10-Day Breathtaking Barichara & The Caribbean

This is an example of a fully customizable 10-day package tour.

Full list of Santander day tours, Full list of Santa Marta day tours, Full list of Cartagena day tours

Explore the most beautiful town in Colombia; Barichara along with magnificent waterfalls, tropical jungles, magical beaches, crystal clear oceans, an ancient city, a mud volcano, a day on the amazing Rosario Islands, and of course Cartagena!

This 10-day tour combines adventure, history, and more – it’s also simply the best way possible to spend your time in the spectacular country of Colombia! 

Traveling from Bucaramanga to Barichara is a relaxing experience with some beautiful views. Driving direct can take 3-4 hours with a short stop for a coffee along the way. But we have a much better option for you to enjoy and transform this transfer into a fantastic experience including a 30 min ride in the longest cable car in Colombia and a guided tour of the Chicamocha National park.

You’ll be collected from your Bucaramanga hotel and enjoy a relaxing ride in your private transportation of approximately 45 minutes to the Mesa de Los Santos cable car station. At this point, you’ll climb into one of the 38 cable cars that travel along this 6.3km (3.9mi) track, down to the Chicamocha River in the sole of the Chicamocha Canyon, and up again the other side of the canyon and into Panachi (Chicamocha National park). Your ride will provide you with wonderful panoramic views and last between 22-30 minutes. Once you have disembarked, you’ll enter into PanachI, and enjoy a walking tour including the Guane museum, where you’ll learn about the history of the small town and the Guane Indians. You’ll also check out a giant tobacco leaf, which is a monument to the Comuneros Movement, an uprising that took place before the rebellion of Simon Bolivar and attributed to the start of the revolt that finally saw the Spanish leave Colombia in 1819. Depending on the timing you’ll also have time for a coffee and a walk up to the magical 360’ viewpoint. But not to worry, if you’d rather sit down instead of walking this section, as there is a Chiva in Panacha that will transport you right there.

Next, your private transport will be collecting you to continue your journey to Barichara, and onto your hotel where you’ll be able to check-in and relax in the most beautiful town in Colombia.

Hiking from Barichara to Guane is one of the must-do hikes during your stay in Santander, Colombia. And the only way to make this an even more fantastic experience is to finish up with a wonderful 3-hour gastronomical tour through Barichara!

Originally built by the Guane Indians more than 600 yrs ago, the 5.5 km (3.4ml) Camino Real walking trail running between Barichara and Guane in the Santander region of Colombia, was later adapted and reformed in 1864 by the German engineer Geo Von Lengerke into the hiking trail you’ll enjoy today.

During your 2-hour medium intensity walk along this route, you’ll be taking the same steps as a countless number of indigenous and travelers from all of the world before.

During your tour you’ll walk through a mixture of both a tropical and humid dry forest, learning the history of the Guane indigenous people, the colonization process, the geological processes that have taken place in the area, along with the discoveries of many fossils.

Upon reaching Guane, you will visit the Mirador (look-out), with a wonderful view of the Suarez River and Suarez Canyon far below. In addition to this, you’ll visit the Archaeological and Paleontological Museum, where you’ll uncover a collection of more than 10,000 fossils millions of years old, a 700-year-old mummy, ceramics, necklaces, and other objects made by the Guane Indians.

Following this wonderful tour, you’ll be enjoying a 40 min Tuk-Tuk ride back to Barichara to arrive in time to start your food tour of Barichara.

You’ll enjoy the sampling of a number of dishes that are genuinely distinctive to this region of Santander, Colombia. Visiting several representative restaurants where you will try a variety of different products of the local autochthonous gastronomy.

Your starter will be an Arepa (a type of flatbread made from corn flour) Santandereana (from Santander). This arepa is best described as peeled corn arepa that is cooked with charcoal. It is very flavorsome, as Chicharrón (cooked pork belly) is included within the Areapa mixture.

Next, it’s onto a restaurant that specializes in tasty Chorizo sausages which are cooked with panela (a product made from sugar cane), or a traditional alcoholic sugar cane juice, known as Guarapo. Once again, these are very flavorful and absolutely lovely to try.

Following this, it’s onto another restaurant where the "Carne Oriada" (Sun-dried red meat) is prepared. This is another flavorsome dish, which has an almost jerky-like consistency. At this stop, you’ll also get the chance to try some delicious marinated and oven-cooked goat.

Of course, no food tour in Santander would be complete without sampling the world-famous Hormigas (Big Ass Ants). If ever there was a typical food that was truly representative of the Santander region, it is these tasty little fellas.

To complete your wonderful day your delicious desserts will include Bocadillo (a sweet made from Guava) with goat cheese, and some mouth-watering wooden oven-cooked traditional Arequipe Gloria (Caramel). 

You’ll have a relaxing morning in Barichara before traveling back to Bucaramanga for an afternoon flight to Santa Marta.

Enjoy a direct flight to Santa Marta, arriving in the late afternoon.

Once here you’ll be collected and taken directly to your hotel in Santa Marta.

You’ll then have the remainder of the afternoon free to relax and some “me time”

Travel to the small town of Minca where you'll breathe in the fresh mountain air and enjoy a tour of this wonderful little mountain pueblo, including its wonderful cafes and artisan shops.

Following this, you'll receive a coffee tour, where you'll learn everything about the production of Colombian liquid gold, from the seed to cup.

Next, it's time to uncover the process of creating delicious chocolate! You'll discover the wonderful flavors of Colombian Cocoa, and perhaps you'll enjoy a chocolate facemask as well!

To finish off you're mountain adventure you'll explore some hidden waterfalls, with the opportunity for a refreshing swim (don't forget your swimming trunks)! Of course, throughout your journey, you need to keep an eye out for any exotic birds that happen to be hanging out close by!

Day 5: Cabo San Juan in Tayrona Park

Cabo San Juan in Tayrona Park is a mixture of environments where you can find tropical jungle on one side of you, beautiful white sands, and the Caribbean blue ocean on the other. Together this mix of nature forms a perfect Caribbean landscape. 

You’ll be taken to Tayrona park and enjoy a 2-hour ecological walk through the jungle and visit 4 beaches along the way including Arenillas, La Piscina, Cabo San Juan, and Los Arrecifes. 

You'll also enjoy some fantastic beach time (approx. 3 hours), along with time to explore the area or partake of some watersports, such as snorkeling.  After your beach-time has passed you'll enjoy a 1.3-hour walk through the jungle and your waiting transportation. 

Collected from your Santa Marta hotel at around 8 am you’ll start your adventure into the jungle of the Sierra Nevada with a relaxing drive of approximately 1.5 hours to the entrance of the beautiful Rio Don Diego. Once here, you’ll jump out of the car and into a boat for a short 15 min ride up the river to Tayronaka.

On arrival to Taironaka, you’ll immediately see a wonderful nature surrounding this archelogy site and begin to understand the significance of this location to not only the ancestral history of the Kogui indigenous. But that of all of Colombia, if not the history of the entire Americas.

You’ll walk over these ancient ruins and visit the museum filled with ageless artifacts for approximately an hour with your guide freely answering all your questions about the past and present location.

Next, it’s a short walk to the Kogui community that calls this land their home, and to meet some of the direct descendants of the Tayrona people who built these structures and lived in this region for thousands of years.

Meeting these kindhearted people is an experience in itself, but while here you’ll also receive an “aseguranza” that will safeguard you for all your future travels. Ensuring a Kogui spirit will help and guide you into the future.

To finish off your time here you’ll enjoy a wonderful typical lunch before setting off back down the river. But this time on/in your choice of a Kayak, a paddleboard, or a large inner tube.

Arriving at the mouth of the river where it opens into the Caribbean Sea you’ll be in time to enjoy some relaxing beach time as well as a beautiful sunset before setting off back to your hotel to reflect on yet another day in the Caribbean paradise of Colombia.

Relax in a morning drive along the coast to your waiting hotel in Cartagena.

Once here you’ll check into your hotel and enjoy some Free Time in this wonderful setting.

Cartagena City Tour

With our bilingual guide explaining the history behind every important site you visit. You'll discover panoramic views of the city from Cerro de La Popa; a convent built in 1606, and the highest peak overlooking Cartagena. Explore inside the historic Castle San Felipe, learning the paths and methods of defending this heritage-listed structure from pirates and invaders around the world. 

Enjoy an in-depth private tour of the Jewel of Colombia, the magical UNESCO heritage-listed city of Cartagena de Indias Colombia. Including the must-see stops, plazas, restaurants, cafes, and bars within the walled city, along with one of the oldest and most bohemian neighborhoods in Cartagena; Getsemani.

This truly is the most complete journey of the main areas of Cartagena, and the perfect tour to enjoy not just the history, but to also get acquainted with the most important Cartagena landmarks.

Enjoy a wonderful ocean cruise on a speedboat to the Rosario Islands; arriving at a beautiful picturesque beach for a typical Caribbean lunch, crystal clear waters, water-sports, white sands, and palm trees. 

You'll be assigned your personal beach space which will be exclusive for yourself and members of your group. 

You'll receive full beach service, a fantastic typical lunch; use of deckchairs and umbrellas; a cocktail on arrival, and English-speaking hosts. 

You will have the full day to relax and enjoy your space along with kayaking, and the ability to hire gear for snorkeling or paddleboarding.

This will be one of the highlights of your Caribbean adventure!

Day 9: Getsemaní and Bazurto Markets

Enjoy a walking tour of this colorful neighborhood, with your bilingual guide. You'll get to explore the streets filled with graffiti, Centenario Park, and the Holy Trinity Square. not to mention discovering where all the hip cafes, bars, and restaurants in this neighborhood are hidden away. 

Next, it's onto the typical Colombian markets of Bazurto full of amazing tropical fruits, and everything you could want to buy.

You’ll begin your guided tour with an introduction to the daily life of these hard-working Colombians. Many of them have been up hours before the break of dawn to ensure their stalls are ready for the influx of locals and tourists alike.

Following this, you’ll be learning about the different fruits, along with sampling this wonderfully colorful and exotic flavored produce. You’ll learn the different seasons, names, and the sweet and sour flavors of each.

Next, you’ll carry on maneuvering your way through the stalls into the meat section of the market, where you’ll find all manner of freshly cut meat from a wide variety of animals, as well as a huge variety of fish as well.

After this introduction to the wide diversity of Colombian, fruits, vegetables, meats, and fish, you’ll be starting to feel a little bit hungry. So, you’ll be guided through even more stalls and people to discover a wonderfully authentic restaurant called Celia’s. Here you’ll learn how the locals cook their meals and enjoy a delicious fresh lunch.

To finish up your fantastic tour of these genuine Colombian markets you’ll enjoy a freshly made juice with your choice of whichever fruit you so desire.

Sunset Catamaran Cruise

One of the most romantic moments of the day is to enjoy a sunset, and Cartagena has one of the most beautiful in the world!

You can enjoy it from the imposing bay of the city aboard a catamaran for 2 wonderful hours from 5-7pm.

Hablamos pronto, safe travels home, and visit again soon!

We’ll have transport waiting to take you to the airport at your desired time.

• 9x nights accommodation in double rooms in your choice of 3 or 4-star hotels
• 9x breakfast, 1x lunch
• Private transfers in air-conditioned cars
• Private excursions
• English-speaking guide on all excursions
• All entrance fees
• 24-hour support group

• International and domestic flights
• Travel Insurance

Tayrona Park will be closed during the month of February, 1st-15th of June, 19th of Oct - 2nd of November. During this time an alternative tour will be provided to Palomino. Which will include 3 hours of tubing, an ecological walk, and 3 hours of beach time.

BnB Colombia Tours