11 DAYS UNIQUE COLOMBIA

The mountain capital of Bogota is famous with its fine historic centre and lovely colonial architecture. 

Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and rest of the day at leisure after a long flight.

Commence the Weaving Peace Tour to understand Colombia’s history, rebirth and future (not available on Sundays).

Visit Parque Nacional with a human-scaled country map, Café Wasikamas to learn how coffee business is a symbol of the Peace Agreement, Plaza de Bolivar for insight into the memorable episodes of Violence of Taking the Palace of Justice, as well as Distrito Chocolate to learn how cocoa has become the main resource for thousands of peasant families.

Afterwards, choose one of the following activities:

Option A:  Fragmentos (closed on Mondays)

A monument or public memorial of the Colombia plastic artist Doris Salcedo. More than an artistic work, it is a space that invites an aesthetic reflection on what has happened in Colombia.

Option B: Memory, Peace and Reconciliation Center (closed on weekends) 

A space made to rebuild the country’s memory and honor the people who suffered during the conflict.

Option C: National Museum of Colombia (closed on Mondays)

Observe the textiles of Mampuján weavers, a group of afro women from the Caribbean who received the National Peace Price and started the tradition of creating woven tales of Colombia’s armed conflict victims.

This afternoon, we ride a cable car to the summit of Sanctuary of Monserrate for sunset panoramic views.

Today, make an excursion to Zipaquirá. Discover the Salt Cathedral, located in the heart of the mountain 590 feet under the ground. Walk through the Fourteen Stations of the Cross to the dome, the enormous cross and the main altar.

Head to Bogota’s historic centre known as La Candelaria to discover the lovely colonial mansions, Plaza de Bolivar, the Grand Cathedral and the Capitol.

Thereafter, we visit Botero Museum (closed on Tuesdays) to admire some of Fernando Botero’s words of art and his personal collection including works by Picasso, Renoir, Dali Matisse, Monet and Giacometti. Also visit the Museum of Gold (closed on Mondays) for its extraordinary pre-Hispanic gold work collection.

Fly to Armenia this morning, your gateway to Pereira, the UNESCO-protected coffee land with volcanic terrain. Coffee is historically Colombia’s most important export crop. Visit Hacienda San Alberto for a private coffee plantation guided tour to learn about coffee production process, followed with coffee tasting guided by a Master Taster (not available on Sunday afternoons). Next, transfer to your farm estate surrounded by tropical gardens for your free at leisure time.

Board your 4WD along the old trade road to enjoy the view of Paramillo of the Quindio (4,750m). Stroll through the emerald valley of Wax Palm Forest in La Carbonera and break on a local farm in a hummingbird’s reserve for a local drink. Continue to Salento, famous for colourful balconies, craft workshops and view of the Cocora.

Early departure for your flight to Santa Marta via Bogota.

Santa Marta is South America’s oldest surviving city and the second most important colonial city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Tour the Bay of Santa Marta, the Monument to Tayrona gods to learn about the region’s pre-Hispanic culture and the Customs House (now the Tayrona Museum) which is the oldest building in the Americas.

Admire superb examples of Spanish colonial architectures in the 5th San Pedro Alejandro, the Cathedral and House of Madame Augustine. Take a scenic tour of the bays of Rodadero to Taganga, an authentic fishing town with Colombia’s prettiest beaches before reaching your hotel.

Today, we explore Tayrona National Park (closed in Feb, 1-15 Jun, 19 Oct-02 Nov in 2020), Colombia’s most important ecological reserve. Leave from Canaveral, walk through the forest and keep an eye out for squirrels, monkeys and over 300 bird species. After roughly 45 minutes’ walk, arrive at Arrecifes with its restless seas crashing on huge boulders.  Continue to the calm coastline of La Piscina and the enormous boulders of Ed Cabo de San Juan de Guia.

Set off 2.5 hours to Barranquilla, home to Colombia’s largest port. Visit the House of Carnival to learn about the different festival costumes and the Caribbean Museum to observe the roots of Colombian Atlantic coast and appreciate the works of Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Another 2.5 hours of drive brings us to Cartagena, once the most important city in Spanish America for the gold trades. Join an exclusive rum degustation session in one of Cartagena’s most well-known bars. Learn about their origins and gain insights into the different rum flavours and aromas.

We spend the day discovering Cartagena‘s magnificent city walls and fortresses, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visit the Monastery and Church of La Popa, San Felipe Fortress, the old city (Ciudad Vieja) with its Convent and Church of San Pedro Claver and the handicrafts zone of the Bovedas, a collection of archways built into the city wall originally to house armaments and later as a prison.

Follow the Footsteps of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s literary works from Plaza San Deigo to Plaza de la Paz. You will recognize places mentioned in “Love in times of Cholera”, “Of love and Other Demons” and “The General in His Labyrinth”. Visit his university, the newspaper publishing where his career took off and his home in Calle del Curato.

Depart this morning to San Basilio de Palenque, recognized by the UNESCO as Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The inhabitants have retained heavy African influences.

Your local guide will lead you to the town square. Visit a typical house, taste coffee served in traditional way as you dive into the history of liberation and how the customs were preserved. See the House of Culture, Plaza Benkos Bioho, the main church and meet the charismatic community leader, farmer, singer and composer Rafael Cassiani. End the tour with insights into how to prepare regional sweets using local ingredients.

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Fly from Pereira to Medellin via Bogota.

Take a metro cable car to visit the Barrio San Javier, a suburb exemplifying the social transformation of the city. Explore Medellin’s newest invention – the electric stairways of the district Comuna 13 and see the community graffiti and enjoy a view over the city from San Javier balconies. Head to La Plazoleta which houses 23 sculptures of Fernando Botero.

Drive 2 hours to the town of Guatape to appreciate the outstanding landscape of Antioquia.

Visit the hydro-electric dam reservoir where in the middle stands the Penol Rock, believed to be a meteorite due to its size. You may walk 654 steps for a top view of Guatape. Visit a picturesque village where the houses are painted in quaint pastel colours, followed by a 30-minute boat tour the reservoir before returning to Medellin.

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Santa Marta or Cartagena.

Make your first excursion along Guayabero River to Cristalitos or by foot to Cano Piedra. Lunch will be provided during the eco hike. Return to La Macarena Town and have dinner in your hotel.

This morning, transfer to the Rio Guayabero port to take a boat on Guayabero River. After 20 minutes, continue by land transport to Cajuche spring to begin your eco hike to Cano Cristales, the five-coloured river where red, green, yellow, blue and black can be seen. Enjoy the beautiful river and waterfalls.

In the evening, enjoy music, dance and gastronomy of the region.

In the morning, depart to Cristalitos, El Mirador, Cano Piedra or other arms (depending on the permits of Cormacarena). Afterwards, we return to La Macarena Town for your flight back to Bogota.