This exclusive vacation journey takes you from cosmopolitan Bogotá, to the sultry Caribbean coasts of Cartagena de Indias, to vibrant Medellín, and finally on to the lush mountain slopes and valleys of the Coffee Triangle. Colombia is an amazing land of contrasts and after being off the wish list for many travelers for some years, it is rapidly becoming one of the highlights of South America. With its rich cultural history, amazing architecture, geographical diversity and the simple warmth and hospitality of its people, it’s easy to see why this fascinating country is becoming an increasingly popular spot for overseas visitors.

 Highlights of this Colombia vacation tour itinerary include the gold museum in Bogotá, the lively Old City of Cartagena, the energies of Medellín, and the lush mountains & valleys of the Coffee Triangle.Throughout you’ll experience the best service from bilingual professional guides, to drivers, hosts and from Latin Excursions staff as we help you plan your trip from start to finish, customizing details to match your travel preferences.

If you’re looking for: Travel to a destination that’s been off the map for many travelers for years, vibrant & exciting cities, beautiful lush mountain landscapes, insight into coffee growing, a colorful colonial city on the Caribbean, and lively local culture.

Extend your trip: To Tayrona National Park for several days after visiting Cartagena – it’s ideal for beach relaxation and jungle hikes.

 

Highlights:
• Visit to Gold Museum in Bogotá
• Insider access at a coffee plantation
• Beautiful hacienda stays
• Hiking in national parks
• Caribbean rhythms of Cartagena de Indias
• Colorful Old City of Cartagena

• 13 Days / 12 Nights

Day 1 – Welcome to Bogotá

After a meet and greet at the international airport, transfer with your guide to your hotel. Due to Bogotá’s high altitude, it’s recommended you rest today.

No meals included.

Day 2 – Bogotá City Highlights
This afternoon you’ll explore this South American capital, visiting highlights like the historic Candelaria District & Presidential Palace, Bolivar Plaza, and Capitol. The visit concludes at the Museo del Oro, which has a permanent exhibition of some 32,000 pieces of gold, 20,000 stones, ceramics and textiles, all precious to the Quimbaya, Calima, Tayrona, Sinu, Muisca, Tolima, Tumaco and Magdalena cultures.

Breakfast included.

Day 3 – Cartagena de Indias
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel this morning, before your transfer to the airport for your flight to Cartagena de Indias, located on the Caribbean Coast of Colombia. Enjoy warm breezes & sultry Caribbean rhthyms in the colorful colonial gem. Narrow streets are lined with colorful buildings dating to the 16^th century, balconies overflowing with bougainvillea. Numerous plazas are delightful places to to enjoy an afternoon café, and there are stands for tasty local juices on every corner. Transfer to your hotel, located in the colonial sector of the city.

Overnight at Ananda or similar

Breakfast included.

Day 4 – Cartagena Walking Tour

Start with a panoramic view of the city from the Monasterio and Iglesia de La Popa. Constructed in 1606 this church and monastery are located at a height of 140masl from where one can enjoy 360º views of the city and the sea as well as the port zone, one of the most important in the Caribbean. Continue to the San Felipe fortress. It was built on San Lázaro hill to defend the city from pirate attacks. Then, go on to the Ciudad Vieja (old city) to visit the Convert and Church of the San Pedro Claver compound, which was built in the middle of the 17^th century and owes its name to the “apóstol de los esclavos.” Lastly, end the tour in the handicrafts zone of the Bovedas, a collection of archways built into the city wall of Cartagena and that were used until the end of the 1700s to house armaments and then later as a prison in the 19^th century. Nowadays, it’s an artisan center to appreciate local handicrafts.

Overnight at Ananda or similar

Breakfast included.

Day 5 – Day at Leisure in Cartagena

Enjoy a day at leisure to explore the winding streets of the Old City of Cartagena.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, and then transfer to the airport for your flight to Medellín. Transfer to your hotel, located in the upscale Zona Rosa, with tree-lined streets filled with top restaurants & boutiques.

Medellín, once home to a notorious drug cartel, has engineered a remarkable turnaround in the past decade. Currently the second largest city in Colombia, it’s regarded as one of the most important centers for business, politics, fashion and nightlife, and is now one of the safest cities in South America. Medellín is vibrant, contemporary and well worth a visit for its vast selection fine restaurants, bars, and if nothing else, its people. The Paisa, a person from this region, is well known for his or her sense of pride and also the way they look. To sit at a coffee shop or bar and watch the people of Medellín walk by can easily take up a morning!

Breakfast included.

Day 6 & 7 – Medellín City Highlights Tour

Medellín is a city with a colorful history: from the city’s valiant founding fathers trekking across the Andes, through to the dark days of drug cartels, up to its more recent rebirth as one of South America’s most vibrant & progressive. The city tour will take in all principal sites and locations of this fascinating location, including Parque Berrio, where sculptures by famous Medellín-born sculptor Fernando Botero are exhibited; a ride on the city’s famous metro and cable car system for fantastic views of the city; and a visit to the Antioquia Museum.

Day 8 – Drive to Manizales

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, and then you’ll be transferred with bilingual driver overland to Manizales, in the heart of the coffee triangle. There is just one main road between the two cities, which crosses mountains and is the main trucking route. You’ll pass through beautiful mountain landscapes, with roadside shops balanced precariously on the edge of the road overlooking lush valleys.  The drive takes approximately five hours.

You’ll arrive to Casa Normandia, a lovely historic home in a bucolic setting. Rooms are decorated in a colonial style, and many of the rooms have views over the gardens & lawn. The house boasts a cozy living room, and meals are prepared by your host.

Breakfast & dinner included.

Day 9 – Coffee Culture Experience & Manizales Tour

The coffee region for many people is the heart and soul of Colombia – its cultural epicenter. With every turn, a spectacular panorama changes your perspective, from the rolling hillsides of fertile coffee plantations to plunging valleys and bold elevations. Coffee makes this region tick; it’s the heart and soul of the region and its culture.

Enjoy a short panoramic tour of the city of Manizales, before heading to Hacienda Venecia for a coffee plantation tour. You’ll have a chance to see the whole process, from coffee seedling to coffee cup, and every part in between. You will learn about the trials and tribulations that face the regions coffee growers and how their whole way of life is affected by this simple bean. From the planting to the picking to the toasting and the tasting your life as a coffee drinker will never be the same once you have tasted the elixir of life from Colombia. The experience at Venecia will involve walking through the plantation as well as a home cooked lunch.

All meals included.

Day 10 – Cocora Valley

This tour will take you from the far northeast of Quindío to the town of Filandia, and then onto the beautiful Valle Cocora where the magnificent wax palm grows.

Filandia’s main square has not changed in appearance or in character in decades; enjoy a coffee break in one of the many small cafes and take in the quaintness of brightly painted houses in this traditional regional town. From Filandia you will drive to the Cocora Valley. Part of the wider Parque Nacional Los Nevados, the valley is located on the eastern limits of Quindío along the central Andean range. The valley has a unique landscape like a lush version of a Swiss valley. It has been regarded by Colombia as a sanctuary for its national symbol: the Wax Palm. The valley is spectacular and great for walking or horseback rides; either way this stunning mountain scenery will not fail to impress.

This evening will be spent at an hacienda in Quindío, surrounded by lush gardens and plantain plantations, with views of the surrounding mountains.

Overnight at Bambusa Hacienda

Breakfast & lunch included.

Days 11 & 12 – Hacienda Leisure Days

Enjoy time at leisure at your hacienda – hiking to viewpoints over the valley, relaxing by the pool or on the verandah, or with a massage or horseback ride in the area. The area is truly a paradise and a wonderful place to end your Colombian adventure.

Overnight at Bambusa Hacienda

Breakfast included.

Day 13 – Departure for Home

Transfer to the airport today for your direct flight home. There are direct flights between Armenia and Fort Lauderdale; otherwise, there are international connections through Bogotá

Breakfast included.

 

From: US$ 3,750 per person, depending on accommodations; excludes domestic & international airfare.