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Colombia🇨🇴 | townsHondaMagdalena river port, Puente Navarro, Calle de las Trampas, fish market | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Honda
👌 Worth visitingtown ranked #16
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 19, 2026

Honda has more than 40 bridges, and the iron Puente Navarro, finished in 1898, still spans the Magdalena. The town sits in the department of Tolima, in the west-central part of Colombia, northwest of Bogotá. A cook at a corner stall told me, “Eat the bocachico here, it comes out of that river.” Skip the sleepy modern outskirts and spend your time in the colonial center, where cobbled lanes, river views and a heavy, slow pace reward walking. Nightlife is thin and hostels are few, so meeting backpackers is hit or miss. Your first day could mean a bridge walk, a market lunch and a river sunset.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Colombia Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #16 town in ColombiaWhat makes it a must-see town

Honda works best as a one or two night stop for slow travelers, history lovers and anyone riding the Magdalena corridor between Bogotá and the coast. The old center is compact and walkable, with stone streets, the Puente Navarro and a riverside market where fish is the order of the day. Guesthouses are small and quiet, so solo travelers can expect chats with owners more than packed common rooms. If you want hiking or nightlife, look elsewhere. If you like crumbling colonial facades, a river port with over 40 bridges and a day that moves slowly, Honda pays off. Many people linger a second day for the Museo del Río Magdalena.

💡 HighlightsThe experiences that define the visit

  1. Puente Navarro and the Magdalena riverfront: The old iron bridge over the Magdalena is the image Honda is known for, and the river walk beside it shows why the town grew as a port. Go in the late afternoon when it cools down. Free, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  2. Museo del Río Magdalena: Housed in a colonial-era building, it covers the river trade that made Honda rich, with boats, photos and tools. Visit in the morning. Entry is roughly US$1 to 3, about 1 hour.
  3. Calle de las Trampas and the historic center: Narrow stone lanes with colonial façades, balconies and small plazas, easy to cover on foot. Early morning or evening is most comfortable. Free, 1 to 2 hours.
  4. Puente Café and Plaza de Mercado Central: The market is where locals buy fish from the Magdalena, fruit and cheap lunches. Arrive before 10 AM
… read more 👉
  1. Puente Navarro and the Magdalena riverfront: The old iron bridge over the Magdalena is the image Honda is known for, and the river walk beside it shows why the town grew as a port. Go in the late afternoon when it cools down. Free, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  2. Museo del Río Magdalena: Housed in a colonial-era building, it covers the river trade that made Honda rich, with boats, photos and tools. Visit in the morning. Entry is roughly US$1 to 3, about 1 hour.
  3. Calle de las Trampas and the historic center: Narrow stone lanes with colonial façades, balconies and small plazas, easy to cover on foot. Early morning or evening is most comfortable. Free, 1 to 2 hours.
  4. Puente Café and Plaza de Mercado Central: The market is where locals buy fish from the Magdalena, fruit and cheap lunches. Arrive before 10 AM when the stalls are fullest. Budget US$2 to 5 for a meal, 1 hour.
  5. Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario: A simple colonial church close to the center, useful for a cool pause between lanes. Mornings are quietest. Free, 15 to 30 minutes.
Day trips from Honda can take you to Mariquita, with its colonial streets, and to the Nevado del Ruiz foothills near Murillo, or to the cooler hills around Falan, where the old gold-trade route passes. The small riverside lanes behind the bridge are where fishers mend nets and sell the morning catch.
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Things to do near Honda

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Private Guatape & Paragliding Tour: Epic Views & Thrills

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Cartagena Jet Ski Adventure with Optional Drone Video

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Rent a Local Friend: Bogota Private Custom Tour (4, 6 or 8 hrs)

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100-Year-Old family-run Finca: Horseback Riding & More

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Coffee & Chocolate Private Tour in Medellin: Genuine Experience

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🏘️ NeighborhoodsWhere things are and how it's laid out

Honda is small enough to cover on foot, and the old center is the only part that earns real time. Skip the modern outskirts along the highway.
  • Centro Histórico: Colonial streets of the “City of Bridges” with stone-paved lanes, the Plaza de Mercado, and the Museo del Río Magdalena. Spend most of your time here. Walkable in a morning, hot by noon.
  • Calle de las Trampas and the riverfront: Old river-port warehouses and the Magdalena bridges. Worth an evening stroll for the views. Eat grilled fish and cold beer at open-air spots; it stays low-key, not a party zone.
  • Plaza de Mercado area: Loud, sweaty and the best place for cheap fruit juice, fried fish and set lunches. Go before 10 a.m.
  • Outer barrios and the highway: Gas stations, traffic and little else. Not worth a detour except to catch a bus.

⌛️ 1 dayWhat you can realistically do in a day

This is a slow walking day built around the river and old streets, with long breaks from the heat.
8:00 AM: Plaza de Mercado. Start with a coffee and a fish breakfast among the stalls, then walk five minutes toward the center.
9:30 AM: Puente Navarro. Cross the iron bridge and look down at the Magdalena while the light is soft. Walk along the bank for photos.
11:00 AM: Museo del Río Magdalena. Spend an hour learning why this port mattered, then stroll to the old streets.
1:00 PM: Lunch in the center. Order the local bocachico and rest through the hottest hours.
3:30 PM: Calle de las Trampas. Wander the cobbles and old houses, then continue to the church for a quiet look inside.
5:30 PM: Riverside edge near the lesser bridges. Few visitors come here. Sit with a cold drink and watch fishermen at dusk.

🌤️ When to go?When to go for the best experience

Honda is hot all year, with daytime highs of 32 to 35°C (90 to 95°F) and nights near 24°C (75°F), so rain and crowds decide your timing.
  • Dry Months (December to February, July to August): Less rain, easier walking, but peak Colombian holiday weekends bring crowds and higher room rates.
  • Rainy Months (March to May, October to November): Afternoon downpours, humid air and quiet streets; rooms are easy to find and cheaper.
  • Festivals: The Fiestas del Retorno in January and the Fiesta de la Subienda fill the town with music and fish stalls.
Arrive early in the morning, since midday heat is the real limit on sightseeing.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: good for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: excellent for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base

The historic center is the best place for a budget bed in Honda, with a handful of guesthouses and simple hotels, and dorm beds are scarce, so private rooms at US$12 to 25 are the norm. You can walk to the market, restaurants and river, and streets are lively until about 9 p.m., then quiet. Noise comes mainly from motorbikes and music on weekends, so ask for a room away from the street. The area near the main plaza is a good second option, with easy access to the highway for onward buses. Choose a room with fan or air conditioning, because nights stay warm. Book ahead for holiday weekends.
Best hostels in Colombia


Best quality hotels in Colombia

🚌 Getting aroundTransportation options and practical tips

A ride in a local mototaxi or tuk-tuk-style taxi costs about US$1 to 2, paid in cash in Colombian pesos at the end of the trip. Honda is compact, and the historic center is best on foot, with traffic loudest along the highway. Public transport inside town is minimal, so you rely on your legs and cheap motorbikes.
  • Walking: Free and the best choice for the old center, bridges and market. Go early or after 4 p.m. to avoid the heat, and wear sandals that handle uneven cobbles.
  • Mototaxi: US$1 to 2 per ride within town. Fast and handy for hills, but agree the price first and expect no helmet.
  • Taxi: US$2 to 4 around town, US$4 to 6 to the bus terminal area from farther barrios. Worth it with a heavy pack in midday heat.
  • Intercity bus: Services to Bogotá take about 3.5 to 4 hours for US$8 to 12, and to
… read more 👉
A ride in a local mototaxi or tuk-tuk-style taxi costs about US$1 to 2, paid in cash in Colombian pesos at the end of the trip. Honda is compact, and the historic center is best on foot, with traffic loudest along the highway. Public transport inside town is minimal, so you rely on your legs and cheap motorbikes.
  • Walking: Free and the best choice for the old center, bridges and market. Go early or after 4 p.m. to avoid the heat, and wear sandals that handle uneven cobbles.
  • Mototaxi: US$1 to 2 per ride within town. Fast and handy for hills, but agree the price first and expect no helmet.
  • Taxi: US$2 to 4 around town, US$4 to 6 to the bus terminal area from farther barrios. Worth it with a heavy pack in midday heat.
  • Intercity bus: Services to Bogotá take about 3.5 to 4 hours for US$8 to 12, and to Mariquita about 20 minutes for US$1 to 2. Buses run from early morning to evening, and vans along the highway fill the gaps.
Skip renting a car; the town is too small to justify it and parking in the center is awkward.

👛 Costs (as of 19 October 2026)What things cost and how to budget

A backpacker in Honda spends about US$27 to 53 per day, and the total below uses US$40 for a private room in high season.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$12 to 20Few dorms exist, so budget guesthouse rooms; prices rise on holiday weekends.
MealsUS$8 to 14Set lunch (almuerzo corriente) costs US$3 to 5; grilled fish costs more.
Local transportUS$2 to 5Mototaxis at US$1 to 2 a ride, plus walking.
Basic activities/entry feesUS$2 to 6Museums are cheap; most sights are free to walk past.
MiscellaneousUS$3 to 8Cold drinks, water and sunscreen.
Total Daily BudgetUS$27 to 53About US$40 is typical in high season.
Eat the set lunch at the market instead of restaurant dinners to save US$5 or more a day.

source: colombia.travel
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsEasy escapes and nearby places

Honda works well as a base for easy day trips, since buses along the Magdalena valley run frequently and most stops need no overnight.Mariquita: A 20-minute bus ride (US$1 to 2) takes you to a colonial town with a large Sunday market and the Casa de la Expedición Botánica. Go on a weekday if you dislike crowds, and arrive before the midday heat.
Guaduas: About 1 hour by bus or colectivo (US$3 to 5), Guaduas has a pretty colonial plaza and the house of Policarpa Salavarrieta. Budget US$10 to 15 with lunch. Dry months are easiest, as rain muddies the paths.
Falan: Roughly 1 hour by bus and a connecting ride (US$3 to 5 each way), this mountain village has cooler air, cobbled lanes and a mining history. First-timers often leave too late and miss the last return bus, so start by 8 a.m.

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

Honda is calm by Colombian standards, and daytime wandering needs only normal city sense. Keep phones and cameras out of sight near the market and bus terminal, where petty theft happens in crowds. After dark, stick to lit streets near the plaza and take a taxi for longer distances, particularly if you are alone. Agree mototaxi prices before you ride, since inflated fares for foreigners are the most common annoyance. Carry only the cash you need, and use sunscreen and water, as heat causes more trouble here than crime.
Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

Honda is worth a stop of a night or two rather than a whole trip, thanks to its colonial center, river bridges and relaxed pace. Spend a morning in the old streets and an evening by the Magdalena, then visit nearby Mariquita (20 minutes) or Guaduas (about 1 hour). It is hot year-round, so expect to slow down.
Honda needs one full day plus a night for most backpackers, or two days if you add Mariquita or Falan. The old center and museum take about 3 to 4 hours on foot. Rooms cost roughly US$12 to 25, so a second night is cheap.
Honda can be done as a day trip from Bogotá, but it makes for a long day with about 3.5 to 4 hours each way by bus (US$8 to 12). Leave before 7 a.m. to have around 4 hours in town, and check the last return bus. Staying one night is far more comfortable.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Colombian towns near Honda

Explore more nearby:

  • Salento—Calle Real, Alto de la Cruz steps, tejo courts, Camino Nacional| 112 km away
  • Filandia—Colina Iluminada tower, Calle del Tiempo, cane baskets, coffee hills| 118 km away
  • Guatapé—Painted zócalos, reservoir boats, Calle del Recuerdo, malecón| 123 km away

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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Many travelers rush Honda in a couple of hours and leave right as the afternoon heat hits. Stay the night instead. Walk the bridges early and late, take the midday break indoors, and eat the river fish at the market.

✈️ When did I visit Colombia?
Did a good 3-week trip around Colombia in August 2014.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Colombia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

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