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14 Day itinerary in Colombia, South America

Highlights of Colombia

Discover the main sites around the country to get a first glimpse of the Colombian landscapes and culture

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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

Outdoors & Nature

Classic Sights

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Walk back to ancient times in a colonial village

2

Taste the best coffee of Colombia

3

Visit the city of eternal spring

4

Relax on the beach in an island in the Carabbean sea

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 Onto the Coffee Triangle!

Transfer to Bogotá airport in the morning. Flight Bogotá – 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 6

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 7

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. You will have the chance to plant your own tree and enjoy a good cup of this product that gave its name to the region. Enjoy lunch with the family! Flight Pereira – Medellín. Optional: Evening out, visit traditional taverns. The "Fondas" are bars with Colombian decoration and atmosphere. Local music, objects of all kinds, religious symbols, you can find all these details to slip into the skin of the "Paisa". Visit several local places and enjoy some food and drinks while being carried away by the traditional music.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: La Campana Hotel Boutique
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Patio del Mundo
Day 8

place The city of eternal spring

Start the day with a guided tour of Medellín, the city of “eternal spring”. Fascinating for its modernism and its own identity, you will walk through the city center, the Plaza Botero, where are gathered some statues of the famous Colombian artist, the Parque Bolívar, Plaza de Luces and climb aboard the Metro Cable to admire a magnificent panorama of the whole city. After lunch, reach the well know Comuna 13. Accompanied by a local guide, you will discover a district of Medellín formerly theater of civil war and drug traffic in the 80-90´s. Today, the inhabitants and the new generation of the Comuna are moving forward and want to leave these years behind. Walk through the colorful and vibrant streets of the neighborhood. New initiatives are regularly created to offer new alternatives to young people in the neighborhood. During the visit, taste a homemade ice cream and finish with a graffiti workshop with your guide. Optional: Discover Moravia. Visit this former landfill, now a model of urban mutation. Optional: Comuna 13 alternative visit. Take the natural paths (Cinturón Verde and Camino de la Vida) along the sides of the mountain. Meet the members of an urban vegetable garden project and share a moment with them.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: La Campana Hotel Boutique
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Patio del Mundo
Day 9

place Guatapé and Peñol, a breathtaking panorama!

Departure in the morning from your hotel in Medellín towards Peñol. If you wish, you can climb the 649 steps of the impressive Peñol Rock (entrance not included) and enjoy a breathtaking view of the water dam that surrounds you. Then, continue to Guatapé and walk in the charming village, discovering the art of “zocalos” that decorate the houses. Enjoy the small and traditional streets of the village like “La Calle de los enamorados” (Lovers street). After the visit, you will be transferred to Medellín airport for your flight to Cartagena. Flight Medellín – Cartagena. Transfer to your new accommodation.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: Alfiz Hotel
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Hotel Quadrifolio
Day 10

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.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: Alfiz Hotel
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Hotel Quadrifolio
Day 11

place Enjoy the white sand beaches

Transfer to Cartagena harbor in the morning. Embark for the Mucura Island by boat. Port tax of 22.500 pesos/pers to pay on-site. Arrival and installation at the Punta Faro hotel. With its crystal-clear water and white sand beaches, you are in a true Eden of the Caribbean coast. The traditional charm and the standing of the facilities, the quality of service and the friendliness of the staff makes it the ideal place to relax and disconnect from the world. Enjoy the beach or other optional activities on-site: snorkeling, kayaking, diving, visit a nearby island or ecological walks.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: Hotel Punta Faro
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Hotel Punta Faro
Day 12

place Relaxing in Mucura Island

Enjoy the beach or other optional activities on-site: snorkeling, kayaking, diving, visit a nearby island or ecological walks.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Mid-range: 3* hotels: Hotel Punta Faro
  • High-end: 4* hotels: Hotel Punta Faro
Day 13

place Back to Cartagena

Transfer from Mucura Island to Cartagena by boat. Free afternoon to explore Cartagena on your own or join an optional activity (contact 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 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
  • La Finca Turística La Holanda
  • La Campana Hotel Boutique
  • Alfiz Hotel
  • Hotel Punta Faro
  • Hotel de la Opera
  • Hotel Casa Terra
  • Hotel Boutique Sazagua
  • Patio del Mundo
  • Hotel Quadrifolio
  • Hotel Punta Faro

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (13)
  • Lunch (3)
  • Dinner (2)

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

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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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