Here’s a complete breakdown of costs per person for all the sixteen days of our trip to Colombia.
Where: Bogota, Armenia, Salento, Valle de Cocora, Pijao, Buenavista, Cali, Popayan, Medellin, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Taganga, Tayrona National Park.
Transport: Airlines, Bus, Taxi
When: December 2014, for sixteen days
Who: Two backpackers
Note: All values in USD, unless otherwise mentioned, are approximate and based on the exchange rate at the time of publishing. Each cost is for one adult. The exchange rate at the time of visiting is assumed to be USD 1 = COP 2200.
Planning & Information
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Delta Airlines | $1,230 | Flight from Los Angeles, USA (LAX) to Bogota (BOG) via Miami (MIA). Return. |
| Visa | $130 | |
| Total Costs | $1,360 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,360 | Per person |
Day 1 – Bogotá
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Ibis Hotel Museo | $95.45 | COP 210,000 per room, for two nights. |
| Taxi from airport to Ibis hotel | $11.36 | COP 25,000 per ride, one way. |
| Groceries | $6.17 | COP 13,500 for water, snacks, etc. |
| Postal Stamp | $2.72 | COP 6,000. |
| Dinner at Archie’s restaurant | $9.54 | COP 21,000 per person. |
| Coffee at Ibis hotel | $1.36 | COP 3,000. |
| Total Costs | $126.60 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,486.60 | Per person |
Day 2 – Bogotá
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Coffee & hot chocolate | $1.27 | COP 2,800 per person. At La Candelaria. |
| Museo del Oro Entrance | $1.36 | COP 3,000 per person. |
| Lunch at Mama Lupe | $6.36 | COP 14,000 per person. |
| Breakfast at Ibis hotel | $3.64 | COP 8,000 per person. |
| Water & snacks | $4.54 | COP 10,000 per person. |
| Dinner at Central Cevicheria | $24.68 | COP 54,300 per person. |
| Taxi from Zona Rosa to hotel | $5.45 | COP 12,000 per ride. One way. |
| Total Costs | $47.30 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,533.90 | Per person |
Day 3 – Bogota, Zipaquirá
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Bus from Calle 26 to Portal del Norte | $2.72 | COP 6,000 per person. Return trip. |
| Bus from Bogota to Zipaquirá | $3.90 | COP 8,600 per person. Return trip. |
| Empanadas at Zipaquira | $1.59 | COP 3,500 for 4 pieces. |
| Salt Cathedral | $13.18 | COP 29,000 per person entrance fee. |
| Taxi to Cerro de Monserrate | $5.45 | COP 12,000 per ride, return trip. |
| Cerro de Monserrate Telerifico | $4.27 | COP 9,400 per person, return trip. |
| Aromatica | $0.45 | COP 1,000 per person. |
| Water & snacks | $4.54 | COP 10,000 per person. |
| Dinner at Archie’s restaurant | $5.68 | COP 12,500 per person. |
| Total Costs | $41.78 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,575.68 | Per person |
Day 4 – Armenia, Salento, Valle de Cocora
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Hostel Casa Quimbaya | $27.27 | COP 60,000 per person, for two nights, double bedroom, shared bathroom. |
| Coffee at hostel | $0.90 | COP 2,000 per person for Coffee with milk. |
| Wakecup Tour | $34.10 | COP 75,000 per person for Salento & Valle de Cocora. |
| Fridge magnets | $3.63 | COP 4,000 per magnet. Bought two. |
| Dinner at Armenia restaurant | $1.95 | COP 4,300 per person. Buñuelo, empanadas, sandwich. |
| Water & snacks | $0.90 | COP 2,000 per person. |
| Total Costs | $68.75 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,644.43 | Per person |
Day 5 – Pijao, Buenavista
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Coffee at hostel | $0.90 | COP 2,000 per person for Coffee with milk. |
| Taxi to Bus terminal | $1.60 | COP 7,000 for 2 persons. From hostel Casa Quimbaya to bus terminal. One way. |
| Bus to Pijao | $0.90 | COP 5,700 per person from Armenia bus terminal to Pijao Plaza. |
| Wakecup Tour | $20.45 | COP 45,000 per person. |
| Purchase coffee | $6.36 | COP 14,000 per person. |
| Bus to Armenia | $2.22 | COP 4,900 per person. From Buenavista to Armenia bus terminal. |
| Taxi to hostel | $1.82 | COP 8,000 for 2 persons. From Armenia bus terminal to Casa Quimbaya hostel. One-way. |
| Tea in hostel | $1.59 | COP 3,500 per person for aromatica |
| Dinner at hostel cafe | $5.00 | COP 11,000 per person |
| Total Costs | $40.84 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,685.27 | Per person |
Day 6 – Cali
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Breakfast at Quimbaya, Armenia | $3.97 | COP 8,750 per person for Coffee with milk. |
| Taxi to Bus terminal (Armenia) | $3.04 | COP 6,700 for 2 persons. From hostel Casa Quimbaya to bus terminal. One way. |
| Bus to Cali | $9.10 | COP 20,000 per person from Armenia bus terminal to Cali. |
| Lunch at El Pargo Rojo | $4.10 | COP 9,000 per person. |
| Dinner at hostel | $9.10 | COP 20,000 per person. |
| Total Costs | $29.31 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,714.58 | Per person |
Day 7 – Cali
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Taxi to Feria de Cali | $4.54 | COP 10,000 per taxi. One way. |
| Taxi to hostel | $4.54 | COP 10,000 per taxi. One way. |
| Lunch at hostel | $4.54 | COP 10,000 per person. |
| Dinner at hostel | $4.54 | COP 10,000 per person. |
| Water & snacks | $2.22 | COP 4,500 per person. |
| Total Costs | $20.38 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,734.96 | Per person |
Day 8 – Popayán
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Taxi in Cali | $3.00 | COP 6,600. From Cali hostel to us terminal. |
| Bus from Cali to Popayan | $7.27 | COP 16,000 per person. One way. |
| Taxi in Popayan | $1.81 | COP 4,000 from bus terminal to hostel. |
| Bicycle Tour | $22.72 | COP 50,000 per person. |
| Lunch | $5.91 | COP 13,000 per person. At Sofi in Coconuco |
| Coffee & Hot Chocolate | $2.47 | COP 5,450 per person. At Estadero Don Luis |
| Dinner | $7.84 | COP 17,250 per person. Pasta and drinks at La Cosecha Parrillada. |
| Postal stamp | $0.45 | COP 1,000 |
| HostelTrail | $14.10 | COP 27,750 (stay) + 7,500 (laundry) per person. One night. Double bed room. |
| Water & snacks | $1.82 | COP 4,000 per person. |
| Total Costs | $67.39 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,802.35 | Per person |
Day 9 – Popayán to Cali to Medellin
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Breakfast at HostelTrail | $2.27 | COP 5,000. In Popayan. |
| Bus from Popayan to Cali | $5.45 | COP 12,000 per person. One way. |
| Coffee & sandwich at Cali airport | $2.55 | COP 5,600 per person. |
| Taxi from Cali bus terminal to airport | $16.36 | COP 36,000 for one-way taxi. |
| Avianca Airlines | $90 | Flight from Cali (CLO) to Medellin (MDE). One-way. |
| Dinner | $1.95 | COP 4,300 per person. At Japanese restaurant in Mall (Medellin) |
| Taxi from mall to hostel | $2.27 | COP 5,000 for taxi. From Oviedo Mall to Waypoint Hostel. |
| Waypoint hostel | $32.95 | COP 72,500 per person. Two nights. Double bed room. |
| Water & snacks | $1.82 | COP 4,000 per person. |
| Total Costs | $155.62 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,957.97 | Per person |
Day 10 – Medellin
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Breakfast at Waypoint hostel | $2.27 | COP 5,000. |
| Metro tickets | $4.32 | COP 9,500 per person. Five rides. |
| Metrocable (Line L) tickets | $4.18 | COP 9,200 per person. Return ticket. |
| Piedras Blancas Entrance fee | $1.95 | COP 4,300 per person. |
| Food at Parque Arvi | $3.68 | COP 8,100 per person. |
| Coffee at Botanical Garden | $1.10 | COP 2,400 per person. |
| Street food at Christmas lights | $1.36 | COP 3,000 per person. |
| Water & snacks | $2.72 | COP 6,000 per person. |
| Total Costs | $21.58 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,979.55 | Per person |
Day 11 – Medellin
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Breakfast at Waypoint hostel | $2.27 | COP 5,000. |
| Metro tickets | $4.32 | COP 9,500 per person. Five rides. |
| Free walking tour | $9.10 | COP 20,000 per person. |
| Fruits during walking tour | $0.68 | COP 1,500 per person. |
| Lunch at Crepes & Waffles | $8.23 | COP 18,100 per person. |
| Taxi to Pueblito Paisa | $2.45 | COP 5,400 per ride. One way. |
| Taxi from Pueblito Paisa to hostel | $4.72 | COP 10,400 per ride. One way. |
| Dinner at Oviedo Mall | $16.36 | COP 36,000 for two persons at California Taco. |
| Taxi from Oviedo mall to hostel | $2.05 | COP 4,500 per ride. One way. |
| Bus from Medellin to Cartagena | $66 | Overnight bus. One way. Per person. |
| Water & snacks | $4.54 | COP 10,000 per person. |
| Total Costs | $120.72 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $2,100.27 | Per person |
Day 12 – Cartagena
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Taxi to Airbnb residence from bus terminal | $6.82 | COP 15,000 per ride. One way. |
| Cartagena Airbnb | $22.50 | Per person, per night for a single bunk bed. |
| Lunch | $29.55 | COP 65,000 for two persons. |
| Souvenirs | $4.54 | COP 10,000 per person. |
| Tip to dancers | $4.54 | COP 10,000 in tips. |
| Dinner | $28.63 | COP 63,000 for two persons. |
| Water & snacks | $4.54 | COP 10,000 per person. |
| Total Costs | $101.12 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $2,201.39 | Per person |
Day 13 – Cartagena
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Cartagena Airbnb | $22.50 | Per person, per night for a single bunk bed. |
| Lunch | $5.22 | COP 11,500 per person at Red Moon hostel cafe. |
| Taxi to Bocagrande | $2.27 | COP 5,000 per ride from Gestemani. |
| Alli Oli Dinner | $47.72 | COP 105,000 per person. Three-course meal plus drinks. |
| Water & snacks | $4.54 | COP 10,000 per person. |
| Total Costs | $82.25 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $2,283.64 | Per person |
Day 14 – Santa Marta
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Taxi from airbnb to bus terminal | $3.19 | COP 7,000 one-way, for a ride. Airbnb Residence in Cartagena to MarSol terminal. |
| Snacks | $2.27 | COP 5,000 per person. |
| Bus from Cartagena to Santa Marta | $19.10 | COP 42,000 per person. |
| Hostel Masaya | $27.27 | COP 60,000 per person, per night. Dorm room bed. |
| Water & snacks | $4.54 | COP 10,000 per person. |
| Dinner at Club Colombia restaurant | $11.82 | COP 26,000 per person. |
| Total Costs | $68.19 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $2,351.83 | Per person |
Day 15 – Taganga, Santa Marta to Cartagena
Day 16 – Cartagena to Bogotá
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Flight from CTG to BOG | $183.94 | One way via Avianca. |
| Taxi from Cartagena hostel to airport | $2.72 | COP 6,000 per ride. One way. |
| Breakfast at Bogota airport | $3.09 | COP 6,800 per person. |
| Water & snacks | $2.27 | COP 5,000 per person. |
| Total Costs | $192.02 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $2,544.30 | Per person |