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11 Day itinerary in Colombia, South America

The Best of Colombia

This is a journey that begins in the modern city of Bogota, the capital of Colombia. Then you will continue to amazing destinations where you will admire the green mountains, explore picturesque colonial and coffee-growing towns, thriving cities like Medellin and discover the impressive Tayrona Nati... Read More

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JulianaMontserratIvonnePamelaMatildeJulian

By Juliana, Montserrat, Ivonne, Pamela, Matilde and Julian

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
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Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English, Spanish, Dutch, French, German

GUIDANCE

Tour Guide

starting point

Bogotá

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Hiking

Visit markets

Meditation

Travel with Purpose

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Discover and explore the magical city of Cartagena.

2

Admire the fauna and flora exploring Tayrona National Park

3

Enjoy a fresh cup of Colombian coffee in a coffee town.

4

Explore cosmopolitan and modern cities like Bogota and Medellin.

Itinerary

COMFORT CLASS HOTELS expand_more

Day 1

place Arrival in Colombia

Once you arrive in Bogota you'll be warmly welcomed and taken to your accommodation. Your hotel will be located in a lively and trendy neighborhood close to Park 93 and the Zona T which is surrounded by Bogota's best bars and restaurants. Having settled in, you'll be able to spend some time with one of our local specialists who are always happy and excited to hear about your travel plans in Colombia and beyond - now's the time to make the most of their many years of local know-how and ask questions until your heart's content! You will have the rest of the day free to explore the area of your hotel. Situated in the northern part of the capital, the Zona Rosa is known for its fashionable shops, excellent restaurants and chic nightlife. Within the Zona Rosa, the Zona T has several blocks of pedestrian-only streets where you can freely browse the boutique shops of the Calle de la Moda or sit out in one of the many cafes and bars with open air patios and terraces. Tonight, you can go to one of the many nearby restaurants in the Zona Rosa to discover the liveliness of both, the city and its people at the thriving bars nearby. Meals - None.

Accommodation:

  • COMFORT CLASS HOTELS: Bh Parque 93
  • SUPERIOR CLASS HOTELS: Click Clack
Day 2

place Explore Bogota like a local

This tour takes place in the historic center of Bogotá, also known as La Candelaria. During the tour, you will visit emblematic places and highly appreciated by Bogota citizens, which will make you feel like an inhabitant of Bogotá instead of a tourist. Your guide will use all of his knowledge of the city to take you through colonial streets and other places of interest, which hold unexpected secrets and have witnessed the transformation of Bogotá. This tour is ideal for those who do not want conventional tours and prefer to know the city hand in hand, more than a guide, from a local adventure partner. Take the funicular or cable car to Monserrate and upon reaching the summit you will be rewarded with stunning views over the sprawling city below and all the way to the peaks of the Andes. From this vantage point, you will be able to get a feel for the different zones from the contemporary high-rise office buildings of the financial district to the terracotta-colored rooftops of Bogota's historical center. Learn about the life and work of the liberator Simon Bolivar while visiting La Quinta de Bolivar. Regain strength and energy to continue the tour with a cup of freshly ground Colombian coffee. Appreciate the graffiti that adorns the walls of downtown Bogotá, decipher its meaning and the message the artist wanted to transmit. Marvel at the wide variety of tropical and exotic fruits produced in Colombia while visiting a typical Plaza de Mercado. In Chorro de Quevedo you can go back in time and imagine how Bogotá looked like in 1538 when it was founded by Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada. Know about the work of the master Fernando Botero while visiting the Mueseo Botero and contemplate an art collection of important artists from the 19th and 20th centuries. Finish the tour in the Plaza de Bolivar where the government buildings are located and walk a bit on the emblematic Carrera 7ª. Following your Bogota city tour, you'll be transferred back to your hotel where the rest of

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3

place Into the Coffee Region

Once you arrive at Pereira's airport you'll be warmly welcomed and taken to your comfortable hacienda in Colombia's Coffee Region. From your accommodation you'll be a coffee bean's throw away from some of Colombia's most scenic landscapes and of course its world famous coffee plantations! The Coffee Triangle is Colombia's largest coffee-producing region and is located in the center of the country surrounded by breathtaking scenery, picturesque architecture and prosperous coffee farms known as, fincas. After settling into your hotel your evening is free to enjoy relaxing at your accommodation. As one of the most diverse areas of Colombia, keep an eye out for the exotic birdlife of the region which will accompany you as you sip on your delicious cup of coffee. Colombia was recently recognized for being the happiest country in the world and the locals of Colombia's Coffee Region are known for being some of the friendliest in the country. They will make you feel at home and make sure that you enjoy every second in the beautiful heart of Colombia.

Day 4

place Visit to Picturesque Coffee Towns

You will depart in the morning from your hotel and visit the beautiful towns of Finlandia and Pijao. In Finlandia, you will have the option of paying the entrance fee and going up to the "Montaña Iluminada" (Illuminated Hill) viewpoint, from where you will have a 360° view of the impressive coffee landscapes. During the tour, you will stop at a local store to taste a fresh and 100% Colombian coffee, accompanied by the typical arepas. After the tour, you will return to your hotel. Meals - Breakfast.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5

place Travel to Medellin

Having had your behind the scenes coffee experience in the stunning Coffee Region it's then time to hit the road again as your transfer picks you up from your accommodation and takes you to Pereira's airport. Once you arrive in Medellin, Colombia's second largest city, you'll be warmly welcomed and taken to your accommodation. Without a doubt, Medellin is one of Colombia's most exciting cities and surrounded by the high-rise jagged peaks of mountains, the city has developed into a thriving jewel in the crown of Colombia. Known as the City of Eternal Spring due to its year-round mild and pleasant climate, there's never a bad time to soak up the sights and sounds of this magical city. Depending on the time of your arrival in Medellin, you will have the rest of the day free to explore the area near to where you're staying. Medellin is one of biggest flower producing areas of Colombia, and every August the Flowers Festival paints the streets of the city with colorful parades, local music, traditional dances and bright costumes. The spring-like weather, modern and colonial architecture and surrounding natural beauty will keep you more than occupied. Among the main highlights that you can go to see include the Plaza Botero which is home to original Botero sculptures and the local and, the Parque de los Pies Descalzos, inspired by far-eastern philosophy complete with a small bamboo forest and tranquil water fountains. You can also visit one of the country's most important museums, the Museo de Antioquia, which is home to pre-Columbian, colonial, independent and contemporary art exhibitions. Tonight, walk to Medellin's Parque Lleras to sit down to a traditional meal in one of the many restaurants you will find there before, discovering the liveliness and beauty of both the city and its people at the thriving bars nearby. Meals - Breakfast.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6

place Discover Guatape and El Peñol

Today your private transportation and English speaking guide will take you to the lovely town of Guatape and El Peñol, a huge granite monolith set on the edge of an enormous lake with dozens of small little islands. Also known as 'Pueblo de Zócalos'. The town of Guatape is famous for its pastel colored houses which are a joy to admire while strolling through its charming cobblestone streets and its main street which runs alongside the reservoir. Don't forget to have a look at the bottom half of the houses, as they are brilliantly decorated with the most marvelous paintings and sculptures, ranging from cartoon characters to landscapes and animals. The somewhat tough climb to the top of El Peñol is more than rewarding as it offers an amazing view over the stunning landscape. If you are not in for the climb to the top, you will have the choice to take an (optional) boat excursion to the El Peñol dam and Guatape Lake which will give you a great view of the El Peñol rock and also take you by one of Pablo Escobar's holiday homes. Upon arrival back to Medellin, the rest of the evening is free for you enjoy at your leisure and explore the city's local restaurants and nightlife. Meals - Breakfast.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • COMFORT CLASS HOTELS: Hotel bh El Poblado
  • SUPERIOR CLASS HOTELS: Hotel Estelar Blue
Day 7

place Arrival to Santa Marta

Before leaving to your next destination, you can spend the morning exploring some of the extended highlights of Medellin on your own. Such highlights include the Parque de los Deseos, the stunning building of La Casa de la Cultura which is home to works of art by local artists and explore the manicured gardens of the Museo el Castillo. You can also choose to visit the local and iconic town of Pueblito Paisa that provides an insight into a traditional Antioquian town while also repaying you with a magnificent bird's-eye view of the sprawling city below. Alternatively take in one of the city's most significant modern structures, the Medellin cable car which climbs both sides of Medellin's valley and has drastically improved the social-economic situation in the formerly far-flung and difficult to reach favelas (shanty towns). Having arrived in Santa Marta, the oldest city in Colombia and one of the first cities founded in Latin America, you'll have time to settle in to your accommodation. The rest of the day is free to spend at leisure, exploring the area near to where you're staying and soaking up the city's perfect combination of pristine beaches and history. Walk around the historical center or along the bay, and get the vibe of this quiet city before sitting down to a refreshing cocktail while watching the sunset over the Caribbean. Meals - Breakfast.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • COMFORT CLASS HOTELS: Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina - Santa Marta Hotel
  • LUXURY CLASS HOTELS: Hotel Boutique & Spa Casa de Leda, a Kali Hotels hotel
Day 8

place Explore Tayrona National Park

You will be picked up from your hotel in Santa Marta for a full day tour in the Tayrona National Park. Tayrona National Park covers 15,000 hectares and is full of unspoiled beaches, coral reefs, verdant flora, mangroves and mountains. The tour begins with a 45-minute eco-tourist walk through a tropical jungle from the beautiful beach of Canaveral to Arrecifes beach. Along the way you'll be able to see all types of flora and fauna including monkeys which are just some of the 108 other species that live within the Tayrona National Park. After relaxing at Arrecifes beach you'll set off on a 20-minute hike that leads you to La Piscina, a natural pool where you can bathe in the warm, crystal clear waters of the Caribbean. Your day comes to a close as you make your way back through the rainforest and head out to your hotel. Meals - Breakfast. Note: Depending on the departure time for the tour to Tayrona, breakfast might no be available at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9

place Arrival to Cartagena

This morning your private transfer will take you to the city of Cartagena. Once you arrive in Cartagena, Colombia's jewel and fairy-tale city on the Caribbean coast, you'll be warmly welcomed and taken to your accommodation. Cartagena is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and demonstrates the perfect marriage between rich colonial history and the vibrancy of the Caribbean. Depending on the time of your arrival in Cartagena, the rest of the day is free to explore the area near to where you're staying, the city's maze of cobblestone streets and its charming buildings. The historic center of Cartagena is surrounded by an impressive 8 mile-long colonial stonewall and is the perfect place to enjoy a refreshing cocktail in the Café del Mar while watching the sunset over the Caribbean. Meals - Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • COMFORT CLASS HOTELS: Casa India Catalina
  • SUPERIOR CLASS HOTELS: Bantu Hotel
  • LUXURY CLASS HOTELS: Casa San Agustín
Day 10

place Explore Cartagena's Highlights

Street Art & Graffiti tour gives you deeper insight into Cartagena focused on the alternative and cultural quarter and coolest neighbourhood: Getsemani. The stories are told through graffitis with images of tropical scenes, palenqueras, and local flora and fauna. In Getsemani the individuality and spirit of the neighborhood remains intact. You came as a tourist but you leave as a local understanding what makes the barrio so special engaging with the people to ensure that it preserves its particular charm. This neighborhood has shaken off it's gritty reputation, and turned to street-art as a way of incorporating the voice of local residents and artists into the fabric and the narrative of the city streets. Graffiti has transformed this neighborhood in the last years, after the first Graffiti Festival in Getsemani that took place in December 2013. Your fully qualified and knowledgable guide offers a complete and impressive history of Getsemani starting at the clock tower, from there, we go to the street of La Sierpe (where all the murals are) and Trinidad plaza, which has historical, cultural and national value. You will also meet Pedro Blas. He was born in 1949 in the Getsemaní neighborhood, which has been an example of social struggle for centuries. He was awarded with the national Poetry Prize Jorge Artel for his book Rumbos in 1993. Discover Cartagena's poetry and literature and, above all, get to know Pedro Blas, a really extraordinary person. Following your Cartagena city tour, the rest of the afternoon and evening is free for you to relax and enjoy this wonderful city. If you want to explore Cartagena further, you can take the afternoon to visit the Candelaria Convent located on the top of the Popa Hill, the Old Shoes Monument, and the impressive San Felipe de Barajas Castle and Fort. Tonight, you will have time to relax and enjoy this wonderful city that vibrates with color and is refreshed by Caribbean Sea breezes. Meals - Breakfast.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 11

place Leaving Cartagena

Your transfer will take you to the airport in Cartagena for your flight back home. Meals - Breakfast.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Bh Parque 93
  • Hotel bh El Poblado
  • Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina - Santa Marta Hotel
  • Casa India Catalina
  • Click Clack
  • Hotel Estelar Blue
  • Bantu Hotel
  • Hotel Boutique & Spa Casa de Leda, a Kali Hotels hotel
  • Casa San Agustín

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (8)

About Juliana

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Expertise: 

Meet local people

Indigenous culture

Hiking

Visit markets

Travel with Purpose

Outdoors & Nature

I worked as a tour leader taking small groups of travelers to the most popular destinations of South America and covering the length and breadth of Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Peru. This helped me to become an expert of South America.

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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.

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$1,498.00 USD