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14 Day itinerary in Colombia, South America

Colombia from the Andes to the Caribbean

Discover the amazing landscapes and the culture of Colombia from the mountain to the seaside.

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Emma

By Emma

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Light
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Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Bogotá

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Outdoors & Nature

Culture & Arts

Classic Sights

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Walk back to ancient times in colonial villages

2

Taste the best coffee of Colombia

3

Discover the incredible nature of Tayrona National Park

4

Try the gastronomy of the Carabbean region

Itinerary

Mid-range: 3* hotels expand_more

Day 1

place Bienvenido a Colombia!

Upon arrival at the airport you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Welcome to Bogotá! Located at 2,640 meters (8,660 feet) in the Andes, it is the cultural, economic, and political center of Colombia. With 8 million of inhabitants, Bogotá is a dynamic and modern metropole with numerous attractions, cultural events, and a thriving nightlife. The historic district can be found at La Candelaria, a pleasant quarter of cafés, churches, and museums.

Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: Hotel Casa Deco
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Hotel de la Opera
Day 2

place Discovering Bogotá´s treasures

After breakfast at your hotel, you will have a whole day to explore some of the most attractive places of Bogotá. Visit Bogotá’s largest food market: Paloquemao! This typical market serves as the supplier for most of the city's best restaurants, being a real labyrinth of odors and flavors. Continue exploring La Candelaria, the heart of the historical center and first neighborhood of the city. This is a lovely historic quarter full of churches, renowned museums, and cafés. In the afternoon, visit the Gold Museum (closed on Mondays) to see the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian gold objects. Next stop is the Botero Museum (closed on Tuesdays) where, paintings and sculptures of Colombia's most celebrated artist are exhibited with a private collection of Picasso and Braque. Optional: Graffiti workshop with a local artist. Share his passion and do your own graffiti to take away! Optional: Empanadas workshop. Make a typical Colombian dish accompanied by a young Colombian chef (closed on weekends and holidays).

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: Hotel Casa Deco
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Hotel de la Opera
Day 3

place A bit of Colombian history

This morning you will be transferred to Villa de Leyva. On the way, stop at the famous Nemocon salt mine, a place that will amaze you with its authenticity and its 80 meters tunnels under the ground. Its main attraction are the 28 brine mirrors in the dissolved salt rocks that produce a stunning visual effect. You will cross the huge galleries to discover the salt waterfall, stalactites, and salt stalagmites, as well as a chapel carved into the rock. Arrival at Villa de Leyva. You will explore the colonial village by taking a guided walking tour through the magnificent colonial buildings and its whitewashed walls, and cobblestone streets. Then discover the majestic Plaza Mayor (the largest in the country), its cafes and craft shops. To end the day, play “tejo”, a surprising traditional Colombian game!

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: Hotel Casa Terra
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Hotel Casa Terra
Day 4

place Back to ancient times…

This morning, go to an ancient Muisca Astronomical Observatory in the Monquira Archaeological Park, also known as "infiernito" (closed on Mondays). Then, get to the Monasterio de la Candelaria to broaden your knowledge of the evangelization of the indigenous people. On your way, take part in a pottery workshop, a regional speciality. You take advantage of being close to the village of Raquira to discover pieces of handicrafts inside these colorful houses. You will then be welcomed in Tinjaca, in the workshop of Don Cesar, a specialist in the carving of the tagua seed, the "vegetable ivory" of the country. End the day with a last stop at the El Fossil Museum. A few tens of thousands of years ago, the entire region was covered by the sea, which explains the presence of fossils such as the chronosaurus, the largest marine reptile, which can be found in this museum.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: Hotel Casa Terra
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Hotel Casa Terra
Day 5

place In the heart of the Andes

Morning departure from Villa de Leyva to Barichara. Welcome to Barichara, a romantic and bohemian village in the Andes. Let our local guide take you through the narrow streets of the village and open the doors of the workshops of artists and artisans who have chosen to live in this haven of peace, where time has stood still. Accept our invitation to the heart of Colombian creativity!

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: Achiotte Hotel Boutique
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Casa Barichara Boutique
Day 6

place Guané, a painted dream

Accompanied by your local guide, you will walk along the Camino Real, a charming little stone path under the acacias that once connected all the villages of the area. After two hours of walking, your steps will take you to the village of Guané. Return to Barichara in Tuc-Tuc, the local transport, and appreciate the landscapes of the canyon of Rio Suarez. Difference in altitude: 510 meters negative and progressive (beginning of the walk at Barichara 1340m - end of the walk at Guané at 830m). Free afternoon to enjoy Barichara at your own rhythm. Optional: Weaving workshop. Discover a rustic workshop in which you observe and participate in a course and practice traditional weaving. You can leave with a personal creation! Optional: Tapia Pisada workshop, a local construction method. Barichara is a village renowned for its building construction methods. Participate in an introduction to the "tapial", the technique of "pisé", on a reduced scale. Manipulate the earth and form your own small "tapia pisada" wall.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: Achiotte Hotel Boutique
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Casa Barichara Boutique
Day 7

place Onto the Coffee Triangle!

Transfer to Bucaramanga airport in the morning. On the way, you will cross the canyon of Chicamocha, one of the largest canyons in the world with 227 km of length and 2 km of depth. Flight Bucaramanga – Pereira with connection in Bogotá. Transfer and installation to your hotel. The Coffee Region is very attractive for its historic and colonial cities, farms, coffee plantations, beautiful nature reserves and for the beauty of its landscapes.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: La Finca Turística La Holanda
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Hotel Boutique Sazagua
Day 8

place The highest palm trees of the world!

Today, you will discover the Cocora Valley. First, take a beautiful walk along the Quindío River that will allow you to discover the cloudy rainforest and admire the wax palms, the Colombian national tree, impressive by its height that can reach 70 meters. Head to the village of Salento to enjoy its colonial architecture with its colorful balconies. Continue with the small village of Filandia known for its colorful houses and its square surrounded by coffee shops. Optional: Hop on a Jeep Willys to go to the Cocora Valley (private or shared). The Jeep Willys were imported to Colombia after the war to allow farmers to get around in this mountainous region. It still occupies this function but is also used as a tourist way of transportation. Optional: Visit a private natural reserve. Plant your own « Palma de Cera » and contribute to preserve this unique panorama. You can also horseback ride in the reserve.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: La Finca Turística La Holanda
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Hotel Boutique Sazagua
Day 9

place Discover the coffee heritage

Transfer in the morning from your hotel to a traditional coffee plantation. You will receive a warm welcome in this family business in the heart of the beautiful landscape and discover the history but also the whole process of coffee. This didactic immersion will allow you to discover the methods of collection and selection of the beans but also the process from drying to roasting. End the visit with a good cup of coffee! Free afternoon. Participate in an additional activity (consult us). Optional: - Zip lining - Visit a “guadua” forest, the local bamboo - Discover the “trapiche”, a sugar cane-based panela factory - Visit an ecological and agricultural farm - Descent a river in “balsaje”, a typical bamboo raft from the region

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: La Finca Turística La Holanda
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Hotel Boutique Sazagua
Day 10

place Welcome to the Caribbean coast!

Transfer to Pereira airport in the morning. Flight Pereira – Santa Marta with connection in Bogotá. Transfer from Santa Marta airport to your hotel in the Tayrona Park area. Free afternoon to discover your hotel, its surroundings, and services.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: Hotel Finca Barlovento Cabaña & Maloka
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Casa Tayrona los Naranjos
Day 11

place The mystic Tayrona park

Between luxurious jungle and dream beaches, you will walk the paths leading to Cabo de San Juan, a small hut perched on the rocks. Tayrona Park is one of the most visited natural parks in Colombia. This place is home to a wide variety of animal and plant species. The altitude varies from 0 to 900m in all the park. The area offers a tropical jungle landscape with many old trees and lush vegetation. Note: Approximately 5 hours walk to and from the entrance to Cabo San Juan. Shorter alternative possible.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: Hotel Finca Barlovento Cabaña & Maloka
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Casa Tayrona los Naranjos
Day 12

place On the road to the Pearl of the Caribbean

Transfer from Tayrona park area to Cartagena in the morning. Rest of the day free to discover the city center or participate in an additional activity (consult us). Optional: Join a private or group salsa class. (1h, water included). Optional: Sunset cruise in the bay of Cartagena by collective boat (semi-public yacht with open bar: cocktails, lemonade, soda, water (from Wednesday to Sunday only).

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: Alfiz Hotel
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Hotel Quadrifolio
Day 13

place A cultural visit of Cartagena

Go back in time and relive some of the highlights of the city´s history with a walking tour. Cartagena has suffered repeated attacks from pirates, like the notably Captain Francis Drake. Discover the church and the monastery San Pedro Claver, the Cathedral also called Minor Basilica and the colonial houses which border the alleys of the historical center. End the visit with a homemade ice cream. Free afternoon. Optional: Visit the Boquilla community. A fishing village of Afro-Colombian culture located 20 minutes away from Cartagena on the beach and surrounded by mangroves. After visiting the community, observe different types of native and migratory birds aboard a local boat through the mangroves. Optional: Visit the Popa convent and San Felipe fort, a masterpiece of military architecture, erected in 1536 to defend the city of many pirates and corsairs. The convent of Popa offers a panoramic view of the city and its many popular neighborhoods. Optional: Excursion to the Rosario Islands (roundtrip collective boat and lunch included, port taxes to pay at arrival). The Rosario Archipelago is one of the 56 natural parks of Colombia, located only 35km from Cartagena and is composed of 27 coral islands.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: Alfiz Hotel
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Hotel Quadrifolio
Day 14

place ¡Hasta pronto!

In the morning, visit the Bazurto Market (from Monday to Saturday). During this culinary journey, you will be visiting the colorful, authentic, and hectic alleyways of the market to discover the gastronomic and cultural tradition of the city. Enjoy breakfast with your guide at a restaurant in Getsemani. Cartagena’s cuisine is one of the richest and most varied in Colombia and one of the most original in America thanks to its history and the fusion of three communities: indigenous, Spanish and African. Each of them brought its products and its eating habits. The result is marvelous. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport. National and international flights (not included). ¡Hasta luego!

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Hotel Casa Deco
  • Hotel Casa Terra
  • Achiotte Hotel Boutique
  • La Finca Turística La Holanda
  • Hotel Finca Barlovento Cabaña & Maloka
  • Alfiz Hotel
  • Hotel de la Opera
  • Hotel Casa Terra
  • Casa Barichara Boutique
  • Hotel Boutique Sazagua
  • Casa Tayrona los Naranjos
  • Hotel Quadrifolio

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (13)

Transport expand_less

  • The private ground transfers mentioned in the program with a Spanish-speaking driver
  • Domestic flights mentioned in the program (prices estimated to date and subject to change).

Activities expand_less

  • Visits and excursions mentioned in the program with an English/Spanish speaking guide

Extras expand_less

  • English-speaking support on arrival at Bogotá airport.
  • 24 hours assistance during the trip – English-speaking telephone hotline

Not Included expand_less

  • International flights.
  • Optional activities.
  • Alcoholic beverages.
  • Additional luggage on domestic flights.
  • Personal expenses.
  • Assistance and repatriation insurance.
  • Voluntary tips for guides or drivers.
  • Anything not mentioned in "THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES".
  • Other meals, drinks, tips and other personal expenses or services not specified on the program.

About Emma

TEAM LEAD

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I am in love with Colombia and its incredible diversity. It's incredible to be able to share this passion with other travelers and I joined the tourism industry to be able to keep discovering and make other people dreams come true.

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$2,978.00 USD