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Capital to Cartagena

10 days

Trace the turbulent history and admire the progress of Colombia as you get acquainted with some of its major cities. Be blown away by Bogota, marvel at Medellin and be captivated by Cartagena as you delve deep into the most fascinating parts of Colombian culture on this 10 day adventure.

For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes

Tour Overview

Duration

10 days

Starts

Bogota

Ends

Range

Private

Tour Guide

Yes - for included sightseeing

Group Size

Min 2 / Max N/A

Minimum age

5 yrs, accompanied by an adult

Departs

Any day of the year

Hotel Rating

3 - 4 star (superior hotels available on request)

Countries

Colombia

Arrival Transfer

Yes

Departure Transfer

Yes

Meals included

Breakfast: 9, Lunch: 5
Per Person From

Tour Highlights

Medellin - Stay in this city that is famous for its pleasant weather, it earns the nickname “the City of Eternal Spring”
Bogota – Enjoy a tour of Colombia’s capital city, taking in Paloquemao’s Market, the colonial quarter of La Candelaria and the prominent Plaza de Bolivar. Also visit the Museo del Oro and Museo de Botero
Zipaquira – Marvel at the spectacular Salt Cathedral and Stations of the Cross, all hewn from the salt mine tunnels under the Halite Mountains
Sutatausa – Admire the excellently preserved paintings in the town’s colonial church, dating back to the 17th century
Raquira – Visit this artist town, famous for its pottery colourful buildings and colony of artisans. Nearby is the Monasterio La Candelaria, the first convent built in Latin America
Villa de Leyva – Explore this colonial town and its beautiful architectural features, from wooden baloncies and arches to heavy wooden and brass laden doors
Filandia – Overlook the city from the Colinda Illuminada view point
Cocora Valley – Sample the local cocktail of canelazo and plant a wax palm, Colombia’s national tree and the tallest variety of palm tree in the world
Salento – Visit this charming town with its preserved colonial bahareque architecture and streets lined with restaurants, bars and shops
Hacienda Combia – Join a shared tour of this coffee farm, allowing you the opportunity to learn about the elements, conditions and the technical processes needed to go Colombian coffee
Botanical & Butterfly Garden – Stroll through this garden home to over 1500 butterflies and a variety of local flora and bird species
Cartagena – Join a walking tour including stops at the Convento de la Popa, the Castillo de San Felipe and a stroll through the markets of La Bovedas
Food Tour – Join a culinary tour of Cartagena, stopping off at seven authentic food stops to sample the local cuisine

Included

9 breakfasts and 5 lunches
9 nights 3-4 star hotels - upgrade to superior accommodation available on request
Airport arrival and departure transfer on day 1 and day 10
Services of local English-speaking specialist guides
Entrance fees to all sites and activities as described in the itinerary
All relevant transfers and transportation

Not Included

International flights and visas
Tipping – an entirely personal gesture
Domestic flights – South American airpasses are available with LATAM and other airline carriers when booked in conjunction with international flights, offering significant savings on domestic flights. Please ask a member of the team for more information.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Bogota

After touching down at the El Dorado International Airport, you will and transferred your hotel. After check-in you can freshen up and relax before starting the real fun tomorrow.

Overnight: Bogota

Day 2 - Bogota City Tour

Today starts with an early wake-up call followed by a visit to the Paloquemao Market, one of the largest and most important markets in the country. You will be able to peruse stalls selling everything from fruit and vegetables to cheese and seafood as well as some medicinal herbs. You’ll have the chance to top off this cultural experience by tasting one or two authentic Colombian snacks. From the market you will walk to the historical colonial quarter of La Candelaria, an excellent spot to snap a few photos and do some quality people watching in Plaza Bolivar.

Continuing the tour, you will be taken to the top of the forested mountains in the East to Cerro de Monserrate, home to a stunning white Catholic Church. The Museo del Oro (Gold Museum), which holds one of the largest displays of pre-Colombian gold in the world and the Museo de Botero conclude the tour.

Overnight: Bogota
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3 - Zipaquira & Raquira

Bogota - Zipaquira - Villa de Leyva. Today you will be driven through the residential part of Bogota and out towards the fertile plateau to Zipaquira. Here, you will get a chance to witness the magnificent architecture of the Stations of the Cross and the Three Naves, sculptures that have been hewn from the salt mine tunnels under the Halite Mountains. The next stop is in Sutatausa, the site of a beautiful colonial church that contains a collection of stunning paintings.

After a stop at a traditional Andean restaurant, where you can purchase a bite to eat, you will be taken to Raquira, a small town that has gained fame for its pottery and colourful buildings. You will get the chance to visit a clay pot factory and learn about the traditional production processes of this handicraft. A tour through the Monasterio La Candelaria, a nearby convent, winds up the day before you are whisked off to Villa de Leyva, where you will spend the evening.

Overnight: Villa de Leyva
Meals: Breakfast

Days 4-5 - Medellin

Villa de Leyva - Medellin. From Villa de Leyva you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport in Bogota in time for a short flight across the country to Medellin. On arrival, you will be met at the airport by one of our representatives and taken to your hotel.

The following day you will be picked up from your hotel and taken on a Social Transformation Tour, an eight hour journey that will take you through Medellin’s progress as a city, from its drug trafficking days in the 80s and 90s through to its modern successes. The tour starts by visiting the Monaco Building, la Virgen de los Sicarios and Pablo Escobar’s Tomb in the Central Cemetery. These three sites form an introduction to Pablo Escobar and the social problems created by his cartel. Various parks and museums crop up throughout the rest of the day, along with a cable car journey before you head to one Medellin’s trendiest zones for some bar-hopping and merry-making.

Overnight: Medellin
Meals: Breakfast x2, Lunch

Day 6 - Zona Cafetera

Medellin - Zona Cafetera. It’s time to learn all about one of Colombia’s most popular crops – coffee. Follow the path that the Antioquian colonisers took as they transported coffee from Medellin across to the Andean West region of Colombia. You will be driven through the south of the Aburra Valley, where breathtaking scenery will become the norm and the coffee plantation reigns supreme. A tour through Jardin breaks up the day as a guide details the history of the town and shows you its main spots.

Overnight: Zona Cafetera
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 - Filandia, Salento & Cocora Valley

Get ready for an action packed day as we set off for the traditional village of Filandia, where you will get a chance to tour the colonial streets and check out Quindio’s Viewpoint for stunning vistas of the Coffee Triangle. Next, you get a dose of natural beauty in the Cocora Valley, home of the wax palm, Colombia’s national tree. After drinking your welcoming cup of canelazo you will be guided through the misty forest and taught about the different plants. Finish up by planting your own wax palm as part of the region’s conservation efforts. The day ends with you perusing the restaurants and boutiques of Salento.

Overnight: Zona Cafetera
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 - Coffee and butterflies

Zona Cafetera - Cartagena. Start the day with a hearty breakfast before being taken to Haciendia Combia for a Coffee Tour, where you will learn all about the essential elements of coffee production and engage in some hands-on activities. After lunch it’s time to check out the beautiful butterflies at Quindio’s Botanical & Butterfly Garden. This magical reserve is filled with hundreds of different plants and butterflies so be sure to pack some extra batteries for your camera. Next, you will be transferred to the airport in time for a flight to Cartagena.

Overnight: Cartagena
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9 - Cartagena Sightseeing

Today, you will get to explore Cartagena, one of Colombia’s most popular, vibrant and charming cities. Experience the people, food and sights of the city, along with your English speaking guide, starting at the Convento de la Popa, the city’s highest point. From there you will visit a hilltop castle (Castillo de San Felipe) and stroll through the vaults of Las Bovedas before embarking on a tasting tour of some of Cartagena’s most delicious gastronomic delights.

Overnight: Cartagena
Meals: Breakfast

Day 10 - Cartagena

Today marks the end of your Colombian adventure. After breakfast and check-out you'll be transferred to Cartagena airport for your flight home.

Meals: Breakfast

Prices & Dates

'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers and anyone wanting the privacy of their own room, based on a travelling party of at least 2 adults. PLEASE NOTE: International and domestic flights are NOT included in the price.

Prices shown are based upon 3-4 star accommodation. An upgrade to superior (4-5 star) accommodation is available on request. Prices are indicative and may vary depending on hotel availability. If you wish to travel on a date not listed please contact us for pricing. High season supplements will apply for travel during national holidays, local festivals, Easter, Christmas and New Year dates. We can book the domestic flights on request, please contact us for a price. Please note that discounts will apply if there are 4 or more people in your travelling party, since fixed costs like transportation and guiding are shared across the group.

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