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 again your itinerary 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 the time of your arrival, 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 to take it easy during the first couple of days.

Overnight: Bogota
Meal Plan: None

Today, we will visit Plaza de Paloquemao, one of the largest and most popular markets in Bogota. You will be amazed by the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables found there. At the market, you will have the opportunity to try some fruits, fruits juices and various Colombian snacks.

After the market, we will visit some of the most iconic places in Bogota's historic centre. We will have the chance to admire the world's largest collection of pre-Hispanic gold at the Gold Museum, and check the artistic work of Fernando Botero, Colombia's most famous painter and sculptor at the Museo Botero. We will glimpse the diversity of architectural styles on display at the historic neighbourhood of La Candelaria and we will capture spectacular panoramic views of the city from the top of Cerro de Monserrate.

During your Bogota tour, you will have the opportunity to uncover the city's secrets with our expert local guide!

Note: Gold Museum is closed on Mondays and Botero Museum is closed on Tuesdays         

Overnight: Bogota
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

We will pick you up from your hotel to start our journey towards Villa de Leyva. Along the way, we will visit the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira and Raquira. The Salt Cathedral is located 50km north of Bogota and was built within the tunnels of a salt mine. The cathedral is situated 180m underground and has three sections representing the birth, life and death of Jesus Christ. It is an amazing work of architecture and engineering.

After visiting the cathedral, we will continue our trip towards Raquira, a small a colourful village with brightly painted facades and a jumble of crafts shops. This beautiful village is famous for its pottery and handicrafts made of clay. An interesting spot for shopping. We will have lunch on the way to Raquira. Then, we will continue our journey towards Villa de Leyva. 

Villa de Leyva is a small Spanish-style town founded in 1572 was home to many important politicians, artists and wealthy families of during the colonial period. This lovely town built in the classic Spanish colonial style with whitewashed houses, cobbled streets and terracotta roofs has been remarkably well-preserved.  Its main plaza, the largest in Colombia and one of the largest in South America, is surrounded by magnificent colonial buildings.
Upon arrival in Villa de Leyva, we will to the hotel.

Overnight: Villa de Leyva
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

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 also learn from them a bit of history on how the ancient indigenous used to process and cook food made of corn.

After this interesting gastronomic activity, we will go to another farm to learn everything about the production of Panela, a product derived from sugar cane. At this farm, you will learn all about the sugar cane process and the important consumption of Panela in the Colombian gastronomy. Then, we will have lunch.

After lunch, we will go to Convento Santo Ecce Homo, founded by the Dominican fathers in 1620. This 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 own exploration.

Overnight: Villa de Leyva
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

You will have the morning to explore a bit more of Villa de Leyva.  Around midday, we will start our journey back to Bogota. 

On the way to Bogota, we will stop at Boyaca Bridge, which is a very important historical place where the most important battle of the Colombian War of Independence took place. In the evening, you will take a flight to Pereira, one of the main cities in Colombia's Coffee Region.

Upon arrival in Pereira, we will transfer you to the hotel.

Overnight: Coffee Region
Meal Plan: Breakfast

Today we will take a day trip to the Valle de Cocora (Cocora Valley) Natural Park. The cloud forest at Valle de Cocora is a prime example of the amazing diversity of fauna and flora special to Colombia’s Coffee Region.

While trekking across the valley, surrounded by the famous and unique palmas de cera (wax palms), we will hear
stories about this amazing place and its meaning for the native tribes that inhabited the area before the Europeans came to America. We may also have the opportunity to see different bird species, specially hummingbirds.

As we are in the coffee region, we can’t not miss the opportunity to visit a local coffee plantation to learn all the details of each step from planting the coffee beans all the way through 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 an expert coffee taster.

The coffee region is also famous for its beautiful and picturesque Paisa towns and, Salento is a clear example of that. Salento is adorned by colourful houses with colonial architecture surrounded by the natural landscape of the Andes and the smell of freshly roasted coffee. This town is the perfect place for a gentle stroll or for enjoying a delicious cup of Colombian coffee.

Overnight: Coffee Region
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we will visit Marsella, one of the most beautiful areas in the Coffee region, where you will see the fascinating landscapes while tasting fruits together with the most exquisite organic chocolate. Walk among the cocoa trees, feeling the sweet taste of the mucilage in the mouth and mix it with oranges, tangerines and aromatic plants. We will learn about the chocolate process from taking the seeds, roasting them and melting them to obtain a delicious cocoa cream, with which you can prepare your drink.

Overnight: Coffee Region
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

You will have the morning to relax and enjoy a little bit more of this spectacular region of Colombia before flying to Medellin.  Upon arrival in Medellin, we will meet you at the airport to transfer you to the hotel. 

Overnight: Medellin
Meal Plan: Breakfast

Today, we will visit the most iconic areas of the city including: Plaza de Botero, El Pueblito Paisa and Parque LLeras. The Plaza de Botero is a medium-sized plaza full of sculptures created by the famous Colombian sculptor, Fernando Botero (originally from Medellin). He is famous for his style of painting, which makes everything look "chubby." The Parque Lleras and El Pueblito Paisa are two of Medellin's must-see quarters. The Pueblito Paisa, a small replica of a typical Antioquia township, located on top of the 80m-hill "Cerro Nutibara" is the perfect place to get a great panoramic view of the city. While the Parque Lleras is one of the most popular areas for entertainment and nightlife in Medellin.

We will also visit Comuna 13, previously one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in Medellin. The area is safe to explore now, thanks to the government’s promise to improve the neighbourhood and the community’s commitment to sharing this unique part of Medellin with visitors. 

During this tour, you will ride multiple elevators installed on the side of a mountain to help people move through the community easier. The walls of Comuna 13 are adorned with bright graffiti and your local guide will explain the meaning and symbolism behind some of the works of art. Witness for yourself how one community that was once home to so much struggle and conflict has blossomed into a colourful spot in Medellin. You will also get a chance to see authentic Colombian culture up close.  

Overnight: Medellin
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we will go to Guatape, a small town located about 2.5 hours by car from Medellin in a beautiful zone wedged between a reservoir and a colossal stone called EL Peñol. Upon arrival to the town of Guatape, you will be surrounded by the most colourful houses, each one intricately decorated with traditionally painted carvings along the lower parts of the main entrances. After visiting the town, we will go to El Peñol from where you will get a stunning view of the region. We will also take a boat ride around the reservoir.

Late in the afternoon, we will go to the airport for your flight to Cartagena. On arrival to Cartagena, we will pick you up at the airport to take you to the hotel.

Overnight: Cartagena
Meal Plan: Breakfast

Your Colombia vacation wouldn't be perfect without a visit of Cartagena. After breakfast, we will pick you up at the hotel for a city tour covering the Castillo de San Felipe and the old city surrounded by the impressive walls built during the Spanish rule to protect the city against enemies and looters.

The Castle of San Felipe is the greatest and strongest fortress ever built by the Spaniards in any of their colonies. It was built on top of the San Lazaro hill and defended the city from many attacks including a British siege in 1741. The old city is the historic heart and soul of Cartagena. We will walk around its cobbled streets, visiting or passing by the main historical sites. 

You will have the afternoon to relax at the hotel or carry on exploring the old city, admire its architecture and immerse yourself in its romantic atmosphere.

Overnight: Cartagena
Meal Plan: Breakfast

In the morning, we will go to La Boquilla, a small fishing village located 7 km north of Cartagena. La Boquilla sits on the northern tip of a narrow peninsula, bordered by the sea on one side and the Ciénaga de Tesca on the other.     

At La Boquilla, we will take a trip in a wooden canoe through the mangrove forest in La Cienga de Tesca. During this trip, you will see some native and migratory birds and learn about the flora and other fauna found in this ecosystem. You will learn local fishing techniques like how to cast a net and set crab traps.

After learning to fish in the mangrove forest, we will eat lunch in a local home by the water. This is where you will learn more about the locals’ day-to-day lives, their fishing tools and their culture. The lunch will be a delicious meal consisting of seafood, which is popular along Colombia’s Caribbean coast. We will finish this tour after lunch around 2 pm and drop you back off at your hotel in Cartagena.

Overnight: Cartagena
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, we will pick you up at your hotel to start our trip towards Santa Marta, the oldest colonial city in South America. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to admire the beautiful landscape of the Caribbean region. The total journey will take approximately 4.5 hours.  

Santa Marta has a very well-preserved colonial architecture and is famous for the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, where the national hero Simon Bolivar died in 1830. Upon arrival in this city we will have a quite tour around the historic area and a visit to Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino. After that we will go to the hotel, located near Tayrona Park.

Overnight: Santa Marta
Meal Plan: Breakfast

Today, we will spend the day at Tayrona National Natural Park, where we will see some of the most beautiful beaches in Colombia. We will be hiking across the forest to visit various beaches in the park where you can swim or just relax by the beach. There are a number of restaurants and bars in the park where you can stop for lunch in the shade, relax and admire the spectacular surroundings. 

Note: Please be aware that the park is usually closed from the 1st to the 15th of February, from the 1st to the 15th of June, and from the 19th of October to the 2nd of November. The first reason is to allow the natural ecosystems to rest and replenish, particularly after the high holiday season. The second reason is to allow the four indigenous groups - who have always called the park and the wider Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta home - to perform traditional cleaning rituals and ceremonies.

Overnight: Santa Marta
Meal Plan: Breakfast

You will have the day to relax and enjoy the spectacular natural landscape of this region of Colombia.

Overnight:
Meal Plan: Breakfast

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

Overnight:
Meal Plan: