Colombia 16-Day Highlights between Bogotá and Cartagena

Points of Interest : Bogotá

Welcome to Colombia’s capital. At the airport you are greeted by a German-speaking member of the local team and accompanied on your transfer to your hotel, located in the historic district of La Candelaria.

Bogotá is a cosmopolitan metropolis that has preserved its character and charm in the old town, especially through its colonial architecture. After check-in you can head out on your own for a first stroll through the narrow streets and lively squares.

• Meals included : None
• Accommodation : Hotel Casa de la Vega, Bogotá (La Candelaria)

Points of Interest : Candelaria, Bogotá

Today’s city tour takes you to the most famous flower and fruit market in Colombia, where you can immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle and taste a variety of exotic fruits, fresh juices and local snacks.

Afterwards you ride the cable car up Cerro Monserrate, Bogotá’s landmark mountain, for a fantastic panoramic view over the city and surrounding plateau. You then explore the historic center on foot, including its main sights and several museums such as the renowned Gold Museum, which you should not miss.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Casa de la Vega, Bogotá

Points of Interest : Zipaquirá, Villa de Leyva

You leave Bogotá heading north in a private transfer and stop in Zipaquirá to visit the famous underground Salt Cathedral. Built deep inside a salt mine, it features a maze of tunnels and chambers as well as an atmospheric underground chapel illuminated by colorful lights.

In the afternoon you continue to the beautiful town of Villa de Leyva. With its whitewashed colonial houses and impressive main square, Plaza Mayor, it is considered part of Colombia’s national cultural heritage.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Campanario de la Villa, Villa de Leyva

Points of Interest : Villa de Leyva

Today you explore Villa de Leyva and its surroundings. Together with your local guide you first take a walking tour through the historic town center, learning about its colonial past.

You then drive into the hilly countryside to visit the Ecce Homo Monastery, the mysterious pre-Columbian archaeological site of El Infiernito, and the whimsical Casa Terracota, an extraordinary clay house created by a local artist. At the El Fosil Museum you see the fossil of a large marine reptile discovered in the area. This day is a journey through Colombia’s geological and cultural history.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Campanario de la Villa, Villa de Leyva

Points of Interest : Salento

Early in the morning you return by road to Bogotá Airport and board a domestic flight to Pereira, in the heart of Colombia’s Coffee Region. This mountainous area lies on the central, volcanic Andean range and offers ideal conditions to grow some of the world’s finest Arabica coffee.

Your hotel is in the small village of Salento, whose brightly painted wooden facades embody the typical charm of the coffee zone. Numerous cafés invite you to pause, sip fresh coffee and watch everyday life unfold on the streets and main square.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Salento Real, Salento

Points of Interest : Salento

No visit to the Coffee Triangle is complete without seeing the Cocora Valley, home to Colombia’s national tree, the sky-high wax palm. From Salento’s main square you ride in a traditional Jeep, affectionately called a Willie, into the lush valley.

On an ecological trail you hike through idyllic mountain scenery of deep green pastures where cows graze beneath wax palms that can rise up to 60 meters high. Birdwatchers are well rewarded here too. Depending on your preference, you can choose hikes lasting up to around seven hours.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Salento Real, Salento

Points of Interest : Salento, Quindío Department

Together with your local guide you head to the southern part of the Coffee Triangle to visit the villages of Buenavista, Pijao and Córdoba. Along the way you learn all about the culture and history of the coffee farmers, known as Cafeteros.

You enjoy magnificent viewpoints over the rolling, emerald landscapes of coffee plantations and cloud forests. During the day you are served typical local snacks as well as a traditional regional lunch.

• Meals included : Breakfast, lunch
• Accommodation : Hotel Salento Real, Salento

Points of Interest : Medellín

Today you continue north by road towards Medellín. The journey offers spectacular views of the Andean mountain chain and its deep valleys.

Medellín is one of Colombia’s most fascinating cities, often called the City of Eternal Spring for its pleasant climate. It showcases a compelling mix of turbulent history and dynamic, modern development. Your hotel is in the lively El Poblado district, known for its many restaurants, bars and entertainment options. After arrival, the afternoon is free for you to explore the neighborhood or the city at your own pace.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel DIX, Medellín (El Poblado)

Points of Interest : Medellín

On today’s tour you ride Colombia’s only metro to reach Comuna 13, a hillside neighborhood that clings to the slopes at the edge of the city. Once notorious, it has become a symbol of social transformation, with a vibrant street art scene. Colorful murals tell the story of the community’s difficult past and hopeful future.

Your guide is deeply involved in local social projects, and together you enjoy a home-cooked lunch with a local family. Later, back in the city center, you visit the cathedral and Plaza Botero, where you can admire the distinctive, volumetric sculptures by the famed Colombian artist Fernando Botero.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel DIX, Medellín

Points of Interest : Medellín

In around two hours you reach the village of Guatapé, beautifully set on the shores of a vast reservoir that winds through the landscape. Guatapé is famous for its brightly painted houses decorated with zócalos, bas-relief panels depicting scenes from local life, traditions and legends.

The highlight of the day is the climb up Piedra del Peñol, a massive freestanding rock. After conquering more than 700 steps, you are rewarded with an unforgettable 360-degree view over the branching lake and the surrounding green hills and islands.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel DIX, Medellín

Points of Interest : Tayrona

Today you fly on a direct domestic flight from Medellín to the Caribbean coast, landing in Santa Marta. After arrival a transfer takes you to your hotel near Tayrona National Park, about one hour from Santa Marta.

Here you find a long palm-fringed sandy beach. The sea can be fairly rough at times, but this stretch of the Colombian Caribbean has a rustic, unspoiled charm. Your accommodation is an ideal base for exploring the attractions along the coast, including Tayrona National Park, the mountain village of Minca, the beaches of Palomino or the trail to the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida).

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Brisa Tranquila, near Tayrona National Park

Points of Interest : Parque Tayrona

Today you discover Colombia’s most famous national park, Tayrona, a sacred place for the Indigenous communities of the Sierra Nevada. Several times a year the park closes for ritual cleansing, underlining its cultural significance.

You take a roughly two-hour hike through tropical forest towards the coast, passing some of the country’s most beautiful beaches until you reach Cabo San Juan, a stunning bay ideal for swimming. Here you can relax on the sand or snorkel among the coral reefs. At lunchtime you are served a typical Colombian fish dish.

• Meals included : Breakfast, lunch
• Accommodation : Hotel Brisa Tranquila, near Tayrona

Points of Interest : Tayrona

After the many impressions of the past days, you have a full day to unwind and enjoy the beach at your own pace. Swim, sunbathe in a hammock under the palms or simply listen to the sound of the waves.

If you prefer to stay active, the local agency can arrange optional excursions, as the coastal region around Tayrona still has many surprises to offer, from river tubing to waterfall hikes and visits to nearby villages.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Brisa Tranquila, near Tayrona

Points of Interest : Cartagena

After breakfast you follow the Caribbean coastline by road, passing the port city of Barranquilla on your way to Cartagena de Indias, often called the Pearl of the Caribbean.

Cartagena captivates with its lively blend of Caribbean flair and rich cultural heritage. Once one of the most important colonial ports of the Spanish Empire, it boasts a magnificently preserved old town encircled by thick city walls. As you stroll through the historic center with its colorful facades and flowered balconies, you feel transported back to the 16th century.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Casa de Curato, Cartagena

Points of Interest : Cartagena

Let your local guide bring Cartagena’s legends and stories to life on today’s city tour. From the hill of La Popa you enjoy a sweeping panoramic view over the entire city, its bays and the Caribbean Sea.

You then visit the imposing Castillo San Felipe, one of the largest fortresses built by the Spanish in South America. Its ramparts and tunnels tell of battles with pirates and rival empires. A walking tour through the atmospheric old town rounds off this journey through Cartagena’s history, after which you have the rest of your final full day in Colombia to explore independently.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Casa del Curato, Cartagena

Points of Interest : Cartagena

Your round trip through Colombia comes to an end today. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have some free time before your transfer takes you to the airport for your onward or return flight. Colombia looks forward to welcoming you back someday!

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Last day : Transfer to the airport for your onward flight