19 Days in Colombia, Bogotá to Cartagena

This is an example of a fully customizable 19-day package tour.

Full list of Bogotá day tours, Full list of Coffee Zone day tours, Full list of Medellín day tours, Full list of Santa Marta day tours, Full list of Cartagena day tours

Day 1: Bogotá, Colombia

Arrive at any time, your driver will be waiting to collect you from the airport and take you to your hotel. There are no activities planned for this day, so just relax and drink plenty of water.  

You’ll be collected from your accommodation in Bogotá and taken on a guided excursion, where you’ll encounter the most important historical locations within La Candelaria. Just some of the stops on your tour through Bogotás oldest neighborhood will be Bolivar Plaza, Casa Nariño (The Presidents House), Palace of Justice, Catedral Primada de Colombia, Iglesia de San Francisco, Colón Theater, Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Séptima (carrera 7), and the Chorro de Quevedo Plaza.

During your time in La Candelaria, you'll be enjoying a few hours strolling through El Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) of Bogotá. This grand 3-story museum displays a selection of pre-Columbian gold, other metal alloys, and a mix of pottery, stone, shell, wood, and textile objects, made from ancient indigenous Colombian cultures. With over 55,000 pieces of gold artifacts, this is the largest collection of gold artifacts in the world.

Once you have visited this amazing museum and seen the many beautiful sites La Candelaria has to offer, it will be time for you to ascend to the great height of 10,341 ft (3152m) and the summit of Monserrate; almost 2,000 ft higher than Bogotá. As well as learning the historical importance of this mountain to the indigenous Musica, you’ll also enjoy time wandering through the artisan markets, visit a beautiful 17th-century monastery and enjoy some of the most spectacular panoramic views of the capital city of this great nation.

You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Bogotá and be taken directly to the salt mine of Zipaquirá, where you’ll uncover the ingenuity of the people who 590 ft (180 m) underground converted this ancient salt mine into the amazing church that receives as many as 3000 people every Sunday of the year.
Once you’ve finished your tour, taken many many photos and come to understand how important this location has been for hundreds of years to the locals of this area you’ll take the short trip to the town of Zipaquirá where you’ll wander the streets of Zipaquirá checking out the grand Plaza (main square), Independence Square and one of the oldest churches you can find in Colombia.

Next, travel onto Ráquira, a small artisan town and a dream location for anyone wishing to do a bit of shopping. You'll find everything here from hammocks to pottery and all Colombian made. For those interested in taking photos and not shopping, there are some fantastic streets and a wonderful town plaza full of life-size (and larger) clay statues.

Lastly, arrive in Villa de Leyva, a beautiful colonial town with cobblestone streets and 16th-century architecture. You will be escorted to your hotel, and then you are free to enjoy the evening dining at a nice restaurant.

Today you'll enjoy a wonderful tour of the most important locations in and around Villa de Leyva including:

• Villa de Leyva - Stroll through the beautiful cobblestone streets, and through the largest plaza in Colombia.
• Monasterio Del Santo Eccehomo - A beautiful monastery built in 1620
• The Terracotta House - The largest piece of pottery in the world
• The Fossil Museum - Meet and touch the dinosaurs that walked here before you

After your tour of Villa de Leyva is complete you start your journey back to Bogotá with a stop at El Puente de Boyacá (Boyacá Bridge). This is where the final battle was fought on August 7, 1819, known as the Battle of Boyacá which granted independence to New Granada from Spain.

Enjoy a short flight to Pereira where your transport will be waiting to take you directly to your hotel in Salento. 

Following breakfast, you'll take a trip into the lush Cocora Valley and a guided tour of the Wax Palm Forest. This valley is spectacular by itself, but when combined with the forest filled with the tallest wax palms in the world, it becomes an almost spiritual experience. You'll spend a few hours walking through this peaceful zone with more beautiful views in every direction.

Continuing today's journey you'll travel to one of the most colorful towns in Colombia; Filandia. Famous for its gastronomy, wonderful Colombian Culture architecture, and fabulous views, you'll enjoy a stop for lunch at one of the many wonderful restaurants and a walking tour where you'll be able to take many photos of the beautiful buildings, along with a trip to the mirador (lookout) where you'll be amazed at the spectacular 360' views you receive.

This morning you'll start your day with a sensational coffee tour. This is one of the best coffee tours in Colombia and so very unique. The reason is the philosophy of this single lady owner. She has created a Finca that is completely pesticide and machinery free. Every part of the entire process is done by hand and with this, you'll discover the traditional methods of growing the perfect coffee bean. You'll also get to explore this wonderful Finca and find so much more than just coffee is grown here, such as a large variety of fruits as well. You'll learn the complete process from the seed to the cup, including handpicking a few beans yourself.

Flight Pereira - Medellín

Enjoy a morning flight to Medellín, with your transportation awaiting your arrival. 

Day 8: Comuna 13 + Medellin City Tour:

You'll be collected from the airport and taken directly into an amazing tour of the city of Eternal Spring (so named for its consistent weather all year long). On this tour, you'll see the most important locations in this grand city, and enjoy a mix of culture, history, and local traditions.

Combined with this tour you're also going to enjoy an extraordinary tour through Comuna 13. Once a place unsafe for the police, this is now a hub for tourism with amazing murals and graffiti covering the street walls. Along with this you'll enjoy wonderful views and ride the outdoor escalators.

You'll enjoy a beautiful drive through the scenery of Antioquia towards Guatape Rock. On the way, you'll be stopping at a replica of Old Peñol's town plaza. 

Next on today's adventure will be La Pierda (The Rock or better know as Guatape Rock). This is simply a wonderful and huge stone standing tall and overlooking Lake Guatape far below. Once here you'll have the opportunity to climb the 740 steps up to the very top, with breathtaking views every step of the way.

Following this, you'll explore the colorful town of Guatape itself and stop for a spot of lunch at one of the many restaurants.

Collected from your hotel around 7am, you’ll relax in your private transport for a drive of around 3 hours to a Cocoa Finca close to the town of San Rafael. Once here you’ll be greeted with a wonderful breakfast of fresh fruit, eggs, Arepa (flat cornbread), and of course one of the freshest hot chocolates you’ll ever have in your life!

Next, it’s off to explore this chocolate farm with an easy hike of around 1.5 hours through the cocoa plantation of a variety of different cocoa trees. Following this exceptional experience in this natural wonderland, you’ll be starting to feel a bit peakish and will make your way back to the main house for a traditional lunch called a Fiambre (Wrapped in banana leaves and consisting of rice, sausage, fried pork, ground meat, boiled or fried egg, platano, and arepa)

Day 11: Free Day or an Optional tour of Jerico

Enjoy a free day exploring more of Medellín or take an optional tour

Enjoy a short flight to Santa Marta arriving around mid-afternoon. 

Your transport will be waiting to collect you and take you directly to your hotel.

There are no activities planned for this day, so just relax, drink plenty of bottled water (it's hot here), and maybe check out a beach nearby.

Day 13: Minca – Fresh Mountain Air

Travel to the small town of Minca, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and enjoy a tour of this wonderful little mountain pueblo, along with a Coffee and a Cocoa Tour (perhaps you'll enjoy a cocoa facemask), some amazing hidden waterfalls (opportunity for a refreshing swim), and of course, you're bound to spot a few exotic birds in your travels. 

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

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. 

During your ecological walks, you will learn about the local environment and the local indigenous.  Your guide will also be safeguarding your possessions while you're relaxing in the temperate waters.

Collected from your Santa Marta hotel at around 8am 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 the 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.

Relax in a morning drive along the coast for 4-5 hours 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 - 3:30 pm start: You’ll love traveling with us through this amazing city, going to the most interesting locations of the city in an air-conditioned vehicle. 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. Explore the fort of Castle San Felipe. travel through Manga, Getsemani, and the modern city of Bocagrande, before enjoying a walk in the historic center. This is simply a wonderful way to get to know this ancient city.

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

Day 18: 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.

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.

nb. excludes Wharf Tax of $9,000 COP (approx $2.50)

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

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

• 18x Accommodation - 3-5 star hotels

• 18x breakfast, 2x lunch

• Private transfers in an air-conditioned car

• All airport transfers

• Private excursions

• English-speaking guide on all excursions

• All entrance fees

• 24-hour support group

• International and domestic flights
• Travel Insurance