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Colombia

Classic Colombia / Land of Coffee & Tayrona / Archeology & History / By the Sea / Nature Tour
Bogota / Cartagena / Amazon / Coffee Region / Pacific Region / Guajira / Rosario Islands
Tayrona Park / San Agustin / Ciudad Perdida Trek / Los Nevados Trek / Guajira Adventure

The Land of Coffee and the Pristine Sea of Tayrona:
Bogotá -Coffee Triangle -Cartagena -Tayrona National Park

Day 1 | Bogotá
Arrival to El Dorado airport in Bogotá with an intercontinental flight. Reception and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay. Meals: - / - / -

Day 2 | Bogotá City Tour
After breakfast, half day visit to the historic centre known as La Candelaria. This antiquated barrio is of great architectural and cultural heritage and is made up of old “stately homes” or large Spanish colonial buildings with iron windows, thick and sturdy wooden doors, balconies and internal patios with beautiful yet hidden gardens. Visit the Plaza de Bolivar, where a statue of the great liberator Simon Bolivar is located. This Plaza, originally called the Plaza Mayor, was used for civil and military purposes, as a marketplace, a bullring and a gallows. The Cathedral, on the eastern side of the plaza, is constructed on the remains of the first church built in Bogotá in 1539 and houses an important collection of religious artefacts such as textiles and artwork that has built over four centuries. The Capitol, built between 1847 and 1926, shows its renaissance and neoclassical influences with its carved stonework and tall columns and, it is the first republican piece of civil architecture. Around the Plaza de Bolivar are the Palacio de Justicia, the Mayor of Bogotá’s offices called the Edificio Liévano, the oldest school in the county called San Bartolome and the Casa
de los Comuneros who participated towards the end of the XVII Century in some of the first movements towards independence from Spain and the formation of the Republic.
The visit continues with the Museo Botero, a colonial house filled with works of art done by and donated by Fernando Botero in addition to artwork from his own personal collection that includes pieces by Picasso, Renoir, Dalí Matisse, Monet and Giacometti. Next is 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. The Museo del Oro is considered as one of the most important museums of its type internationally and it has been functioning since 1939. In 2007 it underwent a complete overhaul to make this an interactive museum that would awake senses to the objects on display. Free afternoon for individual activities (we recommend visiting the city’s various museums). Overnight stay.
Meals: B / - / -

Day 3 | Bogotá - Pereira
Transfer to the airport and flight to Pereira. Arrival, transfer and hotel check-in and overnight stay. Meals: B / - / -

Day 4 | Pereira - Valle del Cocora & Filandia - Pereira
After breakfast, leave for the Valle de Cocora which is located in the central mountains of the department of Quindio. This makes up part of the Parque Nacional de los Nevados and is the ideal place to marvel at the “Quindian wax palm” (Ceroxylon quincense), the national tree of Colombia. This tree can reach a staggering height of 60m. Around here a great number of species of birds live, in particular some types of hummingbird and the orejíamarillo or the palm parrot (Ognorhynchus icteroti) which is endangered. Upon arrival in the valley, either hiking or on horseback, head into the
cloud forest to enjoy the biodiversity of flora and fauna. On the return journey, cross the River Quindio while walking along an ecological pathway which takes one past the tallest wax palms in the world. Learn why the indigenous people here worshipped this tree. Stop at a trout farm and then enjoy a traditional meal of smoked trout. Enjoy some free time here. In the afternoon, continue 10km towards the traditional town of Salento to enjoy a city tour that visits the Plaza de Bolívar with its colourful balconies, the calle real, the handicrafts shops and the Cocora viewpoint. Then, transfer to the traditional village of Filandia to enjoy a city tour that includes the viewpoint, the colonial homes, the Plaza de Bolivar and the coffee shops. Here, enjoy some time soaking up the regional atmosphere and perhaps some local spirits before returning to the hotel. Overnight stay. Meals: B / L /

Day 5 | Pereira - Chinchina - Coffee Process Farming Region - Pereira
After breakfast, half day visiting the coffee plantations along the steep hills typical of this area. On a secondary pathway view the green carpet of coffee plants that spread out as far as the horizon interrupted only by fincas and heliconia flowers. Break in the Alto de La Paz, a beautiful viewpoint close to the municipality of Chinchiná in the department of Caldas and enjoy the view of the beautiful scenery of the coffee region that has been declared a world Heritage site by UNESCO. The visit continues on to one of the coffee haciendas to see the plantations and the production system in minute detail, including the harvest, the drying to the sun and treatment in this land of volcanic terrain along the Central Andes Mountain range which is perfect for this crop. The visit to the property begins in the house with an introductory chat about coffee, its preparation, toasting, the
characteristics of quality and the properties that allows for such a variety of coffees in the world. The route continues through the grounds, appreciating its coffee plantations and the work of the coffee pickers as well as to understand the famous humid coffee that is characteristic of Colombian coffee. Free remainder of the afternoon for individual activities. Overnight stay. Meals: B / - / -

Day 6 | Pereira - Cartagena
Early transfer to Pereira airport for departure by direct flight to Caratagena. Upon arrival, transfer and hotel check-in. Overnight stay. Meals: B / - / -

Day 7 | Cartagena Panoramic Tour
Start with a panoramic view of the city from the Monasterio and Iglesia de La Popa. Formerly known as the “Popa del Galeon” and famous for resembling the stern of a galleon. 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. Continuing to the San Felipe fortress, erected in honor of the poet from Cartagena, Don Luis Carlos López, made famous for his sonnet “A mi ciudad nativa”. It was built on San Lázaro hill to defend the city from pirate attacks. Walk around the fortress and know how the castle was constructed, the engineering feats, the tunnels, underground galleries and passageways. 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 XVII century and owes its name to the “apóstol de los esclavos”. Lastly, follow to 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 XIX century. Nowadays it’s an artisan center to appreciate local handcraft. Free afternoon for individual activities. Overnight stay. Meals: B / - / -

Day 8 | Cartagena
Free day for individual activities. A full day tour to the Archipiélago del Rosario is recommended. Overnight stay. Meals: B / - / -

Day 9 | Cartagena - Tayrona National Park
After breakfast, four to five hour transfer to Tayrona National. Arrival and check-in in Ecohabs. Overnight stay. Meals: B / - / -

Days 10 and 11 | Tayrona National Park
Free day to relax, for beach activities or to organize excursions such as a walk to Pueblito, snorkeling or horseback riding. Bike rentals are also available. Overnight stay in the lodge. Meals: B / - / -

Day 12 | Tayrona National Park - Santa Marta
Morning transfer to Santa Marta airport after breakfast. Meals: B / - / -

2011 Price per person in US$:

	single	double	triple
5* hotels in Bogota & Cartagena (Cite & Ananda Boutique)	$4780	$2594	-
4* hotels in Bogota & Cartagena (Boheme Royal and Monterrey)	$4284	$2365	$2404
3* hotels in Bogota & Cartagena ( Chico Imperial & Don Pedro de Heredia)	$4099	$2268	$1957

(priced with weekends in Bogota and low season at Tayrona - price will be higher for weekdays. High season = Jan. 1-31, April 15-24 and June 15-July 15). Prices subject to change.