Colombia Express - 7 Days
Packed with private local experiences!
Tour can be modified to include other day tours if desired |
Day 1: Bogota
You will have a private transfer with an English-speaking guide from the airport to your hotel in Bogotá. Please be aware of the sign with your name on it. You will spend the night in Hotel BH La Quinta (Standard Room). Included: insurance , bottle of water , arrival transfer , English speaking guide , room at your selected hotel Day 2: Bogota - La Candelaria - Historic District - Colombian food tasting - Artisanal Draft Beer Experience (private transport with English-speaking guide for the day) WALKING TOUR CANDELARIA (3 hours) - This tour gives you an entire idea about Colombia's capital context. You will never get bored because we will talk about different topics, interact with locals, visit the most important spots in the city and get the max of the artistic and historical value of all the streets and alleys we walk through. Candelaria district is the oldest and most important neighborhood in Bogotá. We will talk about history, geography as well as the current social and political situation in Colombia. We get involved with our culture by drinking chicha, a traditional fermented drink that is part of our indigenous heritage. Also, we will try some local snacks (arepas) made with corn, when finally ending up playing the gunpowder game, better known as Tejo, a funny drinking game played in the pre-hispanic times. COLOMBIAN REGIONAL CUISINE TOUR (3,5 hours) - Colombia is the second most bio-diverse country in the world and this diversity is also expressed in our cuisine. Thousands of varieties of vegetables, fruits, tubers, meats, and flavors. In this tour, you will experience Colombia through your mouth by having 8 different foods from the 5 Colombian different regions: Amazon, Andes, Caribbean coast, Pacific coast, and Orinoquia. Join us in this delicious and cultural experience learning about the gourmet background of each region by filling up your belly. All restaurants are located in Candelaria District (walking tour) one of the tour stations is a family house where you will learn how to cook tasty empanadas. It is recommended to start at 13:30 hrs. ARTISANAL DRAFT BEER TOUR (3,5 hours) - Bogotá has become the scenery of craft breweries in Colombia, more than 100 artisanal brands are proof for it. In this tour, you won´t try all of them, but at least 5 of the most authentic ones. Starting at the square where Bogotá was founded by the Spaniards, we will begin our drinking adventure, traveling in time, by having a chicha, a 15th centuries old drink, fermented by our indigenous people. Then you won´t get thirsty again having 5 glasses of cold craft beer from different and locally recognized breweries. All of it is being run by young entrepreneurs trying to set the Colombian identity in a beer. You will try ales, stouts, ambers, and lagers with a little piece of the local flavors. All breweries are located in Candelaria district which creates the perfect atmosphere to enjoy the history of our drinking culture. It is recommended to start at 17:30 hrs. You will spend the night in Hotel BH La Quinta (Standard Room). Included: transportation (private) , English speaking guide , private excursion , local guide , snack , breakfast , room at your selected hotel, lunch Day 3: Bogota- Medellin You will have a private transfer from your hotel to the airport in Bogotá. a domestic flight from Bogota to Medellin (not included). You will have a private transfer from the José Maria Córdova airport to your hotel in Medellin. Please be aware of the sign with your name on it. CASA DE LA MEMORIA & "LA SIERRA" - MEDELLIN SOCIAL & URBAN CHANGES (4 hours) - Back in the early 1990s, Medellín was considered the most dangerous city in the world, but in 2002 Medellín began to change. Nevertheless, this unique transformation is an ongoing process of social and urban change. The museum “Casa de la Memoria” is an investigation center of the urban conflict of the last decades and offers exclusive insights into this controversial part of the city’s history. Unlike other memory museums in the world, concerned with finding ways to heal the relationship of a country about its past (war or dictatorship), the “Casa de la Memoria” is concerned with the memory of a conflict still alive. It is nowadays a place of hope and a landmark of social transformation in Medellín. Afterwards take the new cable car up to “La Sierra”, a neighborhood almost exclusively known for gang violence just a few years ago. Key to the city’s progress have been a number of urban planning and public transport initiatives combined with social transformation projects. These projects aim to reduce crime and fight poverty by reconnecting the city’́s poorest neighborhoods with the city center. Furthermore, the creation of public parks and libraries aim to improve education and local recreation. You will have an English speaking guide included. You will spend the night at Hotel Diez (Standard Room). Included: bottle of water , departure transfer , arrival transfer , private excursion , local guide , insurance , snack , transportation (private) , breakfast , room at your hotel Day 4: GUATAPÉ & PIEDRA DEL PEÑOL (10 hours) Private Service with English-speaking guide The Peñol Boulder is one of the most spectacular destinations in the surrounding area of Medellín. The 200-meter-high monolith can be climbed through a staircase of 740 steps. Enjoy breath-taking views over the stunning surroundings full of green mountains and blue lakes. The village of Guatapé is famous for its church and its beautiful, colorful paintings that decorate the houses of the village. On this day trip we will take you on a scenic drive through the Eastern Highlands of Antioquia. You can climb the Peñol Boulder, enjoy a delicious typical Colombian lunch on the waterfront of the Guatapé reservoir, explore the lake on a boat ride and take time to stroll and relax. You will spend the night at Hotel Diez (Standard Room). Included: boat ticket , entrance fees , local guide , insurance, lunch menu , transportation (private) , breakfast , room at your hotel Day 5: Medellin- Cartagena You will have a private transfer from your hotel to the José Maria Córdova airport in Medellin. a domestic flight from Medellin to Cartagena (not included). You will have a private transfer from the airport to your hotel in Cartagena. Be aware of the sign with your name on it CITY TOUR CARTAGENA (2 hours) Private Service with English-speaking guide Cartagena de Indias is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in America. Its historic downtown, walled by the fortifications built in the colonial time, still preserves its original architecture and nowadays the walled city is shown in an endless number of colors that fill it with life and Caribbean charm. His fascinating history as one of the pearls of that time, a place where treasures were stored and the largest port for slaves, gives Cartagena, the city declared heritage of humanity by UNESCO, enormous importance. Stories about severe pirates attacks remain present in numerous fortresses that remain intact until today. The city tour starts visiting the hill of La Popa, an old Augustinian convent located at 150 meters in the highest point of the city. From here we have the best view of Cartagena and we can learn the strategies applied to defend the city in the colonial times in relationship with the surrounding topography. Then we visit the greatest fortress ever built by the Spaniards in their colonies, San Felipe the Barajas. In an one hour tour, we can appreciate this military architecture masterpiece built in Coraline stone. Then we explore the historic downtown, wherein a walk of about 2 hours we meet the most representative and beautiful squares, churches and streets. You will spend the night in Hotel Casa La Factoria (Classic Room - Queen Bed). Included: departure transfer , bottle of water , arrival transfer , entrance fees , local guide , insurance , transportation (private) , breakfast , room at your selected hotel Day 6: Cartagena San Basilio de Palenque - Musical Heritage PALENQUE DE SAN BASILIO - COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE (6 hours) (private with English-speaking guide) This tour will take you to the so-called "corner of Africa" in Colombia. This town, a reflection of the difficult reality of most Afro-descendants in Colombia, is a bastion of culture and history. It is the only survivor of the 12 palenques formed on the slopes of the Montes de María at the beginning of the 17th century. Slaves who managed to escape once brought to America, followed the legend of Benkos Biohó, founder of Palenque. Music and a formidable defense strategy led him to officially become the first free people of Spanish America in 1713. Tradition, historical pride and the Palenquero, a unique language of this site, live to this day. After 2 hours of walking we arrive at the central park of the village. A specialized guide of the community teaches us some basic words in their language, the Palenquero. With the help of a translator we learn all about the exciting and brave history of this town. We will learn to play some of their instruments recognizing the warning sounds they used in the defense of their freedom. After a brief tour of the town, we appreciated the talent of the students of the Batata music school, who gave us 3 songs and dances. Their rhythms, among them the Mapalé and the Bullerengue, have a great influence on the musical identity of the Colombian Caribbean. After bidding farewell to our local guide and the musicians, we're going back to Cartagena. You will spend the night in Hotel Casa La Factoria (Classic Room - Queen Bed). Included: private excursion , local guide , transportation (private) , breakfast , room at your selected hotel, lunch Day 7: Cartagena You will have a private transfer from your hotel to the airport in Cartagena. |
2021 Price per person: US$1499 in a double room with 2 people. Can be reduced with more people in your group 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
Hotels:
Hotel BH La Quinta Bogota
The hotel is housed in a beautifully restored private residence, and many home-style comforts remain. The lobby features several intimate areas for socialising, with overstuffed armchairs placed invitingly close to the fireplace and a lovely wood-panelled library. Two private meeting rooms are available, and the El Comedor Restaurant offers a splendid gourmet dining experience – ideal for everything from informal business breakfasts and casual lunch dates to after-work cocktails and elegant dinners. Hotel Diez Medellin
Presenting a unique blend of traditional and modern architecture crafted by some of the finest local artisans, our hotel is a celebration of Colombia's cultural diversity. In addition to the 115 contemporary and well-equipped rooms and suites, the hotel features the wonderful Nirvana Spa, a fit area and seven sophisticated meeting rooms and private events for up to 500 guests. Dining options include four outstanding restaurants, a vibrant café bar and a magnificent outdoor terrace with panoramic views of the Medellín cityscape. Hotel Casa La Factoria by Faranda Cartagena
The hotel features a Spa, outdoor swimming pool, viewpoint bar, gourmet restaurant specializing in Nikkei cuisine, room service, a lobby bar, rooftop terrace, free Wi-Fi and a wealth of other facilities. On top of that, the hotel also boasts an unbeatable location. Guests can reach the Plaza de Santo Domingo and the nearby gastronomic area within a short walk. An excellent starting point for your vacation to the magical city of Cartagena. |