arrow_back

8 Day itinerary in Colombia, South America

Cartagena, Medellin & Coffee Triangle

Discover three must-see places during this 8-day trip: Cartagena, Medellin and the coffee triangle. Marvel at the colorful streets of Cartagena, the Cocora Valley, El Peñol rock and the charming village of Guatapé.

1 / 16
All Photos
Marie-Sophie

By Marie-Sophie

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English, Spanish, French

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Cartagena

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Hiking

Meet local people

Outdoors & Nature

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Cartagena: discover its colorful streets and its fascinating history

2

Medellin: from the most dangerous city to the most innovative

3

The Coffee Triangle: a place of nature and culture

4

Guatapé: an authentic "paisa" village and the famous El Peñol rock

Itinerary

Standard expand_more

Day 1

place Arrive in Cartagena

Welcome to Cartagena! Arrive at Cartagena airport and transfer to your hotel, in the historic center of this beautiful colonial city. Approximately 20 minutes.

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Casa Pizarro
  • Luxury: Casa Pestagua
Day 2

place Cartagena: Walking Tour & Rum Tasting

AM - WALKING TOUR OF CARTAGENA Be amazed at the "Pearl of the Caribbean"; the exotic mixed heritage and the cultural richness of this city will not fail to fascinate you. This tour through the streets of the beautiful city of Cartagena will take you back to the colonial era, with its colorful houses and lively squares. You'll walk in the colonial district of San Diego and Santo Domingo passing through the Plaza de los Coches, the Plaza de la Aduana, the Parque Bolívar, the Gold Museum, the Plaza de Santa Teresa, the Palace of Inquisition, the famous walls surrounding the old city and the Vaults. Duration: 4h  PM - RUM TASTING AT THE ARSENAL Artisanal Colombian rum is considered to be some of the best in the world. Spend the afternoon sampling Colombia's finest rums, aged for 4 to 27 years. You'll also get to enjoy a delicious selection of Colombian chocolate so you don't go hungry. The tasting is led by Abraham Dau, who is among Colombia's top 5 mixologists. The tasting includes a welcome cocktail upon arrival. Duration: between 45 minutes - 1 hour 45 minutes.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Casa Pizarro
  • Luxury: Casa Pestagua
Day 3

place Cartagena: Flight to Pereira

Transport from your hotel to Cartagena airport. Approximately 20 minutes. Domestic flight to Pereira.  Hand Baggage weight limit of 12 kilos and Check-in luggage limit of 20 kilos. Private transport from Pereira airport to your hotel in Salento. Approximately 1h.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Hotel Salento Plaza
  • Luxury: KAWA, Mountain Retreat
Day 4

place Salento: Cocora Valley & Coffee Farm

Day trip - COCORA VALLEY TOUR A private transport, typical of the zone (Jeep Willys) will take you to the Cocora Valley. Following your guide during this hike, you will discover a gorgeous valley where the wax palms, the national tree, give a surrealistic touch to the area. Step by step, you will enter the tropical forest of the Andes, walk along streams, and be amazed by the exuberant nature. We´ll have lunch and an early afternoon, then return to Salento. After lunch, you will visit a traditional coffee farm and get to know all the process of coffee production. Duration: 8h. Walk: 5-6h. Maximum 15km if longest track chosen.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Hotel Salento Plaza
  • Luxury: KAWA, Mountain Retreat
Day 5

place Salento: authentic Quindio Villages

Day trip - THE QUINDIO VILLAGES Depart with your local guide for an escapade to the typical villages of the region. You will explore lovely villages with an itinerary depending on your starting point. You will be drawn in by the charm of this region, its beautiful scenery, authentic towns, and the warmth of its people. Your local guide will show you some local fruits to taste and will stop by spectacular viewpoints overlooking coffee, pineapple, and banana plantations. Approximately 6 to 8 hours

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Hotel Salento Plaza
  • Luxury: KAWA, Mountain Retreat
Day 6

place Salento - Medellin: Graffiti Tour

Transport from Salento to the Pereira Airport. Approximately 1h. Domestic flight to Medellin. Baggage weight limit of 15 kilos, additional kilos can be paid at the airport. Private transport from Medellin Enrique Olaya Herrera airport to your hotel. Approximately 15 minutes. PM - GRAFFITI TOUR The district of Comuna 13 in Medellin was previously one of the most violent in the city. But the younger generation, tired of this situation, decided to react by using art such as rap, graffiti, or break dancing to transform their neighborhood. This movement was born in the Casa Kolacho Foundation. Two decades later, this artist´s meeting point has given children art as an alternative to avoid getting involved in crime. Together with your guide and a member of the Casa Kolacho Foundation, you will walk through the streets and learn more about the district’s evolution. Duration: approx. 4 hours

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Masaya Medellin
  • Luxury: Patio del Mundo
Day 7

place Medellin: Visit Guatapé and the Peñol rock

Day trip - GUATAPE TOUR Get ready for an explosion of colors whilst visiting Guatapé, a quaint paisa village. Due to the construction of a large hydraulic complex, a lake and several hills appeared, which you can see from the top of the Peñol rock after you climb up 740 steps. The village church or the famous “zócalos,” bright-colored bas-relief carvings at the bottom of the houses, are some of the village’s main interests. These bas-reliefs depict traditional life scenes from the “paisa” culture and region. Duration: approx. 8 hours (entrance to Peñol not included)

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Masaya Medellin
  • Luxury: Patio del Mundo
Day 8

place Medellin: Last day

"All good things must come to an end", time to go back home! Private transport will take you from your hotel to Medellin's Jose Maria Cordoba airport. Approximately 1h.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Casa Pizarro
  • Hotel Salento Plaza
  • Masaya Medellin
  • Casa Pestagua
  • KAWA, Mountain Retreat
  • Patio del Mundo

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (7)
  • Lunch (2)

Not Included expand_less

  • Personal expenses
  • Meals when not indicated
  • Additional expenses not indicated in the itinerary
  • Additional entrances not indicated in the itinerary
  • Entrance fees to National Parks, individual tourism taxes
  • Medical and repatriation insurance
  • Tips
  • VAT (Colombians and Residents in Colombia)

About Marie-Sophie

TEAM LEAD

verified Baboo Certified

star_outline 4.93 (14 reviews)

Expertise: 

Cycling

Kayaking

Hiking

Rafting

Snorkeling/Diving

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Outdoors & Nature

Food & Drink

I joined the tourism industry in 2016 and specialised in Latin-American countries and ecotourism, obtaining a tourism Master Degree. Since 2018, I create experiences in Colombia and Panama for travellers that seek to fully discover the countries.

Travel that Makes a Difference

By choosing to travel with us, you support local communities, wildlife, and the environment. We are dedicated to positively impacting the world through every journey we offer.

Let’s regenerate the planet together

We overcompensate your entire journey’s carbon footprint including flights - for free.

Learn more
FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$1,220.00 USD