Colombia's Cities & Archaeological Wonders - 11 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bogotá, Explore on Your Own

Welcome to Bogotá! Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by your driver who will transfer you to your hotel. Take time to rest before you start exploring.

Colombia's largest city has plenty of culture on hand, and its regional gastronomy has made it a global foodie destination. You'll have free time to wander the vibrant center of this Andean capital on foot. Perhaps you'll want to start with the cobblestone streets of the La Candelaria neighborhood, brimming with trendy restaurants and colonial-era landmarks. You'll also find excellent museums, shopping, and street food ranging from empanadas to exotic fruit salads.

Day 2: Bogotá Fruit Tour & Historical Walking Tour, Explore Monserrate Hill

Today begins with a tour of Colombia's wide variety of fruits in all colors, sizes, and flavors, which you can keep track of with your very own fruit dictionary (provided at the beginning of the tour). Your private guide will walk you through the Plaza de Mercado de Paloquemao sharing the history of the market and introducing local vendors as you taste fifteen different fruits, three shots of fresh juices, and two typical Colombian snacks. 

After some time to rest, take a historical walking tour in the historic La Candelaria neighborhood. Start at the main square, called Plaza de Bolívar, where the national and local government headquarters are located, as well as the neoclassical Catedral Primada, Bogotá's largest cathedral. From here, your guide will lead you on foot to the Gold Museum, which has an impressive collection of pre-Columbian goldsmiths from Colombia's native communities. The tour finishes at the Museo de Botero with over 200 works that were donated to the city by the renowned Colombian painter Fernando Botero.

 

If you still have energy, consider a visit to Monserrate Hill, which rises above the city at 10,341 feet (3,152 m) above sea level. Crowning the top is a catholic shrine called Monserrate Sanctuary that was completed in 1657. Most visitors ascend Monserrate by cable car but it is possible to reach the top by driving or hiking (just over an hour on foot). The views of Bogotá are a highlight and you can explore different vantage points of this beautiful sanctuary as you learn about the area's pilgrims, as well as its gardens, fountains, and cloud forests.

Day 3: Transfer to Villavieja, Visit an Astronomical Observatory

It's time to say goodbye to Bogotá! At the appointed time, a driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport for a flight to Neiva. From here, you'll be picked up and transferred to your hotel in the town of Villavieja.

Later in the day, you'll spend a few hours at the Tatacoa Observatory. Due to the absence of light pollution and its proximity to the equator, the sky of the Tatacoa Desert is usually very clear most of the year, making it an ideal place for astronomical observation. At nightfall, you are invited to relax lying on the desert floor looking at the sky, while listening to an interesting and fun talk about astronomy. You will see various celestial bodies more closely from the observatory's telescopes and get a chance to take incredible photos of them. 

Day 4: Day Trip to the Tatacoa Desert

This adventurous day trip begins in Villavieja where you will take a tuk-tuk up to the entrance of the Tatacoa Desert. From there, you'll take a horseback ride and admire the landscapes of this tropical dry forest while learning about the different species of vegetation. Continue to the mineral water pool where, if you wish, you can enjoy a relaxing bath. You will then return to Villavieja to have lunch and rest a bit before heading out to explore the Magdalena River by boat, accompanied by a local who will share some fishing secrets.

 

After the boat ride, you will walk through the gray and ochre parts of the desert and wait for sunset to hit the rainbow path. You will also pass one of the most representative landscapes, due to its geomorphology, where your guide will show you key formations originated by water and wind. At nightfall, you are invited to enjoy a glass of cactus wine at the Cuzco viewpoint while observing more views of the desert's starry sky.

Day 5: Transfer to San Agustín, Coffee Tour on a Local Farm

Today you'll be picked up by a private transfer for the drive to San Agustín in Southern Colombia. Upon arrival, you'll visit a local farm for a coffee tour. Coffee is an essential product for the economy of San Agustín and other towns in this region, where the best specialty coffees in Colombia are currently produced. On this tour, you and your guide will visit an organic coffee farm where you can learn about the bean production process, from start to finish, in a very authentic way.

Your host will be Luis Alejandro, owner of Finca La Cabaña, who proudly shows visitors the success of his work and that of his father who began growing coffee here over more than 50 years ago. At the end of the tour, Luis will invite you to taste some of his fantastic specialty coffees using all your senses.

Day 6: Horseback Archaeology Tour, Visit the San Agustín Archaeological Park

 

Today you can enjoy the most famous horseback ride in San Agustín, led by an expert local guide who will take you through a circuit that runs through four archaeological sites. First, you will cross the town's rural area to get to La Pelota to see three statues located close to where they were originally found, as well as vestiges of an original mound. Several feet from here is El Purutal where there are four more statues, two of which retain the original coloration that is believed to have been characteristic of other monoliths in the area.

Following this, you'll continue to El Tablón, an archaeological site where five statues classified as female are exhibited. There's also a small ethnographic museum organized by the residents of El Tablón township. Next is La Chaquira, an archaeological site with different human and animal figures carved into volcanic stone that look toward an impressive river canyon, one of the most spectacular views in San Agustín. 

In the afternoon, depart with your local guide and visit the impressive San Agustín Archaeological Park on a half-day tour. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to a number of pre-Columbian statues and artifacts so there's plenty to see. You will start with a visit to the archaeological museum followed by a walk in the park where you can meander among gigantic stone idols and sacred tombs peeking out from the jungle rainforest. 

Day 7: Jeep Tour in the San Agustín Area

Today you and your guide will spend the whole day touring the San Agustín area by Jeep. You'll start at the Magdalena Strait, the narrowest point of Colombia's main river, which offers views of the scenic Andean forest. Just a few miles from here is the small town of Obando, where you'll see tombs similar to those of the Tierradentro Archaeological Park in Cauca, as well as a small museum that houses pieces that are even older than those found in San Agustín. The most famous is perhaps a replica of the Winged Fish goldwork, as the original was moved to the Gold Museum in Bogotá.

The journey continues to the Alto de Los Ídolos Park, the second site with the highest density of tombs and statues of the Augustinian culture after the San Agustín Archaeological Park. Then, you'll head to the Alto de las Piedras to see the enigmatic warrior or guardian carved in stone called Doble Yo. On your way back to San Agustín, you will pass by an impressive waterfall almost 656 feet (200 m) high called the Salto del Mortiño.

Day 8: Transfer to Medellín, Explore on Your Own

At the appointed time, a driver will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the airport in Pitalito. From here you'll fly to Medellín. Upon arrival, you'll be met by a representative who will take you to the hotel.

Enjoy some free time to explore the friendly city of Medellín on your own. Most of the tourism is centered around Parque Lleras in the heart of the trendy El Poblado district, where the best dining, nightlife, and hotel options are within easy reach. You can take a ride on the city's Metrocable (gondola) to see the views or walk around the various parks, plazas, and museums. Another option is to venture to Pueblito Paisa, a replica of a traditional Antioquian town. Either way, enjoy the weather—due to a high elevation near the equator, the city has year-round spring temperatures. 

Day 9: Medellín City Tour & Pablo Escobar Tour

Today, you'll take a city tour and learn about Medellín's history of transformation. Just over 25 years ago, it was one of the most dangerous cities in the world due to the presence of the Medellín Cartel. After Pablo Escobar's death in 1993, Medellín experienced a resurgence thanks to the hard work of local politicians who started to invest heavily in infrastructure and public education. Today, the City of Eternal Spring is one of the most innovative cities in the world. 

The tour highlights an area of the city called Comuna 13, which was plagued with violence from drug trafficking organizations and paramilitary groups in the 80s and 90s. The area now offers graffiti art and street murals that climb the mountainside. Not to miss is the giant escalator that opened in 2011 in six sections helping link residents that were once isolated to the rest of the city below.

You can also take a specific tour highlighting Pablo Escobar. While it's a sad history, the Medellín Cartel is a unique example of how crime organizations can impact a whole country. In the early 1990s, when the hunt for Escobar took place, the head of Medellín's drug cartel was at its peak, but it came to an end with his death. Get to know the history of the drug lord and his impact on Medellín by visiting some of the most emblematic sights of his life with a private guide. You'll also gain a better understanding of why Escobar is still the most controversial person in Colombia's recent history.

Day 10: Tour of Guatapé

Today your guide will take you on a drive through the Eastern Highlands of Antioquia. This is where El Peñól de Guatapé is located, often considered the most scenic destination in the Medellín area. It's possible to climb 740 steps to get to the top of the granite monolith that was created 70 million years ago and observe the area's stunning green mountains and blue lakes. Meanwhile, the nearby village of Guatapé is famous for its historic church and colorful paintings that decorate the houses.

You can pick and choose your activities on this tour. Perhaps you want to climb El Peñol and then enjoy a delicious Colombian lunch on the waterfront of the Guatapé reservoir. You can also explore the lake on a boat ride or simply take time to stroll and relax.

Day 11: Depart Medellín

It's time to say goodbye to Colombia! At the appointed time, a driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the Medellín airport for your departure onward. Safe travels!

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Colombia? Check out these other Colombia itineraries, explore different ways to spend 11 days in Colombia, or discover the best time to visit Colombia.