Colombia highlights: archeology, coffee and the Caribbean coast!

• Arrival and transfer to the hotel
Your guide will meet you at the airport and accompany you to a beautiful colonial hotel in the historic part of Bogota "Candelaria".
• Overnight at the hotel in Bogota

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Sightseeing tour
After breakfast we start the city tour through the Colombian capital, Bogota. We visit the Plaza de Bolivar with the surrounding government buildings, the colonial old town of La Candelaria, the impressive churches of San Francisco and La Tercera, the world-famous gold museum with its over 30,000 exhibits of pre-Columbian cultures. We take the cable car up to the mountain Monserrate, where you have a breathtaking view of the city and the surroundings. In the evening we enjoy our welcome diner in the traditional local restaurant.
• Overnight in Bogota

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Drive to Villa de Leyva
In the morning we drive north via Chia to Zipaquira and visit the unique Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, which is 120m underground and that was once the center of salt extraction for the Muisca Indians. In the afternoon we arrive to the Villa de Leyva, one of the most beautiful colonial villages in the country, and check in at the great colonial hotel near the central square. On a first walk through the cobbled streets we wisit the central square and many important for Colombian history places.
• Overnight in the hotel in Villa de Leyva

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Visit to the Dominican monastery "Ecce Homo" and astronomical center of the Muisca Indians
After breakfast we start our day with the visit the surroundings of Villa de Leyvas. We first drive to the "Casa Terracota", a house made of fired clay, which is constantly being enlarged by its owner, a well-known Colombian architect. We continue to the Dominican monastery "Ecce-Homo" from the 17th century and then look at the fossil that is probably over 150 million years old. In the archaeological park "El Infiernito" we look into the astronomical center of the Muisca Indians and learn how they could predict the dry and rainy season. We spend the rest of the afternoon comfortably in Villa de Leyva enjoying its unique atmosphere.
• Overnight in Villa de Leyva

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Flight to Medellin
In the morning we return to Bogota by the northern highway with a short stop at the "Puente de Boyaca", the Colombian national monument. Here Simon Bolivar and his army defeated the Spanish conquerors and reached the independence of Colombia. We continue to the airport in Bogota and fly to Medellin, where our driver brings us to the hotel in the nice El Pobaldo area.
• Overnight in Medellin

• Breakfast at the hotel
• City tour in Medellin
Medellin symbolizes the change in the country and was formerly considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Today it is the city where 90% of Colombians would most like to live. It is well organized, very clean and has received international recognition with many projects that are primarily intended to help local poor people. Medellin is also known as the "City of Eternal Spring". We visit attractions in the center of the city, such as San Antonio Park, San Ignacio Square, the traditional Avenida La Playa, the Coltejer Building and the Sculpture Park, which houses more than 20 sculptures by the well-known artist Fernando Botero. Then we visit the "Pueblito Paisa", a replica of a turn of the century town in Antioquia. From here we enjoy a beautiful view on the city and learn how Medellin has achieved this changes.
• Overnight in Medellin

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Drive to the coffee shop
Today we drive out of Medellin through green mountainous landscapes along the Rio Caucas into the coffee zone. In the afternoon we start with a detailed tour of our coffee hacienda, which still largely lives from coffee cultivation, to get to know the exact process of coffee cultivation and its processing that includes also a technical and practical introduction to the entire coffee growing and production process.
In the evening we are back in Medellin and you can freely plan your time.
• Overnight in Santa Rosa de Cabal

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Excursion to the Cocora valley
After the extensive breakfast typical of the country, we drive to the Cocora Valley with breathtaking landscapes, which we explore either on foot or on horseback. Here you will find among other things the Colombian national tree, the Palma de Cera (the wax palm). It is one of the tallest palm species in the world. Afterwards we will visit the picturesque village of Salento with its great little streets full of handicraft workshops and let us drift away into the colorful life of Salento.
• Drive back and overnight in Santa Rosa de Cabal
Hike in the Valle de Cocora: approx. 3 hours, level of difficulty: easy

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Drive to Popayan
After breakfast we continue our overland journey through the western slopes of the central Andean Cordillera to Popayan, one of the richest cities on the continent during the colonial period. On the way we stop and get to know a traditional sugar cane hacienda.
• Overnight in Popayan

• Breakfast at the hotel
• City tour in Popayan
After breakfast we start our city tour in Popayan, which was founded in 1537 by Sebastian de Belalcazar. It is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the country. We leave Popayan around noon and cross the middle Andean chain. The journey takes us through the Purace National Park with wonderful views of the Paramo landscapes with many Frailejones ( "big monks", a specific plant that grows in the Andes). After about 4-5 hours drive we reach San Agustín and check in the cozy hacienda hotel. San Agustin is not only located in one of the most spectacular regions in the country, but is also the archaeological center of Colombia. Various statues can be found scattered throughout the region as the evidence of unknown cultures.
• Overnight in San Agustin

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Visit to the archaeological museum
In the morning we visit the archaeological park of San Agustin and the archaeological museum. Many of the park's sculptures were made from volcanic rock and in the shape of human bodies with different styles of clothing, hairstyles and other details. The sizes of the sculptures are very different from ten centimeters to seven meters high and some of them weigh several tons.
In the afternoon you can ride a hors or hike to the archaeological sites of El Tablon and La Chaquira (Option).
• Overnight in San Agustin

• Breakfast at the hotel
• City tour in San Agustin
After breakfast we drive to San José de Isnos to visit the archaeological parks "Parque Archeologico" and "Alto de las Piedras", as well as the spectacular waterfalls "Salto del Mortiño". On the way back to San Agustin, we stop at the Rio Magdalenas, the largest and longest river in the country, which squeezes through a narrow river of up to two meters.
• Overnight in San Agustin
Hike: Duration about 2 hours, level: easy

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Flight to Santa Marta
After breakfast, drive to Neiva and flight from Neiva via Bogotá to the Caribbean coast to Santa Marta. On arrival our driver will waite for us and we head to perhaps the most breathtaking beaches of the South American continent in the Tayrona National Park. The next two nights we will spend directly at the sea in cozy bungalows. The rest of the day you can enjoy on the Caribbean beach, swim and relax.
• Overnight in Santa Marta

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Visit the Tayrona Park
Today we hike through the tropical dry forest along the beaches and enjoy the flora and fauna of the Tayrona Park. We start on the beach of Cañaveral, one of the wildest and most beautiful sections of the Parque Tayrona. Here we climb a small hill that offers a magnificent view of the coast. We walk through the tropical dry forest for approximately one hour till we reach the coast areas of La Piscina and San Juan del Cabo. Here we have enough time to bathe and try various tropical fruits.
• Overnight in Santa Marta
Duration of the hike: approx. 6 hours, level: easy

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Drive to Cartagena
After breakfast we leave Tayrona and drive along the Caribbean coast past Santa Marta and Barranquilla to Cartagena and check in at the hotel. After a short rest we start our tour in Cartagena, one of the most impressive cities in Latin America. Caribbean spirit, smiles of locals, the history and arhitecture - this is the city you fall in love with. The city tour leads us to the old town with beautiful historical buildings and squares, to the "La Popa" monastery and to the "San Felipe" castle.
• Overnight in Cartagena
Travel time: approx. 5 hours (250 km)

• Breakfast at the hotel
Today you can freely plan your time.
In the evening we gather at the hotel and go enjoy our farewell dinner.
• Overnight in Cartagena

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Transfer to the airport and flight to Bogota
Your driver will bring you to the Cartagena Airport, from where you will fly to Bogota.

• 16 nights in cozy mid-range hotels
• 16 x breakfast
• Welcome dinner
• Farewell dinner
• Transfers from & to the airport
• All transfers in an air-conditioned and comfortable vehicle
• experienced drivers
• All excursions and excursions described
• Entrance tickets
• English speaking guide during the whole trip
• All domestic flights

International flights
Meals and drinks that were not mentioned
Self-organized excursions
Insurance
Tips