
Margoth Rico
I have seen how Colombia has evolved from a dangerous destination to a safe, welcoming, and upcoming destination, and I am therefore extremely passionate to be part of my country's tourism resurgence.
I was born in Colombia and grew up in a family of entrepreneurs that have started successful travel businesses. I moved to Canada where I earned a degree in International Economic Development from McGill University, and I then worked in the hospitality and event management industries in London. I also worked in the tourism industry in Colombia for many years, and I have had the opportunity to travel extensively around the world. One of my last ventures was pursuing an MBA at the University of Cape Town in South Africa where I focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. I then decided to follow my passion and dedicate my life to ensuring that travelers that visit Colombia, have a fantastic time in my home country and are able to experience all the wonderful things that Colombia and its people have to offer.
I provide superb customer service and have traveled extensively around Colombia and continue to do so. I have the know-how to design unforgettable Colombian experiences. I treat each of my travelers as a VIP Client, and I will go above and beyond to make sure your trip is perfect.
My philosophy of Luxury Travel is to offer a personalized service that seeks to provide clients outstanding and authentic experiences in Colombia. I focus on tailored trips and work with professional and outstanding local partners in all regions across Colombia to design and plan trips that combine exceptional experiences. From diving to trekking, to relaxing on a beautiful beach, to tasting Colombian coffee and flavors, birdwatching, interacting with excellent local guides and storytellers, or hiring your private boat, I design once in a lifetime trips.
I look forward to taking care of you and making sure your trip to Colombia fulfills all your expectations and is filled with the most memorable experiences.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"I specialize in creating truly personalized trips that are designed for each traveler or group. The main destinations I cover are Cartagena, the islands of Cartagena, Bogota and surroundings, Medellin, Guatape and surroundings, the coffee region, Santa Marta, Tayrona and surroundings, the Amazon rainforest, and San Andres and Providencia. However, I cover all of the country and can plan a trip to any destination you want or that I believe you will like.
I enjoy planning trips for couples, families, independent travelers, for those wanting to relax, for those seeking to learn and immerse in the Colombian culture, for city lovers, nature explorers, beach fans, foodies, coffee lovers, for the ones that love music and dance — for everyone that wants to visit Colombia! I specialize in boutique and 5-star hotels, but I love being creative, and every trip I plan is tailored to your wants and interests!"
How did you get involved in travel?
"My grandmother and parents have run successful travel businesses, and from a very young age, I have been exposed to the wonderful world of travel and to the tourism and hospitality industry. This allowed me to travel around the world, making travel one of my passions in life! I've also lived, worked and studied in different countries including South Africa, Canada, Brazil, France, Colombia, and the UK. I am passionate about seeing Colombia fulfill its potential as a world-class holiday destination, and I look forward to helping you plan your trip!"
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"Traveling to the coffee region of Colombia for the first time, was an unbelievable experience! I never thought we'd have such a beautiful, peaceful and unique destination in Colombia, different from any other place I've visited in the world. This area is a hidden gem for many travelers, and I encourage you to visit it and see for yourself the marvelous coffee fields of Colombia, where you will meet some of the most charming, welcoming and hard-working people on earth.
The coffee farm tours I did and recommend are not touristy, but more off the beaten path, and the farms' main interest is still producing excellent high-quality coffee, as opposed to doing tours. I was very lucky to be able to do a private specialized tour of different farms' facilities, their fields, and coffee crops and understand the entire process that a coffee bean goes through. Being a coffee drinker, it was extremely interesting to interact with the farmers and the people behind recognized coffee brands and learn about good coffee directly at its origin. I also did two excellent coffee tastings and got to try some of the most delicious coffee in the world.
In addition to coffee, I was able to stay in a beautiful boutique hotel in the middle of a cocoa and coffee farm where I was able to try delicious creative restaurants with fascinating food recipes and drinks. This region combines, coffee, nature, good food, nice people, an opportunity to relax, to learn, to swim in thermal waters, to go for a canoe trip on the river and see the tallest palm trees in the world. I had a fantastic time full of surprises, and I encourage you to visit as well. "
Featured trips & expertise

Explore Colombia: the Caribbean Coast & Zona Cafetera - 12 Days
This laid-back 12-day itinerary takes you through the highlights of Colombia's Caribbean coast, then detours south to explore the heart of the country's lush coffee-growing region. Stroll Cartagena's historic Old Town, swim in the turquoise waters of the Rosario Islands, and discover the pristine beaches of Tayrona National Park. Fly south into the Zona Cafetera for two days visiting coffee farms and hiking amongst giant palms in the Valle de Cocora, then return to Cartagena to end your journey with more culture and cuisine in the "Pearl of the Caribbean."

Explore Bogotá and Cartagena - 9 Days
This tour of Colombia starts in the bustling capital of Bogotá, where you'll explore its trendy neighborhoods and culinary scene before hiking through the nearby nature reserves of Chicaque and Chingaza. Make your way to the coastal city of Cartagena for walking tours of its walled Old Town, then head to the Rosario Islands in the Caribbean Sea. Relax along the white-sand beaches, try your luck with sports such as snorkeling and kayaking, tour mangrove farms, and view the bioluminescent plankton at night.

Best of Colombia: Bogotá, Medellín & Cartagena - 9 Days
Explore three of Colombia's most exciting cities on this 9-day adventure. Start in Bogotá, the sprawling cosmopolitan capital. Tour the colonial streets of the historic center, taste local cuisine, and visit museums. Then, transfer to Medellín to see street art and communal projects, and learn about Colombian coffee culture. The adventure ends in tropical Cartagena, where you'll appreciate Spanish forts and architecture, enjoy fresh seafood, and swim in the Caribbean.

Colombia's Caribbean Coast: Tayrona & Cartagena - 9 Days
This diverse 9-day itinerary showcases the highlights of Colombia's Caribbean coast. Start by soaking up the colonial charm, vibrant nightlife, and myriad attractions of Cartagena, then head north to the bustling Pacific port of Santa Marta. Spend your final three days immersed in the natural beauty of Tayrona Natural Park, where you'll hike through biodiverse rainforests, explore sandy beaches and volcanic coves, and tour the lush coffee farms of nearby Minca.

Experience Colombia's Amazon - 4 Days
This 4-day excursion into the Amazon will give you a taste of one of the most beautiful and diverse ecosystems in the world. This itinerary is the perfect introduction to the Amazon as it will bring you down the river, through the rainforest, and into various indigenous communities along the way. Take a boat cruise along the Amazon River, stroll through the eco-friendly village of Puerto Nariño, take a dip in the beautiful waters of Lake Tarapoto, and more.

Explore Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena - 8 Days
On this eight-day excursion, you'll visit Bogotá, the largest city in Colombia and a melting pot of people from around the country. Travel to Medellín and see with your own eyes how it's transformed from one of the most dangerous cities to a fascinating destination. Then explore Cartagena, the jewel of the Caribbean ocean, and go on a trip to the beautiful beaches and islands nearby.
Recent trip reviews for Margoth
Our trip to Colombia exceeded all of our expe... · Colombia - Apr 21 - Apr 27, 2022
Our trip to Colombia exceeded all of our expectations. My mom and I took a week long girl's trip to Cartagena to learn the history, see the beautiful city, and experience some of the local culture. Our specialist, Margoth, was so helpful and responsive when setting up the plans for trip. We somewhat expected that we would be on our own once we had paid for and landed in Cartagena, but Margoth and her team were beyond helpful and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Any questions or... read more

Hi Rebecca,
It was great to have you and your mom in Colombia and thank you so much for taking the time to write this review! I just passed on your comments to Manu and he sends you both his best regards and that he hopes to see you both again in Cartagena! We also hope you return to Colombia and it has been a pleasure meeting you! All my very best wishes to you and your mom and please stay in touch. Thank you for visiting Colombia!! :) Muchas Gracias, Margoth
Solo Trip to Colombia · Colombia - Apr 24 - Apr 30, 2022
Thanks to Margoth my trip to Colombia was more than amazing! It was my first time traveling solo and after my experience I would’ve done it again & again. Thanks to all the team and especially to Margoth who made this an experience of a lifetime.

Hi Nefeli, thank you so much for your review and it was a pleasure helping you with your trip. It was also great to meet you and thank you for visiting Colombia! Stay in touch and sending you my best wishes! Margoth
Amazing trip and customer service. Highly Recommend! · Colombia - Mar 14 - Mar 23, 2022
Amazing trip and customer service. Our family of 3 had the most incredible 9 days in Colombia - split between Cartagena, Tayrona and 4 days hiking the Ciudad Perdida trail. Margoth fielded my numerous questions in advance patiently and graciously! And then once there we were still able to reach out and make tweaks to our itinerary. We ended up catching a bug on our penultimate day, and Margoth and team had the driver show up with gatorade and extra hydrating drinks. So thoughtful! We... read more

Hi Elizabeth, thank you SO much for your review and for your kind words and incredible attitude when visiting Colombia! It was a real pleasure meeting you and being part of your family trip to Colombia! Thank you for visiting our home country and we hope you all come back! Sending you our Best Wishes to you and your family and stay in touch. Hasta pronto y muchas gracias, Margoth
The best trip… · Colombia - Feb 17 - Feb 21, 2022
Dear Margoth.
We are back home 😔 after a fabulous visit to your glorious country.
I wanted to express our gratitude for your exceptionally attentive, helpful and timely help in organising the trip.
We simply loved our stay at Calanoa in the rainforest & have taken away such wonderful memories that will last a lifetime
The logistics all ran so smoothly thanks to you 🙏
Your are an absolute star ⭐️ thank you so so much.
You have two happy fans !
All the best
Adam & Lola read more

Adam and Lola Thank you!!! It was amazing to have you both in Colombia and I am very glad you enjoyed your Amazon experience! Thank you for trusting us and I hope you come back to Colombia! All my very best wishes!!! Hasta pronto, Margoth
Family Adventure in Colombia · Colombia - Dec 26 - Jan 5, 2022
Thank you Margoth, Felipe, Martin, Juan Carlos, Jaruen, Jose, Maria, and drivers for a fantastic trip to Colombia. Thank you for sharing your beautiful country with us. Margoth put together a wonderful trip fitting in everything I asked for at a busy time of year. Our trip included Cartagena, Santa Marta, Rosario Islands, Tayrona, Minca, Medellin, Guatape, Rio Claro, Tabio, and Bogota. The guides were very passionate about their cities and taught so much about the places and culture. They... read more

Hi Nicole, thank you so much for your review and Wow… fantastic pictures! Thank you for sharing your experience and pictures with us! I will pass on your comments with Felipe, Martin, Juan Carlos, Jaruen, Jose, Maria, and drivers, and thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your family trip to Colombia :)
Family trip to Colombia 12/25-1/1 · Colombia - Dec 25 - Jan 1, 2022
Family of 4 (kids ages 9 and 11), 1 week in Colombia (Bogota and Cartagena), Margoth arranged an amazing trip. Everything was seamless from pickup/dropoff at the airports, to all tours with local English guides, and reservations at top restaurants. It was my eldest daughters birthday and she arranged a very special day for her with treats and birthday celebrations throughout the day. There was constant communication throughout the trip and nothing was left to chance. They even arranged a... read more

Hi Dave, thank you for visiting Colombia with your family! I am glad you had an amazing trip and it was great to be a part of your experience in Colombia! I hope you come back soon, and thank you for recommending us to other friends! Best wishes to you and tour family! Margoth
Amazing experience with Kim Kim - especially our advisor (Margoth!) and guide (Juan Manuel) · Colombia - Dec 23 - Dec 31, 2021
I want to preface this review by saying that I've traveled to almost 50 countries, so I've had my fair share of trip planners that I've worked with. Margoth has by far been the most efficient, professional, responsive, and thoughtful one I've ever encountered!
We just got back from a trip to Medellin last week. There were 8 travelers, all with different arrival and departure dates. Margoth seamlessly planned around each individual and crafted an itinerary that best fit our needs and numbers... read more

Dear Sumi,
Thank you for your kind words and comments, and it was a pleasure for all of us to meet you all and have you in Colombia. Thank you as well for taking the time to write this review, I really appreciate it. Your guide Juan Manuel had a great time with all of you and spoke highly about you. He called me today to make sure you had all arrived safely back home, and sends you his best wishes as well!
We really hope you come back to Colombia, and sending you my very Best Wishes for this year, Margoth

Where to even begin! First, I believe Margoth... · Colombia - Nov 9 - Nov 17, 2021
Where to even begin! First, I believe Margoth deserves a lot of credit for her resilience in assuring me a safe and very special experience for my first ever international trip outside of the US! Having never even left the country before, I always had major doubts in myself, but something in my gut told me to go with this..
I didn’t want to do anything really typical. I didn’t want the all-inclusive resorts with lots of other US tourists. I wanted to be plummeted into another culture and... read more

Muchas Gracias Carly!!! It was amazing having you in Colombia and being a part of your trip! It has also been a pleasure meeting you and we have truly enjoyed seeing all your videos and pictures. We hope you come back to Colombia and we send you our best wishes! Stay in touch, Margoth
In one word "EXCELANT". I would like to say... · Colombia - Oct 22 - Oct 30, 2021
In one word "EXCELANT".
I would like to say as a traveling person, the trip that we had to Colombia was more than what we expected. Other than the beautiful sites that we visited, it was organized so well that all 4 of us were very happy from all the organization that Margoth and Felipe arranged.
They took care of all the reservations for the hotels, restaurants and even they made all the flight check ins for us. We did not waste even one minute for any arrangements.
The local guides Oscar... read more

Hi Simon,
Thank you so much for your "Viva Colombia" message! And it was a pleasure having you all in Colombia! And we do hope you come back soon! We have passed on your feedback to Daniel and Oscar and all the people involved, and we all love to hear that you had a great time in our home country! thank you as well for sharing your amazing pictures with us. Bienvenidos a Colombia whenever you want to visit us, and stay in touch. Best Wishes, Margoth

An Absolutely Amazing Experience - First But Not Last Visit to Colombia · Colombia - Oct 17 - Oct 23, 2021
In Bogota, I was very pleased with my guide Mafe, as well as the driver(s), and my guide Lina for a game of Tejo.
In Medellin, I was also extremely happy with my driver Claudia and my guide Daniel, as well as my guide Flako in Communa 13.
What made the tours of both cities go so well, is that having one guide the whole visit means they know what you have done so far and have not done yet, so if/when schedules or interests change, they can be flexible without being redundant or missing... read more

Hi Todd,
It was a pleasure meeting you! And all of your guides and drivers have spoken highly about you and felt fortunate to have the chance to meet you and spend time with you in their cities. Thank you for visiting Colombia and we are very much looking forward to having you back! All our Best Wishes for now, Margoth and the Aracanto Team
Cartagena & KimKim · Colombia - Sep 11 - Sep 17, 2021
We had a great time in Cartagena, all the activities planned by Margoth were thoroughly enjoyed. She hit on the nail with all her suggestions. Caro our chef was informative and fun, can’t wait to use the recipes we practiced. Manu was the perfect guide for our Mangrove experience, and Martin was so knowledgeable and courteous. Our Rum tasting with Jesus was super fun, not to mention our coffee tasting class “bautizo”, I guess I didn’t know much about coffee ☕️, great experience.
The... read more

Hola Claudia,
Wow! Lovely pictures!
Thank you so much for your detailed review and it was a pleasure meeting you and your family!! Stay in touch y hasta pronto! Un abrazo a todos,
Margoth
Best vacation ever! · Colombia - Aug 28 - Sep 3, 2021
I visited Colombia from 8/28-9/4 and used the trip planning service kimkim and Margoth was my agent.
I planned to go with my son but he was unable to go due to work so I went solo. I did no research before I left and just knew I wanted a very active trip and made sure Margoth knew that.
Margoth suggested I visit Bogota and Medellin and did a great job of offering me different options for daily activities. I knew I wanted to hike, bike and go white water rafting and Margoth found me great... read more

Hi Neil, thank you so much for your comments and we are very happy you had a great time in Colombia! On behalf of Oscar, Pablo, and all the people involved in your trip, it was a pleasure meeting you, having you in Colombia, and assisting you during your trip. And thank you so much for your detailed comments. And we really hope you come back to Colombia soon!
Sending you all our Best Wishes,
Margoth
Fantastic family trip to Colombia · Colombia - Jul 29 - Aug 8, 2021
Margoth and team planned and delivered a fantastic family trip to Colombia. They know all the great spots, all the places to skip, and had everything planned perfectly. Knowledgeable, responsive, and dependable and delivered a great trip.

Hi Derek, thank you for your review and it has been a pleasure meeting you and your family! We are very glad you enjoyed your family trip to Colombia and we look forward to having you back.
Best wishes, Margoth
Cartagena and Santa Marta, Columbia: December 2020 · Colombia - Dec 12 - Dec 19, 2020
My friend and I had such a wonderful and memorable time in Cartagena and Santa Marta. Margoth did an amazing job organizing and suggesting activities, transportation, hotels, and restaurants. Everything went so smoothly. She was even available during our stay and would check up on us. She is very knowledgeable on creating out perfect vacation. I wanted to visit Cerro Kennedy which not many tourist hike and she was able to make arrangements last minute as I was not sure what traveling would... read more

It was a pleasure helping you with your trip Sabena! And thank you once again for visiting Colombia! I am very glad you had a great time here, and enjoyed your time with Juan! All my Best Wishes to you and Layla!
Excellent Service · Colombia - Mar 11 - Mar 19, 2020
We cannot be more impressed with the exceptional service provided by Margoth @ Aracanto on our Colombia trip. We found her on kimkim.com to help us put together a 10-day itinerary. She promptly responded to our emails, eloquently answered every little query and request and gave excellent recommendations and options for every aspect of the trip. Our itinerary was unfortunately truncated by the COVID pandemic travel restrictions but we have nothing but praise for Margoth’s concern and support... read more

Hi Natasha, thank you for your review and it has been a pleasure meeting you and Ake!
And Thank You for visiting Colombia! We are very glad you enjoyed your stay in our country!
We look forward to having you back, and in the meantime please take care.
Best wishes, Margoth
Awesome family trip to Colombia · Colombia - Feb 23 - Mar 2, 2020
We had an amazing family trip to Colombia thanks to Margoth and her team. We were a party of 7, including children and grandparents, and we wanted to get a taste of everything that Colombia has to offer in an 8 day trip. Already at the planning stage Margoth completely understood what we were looking for in terms of activities, culture, nature, hotels and comfort. She put together a great trip for us and we just had to click “yes” and everything was booked and organised for us. Our trip... read more

Marianne, muchas gracias! It is a pleasure meeting you and your family, and helping you with your trip! I really hope you come back to Colombia, and we wish you all the very best in the meantime! Margoth
Excellent. We really enjoyed all parts of our... · Colombia - Dec 29 - Jan 6, 2020
Excellent. We really enjoyed all parts of our trip. The tour guides were excellent and the trip was well planned and very enjoyable.

It was a pleasure meeting Omar you and thank you for trusting us with the planning of your trip to Colombia! I am very glad you had a good time with the tour guides as well! All the very best and stay in touch, Margoth