Michael Gold
Since I was little, I have been fascinated by getting to know the great wide world. The exchange with other cultures has always been my focus. Therefore, I have made my interest my profession. In Germany and England, I studied tourism management and specialized in sustainable tourism. During my travels, I found a country where I feel most comfortable: Colombia! The Colombian advertising slogan: "The only risk is wanting to stay" has proven true for me. In San Agustín, I have found my second home and from here I am happy to share the magic of the country with tourists from all over the world.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"Responsible and sustainable tourism is my focus. For me it is important that travel has a positive impact - for the visitors, as well as for the hosts. Therefore, I have specialized in sustainable tourism. It is important to achieve a good cultural exchange, to protect nature, and at the same time to combine one's own interests. Nature and adventure tourism is my main area of expertise. "
How did you get involved in travel?
"Travel broadens your horizons! The world has so much to offer and so many exciting places and stories to discover. That's why I've loved traveling all my life - alone, with my family, together with friends. It's great to share experiences and impressions. Through my travel experience in about 40 different countries so far, I have made friends all over the world. My university has shown me the theoretical background of tourism, jobs in hotels and with tour operators helped me with the practical component."
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"After graduating from school, I packed my travel backpack and set off on a long journey through Central and South America. During this period I fell in love with this continent! Hiking tours, boat trips, diving, fishing, jungle tours, visits to deserts, and above all many special life stories and open-minded people. These experiences as a whole package describe for me the most amazing travel experiences - thanks to this trip I decided to live in Colombia. And I am extremely happy about that."
Michael's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice
Within 10 days, your family can combine three or more areas of Colombia thanks to low-cost domestic flights. Curious kids can engage in educational experiences, such as a...
Explore three of Colombia's most exciting cities on this nine-day adventure. Start in Bogotá, the sprawling cosmopolitan capital. Tour the colonial streets of the historic...
The romantic city of Cartagena, white-sand Caribbean beaches, beautiful Coffee Country and sizzling salsa dancing combine to make Colombia a wonderful honeymoon destination....
Family itineraries
Despite its name, Colombia's "Coffee Zone" is a fantastic destination for families—a natural paradise with outdoor activities for all ages. This week-long tour starts in the...
Your family can experience Colombia's best on an exciting week-long tour that's based in two very different cities: Bogotá and Cartagena. Kids and parents alike will enjoy...
You don't need to choose between cultural activities and beach time on this week-long family vacation in Colombia. You'll start on the Caribbean coast in Cartagena, which oozes...
Luxury itineraries
Favorite experiences
Tour of Tayrona National Park
Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona (Tayrona National Park) is one of about 58 national parks in Colombia, and this protected area is known for having some of the most virgin coastal landscapes in the entire country. Indeed, it's home to one of the most iconic "postcard" destinations in Colombia: the...
Guatapé Day Trip
The town of Guatapé is one of the crown jewels of central Colombia's Antioquia region. There are a few reasons for this, not the least of which is El Peñol, a 7,000-foot (2,135-meter) granite rock that rises out of the ground like a giant silver bullet. A private eight-hour tour of the town...
Zipaquirá & Nemecón Salt Mines Day-Trip
A mere 50 minutes north of Bogotá lies the town of Zipaquirá, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. While certainly a charming colonial town, Zipaquirá is a must-visit Colombian destination for one single landmark: the Salt Cathedral, located just outside of town. This is indeed a...
Coffee Finca - Hiking - Explore Salento
It's fitting that Salento, one of the most beautiful colonial towns in Colombia, is surrounded by the Valle de Cocora (Cocora Valley), which happens to be one of the most beautiful valleys in Colombia. This fertile region, denoted by rolling green hills, abounds with various coffee estates that...
La Guajira: Punta Gallinas & Taroa Dunes
La Guajira is almost a world apart from the green and tropical Colombia most travelers know. The arid desert landscapes in this region are foreboding yet beautiful, with the sun-scorched earth and steep red dunes tapering off into the azure waters of the Caribbean. The most epic landscapes here...
Rosario Islands Day Trip
Cartagena de Indias is not only a beautiful Caribbean coastal destination, but it's also one of the most well-preserved Spanish Colonial cities in South America. Back when the Spaniards were in charge, they utilized a network of offshore islands to help protect their shipments of gold. Beyond...
Recent trip reviews for Michael
Colombia with family.
Colombia
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Dec 26 - Jan 6, 2026
From the Safety and communication to the drivers and guides, everything was top notch Read more
Hi Sophie,
thank you so much for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review. I’m truly happy to hear that everything felt seamless for your family. It’s wonderful to read how much you enjoyed the diversity of Colombia.
Thank you again for trusting us with such a special family trip. It was a pleasure planning this journey with you, and I hope Colombia stays with you as fondly as it does with us.
All the best,
Michael & The Chaska Tours Team
Cartegena Colombia and surrounding area.
Colombia
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Jan 6 - Jan 12, 2026
Cartegena: hit the highlights- really enjoyed the street food tour. Kayaking lovely but would be good to know that you are just going from one to point and back between land and island. Fishing was informative and a pleasant ride through the mangroves.
Santa Marta- Sebastian was a very articulate and knowledgeable tour guide. I feel we got an excellent tour. It was really nice to see something... Read more
thank you very much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and detailed review. I’m really happy to hear that you enjoyed the guides, the different tours, and the experiences outside Cartagena, such as Santa Marta and Minca. It’s great to know those moments stood out for you.
I also truly appreciate your constructive feedback. Your notes about better setting expectations for the kayaking route, swimming opportunities, the coffee farm visit, and the physical demands at the... Read more
Another wonderful experience!
Colombia
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Dec 26 - Jan 2, 2026
thank you very much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and detailed review. I truly appreciate it — and I’m very happy to hear that you had another wonderful experience in Colombia overall. It was a real pleasure supporting you before and during the trip, and I’m glad everything ran smoothly. I’m especially happy to hear your kind words about your guides. Thank you as well for your constructive feedback regarding the coffee experience. I’m sorry that the tour ran... Read more
My guides and driver in Medellin were truly l...
Colombia
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Dec 26 - Jan 5, 2026
Hi Erin,
thank you very much for your kind feedback — I really appreciate it.
I’m delighted to hear that you had such a positive experience with your guides. It was a pleasure planning your trip, and I’m glad Colombia left you with such great memories. We’d be happy to help again anytime.
Best regards,
Michael & The Chaska Tours Team
Michael helped us plan a wonderful trip for o...
Colombia
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Dec 23 - Jan 3, 2026
Dear Heidi & Daniel,
thank you very much for your warm and thoughtful review. It was a real pleasure planning this journey with you, and I’m very happy to hear that the pace, hotels and experiences worked so well for your family. It’s great to know that the guides, drivers and excursions helped you connect with Colombia’s history, culture and people in such a meaningful way.
I wish you many more memorable adventures ahead and would be delighted to help you again anytime.
Warm regards,
Michael & The Chaska Tours Team
Amazing adventure in Colombia
Colombia
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Nov 21 - Dec 3, 2025
I want to thank Michael gold for an incredible trip to Colombia. From the very beginning Michael worked with us on incredible itinerary that covered a tremendous amount of activities and amazing restaurants. He was available for last minute changes in flights and very responsive to anything we needed. We felt safe the whole time and the guides were wonderful. I highly recommend KimKim to plan this trip for you from the Mountains to the Sea. It’s an amazing country that everyone should visit
Thanks again Michael for a superb job
Thank you for your trust and for recommending the experience to others. Wishing you many more... Read more
Great trip- thanks to Michael and KimKim
Colombia
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Dec 19 - Dec 29, 2025
Hi Chaitanya,
Thank you very much for the kind review and your trust. I’m really glad to hear that you felt well supported throughout both the planning process and the trip itself – that’s exactly what we aim for.
I also appreciate your hotel feedback. Insights like these are very helpful and allow us to fine-tune future trips even better.
All the best, and it would be a pleasure to help again anytime.
Greetings from Colombia,
Michael & The Chaska Tours Team
Wonderful and out of the ordinary
Colombia
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Nov 7 - Nov 21, 2025
Hi Becky,
Thank you so much for this wonderful review — it truly means a lot. I’m very happy to hear that the itinerary worked so well for you and that you had such memorable moments, especially in Tayrona.
And thank you as well for sharing the beautiful photos — they really capture the spirit of the trip. :)
I appreciate your honest feedback about the hotels, too. This helps us continue improving and refining our recommendations. It was a pleasure planning your journey, and I’d be delighted to help you explore more of Colombia whenever you’re ready.
Warm regards,
Michael
All three of our guides were excellent. Cielo...
Colombia
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Oct 26 - Nov 2, 2025
Daneille (in Bogota) was also knowledgable, engaging and clear and in addition was fun. We liked our time with Cielo and Danielle (in Medellin) but loved our time with Danielle. Read more
Thank you so much for sharing such a thoughtful and detailed review of your trip to Colombia! We’re delighted to hear that you had an excellent experience with your guides. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to each of them — they’ll be thrilled to hear your feedback!
We also appreciate your honest comments regarding the hotels and the private dinner experience. Your insights are very valuable, and we’ll share them with our local partners to help us continue improving... Read more
Phenomenal Trip!
Colombia
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Oct 2 - Oct 13, 2025
Wow – what an absolutely wonderful review! 🌟
I’m truly delighted to read that you and your family had such an unforgettable trip through Colombia, and that the itinerary worked so well for everyone — including the two young travelers. It means a lot to me to know that you enjoyed the diversity of experiences.
Thank you as well for your kind words about our guides, drivers, and local partners – they put so much heart into what they do, and we’ll be sure to share your feedback with... Read more
