Day 1 : Bogotá
Arrival in the City of Bogotá, welcome and assistance at the El Dorado International Airport. Transfer to the hotel and check-in. Accommodation.
Day 2 : Bogotá – City Tour – Coffee Tasting
Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic city tour through the historic center of Bogotá also called "La Candelaria". We will visit the Gold Museum, where about 34,000 pieces of pre-Hispanic gold and more than 25,000 pre-Columbian objects are presented. Later, we will visit Casa de la Moneda and Donación Botero, where art pieces from the master Fernando Botero are exhibited. Fernando Botero is an internationally recognized Colombian artist different techniques such as painting, drawing and sculpture.
Later on we will take a panoramic tour visiting the Bolivar Square (the Prime cathedral, the Casa de Nariño – presidential hause, the Liévano Palace – Mayor Hall and the Palace of Justice). Finally, they we will learn and have fun on a round of the smoothest coffee in the world. A local expert will teach you the secrets of a good cup, appreciating its qualities such as balance, body, aroma and acidity. Observe the most used preparation methods and try a cup of special selection coffee accompanied by products derived from coffee.
In the afternoon, return to the hotel. Accommodation
Duration: 6 hours
Includes : Entrance to the Gold Museum, Casa De La Moneda and Botero Donation, professional tour guide in english, private transportation, mini coffee tasting..
Important Note: Gold Museum is closed on Mondays and Casa de la Moneda and Donación Botero are closed on Tuesdays.
Day 3 : Bogotá – Zipaquirá – Villa de Leyva
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, we begin the tour through the Cundiboyacense highlands and its imposing mountains towards Zipaquirá. Visit to the Salt Cathedral built inside a mine 180 meters deep, considered one of the most important wonders of Colombia and great work of engineering and religious art.
We will continue to Chiquinquirá and visit its Basilica, from there we will depart to Ráquira, which stands out for its architecture. We will our Journey in Villa de Leyva, where we will appreciate its colonial architecture, surrounded by mountains, desert and the largest square in Colombia. Lodging in Villa de Leyva.
Duration: 12 hours
Includes: Entrance to the Salt Cathedral, typical lunch, private transportation and professional tour guide in english.
Day 4 : Villa de Leyva – Bogota – Pereira
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and departing with suitcases towards Los Pozos Azules. This is a natural attraction that will allow us to admire 6 wells that due their attractive color due to the minerals in the soil (sulphide, selenium and copper sulfate) Then, we will continue towards the Center for Paleontological Research, which has one of the most advanced laboratories in the preparation of vertebrate fossils in addition to having one of the largest paleological collections of the Cretaceous in the world. Lunch (Included). Return to Bogotá to the El Dorado International Airport where a flight (Not included) will be taken to the City of Pereira (it is suggested to take a flight leaving the city of Bogotá at night after 8:00 p.m. hrs) .
Arrival and assistance at the Matecaña International Airport in the city of Pereira, transfer to the hotel for the respective check-in. Accommodation.
Day 5 : Pereira – Filandia – Salento and Cócora Valley
Breakfast at the hotel. Tour towards the typical town of Filandia. There we will walk through its colonial streets, we will visit the viewpoint of Quindío. Additional you will enjoy a gastronomic experience with drinks and dessert sin a local restaurant.
Then, transfer to the Cocorá Valley appreciating the beautiful landscape. Once reaching the Valley, we will have a welcome cocktail (Canelazo) and assistance by a specialized eco-guide from Cocorá who introduces the Cocorá Nature Reserve. Walking to the cloud forest where we will appreciate the diversity of fauna and flora of the place. An ecological path will take us to the tallest wax palm in the world and national flagship tree where we will take part of the ritual of the wax palm of Quindío. This consists of knowing the history of how the early inhabitants of the area worshiped this palm.
After that we will plant palm seedlings. Transfer to the typical town of Salento where we will have a Walking tour visiting its colonial streets.
Duration: 7 hours approx.
Includes: Private transportation, professional tour guide in english, gastronomic experience in Filandia, entrance to the mentioned places and typical lunch in a local restaurant.
Note: Mirador del Quindío closed on Mondays, if Monday is a holiday it will close on Tuesdays.
Day 6 : Pereira – Visit to the Coffee Farm
Breakfast at the hotel. Journey to the municipality of Santa Rosa de Cabal. Once you arrive at the Coffee Farm, the tour begins in the company of a local expert, taking visitors through beautiful specialty coffee plantations, explaining the whole coffee process is from planting, selective manual harvesting, and pulping. After this, we will roast special coffee beans on a wood stove in the kitchen of the typical peasant house where we can have an authentic coffee experience.
On the tour there are several stations with viewpoints made of bamboo where we can appreciate the beautiful landscape and natural environment of the place while enjoying a cup of coffee. Finally, we go to the innovative process of drying the coffee beans and then to the mill, ending up in the main house where we are refreshed with a delicious coffee lemonade.
Return to the hotel. Accommodation
Includes: Private transportation, professional tour guide in english, interactive Café process, assistance by expert staff at the Hacienda, typical lunch.
Duration: 5 hours approx.
Day 7 : Pereira – Santa Marta
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Matecaña International Airport to take a flight (not included) to the city of Santa Marta.
Arrival in Santa Marta. Welcome and assistance at the Simón Bolívar Airport and transfer to the hotel. Check-in. Accommodation.
Day 8 : Santa Marta – City Tour
Breakfast at the hotel. At the agreed time the tour of the city will begin, passing through the main avenues and visiting the following places: Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, Minor Basilica Cathedral, Gold Museum or Customs House. Tour of the city making a stop at the monument to "Pibe Valderrama" where we will have time to take photos. Stop at the Taganga viewpoint for a panoramic visit of the landscape.
Back to the hotel. Accommodation.
Duration: 4 Hours
Includes: Private transportation, professional tour guide in english, entrance fees to the mentioned tourist sites
Day 09 : Santa Marta - Cabo San Juan from the guide
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the Tayrona Natural Park located 45 minutes from Santa Marta. This is a nature sanctuary with fascinating biodiversity, beaches and presence of indigenous cultures. After passing through the Cañaveral sector, we will begin our walk (approx. 1 hour) along the ecological trail until we reach the Arrecifes sector, a short stop to admire the landscape and take pictures. We continue to the beaches of Cabo San Juan with the guide on a walk of 30 min approx.
Free time for a refreshing time in the sea. Free time for lunch (included). Return walking along the same path to the main entrance of the Park.
Return to the hotel. Accommodation
Duration: 10 hours,
Includes: Private transportation, professional tour guide in english, entrance to the Tayrona Natural Park and typical lunch of the region.
Day 10 : Santa Marta – Cartagena – Sunset by the Bay
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, land transfer in private service (Spanish speaking driver) from the hotel in Santa Marta to the hotel in Cartagena (Approx. 4 hours).
Arrival to the City of Cartagena, check-in. Accommodation.
In the afternoon, transfer from the hotel to the dock to make a tour of the bay of Cartagena De Indias and appreciate the sunset. Return to the hotel. Accommodation.
Duration : 90 minutes
Includes: transfer hotel – pier – hotel, Cuba Libre open bar, rum punch, lemonade, water and soda.
Does not include: Premium drinks and snacks on board (additional charge), dock tax USD 5 per person.
Days of Operation: Wednesday to Monday
Day 11 : Cartagena – City Tour
Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic tour in private transport unit equipped with air conditioning. Discover the magical history of Cartagena de Indias on a tour in air-conditioned transport.
Accompanied by a professional bilingual guide, our tour includes a panoramic visit to the Bay of Cartagena, Pegasus Pier, public clock tower until reaching the Manga neighborhood to appreciate the Moorish and Republican architecture, you will visit the imposing San Felipe de Barajas Fort. Immerse yourself in the charm of the historic, walled city center, with stops to shop for crafts and a walk through the streets and squares full of history, including the San Pedro Claver Church and the Santo Domingo bastion.
Return to the hotel. Accommodation.
Duration: 4 Hours
Days of Operation: Every day
Includes: Professional tour guide in english, private transportation, entrance to the mentioned places.
Day 12 : Cartagena – Fishing and Native Cuisine Tour
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion with a day of fishing and native cooking, ideal to interact with the native population of the Afro-Cartagenero fishing village. There we learn from the local people how to assemble fishing nets and cages for crabs, then help prepare the crabs at the fisherman's house.
Duration: 07 hours
It includes: Professional tour guide is english, private transportation, typical lunch (whatever they catch, crabs, fish or snails) everything is cooked in the home of the fisherman.
Day 13 : Cartagena – Next destination / Origin City
Breakfast at the hotel. Assistance at the hotel and transfer to the Rafael Núñez International Airport to take the flight (not included) to the next destination.
End of services.
Our services include :
- 02 nights´ accommodation in Bogota
- 01 night´s accommodation in Villa de Leyva
- 03 nights´ accommodation in Pereira
- 03 nights´ accommodation in Santa Marta
- 03 nights´ accommodation in Cartagena
- Daily breakfasts.
- Activities described in the program with guide in English
- Basic local medical assistance card.
Our services do not include :
- Services not specified in the program
- Food not specified.
- Voluntary tips (Guides, drivers)
- Personal expenses, such as telephone calls, laundry, room service, among others.
- Processing of visa or consular values (When required).
- Dock taxes and unspecified taxes.
- International and/or domestic air tickets.
Suggested domestic flight itineraries (Not included in the program)
AIRLINE ROUTE DEPARTURE TIME ARRIVAL TIME
Avianca : Bogota - Pereira 20:34 Hrs 21:36 Hrs
Avianca : (1 Stop) Pereira - Santa Marta 14:46 Hrs 18:34 Hrs
Accomodation :
Superior Tourist :
Bogota : Radisson Metrotel
Villa de Leyva : San Antonio Inn
Pereira : Sonesta
Santa Marta : Hotel Cathedral Plaza
Cartagena : Indies corals
Higher :
Bogota : Best Western
Villa de Leyva : Gethsemane
Pereira : Mocawa Resort
Santa Marta : Best Western
Cartagena : Dann Cartagena
First :
Bogota : Dann Carlton House
Villa de Leyva : Duruelo
Pereira : Sazagua
Santa Marta : Stellar SantaMar
Cartagena : Stellar Cartagena de Indias
Colombia is a country rich in culture, biodiversity, and history, offering visitors a plethora of experiences. From vibrant cities to lush jungles and stunning beaches, here's a travel guide to help you navigate your journey through Colombia:
Destinations:
Bogotá:
Colombia's capital and largest city, situated in the Andes mountains.
Visit the historic La Candelaria neighborhood for colonial architecture and museums.
Explore Monserrate for panoramic views of the city.
Don't miss the Gold Museum, home to an extensive collection of pre-Hispanic gold artifacts.
Medellín:
Known as the "City of Eternal Spring" for its pleasant climate.
Take a ride on the innovative Metrocable for breathtaking views of the city and surrounding mountains.
Explore the Comuna 13 neighborhood for its street art and revitalization.
Visit Plaza Botero to see the iconic sculptures by Fernando Botero.
Cartagena:
A UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its well-preserved colonial architecture and vibrant atmosphere.
Wander through the historic walled city and its colorful streets.
Relax on the nearby beaches of Bocagrande or Playa Blanca.
Explore the nearby Rosario Islands for pristine beaches and coral reefs.
The Coffee Region (Eje Cafetero):
Experience Colombia's coffee culture in the towns of Salento, Manizales, and Pereira.
Visit a coffee plantation to learn about the coffee-making process.
Hike the Cocora Valley to see the towering wax palm trees, Colombia's national tree.
Relax in the natural hot springs of Santa Rosa de Cabal.
Tayrona National Park:
Located on the Caribbean coast, known for its stunning beaches and dense rainforest.
Enjoy hiking trails through the jungle to reach secluded beaches.
Snorkel or dive in the clear waters to explore colorful coral reefs.
Camp overnight for a truly immersive experience in nature.
Activities:
Hiking: Colombia offers numerous hiking opportunities, from the Andean peaks to lush rainforests.
Adventure Sports: Try paragliding in Medellín, whitewater rafting in San Gil, or trekking to the Lost City.
Cultural Immersion: Attend a traditional dance performance, learn to salsa, or participate in a cooking class.
Wildlife Watching: Explore the Amazon rainforest for a chance to spot unique flora and fauna.
Culinary Delights: Sample Colombian cuisine like arepas, empanadas, and bandeja paisa.
Practical Tips:
Safety: While Colombia has made significant strides in safety, it's essential to remain vigilant, especially in urban areas.
Transportation: Domestic flights are convenient for long distances, while buses are economical for shorter journeys.
Language: Spanish is the official language, so knowing some basic phrases can be helpful, especially in rural areas.
Currency: The Colombian peso (COP) is the official currency, and credit cards are widely accepted in cities but less so in rural areas.
Cultural Etiquette:
Respect: Colombians are warm and friendly people who appreciate politeness and respect.
Greetings: A handshake and eye contact are common greetings, with close friends and family often exchanging hugs and kisses.
Tipping: Tipping is customary in restaurants (typically 10%), taxis, and for other services.
Colombia offers a diverse and unforgettable travel experience, blending natural beauty, rich history, and warm hospitality. Whether you're exploring bustling cities or pristine landscapes, there's something for every traveler to discover and enjoy.