Green Colombia: eco-friendly 15-day tour

Bogota

Day 1: Welcome to Bogota

After your arrival at El Dorado International Airport, your driver will take you to your hotel in the Candelaria district.

Use your free time to enjoy Colombia's capital city at your own pace. Bogota is a city where modern districts and urban architecture contrast with historical centers and green parks.

Bogota

Day 2: Experience the cultural highlights of Bogota

Get on your bike and cycle to Paloquemao, an authentic and lively market where you will delve into exotic flavors, smells, and colors.

Discover Bogota's graffiti that has transformed the walls of the city into canvases, giving artists an almost limitless playground to demonstrate and explore their skills. Pass by some of the most beautiful (and sometimes huge) works, which always come with a strong message around themes of social injustice, political corruption, and violence.

Half a day is dedicated to the amazing Latin Latas, a Colombian music project that manufactures musical instruments from recycled products. Discover the energy of Bogota's youths and create your own musical instrument from scratch during a workshop.

Chingaza

Day 3: Sacred lagoons in an amazing environment

Spanning 76,000 hectares and surrounded by dazzling mountain peaks, Chingaza National Park is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, including the famous Andean condor.

Enjoy the rich ecosystem and go on a hike between sacred lagoons (those of Siecha and Guasca are spiritually significant in Muisca mythology) and frailejones (typical shrubs of high-altitude settings, above 3,000m).

La Vega

Day 4: Picturesque villages & tiny birds

On the way to La Vega, you may stop in San Francisco, an authentic village where you could visit a tiny hummingbird park known as the Jardin Encantado. Observe more than 30 species of hummingbird, an amazing experience for bird lovers (admission fee not included).

Once you've reached today's destination, you will check into your eco-hotel La Nuit for a relaxing night.

Honda

Day 5: History & nature combine

On the road to Honda, take a break in Guaduas, one of the most beautiful historical centers of Colombia, and the birthplace of national independence hero Policarpa Salavarrieta. On a clear day, the viewpoint here provides an impressive vista of the three summits of Los Nevados.

After your arrival, explore beautiful and historic Honda on a 3-hour walking tour.

Pereira

Day 6: To the land of coffee!

Today, you’ll hit the road to Pereira. En route, you may stop at Vivero Tierranegra, one of the biggest plant nurseries of Colombia, to discover colorful exotic plants.

The Medina waterfalls are another worthwhile stop (admission fee not included). Breathe in the fresh air of this serene location - will you dare to jump into the crystal-clear water?

At your destination, you will settle into your hotel in the heart of the Coffee Triangle and enjoy the calm.

Coffee Region

Day 7: Meet the coffee farmers

Lilia, Gabriel, Karen, and Gelen will be opening the doors of their small traditional finca, perched on the coffee hills between Manizales and Pereira, to you today.

There, you will have the opportunity to walk between the coffee trees and be introduced to harvesting and roasting processes before enjoying a freshly brewed cup of the invigorating drink. Expect the finest Colombian coffee!

Today's experience is an authentic and friendly experience shared with a family of local farmers, passionate about their job and their history. During lunch, you will also gain insight into what the farmers typically eat.

Cocora Valley

Day 8: Towering palm trees & healthy avocados

This day is dedicated to the discovery of typical villages and landscapes of the coffee region. Start with an exciting ride in a traditional “Jeep Willy” in the green valley of Cocora, and hike among gigantic wax palm trees, Colombia's national tree.

On an avocado farm, you will see impressive avocado trees and learn more about the cultivation of the popular fruit. Of course, you will have a chance to taste different types of avocado from some of the best batches.

After your lunch break in a beautiful hacienda in the heart of the Cocora Valley, you will visit Salento village. Admire the local architecture and traditional construction methods of the colorful houses made from bamboo (guadua).

Armenia

Day 9: A night of luxury glamping

Enjoy the amenities of your accommodation, Glamping Entre Rios, located south of the pretty village of Armenia in the coffee district. The beautiful nature of this peaceful haven is genuinely enchanting.

Explore your new surroundings on a 2-hour horse ride and indulge in total relaxation during a 1-hour massage.

Finally, end your day by watching the sunset from your private Jacuzzi. Who needs an alarm when you can wake up to bird song the next morning?

Minca

Day 10: Flight to Santa Marta

After breakfast, your driver will take you to Pereira Airport where you'll board your domestic flight to Santa Marta.

A driver will pick you up there and take you to your hotel, where you can relax or set out for a first glimpse of the laid-back town.

Minca

Day 11: Take a colorful ornithological excursion

Leave for Minca in the morning: the best time to observe birds is at sunrise, so this will be an early departure.

Enjoy half a day out watching the birds of the Sierra Nevada. An experienced ornithologist will guide and help you to detect these feathered creatures, and give you some interesting insights into the various species.

Note that the guide has only a few binoculars available, so it may be worthwhile bringing your own.

Cienaga - Cartagena

Day 12: Soak up Caribbean vibes

In morning, depart for Cartagena de Indias, the undisputed Queen of the Caribbean Coast. On the way, you’ll stop in the small village of Cienaga, located 45 minutes from Santa Marta and one of the 17 Colombian Heritage villages.

Your next stop is Pueblo Viejo village, where you'll board a boat to explore the famous Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, the largest body of water in Colombia. Visit the lakeside village of Nueva Venecia and meet the inhabitants who live mainly from fishing traditions.

On arrival in Cartagena, you will be taken to your hotel and have the rest of the day to explore this beautiful colonial city and UNESCO World Heritage Site at leisure.

Cartagena

Day 13: Learn about the lives of local farmers

Today you'll meet a farming community in a village on the border of Atlantico and Bolivar. There you'll learn about agroforestry, a means of generating new sources of income for the population.

The farmers' main task is tilling the earth to make it fertile again, so they can plant crops to feed their families. You will get the chance to visit these plots of land and learn more about the project.

The area also shelters a large jungle nature reserve where you can watch howler monkeys and other animals. Finally, you will meet a village woman who produces jam from locally-harvested fruit. Enjoy lunch with her to round off the experience.

Cartagena

Day 14: Dive into traditional fishing

The village Boquilla is home to many descendants of emancipated African slaves whose main source of income derives from fishing in the two major lagoons, Cienaga Juan Paolo and Cienaga de la Virgen.

The fishermen use their own traditional techniques to catch different species of fish. They will be waiting for you on the beaches of La Boquilla to take you aboard their traditional canoes. A guide will help you communicate with them.

As they spend 2-3 hours fishing in the lagoons, they will explain their indigenous fishing methods, how to organize a net, and how to set up traps to catch shrimps and crabs.

Back on land, you'll be invited to one of the fishermen's houses to cook and eat the catch of the day together with their family.

Cartagena

Day 15: Goodbye, green Colombia!

Enjoy your final breakfast on this memorable vacation and explore more of breathtaking Cartagena at your own pace. Then, your driver will transfer you to Cartagena's airport in time for your international flight.