Colombian Southwest Culture and Nature

Day 1

In the morning, we will take a flight to Pitalito, a small town located 35 minutes away from San Agustin, where the famous archaeological park is located.

Upon arrival in Pitalito, we will visit Estrecho del Magdalena (Magdalena Narrows). The Magdalena River, the most important of Colombia, crosses the country along 1,500 kilometres from south to north before emptying into the Caribbean Sea can be seen in this region of Colombia with a width not exceeding 3 meters.

Overnight: San Agustin              
Meal Plan: None
 

Day 2

Ariscos Nature Reserve is located in the eastern mountain range, over the biological corridor of the Cueva de los Guacharos Natural Park and Puracé National Natural Park, where a great biodiversity of endemic and threatened bird species is conserved, with a record of 229 bird species: also we can observe the traces of the spectacled bear, primates and hummingbirds. We will have a traditional lunch prepared by the the local farmers and learn their different gastronomic techniques.

This region, apart from being famous for the archaeologic sites, is also cultivates high quality coffee. Therefore, in the afternoon we will visit a coffee farm to learn everything about harvesting and making coffee, from planting the coffee beans to the picking and roasting process. We will learn how to select and pick only the ripe coffee cherries and also how to taste and evaluate the coffee's quality, just like a coffee expert.

Overnight: San Agustin              
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
 

Day 3

After breakfast, we will start our day trip to San Agustin Archaeological Park. At the park, you will visit the Alto de Lavapatas as well as the Fuente de Lavapatas, a complex maze of pools and water channels hewn from bedrock carved with figures of animals and humans. It was used for religious ceremonies and bathing. Furthermore, you will see the Bosque de las Estatuas and the different Mesitas.

In the afternoon, we will take a horseback-riding tour to visit El Tablon and La Chaquira and see other anthropomorphic statues and the spectacular landscape of the Magdalena river.

Overnight: San Agustin              
Meal Plan: Breakfast
 

Day 4

Early in the morning, we will start our trip towards Popayan. On our way to Popayan, we will stop at "Valle de los Frailejones”, where you can see the spectacular landscape of a Colombian Paramo surrounded by Frailejones. The frailejon, known as well as Espeletia, is the typical plant found at high altitude in the Paramo ecosystems.

During this journey towards Popayan, you will also have the opportunity to try a delicious agua de panela con queso, one of the most traditional hot beverages in Colombia. Once that we arrive in Popayan, we wil transfer you to the hotel.

In the afternoon we will have our city tour, Popayan is called the “white city” because of its chalk-white building. This beautiful colonial city boasts the country's largest concentration of churches per capita. Church steeples dominate the town's skyline and around every street corner is a different church to see. During Easter, thousands of people crowd the streets to watch or participate in the huge religious processions and ceremonial celebrations that take place throughout the most important week of the Catholic calendar.

Overnight: Popayan              
Meal Plan: Breakfast 
 

Day 5

Today we will visit Silvia, a picturesque mountain town known as the centre of the Guambiano region. The Guambainos are considered one of the most traditional indigenous groups in Colombia. They don't actually live in the Silvia, but on Tuesdays they come to Silvia to sell their fruit, vegetable and handicrafts. They all come in their traditional dresses. It will definitely be the best day to visit the town. 

After visiting Silvia, we will go to Guambia, where we will have the opportunity to visit a Guambiano indigenous community and talk to their Taita (tribe chief) to learn about their culture and traditions. At the end of this visit, we will go to Cali and spend the night.

Overnight: Cali              
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch 
 

Day 6

Cali is known as the world’s salsa capital, it is also one of the most important industrial and business cities in Colombia. In the morning, we will visit some of the most iconic places of the city including: Iglesia de la Merced, Mirador de San Antonio, Parque and Gato del Rio.

We will have a marimba workshop, this it’s a traditional instrument of folk music of the Colombian Pacific, where we will learn from it´s history, how became a pillar of Afro-Colombian culture, we will learn about the natural materials that were used for the elaboration and we will have a musical experience.

At the end of the tour we will take a one-hour salsa class to enjoy and learn some steps of this fascinating dance. In the afternoon, we will go to the airport for a flight to Medellin

Overnight: Cali              
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch 
 

Day 7

Part of our traditions are based on the use of timber trees and other resources that nature gives us, so we will have a workshop of handicrafts, where you can learn and appreciate our art, valuing different resources provided by the jungle and contributing to our responsibility as a community./p>

We will learn about gastronomic tradition of the pacific coast, where we will share some recipes and ancestral techniques of cooking for the food supplies provided by the jungle, the river and the sea./p> We will make a beautiful trekking through the wonderful Tropical Humid Rainforest where we will travel and enjoy the crystal water, natural pools and small waterfalls, which preserve a wonderful space of diversity in flora and fauna.

At the end of the day we will return to the city of Cali to rest in our hotel.

Overnight: Cali

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8

The tour ends today. At the time required, we will pick you up at the hotel for a transfer to the airport.

Meal Plan: Breakfast