Magical Colombia - 14 Days of Popular Highlights
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.A sample 14 day itinerary which can be modified to suit your interests. We can delete days or places, add other places and/or day tours, etc.
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Day 1: Bogota
Upon your arrival at the airport a great deal of activities and experiences are waiting for you. Each and every moment will be memorable and give you an insight into the Colombian culture. Be ready to absorb plenty of history and many incredible landscapes. Undoubtedly a great time lies ahead! You will have a private transfer with an English-speaking guide from the airport to your selected hotel in Bogotá. Be aware of the sign with your name on it. You will spend the night at Hotel Casa Deco, in a Standard Room. Included: bottle of water , arrival transfer , english speaking guide , breakfast , room Day 2: Centro historico la Candelaria tour Today you will get to know the Colombian capital Bogotá in a 8-hour 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 neighbourhoods of Cundinamarca and Boyacá. With the arrival of the Spanish colonizers 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. With independence, Bogotá became the capital of Gran Colombia and later the capital of the Republic of Colombia. Located at 2,600 meters above sea level and a city with over 8 million inhabitants, Bogota has 2 different sectors of tourism. The old Candelaria Historic District is scattered with traditional colonial houses and cobbled streets. 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. In the morning, you will be met by one of our local guides, who will take you on a private tour. Firstly to downtown Bogotá visiting the historic district of La Candelaria. You will enjoy exploring the Unique Gold Museum, the famous Botero Museum and to finish you will go to Monserrate Hill taking the Cable Car to the top, where you can admire panoramic views of the city from 3,100 meters high. At the gold museum, you will have the option to do a Coffee Baptism (a ritual to enhance your tasting senses). For hotels located in downtown Bogotá, this will be a complete walking tour. For hotels located in the north of Bogotá, transportation will be provided. Entrance fees included. You will spend the night at Hotel Casa Deco, in a Standard Room. Included: english speaking guide , entrance fees , private excursion , breakfast , room Day 3: Bogota - Villa de Leyva You will have a private transport from Bogotá to Villa de Leyva. You will spend the night at Hosteria La Roca in a standard room. Included: transport (private) , breakfast , room Day 4: Villa de Leyva You will have a private transport at your disposal in Villa de Leyva and surroundings. You will spend the night at Hosteria La Roca in a standard room. Included: transport (private) , breakfast , room Day 5: Villa de Leyva - Bogota - Armenia - Montenegro You will have a private transport at your disposal in Villa de Leyva and then return back to Bogotá. You will have a domestic flight from Bogota to Armenia. You will have a private transfer from the airport in Armenia to your selected hotel. Please be aware of the sign with your name on it. You will spend the night at Finca Hotel La Tata Premium, in a standard room. You will have dinner at the hotel. Included: transport (private) , arrival transfer, driver/guide , dinner Day 6: Valle del Cocora & Colonial Town of Salento Salento is the oldest municipality in the department of Quindío, therefore its traditional architecture and craft workshops make it an unforgettable place. There you can see colonial houses painted in colors, balconies full of flowers and even better, you will enjoy the warmth of its people that will make your visit a great experience. We will also enjoy a hike in the Cocora Valley, where the national tree of Colombia, the Wax Palm, is located. Surely the palms will attract your attention, since their height is up to 70 meters, being one of the highest palms in the world. Let yourself be amazed by all the beauty of the landscape in the walk through the trails of the valley. The hike in the valley lasts around 2 hours. We will finish the afternoon enjoying a delicious lunch and playing traditional games such as the "Tejo" or the "Rana", accompanied by a Colombian beer. Transportation, hydration during the hike, typical lunch and traditional games with a beer are included. This tour lasts approximately 7 hours. You will spend the night at Finca Hotel La Tata Premium, in a standard room. You will have dinner at the hotel. Included: Activity , bottle of water , local guide , lunch , transport (private) , english speaking guide , private excursion , dinner Day 7: Montenegro Coffee Experience Today you will learn everything about the world of coffee. The entire process - from the bush to the finished cup of coffee – during this unique tour you can experience this process on a coffee plantation first hand. Your coffee expert will share his whole knowledge of coffee with you and will reveal some secrets of planting, harvesting, washing and drying the coffee. Get carried away by the smell and taste of one of the best coffees of the world – the Colombian one! For this excursion you will be picked up from your hotel and after the excursion you will brought back to your hotel. You will spend the night at Finca Hotel La Tata Premium, in a standard room. You will have dinner at the hotel. Included: local guide , dinner Day 8: Quindio - Armenia - Medellin You will have a private transport from your hotel to Armenia Bus Terminal. You will have a transport by public bus from Armenia to Medellin. You will have a private transfer from the bus terminal to your selected hotel in Medellin. Please be aware of the sign with your name on it. Slightly more than 20 years ago, Medellin was one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Back in the early 90´s, hunting on Pablo Escobar, the head of Medellin's drug cartel was at its peak. Thus the reign of “El Patrón” came to its end. Until the turn of the millennium the struggles about Escobar's successor continued, but since 2002 Medellin began to change. Intelligent local politicians started to invest heavily in infrastructure and public education - successfully. Today the “City of Eternal Spring” is one of the most innovative metropolises in the world. Join us on an exciting tour through the history and present of Medellin and learn more about the transformation of this fascinating metropolis. You will spend the night at Hotel Boutique La Campana, in a Standard Room. Included: transport (private) , bus ticket , Shared transport , arrival transfer , entrance fees Day 9: Guatapé & Piedra del Peñol 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, colourful 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 Boutique La Campana, in a Standard Room. Included: boat ticket , entrance fees , local guide , insurance , lunch menu , transport (private) , english speaking guide. |
Day 10: Medellin - Airport - Medellin - Airport - Cartagena
You will have a private transfer from your selected hotel to the José Maria Córdova airport in Medellin. You will have a domestic flight from Medellin to Cartagena. You will have a private transfer from the airport to your selected hotel in Cartagena. Be aware of the sign with your name on it. City tour - During your walking tour through the old city of Cartagena you will pass the representing streets and squares of the colonial city. The Castillo San Felipe de Barajas is a fortress in the city of Cartagena, Colombia. The castle is located on the Hill of San Lázaro in a strategic location, dominating approaches to the city by land or sea. It was built by the Spanish during the colonial era. Construction began in the year 1536, and it was originally known as the Castillo de San Lázaro, It was expanded in 1657. Also you get to visit the church and the monastery of San Pedro Claver, the palace of inquisition, the church and barricade of Santo Domingo, Santiago and San Francisco Javier as well as other famous places. Enjoy strolling through charming, romantic alleys and admire impressive colonial buildings as well as the city wall and the castle of San Felipe de Barajas, which was built during Spanish colonial times. The Inquisition Palace and the historic clock tower also bear memories of old times which make them liven up again in current times. Besides enjoy the nice warm breeze and relax in one of the beautiful natural parks in Cartagena. You will spend the night at Hotel Don pedro de Heredia, in a Standard room. Included: departure transfer , domestic flight , bottle of water , arrival transfer , english speaking guide , entrance fees , local guide , transport (private) Day 11: Free Day Cartagena de Indias or optional tours Cartagena de Indias was founded in 1533 by the Spanish conqueror Pedro de Heredia. This charming Caribbean city was one of the most important ports of the Spanish Empire in America during the colonial era. Nowadays it is one of the most important and preferred destinations for travelers during their stay in Colombia. The city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984 due to its historical center, its history and the set of fortresses, walls and military infrastructure built by the Spanish to defend the city from the English pirates during the 17th and 18th centuries. . In the diversity and cultural richness of the city is evident the mixture between the indigenous and African cultures, as well as the Spanish influence. During the colonial era, Cartagena was besieged by the English piaratas who tried to steal the gold that arrived at the port of the city and then was sent to Spain. Due to this the Castle of San Felipe and the walls that surrounded the old city were built. The Castle of San Felipe is in fact, the castle and the largest military fortress built by the Spaniards in America. During the wars of independence, the city was crucial to defeat the Spanish army and that is why Cartagena is called the "Heroic City". Cartagena preserved its architecture, walls and histories and became the most important tourist destination in the country. In the city you can walk among the old streets, walk on the walls, try the traditional cuisine and listen to the musical rhythms of the Colombian Caribbean. You can also visit the modern area of Bocagrande and El Laguito. If you are beach and sun enthusiast, you can visit the Rosario Islands, an archipelago of islands that belong to the city. There you can bathe in the warm crystal clear waters of the Caribbean and enjoy some nice white sandy beaches. Optional Tour through the mangroves This tour leads us to the small fishermen village La Boquilla and we highly recommend it for nature lovers. On the beach of La Boquilla, we will see the two facets of the city, because in one of the poorest parts of Cartagena, 5 star hotels and luxurious apartments are built at the moment. After arriving in the fisher village of La Boquilla (about 30 minutes from the Cartagena city center), you will get on the canoe and cross the mangrove forest and the lagoon Ciénaga de Juan Polo. You will go through some natural mangrove tunnels (Tunnel of Friendship, Love and Luck). At the lagoon, you will see fishermen working. The perfect word for describing this gorgeous scenario is peace. The mangrove forest offers great flora and fauna. Among other things, you may see different species of birds and crabs and with a little luck, a coon or a green parrot may appear on the riverbanks. After the canoe tour, you will receive a cold coconut. Then, you will take a walk through the village and along the beach whereas the english- speaking guide will tell you more about the daily life of the people that live mainly of fishing. Optional:
Fishing & Cooking with the natives in “La Boquilla” This tour is perfect for people who would like to immerse themselves in the culture of this small fishing village. You will learn from the locals how to make a fishing net, how to catch crabs and how to throw the nets and catch fish in the Juan Polo Lagoon. . For about 2-3 hours, we will fish in the lagoon (don’t forget to bring a hat, sunscreen and mosquito repellent!). Later on, visitors will head to the kitchen of a local fisherman family and here they will learn how to cook the caught fish and prepare some typical dishes such as coconut rice. When lunch is ready, the guests will share it with a local family. After this cooking lesson guests can head to the beach and relax in a hammock, enjoy the weather and admire the incredible views. Included:
You will spend the night at Hotel Don Pedro de Heredia, in a Standard room. Included: english speaking guide , private excursion , transport (private) , Activity , bottle of water , local guide Day 12: Cartagena - Islas de San Bernardo Private transfer from your selected hotel in Cartagena to the Harbour. Transfer by speedboat from Cartagena to hotel Punta Faro on Mucura Island. You will spend the night at Hotel Punta Faro, in a Standard Room. Included: transport (private) , boat ticket , full board , room Day 13: Islas de San Bernardo Today you will spend a free day at Isla Mucura, a hidden treasure that lies 2 hours by boat from Cartagena. On this carefree day you can discover the island by kayak, which takes approximately one hour, or enjoy the facilities of Hotel Punta Faro with its astonishing private beach, several activities and amazing buffet-style meals. Isla Mucura is everything that you picture of a Caribbean island: azure water, palm trees and a fresh breeze. As part of a National Park, it is also home to wildlife such as iguanas, sloths and numerous birds. The surrounding waters contain sea turtles, manta rays and dolphins. Besides kayaking, you can choose to go diving, snorkeling or enjoy one of the boat tours that are offered on the island, which may even take you to another nearby island. Visit for example Santa Cruz del Istote, a tiny fisherman´s village which is world´s most densely populated island, with nearly 1200 residents in 0.012 km2. When the sun has set, you can go to Tintipan to swim among its coastal mangroves with thousands of bio-luminescent plankton. These minuscule creatures light up as you move your body around in the water, creating a spectacular natural light-show. You will spend the night at Hotel Punta Faro, in a Standard Room. Included: full board , room Day 14: Islas de San Bernardo - Cartagena - Airport - Bogota Transfer by speedboat from your hotel Punta Faro on Mucura Island to Cartagena. Private transfer from the harbour to Cartagena airport. Please be aware with the sign with your name on it. You will have a Spanish speaking driver. You will have a domestic flight from Cartagena to Bogota. Today you will have your flight to your next destination or final destination. Hopefully you have enjoyed your stay in Colombia! Included: boat ticket , transport (private) , driver/guide , domestic flight |
