Charms of Colombia 15 Days / 14 Nights

Situated 2,600 meters above sea level at the base of the Guadalupe and Monserrate mountains, Bogotá is the capital of Colombia and one of South America's premier cultural destinations. Patrons of the arts are spoiled for choice with the city's museums, art galleries, performing theaters, and national monuments. So impressive is Bogotá's collection of libraries and academic institutions that the city has earned the nickname 'The Athens of South America.' The historic center of La Candelaria boasts many of these offerings, as well as some truly stunning historic architecture. Must-see attractions in Bogotá include the weird and wonderful Botero Museum; the famous Gold Museum, filled with astonishing displays of gold items and pre-Hispanic art; and the atmospheric and grand San Francisco Church, with origins dating back to around 1557.

Discover the secrets of a bygone era in San Agustín, a small, ancient town in the Colombian department of Huila, marked by quaint cobblestone streets, a few bars and restaurants, and its remarkable place in pre-Columbian history as home to the UNESCO-listed Archaeological Park, a collection of extraordinary discoveries showcasing some of South America's largest megalithic sculptures, religious monuments, and intricate carvings of mythological beasts. Step into the past and marvel at the multitude of larger-than-life statues scattered among a picturesque landscape filled with forested hills and canyons. Nature lovers can take advantage of the surrounding Andean countryside, riding horseback through the many coffee and sugar farms, taking a jeep tour to explore the region, or tasting some of the finest coffee in the county.

Popayan is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, located southwest of Bogotá in western Colombia. A combination of colonial charm, elements of ancient history, and traditional cuisine attract a wide range of visitors. A lively café and bar culture catering to students from the University of Cauca creates a welcoming atmosphere in this small town. Among the treasures of Popayan, which has been nicknamed "The White City" for its many chalk-white facades, are the regal Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption; El Morro de Tulcan, a lookout point built on the ruins of an ancient pyramid; the popular Caldas Park; the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Cauca; the Clock Tower; and the Museum of Natural History, with its collection of regional artifacts.

In the center of Colombia's western region, situated in a small valley descending from part of the Western Andes mountain range, the picturesque university city of Pereira often serves as a convenient base for exploring the nearby picture-perfect city of Salento. The region is backed by an exquisite landscape of lush green rolling hills dotted with coffee plantations that produce some of the world's best coffee. It is also known as the gateway to Ucumarí Park and Otún Quimbaya Sanctuary, a pair of stunning nature reserves; and the relaxing hot springs of Santa Rosa and San Vicente. However, Pereira has a charm all its own. Its café culture, nightlife, and entertainment scene are further enhanced by its large, lively student population, and the city boasts a number of fascinating museums, state-of-the-art shopping malls, and some landmarks such as the Naked Bolír Monument and the Viaduct built in honor of former President César Gaviria. This clean, modern, and well-organized city has much more to offer than its amazing coffee.

Once considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world, Medellín has shed its bad reputation and is now more commonly known as "The City of Eternal Spring," inviting residents and visitors to consistently warm temperatures. Medellín is located in the Aburra Valley and surrounded by seven hills that offer excellent views of the city. Back in the city, visitors can experience the work of world-famous artists like Fernando Botero in local parks and plazas, marvel at the beautiful display of Christmas lights during the festive season, and celebrate as the city bursts with color during the 10-day flower festival.

Tayrona National Park is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta reserve and is one of the country's most popular natural attractions. Once the home of the Tayrona people, the area still encompasses sacred sites occupied by indigenous groups and archaeological remains, including the pre-Hispanic town of Pueblito, an ancient city scattered with archaeological remains. Along with its cultural heritage, Tayrona is also known for some of the most beautiful beaches on the coast and an incredible variety of wildlife species. More than 100 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, and 1,000 marine species can be found within the park's boundaries.

The port city of Cartagena is located on Colombia's Caribbean coast. It is a popular beach destination with a warm tropical climate. This Caribbean coastal city offers visitors a mix of the charming and the exciting. Enter the cobblestone streets of the Walled City, a World Heritage Site with 400-year-old stone walls covering 13 kilometers, and explore an intricate maze of pastel-hued houses, colonial architecture, churches, and historic sites like the Palace of the Inquisition. Outside the old city lies the chaotic bustle typical of most South American cities—an experience best experienced by visiting the central market of Mercado Bazurto. Don't miss the opportunity to venture south of the city, where tourists are treated to trendy cafes, restaurants, and a bustling nightlife.

The AC Hotel Bogota Zona T is located near the Andino Shopping Center, lush parks, and entertainment venues in Zona Rosa. The rooms and suites are bright, modern, elegantly decorated, and equipped with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, TV, mini-refrigerators, tea/coffee making facilities, hairdryers, and private bathrooms. The suites feature generous floor space and separate bedrooms. Guests can dine in the on-site restaurant, serving delicious Peruvian and Japanese cuisine, or relax in the bar with a creative cocktail. Additional amenities and services include a fitness center, meeting facilities, event accommodations, a convenience store, a lobby lounge, parking, and a reception desk.

Hotel Monasterio San Agustin is a boutique hotel located on a hilltop in San Agustín, Colombia. The hotel is close to sites such as the San Agustín and Tierra Adentro Archaeological Parks.

The hotel offers a total of 40 rooms, including junior suites and presidential suites, equipped with Wi-Fi, safes, private bathrooms, and fireplaces.

Guests can enjoy breakfast and dinner in the on-site restaurant. Relax on the patio or stroll along the trails while enjoying incredible views of the surrounding vegetation.

Hotel Dann Monasterio Popayan is located in the heart of the Historic Center of Popayán, Colombia. The hotel is close to local attractions such as the Negret and Ibero-American Museum of Modern Art, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, and the Chapel of Belén.

The property has 47 rooms, including standard, double, triple, and junior suites. All rooms are equipped with Wi-Fi, a TV, and a minibar.

Guests enjoy complimentary breakfast and lunch, and dinner is available in the hotel restaurant. Other amenities include an outdoor pool and a fitness center.

A place that emerges in the heart of the Coffee Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as a manifestation of hospitable and exquisite gastronomy. Sazagua Boutique Hotel is named after the Quimbaya civilization that inhabited the region.

The interiors evoke the old coffee farm houses and recreate that atmosphere with wooden structures, wide hallways, colonial houses, clay tiles, and bright colors fused with light and nature. The eclectic decor with antique furniture, in addition to a unique art collection, creates a captivating atmosphere of home comfort, refinement, and a personal touch in every detail.

Sazagua Boutique Hotel features an exquisite restaurant where you can enjoy fresh and contemporary cuisine that combines traditional and international dishes. Its spectacular garden, with beautiful collections of palm trees and tropical plants, attracts a variety of birds to the region. Its beautiful and unique spa is built with large river rocks, making it a pleasure for the senses.

Hotel Park 10 is located in the heart of Medellín, Colombia. The hotel is just a few minutes' walk from Lleras Park, a lively area with restaurants, bars, and nightlife. Guests can enjoy spacious and comfortable rooms with air conditioning, a TV, and a minibar. The hotel restaurant serves American cuisine with vegetarian and vegan options, and the bar offers a variety of drinks and snacks. The hotel also offers a fitness center, a sauna, a spa, and a hair salon for relaxation and wellness.

Villa Maria Tayrona is located in Tayrona National Park, Colombia. The villa is a 200-year-old house and is close to attractions such as the Orinoco Kogi Indian Village, the Quebrada Valencia waterfall, and the Don Diego River.

The villa features a wide range of rooms equipped with air conditioning, ceiling fans, hot water, and all rooms offer beautiful views.

Guests can enjoy meals in the on-site restaurant. Explore and hike the beautiful trails in the surrounding jungle, and enjoy fun in the sun on the beach or by the pool.

Hotel Don Luis by Faranda Boutique is located on the historic Calle del Cuartel, in the walled district of Cartagena de Indias, just 15 minutes from Rafael Núñez International Airport. This property is housed in a majestic colonial house in the historic center of Cartagena de Indias. The hotel's 28 colonial rooms are spacious and feature luxurious contemporary decor and modern amenities. When it's time to relax, guests can savor delicious cuisine at the cozy San Ignacio Restaurant, specializing in Italian cuisine. Leisure amenities include spa services, an indoor pool, and a Jacuzzi.

Welcome to Colombia, a country that captivates with its diversity, color, and warmth. Located at the northern tip of South America, Colombia is a vibrant tourist destination that combines lush nature, rich culture, and unparalleled hospitality.

An international flight will take us to the capital of Colombia, Bogotá! This colorful city is the nerve center of Colombia and one of South America's top cultural destinations. The historic center of La Candelaria boasts museums, galleries, and national monuments, as well as stunning historic architecture. This city offers a fascinating blend of history, culture, and modernity. Upon arrival, we will be greeted and transferred to the hotel, where we will spend the first nights of our trip.

After breakfast, we'll embark on a city tour of Bogotá. We'll visit Monserrate Hill, one of Colombia's most important viewpoints. We'll be dazzled by the largest collection of pre-Hispanic goldsmithing on the continent at the Bogotá Gold Museum. We'll walk through the narrow, cobblestone streets of La Candelaria and immerse ourselves in a labyrinth of colonial charm. Together, we'll discover Chorro de Quevedo, considered the founding site of Bogotá. We'll visit Plaza de Bolívar, surrounded by the Primada Cathedral and the National Capitol, making it a place where past and present converge.

During the tour, we'll take time for lunch and savor dishes such as ajiaco, bandeja paisa, and arepas in a cozy restaurant. Bogotá's cuisine reflects Colombia's cultural diversity. At the end, we'll return to the hotel.

Today we're eager to continue discovering the wonders of Colombia. We'll be picked up by our private shuttle, which will take us to El Dorado International Airport. From there, we'll board a flight to Pitalito. Upon arrival, our driver will be waiting to take us to our hotel in San Agustín, a small, ancient town in Huila, marked by picturesque cobblestone streets and renowned for its priceless archaeological treasures and stunning natural landscapes.

During the journey, we'll visit the Strait of Magdalena, the narrowest point where Colombia's main river passes through on its way to the sea, surrounded by a beautiful natural landscape of Andean forest.

In the morning, we will begin our journey to the Alto de los Ídolos Archaeological Park, where we will admire the 23 statues that attest to the extraordinary sculptural talent of the Augustinian culture. From the entrance, a 300-meter cobblestone path leads to an artificial embankment built in pre-Hispanic times, which connects the so-called Plateau A and Plateau B. There, distributed among seven mounds of monumental tombs with dolmens, are large sarcophagi, some of which still retain their carved lids, as well as anthropomorphic and zoomorphic sculptures.

After a delicious lunch, we will visit two emblematic sites in San Agustín: first, we will visit El Tablón, an archaeological site where five statues, approximately 2 meters tall and classified as female, are exhibited, and where there is a small ethnographic museum organized by the residents of the El Tablón neighborhood. We will then head to La Chaquira, an archaeological site featuring various human and animal figures carved from volcanic rock overlooking the impressive Magdalena River Canyon, one of the most spectacular views in San Agustín.

We will visit the famous San Agustín Archaeological Park, located just a 10-minute drive from the town. Here we can admire the legacy of an ancient civilization represented in iconic statues, as well as several tombs and monuments. We will visit the small Archaeological Museum, the Mesitas A, B, C, and B, the Forest of Statues, the spectacular Lavapatas Fountain, and the Alto de Lavapatas.

We continue our route through southwestern Colombia, heading toward Popayán (138 km, 4 hours), capital of the department of Cauca. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved cities in the Americas, reflected in its architecture and religious traditions, renowned for its colonial architecture and the attention to detail of its facades. Popayán has one of the largest colonial historic centers in the country and the Americas, with a total of approximately 236 blocks of historic buildings. We will arrive directly to the hotel where we will stay for the next two nights.

In the morning, we will meet our guide and set out to explore one of the continent's great colonial masterpieces. We will visit some of the many Baroque churches and have access to some of the impressive columned courtyards of religious buildings that now house everything from university offices to prisons. Due to the recent rise in tourism in the city, no two tours are the same; depending on our interests, we can choose a different approach to our visit.

Optional Tour: We will leave Popayán early in the morning for the Tierradentro Archaeological Park, known for its pre-Columbian tombs and underground funerary complexes. In addition to its archaeological treasures, the park is surrounded by mountains, valleys, and lush vegetation, a stunning natural environment that invites us to explore and enjoy the unparalleled beauty of the region. We will visit the Segovia Archaeological Museum, El Duende, and then the town of San Andrés de Pisimbala. After a typical lunch in town, we'll visit "El Alto de San Andrés" and finally return in the afternoon to our hotel in Popayán to rest after a long day.

Today we bid farewell to Popayán and head to Guillermo León Valencia National Airport for a flight to Bogotá. We'll have a stopover before boarding our next flight to Pereira, in the Coffee Region. Upon landing, we'll be picked up from the airport and transferred to the Sazagua Boutique Hotel, where we'll stay for the next three nights.

After breakfast, we'll begin our tour to the Cocora Valley (59 km, 1.5 hours), where we'll hike to see the towering wax palm trees, the tallest in the world, lanky and scattered, always ready to offer dozens of photos from different angles. We'll then visit Salento, where we'll have lunch and take a short tour of the town. The houses of Salento are very distinctive, each with a different color scheme, windows and doors, and white facades. Finally, we'll visit Filandia and return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

We will head to Matecaña International Airport. After a 60-minute flight, we will land in Medellín, "The City of Eternal Spring," to be picked up and begin a city tour. During the tour, we will gain insight into Medellín's history and enjoy panoramic views of the city. We will explore the famous Plaza Botero with an exhibition by Colombian artist Fernando Botero, whose sculptures have become a symbol of the city. We will take the metrocable to San Javier, a neighborhood in Medellín once dominated by gang violence. In Comuna 13, we will observe another innovative project that improved the quality of life for the people of Medellín: the escalator. During the tour, we will make time for lunch at a typical restaurant in the city. Finally, we will head to our hotel, where we can rest and prepare for the next day.

We begin our fascinating journey to Guatapé, a 79 km (49 mi) drive from Medellín, which will take approximately two hours. Upon arriving, our first stop will be at the replica of the Old Peñol, a structure erected in memory of the original buildings of the town that was flooded for the construction of the hydroelectric dam. Afterward, we will board a boat to cruise along the reservoir for approximately one hour. During this picturesque journey, we will explore the fascinating history behind the construction and development of the reservoir, while delighting in the breathtaking landscapes surrounding it.

After the boat ride, we will travel to the foot of the imposing Piedra de Peñol, where we will begin our ascent. This gigantic granite monolith reaches an impressive height of 220 meters and has 720 steps that will lead us to the top. Upon descent, we will be transferred to the charming town of Guatapé, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch and explore the picturesque streets. Local residents share the region's rich history through the beautiful paintings that decorate the plinths of most of the town's buildings and houses.

The Colombian Caribbean awaits! Today we head to José María Córdova Airport in Río Negro to board our flight to Santa Marta. Upon arrival, a private shuttle will take us to our hotel in the Tayrona sector. A magical destination offering serenity and beautiful scenery.

After breakfast, we'll embark on a jungle hike that will reveal a beautiful surprise at the end of the trail. Early in the morning, we'll head to the Zaino and Cañaveral areas, where we'll begin the trek toward Arrecifes amidst a tropical forest trail, filled with microclimates, birds, and occasionally the playful frolic of squirrels and monkeys.

After a 45-minute hike, we'll arrive at one of the most beautiful spots in the country: Las Playas de Arrecifes, a place renowned for its extraordinary natural beauty. The hike continues past the beaches of Arenilla and the Natural Pool (25 minutes), then reaches the extraordinary beaches of Cabo San Juan (20 minutes). Here, we'll have lunch and enjoy swimming in the sea and its beaches. At the end, we'll return to the hotel along the same path to rest.

Today we head to our final destination, the charming city of Cartagena. Early in the morning, a private transfer will pick us up to take us to our hotel in the walled city.

After breakfast, we'll take a guided tour of Cartagena's historic center and the picturesque Getsemaní neighborhood. We'll see the colonial architecture of the old town, one of the best examples of preserved colonial architecture in the Americas, filled with churches, monasteries, plazas, palaces, and mansions with their famous hanging balconies and shaded patios. We'll walk the streets of the also historic Getsemaní neighborhood, which, thanks to its residents, combines the authenticity of everyday life with the unique beauty of this neighborhood. The walking tour is perfect for exploring the city in detail and learning about its history and culture in a flexible, unhurried way, at our own pace. We'll walk through the main colonial-style streets with brightly colored buildings, charming plazas, ancient churches, and monuments.

Optional tour: Instead of taking the walking tour of the historic center, we can opt for a full-day private activity to explore the city in a much more comprehensive way. After breakfast at the hotel, we'll be picked up for a full-day private tour of Cartagena. We will first head to the Convent of La Popa and then to the Fort of San Felipe. We will have lunch at a typical restaurant in the historic center and continue with visits to Plaza de Bolívar, Puerta del Reloj, Plaza de la Aduana, the Cathedral and finally the Convent and Church of San Pedro de Claver.

Today concludes our extraordinary journey through magical Colombia. A comfortable shuttle will pick us up at our hotel and transfer us by land to Rafael Núñez International Airport, where we will embark on our return flight. This close marks the end of unforgettable days, filled with discoveries, experiences, and the unparalleled cultural and natural wealth that Colombia has to offer. See you soon, Colombia!