Best of Colombia's Cities, Coffee Country & Caribbean Coast - 16 Days

Highlights

• Visit Colombia's exciting big cities: Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena
• Get into nature by visiting national parks and soaking in hot springs
• Explore the coffee-growing region's trails, farms, and colorful towns
• Boat to the tropical Rosario Islands for swimming and seafood

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Bogotá, Explore

Hola! Welcome to Colombia! A driver will be waiting for you at the airport in Bogotá, ready to transfer you to your hotel. Bogotá is the capital and largest city of Colombia and a vibrant and diverse metropolis with a rich cultural heritage and beautiful natural surroundings. Settle into your room, then set out to explore.

Day 2: Bogotá Highlights Tour

Today you'll really get to know Colombia's capital with a full-day guided tour ticking off the city's most famous sights. Start at Plaza de Bolívar, Bogotá's main square—and seat of government—in La Candelaria. Then make your way to the world-renowned Gold Museum to explore more than 34,000 pre-Columbian gold artifacts. Continue exploring culture at the Museo de Botero, home to an impressive art collection donated by the celebrated Colombian painter and sculptor Fernando Botero.

Next, your guide will take you through the bustling Paloquemao Market, a busy hub where 750 vendors sell everything from fresh produce to meats and cheeses to tropical fruits. Mingle with the vendors while sampling delicious Colombian treats, such as empanadas, arepas, chicharrones, and tamales. Fueled up, you'll then head for Cerro Monserrate for breathtaking views. Choose to hike up a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) path or take a cable car or funicular to the top. Explore the Monserrate Sanctuary, completed in 1657, before making your way back down the hill.

Day 3: Transfer to Villa de Leyva via Zipaquirá's Salt Cathedral

This morning a private transfer will take you to Villa de Leyva, making a special stop in Zipaquirá along the way. Just a 45-minute drive north of Bogotá, the Catedral de Sal (Salt Cathedral) is set within an old rock salt mine that was converted into a church in 1954. The church spans three subterranean levels, features 14 shrines with sculpted crucifixes, and contains various rooms, including naves, a choir, and a baptistery. Unsurprisingly, the church is dedicated to Nuestra Señora del Rosario, the patron saint of miners.

After your visit to this unique cathedral, continue to Villa de Leyva, a three-hour drive away. This picturesque colonial town, nestled in the Colombian Andes, features cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings, and a central square lined with colonial-era architecture. Life turns down a notch here with a slower pace of life and beautiful nature inviting you to explore. Check into your hotel and relax for the evening.

Day 4: Walking Tour of Villa de Leyva, Visit Ráquira & La Candelaria Monastery

After breakfast today, you'll join a walking tour of Villa de Leyva. During colonial times, the village was used as a summer retreat for the rich, as the region reminded the Spanish of Madrid's vast plateau. For centuries, it has drawn all kinds of people, from artists and monks to tourists and retired politicians. You'll learn all about its history as you stroll the 150,000-square-foot (14,000 sq m) Plaza Mayor.

Later you'll tour Ráquira, which is one of the most traditional handicraft-producing villages in Colombia, where techniques have been passed from generation to generation. Visit pottery workshops and handicraft shops, and admire a clay sculpture of Jorge Velosa, a local musician and composer who popularized the carranga, a traditional festive music of this region. Continue to the Monastery La Candelaria, the first founded in the Americas by the Augustinian Recollect fathers. Explore several rooms, antique exhibitions, and exquisitely maintained gardens.

Day 5: Transfer to Barichara, Hike to Guane

This morning a driver will collect you from the hotel for a 4.5-hour drive to Barichara. When you arrive, drop your bags and get ready to hike! At the edge of town, you'll find the start of the Camino Real (Royal Path). Follow the trail for around two hours until you reach the small colonial village of Guane. Along the way, you'll be treated to some great views of the canyons as well as a bit of solitude in the peaceful Colombian countryside.

In Guane, you'll visit the archaeological and paleontological museum, which displays ceramics and jewelry made by the Guane Indigenous people, as well as fossils that are millions of years old. You'll also visit the Chapel of Santa Lucia, located in the main square, and snap some photos before returning to Barichara on a 30-minute moto-taxi ride. Relax and enjoy the views of the Río Suarez Canyon as you whiz by.

Day 6: Transfer to Bucaramanga via Chicamocha National Park

On your three-hour private transfer to Bucaramanga today, your driver will stop at Chicamocha National Park, home to the awe-inspiring canyon of the same name. The famous canyon stretches 141 miles (227 km) and reaches depths of 6,600 feet (2,000 m), making it the second-largest canyon in the world. You'll appreciate its sheer scale when you cross it by cable car. You can also visit Socorro, a colonial town that is the cradle of history in Latin America. In 1781 the first act of revolt against the Spanish occurred here, eventually leading to Colombian independence. 

Once you're finished, your driver will continue to Bucaramanga and drop you at your hotel.

Day 7: Fly to Pereira, Soak in Hot Springs, Transfer to Salento

Today it's time for relaxation in Colombia's coffee region. This morning a driver will collect you from the hotel and drop you at Bucaramanga's airport for your domestic flight to Pereira. Another driver will collect you in Pereira and take you to Santa Rosa de Cabal, where you'll continue through the mountains until you reach the Santa Rosa hot springs. Surrounded by waterfalls and lush Andean vegetation, these hot springs, with their mineral-rich waters, offer a serene and rejuvenating experience. 

Once you're done with the therapeutic waters, your driver will continue your journey south to Salento, a charming town known for its colorful architecture, stunning landscapes, and welcoming atmosphere. Surrounded by impossibly green mountains and coffee plantations, it offers breathtaking views and is the gateway to the famous Cocora Valley.

Day 8: Explore Cocora Valley, Visit a Coffee Farm, Free Time in Salento

In the Cocora Valley, about a 20-minute drive west of Salento, the towering Andes peaks are blanketed in electric-green flora and dotted with 328-foot-tall (100 m) wax palms—Colombia's national tree. Today you'll join a full-day tour to explore coffee, culture, and nature around Salento. Start with a walk among the giant palms in the Cocora Valley, ascending a mountain trail into cloud forests. 

Since this is the heart of Colombia's coffee region, you'll become immersed in Colombian coffee culture. After lunch, visit a coffee farm to learn how the crop is grown and processed, then head back to Salento to explore, centering yourself around lively Calle Real, where you can browse shops and galleries.

Day 9: Transfer to Manizales, Horse Riding Tour

This morning you'll take a two-hour transfer from your hotel in Salento to Manizales, a vibrant and picturesque city surrounded by mountains and coffee plantations. This afternoon you'll jump in the saddle for a horseback tour of Hacienda Venecia, a working farm that delivers awesome views across coffee, plantain, and avocado plantations. Soak up plenty of flora and fauna with native trees, water springs, and more than 260 species of birds. After your ride, the farm's traditional house is the perfect place to refuel and learn more about Colombian coffee.

Day 10: Transfer to Jericó, Cultural Heritage Tour

This grand adventure across Colombia continues. Today a driver will transfer you for 3.5 hours to Jericó, a tranquil, historic town nestled in the mountains that has a nostalgic atmosphere. The area is famous for its rich religious heritage, with beautiful churches and religious art. On arrival, you'll join a special cultural heritage tour that starts at Morro El Salvador, a natural hill of extraordinary beauty where you can take in the views before visiting the Los Balsos Botanical Garden.

Next, your guide lead the way through the historic center, where you'll admire colonial architecture and visit the birthplace of Santa Laura Montoya. Finally, in the Calle del Comercio, you'll be able to shop for a wide variety of leather products, including the traditional guarniel, a type of bag. Spend the rest of the afternoon sipping a delicious coffee in a local café.

Day 11: Transfer to Jardín, Coffee Village Tour

This morning a private transfer will take you on a short 70-minute drive between Jericó and Jardín. This southwest area of Antioquia is one of Colombia's major coffee-growing regions. Here you'll find the charming village of Jardín, nestled into Andean hills with coffee and banana plantations, and the La Cuchilla Nature Reserve, with its cloud forests and diverse flora and fauna, which sets the background for impressive scenery. Jardín is famous for its colorful houses and balconies, and the area around the well-known park has been declared Cultural Heritage Village.

Today you'll explore Jardín's coffee and culture on a half-day tour. Get to know the area with visits to the Basílica Menor la Inmaculada, Conceptionist Sisters Convent, and Monument to the Founders, as well as the house of Doña Mariela and the house of Blessed Juan Bautista Velásquez.

Day 12: Transfer to Medellín, City Transformation Tour

This morning a private drive will take you to Medellín, a three-hour drive away. The second-largest Colombian city has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, shaping its character as a vibrant and progressive metropolis. Known as the "City of Eternal Spring," Medellín boasts a pleasant climate and breathtaking mountainous landscapes. 

This afternoon's guided tour will reveal how Medellín is a city that blends modernity and tradition. Gain a glimpse at the complex history, get to know the dynamic present, and feel inspired for the city's promising future. Your guide will show you how some of its neighborhoods have shifted from dangerous areas to artistic hubs. You'll first visit the Plaza Botero and then Comuna 13 to see how the sprawling mountainside neighborhood links the neighborhood to the city below with a giant escalator. View significant murals and street art pieces as you learn about the history of the city.

Day 13: Explore Silletera Culture in Santa Elena & El Peñón de Guatapé

Today's enchanting day trip from Medellín combines the beauty of flowers in Santa Elena with the awe-inspiring El Peñón (the Rock) in Guatapé. Begin your adventure in the charming village of Santa Elena, nestled in the mountains just a short distance from the city. Discover the place where flower arrangements have become an emblem of the city, particularly during Medellín's grandest festival, the Feria de las Flores. Visit an organic flower farm, savor local cuisine, and immerse yourself in the traditional culture of the mountain villages.

Continue your journey through lush green hills to the remarkable El Peñón de Guatapé, one of the region's most breathtaking destinations. Ascend the 656-foot (200 m) monolith, conquering around 740 steps to reach the summit. From there, be rewarded with awe-inspiring panoramic vistas encompassing islands, mountains, and a sprawling blue lake. Guatapé itself is a quiet and small place with a pleasant climate and colorful paintings decorating the village's houses.

Day 14: Fly to Cartagena, Bike Tour

Your final destination of the trip is Cartagena, a coastal gem on Colombia's Caribbean coast. A driver will transfer you from your Medellín hotel to the airport for your short flight to the coast. On arrival, another transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Drop your bags and start exploring the enchanting walled city, which has been shaped by its rich Afro-Caribbean heritage, evident in its music, dance, and cuisine. There's plenty to see as this UNESCO World Heritage site is a maze of cobbled streets adorned with colorful colonial buildings and bougainvillea-covered balconies.

Day 15: Day Trip Rosario Islands, Rum Tasting in Cartagena

Today's day trip takes you to the captivating Rosario Islands, just 62 miles (100 km) north of Cartagena. Board a speedy boat at Bodeguita Pier and set sail for this tropical paradise. Upon arrival, find yourself at a private beach. Here you'll enjoy welcome cocktails and a delectable lunch with fresh seafood and aromatic coconut rice. Indulge in sun-soaked relaxation, swim in the azure waters, or take a leisurely stroll along the pristine shoreline. As the day draws to a close, return to Cartagena for your final evening in Colombia.

Tonight you'll join a local mixologist to learn all about Colombia's rum production, which dates back hundreds of years. Your drink expert will introduce you to local artisan rums and teach you how to taste the various notes, such as coffee, caramel, vanilla, and other unexpected flavors. Learn how rum is processed, and even pair your rum with chocolate—the perfect way to spend your last evening. 

Day 16: Depart Cartagena

It's time to say goodbye to Colombia! If possible, take advantage of the morning and visit the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, a 16th-century fortress that offers stunning views of the city and a glimpse into Cartagena's colonial history. You can also explore the Mercado de Bazurto, a bustling market with fresh produce, seafood, and local crafts. Or simply relax at one of the city's beaches, such as Playa de Bocagrande or Playa Blanca.

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