A beach in Tayrona National Park | Colombia | South America
FROM: R83,505 pp
Classic Colombia - 16 days map

Take in the highlights of captivating Colombia, wander around colonial cities, uncover sun-kissed beaches nestled in the wildlife-rich Tayrona national park and discover the ancient stone monuments of San Agustin on this 16 day adventure which starts in bustling Bogota and ends in sun-kissed Cartagena.

Inclusions
Itinerary
Prices & Dates
Hotels

Trip Highlights

Bogota - Take in the highlights of Colombia’s capital city on a guided tour
Tayrona National Park – Follow tropical trails through this dazzling national park, once home to the Tayrona Indians
The Coffee Triangle – Learn about coffee farming at local ranch in Armenia
Aracataca - Learn about the famous Latin American writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez who was born in the town
Salento – Stroll through this charming town with its preserved colonial bahareque architecture and streets lined with restaurants, bars and shops
San Agustin - Visit the UNESCO Listed San Agustin Archaeological Park with its fascinating statues
Cartagena - Stroll around the beautiful Old Town and soak up the atmosphere of Colombia's most captivating coastal town
Mompos - Take a boat trip along the Magdalena River, spotting wildlife along the riverbanks
Cocora Valley – Take a hike in the home of Colombia’s national tree, the wax palm, the tallest variety of palm tree in the world

Included

15 breakfasts
Domestic flights: Bogota to Neiva and Armenia to Santa Marta
Bogota: city tour and Gold Museum
Coffee region: tour of coffee farm, Salento and Cocora Valley
Aracataca: Marquez museum
Cartagena: city tour
All relevant transfers and transportation
15 nights 3 star hotels
Bogota airport arrival transfer on day 1 and Cartagena airport departure transfer on day 16
San Agustín: Archaeological Park and Magadelena Valley excursions
Tayrona: visit to the national park
Mompos: boat trip
Escorted by an experienced tour leader with the services of local guides

Not Included

International flights and visas
Tipping – an entirely personal gesture

Itinerary

Day 1

Bogota

Saturday. Hola Colombia! Upon arrival at Bogota airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon we embark on a guided tour through the city's cobbled streets, passing through the fascinating colonial area of Candelaria with its fine historical buildings, including churches and the presidential palace. Then we visit the Botero museum where we see the art and sculptures of Colombia’s most famous artist. Our final stop is the city's famous Gold Museum which houses more than 50,000 pieces of gold.

Please note: we recommend booking flights to arrive into Bogota before midday, in order to join the city tour which usually starts at approximately 2pm. Pre tour accommodation can be arranged upon request.
Overnight: Bogota

Day 2

Bogota

Today is free to spend at leisure or there are some optional excursions in and around Bogota on offer including a visit to the picturesque La Sabana countryside to the centuries-old Zipaquira salt mine - which lies 200 meters beneath the earth and houses the salt cathedral whose pillars and walls are made from the gleaming salt from the mines. The excursion continues to the Guatavita Lagoon, where there is a hike to the crater-lake‘s rim for amazing views of the surroundings.
Overnight: Bogota  |  Breakfast

Day 3

San Agustin

Bogota - San Agustin. After breakfast we’re transferred to the airport for a quick one-hour flight to Neiva. We then continue our journey with a 4-hour drive through emerald green hills and coffee plantations until we reach the town of San Agustin. This pretty little town, which was once the neutral ground used to trade and worship by Magdalena and Cauca indigenous cultures, is our base for the next three nights. The town is home to attractive colonial houses and churches, cobbled streets and shady plazas.
Overnight: San Agustin  |  Breakfast

Day 4

San Agustin archaeological park

We spend our day exploring the remarkable San Agustin archaeological park, which is home to over 100 statues, some of which date back to 3,300 BC. Alongside the statues are the burial houses which were used to make human sacrifices and offerings to the gods. We spend some time marveling at the beauty of the countryside and have the opportunity to hike into the surrounding area, to the Fuente de Lavapatas, a fountain set on a bed of carved rocks in the creek.
Overnight: San Agustin  |  Breakfast

Day 5

Magdalena Canyon

Today we enjoy an excursion to the Magdalena Canyon passing through sugar plantations and steep gorges. We have time to explore the canyon and see the huge figures caved into the rocks of the canyons walls, with some free-standing stones sculpted into animals while the river crashes below us.
Overnight: San Agustin  |  Breakfast

Day 6

Popayan

San Agustin - Popayan. This morning finds us driving through rugged hills until we descend to the university town of Popayan, a stately colonial town often referred to as the ‘White City’ due to the abundance of white-walled buildings and cathedral in the centre. The city was founded in 1537 by the Spanish Conquistador Sebastian de Belalcazar and played an important role in colonial times as a rest stop for the miners transporting the gold between Lima, Quito and Cartagena before it was sent to Spain. In March 1983 an earthquake shook the city, caving in the cathedral roof which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people, and despite other earthquakes since then the city has maintained its charm and character. We spend the night at leisure.
Overnight: Popayan  |  Breakfast

Days 7-9

The Coffee Region

Popayan - Armenia. From Popayan it's a 5-hour drive to the heart of the coffee region where we spend three days relaxing and walking along the trails of colourful flora, fauna and fresh coffee. On arrival there is a guided tour of a local farm where we gain insight into the regions agriculture and learn about fruit and coffee production including the picking, de-pulping, washing, drying and roasting of the beans.

Day 8 will be spent driving to the traditional village of Salento, where we have free time to wander through the streets and admire the houses adorned with balconies bursting with flowers, and sit back and bask in the view of the Cordillera Central mountain range emerging from behind the buildings. The afternoon finds us heading east of Salento to the beautiful nature reserve of Valle de la Cocora, home of Colombia’s national tree, the wax palm which grows over 3000m. We follow the well market path to the top of the valley for views of mountains’ foothills.

On the last day in the region there is an optional visit to the Botanical Gardens at Calarca and follow the series of natural trails, passing tropical flowers until we reach the insect museum and enclosed butterfly garden. Alternatively, there is the option to explore the surrounding areas on a horse-riding excursion.
Overnight: Armenia  |  Breakfast x 3

Days 10-11

Santa Marta & Tayrona NP

Armenia - Santa Marta. Flying via Bogota we arrive at the oldest city in Colombia and the first one settled by the Spanish, Santa Marta, which is our base for the next two nights. The city has an important historical centre and a beautiful old town, and it is most famous for being the birthplace of the great liberator Simon Bolivar. We spend the rest of the evening at leisure exploring the city.

On day 11 we embark on an excursion to the beautiful Tayrona National Park, which was once home to the indigenous Tayrona Indians and has some of the best coastline on the continent. Tayrona is perfect for a spot of escapism. We have the day here to follow the tree-covered trails through the tropical forest, with monkeys swinging above our heads, until we reach the secluded beaches where roads and cars have no access. You can snorkel in the reefs, visit some of the local villages in the nearby mountains or hike through the dense rainforest, stumbling across ancient pre-Columbian ruins reclaimed by the jungle.
Overnight: Santa Marta  |  Breakfast x 2

Days 12-13

Mompos

Santa Marta - Mompos. We board our bus this morning and make our way to the provincial town of Aracataca, the famous birth place of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, one of Latin America’s most famous writers. Born in the town in 1927, his family home is now a museum and we take some time to follow in the footsteps of this iconic writer.

Our afternoon journey continues past banana and palm oil plantations until we reach the 16th century town of Mompos. Situated on the eastern banks of the Magdalena River the town resembles something out of one of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s novels, with the whitewashed colonial mansions and buildings which were once home to Spanish merchants, who used the town as a stopping off point on the trade route to Cartagena. The rest of the day is at leisure.

On day 13 we embark on a boat trip along the banks of the wildlife-rich Magdalena River, which is home to cormorants, white heron and iguanas. Our last night in Mompos is at leisure.
Overnight: Mompos  |  Breakfast x 2

Day 14

Cartagena

Mompos - Cartagena. Today we travel back to the Caribbean coast and the famous city of Cartagena. Our final destination, is one of the most interesting colonial towns on the continent. On arrival we have the rest of the day to wander the streets of the city and soak up the mix of Caribbean and African influences. There are several interesting sites to see such as Castillo San Felipe and the fortress on San Lazaro hill. Beneath this fortress is a maze of tunnels and there are still cannons in place along the battlements. Also worthwhile is a trip up La Popa hill to visit the colourful convent with great views over the city. The Boca Grande area of Cartagena is where Colombians come for their beach holidays and it is full of shops, nightclubs and bars. Near Cartagena is the Volcan de Lodo El Totumo, a mud volcano where you can relax and wallow in the mud, which is believed to be a good treatment for the skin.
Overnight: Cartagena  |  Breakfast

Day 15

Cartagena

Our morning is spent walking through the streets of the Caribbean’s most romantic colonial city. Founded in 1533, this city quickly became the main Spanish port in the Caribbean, and a prime target for pirates when native treasure was stored in the city while waiting to be shipped back to Spain. In a bid to protect their loot the Spanish constructed walls around the city which still encircle the town. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Make your way to the old town square to watch some of the Cumbia dance performances or sit in one of the cafes lining the walkway to sip on a drink and look out onto the sea.
Overnight: Cartagena  |  Breakfast

Day 16

Cartagena

Sunday. Transfer to Cartagena airport for your onward flight or consider extending your stay to relax by the coast. We can book post tour accommodation upon request.
Breakfast

Prices & Dates

Departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 4 persons. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room.

Read More
Guaranteed Departure
2024
Twin Share
Single Room
R83,505
R96,155
2025
Twin Share
Single Room
R83,505
R96,155
R83,505
R96,155
R83,505
R96,155
R83,505
R96,155
R83,505
R96,155
R83,505
R96,155

Extra Prices

Twin Share
Single Room
Pre Tour Accommodation - Bogota
R1,425
R2,365
Post Tour Accommodation - Cartagena
R1,805
R3,105
Bogota Airport Transfer (Per Car)
R1,765
R1,765
Cartagena Airport Transfer (Per Car)
R1,325
R1,325

Hotels

The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.

Hotel Casa Deco, Bogota

Our Category:    |   Regional Category:

Centrally located in the colonial neighbourhood of Bogota, the Casa Deco Hotel offers a home away from home in this small family run boutique property. Each guestroom is equipped with Italian furniture, private bathroom, TV, WiFi and 24 hour service. The hotel features a lovely terrace to sit and enjoy breakfast or a drink at the bar while enjoying the breath-taking views of the city. Or for cooler evenings, sit in front of the fireplace.

Akawanka Lodge, San Agustin

Our Category: Standard   |   Regional Category: Standard Lodge

Surrounded by lush natural landscapes and attractive manicured gardens, the Akawanka Lodge is a peaceful nest in the mountains and the perfect base for exploring the San Agustin Archaeological Park. The rustic guestrooms are generously-sized with simple furnishings and colourful decorations. Free WiFi is available and the lodge also has an onsite restaurant and bar where guests can dine on dishes made with organic produce cultivated from the local garden. It's possible to book mountain bike expeditions, rafting and canoeing trips, and excursions to the local waterfalls through the lodge.

Hotel La Plazuela, Popayan

Our Category: Standard   |   Regional Category: 3 Star Hotel

Set in converted 18th century mansion in the heart of Popayan, is the charming Hotel La Plazuela. Each guestroom provides a private bathroom, TV, WiFi and room service. You can enjoy local and fusion cuisine in the onsite restaurant , then head out to explore in the evening - you’ll find plenty of bars close by.

La Casa Amarilla, Mompos

Our Category:    |   Regional Category:

Nestled in the historic Santa Barbara Plaza, just in front of the Magdalena River is the charming colonial Casa Marilla Hotel. Set in a converted 17th century home, the hotel offers a home away from home. Each air-conditioned guestroom features a private bathroom and LCD TV. The highlight of this property however, has to be the rooftop terrace, which offers spectacular views of the river and is perfect to enjoy the sunset before heading out in the evening to explore – you’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants close by.

Hotel 3 Banderas, Cartagena

Our Category: Standard   |   Regional Category: 3 Star Hotel

Located in the historic centre of Cartagena, the boutique Hotel 3 Banderas is surrounded by fascinating museums, monuments, galleries, restaurants, and bars. The spacious and comfortable rooms include a private bathroom, air conditioning, WIFI, cable TV, and a minibar. This colourful and tropically decorated hotel features a rooftop terrace and pool which offer panoramic views of the narrow, historic streets of Cartagena below. A waterfall garden and two patios are also available for guests to escape the sun and unwind after exploring the city.

At a Glance

Range
Trip Type
Starts
Bogota
Ends
Cartagena
Departs
Saturdays
Group Size
Min 4 / Max 20
Hotel Rating
3 star
Tour Guide
Yes - escorted by tour leader
Meals
Breakfast: 15
Countries
Minimum Age
12 yrs, accompanied by an adult
Arr. Transfer
No
Dep. Transfer
No
The skyline of the financial district in Bogota, the capital of Colombia
A typical stone statue preserved in the San Agustin archaeological park
Looking out across the attractive white-washed mansions and their rooftops in Popayan
The vivid blue waters of the coast along Santa Marta
Old meets new with the churches and skyscrapers of Cartagena in Colombia
Old meets new with the churches and skyscrapers of Cartagena in Colombia
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