COLOMBIA HIGHLIGHTS ADVENTURE
COLOMBIA HIGHLIGHTS ADVENTURE
from £2,299.00Dates and Prices
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Join other Solo Adventurers on this amazing 14 day adventure through South America’s most alluring colonial kingdom, and discover why Colombia has been chosen as the place to be this year. Begin your trip in the country’s colonial-come-cosmopolitan capital, Bogotá, home to many brilliant museums. Travel north to the picturesque village of Villa de Leyva, Colombia’s most famous colonial town. Marvel at the stunning Cocora Valley, famous for its giant wax palm trees. Wander the streets of lively Medellín, one of South America’s most exciting cities. Explore the Tayrona National Park or relax on the unspoilt Caribbean beaches of Palomino. And finally, finish your Colombia tour in the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage town of Cartagena, where a perfectly preserved colonial town gives you a glimpse into the country’s colourful past. So, what are you waiting for?
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- All tours and activities as outlined in the itinerary
- 3 and 4 star hotels inc breakfast and one night in desert camp
- Private minibus throughout
- Arrival airport transfer
- Prices based on sharing a twin room (single room option available at additional cost, this varies on trip so please get in touch to find out the cost)
- Experienced and trusted guides throughout the trip
ITINERARY
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DAY 1
Welcome to Colombia -
DAY 2
Bogota City Tour -
DAY 3
Armenia- Visit to a Coffee Farm -
DAY 4
Salento & Cocora Valley Tour -
DAY 5
Cookery class to learn about typical local Cuisine -
DAY 6
Armenia to Medellin -
DAY 7
Medellin City Experience Tour -
DAY 8
Tour to the beautiful lake town of Guatapé -
DAY 9
Arrive in Palamino -
DAY 10
Tayrona National Park -
DAY 11
Travel Palomino – Cartagena & Salsa Class -
DAY 12
Cartagena City Tour -
DAY 13
Rosario Islands -
DAY 14
Bid a fond farewell to Colombia
YOUR ITINERARY
Welcome to Colombia
On Arrival at Bogotá’s airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. There will be a welcome dinner arranged for the evening.
Bogota City Tour
After breakfast you will start your city tour. First, you will walk through La Candelaria, Bogotá’s historic centre, and afterwards you will visit the famous Gold Museum. You will also take the cable car up to Cerro Monserrate, which has a great view over Bogotá at an altitude of 3000 meters. You will also see the beautiful graffiti of the city and visit a local market.
Armenia- Visit to a Coffee Farm
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Armenia. On arrival we will start a coffee tour, you will start with a nice coffee tasting to learn how to distinguish between different qualities of coffee. Afterwards you will walk to the plantations, where you will learn not only about the coffee plants but also about the local flora and fauna, and indigenous traditions such as the braiding of the bamboo baskets that are used by the coffee pickers. You will also visit the ‘beneficiadero’, where the coffee beans are processed after the harvest.
Salento & Cocora Valley Tour
After breakfast we will drive to the Cocora Valley. Upon arrival in the Cocora Valley, you will be welcomed with a traditional canelazo (herbal tea with aguardiente), and you will meet the eco-guide specialized in this nature reserve who will give you an introduction to the Cocora Valley. Afterwards, you will start walking through the valley with its iconic wax palms. This palm tree species can grow up to 60 meters and can only be found in this region. The walk between the surrealistic wax palms and the waves of fog that give the valley a mystic feel, is an unforgettable experience. You will also plant a new wax palm. Back in Salento, the guide will take you for a walk through the colourful streets with traditional whitewashed Paisa houses that have balconies in all colours of the rainbow. You’ll also pay a visit to some workshops of local artisans and walk to a viewpoint for the best view over Salento and the valley.
Cookery class to learn about typical local Cuisine
Today’s adventure will be all about traditional gastronomy. You will be driven from your accommodation to the town of Santa Rosa de Cabal in Risaralda. First you will visit the local market, known as “the village gallery”, where you will have a fruit tasting and interact with the vendors of agricultural products. After buying a list of ingredients, you will be taken to Hacienda Santa Clara, on the outskirts of town, where you will cook over a wood fire. The host will give you all the instructions to prepare the main dish: the famous Sancocho soup, as well as the typical arepas with chorizo, juice, and salad. After which you can enjoy eating the food you have prepared.
Armenia to Medellin
You will be picked up at the hotel for your flight to Medellin. Colombia’s second city, Medellín, used to have a bad reputation as the city of drug trafficker Escobar. But from those dark pages in its history, the city has undergone a remarkable transformation, and now Medellín is one of the most progressive and entertaining metropolises in Latin America. An ingenious public transport system with cable cars and even escalators was introduced, which connect the ´barrios´ with the rest of the city. Parks and cultural facilities were also built throughout the city. And then there are its residents, the proud Paisas, who always have fun and are always chatting on the streets. The city is located in a green valley, and thanks to its good climate, it has the nickname “The City of Eternal Spring”. Most tourists stay in the El Poblado neighborhood, an area with many gourmet restaurants, designer shops, and cafés. Of course, there are also plenty of places worth visiting outside of El Poblado, such as the museums, city parks, Envigado’s working-class district, the bustling Laureles district and the cable cars that allow you to see the city from a great height. It is not without reason that the Paisas are so proud of their Medellín.
Medellin City Experience Tour
After breakfast you will start a tour of the city and here you will visit, among others, the square of the famous Colombian artist Botero, with a special collection of his characteristic ‘chubby’ statues. After the tour of the centre, you will take the cable car up to the Santo Domingo district, where you will walk to the viewpoint for the best view of the city. Santo Domingo was still considered a no-go area with a lot of poverty and gang violence in the nineties, but thanks to the innovative city policy it changed into a pleasant working-class neighbourhood.
Tour to the beautiful lake town of Guatapé
After breakfast you will derive 2 hours outside Medellin to start your day trip to to Guatapé and the Piedra de Peñol rock. You will climb the 740 steps of Piedra de Peñol, which is millions of years old, a 220-meter-high rock formation that offers an incredible views of the mountains, the town and the gigantic Peñol-Guatapé reservoir. You will have a traditional lunch in the town of Guatapé and then explore the lake by boat. There will also be time to explore the colourful colonial town with its houses painted in all colours and narrow cobblestone streets
Arrive in Palamino
We will take a flight to Santa Marta and then transfer to Palamino , passing along the Caribbean sea and Tayrona Park.
Tayrona National Park
Today we have an early transfer from the hotel to the park entrance, and the local guide will take you for a walk through the jungle. Get your camera ready, because you will be able to spot capuchin monkeys, colorful toucans, and other exotic animal species. You will walk to the white beaches of Tayrona, where you can swim, eat some fresh fish or just relax and enjoy the Caribbean view. In the afternoon, you will be brought back to the hotel
Travel Palomino – Cartagena & Salsa Class
After breakfast we will drive from Palomino to Cartagena takes (+/- 6 hours). It is a scenic drive along the coast with beautiful views of the mountains of the Sierra Nevada and the Caribbean Sea. Later you will learn about the salsa history in the popular Salsa Bar Quiebra Canto and benefit from the exclusive music collection from our host, Lácides Patrón. Lácides is originally from Cartagena and has more than eighteen years of experience of sharing the magic of the interesting history. Discover the secrets of the salsa world. Lácides’ music collection is one of the biggest in Colombia. Whilst learning about salsa you have the opportunity, to learn and practice the different salsa rhythms
Cartagena City Tour
After breakfast you will start exploring Cartagena one of the oldest historic cities. You will pay a visit to the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, the biggest colonial fortress ever built by the Spaniards. Visiting the huge, stone fortress with a maze of dark alleys, towers and cannons is an adventure. You could easily imagine that you’ve travelled a few centuries back in time. You will also be visiting Parque Bolívar, Las Bóvedas, Santuario de San Pedro Claver and Plaza de los Coches
Rosario Islands
In the morning you will be picked up from the hotel to be taken to the port from where you will go to the Rosario Islands by boat. Once there, you can relax on the private beach. There are several optional activities, such as snorkeling, which can be organized on site. The typical Colombian lunch is included as well as towel service.
Bid a fond farewell to Colombia
Today you will bid a fond farewell to Colombia and be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
IMPORTANT NOTES
Check FCO Travel Advice and Entry Requirements
Visa Requirements
Vaccinations and Health Advice
Travel Insurance
Packing List and other Useful information
- Backpack or day bag
- https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/colombia/
- Sun protection - hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
- Travel wipes/ Hand sanitizer/Face Mask
- Insect repellent
- Comfortable Walking shoes/trainers
- Swimwear for beach time
- Clothing- You will need to pack for a mix of weathers as different parts of the country can have different climates, so would also include a light rain jacket
- Medication – If you are carrying prescribed medication, you will need to carry a doctor’s note with you to verify this.
CURRENCY
