Highlights of Colombia - 17 - 22 Days
Bogota, Villa de Leyva, Zipaquira Salt Cathedral, Barichara, Guane, Panachi Park, Medellin, El Peñol and Guatape, Coffee Region, Cocora Valley, Salento, Cauca River, Cartagena, La Boquilla, Rosario Island
Travelling through vibrant colours is easy in Colombia, in this itinerary you will see colours in the houses, in the streets, in the dresses of the women and in most obviously in the natural world through the landscapes. Explore small villages such as Villa de Leyva, Guane and Barichara, which is one of the most beautiful cities in Colombia. Enjoy life in the coffee (and other) plantations and stroll through the Cocora Valley, wax palm trees near Salento. Feel the thrill of trying different types of transport whilst seeing how people live in these varying areas. And finish up your time in Colombia relaxing on white sand, gazing out at turquoise waters in the Archipelago of San Bernardo.
In Brief
Day 1: Arrival in Bogota and Transfer to Your Hotel
Day 2: Full Day Bogota Locals Walking Tour
Day 3: Transfer to Villa de Leyva with a Visit to Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral
Day 4: Visit Museums and Archaeological Sites near Villa de Leyva
Day 5: Villa de Leyva to Barichara
Day 6: HIke to Guane and Participate in a Clay Painting Workshop
Day 7: Transfer to Bucaramanga Airport via Panachi. Fly to Medellin
Day 8: Visit Comuna 8 on a Transformation and Peace Tour
Day 9: Climb El Peñol and Visit Guatape
Day 10: Visit Comuna 13 on a History and Transformation Tour. Fly to Pereira Airport and Transfer to Your Finca
Day 11: Hike the Cocora Valley and Visit Salento Town
Day 12: Travel on Unique Forms of Transport out into Villages, to a Finca and a Waterfall
Day 13: Experience a Premium Coffee Tour with Tasting
Day 14: Transfer to Pereira Airport. Flight to Cartagena
Day 15: Walking Tour of Cartagena
Day 16: Full Day La Boquilla Fishing and Cooking Tour
Day 17: Transfer to Cartagena Airport. Departure OR Transfer to Cartagena Pier. Arrival to Isla Mucura and Activities
Day 18: Isla Mucura Activities
Day 19: Isla Mucura Activities
Day 20: Isla Mucura Activities
Day 21: Depart Isla Mucura and Return to Cartagena
Day 22: Transfer to Cartagena Airport. Departure.
- 17 or 22 Days / 16 or 21 Nights
- Group size: Customised Itinerary For You
- Accommodation: Hand-Picked Hotels
- Start: Bogota, Colombia
Finish: Cartagena, Colombia
Included
- 16 or 21 Nights Accommodation
- All breakfasts
- 6/10 Lunches
- 4/8 Dinners
- Domestic Flights as Mentioned
- English and Spanish Speaking Guides
- Private Tours
- Private Transfers
- In Country English or Spanish Speaking 24 Hour Assistance
Not included
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance (Mandatory)
- Entrance Fees to National Parks, Individual Tourism Taxes (Airports of San Andres, Leticia, Nuqui, Bahia Solano, La Macarena and Cartagena Piers)
- Meals Not Mentioned
- Drinks
- Tips
- Personal Expenses
- Additional Entrances Not Specified in the Itinerary
- VAT for Colombians and Residents of Colombia
Day by Day Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Bogota and Transfer to Your Hotel
Welcome to Bogota and Welcome to Colombia!
After clearing immigration and collecting your luggage, make your way out of the arrivals area of the airport. You will find your guide and driver waiting for you with a sign with your name on it. They will accompany you to your hotel, which will take approximately 30 minutes. Whilst travelling to your hotel feel free to ask your guide any questions you may have, they will give you a brief orientation of the area you’ll be staying.
Overnight in Bogota
Day 2: Local Walking Tour of Bogota and Visit to Paloquemao Produce Market
Your private guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel for a Historical Walking tour. During this tour you will be able to discover what it is like to be a local living and going about their day in the centre of Bogota. The walking tour will take you through the most authentic places in the city, along with seeing some of the tourist sights.
Following, we will take a trip to the Paloquemao produce market. Most of Bogota’s restaurants get their ingredients here, which makes it very lively.
Strolling through one of the largest retails markets in Colombia you will be amazed by the variety of things on offer. You will have the opportunity to see, feel and taste so many different fruits and vegetables, some of which you’ll probably not have heard of before.
During your day out you will enjoy a typical lunch.
Overnight in Bogota
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 3: Travel to Villa de Leyva via Zipaquira Salt Cathedral
This morning your private guide and driver will transfer you to the picturesque town of Villa de Leyva which is approximately 3.5 hours away from Bogota. You will travel through beautiful countryside as you wind your way down and away from Bogota. Along the way you will make a stop in the town of Zipaquira, which is famed for its vast underground Salt Cathedral, which was carved out of the salt rock salt in the old mine. It is a spectacular sight to see. As you wander the vast interior you will be astounded by the detail, including what appears to be stained glass, 200 metres below the ground. Walking in and out of the salt mine is easy and interesting as you’ll see smaller chapels, ornate carvings and read the history of the mine along the way.
Continuing on with your country road trip you will pass by dairy farms and agriculture. You may even be able to stop at one of the factory shops along the way to see arepas being made and try a fresh one hot out of the moulds, or one of the dairies to try some cheese or yoghurt.
Arriving into Villa de Leyva you will check into your hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure to stroll the cobbled streets and explore the large main square, in the evening with their golden lights it is a beautiful sight.
Villa de Leyva is a charming town, known for its well-preserved Colonial architecture. It is a small town, so it is very easy to walk around, just watch your step as all the streets are cobblestone. Many shops line the streets leading up to the main plaza, which is one of the biggest plazas in the Americas. You can find handmade artisanal products and of course coffee and chocolate shops.
Overnight in Villa de Leyva
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Visit El Fosil Museum, El Infiernito Archaeological Park and the Ecce Homo Monastery
During a half day tour your guide will take you to three of the most interesting sites around the town of Villa de Leyva.
You will first visit the small community museum of ‘El Fosil’. This museum was established to preserve and enhance the paleontological heritage of the area. You will be amazed by some of the interesting items on display, the most noteworthy dating back to the Cretaceous-period.
Continuing on you will visit the archaeological park or Monquira, El Infiernito. This is a very unusual site to see if you are interested in astronomy and pre-Columbian history. El Infiernito is an ancient astronomical centre of the Muisca communities, who used stone monoliths in the shape of a phallus (symbol of fertility) and the rays of the sun to determine the seasons and establish a calendar for the harvesting of crops.
In the surrounding fields, many rectangular stones of different sizes have been found, and it is assumed that they were used for Indian worship and ritual.
Finally you will visit Convento Santo Ecce Homo. This convent is a beautiful, secluded monastery, located 15 km from Villa de Leyva, which was founded in 1620 by the Dominicans. It has a magnificent golden altar and its floor is paved with fossil stones. The interior patio of the convent, full of flowers, is characterised by its beautiful arcades with columns. A small museum inside the convent traces the colonial history and the process of evangelisation of the Indians by the Spanish crown.
Overnight in Villa de Leyva
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Transfer to Barichara and Historical and Cultural Walking Tour
You will be transferred by private vehicle with your guide to the traditional town of Barichara, sometimes referred to as the ‘red town’ due to the colour of its bricks.
After settling into your hotel you will head out on a historical and cultural walking tour with your guide. Many artists and craftsmen have chosen to live in this peaceful haven, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will walk the paved streets, churches, parks and enjoy the view of the Canyon de Suárez. The discovery ends with a visit to the workshops of local craftsmen: painting, paper, sculpture or tobacco, can all be seen as artistic materials in this area.
Overnight in Barichara
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Hike to Guane
Today you will set out on an ancient path (El Camino Real), part of the famous Inca Trails you also find in Peru and Ecuador. This ancient path will take you down to a very small village called Guane, where time seems to have stood still. Houses are built using an ancient construction technique called Bahareque, which involves the interweaving of sticks then covering it in mud. The whole area has very nice views over the canyon and the Suarez River. You will visit the small archaeological museum in the town which will take you into the past of this area.
Should you wish, lunch can be had in the town at one of the local restaurants after which you’ll catch a bus back to Barichara.
In the afternoon take part in a clay painting workshop. This is a typical style of art in the region. Let yourself be carried away by the magic that surrounds Barichara while you create your own souvenir in the warm colours of the region of Santander. In addition to your little canvas to take home with you, you’ll have an unforgettable time.
Overnight in Barichara
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Transfer to Bucaramanga Airport with a Stop in Panachi. Flight to Medellin
This morning you will be transferred to Bucaramanga airport for your flight to Medellin. Along the way to Bucaramanga you will make a visit to Panachi. Panachi has become one of the most emblematic places in the region of Santander, the fascinating view of the Chicamocha Canyon and for having one of the most beautiful monuments in Colombia, the Monument to Santander Sanidad. This monument represents the Revolution of the Comuneros, a historical event in Santander that was the central axis for the construction of the Park. A place where the culture, tradition and customs of Santander come to life.
Flight Bucaramanga -> Medellin
Note: baggage weight limit is 23 kg. Any additional weight will be paid at the airport, subject to carrier fees.
On arrival in Medellin you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight in Medellin
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Visit to Comuna 8, Transformation and Peace Tour
“The creation of links between people who live in the city and those who live there. Those who have transformed territories through social and cultural projects and spaces for reflection and awareness.”
On this visit you will go to Esfuerzos de Paz, a neighbourhood in Comuna 8 which is made up mostly of people displaced by the armed conflict and a past marked by violence and stigmatisation due to the presence of military, paramilitary and criminal groups. In Comuna 8 you will learn about the path of transformation towards peace that they have taken thanks to community action. To talk about the history of the Comuna, its past and the people involved in the conflict, we will take a streetcar and Metrocable ride to Las Torres. Here you will walk through the Esfuerzos de Paz neighbourhood, which through gastronomic and cultural initiatives has transformed the history of violence of in the Comuna.
Afterwards you will visit the Cerro de los Valores, a community project for the reincorporation of militants from insurgent groups in environmental projects.
Finally we will go to the Casa de la Memoria Museum, a living and participatory museum that has contributed to the processes of memory and making amends in the framework of peace building in the country.
Overnight in Medellin
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 9: Visit El Peñol and Guatape
Leaving Medellin for the day, after breakfast, you will head to a town called Guatape. Starting your visit you will go to El Peñol, where you’ll have the opportunity to climb the many steps of the enormous boulder that dominates the region. If you are able to make it, and along the way, you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of the entire lagoon in front of you. With shaking legs you come down the stairs and you will continue your visit to this area.
Guatape is a colourful and quaint village known for its decorative walls and beautiful church in the central square. Take the opportunity to stroll through the cobblestone streets of the gorgeous lakeside town. Guatape has been called a natural and environmental heritage site of Colombia.
After a full day visit you will return to your hotel in Medellin for the evening.
Overnight in Medellin
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 10: Comuna 13 History and Transformation Tour. Flight to Pereira
Today you will visit Comuna 13. Comuna 13 is pivotal in the education of history and culture in Medellin, your tour today will take in the history and transformation of this city.
About 25 years ago, Medellin was one the most dangerous cities in the world. Today, the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ is one of the most innovative metropolises in the world! Learn more about this spectacular transformation while discovering the neighbourhood known as Comuna 13 and its street art.
This symbolic neighbourhood has become a big open-air project, valuing the change in its society. The programmes initiated by the residents of the popular neighbourhood are becoming more and more innovative.
Comuna 13’s graffiti depicts daily life in this area. The richness of history and transformation will help you understand the importance of street art for social communication and identity.
During this tour you will use many forms of transportation, such as taxi, metro, cable car, on foot and even escalators.
After your visit to Comuna 13 you will be transferred to Medellin airport for your flight to Pereira in the coffee region.
Flight Medellin -> Pereira
Note: baggage weight limit is 23 kg. Any additional weight will be paid at the airport, subject to carrier fees.
On arrival in Pereira you will be met and transferred to your Finca.
Overnight in the coffee region
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 11: Travel to the Cocora Valley and Salento
After breakfast, depart with your guide towards the town of Salento. On the way you will pass by coffee, banana and even pineapple plantations.
You will continue on, through Salento, to the Cocora Valley where you will find wax palms, the national tree of Colombia. Following the steps of your guide during a hike, you will discover an amazing valley, where the ‘Palmas de cera’ (wax trees) give a surreal dimension to the landscape. You will also explore the Andean tropical forest and hike alongside the river. The incredible nature will definitely leave an impression on you.
In the afternoon, you will head back to Salento to stroll around this typical village, which was constructed in the middle of the 19th century at the foot of the Central Cordillera of the Andes.
Overnight in the coffee region
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 12: Unusual Transport and Hot Springs
A day of discovering the surrounds of Pereira using typical transport of the area awaits you today. After breakfast, you will leave for Puerto Pereira, from there, continue by Jeep Willys through beautiful rural landscapes while contemplating the diversity of the fauna and flora the region has to offer.
Once you arrive at ‘La Vereda’ train station you will discover your next means of transport, ‘la brujita’. ‘La brujita’ is a strange assembly of a platform placed on rails and motored by the rear wheel of a motorcycle. It is a clever way the locals have capitalised on the now unused railway tracks. You’ll follow the Cauca River and see coffee, cocoa and other tropical fruit plantations along the way.
You will then cross the river with the help of the ‘garrucha’, a typical Tyrolean basket, to reach the Finca La Playita. Here you will have a pineapple tasting and then a short walk to a beautiful waterfall.
After a well deserved lunch you visit a thermal complex to enjoy an afternoon of well being and relaxation.
At the end of the day you will return to your finca.
Overnight in the coffee region
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13: Visit Hacienda San Alberto for a Coffee Tour and Tasting
You will be transferred from your finca to Hacienda San Alberto near Salento. San Alberto first wows you with the sight of their picturesque terraces in verdant green. You will walk around different areas of the farm and vistas are spectacular whichever way you look.
You’ll learn about the different stages of the manufacturing process of one of the most illustrious Colombian coffees. You will then go to the laboratory, where you will be able to see the high quality level of the production. Finally, before continuing your journey, you will taste a cup of one of the finest coffees in the country.
Overnight in the coffee region
Included meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 14: Transfer to Pereira Airport and Flight to Cartagena
You will be leaving the coffee region behind today, starting with a transfer to the airport in Pereira. You will fly to Cartagena which has a completely different landscape to the lush greenery of the coffee region.
Flight Pereira -> Cartagena
Note: baggage weight limit is 23 kg. Any additional weight will be paid at the airport, subject to carrier fees.
On arrival in Cartagena you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the historic centre of the gorgeously colourful Colonial city.
Overnight in Cartagena
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 15: Walking Tour of Cartagena
Cartagena is a beautiful city full of Colonial era colourful houses and lively squares. Follow the footsteps of famous pirates and experience the exotic mix of heritage and cultural richness. The “Pearl of the Caribbean” will fascinate you and draw you in, making you want more.
Cartagena is an easy city to walk around, lose your way and be happy you did! So, this morning, you will set off on foot for a walking tour. You’ll walk in the colonia district of San Diego and Santo Domingo, passing through the Plaza de los Coches, the Plaza de la Aduana, the Parque Bolivar, the Gold Museum, the Plaza de Santa Teresa, the Palace of Inquisition and the famous walls surrounding the old city and the Vaults. There is much to see and you will marvel at it all, spending the time you need to absorb just a little of the vibe of the city.
Overnight in Cartagena
Meals: Breakfast
Day 16: La Boquilla Fishing Trip
After breakfast today head off on a unique fishing experience. This trip is a must, not only for people who enjoy fishing, but for those who are passionate about adventure and local culture. You will depart early and make your way to La Boquilla, which is a fishing village where an Afro-Cartagenian community lives. While in La Boquilla you fishermen will share their fishing techniques, including how to catch crab and how to throw nets. You will then discover the secrets of Caribbean cuisine and learn how to cook fish and crab with coconut rice. The excursion will bring you close to the local people as the fishermen regale stories of their trips out to provide for their families and village. Learn cooking skills to take home and see how the people of this area live in their village.
Overnight in Cartagena
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 17: Departure from Cartagena OR Travel to Isla Mucura
Enjoy your last morning waking up in this beautiful city before a private transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
OR
This morning you will be transferred by private vehicle to the pier for your boat to Isla Mucura.
Located in the Archipelago of San Bernardo, on the island of Mucura, Hotel Punta Faro is a gem in the Caribbean. This ecological hotel offers exceptional holidays on a dream island on the beach where you can go diving or snorkelling. It is an invitation to immerse yourself in a charming and authentic atmosphere. Let yourself be dazzled by the level of service and beauty of this place.
Departure from Cartagena pier by speedboat to Island Mucura. Punta Faro staff will greet you with a welcome cocktail. After a buffet lunch, the afternoon is free to enjoy this magical place. Sunbathe on the beach, swim in the crystal clear waters, and enjoy the bar facing the beach. This is the perfect place to enjoy delicious Caribbean cocktails.
The hotel offers an ecological walk, a tour around Mucura Island and a panoramic boat tour to visit Tintipan Island and El Islote.
Overnight on Isla Mucura
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Note: local tax of 28.000 pesos (COP) to be paid at the pier prior to boarding the boat.
Day 18-20: Isla Mucura
Free days to relax on the island and enjoy the different activities the pool offers, such as paddle boarding, snorkelling, scuba diving, catamaraning, canoeing etc.
Overnight on Isla Mucura
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 21: Return to Cartagena
In the morning you will return to Cartagena by boat. On arrival in Cartagena you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore Cartagena.
Overnight in Cartagena
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 22: Departure from Cartagena
Enjoy your last morning waking up in this beautiful city before a private transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Sadly your arrangements with Real Local Experiences, and your time in Colombia has come to an end.
You will take home with you memories of a lifetime, many photos and perhaps a few great souvenirs!
