Colombia holiday 27 days tailor made

Individual tailor made tours with public transport or private transfers, and/or with standard modules integrated. Group roundtravels with a tourguide tailor made. Sample itinery of 27 days.

Day 1: Arrival at Bogota,

welcome and transfer to hotel in Colonial area La Candelaria, hotel Abadia Colonial

Day 2: City tour Bogota.

In the morning guided walk through the colonial area La Candelaria. Main monuments and squares, visit the Gold & Botero Museum, visit Cerro Monserrate , overnight Bogota. Alternative: city tour on bike.

Day 3: To Laguna de Guatavita

for an ecological guided walk to the holy lake of the Muisca Indians, ecosystems of semi-paramo (2800-3100m) and paramo (+3100m). Continuation to the colonial town of Villa de Leyva, overnight in or near the colonial center, hospedería San Carlos.

Day 4: Free day in Villa de Leyva to explore the colonial town & the surroundings.

Optional excursions are: horseback riding, visit to the desert of ‘la Candelaria’, cultural and archeological tour with museums, hike to Parama Iguaque, ecological walks in the surroundings and/or to waterfalls, city tour.

Day 5: From Villa de Leyva to Barichara,

free midday to explore the beautiful colonial town of Barichara on your own. Night in hotel in colonial center, La Nube Posada.

Day 6: In the morning a guided walk of 3 hrs over the ‘Camino Real’ from Barichara to Guane.

In Guane free time before returning to Barichara.

Day 7: From Barichara to Caño de Chicamocha.

Cable car from one side to the other side of the Chicamocha Cañon to ‘Mesa de los Santos’. Continuation to Giron where we will stay in the colonial town, Chill Out Hotel Boutique.

Day 8: From airport Bucaramanga flight to Neiva.

Transfer to the village of Villavieja, hotel Villa Paraiso.

Day 9: Guided walk in the Tatacoa Dessert in early morning ,

visiting the sand formations and swim at natural pool. In the afternoon we continue to San Agustin where we stay in a nice hacienda just outside the town, hacienda Anacaona

Day 10: In the morning visit to the archeological park of San Agustin

in company of a local guide. The tour is about 4 hours and we visit the sites Mesa A, B, C and ‘Lavapatos’. We also go to the nearby archeological museum and the ‘Bosque de Estatuas’. Rest of the day free to wander around in the town of San Agustin or to see more of the beautiful surrounding. Second night in San Agustin. Optional midday: 3 to 5 hours horse ride in the surroundings of San Agustin after the visit to the archeological park to see surroundings and some more archeological sites, rafting on the Magdalena River, or a jeep tour in the surroundings.

Day 11: To Popayan via the paramo and with some views at the Puracé Volcanoe.

After arrival in Popayan free afternoon and evening to explore the ‘White Colonial Town’ of Popayan on your own. Night in Popayan close to the main square, hotel la Plazuela.

Day 12: Free day at Popayan to explore more of the colonial town or the surroundings.

Optional: tour to the Paramo de Puracé, the hotsprings of San Juan and spot the largest bird of South America, the Condor.

Day 13: To Salento, with a possible visit to Silvia and the Indian market depending on the day, hostal Ciudad de Segorbe.

Day 14: Tour in Willys to Valle de Cocora, ecological walk with a local guide through the valley. This valley is known for its palm trees ‘Palma de Cera’ which can reach heights of 70m. On our way back we will visit a local coffee farmer to learn a little bit about the local coffee process. Optional horseback ride instead of hike in Valle de Cocora.

Day 15: From Salento to hacienda Venecia. This is a large operating coffee farm where we will stay in the traditional and very beautiful coffee hacienda with stunning views over the coffee fields. In the afternoon we get an explanation about the coffee process. Difference with the former coffee tour is that this farm produces not only for self sustaining, but for consumption in Colombia and export as well, you stay in the traditional coffee finca Venecia (not in the hostel).

Day 16: From airport Pereira flight to Nuqui via the town of Quibdo in the department of Choco. After arrival at Nuqui short boat ride over the sea to the accommodation at the beach of the village Termales, Posada Mar y Rio (can also be upgraded).

Day 17, 18 and 19: Stay at Posada Turistica Mar y Rio. Inclusive are 3 meals a day, ecological walk to hotsprings and a little waterfall. During the months of June (end) till October (beginning) you can see the whales passing by. Boat trips to see the amazing whales closer can be included. Other activities are fishing, boat trips, hikes and ecological walks in the Pacific rainforest.

Day 20: Boat back to Nuqui and flight to Medellin, boutique hotel in the modern area called ‘El Poblado’. In the afternoon a short city tour with visit to the center of Medellin, Botero, a ride in the metro and metro cable to the neighborhood of Santa Domingo, optional visit to street children project.

Day 21: From airport Medellin direct flight to Santa Marta, from here to NP Tayrona. From the entrance of the NP Tayrona walk for 45 minutes through the jungle to the sector of Arrecifes where we will stay in cabins in the park and close to the beach of Arrecifes. As an option we can also stay in the very luxury ecohabs close to the entrance of the Tayrona Park. These ecohabs are located on the jungle hills of the Tayrona Park overlooking the sea, Cabañas Arrecifes, or upgrade to Ecohabs.

Day 22 and 23: Free days in the Tayrona Park to relax, to enjoy the many beaches or to make some hikes in the park. There is a hike of 4 to 5 hours (return) from Arrecifes to the Archeological site of ‘el Pueblito’. These terraces are from to former Indian culture of the Tayronas. Optional hike can be arranged with the reception of the cabins, with the local guides in the park or be done on your own.

Day 24: Walk back to the entrance of the Tayrona Park and to Cartagena. In Cartagena we will stay in the colonial town of the walled city in the area called ‘San Diego’. Late afternoon and evening free to explore the colonial town, hotel 3 Banderas. On the way to Cartagena a stop can be made in case of private transfer at the mud volcano Totumo for a very special mudbath and swim in the river.

Day 25: City tour Cartagena de Indias in the morning, guided walk through the colonial town visiting the neighbourhoods of San Diego, Calamari and Gestemani, walk over the old city wall. Rest of the day free to explore more of the city and her surroundings by yourself. Optional extension in afternoon visiting the ‘Castillo San Felipe de Barajas’ (fortress) and the convent of ‘Cerro de la Popa'.

Day 26: Free day in Cartagena. The hotel of 3 Banderas also has accommodation on the island of ‘Tierra Bomba’ on the beach in front of the modern area of ‘Bocagrande’. In coordination with the reception you can switch one night in the colonial town for one night in the beach hotel. Optional: a tour on this free day to Islas del Rosario, Playa Blanca, Volcan de Totumo, visiting a social children project with mangrove tour at Boquilla, tour to African village of Palenque, etc.

Day 27: To airport of Cartagena and international flight back home. Holiday extensions can be made eg to Mompox, for colonial culture, history and silver handicrafts, to Monteria for staying at a traditional cattle farm, to La Guajira (in combination with Tayrona Park) for desert, Caribbean beaches and Wayuu indigenous culture.