip. Bogotá and Medellín both offer excellent urban adventures, with side trips to quaint villages and coffee farms.

This classic Colombia itinerary starts in Bogotá and then travels north to the Caribbean. Along the route, you'll visit famous salt mines and charming colonial towns like Barichara and Villa de Leyva, with a couple of days to explore the modern metropolitan city of Medellín. Once you reach the coast, you'll spend a few days exploring Cartagena before relaxing on the pristine beaches of the San Bernardo Islands

Top Places to Travel: THE GALAPAGOS . . . It’s a unicorn moment that there is still space available in the Galapagos Islands this holiday season. On offer this December are two of the best cruises into one of the richest ecosystems on the planet. Yes, you have that right – we have you covered: with not one, but two deals.

Previously deemed too unsafe in the eyes of foreign tourists, Bogotá is now a busy metropolis that is slowly making it to travellers’ bucket lists. That’s not to say that all of the 20 neighbourhoods that make up the city of 7 million inhabitants are secure and great places to stay. There are still many areas of the city which even locals don’t venture into during the day time, but there are also great neighbourhoods to stay in, with luxury hotels and places that are safe to walk around.