Colombia is closer to Miami than most Americans realize. Medellín is 3.5 hours by plane. Cartagena is 3 hours. That's shorter than flying to Los Angeles.
For Miamians, a Colombia weekend is the best-value trip available — you leave Thursday night, land before midnight, and have 3 full days in a country where your dollar goes 4x further than at home.
Here's how to do it without wasting a single hour.
Pick One City (Don't Try Both)#
The biggest mistake: trying to do Medellín AND Cartagena in one weekend. The domestic flight between them is 1.5 hours each way plus airport time. You'll waste a full day traveling.
Pick Medellín if you want: City energy, incredible nightlife, perfect weather, food scene, street art, coffee culture, mountain views.
Pick Cartagena if you want: Beach, colonial architecture, romance, Caribbean vibes, seafood, island day trips.
The Medellín Weekend#
Thursday Night
- 7pm flight from MIA, land 10:30pm
- Uber to your hotel in Laureles or El Poblado ($8-12 from airport)
- Quick dinner at a late-night restaurant, sleep
Friday (Day 1): Laureles + Provenza
- Morning: Breakfast at Café Velvet in Laureles. Walk La 70 — this is where locals live, eat, and go out. Not touristy, real Medellín.
- Afternoon: Uber to Provenza (15 min). This is the new epicenter of Medellín cool — rooftop bars, boutique shops, great restaurants. Lunch at Alambique or Carmen.
- Evening: Pre-game at a rooftop in Provenza, then out in Laureles. The nightlife on La 70 is better and cheaper than El Poblado. Aguardiente is mandatory.
Saturday (Day 2): Comuna 13 + El Poblado
- Morning: Comuna 13 — the most famous street art in Latin America. Take the escalators up and walk down through the murals. Go early (before 10am) to avoid crowds. Hire a local guide for $10-15.
- Afternoon: El Poblado for lunch. Yes, it's touristy, but Parque El Poblado and the surrounding restaurants are worth it. Try bandeja paisa at Mondongos.
- Evening: Your big night out. Start at a bar in El Poblado or Provenza, then wherever the night takes you. Medellín's nightlife runs until 4am.
Sunday (Day 3): Coffee + Sunset
- Morning: Sleep in (you earned it). Brunch at Ganso & Castor.
- Afternoon: Day trip to a coffee farm in Santa Elena or Jardín (2 hrs). Or stay in the city — visit Botero Plaza, walk through the historic center, ride the MetroCable for mountain views.
- Evening: Sunset from Pueblito Paisa or a rooftop bar. Early dinner. Pack.
Monday
- Early flight back to Miami. At your desk by noon.
The Cartagena Weekend#
Thursday Night
- 6:30pm flight from MIA, land 9pm
- Uber to Old City ($5-8). Check into your hotel in the walled city or Getsemaní.
- Walk the walls at night — they're lit up and magical. Quick dinner at a plaza restaurant.
Friday (Day 1): The Walled City
- Morning: Walk the walled city without a plan. Every street is photogenic. Coffee at Epoca Espresso. Visit the Inquisition Museum or the gold museum.
- Afternoon: Lunch at La Cevichería (the most famous restaurant in Cartagena — get there at 11:30 to avoid the line). Walk through Getsemaní — the street art neighborhood that locals prefer to the walled city.
- Evening: Sunset drinks on the wall at Café del Mar. Dinner at a plaza restaurant in Santo Domingo square. The old city at night is pure romance.
Saturday (Day 2): Rosario Islands
- Full day: Take a boat to the Rosario Islands (1 hr, $25-40 round trip). Pick an island with a beach club — Isla del Pirata or Isla Barú. Crystal clear water, fresh fish lunch, hammocks, snorkeling. This is Caribbean perfection.
- Evening: Back in the city by 5pm. Shower, change, and head to Getsemaní for the best nightlife — Café Havana (live salsa music) is legendary. Dressing up is expected in Cartagena.
Sunday (Day 3): Bazurto Market + Beach
- Morning: Mercado de Bazurto — the real Cartagena market. Chaotic, loud, authentic. Not touristy at all. Best with a Local Friend who can navigate and translate.
- Afternoon: Playa de Bocagrande or take a taxi to La Boquilla — a fishing village with an incredible mangrove tour ($10-15).
- Evening: Final walk through the walled city. Last ceviche. Pack.
Monday
- Morning flight back to Miami.
What It Costs#
| Expense | Medellín | Cartagena |
|---|---|---|
| Flight (RT from MIA) | $250–350 | $250–350 |
| Hotel (3 nights) | $90–180 | $120–240 |
| Food (3 days) | $60–105 | $75–120 |
| Activities | $30–60 | $40–80 |
| Transport (Uber) | $25–40 | $20–35 |
| Nightlife | $30–60 | $30–60 |
| Total | $485–795 | $535–885 |
Compare that to a weekend in the Keys ($800–1,200) or a weekend in Aspen ($1,500+). Colombia is not just cheaper — it's a fundamentally better experience.
The Local Friend Upgrade#
A 4-day weekend doesn't have time for mistakes. You can't afford to eat at a tourist trap restaurant or waste 2 hours finding the right neighborhood. A Local Friend in Medellín or Cartagena compresses a week of discovery into 4 hours — they take you straight to the best spots, skip the learning curve entirely.
Book a Local Friend for Friday afternoon. They set up the rest of your weekend.
Browse Local Friends in Medellín and Cartagena
Also worth reading: How Much Does a Trip to Colombia Cost in 2026?.
Also worth reading: 10 International Trips Under $500 from NYC and Miami (2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the flight from Miami to Colombia?
Miami to Medellín is 3.5 hours. Miami to Cartagena is 3 hours. Miami to Bogotá is 3.5 hours. All three have daily direct flights on Spirit, JetBlue, and Avianca. It's shorter than flying from Miami to Los Angeles.Can you do Colombia in a long weekend from Miami?
Yes. A Thursday-night-to-Monday trip gives you 3 full days in Colombia — enough for one city. Pick either Medellín (city culture, nightlife, food) or Cartagena (beach, colonial city, romance). Don't try to do both in one weekend.How much does a weekend trip to Colombia from Miami cost?
Budget $600-1,000 for a 4-day trip: flights $250-350 RT, accommodation $30-60/night, food $20-35/day, activities $10-20/day. Colombia is dramatically cheaper than any US destination for a weekend trip.
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