Colombian departments with most foreign tourists 2023

The Capital District of Bogotá welcomed more than 1.1 million international tourists in Colombia in 2023, while Antioquia – with Medellín as capital – received roughly 678 thousand foreign visitors arriving in the South American country that year.

Bogotá: the main travel hub in Colombia

With a population approximating eight million inhabitants, Bogotá is not only the capital of Colombia but also its most populated city. In addition to that, its geographic location —right in the middle of the country's territory— has also enabled this metropolis to become the most important crossing point for international and domestic travelers. Bogotá’s International Airport is by a wide margin, the main point of entry into the Latin American country, handling more than 1.5 million passengers each month in pre-pandemic times.

Cartagena: the most attractive destination of the Colombian Caribbean coast

With its Spanish colonial buildings of the walled city, the modern vibe of Boca Grande, and the colorful houses of Getsemaní, Cartagena attracts many international and domestic tourists each year. This Caribbean city is also Colombia's cruise tourism center, with more than 300 thousand passenger arrivals per year in pre-pandemic times. Consequently, Bolívar ranks among the departments with the largest number of accommodation establishments in Colombia, with nearly 4.5 thousand in total.