Highlights of Colombia

Arrive Bogotá to start your Highlights of Colombia trip.  Meet your English-speaking guide and transfer to hotel x 2 nights in Bogota

After breakfast we meet our guide to start exploring the Colombian capital city.  We start with a walk through the old town, La Candelaria, with its colonial architecture and the main square Plaza Bolivar. Visit the famous Gold Museum, which houses the world’s greatest collection of pre-Hispanic Indian gold artefacts and jewellery. Then we have a trip to the top of the Monserrate Hill offering a spectacular view of the city, and finish today with a visit to Paloquemao, an authentic market place, where we will see and taste typical fruits.

Today we transfer to Bogota airport and fly to Neiva. On arrival, we have a half day guided tour to the Tatacoa desert, arriving in time for a 2 hour walk in the desert to enjoy the sunset. Transfer to our hotel in Neiva x 1 night.

We begin a 4-5 hour overland trip on the road that follows the Magdalena River, to San Agustín. It is here that some of the most significant archaeological relics in South America have been found.  On arrival, transfer to hotel x 2 nights. In the afternoon we visit the Archaeological Park, including the Mesitas and the Fuente Ceremonial de Lavapatas.

After breakfast we will head to the famous Strait of the Río Magdalena where the water is forced through a gully only 4m wide.  The surrounding countryside and landscape is incredibly beautiful and full of dense vegetation.

We continue our journey from San Agustin to Popayan (4-5 hours by road), crossing the beautiful Puracé National Park. We will pass through some typical Colombian landscapes such as the Andean cloud forest and the Paramos. Arrive Popayan, known as the White City, and guided walking tour. Accommodation x 1 night.

Transfer from Popayan to the Coffee Region with a short stop in Buga, where we will visit the famous Basilica del Señor de los Milagros. Continue to Armenia in the heart of the Coffee Region. 3 nights at a typical hacienda hotel.

After breakfast we visit the coffee farm right next to the hacienda and learn about Colombian Highland coffee production. In the afternoon visit the botanical garden and the butterfly farm.

Today we visit Valle de Cocora, one of the most beautiful valleys in Colombia. Here one will find the impressive Palma de Cera, the Colombian national tree and one of the tallest species of palm in the world. On the way back to Armenia we visit Salento, a picturesque village with artisan and crafts shops.

Free morning to relax at the hacienda. Road transfer to Medellín (approx. 5 hours) known as the City of Eternal Spring due to its pleasant all year round climate.  Check into local hotel x 2 nights.

After breakfast we explore Medellín, a city which best represents the enormous changes in Colombia.  Visit San Antonio Park, Plaza de San Ignacio, the traditional Avenida La Playa and the Sculpture Park, which contains more than 20 Botero sculptures. The tour finishes with a trip by cable car to visit the Biblioteca de Espana.

Today we leave the Andean region  and fly direct to Cartagena on the Caribbean Coast. Private transfer to our hotel in the Old City x 3 nights. Cartagena  has the best preserved colonial architecture in the country and in 1984 was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the evening we will have a walking tour through the beautiful Old City and along the city walls with views over the sea.

After breakfast, we visit to the Convent of La Popa (the highest point of the city) and the Castillo de San Felipe, an immense historic fortress overlooking the city. Leaving the castle, we visit the monument of Zapatos Viejos, the “Old Shoes”. Rest of day free to explore or relax.

Today is a free day, with optional tours such as a half day trip to La Boquilla, a former fishing village where you will be taken out by locals in dugout canoes to explore the mangrove marshes, or to take a boat for a group day trip to the nearby Rosario islands to enjoy the pristine white sandy beaches and clear waters. Cost of these optional tours not included.

After breakfast, free time to enjoy the last hours in Cartagena, transfer to the airport and flight to Bogota to connect with international flight home. Alternatively you could book an optional extended programme (see Optional Tour Extension tab).