11 Day Complete Caribbean – Over 50 Shared Tour

A vibrant Caribbean Paradise!
Without a doubt, Cartagena and the Caribbean coast are something really special. A city of colorful colonial architecture, and vibrant culture with sensational beaches and islands. This slice of Caribbean paradise offers colonial charm and history, with lots of fantastic restaurants, great shopping, and bustling nightlife.
The Rosario Islands are a small archipelago of some 28 islands, located offshore Cartagena. Your day island hopping will be like no other. The islands are surrounded by coral reefs, where the color of the sea is an incredible combination of cerulean and turquoise.
Santa Marta is an unadulterated flavor. The city's diversity is unmistakable in its landscape, people, and each and every aspect of its culture. It is a destination that truly embraces its visitors and makes them feel at home. Minca, in the Sierra Nevada, not far from Santa Marta, has a rich archaeological history and is an ecological paradise with the crystal clear Minca River and its immense green vegetation.
Cabo San Juan in the Tayrona National Park is a haven of serenity. It is arguably one of the major attractions there. Turquoise water, white fine sand, beautiful palm trees.
The Lost City of Taironaka. is reached by crossing forests full of exotic fauna and flora, hanging bridges, mountains, and waterfalls. In the midst of a tropical forest are found the ruins of the great Tayrona Empire.
Uribia is one of the few towns in the Guajira Desert, the center of which has a simple but stunning Church. The majority of the inhabitants belong to the Wayuu tribe.
The famous Salinas (Salt Mines) de Manaure, comprise 4,200 hectares of small salt shafts and water wells. These are naturally dried by the sun until the salt is ready to be harvested.
The landscape of Cabo de la Vela is unique and evokes a lunar scene. There is a constantly strong wind that permits clear nights to allow star gazing at its finest.
The Mayapo beaches are absolutely glorious and are where you can find indigenous Wayúu handicrafts. They are famous for their strong winds, which attract aficionados to water sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing.

On arrival at Cartagena airport, your transportation will be waiting to take you directly to your hotel to check in and enjoy a bit of me-time. 

Around 6:30 pm you’ll be meeting the other travelers in your group at a Welcome to Cartagena Dinner.

Arriving early to check out more of this region before joining your group? 

Click here to find some inspiration and additional experiences you can enjoy in Cartagena. 

Be sure to ask your travel consultant for your group members' discount before making any reservation

Welcome dinner in Cartagena

You'll be collected at your hotel and taken to the restaurant for a delicious Welcome Dinner starting the best way your trip in the Colombian Caribbean. 

Our bilingual guide explains 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.

You’ll step back in time on a journey through the layers of history uncovering some surprising, surreal, and sometimes scary stories as you explore every aspect of the city's charming colonial streets and take in all the main landmarks of Cartagena's famous walled city. All the time learning the true history of this city's historic struggle between the Spanish colonialists and pirates from many different nations.

Your tour will include the Clock Tower monument, the original entrance of the fortified city, and your starting point for the tour through the historic center of Cartagena de Indias. Your tour will also include unmissable locations such as Bolivar Park, the Plaza Saint Pedro Claver, the Plaza de Los Jagüeyes, San Diego, and of course the colorful streets of Gertsemani.

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.

Day 3: Island Hopping on Your Private Boat through the Rosario Islands

The simple answer, enjoying the day on your private boat cruising through the tropical islands, enjoying different islands, and different beaches, snorkeling in different areas, choosing where you'll stop for lunch, and simply relaxing and enjoying the life you deserve!

You'll be collected from your hotel at 8:00 am to be taken directly to the dock and to boat the 33-foot-long, Firpol 33. Everything will be waiting for your arrival. Greeted with a smile and a cool beverage from your captain, your bilingual host will explain the safety instructions and provide you with a general description of where you'll be heading on today's ocean adventure.

As this is your private boat today, if you wish to stay a little longer or for a little shorter time in one location than another, your wish is their command. 

You'll be cruising around the islands enjoying some beautiful views and some wonderful experiences that few others can enjoy. Your boat has space for 12 guests, so you will be very comfortable.

Once you've seen all there is to see on the sea, you'll start your way back to the dock where your transportation will be waiting to take you back to your hotel for a refreshing shower and memories that you'll cherish for a lifetime. 

Enjoy a private transfer to Santa Marta, along the coast, and directly to your hotel to check-in.

The remainder of this day is free to enjoy and explore your surroundings at your leisure. 

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 delightful cafes and artisan shops.

Following this, you'll experience a coffee tour, where you'll learn everything about the production of Colombian liquid gold, from 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 your mountain adventure you'll explore some hidden waterfalls, with the opportunity for a refreshing swim (don't forget your swimming wear!) Of course, throughout your journey, you need to keep an eye out for any exotic birds that happen to be hanging out close by!

One of the most important locations in South America is located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City) was re-discovered in 1972 when treasure hunters found the steps leading to the city.

This unique destination that few people have had the opportunity to visit was built around 800 AD, around 600 years before Machu Pichu.

Collected from your Santa Marta hotel, you'll travel a short distance to the natural reserve of Mamacana. Located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, this wonderful natural reserve boasts 600 hectares of untouched wilderness. This is also where your flight into history and over the ancient Lost City of Colombia will begin.

Your flight path will take you to the East of Santa Marta over lush, mountainous terrain normally a 4 or 5-day return hike. But today you'll cover this distance in only 16 minutes. Soon after your departure, the magnificent city will start to appear from the surrounding jungle, showcasing the amazing engineering and design, so advanced for that time.

You will fly over the famous Lost City of Colombia for around 15 minutes. Enjoy a different view of all the history that this magical place has to offer and provide you with wonderful opportunities to take some fantastic photos. 

Returning to Mamacana you’ll be taking a different scenic route through the Buritaca river canyon. To provide you with even more opportunities for some beautiful photography. 

Arriving back at the reserve approximately 48 minutes after your departure, you’ll have the remainder of the morning to relax by the pool, walk through the surrounding nature, and look through some of the wonderful photos and videos you’ve taken.

Following a delicious lunch, you’ll start your transfer to your new hotel outside the National Park of Tayrona.

Cabo San Juan in the 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. 

During your ecological walks, you will learn about the local environment and the local indigenous. You'll learn about what native animals can be seen and or heard. Your guide will also be safeguarding your possessions while you're relaxing in the temperate waters and taking as many photos as you may need. 

NB. For those not so inclined to walk for 3-4 hours during this tour there are horses available to ride to and from the beach.

Day 8: The Lost City of Taironaka

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 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.

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.

Starting your day early to maximize your experience you’ll be collected at 8 am to start your journey into the Guajira of Northern Colombia.

Traveling from Rioacha, you’ll relax on this drive for around an hour and a half before arriving at the indigenous capital of La Guajira, Uribia. Once here you’ll enjoy a tour of this town with a special stop at the important Wayuu cultural center. Where your tour into the history of this ancient culture will really begin.

Next, you're back into the vehicle for a short 20 min ride to the world-famous Salinas de Manaure (salt ponds of Manaure). Once here you’ll meet a community leader who will accompany you on a tour of the ponds, where you’ll uncover the traditional methods used to extract the salt as well as enjoying a session of Thalassotherapy.

Following this, it’s back to the car and a journey of approximately 2 hours to the amazing location of Cabo de La Vela. Arriving before lunch you’ll have some time to relax and get acquainted with where you’ll be resting your head before taking off on a hike with your guide to one of the sacred Wayuu locations called the Pilón de Azúcar. Next, it’s on to the wonderful beaches of Playa Dorada and Ojo de Agua to relax and enjoy an incredible sunset.

To complete your day, you’ll return back to your lodging for some dinner and to learn more about the Wayuu indigenous. You’ll learn about the family structure and what kids are doing to develop and build upon this amazing culture. You’ll also learn of a sacred mountain nearby where all the Wayuu spirits must go to be judged upon their life’s deeds. And depending on this outcome they will travel to the next life to join the spirits of their ancestors or not.

Recommendations:

• Wear comfortable and cool clothing.
• A pair of closed shoes for walking,
• A pair of sandals for the beach.
• Swimsuit
• Hat/Cap

Departing a bit later in the morning at approximately 7 am you’ll take a short journey of approximately 2.5 hours towards the beautiful beaches of Mayapo. Arriving in time to enjoy some relaxing me-time on the Mayapo beach for an hour or 2. Famous not only for its beauty and sandy beach, but also its good winds, and good waves, this location is ideal for water sports such as kitesurfing.

When comes time to dine, you'll be visiting the Maliwala Refuge, where you’ll get to enjoy some of the most amazing dishes of the Guajira.

Once your belly is full of this delicious food, you’ll continue your journey in the mid-afternoon to complete your travels in La Guajira with a wonderful drive down the coast to Santa Marta. Arriving in the early evening you'll check into your hotel and enjoy a farewell dinner in a restaurant nearby. 

Farewell dinner in Santa Marta

You'll be collected at your hotel in Tayrona Park and taken to your Farewell dinner to remember all the good moments during your trip in the Caribbean.

Day 11: Today it is Farewell to Santa Marta and to Colombia - or extend your stay!

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

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

• 10x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner
• Welcome dinner
• Farewell dinner
• All airport transfers
• All domestic flights
• 1x Helicopter Flight over The Lost City
• Private excursions
• Permanent English-speaking tour leader.
• All entrance fees
• 24 hr support group

Exclusions

• International and domestic flights
• Travel Insurance