Beyond Medellín: 7 Magical Best Towns to Spend Christmas in Colombia

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Experience a different side of the holidays by exploring the best towns to spend Christmas in Colombia beyond Medellín, from lantern‑lit streets to colonial plazas glowing with nativity scenes. This guide takes you through seven magical pueblos across Boyacá, Antioquia, and the Coffee Axis, where fireworks, festivals, and local traditions turn December into an unforgettable celebration for expats and travelers alike.

Choosing the best towns to spend Christmas in Colombia requires a balance of tradition and holiday lights. You will not find this unique pueblo charm in big cities. Medellín’s world-famous Alumbrados are a must-see. However, the real magic of the season often appears in smaller Andean towns. In these villages, plazas glow with lights and locals gather for daily novenas.

This guide highlights the best towns to spend Christmas in Colombia beyond Medellín. We focus on places where history and festive decorations meet. These authentic Colombian traditions create an unforgettable December experience.

1. Why Is Villa de Leyva the Ultimate Christmas Destination?

Many consider Villa de Leyva one of the best towns to spend Christmas in Colombia. It is home to the legendary Festival of Lights (Festival de las Luces). This event turns the vast cobblestone Plaza Mayor into a glowing stage. Celebrated on December 7 and 8 for Día de las Velitas, the event combines religious tradition with a large-scale visual show.

During December, white-washed colonial facades act as a backdrop for thousands of candles. Professional pyrotechnic displays attract visitors from across the globe. Strolling the streets at night feels like stepping back into the 16th century. For travelers looking beyond Medellín, this Boyacá gem consistently ranks as a top choice.

Digital nomads often look for destinations that combine reliable infrastructure with authentic cultural experiences, and these Christmas towns in Colombia offer exactly that. Between co-working options in larger hubs like Medellín and the slower pace of nearby pueblos, it is easy to balance workdays with weekend trips filled with lights, festivals, and local traditions.

If you are considering spending a season or even a full year in Colombia as a digital nomad, exploring these towns at Christmas is a great way to “test‑drive” different regions before committing to a long‑term base. Many expats start with Medellín for its connectivity and services, then fall in love with smaller towns that they later revisit for longer stays, visa processes, or residency planning.

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2. What Makes Corrales the “Town of Light” in Boyacá?

Corrales is known as the “Municipio Luz de Colombia” because nearly every household in town contributes to lighting up streets, balconies, and rooftops, creating a unified Christmas display that covers the entire pueblo. Instead of commercial, corporate‑style decorations, visitors find a deeply personal and community‑driven experience where neighbors coordinate designs and themes to turn the town into a warm, golden tapestry of lights.

If you are searching for the best towns to spend Christmas in Colombia with a peaceful, traditional feel, Corrales often stands out as a favorite. The town is famous for its “pesebre en vivo” (living nativity scene) and live carranga music that fills the plazas, offering a reflective, small‑town Christmas surrounded by one of the most charming light displays in the Andean region.

3. How Does Quimbaya Celebrate the Festival of Lanterns?

Quimbaya’s Festival de Velas y Faroles turns this small Coffee Axis town into one of the best towns to spend Christmas in Colombia for travelers who love both culture and scenery. Every year on December 7 and 8, neighborhoods compete by designing thousands of handmade lanterns that line the streets, plazas, and house fronts, creating illuminated pathways of color and light.

During the festival, motorized traffic in key areas is restricted so visitors can walk freely and admire the lanterns up close, many of which are elaborate structures made from tissue paper, wood, and glass that depict religious themes, local coffee culture, or regional symbols. This tradition is so significant that the Festival de Velas y Faroles has been recognized as part of Colombia’s intangible cultural heritage, reflecting the town’s commitment to preserving its craftsmanship and community spirit.

For visitors exploring beyond Medellín, Quimbaya offers a unique blend of Christmas celebrations and the lush, green landscapes of Quindío’s coffee region, making it a standout choice among the best towns to spend Christmas in Colombia. The combination of lantern art, local hospitality, and rural surroundings creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere that showcases the creativity and generosity of Colombian communities during the holidays.

4. Why Should You Visit Monguí for a Traditional Boyacá Christmas?

Monguí is one of the best towns to spend Christmas in Colombia if you want a traditional, small‑town Boyacá experience centered on heritage, religion, and local craft. As one of Colombia’s designated “Pueblos Patrimonio,” its preserved colonial architecture, stone streets, and mountain setting create a dramatic backdrop for the holidays.

Christmas in Monguí feels like a “Heritage Christmas”: the focus stays on colonial churches, religious celebrations, and everyday local life rather than large commercial displays. The 17th‑century Franciscan convent and the historic Calicanto Bridge frame many of the town’s processions and gatherings, adding a sense of history to seasonal events.

During December, you are likely to hear traditional “tuna” musical groups playing through the streets and smell classic Christmas foods like lechona and natilla being prepared in homes and local eateries. For visitors who want one of the best towns to spend Christmas in Colombia that still feels relatively undiscovered, Monguí offers a slower pace and a strong spiritual atmosphere.

Because Monguí sits at a higher altitude than Medellín, nights can be noticeably colder, and many visitors pick up a local wool ruana to stay warm during evening novenas or midnight mass. The combination of cool mountain air, historic architecture, and intimate religious traditions makes Monguí an excellent choice for travelers seeking a deeply rooted, traditional Boyacá Christmas.

After witnessing the magic of a Colombian Christmas firsthand, many visitors realize that a two-week vacation isn’t enough to truly experience the depth of this culture. Whether it’s the colonial charm of Villa de Leyva or the peaceful coffee mountains that captured your heart, making your stay permanent is more accessible than you might think.

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5. What Is Christmas Like in the Colonial Town of Jardín?

Christmas in Jardín feels like stepping into a classic Paisa town. The plaza becomes the community’s living room. During December, lights cover the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. However, most celebrations unfold on the brightly painted wooden chairs in the square.

Evenings in Jardín revolve around social gatherings. Families meet in the plaza to drink coffee or aguardiente. The atmosphere is festive but relaxed. For those based in Medellín, Jardín is a recommended weekend getaway. Its colorful architecture and welcoming spirit make it an unforgettable option for expats.

6. Where Can You Find the Most Traditional Nativity Scenes in Santa Fe de Antioquia?

Santa Fe de Antioquia combines Catholic tradition with a warm, tropical atmosphere. This feels very different from the cooler Andean pueblos. As the former capital of Antioquia, the town has a strong religious heritage. Residents decorate their homes and historic churches with great care.

Detailed pesebres (nativity scenes) appear in colonial doorways throughout December. Evening walks allow visitors to admire these displays up close. Santa Fe stands out among the best towns to spend Christmas in Colombia because it is easy to reach from Medellín. You can enjoy the Christmas lights here without a heavy coat.

7. What Makes Filandia a Magical Stop In the Coffee Axis?

Filandia offers classic Coffee Axis scenery with an authentic feel. During December, residents decorate colorful colonial houses with lights and ornaments. The town resembles an open-air Christmas postcard.

One highlight is the Colina Iluminada viewpoint. Here, you can enjoy a 360-degree view over the Quindío valley. The surrounding landscape glows at night during the holiday season. Streets like the Calle del Tiempo Detenido look magical when lights reflect off the vibrant facades.

Have you already visited all these places? Click the button below and discover other wonderful places in Colombia to spend Christmas and experience the local culture.

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Other things to see and do in Colombia

Caño Cristales – the most beautiful river in Colombia, which has also been called the most beautiful river in the world by some people.
Carnival in Barranquilla – the second largest carnival in the world.
Cartagena – Oozing history, romance and sun-drenched beaches, the allure of historical Cartagena is hard to resist.
Ciudad Perdida – the site of an ancient city in Colombia that is older than Machu Picchu in Peru.
Colombia’s Pacific coast – often overlooked by tourists visiting Colombia but offering untamed nature and undiscovered beauty that is off the beaten path for most foreign tourists.
Desierto de la Tatacoa – the second largest arid zone in Colombia is Tatacoa Desert, which has surreal desert landscapes and some of the best stargazing in Colombia.
Guatapé – a picturesque pueblo near Medellín known for its huge rock and lake. And it’s likely the most visited pueblo in Colombia by foreigners.
La Guajira Peninsula – one of the most visually stunning places in South America, which is located on the northern tip of Colombia where the desert meets the sea.
Las Lajas Sanctuary – the most beautiful church in Colombia, which has also been called the most beautiful church in the world.
Medellín’s Christmas lights – Medellín’s annual world-class Christmas lights known as Alumbrados Navideños.
Feria de Las Flores Medellin – Medellín’s world-famous flower festival each year.
Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados – a popular national park in Colombia located in the heart of the Colombian coffee region.
Parque Tayrona – known for its beautiful beaches and the world’s highest coastal mountain range.
Popayán – a colonial gem in Colombia best known for its white buildings and churches, it’s a city off the beaten path for foreign tourists but is definitely worth visiting.
Rio Claro Nature Reserve – located about three hours from Medellín, Rio Claro is the perfect place to unplug from hectic daily life and enjoy a picturesque crystal-clear river, canyon and tropical rainforest.
Salento and the Cocora Valley – Salento is a picturesque pueblo in Colombia’s coffee region and the nearby Cocora Valley is one of the most striking landscapes found in Colombia.
San Agustín Archaeological Park – the largest group of pre-Columbian monuments and megalithic statues in South America and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
San Andrés – Colombia’s Caribbean island which is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve featuring many beaches, islets and coral reefs that are filled with flora and fauna.
San Gil – Colombia’s adventure capital that is full of things to do including white water rafting, paragliding, caving, rappelling, hiking and much more.
San Jose del Guaviare – a hidden gem and eco-tourism location off the beaten path and offering wildlife watching, jungle trekking and delving into Colombia’s prehistoric past.

The Bottom Line: Beyond Medellín: 7 Magical Best Towns to Spend Christmas in Colombia

Choosing the best towns to spend Christmas in Colombia depends on your travel style. You can find fireworks in Villa de Leyva or lantern art in Quimbaya. Each destination offers a unique way to experience the holidays beyond Medellín.

For expats, these pueblos provide a chance to connect with local culture. Planning ahead for transport is essential in December. However, the reward is an unforgettable mix of music, food, and community.