Explore Colombia’s Rural Life!This tour is an excellent opportunity to explore the rural areas and farms in the eastern Andes and the Eastern Plains of Colombia. Visit La Candelaria in Bogota and learn about the origins of this cosmopolitan city. Then explore Egipto, a favela next to La Candelaria, affected by a turbulent past that is now using street art and tourism to help them find a better future. Go horseback riding through the savannahs in the Eastern Plains of Colombia while viewing spectacular flora and fauna. Take care of yourself and relax in a beautiful wellness and spa hotel. Learn about the local culture and stay on a traditional ranch. Explore the Andean region to see some of the most beautiful and well preserved colonial towns, including Villa de Leyva and Barichara. Visit local farms, learn about the coffee and sugar cane process, meet the local families and enjoy listening to their history and traditions. Disconnect from your everyday life during this incredible adventure! EXPERIENCE TYPE Local Culture, Wildlife, Hiking and Wellness |
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La Candelaria is Bogota’s historic area where you will find all the famous museums and attractions. It is an eclectic neighbourhood with a mix of historic and modern buildings, surrounded by colourful graffiti murals. Next to La Candelaria, is Egipto, a favela with a turbulent past and a positive demonstration of how street art and tourism is helping them to find better opportunities for their families.
Colombia is famous for its coffee, so what better place to learn everything there is to know about coffee than in Colombia! During this tour, you will see each step of the coffee cultivation process – from understanding how to identify ripe coffee cherries and harvesting them to pulping, drying and brewing the beans. Last but not least, you will get to taste the coffee after roasting the beans the old fashioned way.
This beautiful natural region located to the east of the Andes, also called “Los Llanos”, is crossed by many rivers and lakes, turning this vast plain into a spectacular mix of landscapes. It is also recognised by its extensive hatos and ranches, where you can stay overnight and enjoy the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets you have ever seen. It is undoubtedly the most appealing destination for curious travellers wanting to explore new sceneries and environments.
You will have the chance to see hundreds of capybaras, white-tailed deer, spectacled caimans, different species of anteaters, monkeys, tortoises and exciting birdlife, including Orinoco geese and the great horned owl – Colombia’s largest owl.
"Llaneros" is the name given to people from this region. They are the Colombian cowboys as cattle, and some minor agriculture activities are their main economic activities. Llaneros are experts at rounding up and corralling cattle. They wear a distinctive starched hat, appear impervious to heat or cold and often go barefoot. Most love eating mamona (tender beef) and listening to their traditional music "Joropo”.
Splendid colonial architecture, hand-carved stone, and wooden balconies are some of the reasons why Barichara has been officially named the most beautiful town in Colombia. Surrounded by the spectacular landscape of the Andes and other colonial towns, Barichara is the perfect place to uncover the secrets of Colombia’s colonial era and experiencing the magic and mystery of small Colombian towns.
The Camino Real between Barichara and Guane is a 10km hike (mostly downhill) along a small section of the old ‘Royal Road’. It winds along the edge of a beautiful canyon through Santander’s lush green countryside. This ancient stone-paved road was built by the indigenous Guane people and rebuilt continuously over the centuries. It was declared a national monument in 1988.
Villa de Leyva is undoubtedly the most famous town in the department of Boyacá. Located 3.5 hours driving from Bogota, this lovely town has been remarkably well-preserved. It was founded in 1572 by Hernán Suárez de Villalobos, and early on, it was mainly a retreat for military officers, clergy and the nobility. Its central plaza, the largest in Colombia and one of the largest in South America, is surrounded by magnificent colonial buildings. Villa de Leyva was declared a national monument in 1954.
Get deeper inside the local culture and learn how to cook some traditional Colombian pastries at one of the farms in Gachantiva, a small town only 45 minutes away from Villa de Leyva. Most of the traditional pastries in the region are made of corn, an essential food used since the pre-Columbian times by many indigenous cultures in America. You will learn the recipe and the history behind the popular food and the cooking process.
Arrive at any time. We will pick you up at the airport and drive you to your hotel in Bogota. Depending on the traffic, the drive from the airport takes around 30-45 minutes.
At the hotel, we will check your itinerary again to make sure everything is clear, help you with anything you may need and give you some practical information about Bogota and Colombia. Depending on your arrival time, you may have some time to start exploring the city on your own or just to relax.
Bogotá is located at an altitude of 2,600 metres, so we recommend taking it easy during the first couple of days.
Note: Check in after 3pm
Overnight: Bogota Meal Plan: None
This unique tour will begin in La Candelaria, one of the most historical places in Bogota. The area has a bohemian ambience and a mix of colonial and modern architecture. We will see some of the most iconic historical places while learning about the city's history. We will walk from Plaza de Bolivar, the current main square, to Chorro de Quevedo, the first official square in Bogota. You will have the chance to admire the colourful graffiti adorning the walls and the quirky shops.
From Chorro de Quevedo, we will walk to La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Egipto, the entrance point into the Egipto neighbourhood. During our visit to Egipto, we will be accompanied by members of this incredible community that have worked during the last few years to create new opportunities for their community. They will talk about their inspiring journey to leave behind a criminal life in the gangs to start doing street art and tourism.
We will learn about the challenges they faced and the projects they have. We will visit one of their homes to have a traditional snack and hear more about their day-to-day life.
Overnight: Bogota Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Around 6:30 am, we will begin our adventure by heading to a small town called Tibacuy, located 2 hours outside Bogota. Near Tibacuy, we will visit a local community of farmers who produce their own coffee.
You will get the chance to visit four different farms and learn one specific part of the coffee-making process at each farm. You won't only learn about the coffee-making process but also why the production of coffee is essential in this specific region of Colombia.
At one of the farms, we will also go back in time to learn about the indigenous Panche people who inhabited the area before the Spanish conquest. We will see some petroglyphs found by the local families. These petroglyphs haven't been thoroughly studied by the experts yet, but it would be fascinating to hear how locals found them and what these symbols could mean.
You spend time with the families, learn about their day to day life, have lunch at their house and try some delicious homemade snacks. We are sure you won't look at your daily cup of coffee the same after this experience!
Overnight: Bogota Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Early in the morning, we will pick you up at the hotel to transfer you to the airport in Bogota for your flight to Yopal in the Eastern Region of Colombia, also called Los LLanos. On arrival in Yopal, we will go to San Luis de Palenque. It will take approximately 2 hours on paved roads. We will spend the next two days at Hato Matepalma and Hato Altamira, two large haciendas that are part of the Nature Reserve El Encanto de Guanapalo.
Upon arrival at the natural reserve, we will have lunch and relax for a while. Then, we'll get an introduction to the farm and some lasso practice before gearing up our horses for a ride into the savannah. By horse, we'll cross small rivers, waterholes, lush savannas, palm and gallery forests, keeping our eyes peeled for diverse birdlife and wildlife, including different species of anteaters, monkeys, tortoises, caimans and exotic birds.
At the nature reserve, you will have the chance to see hundreds of capybaras, white-tailed deer, spectacled caimans, tortoises and exciting birdlife, including Orinoco geese and the great horned owl – Colombia's largest owl.
At the end of the day, we will go to one of the haciendas where you will spend the night.
Overnight: Los Llanos - Nature Reserve El Encanto de Guanapalo Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, we will go for a walk and a canoe tour to observe families of capybaras, hoatzins, and various species of kingfishers. We will come back to the hacienda for lunch and relax a little bit before the safari in the afternoon.
In the afternoon, we will do a safari in a 4x4 vehicle to get close to an astonishing amount of wildlife. With some luck, we may see anteaters, pumas, armadillos or anacondas. The probability of seeing anacondas is higher during the dry season, which is in February and March. We will see hundreds of capybaras, deer, spectacled caimans, tortoises and exciting birdlife.
At the end of the afternoon safari, we will sit down to relax and have a drink while enjoying the spectacular sunset of this region of Colombia. After, recharging batteries we will continue our expedition to see nocturnal wildlife.
Overnight: Los Llanos - Nature Reserve El Encanto de Guanapalo Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Before travelling to Bucaramanga, we will visit another hacienda to learn about the daily work that is typically carried out at any farm in the region. These works represent part of the culture and tradition of this region of Colombia. At the end of this activity, we will go to the airport for your flight to Bucaramanga.
Upon arrival in Bucarmanga, we will meet you at the airport to transfer you to Zapatoca, locate 2hrs from Bucaramanga. Zapatoca was built in the 17th century and is located in the middle of an impressive canyons landscape.
As a completely off the beaten track destination, Zapatoca is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the tranquillity of its streets surrounded by a spectacular natural landscape. Upon arrival in Zapatoca, we will do a tour around the town before going to the hotel.
Overnight: Zapatoca Meal Plan: Breakfast
Today is to relax and recharge your mind and body. Hotel Sindamanoy, where you are staying, is a Spa focus on wellness. You will be able to take some wellness sessions available to promote self-care, relaxation and overall health and wellbeing. These sessions are already included in the tour.
The hotel is surrounded by a beautiful garden and natural areas for a nice walk.
Overnight: Zapatoca Meal Plan: Breakfast
Today, we will go to Barichara, one of the most beautiful colonial towns in Colombia. Barichara is a charming little town with stunning colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, historic churches, and beautiful natural surroundings. On the way to Barichara, we will pass through other charming little towns like Galán and Fuente that seem to be literally stopped in time.
Upon arrival in Barichara, we will go to the hotel and then do a walking tour around the town
Overnight: Barichara Meal Plan: Breakfast
Today, we will go to a local house to learn about building colonial houses. We will learn about the local technique used to build colonial houses in this area of Colombia. This workshop will also be an excellent opportunity to interact with the local community and learn more about their daily lives.
Overnight: Barichara Meal Plan: Breakfast
Today, we will be hiking for about 2 hours along The Camino Real, an ancient trail that connects Barichara and the small town of Guane.
The Camino Real trail was originally built by the Guane indigenous people and then used later by the Spanish. The old paved path was last restored in 1864 by the German George von Lenguerke. The hike is mostly downhill and will take you through a beautiful landscape of the canyon and valley surrounding the town. The trail offers some great views and a peaceful environment.
Guane is an even smaller version of Barichara, although less elaborate. We will have lunch there before coming back to Barichara. In Barichara, we will spend some time visiting the main highlights of the town. You will have the rest of the day at leisure for your exploration.
Overnight: Barichara Meal Plan: Breakfast
After breakfast, we will start our journey towards Villa de Leyva, located 4 hours driving from Barichara. Villa de Leyva is the most visited and famous town in Boyaca. This colonial village frozen in time will make you feel like you have been transported back to colonial times. Its central plaza is surrounded by magnificent colonial structures and a beautiful parish church. The area of the plaza is about 14000 square meters and is considered the largest plaza in Colombia.
Upon arrival in Villa de Leyva, we go to the hotel. After checking in, we will go for a walking tour around the town.
Overnight: Villa de Leyva Meal Plan: Breakfast
Early in the morning, we will go to a farm located one hour from Villa de Leyva. At the farm, we will have a traditional Colombian breakfast, followed by a cooking experience to learn how to make "almohabana", a traditional Colombian corn pastry. During this experience, you will have the opportunity to interact with the family at the farm and learn from them a bit of history on how the ancient indigenous used to process and cook food made of corn.
After this enjoyable gastronomic activity, we will go to another farm to learn everything about panela production, a product derived from sugar cane. At this farm, you will learn about the sugar cane process from harvesting to the production of panela.
After lunch, we will go to Convento Santo Ecce Homo, founded by the Dominican fathers in 1620. The convent is a spectacular stone-and-adobe construction with a lovely courtyard and floors paved with stones quarried in the region, containing ammonites and fossils, including petrified corn and flowers. At the end of the visit, we will go back to Villa de Leyva. You will have the rest of the afternoon at leisure for your exploration.
Overnight: Villa de Leyva Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Today, we will visit a local farm in Gachantiva, a small village located 45 min from Villa de Leyva. At this farm, we will spend time with the lady of the house milking caws and learning how to make artisanal cheese. If possible, we will also learn how to shear sheep and then how to process the wool. This process includes sorting, washing, drying, carding and spinning.
We will have lunch at the farm before starting the journey back to Bogota.
Overnight: Bogota Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
The tour ends today. At the time required, we will pick you up at the hotel to transfer you to the airport.
Overnight: Meal Plan: Breakfast
Hotel Hamilton Court is s a classic vintage hotel located in the Zona Rosa of Bogota. It is not far from the city centre and is close to the Zona G (Gourmet zone). You will find various shopping centres near this Hotel and recognised restaurants like Andrés DC and Hard Rock Café.
The Hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with modern furnishings and free WiFi access. The additional services include a sauna, gym and restaurant.
Montana is located in the deepest part of the reservation, it’s an enigmatic place surrounded by streams and woods that are the habitat of lots of wildlife. The house is an ecolodge with rooms filled with balconies and open ceiling bathrooms to enjoy the red sunsets that will give you a unique experience of contact with the landscapes and the immensity of the valley.
Hotel Sindamanoy MenteCuerpo is a space to relax and get in with nature. The Bio architecture, the aromatic paths of medicinal plants and the spectacular landscape of the eastern mountain range are just some of the elements that will help you relax and revitalise your mind and body.
The hotel offers a restaurant, bar, a shared lounge and garden. There is an outdoor pool and guests can make use of free WiFi and free private parking.
From the end of the 19th century, this old construction remodelled with local materials imposes a decorative proposal with artisan furniture brought from the island of Bali. The most attractive point of the house is its central patio. It expresses the warmth of the environment given by the clarity of its white walls, the columns finished with vines collected in the Suárez river and veneer stone brought from Bali.
The Hotel has a garden and a terrace. The rooms have private bathrooms, a safety box TV and free WiFi.
Hotel Posada de San Antonio is very close to the main square of the town. It is set across three restored colonial houses and still maintains many of the original details. The rooms feature replica colonial artwork and antique furnishings. All rooms have cable TV, minibar, WiFi and safe.
Breakfast is served daily, and its restaurant serves Colombian and international dishes.
With the current situation around the world changing at an unprecedented pace, we understand that you may feel very anxious and hesitant about your future travel plans. Therefore, we have modified our booking conditions to give you more flexible options. You can now book your next holiday to Colombia, having the tranquillity of changing your dates without any extra cost, and even book a long trip with a small deposit.
We hope these flexible booking conditions give you the option to plan and dream about your next holiday.
Small deposit:
You can book this Colombia trip with only 50 GBP / 60 EUR / 65 USD per person. This deposit is not refundable.
Change departure dates:
Our flexible booking conditions will allow you to change the departure date without any additional fee. You can move the departure date to any time before the end of 2022.
If your initial departure date was to happen during a low holiday season and you wish to move it to departure during a high holiday season, please consider that the price of the tour could be higher due to higher tariffs from hotels and airlines. We will confirm and agree with the change in the price.
Note: High holiday seasons in Colombia are during Easter and from December 15th to January 19th.
Later payment:
We will require a full payment minimum 20 days before the departure date of the tour.
Cancellation Costs:
If you definitely need to cancel the tour after sending us the full payment (20 days before the departure date), we will refund 80% of the tour's cost.
These terms apply to bookings made from now on until further notice.
Please check the complete description of our terms and conditions.
