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Vibrant colonial architecture on a historic street in Cartagena, Colombia.

Backpacker route · 3–4 weeks

Colombia to Peru: Caribbean coast to the Andes

A three-to-four-week route from Cartagena and Medellín in Colombia to Quito, Lima and Cusco, using flights for the longest legs. Each hostel is booked separately.

Photo: Maria Paula Medina / Pexels

This route runs from the Caribbean heat of Cartagena to the high Andes around Cusco, passing through Medellín, Quito and Lima. It is a good introduction to the northern half of South America, and each stop has a well-established hostel scene with tours and walking trips arranged from reception.

The distances are large. Overland travel between Colombia, Ecuador and Peru is possible but involves long bus journeys and border crossings, so most travellers on a three-to-four-week trip fly the international legs. Quito and Cusco are both at high altitude, so plan gentle first days. Each hostel on the route is booked separately.

Each hostel on this route is booked separately with Hostelworld. There is no combined package, and transport is booked with each operator. Duration basis: Estimated by adding the suggested nights at each stop (roughly 18–23 nights) to the travel days, assuming flights between countries. Travelling overland the whole way adds several days of bus travel.

  1. To Medellín: Domestic flight of about 1 hour 15, or an overnight bus, typically 13–15 hours.

  2. To Quito: International flight, often connecting via Bogotá; check current schedules for direct services, which take around 1 hour 30. Overland via the Ipiales–Tulcán border takes two days or more.

  3. To Lima: International flight of about 2 hours 15. Overland buses exist but take well over a day.

  4. To Cusco: Domestic flight of about 1 hour 20, or a long-distance bus of around 20–22 hours. Use reputable companies and avoid overnight road travel where possible, as UK government advice recommends.

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Route tips

  • Book Machu Picchu tickets, and Inca Trail permits if you want to hike it, before fixing your Cusco dates.
  • Leave bags at your Quito or Cusco hostel when taking side trips; many offer luggage storage.
  • Carry US dollars for Ecuador, which uses the dollar as its currency.
  • Plan an easy first day in Quito and Cusco, both of which are high in the Andes.
  • Each hostel is booked separately, so confirm late check-in after evening flights.

Sources and review

Reviewed by the HostelConnect editorial team on 8 November 2026. Check entry rules, transport and conditions with official sources before you travel.