Experience Colombia, South America’s top LGBT country

Bogota

Tag 1: Welcome to Bogota

Upon your arrival at Bogota’s international airport, a representative will be waiting to greet you. Your private transfer will take you to your luxury hotel in the popular Parque 93 area of Bogota.

In the evening, after you have settled into the hotel, you'll have dinner reservations waiting for you at a restaurant of your choice.

La Candelaria - Monserrate

Tag 2: Discover Colombia's capital city

After breakfast, a local guide will pick you up for a tour to Cerro de Monserrate. Reaching the top by cable car, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the city and a historic village featuring a 17th-century sanctuary shrine. Explore the artisan crafts and try traditional foods along the way.

Next, visit the city center and La Candelaria, Colombia’s oldest neighborhood, where you should try chicha, a street drink made from fermented fruit rinds. Stroll through the university district with its cobblestone streets and centuries-old houses, then visit all downtown sites of historical significance.

Museum lovers should visit the Gold Museum that displays native pre-Colombian culture and traditions. The Botero Museum features the largest collection of works by Fernando Botero, as well as beautiful pieces by renowned international artists.

Bogota

Tag 3: A day dedicated to art

Today, your guide will pick you up and take you to some of the best galleries and museums that Bogota, a city of art and culture, has to offer. You will visit the main galleries of contemporary art in the city, like the exhibition of the Art Bank of the Republic. The vibrant panorama of showcased national artists will give you a broad aesthetic impression of Colombian art.

Your expert art guide will show you the best national, Latin-American, and international artistic samples, and can assist you if you are interested in buying some pieces. To end this cultural immersion, you will enjoy a delicious tea at Taller del Té, a shop that works closely with producers from the Amazon to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Enjoy tea from plants from the jungle and the Andes mountains; each infusion is a discovery of the wisdom of Colombian ancestral cultures.

Bogota

Tag 4: A day with the bees

After breakfast, head out on the Ruta de Miel. This innovative agro-tourism experience takes you to a nearby forest where you'll get to be a beekeeper for a day.

Beekeeping is a sustainable, productive system. Learn firsthand about the role of bees in the balance of nature and how they add value and quality to agricultural products, all while connecting to the roots of Colombia's countryside. This is the perfect itinerary for nature lovers.

Medellin

Tag 5: Mix & mingle in Medellin

In the morning, your private transport will take you to the airport for your 30-minute flight to Medellin. Your driver will wait for you at Medellin's airport and take you on the 50-minute ride over a beautiful mountain pass and 300m down to the trendy, popular neighborhood of El Poblado, where you will be staying.

Your hotel is close to Parque Lleras, the one spot in the city where foreigners and locals meet. You’ll also be within walking distance from the best restaurants, boutiques, and cafes.

In the evening, enjoy a special private dinner that's been planned just for you. At an undisclosed location you’ll have the opportunity to mix and mingle with local community members, activists, and leaders. Chef Esteban, a member of the local LGBT community, will prepare a delicious dinner for you and other invited guests.

Comuna 13

Tag 6: Flower farms & colonial history

Your exploration of Medellin and its history from the industrial revolution to the dark days of the 80s and 90s starts at the government center. This tour focuses on the importance of architecture and transit in the city as well as the roles of the LGBT community in the transformation of Medellin, from the most dangerous city in the world to one of the most innovative.

Browse through traditional crafts and souvenirs at a local market and pass flower-lined pedestrian streets and parks. Tour the government-funded LGBT community center before a traditional lunch in a gay-owned restaurant.

Later, head to a remote, illegally-built neighborhood to meet LGBT community members and local leaders who will share their personal stories about overcoming violence after becoming targets of guerrillas and gangs. Their endurance and perseverance is an inspiring example of community power.

Medellin

Tag 6: Flower farms and colonial history

Today, head out to explore the picturesque Parque Arvi Nature Reserve and nearby Santa Elena pueblo, the center of the region’s flower production. Your guide will take you on the journey to the origins of Medellin’s world-famous flowers.

In the village, visit the main town square in the typical colonial style that is present in communities throughout the region. Learn about the history of the silleteras who navigated the rugged, mountainous terrain carrying loads of up to 75 kilos on their backs (people and products) in colonial time.

Your guide will lead you on a hike on ancestral trails through the Parque Arvi natural preserve, and a pre-Hispanic archeological site. Finally, enjoy a traditional Colombian lunch at a Finca silletera (flower farm).

Coffee Farm Medellin

Tag 8: Time for coffee!

Enjoy learning all about coffee on an authentic coffee farm 1.5 hours from Medellin. Learn about the entire process from plant to cup, and get to know Colombian coffee cooperatives which still employ traditional and fair methods. The farm is a typical small family business producing exclusive coffee that you will be able to taste.

Stroll through the plantation as the manager explains the origins of coffee, from growing healthy plants to collecting red coffee cherries that are dried into green coffee beans.

Having enjoyed the fresh country air, look forward to a hearty, delicious lunch. Later on, learn about the roasting process that converts the odorless green bean into the rich brown bean full of flavor and aroma.

The farmer will explain the characteristics of good coffee and share how to prepare a great cup of coffee at home. At the end, you can buy freshly roasted coffee straight from its source - the perfect souvenir.

Guatape - El Peñol

Tag 9: An old town & a stunning lake system

Today, your trip will take you to Guatapé, a quaint town full of vibrant colors and crafts. On the way, stop for a quick refreshment at a replica of old El Peñol, a town that was submerged to create the giant lake system that now generates 35% of the country’s electricity.

At Guatapé, you’ll first stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Try the area’s specialty: grilled trout in a garlic sauce, or another traditional regional dish.

After lunch, explore the pueblo’s beautiful streets and alleys, learn about the reconstruction of the pueblo, and listen to the stories of its “zocalo” friezes as well as the importance of the nearby hydro-electric dam system.

Once you’ve enjoyed Guatapé and its various shops and beautiful paths, you can visit La Piedra, a 70-million-year-old 200 meter rock. Climb the 649 steps to the top and enjoy a drink while looking over the surrounding lake system.

Cartagena

Tag 10: A taste of rum in Cartagena

After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, board your 50-minute flight to Cartagena from Medellin. After landing, your driver will take you to your luxury hotel in Cartagena’s Bocagrande area.

Tonight, team up with Cartagena’s best mixologists for a special rum tasting experience. The most treasured booty for any good pirate during those seafaring days of the Caribbean wasn’t a treasure chest of gold, but a good bottle of rum.

Today, this rum is the national liquor of Colombia. The rum taster will talk you through the ingredients, distillery process, and a brief history of this glorious spirit. Then, tickle your taste buds with four special rums.

Rosario Islands

Tag 11: A day on the beach

It’s time to soak up some sun and have fun! Head to the pier to enjoy some fresh fruit in the morning while waiting to board a high-speed boat for the tiny islands just off the coast - Las Islas del Rosario.

Gente de Mar Resort is a charming place, surrounded by crystal clear water in many shades of blue. Expect beaches with white sand and beautiful coral reefs where you can relax and enjoy an unforgettable experience with lots of fun and excellent personal service.

You can also practice water sports like snorkeling or enjoy a relaxing massage at the hotel. Gente de Mar has a restaurant and a bar where you'll find a wide range of cocktails and drinks as well as national and international beers.

Head back to Cartagena at 4pm.

Cartagena

Tag 12: Hasta la vista, Colombia

At the conclusion of your Colombian adventure, your driver will pick you up and take you to the international airport in Cartagena with plenty of time to check in, pass through immigration, and board your international flight home.