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, 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 9-day adventure. Start in Bogotá, the sprawling cosmopolitan capital. Tour the colonial streets of the historic center,...
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
Great customised trip catering to our interests
Colombia
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Apr 29 - May 8, 2023
Michael was very helpful in putting our trip together and taking into account our interests. Everything worked out well. We had great guides in Bogota (Alexander who was incredibly knowledgeable) and in Medellin (Froi was a very interesting person to talk with as he was very knowledgable about Colombia's history and nature). We also had a great birdwatching walk outside Medellin with Rafa, whose enthusiasm for and knowledge of birds was wonderful! We enjoyed our trip out to Jardin as well. read more
Dear Janette,
thank you so much for your wonderful review! It's fantastic to hear that everything worked out well for you.
We're thrilled to know that you had great experiences with your guides in Bogota and Medellin. And it's fantastic that Rafa's passion for birds shone through during your birdwatching walk outside Medellin. We're also glad that you enjoyed your trip to Jardin. It's a beautiful place!
Thank you once again for choosing us as your travel partner, and we're thrilled to have... read more
An excellent family vacation was had by all!
Colombia
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Mar 25 - Apr 1, 2023
Michael from Chaska tours proposed an excellent itinerary and was attentive to our wishes and needs during the planning phase, and was very patient with our endless questions. When our arrival flight was delayed by a day, Michael rescheduled our affected tours more than once providing us peace of mind during airport chaos. When one service didn't work out as planned, Michael promptly arranged a refund. We truly enjoyed the personal and in-depth experience of all the tours and... read more
Dear Kirstin,
We are so grateful that you took the time to share your experience with us. It was truly a pleasure to assist you with planning your trip to Colombia, and we're thrilled to hear that we were able to provide you with the service you were looking for.
We're glad to hear that we were able to be accommodating with your questions during the planning phase. We understand that traveling can sometimes be unpredictable, and we're pleased to hear that we were able to reschedule your... read more
Excellent overall, guides were knowledgeable,...
Colombia
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Apr 1 - Apr 9, 2023
Excellent overall, guides were knowledgeable, professional, helpful. Suggestions for sights, tours and restaurants were excellent. We felt very safe with our guide. read more
Dear Paola,
thank you very much for taking the time to tell us about your trip to Colombia. It is a pleasure to hear that you and your family were happy throughout and enjoyed all the activities and locations!
We are already looking forward to your next visit!
Best regards,
The Chaska Tours Team
Amazing, stress-free travel
Colombia
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Apr 2 - Apr 9, 2023
We had a wonderful itinerary planned, and it was wonderful not to have to worry about anything in a a foreign place-- drivers and guides showed up as scheduled and took care of everything. Plus, it was great to have a personal touch as we learned about the culture and history. We especially liked our driver Harold in/near Cartagena and our guide Diva in Tyrona National Park and Minca. Diva had so much information to share-- about the plants and animals we saw on hikes, about the... read more
Dear Ann,
thank you for your detailed travel report. We are very happy to hear that you were able to experience your time on site stress-free and gather many beautiful impressions in the whole family. Especially it is great that you could enjoy the trip to the Tayrona National Park so much. It is a pity that the original hotel on Rosario Islands changed its management at short notice and in the high season and therefore stopped all oparative activities - nevertheless, your stay on the island... read more
Micahel was very knowledgable, patient and at...
Colombia
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Apr 1 - Apr 8, 2023
Micahel was very knowledgable, patient and attentive. Did a nice job. read more
Dear Edward,
Thank you for your feedback. I am glad to hear that we were able to give your family a nice trip through Colombia and that you were satisfied with our service. Thank you also for your feedback on the hotels and activities - this always helps us for future planning!
Hope to see you again soon!
Best regards,
Michael and the Chaska Tours Team
Great experience with Kimkim and Chaska tours as the local team....
Colombia
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Mar 14 - Mar 24, 2023
Great experience with Kimkim and local team.
I booked a 10 day trip to Columbia in a hurry just two weeks before departure. This was my first time using KimKim and I will use them again! They connected me to a local agency in Columbia, which is exactly what I wanted. Michael and the team at Chaska put together a great tour, everything was pretty much as expected in terms of hotels, local guides, etc. They booked everything from hotels, to local guides, airport transfers, and more. My local... read more
Dear Jen,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences. We are thrilled to hear that you had a great time on your 10-day trip and that our team at Chaska was able to provide you with a great tour that met your expectations.
It's wonderful to hear that you were impressed by Juan, your local guide in the Amazon. We are fortunate to have a team of knowledgeable and passionate guides who are dedicated to making our guests' experiences unforgettable. We are also glad to hear... read more
Easiest International Trip We've Ever Taken
Colombia
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Mar 16 - Mar 23, 2023
We usually take two international trips a year and I normally plan them by myself. However, for a trip to Colombia I saw an internet add for Kimkim which said they would take your suggested ideas for a trip and do a proposed itinerary for no charge. I sent them my thoughts, got a proposal that I thought was pretty good, added some more suggestions which they followed up with and then ultimately filled in gaps with some tours that Kimkim suggested. It was the easiest planning for an... read more
Hi Bob,
Thank you so much for sharing your positive experience traveling with KimKim / Chaska Tours to Colombia. We are thrilled to hear that our planning and organization exceeded your expectations and made for an unforgettable trip. We pride ourselves on ensuring every aspect of your journey is seamless, so we're delighted to hear that all the transfers, guides, flights, and accommodations we arranged worked out flawlessly. We're also glad that we could accommodate your preferences for... read more
Could not be more thrilled!
Colombia
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Mar 9 - Mar 20, 2023
Our trip was absolutely amazing and I cant imagine having coordinated everything on my own at all. Kim Kim, especially Michael were so helpful, communicative and kind throughout the entire process, I really appreciated it. Our tour guides were all great but a special shout out to Gustavo, Kevin + Miguel- they were above and beyond wonderful! The transportation everywhere was such a new experience for both of us, I felt way fancier than I actually am 🤣 and the lodging was great too, especially... read more
Hi Brett,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your amazing experience traveling in Colombia. We're thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic time and that our team was able to support you during the whole planning process. We're so glad that Gustavo, Kevin, and Miguel were wonderful guides and that the transportation and lodging exceeded your expectations. We're honored to have been able to provide you with a unique experience that created so many wonderful memories. It's... read more
Very responsive and smooth
Colombia
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Mar 10 - Mar 19, 2023
Everything was super smooth and when we had a cancellation (because of weather), Michael was super responsive and helpful. We had a fabulous time.
We very much enjoyed our time hiking in Chingaza. It was not on our original wish list and yet was maybe our favorite part. The guides were very helpful. We loved meeting the local guide and his family (and dogs). The area was beautiful. I was a little disappointed to not make it to the lake but the altitude was a challenge!
Our favorite... read more
Dear Paul,
We are thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic time on your trip through Colombia and that everything went smoothly. We appreciate your trust in us as your local travel provider and we are happy that we were able to contribute to an unforgettable experience.
We are glad to hear that you enjoyed hiking in Chingaza, even though it was not originally on your wish list. It's always wonderful to discover unexpected gems while traveling, and we're happy that the guides were helpful... read more
Michael was a font of information and a great...
Colombia
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Mar 10 - Mar 18, 2023
Michael was a font of information and a great collaborator for planning a trip with my two teenagers to Colombia. We went from Cartagena, up the coast through Tayrona National Park, to Minca, and left from Santa Marta. Michael was very attentive to details and customized the trip according to our varied interests and our budget.
We especially loved going to the market and cooking in Cartagena, and also our bicycle tour there. The jungle bungalows in Tayrona were so sweet, complete with a... read more
Dear Daphne,
Thank you for sharing your wonderful travel experience in Colombia and for choosing our services at KimKim. We're so glad to hear that our team was able to provide you with great collaboration and a wealth of information to help plan your trip with your two teenagers. I really enjoyed seeing the pictures of your kids having fun together!
We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your journey from Cartagena up the coast through Tayrona National Park to Minca, and that we were... read more
An Amazing and Wonderful Trip of Colombia
Colombia
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Mar 9 - Mar 20, 2023
Our entire trip to Colombia was fantastic. From the very start, all the way throughout the trip, Michael at KimKim did a fantastic job helping us plan the trip and communicating. During the trip, we had a series of amazing tourguides. In fact, we truly felt like royalty because we were treated so well.
In Medellin, our tour guide, Miguel, did an absolutely outstanding job leading us through the 'Medellin Transformation Tour'. He gave us a great experience and insights that we would never of... read more
Dear Brett & Steve,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience in Colombia and for choosing Chaska Tours to help plan your trip. We're thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic time throughout your entire journey, from start to finish.
We're especially glad to hear that we were able to assist you with your travel arrangements and that our tour guides, Miguel and Gustavo, provided such excellent service and expertise during your tours in Medellin and the... read more
A great family vacation
Colombia
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Mar 4 - Mar 11, 2023
I had a wonderful time with my two young adult children in Cartagena and the islands. From the very beginning, I worked with Michael to plan a trip that had something for everyone -- some culture and insights into Colombia as well as some rest for the family. The choices of hotels were great -- the Cartagena hotel was in Getsemani, a very cool area and outside some of the crowds of the Centro, and had a great rooftop pool. The hotel is Isla Mucura was also fantastic. We had pretty much... read more
Dear Chris,
thank you very much for your kind words and your detailed travel report. It's great that we managed to put together a nice trip for your family that showed you the nature and culture of the country. I hope you will have great memories of the country for a long time and you were able to relax and discover it well.
We are looking forward to your next visit!
The Chaska Tours Team
A country of many jewels
Colombia
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Feb 15 - Feb 28, 2023
Our tailor-made trip to Colombia was prepared in detail together with Michael Gold (Chaska Tours). The trip itself went very smoothly. During the trip, Michael was always ready to take questions and responded very quickly.
Our journey started in Begotá, a large and quite busy city that takes some getting used to, but it is a vibrant city where you can stay for days with its beautiful museums and architecture. A day trip to Chingaza National Park (hiking) with its beautiful nature was also... read more
Dear Carine and Frank,
it is very nice to hear from you. It was a pleasure to accompany you through Colombia. It was also a great joy to meet you in person in San Agustín and to talk with you in person. Thank you for your comments about the hotels and tours you did!
Best regards from San Agustín,
Michael and the Chaska Tours Team
P.S. Thanks also for all the great pictures! I'm glad to see that you had a lot of fun and were able to discover the diverse natural areas.
Michael offered excellent guidance and commun...
Colombia
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Feb 14 - Feb 20, 2023
Michael offered excellent guidance and communication to us once we were booked for events. Communication prior to that was less reliable and sometimes we didn't seem to understand each other. Travel to San Basilio del Palenque with Lorenzo and our driver Boris was excellent and a very valuable moment in our time in Columbia. Travel to the Carnaval in Barranquilla with Daniella was fun. She provided great guidance and had a lot of information about the parades and the city in itself. We would... read more
Dear Ben,
thank you very much for your travel report! It was a pleasure to accompany your journey along the coast. Also, I am very happy to hear that you had a great experience at the carnival in Barranquilla and in San Basilio de Palenque!
It's too bad you didn't enjoy the trip to the Rosario Islands as much - we usually get consistently positive feedback about the beach day. We thank you for your comments and hope that you will come back to Colombia soon.
Best regards,
Michael
Family trip to Colombia
Colombia
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Feb 11 - Feb 18, 2023
We arranged our family trip with Kim Kim, Michael was our local specialist. I was really happy throughout the planning process .. he was cooperative and always available. He adjusted the trip details multiple times to accommodate our needs and requests. Also during the trip itself, he was available all the time with prompt responses to our questions.
Our experience during the travel was very smooth, our drivers were always on time and our guides were good. We visited Bogota, Medellin,... read more
Dear Rihab,
thank you very much for your travel report! We were very happy that your whole family could participate in the trip at the end and that you could get to know the country and its different cities and people together. We hope you were able to take lots of great photos and make some great memories!
We are looking forward to the next time with you!
Best regards,
Michael
Andean Colombia at its best
Colombia
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Feb 9 - Feb 16, 2023
Overall the trip has left remarkable memories for me . Kim Kim did a good job being a small company . As promised all was taken care . Car, private guides all along Bogotá Medellín and Cartagena. The guides were good with understandable English skills . The best of all was Sandy in Cartagena. . The people were all good and friendly and the coconut workshop with the ladies there to teach us accessory making with coconut were really nice and interactive . The place I enjoyed most was comuna13... read more
Dear Razia and Mala
planning the trip with you was a lot of fun! It's great that you could now also get to know Colombia and gain such good experiences. Thank you for the nice and detailed communication throughout the planning and realization of the trip. We enjoyed answering all of your questions and making sure you had a relaxed and stress-free trip!
We are looking forward to the next time with you!
Best regards,
The Chaska Tours Team
Honeymoon in Colombia
Colombia
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Dec 28 - Jan 17, 2023
We actually don't know when Michael sleeps, he was super responsive and reassuring at all times - whether we were in the UK or in Colombia. We had an absolutely amazing trip with absolutely no hiccups or stresses, ever! All drivers were on time, the hotels - whilst varying in quality (due mainly to our budget), were all clean and well located and some were amazing and felt luxurious. All of our drivers were friendly, some had limited English but we enjoyed the challenge of trying to... read more
Dear Beth and dear Stu,
it's great to hear that you had a fantastic honeymoon! We wish you the very best for your future time together! Thank you also for the detailed reports on hotels and excursions. I will keep these details in mind when planning future trips, so I will always create a high quality and customized trip with the latest info from our guests.
We hope to see you again soon in Colombia!
Best regards from the whole Chaska Tours team!
Michael
Michael put together a wonderful adventure fo...
Colombia
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Jan 19 - Jan 25, 2023
Michael put together a wonderful adventure for us along the Colombian coast. We started in Cartagena and had the most magical 2 days exploring the city. Our tour guide Jhoker was incredibly knowledgable, kind and trustworthy. Unfortunately we received tragic news from home and could not complete the rest of our trip. Michael made himself completely available to us in our emergency and Jhoker, God bless his soul, came to pick us up at 2am to take us to the airport for an urgent flight... read more
Dear Jen,
thank you so much for your feedback and comments about your trip. It's a pity that you had to cut your trip short so early. Our whole team was with you in thoughts and of course we did our best to support you in this situation.
We are also happy that you are already planning to travel to Colombia again and we are looking forward to the next trip planning with you!
We wish you the very best.
Kind regards,
Michael on behalf of the whole Chaska Tours Team.
Dec 2022 Trip to Columbia
Colombia
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Dec 24 - Jan 2, 2023
Thanks to Michael and the Kim Kim team for the amazing support during our trip to Columbia. Despite lot of travel / logistical issues - Michael was able to help us re-plan and re-adjust our trip to make the most of it. The support team in Columbia - that provided all our transportation were very courteous and helpful. Special mention to Christian - our driver who took us from Cartagena to Minca - he was amazing.
We had to make lot of changes on the fly and Michael was very helpful and... read more
Dear Amit,
thank you very much for your feedback. It is a pity that your international flights were cancelled due to the bad weather. So you could not get to know the great area in the coffee region, but nevertheless had a great time in the north of the country. I am glad that you were satisfied with our service and that we were always able to help with all minor and major changes.
We hope that you will come back to Colombia soon to see the other beautiful parts of this country.
Best regards from the whole Chaska Tours team,
Michael
Amazing experience!
Colombia
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Jan 1 - Jan 15, 2023
My daughter and I had a great time in Colombia, visiting the small colonial towns around the beautiful mountains of Antioquia. The whole trip went very smoothly, thanks in part to the phenomenal job of Michael Gold, who answered ALL our questions always in a timely manner and paid attention to every detail.
WELL DONE MICHAEL!!!!
read more
Dear Rima and Arianna,
thank you for your kind words! It always makes us happy to hear when our guests had a great trip and enjoyed their time in Colombia! Thank you also for the feedback about your hotel in Salento. How nice that you were so happy there!
We look forward to the next trip with you!
Best regards,
Michael and the whole Chaska Tours Team