Contrasts of Colombia

Arrival
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

City Tour
After breakfast, you will explore the city of Bogotá on this guided sightseeing tour to some of the most famous attractions in the city! Walk through the cobblestone streets of La Candelaria, the historic district of Bogotà which was first founded in 1538. We offer a walking tour to the main buildings around the historic centre including the Plaza Bolivar, which is surrounded by the main government and judicial buildings, as well as the Cathedral Primada. We will learn about the history of Bogota and the people who inhabit this amazing city. We end the tour with a trip by cable car or funicular railway to the summit of Monserrate hill, Bogotá's best-known landmark, with a wonderful view of the whole city and the savanna beyond.

Later you will have the option of visiting the world famous Gold Museum (closed on Mondays), home to the largest collection of pre-Hispanic gold in the world, or the Botero Museum (closed on Tuesdays), which features works by Colombia's greatest artists. Afterward, you may return to your hotel.

In the afternoon you will have free time to explore more of the city at your leisure. Recommended places to visit include, for example, the Casa de Moneda (old mint), or you may wish to take the cable car or funicular railway to the top of Monseratte for spectacular views of the city and the surrounding hills.

Breakfast included.

Departure
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Arrival
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Coffee Zone
In the afternoon we'll enjoy a guided tour of a local coffee plantation where we will discover the production process from seedling to cup, as well as learn about the trials and tribulations of the plantations themselves and the many workers who rely on coffee for their livelihoods. Naturally, cups of coffee will be in plentiful supply throughout our visit!

After the visit to the coffee hacienda, return to your hotel where you can enjoy a sunset in the pool, get a massage, relax in the sauna and enjoy a fantastic array of international and local cuisine.

Breakfast included.

Los Nevados National Park
In the morning we'll leave for the Valle de Cocora, which is located in the central mountains of the Parque Nacional de los Nevados. It is the ideal place to marvel at the “Quindian wax palm”, the national tree of Colombia that can reach a staggering height of 60 metres. Around here live a great number of bird species, such as certain types of hummingbirds, the orejíamarillo, or the endangered palm parrot.

Upon arrival in the valley, by either hike or on horseback (not included), we'll head into the cloud forest to enjoy the flora and fauna. On the return journey, we'll cross the River Quindio while walking along an ecological pathway. This pathway will take us past the tallest wax palms in the world and you will learn why the indigenous people here worshipped this tree. We'll then stop at a trout farm and enjoy a traditional meal of smoked trout. Enjoy some free time here.

In the afternoon, we'll continue 10km towards the traditional town of Salento to enjoy a city tour. We'll visit the Plaza de Bolívar with its colourful balconies, the calle real, the handicrafts shops and the Cocora viewpoint. Then, we'll move to the traditional village of Filandia to enjoy a city tour that includes a lovely view, colonial homes, the Plaza de Bolivar and coffee shops. Here, enjoy some time soaking up the regional atmosphere and perhaps some local spirits before returning to your hotel.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Departure
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport.

Arrival
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

City Tour
Today you will have a half-day tour of Cartagena, visiting the most important monuments in this city. You will start at the museum "Santuario San Pedro Claver" before continuing to the Castillo de San Felipe, an immense fort filled with history and mysteries hidden in its stone-walled tunnels. Leaving the castle we continue on to visit the monument of Zapatos Viejos, the "Old Shoes". Certainly the most impressive monument is the gigantic defensive wall that surrounds the old city and overlooks the sea and its well-preserved colonial architecture. During the remainder of your tour you will see the city's churches, museums, plazas, restaurants, shops and jewellery stores. This combination of treasures makes Cartagena deserving of the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Breakfast included.

Free Day
This day has been left free for further exploration of the city, or for some time to relax on the nearby beaches of Bocagrande. Alternatively, you may wish to take an optional cruise to Isla del Pirata (Pirate Island) in the Rosario Islands. The island is surrounded by coral reefs, and snorkelling equipment is available to hire (not included)
so that you can discover the incredibly diverse fish species supported by the reef. There is also offered an optional visit to an aquarium (entrance fee not included) on a nearby island.

Breakfast included.

Cartagena - Santa Marta
After breakfast we'll transfer you by road to the 16th-century city of Santa Marta approximately four hours drive from Cartagena following the coastal road. Located between the Santa Marta Mountains and the Caribbean Sea, the city is a popular tourist destination due to its history, colonial architecture, beaches and nearby nature reserves and you'll enjoy an afternoon at leisure.

Breakfast included.

Santa Marta – Tayrona National Park
This morning we leave Santa Marta and transfer you to the Tayrona National Park for two nights relaxation on its pristine Caribbean beaches. Its most acclaimed beaches are Arrecifes, La Piscina, Cabo de San Juan del Guia y Castilletes, are all of which are within easy reach of your hotel where you'll spend the next two nights.

Tayrona National Park Free Day
Today is free for you to explore the Tayrona National Park. Take time to relax or to discover the beauty of the National Park. We suggest hiking on a jungle path and along the beach to Arecifes and the beach of El Cabo de San Juan.

Departure
After breakfast, we’ll pick you up at the hotel and transfer you to Santa Marta airport where you will take your departure flight.

If you have extra time, we highly recommend adding in additional days to chill out or further explore the many natural and cultural attractions in the area, including Ciudad Perdida, an archaeological site to rival Machu Picchu (this can be completed in four days. Enquire with us for more information).