We’ve been spotting deals to this awesome country from across Canada. They’re even in the $300s roundtrip almost every day on our site directly from Toronto and Montreal, thanks to Colombian airline avianca’s routes to those cities. It’s among the dozens of deals available every day on our site directly.
Here are cheap accommodation options in 7 of Colombia’s most popular destinations to show you how affordable your trip can be!
For each location, we’ve got 3 examples: for those traveling solo, those traveling with a buddy, and those traveling for free with Marriott points. We’re limiting ourselves to the nice, well-rated ones, so there are obviously cheaper ones than our examples (except for the Marriotts, to get more free nights you’ll need to choose other destinations).
Basics of traveling to Colombia
Colombia is a country that I loved visiting last year, and that Kevin, Flytrippers’ other co-founder, also loved when he spent 1 month and a a half there as a digital nomad.
It’s also one of the most affordable countries in the world. Among these inexpensive countries, Colombia is one of the cheapest ones to fly to from Canada.
So while everything over there is obviously a little more expensive than in Southeast Asia, plane tickets are a lot cheaper. All in all, for shorter trips, Colombia can come out less expensive.
Here are some concrete examples.
Santa Marta
Colombia’s most “vacation” destination, on the Caribbean Sea. Tayrona National Park, pictured on the cover of this post, is also nearby. You can read our guide to visiting Santa Marta and Tayrona National Park.
Here are some examples of accommodation in Santa Marta, Colombia:
- Nice hostel: Puerto Alto Hostel
- $9 per night per person
- Rated 8.2/10
- Nice hotel: Dreamer Santa Marta
- $20 per night
- $10 per night per person with a companion
- Rated 9.0/10
- Nice free hotel: AC Hotel Santa Marta
- 8,500 points per night (42,500 points for 5 nights)
- 4,250 per night per person with a companion
- Marriott Bonvoy Amex Card gives you 53,000 points
Hostel: Puerto Alto Hostel
Hotel: Dreamer Santa Marta
Marriott hotel: AC Hotel Santa Marta
Cali
Close to the Pacific Ocean, the city of salsa is one of the most culturally rich in Colombia. The surrounding countryside near Cali is magnificent too, as it is just about everywhere else in the country. You can read 10 things to do in Cali.
Here are some examples of accommodation in Cali, Colombia:
- Nice hostel: The Pelican Larry Hostel
- $11 per night per person
- Rated 8.7/10
- Nice hotel: Aparta Hotel Plaza Real Norte
- $27 per night
- $13 per night per person with a companion
- Rated 8.0/10
- Nice free hotel: City Express Plus by Marriott Cali Colombia
- 8,400 points per night (42,000 points for 5 nights)
- 4,200 per night per person with a companion
- Marriott Bonvoy Amex Card gives you 53,000 points
Hostel: The Pelican Larry Hostel
Hotel: Aparta Hotel Plaza Real Norte
Marriott hotel: City Express Plus by Marriott Cali Colombia
Bogotá
The country’s capital and largest metropolis, Bogotá is a huge city that has just about everything you could want in an urban destination!
Here are some examples of accommodation in Bogotá, Colombia:
- Nice hostel: 82hostel
- $11 per night per person
- Rated 8.7/10
- Nice hotel: Boutique San Sebastián
- $33 per night
- $16 per night per person with a companion
- Rated 8.0/10
- Nice free hotel: Fairfield by Marriott Bogota Embajada
- 10,100 points per night (50,500 points for 5 nights)
- 5,050 per night per person with a companion
- Marriott Bonvoy Amex Card gives you 53,000 points
Hostel: 82hostel
Hotel: Boutique San Sebastián
Marriott hotel: Fairfield by Marriott Bogota Embajada
Medellín
Colombia’s coolest, most dynamic city. It’s where Kevin spent 1 month, which he found too short. Medellín has changed a lot since the days of the cartels, and was even named the most innovative city in the world in recent years! You can read 11 things to do in Medellín.
Here are some examples of accommodation in Medellín, Colombia:
- Nice hostel: The Wandering Paisa Backpackers Hostel
- $11 per night per person
- Rated 8.1/10
- Nice hotel: Botánica Casa Hotel
- $42 per night
- $21 per night per person with a companion
- Rated 9.0/10
- Nice free hotel: City Express Plus by Marriott Medellin Colombia
- 10,900 points per night (54,500 points for 5 nights)
- 5,450 per night per person with a companion
- Marriott Bonvoy Amex Card gives you 53,000 points
Hostel: The Wandering Paisa Backpackers Hostel
Hotel: Botánica Casa Hotel
Marriott hotel: City Express Plus by Marriott Medellin Colombia
Cartagena
Colombia’s prettiest and most popular city, which I highly recommend. Cartagena really isn’t the best for maximizing Marriott nights though.
Here are some examples of accommodations in Cartagena, Colombia:
- Nice hostel: Zion Beach House
- $18 per night per person
- Rated 8.6/10
- Nice hotel: Casa Hotel Terraza Del Cabrero
- $56 per night
- $28 per night per person with a companion
- Rated 8.1/10
- Nice free hotel: Ermita, Cartagena, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
- 23,000 points per night (115,000 points for 5 nights)
- 11,500 per night per person with a companion
- Marriott Bonvoy Amex Card gives you 53,000 points
Hostel: Zion Beach House
Hotel: Casa Hotel Terraza Del Cabrero
Marriott hotel: Ermita, Cartagena, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Barranquilla
A less-visited city (at least outside its Carnival period), I still enjoyed Barranquilla as a traveler who also likes to go to less touristy places.
Here are some examples of accommodation in Barranquilla, Colombia:
- Nice hostel: Mamy Dorme Hostel
- $12 per night per person
- Rated 8.6/10
- Nice hotel: Ibis Budget Barranquilla
- $49 per night
- $24 per night per person with a companion
- Rated 8.8/10
- Nice free hotel: Four Points by Sheraton Barranquilla
- 9,000 points per night (45,000 points for 5 nights)
- 4,500 per night per person with a companion
- Marriott Bonvoy Amex Card gives you 53,000 points
Hostel: Mamy Dorme Hostel
Hotel: Ibis Budget Barranquilla
Marriott hotel: Four Points by Sheraton Barranquilla
Sabaneta
Located just outside Medellín, Sabaneta is a smaller town known for its weekend entertainment. I’m listing it separately to include a destination that isn’t a big city.
Here are some examples of accommodations in Sabaneta, Colombia:
- Nice hostel: Secret Buddha (a bit out of the way)
- $26 per night
- Rated 10/10
- Nice hotel: Hotel Porton Sabaneta
- $44 per night
- $22 per night per person with a companion
- Rated 8.2/10
- Nice free hotel: Fairfield Medellin Sabaneta
- 9,500 points per night (47,500 points for 5 nights)
- 4,750 per night per person with a companion
- Marriott Bonvoy Amex Card gives you 53,000 points
Hostel: Secret Buddha
Hotel: Hotel Porton Sabaneta
Marriott hotel: Fairfield Medellin Sabaneta
Learning how to travel for less
Join over 100,000 savvy Canadian travelers who already receive Flytrippers’ free newsletter so we can help you travel for less (and inspire you, too)!
What would you like to know about accommodation in Colombia? Tell us in the comments below.
See the flight deals we spot: Cheap flights
Discover free travel with rewards: Travel rewards
Explore awesome destinations: Travel inspiration
Learn pro tricks: Travel tips
Featured image: Tayrona National Park, Colombia (photo credit: Azzedine Rouichi)