Uncover the secrets of Colombia, a country known for being the largest producer of coffee in the world. Feel the pulse of the capital biking through Bogotá before taking off to Lake Guatavita and Sesquilé to discover the way of life of some of the indigenous communities of the Andean country. End your trip in colorful Cartagena.
Suggested itinerary
Day one: Welcome to Colombia
Upon arrival at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, your driver will take you to the hotel where our local representative will meet you upon arrival for an orientation meeting. Get settled at your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day on your own.
What else can you do in Bogotá?- Take the Cable car ride Monserrate Mountain
- Guided Visit to Museo de Oro
Day two: Feel the Rhythm of Bogotá - Biking City Tour
After breakfast, enjoy a half day bike tour of the city with your local guide. You will stop at all the most important monuments like La Candelaria, Bogota’s historic center, continue visiting a traditional fruit market, where we taste tropical fruits, followed by a typical small-scale coffee roaster. In the afternoon, you could visit Salt Cathedral in Zipaquira (a guided tour is highly recommended).
What more else you can do in Bogotá?- Colombian Cooking Class
- Guided Visit to Paloquemao Market:
- Guided Visit Museo de Botero
Day three: The legend of El Dorado
After breakfast, transfer to Villa de Leyva. On the way, you will stop at Lake Guatavita, the former sacred site of the Muisca indigenous tribe. At Guatavita you will do an easy hike and discover the ritual that led to the birth of the legend of El Dorado. Continue to Sesquilé, home of the Mhuysqa Community where you will learn about their traditions, activities and beliefs.
Day four: Discover Villa de Leyva
One of the most beautiful colonial villages in Colombia, Villa de Leyva is a city frozen in time. Declared a national monument in 1954. After breakfast, head to the home of a rural campesino (farming) family, where you’ll have a hands-on wool workshop alongside local craftsmen who will teach you the tricks of the wool trade. Enjoy a hearty home-cooked lunch at the farm.
Other Optional Experiences
- Cycling excursion with a stop in a Colombian winery
Day five: Visit the breathtaking Salt Cathedral & Coffee Region
Transfer back to Bogotá in the morning for your flight to Armenia. Before that visit the famous Salt Cathedral in Zipaquirá, built almost 180 meters underground in a salt mine that was first exploited during pre-Columbian times. After your visit to the Salt Cathedral, continue to Bogotá for your short flight (1 hr) to Armenia, in the Coffee Region.
Day six: Colombia’s Pride: the Wax Palms in Valle del Cocora
After breakfast, private transfer to Salento where we hop on an immaculate old Willy’s jeep and wind our way through super-scenic Valle del Cocora, a valley that is famous for its supply of the national tree, the wax palm. Continue then to Salento to see the coffee production where you could taste the product. After lunch visit, return to Armenia for a free afternoon, en route optional stop at an avocado plantation, enjoy the tasting of several varieties of this fruit.
Day seven: Taste the Best Coffe in the World
After breakfast, you will have the chance to get behind the scenes of coffee production, visit Finca Hacienda San Alberto to see the entire process from bean to cup and taste the final result. Transfer to Armenia airport for your afternoon flight to Cartagena. Free evening in Cartagena.
Day eight: Guided Visit of Cartagena
Upon arrival to Cartagena you will start a private guided visit of Cartagena, Colombia’s walled city. Visit the city’s plazas, galleries, churches and vaulted walkways where crafts and antiquities are sold. Visit the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and explore Cerro de la Popa, where you will find a church and colonial convent constructed in the 17th Century.
Day nine: Explore Cartagena
Free day to enjoy this beautiful city on your own.
What else you can do in Cartagena?- Visit the UNESCO San Basilio de Palenque, the first freed-slave city of the Americas
- Evening Street Food Experience
- Mangrove Guided Tour by the locals of La Boguilla
- Fishing Experiences with Locals
Day ten: Depart
Breakfast at your hotel and check out. Pick-up at the hotel to transfer to the Cartagena airport for your flight back home.
What more?
Your accommodations
To make your experience as local as possible we use small boutique hotels where you can find personalize service. All the hotels in our portfolio whether they are 3, 4 or 5 stars, would be well-located and rooms would have a private bathroom, non-smoking and air conditioning.
Your experience
It’s a given that during your trip, you will see the highlights and historically important sites but what really sets the experience apart is our local guides and local experiences. You discover the most spectacular places in Colombia as well as see how Colombians really live in a unique and personalized experience.
Why travel with us?
Customized and private trip
We’re full of ideas and we take time to design a trip for you that ticks all the boxes. We have the knowledge and contacts to ensure that your trip is a once in a lifetime. Our local Colombian guides bring the country to life through their personal stories and life experiences, They are all about showing you the real Colombia to discover things you won’t find out about any other way.
Responsible travel
We pride ourselves on delivering an enriching ‘local’ experience in Colombia– and therefore we feel it’s our responsibility to leave a positive impact as well as reduce negative impacts. We are committed to working in a socially and environmentally conscious way, and making a positive difference. Click here for more details about our responsible travel journey.
Great Reviews
Over the years we’ve been creating inspirational and immersive trips for our clients, and what better testament to this than to hear the great things they have to say about their experience, and our service. We have plenty of great reviews to share, be sure and click here to read some.
