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7 Day itinerary in Colombia, South America

Romance and Adventure - Honeymoon in the Caribbean!

Welcome to Colombia! This itinerary is the perfect introduction to the country's Caribbean coast and its culture. Explore Cartagena, the jewel of the Caribbean ocean, relax and unwind amidst the natural beauty of Santa Marta's beaches, and immerse yourself in the beautiful landscapes of Tayrona Natu... 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

Cartagena

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Kayaking

Hiking

Rafting

Visit markets

Meet local people

Indigenous culture

Snorkeling/Diving

Travel with Purpose

Outdoors & Nature

Classic Sights

Food & Drink

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

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

2

Visit the beautiful islands of Cartagena

3

Explore the flora & fauna of Tayrona National Park

4

Tour a mountain coffee farm in Minca

Itinerary

High-end Accommodation expand_more

Day 1

place Arrival to Cartagena!

Welcome to Colombia and Welcome to Cartagena! 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. 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.

Accommodation:

  • High-end Accommodation: Casa Hotel San Agustín Corferias
Day 2

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

Accommodation:

  • High-end Accommodation: Casa Hotel San Agustín Corferias
Day 3

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

Accommodation:

  • High-end Accommodation: Casa Hotel San Agustín Corferias
Day 4

place Dancing and Transfer to Santa Marta

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, a private driver will pick you up from your hotel for a private transfer of about 4-hours from Cartagena to Santa Marta. To make the journey easier, you can stop on the way for lunch in Barranquilla, the largest city in the northern Caribbean Coast and the main industrial, shopping, educational, and cultural center of the Caribbean Region of Colombia. You will also get the option to visit the Carnival Museum, dedicated to the most important folk and cultural festival of Colombia, the Carnival of Barranquilla, which was declared a National Cultural Heritage by the Congress of Colombia in 2001 and recognized by UNESCO in 2003. The entrances to the museum are not included. Upon arrival at Santa Marta, you will check into your hotel where you can relax and enjoy the afternoon with beautiful natural surroundings, the beach, and the sea. The port of Santa Marta enjoys the distinction of being the first Spanish settlement in Colombia. Though it’s often used as a stopping point for day-trips in the area, the historic downtown has been restored and is worth a visit. Nearby, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Mountains are home to Colombia’s tallest peak, Pico Cristóbal Colón, which sits at a whopping 5,700 meters (18,700 feet). These mountains are also the gateway to postcard-worthy Tayrona National Natural Park, on the palm-fringed Caribbean coast.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • High-end Accommodation: Santa Marta Marriott Resort Playa Dormida
Day 5

place Tour of Tayrona National Park

After breakfast, your bilingual guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and you'll begin a full-day tour of Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona (Tayrona National Park). This protected area is known for having some of the most virgin coastal landscapes in the entire country. Indeed, when you see promotional images of Caribbean Colombia, often you're seeing images of Cabo San Juan, which is located in Tayrona. You'll experience much of this coastline with a local guide while touring the white-sand beaches and rainforests further inside Tayrona. First, it's a hike in the tropical foothills near Playa Cañaveral, at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Then visit the exotic beaches of Arrecifes and La Piscina, the latter of which is an ideal spot for swimming and snorkeling. Continue to Cabo San Juan and enjoy the bay of white sand surrounded by large volcanic rocks. On the way here, you can observe several species of flora and fauna pointed out by your knowledgeable guide. The afternoon is yours to enjoy on your own. Have a bit of lunch and relax on the shore. Your private driver and guide will take you back to your Hotel in the late afternoon. Make sure you bring comfortable walking shoes, flip flops or sandals to change if you want to stop at a beach, swimsuits underneath your clothes if you want to enjoy the beach or enjoy the sea and water, caps or hats, sunscreen, and a light backpack to carry everything. Tour duration: 8 hours (with an English-speaking guide). This tour includes entrances to the Park, a bilingual guide, private transportation, and hotel pick up and drop off. The tour does not include lunch, but you will stop at a place for lunch, and can also stop for drinks and snacks.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • High-end Accommodation: Santa Marta Marriott Resort Playa Dormida
Day 6

place Minca Tour and Coffee Farm

Your bilingual guide will meet you at your hotel this morning for a transfer to Minca, a mountain village located on the coastal hillside. Tucked away in the Sierra Nevada mountains, remote Minca is seemingly a world away from the bustling city of Santa Marta just down the Caribbean coast. It's also at altitude, so remember to bring an extra layer or two as the temperatures here tend to be cooler. Your Minca adventure includes a full-day tour, and you'll start at one of the working coffee farms in the region. After learning about the production process (and enjoying a complimentary organic coffee), you'll visit the beautiful Marinka waterfalls (make sure to bring your bathing suit!) Enjoy some free time and have lunch on your own before you embark on an afternoon walking tour of Minca's town center. * The order of the day may vary depending on weather conditions and the coffee farm's availability. Tour duration: 8 hours (with an English-speaking guide). This tour includes a visit to a Coffee Farm, a bilingual guide, private transportation, and hotel pick up and drop off. The tour does not include lunch, but you will stop at a place for lunch.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • High-end Accommodation: Santa Marta Marriott Resort Playa Dormida
Day 7

place Transfer to Cartagena and Departure from Colombia

A private driver will pick you up from your hotel for a private transfer of about 4-hours from Santa Marta to Cartagena. To make the journey easier, you can stop on the way for lunch in Barranquilla, the largest city in the northern Caribbean Coast and the main industrial, shopping, educational, and cultural center of the Caribbean Region of Colombia. You will also get the option to visit the Carnival Museum, dedicated to the most important folk and cultural festival of Colombia, the Carnival of Barranquilla, which was declared a National Cultural Heritage by the Congress of Colombia in 2001 and recognized by UNESCO in 2003. The entrances to the museum are not included. Upon arrival at Cartagena, you will head to the airport on time for your flight. 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

Accommodation expand_less

  • Casa Hotel San Agustín Corferias
  • Santa Marta Marriott Resort Playa Dormida

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (6)
  • Lunch (1)

Transport expand_less

  • 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

TEAM LEAD

verified Baboo Certified

star_outline 5 (18 reviews)

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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