19 Days In Colombia, Bogotá To Cartagena

Bogota

Day 1: Welcome to Enchanting Colombia!

Welcome to the beautiful and vibrant country of Colombia! Your driver will be waiting at the airport to take you to your hotel.

There are no activities planned for this day, so just relax and drink plenty of water to help you adjust to the altitude.

If you arrive early, we may be able to organize an additional tour for you.

Bogota - La Candelaria

Day 2: Discover the Highlights of Bogotá, Including Monserrate

Today you’ll go on a guided tour of Bogotá, where you’ll see the most important historical sites within La Candelaria: the Palace of Justice, Plaza Bolivar, and much more.

Once you have visited these beautiful sites, it will be time for you to ascend to the summit of Monserrate. You have the choice of taking either the teleferico or the funicular.

You’ll have time to wander through the artisan markets, visit a beautiful 17th century monastery and enjoy some of the most spectacular panoramic views of the city.

Zipaquira - Raquira - Villa de Leyva

Day 3: Visit the Gorgeous Salt Mine of Zipaquirá

Head directly to the salt mine of Zipaquirá, where people converted this ancient salt mine into the amazing church that receives as many as 3000 people every Sunday.

You can also wander around the picturesque streets and a wonderful town plaza full of clay statues nearby.

In the late afternoon, you'll arrive at your final destination of the day, Villa de Leyva, where you will stay the night.

Here you’ll take a quick tour with your guide, before enjoying a wonderful evening stroll through the cobblestone streets lit with the romantic light of the lanterns dotting the walls of the colonial buildings.

Villa de Leyva - Bogota

Day 4: Travel to the Magical Villa de Leyva

After breakfast, you'll enjoy a tour of the most important locations in and around Villa de Leyva.

Your tour will include the Monasterio Del Santo Eccehomo, a beautiful monastery built on a hillside and consisting of a cloister, church, cemetery and plaza, as well as the Terracotta House, the largest piece of pottery in the world, and the Fossil Museum, where you can see, touch, and feel the bones of dinosaurs that once roamed the Earth.

After your tour of Villa de Leyva is complete, start your journey back to Bogotá, with a photo-stop at the Boyacá Bridge, one of the most important bridges in Colombian history and the location of the “Battle of Boyacá.”

Salento

Day 5: Transfer to Quaint Salento

Take a morning flight and a transfer to your finca on the outskirts of Salento.

Once here, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your surroundings for the remainder of the day, or if you prefer we can organize an additional tour to see some of the beautiful nearby towns, such as Marsella, Pijao or Cordoba.

Salento - Filandia

Day 6: Explore the Wax Palm Forest in Cocora Valley

You will be collected from your finca and taken on a wonderful drive to Cocora Valley, were you will stroll through the amazing Wax Palm Forest. You’ll find a sense of peace and belonging here unlike anything you've ever experienced.

Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a walking tour of Salento, including the famous Calle Real and the mirador, where you’ll have a sensational view over the valleys far below.

Next, you’re off to a coffee tour in an amazing boutique coffee finca.

Here you’ll not only learn about the entire production process from seed to cup, but you’ll also discover how the owner of this finca is one of the few who can create the perfect coffee bean without the use of any machinery.

Salento - Medellin

Day 7: Enjoy the Lush Thermal Hot Springs of Santa Rosa

Today you will take a trip to the magical location of the Thermal Hot Springs of Santa Rosa. Surrounded by a tropical jungle, you’ll wade through and soak up the mineral-rich waters in this amazing scenery.

Wander through these beautiful grounds and gaze at the unbelievable view of the waterfall.

On your way back, you'll have the option to take a small detour to discover the amazingly colorful town of Filandia.

Medellin

Day 8: Travel to Innovative Medellin

You'll be transferred to Pereira Airport in style in a private Willys Jeep, to catch a flight to Medellín. On arrival, you'll be collected and taken to your hotel for check-in and given a little “me-time” to freshen up before going on a magnificent city tour starting in Plaza Botero, and including a tram and cable car ride. Your expert guide will explain every part of the good, bad, and the sometimes-ugly history of this fantastic city.

Guatape

Day 9: Discover the Breathtaking Guatape Lake

You’ll be driven through some of the most beautiful scenery on to the replica town of Old Peñol. 

This town was actually flooded and is the bottom of Guatape Lake now. The only part of the original town that is still visible is the church spiral that sticks out of the water.

After you have walked through the replica overlooking Guatape Lake, you'll carry on to the big rock known as El Peñol. Climb to the top and enjoy the stunning views all around you.

After you've returned to ground level, you'll be driven to the nearby Guatape Town, where you’ll enjoy a walking tour of the cobblestone streets lined with colorful buildings.

Next you'll have a choice of making your way back to explore Medellín some more or first enjoying a boat cruise on Guatape Lake.

San Rafael - Medellin

Day 10: Tour the Historical Town of Santa Fe de Antioquia

Your first stop of the day will be a fantastic succulent farm with over 3000 varieties of exotic species. In addition to walking through the heavenly garden, you’ll be able to meet the owner, who has been running this family farm for over 30 years.

The next stop is a cable car ride across lush valleys filled with farms of everything you can image, as well as beautiful trees and rivers.

Following this, you will carry on to the historical town of Santa Fe de Antioquia. Through a guided tour, you will discover buildings dating back to colonial times and learn about the history of the church that was never completed.

After you've wandered these stone streets and taken as many photos as your heart desires, you will continue on to the Western Bridge.

Medellin

Day 11: Free Day or Tour of Comuna 13

Enjoy a free day exploring Medellín at your own pace, or take a tour of Comuna 13.

This neighborhood was once one of the most dangerous in Colombia, but now it's covered with amazing murals and graffiti and visited by thousands of tourists every year.

On this optional tour, you can enjoy a cable car ride and fruit tasting and have the chance to ride the outdoor escalators, which helped transform this neighborhood into what it is today.

Medellin - Santa Marta

Day 12: Travel to the Beautiful Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

Welcome to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta!

Arrive at any time. Your driver will be waiting to collect you from the airport and take you to your hotel. Depending on the hotel style you choose, you will be staying in the historic sector of Santa Marta or surrounded by wild jungle and vegetation.

There are no activities planned for this day, so just relax at the nearest beach or let your curiosity be your guide. If you arrive early, we may be able to organize an additional tour for you.

Minca

Day 13: Tour a Cacao Plantation

Travel to the small town of Minca, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and explore this wonderful little mountain town full of artisan shops.

Enjoy a tour of a Cacao Plantation, hidden waterfalls, a bamboo house, and some exotic bird watching.

Cabo San Juan

Day 14: Explore the Amazing Tayrona National Park

You’ll be taken to Tayrona National Park and enjoy an ecological walk through the jungle, visiting 4 beaches including Arenillas, La Piscina, Los Arrecifes and Cabo San Juan.

You’ll learn about the local environment and the native animals that can be seen and/or heard around you. You'll also find out which beaches are safe to swim in, which indigenous peoples are from this area, and what they do while Tayrona Park is closed for a month every year.

Once you’ve arrived in Cabo San Juan, you can enjoy some relaxing beach time, explore the area, or partake in watersports such as snorkeling. You'll go for another walk through the jungle on the way back to your waiting transportation.

Tayronaka

Day 15: Endless Possibilities for Fun

Relax and make your own plans for today, or enjoy one of two additional tour options.

The first option is visiting a Kogi Indigenous Village. You'll be driven up the coast to the beautiful seaside town of Palomino. After some time exploring this town, you'll ride on the back of a motorbike through some magnificent scenery to the Kogi village of Tungueca. Here, you'll enjoy visiting and interacting with both young and old Kogi people for approximately an hour, before heading off to take a refreshing swim in some spectacular waterfalls nearby.

Alternatively, enjoy another excursion into the magical Tayrona Park. This time you'll enjoy different scenery, a lookout over the Seven Waves beach, 2 boat rides, and 4-5 hours on the spectacular Playa Crystal beach.

Santa Marta - Cartagena

Day 16: Travel to Charming Cartagena

Relax on a morning drive along the coast and through the mountains to the stunning walled city of Cartagena.

Once here, you’ll check into your new hotel and enjoy some free time before your city tour. This tour combines the best of both worlds, leading you through the important historical sites during the day, and letting you experience its magic atmosphere by moonlight as well.

Rosario Islands

Day 17: Tour the Gorgeous Rosario Islands

Your driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Pier de la Bodeguita where a speedboat will be waiting to take you on a breathtaking ocean cruise touring the Rosario Islands.

You'll also be assigned your personal beach space, which will be exclusive to yourself and members of your group. You'll have the full day to relax or try your hand at snorkeling, paddle boarding, or kayaking.

Cartagena

Day 18: Optional Mud Bath at the Totumo Mud Volcano

Enjoy any parts of Cartagena you haven’t yet explored or take an optional Mangrove and Mud-Volcano Tour.

Explore the Cartagena Mangroves in a canoe skippered by an expert local fisherman. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a walk through the community to see how the locals truly live.

Next you’ll enjoy a fabulous traditional Caribbean lunch including coconut rice, fried fish, green salad and patacones (banana fritters).

After lunch, you’ll enjoy a mud bath in the mineral-rich, world famous Volcán de Lodo El Totumo (mud volcano of Totumo), with locals helping you massage the mud onto your body. At the end of your mud bath, a group of women in the Totumo Marsh will clean you up.

After this relaxing treatment, head to the beautiful beaches of Manzanillo del Mar, where you can enjoy a swim in the tropical waters.

Cartagena

Day 19: Bye-Bye, Colombia!

It's time to say goodbye to this marvellous country. Take one last stroll around the colorful streets and savour your last bites of the local delicacies. We’ll have transport waiting to take you to the airport at your desired time.

It has been a long, fun-packed trip, but you'll surely find yourself yearning to come back for more. We hope to see you back in Colombia again soon!