Colombia highlights 17 days
Day-by-day experiences
Day 1: Arrival at Bogota airport and transport to Hotel Abadia Colonial for the night.
Day 2: City tour Bogota visiting la Candelaria, the most important monuments and squares, Gold Museum, Botero Museum and Monserrate by cable car. Second night in Hotel Abadia Colonial.
Day 3: Private transport in the morning from Bogota to Fusagasuga. Here we visit the oldest Coffee Hacienda of Colombia, Hacienda Coloma. Short walk through coffee plantations and explanation about coffee process. Continue in transport to Neiva where we stay in the Hacienda Hospedería Matamundo.
Day 4: Transport to Villavieja and the Tatacoa dessert. Together with local guide we make an ecological walk in the (semi)dessert to observe the different sand formations and typical flora and fauna of this region. In the early afternoon continue in private transport to San Agustin where we will stay in the Hacienda Anacaona just out side the village.
Day 5: Tour in the morning to the archeological park of San Agustin. We visit Mesa A, B and C, Lavapatos and the nearby archeological museum and ‘Bosque de Estatuas’. Rest of the afternoon free. We can organize optional activities such as jeep tour in surroundings, rafting on Magdalena River, visiting watrefalls, Sucan Cane farm, local coffee farm. Horse ride, ect. Second night in Hacienda Anacaona.
Day 6: Private transport from San Agustin via the Paramo de Puracé to Popayan. Arrival in the afternoon in Popayan and short city walk with local guide to get to know this beautiful colonial city. We spend the night in Hotel la Plazuela at one block from the center square.
Day 7: Early morning transport to the mountain village of Silvia. Here we visit the Local Indian Market which only can be visited on Tuesdays. In the afternoon continue to Cali where we stay in the Hotel Boutique San Antonio. In the night we organize a salsa show. This show is by little children who receive lessons in a social project. Most of these children come from very poor neighborhoods and the money paid for these shows is invested in the project of these children.
Day 8: Transport from Cali to the Coffee region where we will stay in the Hacienda San José just outside the town of Pereira. This is one of the most beautiful Haciendas of this area, former a coffee hacienda, now turned into a luxury hotel. Rest of the afternoon free to enjoy the Hacienda, it’s surroundings and/or pool.
Day 9: Tour to the typical village of Salento and Valle de Cocora. We go to Salento in private transport from where we continue in Willys (typical jeeps from this region) to the Cocora Valley. Ecological walk to observe the Palma de Cera (highest palm trees in the world) and the flora and fauna of this region. In the afternoon back to Salento, some free time in the village and at the end of the day back to Hacienda San José for the night.
Day 10: Transport to Medellin. A long but beautiful drive. On the way we will stop and have lunch at a viewpoint over the Cauca River. In Medellin we will stay in the neighborhood of ‘El Poblado’ in the Hotel Poblado Boutique.
Day 11: In the morning we will visit a social project for poor children in Medellin. This project helps children from the street by giving them football and other sport activities. Also activities with music and theater. After the visit we continue for a city tour Medellin visiting the city center, the Botero Museum and a trip in metro and metro cable to the neighborhood of ‘Santo Domingo’ for stunning views over Medellin. In the evening/night we go to a Tango Bar for some nightlife and Tango shows of local people. Second night in Hotel Poblado Boutique.
Day 12: Transfer to the airport of Medellin and welcome at the airport Santa Marta. Transport to Palomino beach area. Here we will stay in nice comfortable cabins and rooms at the beach in an ecohotel.
Day 13: Early morning transport to NP Tayrona and hike from the beach Cañaveral to beach Arrecifes. Here we will stay the rest of the day enjoying the beach. For the trekking lovers we can continue to other beaches such as ‘la Piscina’ and/or ‘Cabo de San Juan’, or for those who like to do the 4 to 5 hour hike to Pueblito to visit the archeological site of the Tayrona culture. At the end of the day back to the eco beachhotel for the night.
Day 14: Transfer to Cartagena. On the way we will stop at the local fisherman village of ‘la Boquilla’ where we visit a social project for poor children of Cartagena. This project is a school for the poorest children of Cartagena and the fisherman villages around the city. In the afternoon continue to Cartagena where we stay in the hotel Casa India Catalina for the night.
Day 15: City tour Cartagena of half a day. We make a walk through the colonial center visiting the neighborhoods of Calamarí, San Diego and Getsemaní. In the afternoon time free to explore the city on your own. Second night Hotel Casa India Catalina.
Day 16: Free day Cartagena. We can organize optional activities such as boat trips to the Islas del Rosario for snorkeling and/or diving excursions, Playa Blanca or a trip to the mud Volcano of Totumo. Third night in Cartagena.
Day 17: Transfer to the airport of Cartagena and international flight back home.
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