All Over Colombia - 20 day sample itinerary
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A sample itinerary that can be modified to include more or less.
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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 at Hotel de la Opera (Standard Colonial Room). Included: arrival transfer , English speaking guide for the transfer , room at your selected hotel Day 2 - BOGOTÁ CITY TOUR - LA CANDELARIA HISTORIC DISTRICT (Full Day) Private servicesToday you will explore the Colombian capital of Bogotá during a walking tour with an English speaking guide. 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. Botero Museum - The Botero Museum is located in the historical centre of Bogotá in La Candelaria and 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. 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. Cerro de Monserrate - The mountain of Cerro de Monserrate rises over downtown Bogotá, dominating the skyline of Colombia‘s capital. A church high up on the mountain is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, while taking in the view from the summit is a must-do activity. You can either go up via panoramic aerial tramway or via funicular. Many people from Bogotá enjoy the two hour hike from the city to the top of the mountain. VISIT TO PALOQUEMAO MARKET - Private Services Discover the flavors and scents that identify the Colombia's capital. You will scroll around one of the most important markets in Bogotá, the iconic Paloquemao Market. Taste the flavors and stare the colors of exotic Colombian fruits and discover how kind are the peasants and the people that work every day to offer vegetables and fruits so you can have available food in your tables. You will have a private transportation at disposal Included: transportation (private) , English speaking guide for the tour , entrance to Botero Museum , entrance to Gold Museum , entrance to Monserrate and funicular , private excursion , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 3 - Bogota to Villa de Leyva, via Zipaquira You will have a private transport from Bogotá to Villa de Leyva. On the way to Villa de Leyva you will have the option to make an stop over in Zipaquirá to visit the famous Zipaquirá's Salt Cathedral, one of the wonders of Colombia. Then you will continue your way to Villa de Leyva, where you will spend the night. In the morning you will be driven from your Hotel to the town of Zipaquirá to visit an underground Salt Mine that has a Cathedral inside. Walking inside the Salt Cathedral is a very special experience with a catholic taste due to the country´s traditions and the miner’s devotion for The Holy Virgin of Guasca who protects them. Once at the bottom of the Cathedral you will see the 3 sections and the big cross in the main one. A simple but complete movie will show you the dimensions of the mine as well as the history behind it. Get impressed by one of the biggest religious constructions in the world! You will spend the night at Hospederia La Roca (Standard Room), or at Hotel Casa Terra (Standard Room - Amonita). Included: bottle of water , transportation (private) , entrance fee to the mentioned services , English speaking guide for the tour , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 4 - Villa de Leyva to Bogota to Neiva
Let yourself be amazed by the charming town of Villa de Leyva, one of the heritage towns of Colombia. This beautiful city with Spanish colonial architecture, is one of the best preserved and oldest cities in the country. Be surprised by the cobbled streets and the impressive main square of the town, the largest in Colombia. You will feel that you are back in time. In the surroundings of the village you can visit some interesting places such as El Fósil, the archeological area of El Infiernito and the Monastery. Discover its churches and Spanish colonial buildings as well as several sights in the surrounding of Villa de Leyva. This picturesque village will give transport you to another era full of stories. You encounter big windows, Moorish balconies and white facades. Get enchanted by the magic of this special and unique town. Furthermore, you visit the Santo Ecce Homo Monastery. In 1620, it was built as a center of evangelization by Dominicans. You also visit the museum El Fosil with its fascinating collection of fossils. Here you will find most of the pieces that were ever found on earth and that have been maintained for thousands of years. Private transfer back to Bogota. You will have a domestic flight from Bogota to Neiva (not included). Then you will have a private transport from the airport of Neiva to your selected hotel in Villavieja. (Please be aware of the sign with your name on it) You will spend the night in Hotel Yararaka in a standard double room. Included: transportation (private) , entrance fee to the mentioned services , arrival transfer , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 5 - Tatacoa Desert to San Agustin Visit to the Desert of la Tatacoa , one of the most attractive natural settings in Colombia, is also the second desert of the country, the red and ocher colors from el Cuzco side, the grey and white colors of los Hoyos, the different stone shapes of animals and the observatory make this place unique and special. Then you have a private transport from the Tatacoa Desert to San Agustin. You will spend the night at Hotel Finca El Maco in a Chalet or at Hotel Akawanka lodge in a Standard Room. Included: local guide , transportation (private) , room at your selected hotel , breakfast Day 6 - San Agustin Archaeological Park
Private half-day visit to San Agustín Archaeological Park, formed by four “mesitas” with tombs, temples and zoomorphic statues, the Fuente Ceremonial de Lavapatas, the Bosque de las Estatuas and the Archaeological Museum. The Park is located at 10 minutes by car from San Agustín town center. The park is closed on TuesdaysSan Agustin is one of the most important archeological sites in South America, located in a beautiful countryside. A high-standing culture was developed, which has left to the posterity monumental gravesites and hundreds of stone sculptures. Still, little is known about the so-called San Agustin culture. Many of the statues, which are between one and seven meters high and weigh over one ton, express the duality of life between sun and moon, and between death and birth. Since 1995 the park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Included: local guide , transportation (private) , English speaking guide for the tour , room at your selected hotel , breakfast Day 7 - Horseback riding La Chaquira and El Tablón This excursion through San Agustín’s mountains includes the visit of the archaeological sites of El Tablón and La Chaquira, where a breathtaking view over the Magdalena River can be enjoyed. You will ride a horse around 2-3 hours and it will be an incredible way to admire and discover the landscapes of this region. You will also visit the archaeological sites El Purutal and La Pelota, where some of the few originally colored statues remain. You will spend the night at Hotel Finca El Maco in a Chalet or at Hotel Akawanka lodge in a Standard Room. Alternative for an extra $79 per person (Based on 2 persons) Rafting on the Magdalena River - On its way through San Agustín’s mountains, the Magdalena River crosses a beautiful canyon mean its channel flows towards exciting rapids, ideal for enjoying this rafting tour. The difficulty level is easy, suitable for newcomers and also for those who already have paddled before and are seeking for a new adventure. Included: English speaking guide for the tour , entrance fee to the mentioned services , private excursion , insurance , transportation (private) , local guide , room at your selected hotel , breakfast Day 8 - San Agustin to Popoyan
You will have a private transport from San Agustin to Popayán. The trip will take approximately 4 hours. Then explore the cultural treasures of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Popayán, also known as the "White City" due to the white facades of the majority of its colonial houses in the historial center. Since the colonial period, Popayán has been an important religious center on the road from Cartagena to Quito. It was the hometown of many Colombian poets, presidents and writers. You will explore the many landmarks such as the historical center, Caldas Square, Panteón de los Proceres, Humilladero Bridge and the Religious Art Museum. Let yourself be amazed by the detailed architecture of its churches and cloisters. Popayan has also been declared more recently by UNESCO as a city of important gastronomy due to the significant regional traditions of cooking.You will spend the night in Hotel La Plazuela in (Standard Room) or at Hotel Dann Monasterio in a standard room. Alternative for an extra $ 240 USD per person (Based on 2 persons ) - Purace National ParkThis full day excursion to the Puracé National Park, located at a height between 2,600 to 5,000 meters above sea level, and home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. Optionally, and weather permitting, it is possible to ascend the Puracé volcano from where you can explore thermal lagoons whose waters reach temperatures of 36 ° C. Declared by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 1979, the Puracé National Park is a volcanic area which is reflected in both its many sulfurous sources and in its name, which in the Quechua language means "mountain of fire". The park is home to some of Colombia’s principal rivers: Magdalena, Cauca, Patía and Caquetá. There are also over 30 calm and clear lagoons, ideal for contemplation and reflection. Within its magnificent landscape rises the volcanic chain of the Coconucos, also known as Serranía de los Coconucos, composed of 11 volcanoes. Of these, the most outstanding are the Pan de Azúcar (5,000 meters above sea level), the Puracé (4,780 meters above sea level) the only active one, and the Coconuco (4,600 meters above sea level). At the beginning of the 20th century, the entire Serrania was covered in snow; currently, not even the highest mountain, the Pan de Azúcar, preserves snow at its peak. Included: transportation (private) , entrance fee to the mentioned services , local guide , snack , boxed lunch , English speaking guide for the tour , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 9 - Popoyan to Cali, via Silvia
Private transport from Popayan to Cali. Today you will get to know one of the most traditional, quiet and authentic villages of the department of Cauca and southwestern Colombia. You will visit the municipality of Silvia, located 60 kilometers north of Popayán. Silvia is a famous municipality because most of its inhabitants are indigenous descendants of the Misak or Guambiano Native American people, who have historically inhabited the departments of Cauca and Huila. Most of the people of the town maintain their traditional ways of life because they preserve their colorful and sacred way of dressing, as well as their language, customs and traditional works. For the Misak culture, the earth is the sacred mother. The economy of the town is based on agriculture and the main crops are those of the coca, lentil, bean and cabbage plant. Silvia is known as the "Switzerland of Colombia" because of the green colors of its valleys and the beauty of its forests. In this experience you can learn and know a little more about the ancestral customs of the town and buy some typical crafts of the place.Note: Tuesdays is the typical market of the town. So if you take the tour this day, you will get to know and visit the market. You will spend the night in Cali at Hotel Posada de San Antonio in a Standard Room or at Alko Hotel Casa Nispero (Standard Double Room). Included: entrance fee to the mentioned services , local guide , insurance , transportation (private) , English speaking guide for the tour , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 10 - CALI CHEVERE CITY TOUR (4 hours) Private Services A half-day tour around the main sites of the city: Boulevard del Río, La Ermita Church, Caycedo Square, Municipal Theatre, Mudeo del Oro Calima, La Merced Church, El Gato Park, Cristo Rey Hill and the colonial district of San Antonio. Apart from these interesting locations you’ll also get a taste for the salsa music Cali is famous for, as well as the electrifying atmosphere full of life, a buzzing nightlife and great restaurants. Alternative for an extra $ 104 USD per person (Based on 2 persons ) - Private salsa classes in Cali In Cali there are more than 100 dance schools which have imposed a style of "Caleño" salsa. Have fun learning the caleño dance style in one of the best schools in the city. Dance has become a form of expression, gathering, and joy for today’s way of life, a healthy option that allows you to gain vitality through learning different Latin rhythms. Included: entrance fee to the mentioned services , private excursion , insurance , transportation (private) , local guide , English speaking guide for the tour , English speaking guide for the tour , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 11 - Trip to San Cipriano Natural Reserve
Departure from Cali towards the seaport of Buenaventura, two and a half hours from Cali. Halfway we will stop to enjoy a delicious portion of pineapple, typical fruit of the region, then we will continue to the town of Zaragoza or Córdoba, where we will take a transport in brujita (carriages on the railway track) 20 minutes approx. through humid forests and feel a pure and refreshing wind in our faces, then you will reach the Nature Reserve with its lush vegetation and waterfalls, toucans, crawdads, sloths,and turtles. Spend the day in the Reserve enjoying walks and swimming in the river. The tour takes around 10 hours and includes lunch and enough time to enjoy the crystal clear waters.Included: entrance fee to the mentioned services , local guide , transportation (private) , private excursion , insurance , English speaking guide for the tour , breakfast , room at your hotel Day 12 - Cali to Armenia in the Coffee Region You will have a private transport from Cali to Armenia. Coffee Farm La Morelia & Horseback Riding (4.5 hours) A comfortable tour is made through coffee cultivation, through the processes of pulping, drying, threshing, destemming or classification, roasting, grinding and packaging of coffee for final distribution to customers and suppliers. A professional barista invites you to see how to prepare a good espresso and other drinks based on coffee. Participants enjoy the various traditional and non-traditional ways of getting the taste that makes coffee one of the world's favorite beverages. The route is complemented with the accompaniment of a taster who explains with practical and sensory examples the attributes of our coffee. In addition, the farm has a native playground to enjoy a moment of relaxation. Who would not marvel at a horseback ride, in a true paradise, where unspoiled nature traps us with its beauty, forests, rivers and valleys of extensive nuances. The horseback riding lasts around 2,5 hours. The Coffee Cultural Landscape was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2011. A region full of incomparable beauty, traditions, architecture, coffee plantations, native forests, and strategic corridors for the conservation of global biodiversity, you will always find beautiful scenery to photograph. Many regions of the coffee triangle invite you to enjoy the beautiful landscapes through horseback riding. Here you will cross banana and fruit trees as well as coffee plantations and lakes. This experience will draw parallels with Quindio’s traditional and ancestral ways of transportation and colonization. You will spend the night at La Tata Campestre Hotel or at Hotel Bio Habitat in a suite. Included: transportation (private) , English speaking guide for the tour , private excursion , shared excursion , local guide , Shared transportation , breakfast , dinner , room at your selected hotel |
Day 13 - Salento
We will start our day trip to Salento at 7:30 am. There we will take a Jeep Willys, which is the traditional vehicle of this region, for a 23 kilometer trip along the old road that connected Salento with Ibagué and Bogotá. The road is gravel and is used by mountain bike enthusiasts and farmers of the region. On the way you will witness the lush landscapes of the Central Mountain Range and the National Park of the Nevados. We will ascend approximately 3340m and stop to enjoy the impressive view of Paramillo del Quindio. Then we will start the descent and on the way we will appreciate a wax palm valley until arriving to our destination, La Carbonera Farm. On the farm we will take an one hour walk among the wax palms, one of the tallest palms in the world -up to 70 meters-. Once at the main house of the farm we will rest and take a typical drink of sugar cane water with Colombian cheese.After this amazing tour, we will return by Willys Jeep to the starting point of the hike where we will have lunch. For the return to Salento there are two options, you can choose one of them:
You will spend the night at La Tata Campestre Hotel or at at Hotel Bio Habitat in a suite. Included: bottle of water , boxed lunch , English speaking guide for the tour , private excursion , insurance , transportation (private) , breakfast , dinner , room at your selected hotel Day 14 - Bike Experience in Filandia & Surroundings To begin the day with an experience unparalleled on the "steel horses", as they say here colloquially, this means of transport, by which our farmers travel daily to the fincas where they work, will enable them to cross routes in the north of the department that connect the municipalities of Cherkassia and Filandia (about 28 km - in the mountains). Once there, we have time for a coffee snack and the "most beautiful city of Quindios", which offers a representative selection of the traditional architecture of our department, with its Bejuco handicrafts, its viewpoints and the friendliness of its inhabitants making a wonderful visit.In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to have lunch in Naxos "Helena Adentro", a restaurant created by the union of three travelers who love the landscape and social responsibility, where every detail is important: the paintings of local artists hanging on the walls, the choice of suppliers - local farmers who guarantee the traceability of the products - the preparation of the dishes. Included: equipment rental , local guide, insurance , snack , transportation (private) , English speaking guide for the tour , breakfast , dinner , room at your selected hotel Day 15 - Armenia to Santa Marta to Palomino
You will have a private transfer from your selected hotel to the airport in Pereira. You will have a domestic flight from Pereira - Santa Marta (not included). You will have a private transfer from the airport to your selected hotel in Palomino. (Please be aware of the sign with your name on it)You will spend at Hotel Hukumeizi (Room with air conditioner and TV cable) or at at Hotel Finca La Jorará (Standard Room). Included: departure transfer , arrival transfer , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 16 - TAYRONA NATIONAL PARK - CAÑAVERAL, ARRECIFES & CABO SAN JUAN (10 hours) Private Services The foothills of the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta is the highest coastal mountain range on the planet. They rise from the sea, where bays and coves of singular beauty are to be found. The white sandy beaches in this park are bordered on one side by tropical dry forests and on the other, by the crystal clear and blue waters of the Caribbean Sea; making the Tayrona National Park one of the most beautiful in the country. You can also find a variety of trails that pass through the rainforest and the tropical dry forest with amazing archaeological sites along their paths. You will leave Santa Marta to take the scenic route along a coastal road to reach the eastern entrance of the park. From the Cañaveral sector you begin to walk through the dry forest until arriving at the Arrecifes sector. This is a perfect time for you to rest and refresh before continuing to the Arenilla Beach, Piscina Beach and to Cabo San Juan. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the beach and in the afternoon you’ll return to Cañaveral where your transportation will be waiting after hiking back for about two hours. You will then return to Santa Marta/Palomino *Note: it is recommended to begin the tour at 08h00. The Tayrona Park has a tropical and humid climate, so it is advisable to bring comfortable clothes, walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Also bring a swimsuit for the beach. Included: bottle of water , entrance to Tayrona National Park , local guide , insurance , transportation (private) , English speaking guide for the tour , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 17 - Palomino to Cartagena
You will have a private transport from Palomino to Cartagena. You will spend the night at Hotel Don Pedro de Heredia (Standard Room) or at Hotel Bantu (Superior Room Orika). Alternative for an extra $ 133 USD per person (Based on 2 persons ) - Ciena Grande of Santa Marta, Nueva Venecia The Fauna and Flora Sanctuary Cienaga Grande, situated between the cities of Santa Marta and Barranquilla, is the largest of the swampy marshes located in Colombia. It is considered to be one of the most strategic and vital water mirrors of the planet, and therefore it was declared a Ramsar Site (wetland of global importance) in 1998, and as a Man and Biosphere Site by UNESCO in 2000. Visitors to this wild fauna sanctuary will get a passionate trip through the lagoons and marshes, interconnected by beautiful natural channels and mangrove labyrinths which will just take your breath away with their unique, exotic beauty. We start our tour with a drive to the village of Tasajera (45 min.) and from there we change to a traditional motorized canoe as used by the local fishermen to visit Buenavista and Nueva Venecia, villages traditionally built on stilts (palafitte). Every village consists of about 300 houses in the midst of this immense swamp. Without any doubt these villages on stilts in the water (and the simple life its inhabitants, established over 100 years ago) will be of great interest, as well as the beautifully colored houses, which are raised and built on piles, and seem to float on top of the water. We will start our tour in Nueva Venecia (New Venice) with a local guide at the Visitor Center. There we will learn about the village’s checkered history, its chapters of violence and social issues affecting the inhabitants for many years. Afterwards we visit a school building and football ground (also built on top of the water), which represent a place of hope for the younger generation and were donated by the famous football player Radamel Falcao Garcia. This tour also allows us to observe plenty of exotic birds like the Northern Shoveler, Great Egret, Blue-winged Teal, Kingfisher and Darters. Our way back in canoe to Tasajera will take about 90 minutes. Included: transportation (private) , Boat , bottle of water , entrance fee to the mentioned services , English speaking guide for the tour , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 18 - Cartagena 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. RUM TASTING - Spaniards brought many things and customs to America that transformed the continent. In the same way, we have adapted many of them to our culture and created an identity and products of our own. This is the case of sugar cane, which was taken to another level and today is the basis of one of the most exquisite drinks on the planet. Join us in this space of knowledge and fun where we would learn from the most famous drink of the Caribbean, the Rum. We will pick you up at your hotel and start our tour by walking to the bar, where an expert mixologist will tell us about the history and characteristics of this drink. This journey of flavors will take us to taste different Colombian rums, some of them cataloged as the best in the world. We will learn their secrets and discover how wide and rich the world of Rum can be and how small changes in the process give life to so many different flavors and emotions. After getting to know and living rum from a different perspective, enjoying one will be a real experience. The tour lasts approximately 2 hours 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 , Activity , private excursion , English speaking guide for the tour , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 19 - Islas Rosario
You will have a private transfer from your hotel to the harbour in Cartagena. ROSARIO ISLAND - SAN PEDRO DE MAJAGUA SILVER PLAN (Full day) Shared Services The Rosario Islands are located approximately 40km (approx. 1 hour by boat), south-west of Cartagena. They consist of 27 islands with 20 hectares of coral reefs. Explore the impressive, beautiful landscapes of the Rosario Islands with their clear waters, gentle breezes, and maritime life such as dolphins. Today, the entire surrounding area, including the Islas de Barú and the Islas de San Bernardo, are officially protected sites During this day trip on Majagua Island you will have enough time to explore the beautiful nature and relax on the beach. There you will also be served a typical lunch. In the afternoon you will return to Cartagena. Included:
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 , lunch , arrival transfer , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 20 - Transfer out Price per person in double occupancy, with 2 people: Can also quote with 5 star hotels All hotels are subject to availability.
INCLUDED
Prices without the Colombian VAT (19%) 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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