14 Day Historic Colombia – Villa De Leyva, Tatacoa, San Agustin, El Guaviare

This is an example of a fully customizable 12-day package tour.

Full list of Bogotá tours

Exploring the oldest neighborhood in Bogotá; La Candelaria and the 400-year-old town of Villa de Leyva before traveling to the amazing landscape of the Desert of Tatacoa. You'll continue your journey onto Huila, to uncover the Pre-Columbian archaeological zone of San Agustin.
Heading to the protected area of El Guaviare, where you'll visit sites of rock paintings dating back 12500 years BP, swim with pink dolphins, walk through the Amazon jungle spotting monkeys and birds, and explore rock tunnels, caves, and a colored river.

Day 1 WELCOME to BOGOTÁ the CAPITAL of COLOMBIA, 2600 meters closer to the stars.

Arrive at any time to be collected from the airport and taken to your accommodation. 

Depending on your arrival time we can provide you with another tour or with suggestions of places to see and where to go. 

Be sure to drink plenty of water to help you adapt to the altitude.

Day 2 La Candelaria, Monserrate & The Gold Museum

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.

Day 3 Zipaquira, Artisan Town Raquira & Colonial Town Villa de Leyva

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.

Day 4 Explore Villa de Leyva, it’s Surroundings, and back to Bogotá

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.

Day 5 The Amazing Tatacoa Desert by Day & a Spectacular Starry Sky at Night

Enjoy a short 1-hour flight from the capital to the amazing desert of Tatacoa. 

On arrival to Neiva, you'll be collected and enjoy a short trip into the wonderful Tatacoa Desert. Once here you'll enjoy a fantastico 2-hour hike through this amazing landscape. 

Next, you'll enjoy a stop for some lunch and a bit of "me-time " in your hotel before venturing out into the night for a spot of Star Gazing.

You'll enjoy 2 hours at the observatory gazing at the starriest skies in Colombia.

Day 6 Transfer Back in Time to San Agustin

You'll be rising early to take advantage of the cool morning air, and an early start of 7am for your journey to San Agustin. 

Enjoy the afternoon with a guided tour through the heart of the San Agustín archaeological zone.

Considered the world's largest necropolis, the San Agustín Archaeological Park will be waiting to show you the largest complex of pre-Columbian megalithic funerary monuments and statuary, funerary structures, stone statuary, terraces, burial mounds, along with an amazing religious monument carved in the stone bed of a stream.

Day 7 El Estrecho, Tombs of Obando, & Alto de la Piedras - 3 more must-see sites

Enjoy this morning visiting 3 more important archaeological sites:

• The Estrecho del Magdalena - The narrowest part of the river, measuring only 2.20 meters. The canyon walls consist of more than 70 million-year-old compressed lava of nearby volcanoes. In some rocks seashells, more than 120 million years old can be found.
• The Museum and tombs of Obando - Funeral urns, caves with sacred chambers, some stairs were built that descend into them a similar way to the tombs of Tierradentro. Within the complex, you'll also find ceramic pieces, clay pots, replicas of gold pieces, and paintings that evoke the lifestyle of the ancestors.
• Alto de la Piedras - monumental sculptures, artificial hills, funeral halls, and big tombs, decorated with multicolored paintings.

Day 8 Flight Pitalito - Bogota

Enjoy another short flight with Satena of a bit over an hour back to Bogotá. 

Day 9 Flight Bogotá - San José Del Guaviare

Enjoy a free morning in Bogotá before relaxing on a 1 hr flight to San Jose. There are limited flights to San Jose and you'll be arriving at approximately 4:30pm. 
On arrival, you'll be collected from the airport and be taken directly to your accommodation to check-in and enjoy the remainder of your day free.

Day 10 Gate of Orion and The Red River or The Black Lagoon

On arrival, you'll travel a short distance to arrive at the fascinating area of rock formations such as the Puerta de Orión (Gate of Orion).

This grand rock structure is approximately 15m (50ft) in width and 12m (40ft) in height. The Puerta de Orión actually has 2 large holes within it and during the month of December, it is possible to see the star constellations of Orions Belt through the upper hole. 

Red River (July to October):

Here you'll enjoy walking through this wonderful area for approximately 2km (1.25mi) before heading to Caño Sabana to enjoy the wonderful scenery of this magical river which displays the colorful water plant Macarenia clavíagera. (Colombia is the only country in the world to have this beautiful plant.) Here you'll be able to relax and take many photos. Unfortunately swimming here is not allowed.

Please Note: The Red River is only available during the wet months of July to October. As the water plant, Macarenia clavíagera does not display any color without water. During the months of November to June, a tour of the Black Lagoon is provided.

Day 11 Unique Landscapes and Culture in Cerro Azul

Leaving shortly after breakfast at around 7:30 am you'll travel for approximately 2 hours to get to the archeological site of Cerro Azul. Once here you'll be walking through a natural jungle and a cave measuring 210m (688ft). The hike will be approximately 3 km to reach the top of the hill, during the walk and being at the top of Cerro Azul you'lle be surrounded by nature and culture, having encounters with the rock paintings of animals, people, plants, and daily life dating back more than 12000 years bp. 

Following this, you'll be heading off to enjoy a late lunch of the region before traveling back to your hotel and expected arrival of 4:30pm

NB. This walk is rated a 3 out of 5 for difficulty.

Day 12 The Pink Dolphins of the Nare Lagoon

Leaving shortly after breakfast around 6:30 am you'll journey in a 4x4 for 2.5-3 hours to the Laguna Damas de Nare.

Once here you'll enjoy an hour walk (with a few stops) for approximately 3.5km (2mi) through a beautiful natural forest full of exotic plants, birds, and monkeys. 

At the conclusion of this walk, you'll stop for a short break before climbing into a canoe to explore the lagoon in search of the Pink Dolphins. 

You'll also have the opportunity to have a swim in the lagoon, with the odd dolphin possibly playing with your feet while you're enjoying the warm waters. 

Next, you're back to land for a wonderful typical lunch before heading walking back through the magical forest and your waiting transport to your hotel. 

Leaving at 8:00am following breakfast, you'll start this day with a ride in a 4x4 for around 80-90min before climbing into a boat ride for a short 15 min ride. Followed by a short but tough hike of around 20 min to get to the paleolithic rock art site of Raudal Guayabero. 

Located past the narrow rapids of the Guayabero River west of San José del Guaviare, this site is only recently opened up to visitors. And situated outside the tiny town of El Raudal del Guayabero, this site is much less developed and a bit more difficult to reach, including a section that has to be traversed with the aid of a rope, and the incline is quite steep. But not to worry, as your local guide will be with you to lend a helping hand when needed.

Although there is only one wall of paintings accessible here, and it has not been as well preserved as Cero Azul and Nuevo Tolima, it is still very impressive and also has an incredible view from the top of the hill.

Once you've studied every image and enjoyed the view from up high, you'll hike back down to your waiting boat and another short boat ride to get back to the small town of El Raudal del Guayabero. Here you'll stop for some typical lunch before making your way back to San Jose in the 4x4, with an expected arrival of 4:30pm. 

Day 14 Nuevo Tolima Rock Paintings and Back to Reality

Today will start with a relaxing journey of approximately 95 min to the Pinturas Rupestres Nuevo Tolima. That's including a 60 min drive and a 35 min hike. 

Although it is a short hike it is mostly uphill, so a basic-medium level of fitness will be required. But once you arrive at the site it'll all be worthwhile. You'll actually only find 1 rock face with paintings here, but it is longer than either of the walls at Cerro Azul.  Not only that but as it's also less visited and usually less crowded.

Estimations of these rock paintings are up to 12,500 years BP. But with some possibly as recent as 3 or 4 hundred years ago, after the introduction of the conquistadors and their livestock. Here you'll enjoy walking around this area for an hour or more before enjoying a fantastico lunch and a transfer to the airport for the next part of your Colombian Adventure. 

NB. This walk is rated a 3 out of 5 for difficulty.

Flight San José Del Guaviare - BOGOTÁ

After your morning tour and enjoy lunch, you'll be off to the airport to catch your flight back to Bogotá.
On arrival, you'll be collected from the airport and taken directly to your accommodation to check in and enjoy the remainder of your day free.

• 5x nights accommodation - 3-5 star hotels (Bogotá, Villa de Leyva)
• 3x nights accommodation - 3-4 star hotels (Huila)
• 4x nights accommodation - 3-star hotel (San Jose del Guavaiare)
• 12x breakfast, 5x 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

BnB Colombia Tours