Colombia 18-Day Nature Self-Drive Adventure

Points of Interest : Bogotá
Arrive in Colombia’s capital, Bogotá. At the airport you are met by your German-speaking guide, who accompanies you on a private transfer to your hotel and uses the journey to review the itinerary and answer any open questions.
Bogotá is a cosmopolitan metropolis that has preserved its unique character and charm in the historic district of La Candelaria, where your hotel is located among colonial buildings.

• Meals included : Breakfast included in hotel stay from the next morning
• Accommodation : Hotel Casa de la Vega, Bogotá

Points of Interest : Bogotá
After breakfast you set out to discover Bogotá. A cable car ride takes you up Cerro Monserrate for a sweeping panoramic view over the vast city. For lunch you can try the regional specialty Ajiaco Bogotano, a hearty chicken and potato soup.
In the afternoon you explore the historic center: Bolívar Square and the colonial quarter of La Candelaria. A highlight is the Gold Museum, home to one of the world’s most important collections of pre-Columbian gold. If you wish, your guide can also accompany you to additional museums.

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

Points of Interest : Honda
Today you drive to the small, dreamy town of Honda, where a warm climate awaits you on the banks of the Magdalena River. You check into your charming colonial-style hotel, Belle Epoque, and have the rest of the day at leisure.
Stroll through the quiet streets, relax with a walk along the riverbank, or, on request, join a guided city tour or a private introduction to traditional fishing techniques.
Approximate driving time: 4 hours.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Casa Belle Epoque, Honda

Points of Interest : Río Claro
After breakfast you continue driving north. As you approach the Río Claro Nature Reserve, the vegetation becomes increasingly lush and dense. Your lodge, where you stay for the next two nights, is nestled deep within tropical forest.
In the afternoon you can already set off on a first short walk around the lodge to soak up the atmosphere and admire the beauty of this enchanting place.
Approximate driving time: 2 hours.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Cañon del Rio Claro Reserva Natural, Río Claro

Points of Interest : Río Claro
Today is entirely at your leisure in the Río Claro Nature Reserve. You can hike along the river to waterfalls, paddle a kayak, join a rafting excursion, explore caves, or simply relax at the lodge and listen to the sounds of the jungle. All tours can be booked directly on site.

• Meals included : Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Accommodation : Cañon del Rio Claro Reserva Natural, Río Claro

Points of Interest : Medellín
You drive on to one of Colombia’s most exciting cities: Medellín, known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its pleasant climate. Here history, culture and modern development meet, and the locals, called Paisas, are renowned throughout the country for their hospitality.
Your hotel is located in the lively El Poblado neighborhood, offering a wide choice of restaurants, bars and entertainment within walking distance.

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

Points of Interest : Medellín
Today’s tour takes you by Colombia’s only metro to Comuna 13, a hillside district on the edge of the city. Once notorious, it is now known for its creative street art scene. Colorful murals tell the neighborhood’s moving story.
Your guide is deeply involved in local social projects, and you share a home-cooked lunch with a local family. Later you head to the city center to see the cathedral and Plaza Botero, where you can admire the whimsical bronze sculptures of the famous Colombian artist Fernando Botero.

• Meals included : Breakfast and lunch with a local family
• Accommodation : Hotel Dix, Medellín

Points of Interest : Medellín
In just about two hours you reach Guatapé, a picturesque village on the shores of a sprawling reservoir that blends harmoniously into the surrounding hills. Guatapé is famous for its vividly painted house facades, whose reliefs depict scenes of local life, traditions and legends.
The absolute highlight is the climb up the isolated monolith Piedra del Peñol. After more than 700 steps you are rewarded with an unforgettable 360-degree panorama over the maze-like lake and the green landscape dotted with islands.

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

Points of Interest : Jardín
Your destination today is the town of Jardín, set at 1,750 meters above sea level with a pleasantly mild climate. The surrounding countryside produces coffee, bananas, cassava, physalis and granadilla, and invites you to gentle walks through rural landscapes.
The area around Jardín is also known for its rich birdlife, including the Andean cock-of-the-rock, one of the world’s most striking and unique birds. A cable car ride offers panoramic views over the town and encircling mountain ranges. This charming little town is sure to win your heart.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Kantarrana, Jardín

Points of Interest : Jardín
Jardín and its surroundings offer numerous ways to spend a wonderful day, with nature at its most captivating. You can visit the Salto del Ángel waterfalls, explore the cave La Cueva del Esplendor, or go birdwatching in search of rare and endemic species found only in this region.
Enjoy the tranquility and beauty of this idyllic Andean town at your own pace.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Kantarrana, Jardín

Points of Interest : Manizales
Set off early for a longer drive into Colombia’s famed Coffee Region, near the city of Manizales. Your accommodation is a beautiful traditional coffee finca with over 100 years of history in growing and producing high-quality coffee.
Here you can fully unwind, strolling through the expansive grounds surrounded by coffee plantations and enjoying the peaceful rural atmosphere – the perfect reward after a day on the road.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hacienda Venecia, near Manizales

Points of Interest : Manizales
This morning is dedicated to Colombia’s coffee culture. On a guided tour of the plantations and processing facilities you learn all about the cultivation and production of Colombia’s most famous export, from bean to cup.
After this insightful experience you get back in your vehicle and drive towards Los Nevados National Park. You gain significant elevation until you reach nearly 4,000 meters above sea level at your glamping site. Spectacularly located, your dome offers breathtaking views of the Los Nevados volcano. As the volcano is active, you may see plumes of smoke rising from its cone.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Glamping Leon Dormido, near Los Nevados

Points of Interest : Los Nevados National Natural Park
Los Nevados National Park is one of Colombia’s great natural spectacles, featuring truly extreme and varied landscapes. Between roughly 1,300 and over 5,300 meters in elevation, a series of distinct ecosystems unfolds.
You experience everything from the coffee-growing zones at lower altitudes, through the unique páramo highlands with their otherworldly vegetation, to volcanic moonscapes and up towards snow-capped glaciers and volcanic peaks. The diversity of scenery will leave a lasting impression.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Glamping Leon Dormido, near Los Nevados

Points of Interest : Salento
After breakfast you depart for the heart of the Coffee Triangle, the Eje Cafetero, heading to the colorful town of Salento. The village buzzes with life, and its brightly painted wooden facades create the typical atmosphere of this region.
Numerous cafés invite you to pause, sip freshly brewed coffee and watch daily life unfold in the streets and on the main square. Salento is also the ideal base for exploring the surrounding landscapes.

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

Points of Interest : Salento
From Salento’s main square you board a classic Jeep known as a “Willy” and drive to the Cocora Valley, home to Colombia’s national tree – the towering wax palm, the tallest palm species in the world. After a short ride you reach the entrance to the valley.
Along the ecological trail you are surrounded by a dreamlike mountain backdrop: deep green pastures dotted with wax palms up to 60 meters high, grazing cattle and rich birdlife. Bird enthusiasts in particular will be delighted. You can choose a shorter visit to the park or a longer hike of up to six hours, depending on your preference.

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

Points of Interest : Filandia
Today you visit Bosque de Bremen forest at around 1,870 meters elevation, where the lower reaches of the unique Andean páramo ecosystem begin. This birdwatcher’s paradise is also home to howler monkeys living in the pristine forest, as well as many endangered plant and animal species.
The tour then continues to a viewpoint near Filandia, offering a breathtaking panorama over the Coffee Region, followed by a visit to the charming town itself with its colorful streets and traditional architecture.

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

Points of Interest : Quindío Department
Enjoy a full free day to explore the Coffee Triangle independently with your rental car. You might visit private nature reserves and hike to waterfalls, soak in thermal hot springs, or drive through villages to experience rural life and traditional farming.
For more adventure, you can go paragliding to admire the landscape from above, or try rafting on nearby rivers. Your local agency is happy to help you arrange activities to suit your interests.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Salento Real, Salento or similar in the Coffee Region

Points of Interest : Bogotá
With your rental car you drive to Pereira Airport, where you return the vehicle that has accompanied you for the past two weeks. You then board your domestic flight to Bogotá to connect with your international departure.
If you have more time, your local agency can arrange an extension, such as relaxing days on the Caribbean coast or further trips to other natural wonders in Colombia. The country has much more to offer and looks forward to welcoming you back.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Last day : Drive with your rental car to Pereira Airport, return the vehicle and take the domestic flight to Bogotá for your onward international journey