Highlights of Colombia | Trip Itinerary

Note:  This tour is a suggested, customized itinerary that is very flexible. We can make changes in hotels, excursions and destinations to suit your travel dates, style and budget. Short on time?  We can easily reduce your trip to a 7 day itinerary to Bogota and Cartagena (these prices also quoted in our "Prices" tab--or any combination of these cities.

Day 1: Arrival in Bogotá. After clearing customs and immigration, you are met by an nEnglish speaking guide and transferred to your select hotel.
Bogotá is the capital of the Republic of Colombia. The city is located on the high plateau called ‘Sabana de Bogota’, at an altitude of 2640 meters (8600 feet) above sea level, surrounded by the eastern range of the Andes. It was founded in 1538 by the Spaniard Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada. Since that time and mostly since the end of World War II, Bogotá has grown rapidly to a real metropolis. The actual population of the city is about 7 million inhabitants. Because of the fast growing development of Bogotá, you will see many contrasts, such as skyscrapers standing side by side with old houses of one level or high-powered automobiles sharing a modern expressway with mule carts.

Day 2: Full Day Bogotá  City Tour, including Paloquemao market, Monserrate viewpoint and monastery, La Candelaria Historical district, the Botero Museum and Gold Museum.
Meet your private guide at your hotel for the drive into the historical center of Bogota. Your first stop will be the Paloquemao market. The second largest market in the city and one of the most important retailers in the country, Paloquemao offers a great insight into the life and customs of Bogotanos. Walk through the market with your guide to explore the labyrinth of stands offering a large variety of fruit, vegetables, dairy products, meats and an abundance of flowers.

A short drive from the market takes you to the base of the hill that leads up to the view point and monastery of Monserrate. Ascend to the summit by either funicular railway or cable car. From the highest point the view across the city will enable you to see the different sectors of Bogota--from La Candelaria and its terracotta tiled roofs to the high-rise business sector and across the sabana (flat plains) and off in to the distance. The new convent is a pilgrimage site for many Colombians whom make their way past the fourteen Stations of the Cross until reaching the convent. There are a few artisan shops, with others selling snacks and refreshments.

After your visit to Monserrate you’ll have some free time for lunch on your own in the historical Candelaria district.  Afterwards continue with your walking tour through the historical heart and soul of the city,  with the Plaza Bolivar (Main Square) as the focal point. Surrounding the square are several important Colonial and Republican style buildings. As you wander the streets of La Candelaria away from the main square, enjoy the unique and diverse architecture as your guide explains the history of Bogota along with the intricacies of current Colombian culture and daily life. After a refreshment stop in one of the city’s coffee houses, your tour continues with visits to two of the most important museums of the city.

The Botero Museum is a permanent exhibition of paintings and sculptor by Fernando Botero, Colombia’s most famous artist whose "oversized” art is instantly recognizable. In addition, you’ll find pieces of Botero’s private art collection featuring world famous artists such as Picasso, Dali, Monet and Van Gogh.

Next stop will be the nearby Gold Museum. This museum displays one of the finest collections of Pre-Hispanic gold in the world. Many of the works are said to be unsurpassed by goldsmiths of today and it’s easy to understand when you allow yourself time to study examples such as the Balsa Muisca (Offering boat). This golden raft is one of the focal points of the display and was the driving force in the Spaniards quest to find El Dorado. After this visit you’ll be transferred back to your hotel, with the remainder of the afternoon & evening to enjoy Bogota on your own. (B)

NOTE: The Gold Museum is closed on Mondays and the Botero Museum is closed on Tuesdays. Order of visits this day may change due to weather, operational schedules, etc.

Day 3:  Zipaquira Salt Cathedral (with option to add on Guatavita Volcano visit for a full day tour) 
Zipaquira Salt Cathedral:

For some this is a religious monument, others a celebration of engineering or maybe even an artistic masterpiece. One of the marvels of Colombia, the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is well worth the visit. For the beauty of its landscapes, the richness of its earth and the hidden jewel beneath the earth’s surface, Zipaquirá is one of the most popular visits during a stay in Bogotá.

The subtle lighting pronounces the fourteen Stations of the Cross as you descend in to the mine, each station sculpted by a different artist. At the deepest point of the cathedral, almost 600’ below the earth’s surface, you encounter the nave and the north and south aisles dominated by the 52’ high central cross. The illumination and execution of the work is a tribute to modern techniques and years of work from the miners and artists. Your guide will explain all about the cathedral’s construction and how it and the mine still function in harmony. Around the central square of the town of Zipaquirá the colonial buildings still hold their charm footed by brickwork paving and overlooked by the Cathedral Diocesana de San Antonio.

With optional extension to Guatavita: After your visit to Zipaquirá you’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Guatavita. Lake Guatavita is a circular lake in the mountains in what appears to be a meteor crater. The origins of the crater are unclear however it is reputedly one of the sacred lakes of the Muisca people, and a ritual conducted there is widely thought to be the basis for the legend of El Dorado. The legend says the lake is where the Muisca celebrated a ritual in which the Zipa (named "El Dorado" by the Conquistadores) was covered in gold dust, then venturing out into the water on a ceremonial raft made of rushes, he dived into the waters washing off the gold. Afterward, trinkets', jewelry and other precious offerings were thrown into the waters by worshipers. A few artifacts of gold and silver found at bottom hold proof to this claim; however, to date, the trips to the bottom of the lake have yielded no more than these. Your guide will expand on the many more legends associated with Lake Guatavita.  (B) (L with full day tour only)

Day 4: Bogota to Medellín. Transfer to the Airport to take your flight to Medellín.   You’ll be met on arrival and transferred to your select hotel.  Afternoon free to enjoy the area around your hotel on your own. Depending on flight times we can include some additional/optional sightseeing for you today. (B)

Day 5:  Full day Medellín experience. Morning walking tour of the city center and city highlights. Afternoon Social Transformation and Street Art Tour with outdoor electric escalators and panoramic cable car ride.
Medellín is certainly a city with a colorful history; from the city’s valiant founding fathers trekking across the Andes, through to the dark days of drug cartels to the city’s more recent rebirth as one of South Americas most vibrant & progressive destinations. Your tour this morning visits Medellín’s highlights while bringing the city to life!
Stops will include the “Plaza Botero" the famous Botero sculpture park where many giant sculptures of Colombia’s most famous artist and Medellin born sculptor Fernando Botero are exhibited. Visit Nutibara Hill and La Alpujarra Plaza before taking a ride on the city’s famous metro and cable car system to San Javier for great views of the city and a look into the geography and social make up of Colombia's second city.

Enjoy lunch before continuing with your afternoon sightseeing.  This incomparable social development tour of Medellin provides travelers with a unique opportunity to explore this vibrant community and witness the miraculous transformation of one of the region's most troubled neighborhoods known as “barrios” in Colombia.

The Comuna 13 barrio was considered one of the most violent communities in Medellin's history. The tour was developed to showcase the phenomenal transformation of the barrio through innovative and determined social and urban planning by the local government and private investors. The success of Comuna 13’s ambitious makeover can serve as an inspiration and model for troubled and neglected communities around the world.  Community leaders from the local organization Casa Kolacho guide you through the streets and pathways of this unique community. Their work with local artists encourages a message of unity through education by using performing modern arts such as hiphop music, graffiti, breakdance and DJ’ing. Most of the live art that you see on the walls and in the streets have been produced by the young people in the area. Late afternoon return to your hotel. (B, L)

Day 6:  Full-day tour to Guatapé & El Peñol rock. After breakfast meet your guide and driver for the approximately 2 hour driver to El Peñol.  This great day trip from Medellín takes you out in to the countryside of Antioquia to the giant monolith rock of El Peñol (Literally, "The stone"). Reminiscent of the sugar loaf mountain in Rio this 200-meter-high rock towers over a series of beautiful lakes with a mountain back drop. 

The top of the rock is reached by a series of 649 wooden steps that wind their way up to summit, note the steps are not for the feint hearted or those with vertigo! Upon reaching the top you are greeted with a 360 degrees bird’s eye view of the surrounding country side. Your guide will be able to explain the geography of the area and some of the unusual rock formations around the lakes below as well as point out the confiscated houses of infamous Medellín inhabitants such as Pablo Escobar.

The nearby town of Guatapé is a lakeside “get away” for the residents of Medellín and is an ideal location to explore the rural charm of Antioquia and take a leisurely walk along the waterfront or through the main town square or “parque” with its brightly painted houses and store fronts. Guatapé has a number of pretty waterfront restaurants in which to enjoy delicious lunch cooked using locally sourced ingredients. (B, L)

Day 7 (or 4):  Medellín (or Bogota) to Cartagena + Monuments Tour.  Morning transfer to the Airport to take your flight to Cartagena.   You’ll be met on arrival and transferred to your select hotel located in the historical area of the city.  
After time for lunch, you’ll be met at your hotel by our local guide to begin your afternoon tour of the La Popa Convent and San Felipe Fortress. The Convent of La Popa built at the beginning of the 17th century on the hill of the same name. From there a magnificent view of the city and the bay can be seen. The tour will then continue on to San Felipe's Fort, built in the 17th century to protect the city from marauding invaders. After a tour looking at the construction of this impregnable fortress, you’ll return to your hotel to enjoy the evening in this vibrant town.  (**Note---order of visits subject to change) (B)

Although the Colombian Coast was already known since 1501, the city of Cartagena de Indias was only founded in 1533 because the Spaniards had great problems finding fresh water in the region. The original Indian name of the area was ‘Calamari’, which means ‘Area of Crabs’. From its beginning, Catagena was the only port in South America until Buenos Aires was founded. Every year big Spanish fleets stopped there, to take gold and other products from many South American countries. The city became a center for the Inquisition and the biggest slave market on the continent.
Because of its richness, the city was a great temptation for English, French and Dutch pirates; for that reason, Cartagena had to be protected by fortresses and walls. Today Cartagena is Colombia’s fifth largest city, has the best-preserved colonial architecture in the country and is one of the most famous vacation resorts. Recently it was declared ‘Patrimony of Humanity’.

Day 8 (or 5): Cartagena-Walking City Tour, Street Food Tasting and Graffiti tour of Getsamani. This morning you’ll continue your sightseeing with a private walking tour along the colonial area of the city to observe the walled area with its narrow streets, balconies full of flowers, the architecture of houses and churches and the daily living of its people. 

Your guide will take through the old town under the Puerta Del Reloj (Clock tower entrance), a symbol of Cartagena, into the Plaza de los Coches as he shares the myths and legends, histories and stories of Cartagena from ancient time right up to the present. A visit will be made to the Convent of San Pedro Claver, named in honor of the Spanish born monk who was known as the “Apostles of Blacks”. The tree filled courtyard of the convent houses religious and pre-Columbian artifacts. Cartagena is steeped in history and a delight to stroll the streets with your own personal encyclopedia of knowledge guiding you from one interest to the other. 

Now it’s time to hit the streets to experience food the way Cartageneros do. Whether you are searching for a stopover snack or something more substantial, a healthy start or a sweet dessert, Cartagena’s streets provide everything! One of the very best ways to gain an insight into the daily lives and culture of the locals is to experience their culinary culture. The tour will get you up close and personal with the real Cartagena as the street sellers tempt us with their delicacies and warm our hearts with their hospitality. 3-4 "tastings" are included during your tour.

After your culinary adventure you continue exploring Cartagena’s culture through our Street Art & Graffiti tour.  Gain a deeper insight into Cartagena focused on the alternative and cultural quarter, and coolest barrio: Getsemani. The stories are told with present graffiti paintings with images of tropical scenes, palenqueras (local women), and local flora and fauna. In Getsemani the individuality and spirit of the neighborhood remains intact. You can come as a tourist but you leave as a local, understanding what makes the barrio so special, engaging with the people to ensure that it preserves its particular charm. This neighborhood has shaken off the gritty reputation, and turned to street-art as a way of incorporating the voice of local residents and artists into the fabric and the narrative of the city streets. Graffiti transformed this neighborhood in the last years, after the first Graffiti Festival in Getsemani that took place in December 2013. The tour offers a complete overview of the impressive history of Getsemani starting at the famous clock tower, from there, following on to the street of La Sierpe (where all the murals are) and Trinidad plaza, which has a historical, cultural and national value unique in to the city.   

Mid-afternoon return to your hotel with the evening free to enjoy Cartagena. We recommend at least one sunset experience from the famous Café del Mar which is built in to the old wall surrounding the city with a direct view to the Caribbean. (B)

Day 9 (or 6):  Cartagena/Free day. Explore Cartagena on your own as you wander the streets stopping at museums, shops, markets and viewpoints.

Optional boat ride/island visit & snorkeling.  For those that wish to spend a day on the beaches & turquoise waters of the Caribbean, we offer a full day boat tour to a nearby resort in the Rosario islands. This morning you’ll be met at your hotel for an early transfer to the pier and your full day tour by motorboat to the GENTE DE MAR RESORT on the beautiful Isla Grande in the Rosario Islands. These islands have been declared a National Natural Park as it has one of the most important coral reefs of the Caribbean Colombian coast. Populated with a great variety of reef fauna; white sandy beaches and beautiful crystal-clear waters all harmonize to make this impressive scenery.  After a 45-minute boat transfer, you'll be greeted with a welcome cocktail and free time to enjoy the resort's beaches and facilities. There will be opportunity to swim or snorkel, or laze in a hammock. Optional snorkel trip out to a nearby reef can be added for an additional cost. Lunch included and return to Cartagena's pier around 4:00 PM On arrival you are on your own to make your way back to your hotel--in most cases an easy walk, although taxis will be on hand to assist if needed. This is the time for last minute shopping & photos or perhaps a sunset cocktail as you make your way back to your hotel.
NOTE: This is a group style tour; your English speaking guide will be with you only for your transfer to the dock and on to the boat. There is a local tax of approximately $7USD that must be paid directly at the dock. Daily except Mondays in low season. (B, L)

Day 10 (or 7): Cartagena-Departure. Transfer to the Airport to take flight for the next destination. (B)

B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner