Haciendas and charming hotels of Colombia

Welcome at Bogotá’s El Dorado international airport, at an altitude of 2,640 m. Transfer to your hotel in Bogotá’s northern districts. Overnight at the Four Seasons Casa Medina hotel in a Premier room.

A day devoted to sightseeing in Bogotá, including: – Cerro de Monserrate , for a breathtaking view of the capital and surrounding area. Perched at an altitude of 3,152 metres, the Sanctuary (accessible by cable car or funicular) is a place of pilgrimage, particularly popular on religious feast days.

– The Paloquemao market, where you can sample exotic flavours and shop for Bogotanos’ favourite dish – The Candelaria district, Bogotá’s historic and cultural center, with its authentic colonial atmosphere, cobbled streets, colourful facades, beautifully carved wooden balconies and Baroque churches – The Gold Museum, one of the most dazzling on the continent. Nearly 34,000 pieces of gold are on display, making it the world’s largest collection of pre-Hispanic gold and silverware from the Quimbaya, Taironas, Muiscas and Tolimas civilizations.

– The Botero Foundation, dedicated to the Colombian artist Fernando Botero, where his own works (some 100 drawings, paintings and sculptures) are on display, along with his private collection of no fewer than 85 masterpieces by internationally renowned artists (Renoir, Dali, Chagall, Picasso, Miro, etc.).) – Plaza Bolivar, with its imposing buildings (Town Hall, Palace of Justice, Cathedral, National Congress, etc.) Note 1: La Candelaria is best visited on foot (3 to 4 hours’ walk into town), with vehicle support for visits to Montserrate and Paloquemao.

Note 2: the order and content of activities are given as a guide depending on the day of the week (Gold Museum closed on Mondays; Botero Foundation closed on Tuesdays). Note 3: Montserrate is very popular on Sundays, and there are usually many visitors on that day. Overnight at the Four Seasons Casa Medina hotel in a Premier room.

Departure for the Boyaca department. On the way, you’ll stop off at the Nemocón salt mines, thirty minutes from Zipaquira. Here, 80 metres underground, you’ll pass through 1,600 metres of tunnels through which eight million tonnes of salt were extracted between 1816 and 1968. Numerous optical effects caused by the dissolved rock salt reveal 28 mirrors. Impressive attractions include the chapel chamber, where an immense field of 1,300 kilos of stone symbolizes the world, or the 1,600-kilogram salt crystal, cut into a heart shape in the 1960s by miner Miguel Sánchez. The stalactites and stalagmites also include an ecological trail, an auditorium and a geology room, before arriving in the friendly village of Raquira (30 km from Villa de Leyva), famous for its ceramics workshops. The « town of pots » (in the Muisca language), with its brightly-colored facades, is particularly lively on Sundays, during the weekly market. Nearby, visit the Covento del Desierto de la Candelaria, an Augustinian monastery built in 1661. Transfer to the hotel and end of the day free to enjoy the colonial ambience of Villa de Leyva. Note: 5 to 6 hours’ drive in total. Overnight at Hotel Casa Terra in Standard room.

Walking tour of Villa de Leyva’s historic and cultural center, taking in the narrow cobbled streets of: – the homes of the heroes of Colombia’s independence (Casa Antonio Nariño and Casa Antonio Ricaurte) – El Carmen church, home to a small (but remarkable) museum of religious art, with fine pieces of goldsmith’s and silversmith’s work from the colonial era. – Plaza Mayor, one of America’s largest cobbled squares.

– The Plaza Mayor, with a surface area of 14,000m2, is one of the largest paved squares in America. Note 1: approx. 2-hour walk. Note 2: this list is not exhaustive, as some sites may be closed on the day of the visit. Departure for the Santander department, with its impressive landscapes and powerful rivers. Leaving Villa de Leyva, after a 1h40-minute drive, we pass the village of Barbosa, renowned for its bocadillo (local fruit jelly) production. Just before arriving in Barichara, we stop at the pretty colonial village of El Socorro. Check-in at the hotel in Barichara, considered one of Colombia’s prettiest towns. Note: 4 to 5 hours’ drive Overnight at Hotel Achiotte in Standard Superior room.

You’ll start your day with a visit to Barichara, considered one of Colombia’s prettiest towns. Along the cobbled streets, you’ll discover the colonial architecture, now declared a National Heritage Site. Visit the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Santa Barbara chapel and the Santa Lucia church. Your guide will take you to a small address in the city for lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to discover the artistic side of the city by meeting local craftsmen. The town is indeed a mecca for art and well-being, with the presence of numerous artists, its own theater festival, art galleries and weaving workshops. These workshops have made the town famous, as the locals have preserved the art of weaving « fique », a local cactus. Night at Hotel Achiotte in Standard Superior room.

Hike between cacti and bucolic landscapes along the Camino Real. Upon arrival in the village of the same name, you’ll have the opportunity to discover the colonial houses and visit a museum housing many 60-million-year-old fossils, as well as a mummified princess. Note 1: approx. 3-hour walk Note 2: 30-minute round trip Note 3: the Guane museum is closed every Wednesday Departure for Mesa de los Santos . On the way, enjoy the impressive scenery of the Chicamocha Canyon. At 2 km deep and 22.7 km long, Chicamocha is deeper than Arizona’s Grand Canyon, and is a true natural wonder. Settle into a Hacienda renowned for its high-quality organic coffee. Overnight at the Hacienda El Roble in a standard room.

Free time then transfer to Bucaramanga. Domestic flight to Bogota . Domestic flight to Armenia. Arrival in the « coffee triangle » (made up of three departments: Quindío, Risaralda and Caldas). Here, in the Andean highlands of western Colombia, almost 10% of the world’s coffee is grown at altitudes ranging from 800 to 1,800 m. Welcome and transfer to the Hacienda Bambusa. Overnight at Hacienda Bambusa in Superior room.

A day dedicated to discovering the villages and landscapes typical of the coffee-growing region. The program includes a ride in a Willys through the verdant Cocora Valley, followed by a hike among the wax palms (Colombia’s national tree) and hummingbird watching. After a lunch break, visit a Colombian coffee plantation, where coffee production can be as complex and sophisticated as wine. On site, you’ll have the opportunity to walk among the coffee trees, be introduced to the harvesting and roasting processes, before tasting the beverage produced on site. The day ends with a visit to the village of Salento: panoramic tour, discovery of local architecture and typical bamboo constructions (guadua). Overnight at the Hacienda Bambusa hotel in a Superior room.

Take a horseback ride through a private nature reserve. You will admire the impressive landscapes as well as the pineapple and banana plantations during the ride. Note : 2h30 Note : the minimum age for this activity is 12 years old. You must also have valid private travel insurance. Transfer to Armenia airport for your domestic flight. Domestic flight to Bogota. Domestic flight to Santa Marta . Overnight at the Ecohabs hotel in Tayrona Park in a bungalow room.

Enjoy a full day in the beautiful Tayrona Park, between the jungle and the Caribbean Sea, alternating between walking through the rainforest, swimming in the crystal-clear waters of La Piscina or near Cabo San Juan, and lazing on the pristine beaches of Arrecifes… Note 1: your passport will be required at the park entrance Note 2: approximately 4 to 5 hours’ walking per day (moderate level). Beware, it’s very hot in the park. Note 3 : bring walking shoes, comfortable clothes, swimsuit and backpack (you’ll carry your picnic and water) Note 4 : due to strong currents, swimming on the beaches of Tayrona Park and the surrounding coastline is strongly discouraged. Note 5 : it’s compulsory to have an official park guide in Tayrona National Park. If you have requested a bilingual guide, you will be accompanied by a local park guide and a translator. Overnight at the Ecohabs hotel in Tayrona Park, in a bungalow room.

Departure for Cartagena de Indias , on the Caribbean coast. Transfer to the hotel and end of the day free to discover the unrivalled charm of this superb colonial city, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Note: 4 to 5 hours drive Afternoon dedicated to your well-being in one of the city’s most renowned spas. Relax and indulge in Caribbean rituals. Overnight at Hotel Casa Pestagua in a Superior room.

Half-day tour of Cartagena’s historic center and main sights. On foot, you’ll explore the Getsemani, San Diego and Santo Domingo districts, witness to the city’s past. At the end of the day, you’ll have the opportunity to ride around the city in a horse-drawn carriage, for a romantic tour of the historic center… Overnight at Hotel Casa Pestagua in a Superior room.

Transfer from your hotel to the port of Cartagena. Departure for Baru Island. The transfer lasts between 1H00 and 2H30 and is by boat or private transport, depending on the hotel chosen. Settle into your room. Relax, swim… Note: if the transfer is by boat, on arrival at the port of Cartagena, you will have to pay the port tax (21,000 COP to date). Night at the Las Islas hotel on the Baru peninsula in a Grand Bungalow room with Jacuzzi.

A day in the heart of Baru Island, a heavenly setting bordered by stretches of white sand, where everything invites you to relax: swimming in warm, clear Caribbean waters, water sports, nature walks along the hotel’s trails, lazing around and relaxing, scuba diving… Overnight at Las Islas hotel on the Baru peninsula, in a Grand Bungalow room with Jacuzzi.