Active Colombia - 13 days
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Day 1 - Arrive Bogota
You will have a private transfer from the airport to your selected hotel in Bogotá. (Please be aware of the sign with your name on it upon arrival.) You will spend the night at Hotel Casa Deco (Standard Room) or Hotel de la Opera (Standard Colonial Room). Included: insurance , arrival transfer , English speaking guide for the transfer, room at your selected hotel Day 2 - Bike and city tour BIKE TOUR LA CANDELARIA - BOGOTA (Half day) Private Services A traditional and fascinating way to explore Bogotá is by bicycle. Bogotá's "Ciclovia" is a sporting and cultural event which takes place on Sundays and bank holidays in the capital, where around 200 km of main roads are closed to create a circuit for citizens to go out into the streets to ride their bikes, jog, skate, walk their pets or simply stroll around with the whole family. In several parks in the city there are free aerobics classes where everyone may participate. Bogotá's ciclovía is iconic, it started in 1974 and remains a reference for Latin America and the world to this day. The tour starts with a ride through the historical part of Bogotá, La Candelaria. You will pass several influential churches and squares and experience the different architectural styles in the old town of Bogotá. Additionally, you will visit some of the most beautiful parks of Bogotá, you also have the chance to taste a freshly made fruit juice in a typical Colombian market and before getting an inside view into the rising graffiti scene of Bogotá. Avoid traffic jams in this bustling city and explore Bogotá by bike! CITY TOUR - HISTORIC DISTRICT (Half Day) Private Services Today you will explore the Colombian capital of Bogotá during a walking tour with an English speaking guide to visit the main museums. The area of modern Bogotá was first populated by indigenous groups who migrated from Mesoamerica. Among these groups were the Muiscas who settled in what are now the neighborhoods of Cundinamarca and Boyacá. With the arrival of the Spanish, the area became a major settlement, founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. The city later became the capital of the Spanish provinces and the seat of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. When independence came, Bogotá became the capital of Gran Colombia and later the capital of the Republic of Colombia. Located at 2,600 meters above sea level, Bogotá is a city of over 8 million inhabitants. Bogotá has 2 different sectors for tourism. The first is the old Candelaria Historic District scattered with traditional colonial houses and cobblestoned streets. The second sector and by contrast, the north of the city boasts modernity and innovation. Tourists will find government buildings, as well as a variety of trendy shops, restaurants and bars. Bogotá's historic city centre "La Candelaria" with its impressive churches, the State Palace and the "Plaza Bolívar" will be explored with the company of your guide explaining each building’s history in detail. Furthermore, you can visit the world famous gold museum "Museo del Oro", the Emerald Museum and the museum of the famous Colombian artist Botero. Bogotá is an inspiring city that offers something new every day. In 2010, the capital of Colombia was chosen as a "Must See" destination by the prestigious New York Times newspaper. You can discover a city that offers a wide range of opportunities in the fields of art, culture, recreation, sports and science. Botero Museum The Botero Museum houses 208 specimens of species donated by the Colombian artist Fernando Botero. 123 of these pieces are of his own creation and the remaining 85 by international artists from all over the world. Enjoy the tour through this unique art collection. Note: The museum is closed on Tuesdays. Gold Museum The Gold Museum in Bogotá has an exhibition of jewelry and pottery from the indigenous cultures of the pre-Columbian period to present-day Colombia. It has more than 34,000 pieces and works of gold, 20,000 stone objects, ceramics, precious stones and textiles that belonged to the Quimbaya, Calima, Tayrona, Zenú, Muisca, Tolima, Tumaco and Magdalena cultures. Note: The museum is closed on Mondays. Included: English speaking guide for the tour , equipment rental , private excursion , transportation (private) , English speaking guide for the tour , entrance to Botero Museum , entrance to Gold Museum , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 3 - Day Hike in the Chingaza National Park Your trip starts with a drive out of the city to the Bogotá Savannah. From here it depends which trail your which to take and which part of the park you want to experience. You usually start at the Paramo de Chingaza in the Chingaza National Park. The park is of very high importance for the area of Bogotá as it provides 80% of the high-quality drinkable tap water in the area. Here you will enjoy a hike (there are different levels) around different lakes and frailejon trees. These mysterious lakes are part of the El Dorado legend. Furthermore, the park inhabits a high quantity of animals such as bears, deer, pumas, possums and up to 180 bird species. The park ranges between 800 and 4,000 meters of altitude and contains about 40 lakes. The largest one is called Lake Chingaza and is located at about 3,250 meters above sea level. Enjoy your day in this mystical landscape and admire the amazing flora and fauna. The Siecha lakes are one of the locations inside the National Natural Park Chingaza, the altitudes where our hike will be are from 3250 m to 3800 m. The private transport will pick us in Bogotá and we will start the drive to Guasca town. During the drive we will stop for breakfast and finally arrive close to the National Park cabin, where an informative talk will take place before starting the hike. We will take the path that goes through the high Andean forest or cloud forest, then we will meet the Paramo ecosystem and its characteristic frailejones plants. Reaching the high grounds, we will arrive to the middle lake and after a short trail we will enjoy looking at the main Siecha lake. If the weather allows us, we will continue to the highest rocky point to appreciate the beautiful landscape with the view of the three main lakes. We will have our lunch at the lake side and around 1 o´clock we will start descending until the vehicle and start the drive back to Bogotá. (7 hours). Included: English speaking guide for the tour, lunch , transportation (private) , entrance fee to the mentioned services , breakfast , room at your selected hotel. Day 4 - Bogota - Nemocon - Villa de Leyva Private transport from Bogota to to Villa de Leyva, stopping at the Salt mine of Nemocon. Today you will visit the salt mine of Nemocon. This adventure leads you 60 meters underneath the ground with shafts of a total length of 2500 meters. Be amazed by impressive rock and salt formations, the mirror like lakes and fond of wishes. Furthermore you will visit the chapel “La Virgen del Carmen” and the heart of the Nemocon mine. On top of that you will be able to see the movie set of "La 33". This movie is about the mining tragedy taken place in Chile which was recorded in the salt mine Nemocon.You will spend the night at Hospederia La Roca (Standard Room), or at at Hotel Casa Terra (Junior Suite Chicalá) Included: transportation (private) , entrance fee to the mentioned services , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 5 - Villa de Lleyva - Barichara
In the morning take an ecological walk from high Andean jungle (2,900 m.a.s.l.) to Páramo typical ecosystem of the Colombian Andes. Throughout the tour you will be able to observe how the vegetation and its diversity of flora and fauna is changing. At the finish finish the ascent, the Sacred Lagoon of Iguaque awaits us, a beautiful landscape of origin at the same time origin of the Muisca Confederation, contemplating the Legend of Iguaque and Bachué will be heard. Includes: Guide, Insurance, Private transportation, snacks, Lunch (in Villa de Leyva), Entrance fees Private transfer to Barichara with Spanish speaking driver (4.5 hours drive). You will spend the night at Hotel Portal de Barichara, in a Standard Room or at Hotel Boutique Venturi (Standard Room) Included: local guide , insurance , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 6 - INDIGENOUS & ROYAL ROAD FROM BARICHARA TO GUANE (4 hours - private) On this tour, you will visit a part of the ancient roads that the native indigenous communities used to communicate with each other in the pre-Columbian era. During colonial times some rough roads were used but in the 19th century, there was commercial and industrial interest in using the routes in the area. In 1852 the German engineer and businessman Geo Von Lengerke left Germany, fled to Colombia, and settled in Santander to create wealth and expand his businesses. Lengerke was in charge of reconstructing the paths to connect various villages that benefited his operations as he was involved in the export and import of goods, as well as various commercial and agricultural trades. Santander was one of the departments where the industrialization of Colombia was promoted and the roads were crucial in that process. Today you will visit a section of the road and will depart from Barichara in the direction of Guane. The hike lasts around 2 hours. Along the way, you will be able to admire the imposing landscape of the Suarez River Canyon as well as the tobacco crops and many other products. Once in Guané, a small and quiet colonial town, you will have a brief tour where you will see the main square, the church, and the old houses. You will also visit the Paleontological and Archaeological Museum of Guane to see fossils from the region, pieces from indigenous communities, and ancient artifacts. After the tour in Guane, the return to Barichara will be about 25 minutes and it is possible to return by tuk-tuk or by public transport. The hike between Barichara and Guane is of a medium to low intensity and is recommended for people up to 75 years old. The region is at an altitude between 1020 m.a.s.l. and 1300 m.a.s.l. On Wednesdays, the museum in Guane is closed. Included: local guide , insurance , snack , transportation (private) , English speaking guide for the tour , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 7 - HIKE VILLANUEVA - JORDAN (THE REAL CHICAMOCHA CANYON EXPERIENCE)
The Chicamocha Canyon is a remarkable landform, 227 km long and 2 km deep, making it deeper than the Grand Canyon in the United States. It is an area of great biodiversity, hosting a variety of endemic species such as the ceiba barrigona, the ventricastaño hummingbird, and the Niceforo’s wren. Follow cobblestone trails and explore the depths of the Chicamocha Canyon, a landscape formed more than 60 million years ago from what was once a great sea. This route follows the mountains from Villanueva to Jordán, a spectacular and unique landscape with invaluable Guane cave paintings. This trail is framed by the immensity of the Chicamocha Canyon. Important notes on the activity: - Recommended starting time from San Gil or Barichara: 07:00 AM. - Recommended for clients in optimal physical condition only. Included: English speaking guide, one bottle of water per person, snacks, lunch. Hiking poles rental available upon request. Duration: 10 hours Included: breakfast , room at your selected hotel |
Day 8 - RAFTING IN THE RIO SUÁREZ (7 hours) Private Services
In the midst of the mountains of Santander, is located San Gil, well-known as the city of extreme sports in Colombia. The warm climate, the natural beauty, the rivers and the impressive mountains provide all the ideal conditions for the practice of sports so that you can enjoy the adrenaline and your senses to the fullest. You will have a trip from San Gil (after arriving from Barichara) for a few minutes to the banks of the Suarez River where you will find the boats and the equipment to practice the activity. You will have a technical safety talk where you will be told all the techniques and recommendations. A specialized guide will accompany you on the raft. This is recommended for people from 18 to 50 years old, who preferably have previous experience in rafting activities or are of an adventurous spirit. Enjoy the adventure of descending the River Suarez in 24 kms of journey finding rapids class 1,2,3,4 and 4 plus technical during an approximately 7 hours route that includes a rest in the middle of the trip on a creek, where you will be able to appreciate the crystalline waters and enjoy a snack. Then you can continue the adventure by challenging the turbulent waters and discharging all your adrenaline. Notes: wear comfortable clothes suitable for getting wet and use sunscreen. Please note that this activity is not advisable for expectant mothers. If you have had any surgery in the previous 6 months or if you have any spinal lesion or affection which makes the activity impossible to practice, it is not allowed to participate in the activity. the starting point is at the operator's main office in San Gil. Transport from a midtown hotel to the main office is included, as well as insurance, snacks, lunch and pictures. Due to biosecurity protocols, the maximum number of people per boat is 5. You will spend the night in Barichara Included: equipment rental, local guide, insurance, lunch , snack , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 9 - Barichara - Bucamaranga - Cartagena
Private land transfer from Barichara to Bucaramanga . You will have a domestic flight from Bucaramanga to Cartagena (not included) You will have a private transfer from the airport to your selected hotel in Cartagena (Please be aware of the sign with your name on it). You will spend the night at Hotel Don Pedro de Heredia (Standard Room) or at Hotel Bantu (Superior Room Orika). Included: transportation (private), arrival transfer, breakfast, room at your selected hotel Day 10 - CITY TOUR CARTAGENA (Half day) Private Services Cartagena de Indias is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in America. Its historical center, walled by fortifications built in the colonial era, retains its original architecture and is shown today in a myriad of colors that fill it with Caribbean life and joy. Its fascinating history as one of the pearls of that era, a place of collection of great treasures and the largest slave port in the colonies, gives immense importance to this World Heritage City. The stories about those pirate attacks of great magnitude are present in each of the fortifications that remain intact to this day. The City Tour begins with a visit to the Fort of San Felipe de Barajas, the largest fortification built by the Spanish in their colonies. In a one-hour tour we will be able to appreciate this masterpiece of military architecture in coral stone and we will learn about the defense strategy of the city in relation to its topography. Then we will go to the historical center to visit the San Pedro Clavér Convent Museum, former Jesuit Cloister (1605) and home of the so-called "Slave of the Slaves". To finish, we make a tour of approximately 2 hours through the main squares, churches and streets of the city. We will also walk over the city walls to have the best views of the city and to know the most important bastions. *Note: after the visit to San Felipe Castle and before returning to the Old Town, as an option you can visit the La Popa and its old monastery located at 150 meters above sea level. This is the highest point of the city where the panoramic view of the city can be seen. If you visit La Popa, the visit to San Pedro Claver Monastery is skipped. The visit to La Popa has an additional cost. It does not apply to groups of more than 15 people. Included: Entrance to San Felipe Fortress , entrance to San Pedro Claver Monastery , entrance fee to the mentioned services , local guide , insurance , transportation (private) , English speaking guide for the tour , Entrance to La Popa Monastery , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 11 - Full Day Mountain bike Tierra Bomba
In a 5-minute boat ride from Cartagena, you will find an island of virgin beaches, cheerful people, practically unvisited Spanish fortifications and uncovered roads perfect for bike tours. We start the tour by moving from your hotel to the beach of Castillo Grande where we will meet our guide. We will take the native transport, a fast boat and on a journey of approximately 15 minutes to arrive at the town of Tierra Bomba where our bikes will be waiting for you to start our tour. On a route of approximately 17 km, we pass through Punta Arena, uphill with unparalleled views of the city of Cartagena and downhill with beautiful lonely beaches that will take us to the Fort of San Fernando. This fortification, together with the Fort of San Jose, protected the entrance to the Bay of Cartagena from attacks by pirates and corsairs. We will then continue to the Santa Barbara battery, which protected the inner bay and served as a support for San Fernando. Once we have finished with the story we will have a delicious and well-deserved lunch of fried fish and coconut rice on the shore of Bocachica beach, where we will rest and enjoy the sea. After this rest, we will be ready to start our way back to Tierra Bomba where we will again take the native transportation and back to your hotel. The tour lasts approximately 8 hours. Suggested starting time: 07h00. Recommendations: Medium difficulty (the route is adaptable to the physical conditions of the participants) Included: Activity , Boat , bottle of water , equipment rental , private excursion, local guide, insurance, lunch , transportation (private) , English speaking guide for the tour , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 12 - Day Trip Isla de Encanto Today you will enjoy a relaxed day on the beach! Once you arrive on this beautiful island you can choose between different optional activities or take a sun bath. After a delicious, typical lunch and long hours on the beach you will take the boat back to Cartagena. Included: Round trip transportation by speedboats, Buffet lunch, Beach use, Adult pool, Playground for children, Port Tax. Private transfer from the harbor to your selected hotel in Cartagena. Please be aware of the sign with your name on it Included: departure transfer , boat ticket , Shared transportation , arrival transfer , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 13 - Depart You will have a private transfer from your hotel to the airport in Cartagena. 2021 price per person, double occupancy with 2 people: with 3* hotels = US$3327 with 4* hotels = US$3683 Mentioned rates might be modified due to currency devaluation Price per person will be less with more people Notes:
All hotels are subject to availability. INCLUDED
The prices shown are without the extra 19% VAT on top as foreign tourists do not have to pay this tax. We can therefore only guarantee this price if we have copies of the passengers´ passports as proof of their nationality. NOT INCLUDED
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