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11 Day itinerary in Colombia, South America

Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena!

Welcome to Colombia! This itinerary is the perfect introduction to the country's main cities and its culture. Visit Bogotá, the capital and largest city in Colombia, a melting pot of people from around the country. The city is diverse and multicultural, with a blend of modern and colonial architectu... Read More

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Margoth

By Margoth

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Light
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English, Spanish

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Bogotá

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Kayaking

Hiking

Rafting

Visit markets

Meet local people

Snorkeling/Diving

Travel with Purpose

Outdoors & Nature

Classic Sights

Food & Drink

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Immerse in a local fruit tasting at Paloquemao Fruit Market in Bogota

2

Visit Comuna 13 Tour in Medellin and learn about the transformative history of this city

3

Walk inside Cartagena's walled city, named as one of the world's UNESCO heritage sites

4

Visit the beautiful islands of Cartagena

Itinerary

High-end Accommodation expand_more

Day 1

place Arrival in Bogotá and Welcome to Colombia

Welcome to Colombia and Welcome to Bogota! We will arrange a private transfer for you in Bogota, and your local guide will be waiting for you with a sign with your name, and will take you to your hotel. Bogotá is the capital and largest city in Colombia. A melting pot of people from around the country, it is diverse and multicultural, with a blend of modern and colonial architecture. The predominant colors in Bogotá are the green of the city’s many parks and the eastern mountains overlooking the sanctuaries of Monserrate and Guadalupe, and the rich red of its many brick buildings. Colombia's biggest city has culture to spare, and its regional gastronomy has made it a global foodie destination. In Bogotá, the seat of Colombia’s government, visitors can visit the Gold Museum, which houses an important collection of pre-Hispanic objects. Visitors to the capital also experience the city’s juxtaposition of history and modernity and the local and the cosmopolitan. You'll have ample free time to explore this Andean capital on foot and private transportation. We can take care of restaurant recommendations and restaurant bookings for you. Colombia offers fantastic restaurants that we want you to taste and enjoy! For all these restaurant reservations, you can also decide not to go and they will automatically release your table after 15 minutes, so don't feel pressured to go to all of them.

Day 2

place City Tour of Bogota (with Local Fruit Market)

After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and head to the historic City Center. Start by exploring Paloquemao Fruit Market and get to know the real Bogota. There is nothing that can define a city better than its urban food and markets, and this tour will take you on a visit to one of the most famous and important markets. You will also get a fruit tasting as part of the tour. Later you’ll be transported further back in time as you enter the famous Gold Museum (Museo de Oro). Full of thousands of spectacular gold artworks, the museum displays artistry and crafts created by the indigenous peoples of the Andes mountains, with some pieces dating back thousands of years and pre-dating the creation of modern metalwork tools. You will also get to visit the Botero Museum and indulge in one of Latin America's most important international art collections. You will continue to the neighborhood of the Candelaria, home to some of Bogota’s most famous universities and the city’s most popular walking streets. Pass by modern buildings nestled against colorful and detailed street-art murals, leading to some of Bogota’s oldest neighborhoods where original colonial houses still stand. As you walk the historic streets, learn about Bogota’s culture and the importance of the city’s street art. As you make your way along a beautiful canal and old restaurants in the city center, you’ll see a variety of architectural styles as you come to Plaza Bolívar, the civic heart of the country. Here you’ll find the city’s expansive cathedral and the local and federal governments, all nestled against the presidential palace, La Casa de Nariño. Finish your tour as you take the cable car up to the famous viewpoint of Monserrate, which features some of the finest views of Bogotá. Watch the sunset as the city spreads out before you and turn to see the massive expanse of forest and peaks of the Andes mountains behind you.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3

place Zipaquira Salt Cathedral and Guatavita Lake Tour

Discover the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira and Guatavita lake, two of the best sights of latin America! First, visit the fascinating Salt Cathedral in the typical Colombian town of Zipaquira, located 1.5 hours from Bogota. On the way, you will be enjoying viewpoints strategically located to give you the best view. Witness the beautiful landscapes that surround the city, until arriving to Zipaquira, where you will travel 180 meters under the ground and find an engineering jewel famous around the world: The Salt Cathedral. Witness with your own eyes a unique place that will leave you breathless. Inside the mine there are different pieces of stonework and sculpting that, due to their size and illumination, make this spectacular wonder a mandatory destination. Afterwards, visit the mythical Guatavita Lake. This sacred lake is of extreme importance for the Muisca people, as it is here that new Caciques (chiefs) were initiated in a ritual that involved dumping massive amounts of gold into the center of the lake. This ritual convinced the Spanish that Guatavita might be the legendary El Dorado, prompting them to try to drain the lake in an attempt to get the gold they believed lay in its belly.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4

place Arrival in Medellín (from Bogota)

A private driver will pick you up from your hotel in Bogota, and will take you to the airport. Your flight from Bogota Int. Airport (BOG) to Medellín Int. Airport (MDE) is included and we will make all necessary reservations. We will arrange a private transfer for you in Medellin, and your local guide will be waiting for you with a sign with your name. You will head to your Medellin Hotel to leave your luggage and start discovering one of the most progressive cities in Latin America! Medellin is located in a bowl in the Andes mountains, meaning that wherever you go in the city you are basically guaranteed a view of mountains and stunning landscapes. The city remains deeply rooted in and proud of its rich Paisa culture—though it also acknowledges the dark side of its past. But thanks to visionary advancements in public transportation and education, modern infrastructure projects, and a growing technology scene, Medellín has made remarkable progress and it has become one of the best cities to visit and live in Latin America.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5

place City Tour of Medellin and Comuna 13

After breakfast, we will drive you to the city's downtown. Explore the famous Botero Plaza downtown with an exhibition of the Colombian artist Fernando Botero, whose sculptures have become a landmark of the city. Take the Metro Cable up to Santo Domingo, which was once a notorious area of gang violence in Medellín. The cable car was constructed to make the inner city more accessible to people from the outskirts and allows visitors a glimpse into the lives of the marginalized population. At the Comuna 13 district, with its unique escalators, you observe another innovative project that improved the quality of life of the people of Medellín. If there is time, you will also explore the botanical Garden. At the end of the day, your driver and guide will take you back to the hotel.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6

place Guatape and El Peñol Tour

We will pick you up from your hotel and take you on a half-day excursion to one of the crown jewels of Colombia's Antioquia region: the lakeside town of Guatapé. This private tour includes a guided walk through the village, a mini-history lesson, and a boat ride to explore and fully experience the lake. You'll learn about the town's conflict surrounding the building of the dam that created the reservoir here, which is known as Guatapé Lake. You'll gain an insider’s perspective on local efforts to pressure the government to address this reservoir’s encroaching blue-green algae. Your guide will then transfer you to El Peñol (La Piedra Rock). Relax at the base of this natural granite landmark in one of the many market stalls. Or work up an appetite by climbing the 740 steps to admire the view from the top (entrance fee not included). Halfway up the rock, you'll see a shrine to the Virgin Mary. In the late afternoon, your driver and guide will take you back to your hotel. You have free time to explore Medellin, or you can simply rest and relax!

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7

place Arrival in Cartagena (from Medellin)

A private driver will pick you up from your hotel in Medellin, and will take you to the airport. Your flight from Medellín Int. Airport (MDE) to Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG) is included and we will make all necessary reservations. We will arrange a private transfer for you in Cartagena, and your local guide will be waiting for you with a sign with your name. You will head to your Cartagena hotel to leave your luggage and start enjoying your first evening in the beautiful and amazing city of Cartagena! A colonial jewel bathed in sunshine, culture, gastronomy, and dancing, Cartagena de Indias is one of the world’s most romantic cities. With its magical sunsets, intricate architecture, and mouthwatering cuisine, it's the perfect place for anyone who wants to experience authentic Colombian culture. Take an afternoon stroll around the city to get your bearings and lose yourself in its historic streets. In the evening, discover Cartagena's thriving culinary scene, choosing from casual cafes frequented by locals to upscale restaurants by some of Latin America's most famous chefs.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8

place City Tour of Cartagena

A private bilingual guide (one of the best local guides in the city!) will pick you up for a four-hour tour; make sure you bring comfortable shoes, water, hats, and sunscreen. You start from your Hotel, then continue to the neighborhood of Manga to see the beautiful republican style houses and the fort of Pastelillo. The next stop is La Popa Monastery, where you can appreciate the best views of Cartagena de Indias. From there you go to the fort of San Felipe de Barajas, the largest piece of architecture that shows the strength and power that the Spaniards had in Latin America. Your next stop will be the Walled City, where you will see the Bóvedas, another example of military architecture and fascinating history. At Las Bovedas, you can buy local art and crafts by local artisans. You continue the tour by walking through the old city and discovering the magical streets of Cartagena. There you will see beautiful houses, squares, and churches. You will also visit the San Pedro Claver church, the patron saint of slaves for Colombians and African-Americans. The tour continues by car to the modern part of the city, with a panoramic view of Bocagrande, the beach area, and the island of Tierra Bomba. We recommend it to get a better understanding of the city, and you will have fun, learn a lot, and enjoy it! Afterwards, you can rest and relax or walk around the walled city and enjoy Cartagena on your own! You can also enjoy your hotel and the afternoon sun.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9

place Day at the Islands

A driver will pick you up from your hotel between 7:30 AM and 7:45 AM, and take you to La Bodeguita Port. At 8:30 AM your shared boat service will depart for Rosario Islands. Just one hour by speedboat from the city of Cartagena de Indias, spend a day at a wonderful caribbean eco-hotel with a beautiful beach! The Archipelago of the National and Natural Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo National Park, known as the Rosario Islands is located 45 kilometers southwest of the city of Cartagena de Indias, on the northern coast of Colombia. These islands are really an archipelago formed by coral reefs where the magic of its crystalline waters and small coralline beaches are the best accomplices for activities, relaxation, and a great trip that offers different plans for everyone. You can snorkel or dive, go swimming, book Spa services, enjoy the sea and the waves, tan under the Caribbean sun, practice kayaking, relax and enjoy nature. Includes shared boat transportation, lunch, and use of facilities at the hotel (any extra activities are not included and you can book them upon arrival). The Day Pass at the islands includes a traditional local lunch and you can choose at the islands if you prefer fish, another option of meat, or the vegetarian option. We can also upgrade the experience and include fresh lobster for lunch. This is definitely worth it if you like lobster! You will be departing the island in a shared boat service from the Hotel at approximately 3:30 PM and you will be arriving back to La Bodeguita Port. Upon arriving back in Cartagena, a private transfer will be waiting for you with a sign with your name to take you back to your hotel. You can enjoy your hotel facilities and watch the sunset from the old City. Rest and relax or walk around the walled city and enjoy Cartagena on your own!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10

place Dancing Class, Private Cooking Class and Lunch

Lace up your dancing shoes for an exclusive private dance lesson for you, taught by some of the country's best instructors. Practice your moves and learn the different local rhythms such as Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton, and Bachata. Afterwards, driver will pick you up from your hotel for a fascinating culinary experience of Cartagena and a cooking class inspired by the diversity of flavors from the Caribbean coast of Colombia and its many cultures. You'll have the chance to interact with the chef and learn about the aromas, recipes, ingredients, and local flavors that create delicious Colombian dishes, before sitting down to enjoy a three-course lunch prepared by you.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11

place Depart Colombia

A private driver will pick you up from your hotel in Cartagena, and will take you to the airport. Your flight from Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG) to Bogota Int. Airport (BOG) is included and we will make all necessary reservations. It's time to say goodbye to Colombia! Thank you for visiting our home country and we hope you visit us again very soon! All the very Best! Hasta pronto!

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (10)
  • Lunch (2)

Transport expand_less

  • All internal flights as described in the tour itinerary
  • Airport transfers and all ground transportation as described in the tour itinerary
  • Shared Boat transfers to and from the islands as described in the tour itinerary

Activities expand_less

  • All activities and tours as described within the planned itinerary and entrance fees

Extras expand_less

  • Restaurant reservations
  • Support during the trip

Not Included expand_less

  • Meals and alcoholic beverages unless specified.
  • Personal hotel expenditures (drinks, laundry, etc.)
  • Flights, visa/entry costs, and departure taxes, excess baggage charges.
  • Tips (discretionary gratuities to drivers, guides, hotel)
  • Any item not specifically listed as included or included as Optional.
  • General Insurance (health, personal, travel, cancellation).

About Margoth

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Expertise: 

Cycling

Kayaking

Hiking

Rafting

Snorkeling/Diving

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Yoga

Wellness retreat

Detox

Travel with Purpose

Outdoors & Nature

Classic Sights

Food & Drink

I was born in Colombia, I graduated from McGill University in Canada, and I have worked in the tourism and hospitality industry in Colombia and abroad, and I am therefore extremely passionate to be part of my country's tourism resurgence.

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