Peru and Colombia tour
: the coffee and cocoa route

Welcome on arrival of your international flight at Lima’s Jorge Chavez airport and transfer to your hotel. A French-speaking representative will be waiting for you at the airport to give you your travel documents. Overnight at Barranco’s Bed & Breakfast.

Take a stroll with an English-speaking guide through the bohemian district of Barranco to discover its charming architecture and colorful houses. With its mix of designer boutiques, street art and colonial mansions, Barranco is a melting pot of different worlds. Free afternoon in Lima. Suggestions: In Miraflores , you can head for the handicrafts market on Calle Petit Thouars or take a stroll along the Malecon to Parque de Amor, facing the Pacific Ocean… In Barranco , we recommend strolling the streets around Place des Armes, the Bridge of Sighs and along the Malecon, to discover the charming architecture and colourful houses of the capital’s bohemian quarter. Between designer boutiques, street art, street musicians and colonial mansions, you’ll find two worlds in fusion in Barranco! Overnight at Barranco’s Bed & Breakfast.

Transfer to Lima airport. Flight to Cusco. Welcome on arrival at Cusco airport and transfer to hotel. Departure for a half-day tour of the historic center: visit the Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), and the Cathedral, which boasts numerous paintings by the Cusquenian School and many treasures of gold, silver and precious stones. After a stroll through the typical streets of San Blas, we’ll reach the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman via the cobblestone streets of the bohemian San Blas district. Note: 45-minute walk up the hill, back to the hotel. Entrance to Cusco Cathedral and Qorikancha Temple of the Sun included. Overnight at Hotel El Retablo.

At 8:00 a.m., departure by private vehicle for the Sacred Valley of the Incas. First stop, Pisac, one of the major sites of Inca culture, with different quarters (administrative, religious, military) dotted around the mountain. You’ll see the large terraces used for farming and protecting against erosion. Afterwards, take a stroll through the colorful handicraft market, one of the largest in the Sacred Valley, and head for Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo is also known as « the last living Inca village », as its inhabitants maintain their ancient customs and traditions. Afterwards, visit the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo and its cyclopean stones, the site of fierce battles between the Incas and the Spaniards. If time permits, after the visit you can stroll through the city’s cobbled streets. Overnight at Hotel Pakaritampu

Depart from Cusco by public transport for 2 days to discover all the secrets of coffee and cocoa production in the organic farming communities of the Quillabamba valley. Stop off in the village of Huayopata (approx. 5h drive). Settle into Julia’s house in the late morning, make contact and have lunch with the family.

In the early afternoon, take a stroll through the plantations to discover all the local fruits, harvest the coffee and learn about the principles of coffee growing. Return to Julia’s « casa », where she will teach you the various stages of coffee-making: pulping, roasting and grinding the beans will no longer hold any secrets for you! All that’s left for you to do is enjoy your coffee. Free time and dinner with the family. Overnight at Julia’s. Note: basic comfort with the locals. In the morning, discover the cocoa plantations to learn about the different stages and challenges involved in growing cocoa: from flowering to harvesting. As with coffee, you’ll pulp, roast and grind the beans before tasting your own cocoa paste with fruit from the plantation and hot chocolate.

Overnight at Hotel Tierra Viva Machu Picchu. Departure for the village of Santa Teresa. Bathing in the thermal waters, then on to the hydroelectric power station, from where you board a train for the village of Machu Picchu (possibility of getting there on foot: 2h30 walk). Check-in at your hotel. Depart Camp Skukuza and drive to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. Estimated journey time: 2h30.

Take the shuttle up to the citadel of Machu Picchu, departing every 5 minutes for both the ascent and descent. Note: 1st shuttle to the site: 05:30 / Travel time: 30 minutes Last shuttle to the site: 15:30 / Last shuttle to Aguas Calientes: 16:45 Arrival at Machu Picchu, wonder of the world. Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca city dating from the 15th century in Peru. Abandoned during the collapse of the Inca empire, the sacred city of the Incas, forgotten for centuries, is considered a masterpiece of Inca architecture. Unveiled by American archaeologist Hiram Bingham in 1911, the site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. On July 7, 2007, Machu Picchu was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World by the NewOpenWorld Foundation, an unofficial, commercial organization. Finally, the site is part of a cultural and natural ensemble known as the « Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu ». Note: 1st access to the site at 6 a.m., last access at 2 p.m. Entrance to Machu Picchu is regulated by a 3-hour window of permanence on the site. We’ll let you know the recommended entry time for your program. After this confirmation, the time of entry to the site cannot be changed. Private tour with English-speaking guide. You board a train for Ollantaytambo. Your guide will accompany you on the train. Afternoon train. Note: The train company allows passengers to carry a maximum of 8 kilos of cabin luggage per person. You should leave your hold luggage in the luggage locker at your hotel in the Sacred Valley or in Cusco. Welcome at Ollantaytambo station and transfer to hotel in Cusco. Overnight at Hotel El Retablo.

Free morning in Cusco, the navel of the Inca Empire. Suggestions: You can visit the San Pedro market to discover the many varieties of exotic fruit that you’ll only find in Peru, Cusqueño breads, local cheeses, as well as florists and Cusqueño artisans of all kinds! Free time in Cusco is generally appreciated for its opportunities to stroll along the city’s many narrow cobbled streets. You can also take advantage of this time to do some last-minute souvenir shopping: between clothes, jewelry and home decor, there’s no shortage of choice in Cusco! Visit Cusco’s Chocolate Museum to discover the secrets of cocoa cultivation and make your own chocolate bar from Peruvian cocoa beans. You’ll learn all about chocolate making, from the cocoa tree to the finished product you’ll take home. An activity that will delight the youngest and delight the sweetest! Overnight at Hotel El Retablo.

Transfer from your hotel to Cusco airport. Your English-speaking representative will accompany you to the airport.

Arrive at Bogotá’s El Dorado international airport, at an altitude of 2,640 m. Transfer to your hotel in the Candelaria district and spend the rest of the day at your leisure, enjoying the Colombian capital’s mix of modern neighborhoods and historic centers, urban architecture and lush parks. International flight to Bogota, Colombia. Overnight at the Hotel Abadia Colonial in a Classic 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 Candelaria district, Bogotá’s historic and cultural center, which has preserved its authentic colonial atmosphere; along the cobbled streets, you’ll discover colourful facades, beautifully carved wooden balconies and Baroque churches.

– Just before visiting the Gold Museum, you can take time out to sample the scents of Colombian coffee with a « Coffee Flight », a tasting of three coffees from one of the country’s most prestigious fincas – 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 Montserrate.

Note 2: the order and content of activities are indicative, depending on the day of the week (Gold Museum closed on Mondays; Botero Foundation closed on Tuesdays). Note 3: the Montserrate is very popular on Sundays, and there are usually many visitors on that day. Overnight at the Hotel Abadia Colonial in a Classic room.

Depart by bike for the Paloquemao market, where you can sample exotic flavours and shop for Bogotanos’ favourite dish, before discovering Bogotá’s newest phenomenon: graffiti. In recent years, the city’s walls have been transformed into canvases, giving graffiti artists a boundless playground. On this tour, you’ll discover some of the finest works ever produced, some of them gigantic, but always with a very strong message. Some artists are even paid by the city for their work and sign their pseudonyms: Toxicomano, DJ LU or Lesivo for the best-known. Note: the order and content of the activities are given as a guide, depending on the day of the week. Transfer to Bogota airport for your domestic flight. Domestic flight to Cartagena de Indias. Welcome to Cartagena de Indias, on the Caribbean coast. Transfer to your hotel in the historic center and end of the day free to discover the unrivalled charm of this superb colonial city, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Overnight at the Hotel La Passion in a Premium room.

Accompanied by a specialist guide, you’ll spend half a day wandering the narrow streets of beautiful Cartagena de Indias in search of clues to « Gabo’s » past: the writer’s childhood home, now converted into a museum, the university where he was a professor, the headquarters of the newspaper he founded for a time, and his architecturally beautiful second home. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy Cartagena’s many attractions. Night at the Hotel La Passion in a Premium room.

Transfer from your hotel to Cartagena harbor. You will be taken by boat to the San Bernardo archipelago. Welcome cocktail and accommodation in the bungalows on Isla Mucura. Relaxation, swimming… Note 1: on arrival at the port of Cartagena, you will have to pay the port tax (16,500 COP/pers. to date) Note 2: approx. 2 hours’ sailing. Overnight at the Punta Faro hotel in a Standard Deluxe room.

A day in the heart of the San Bernardo archipelago. In this paradise-like setting, bordered by stretches of white sand, everything invites you to relax: swimming in the warm, clear Caribbean waters, water sports, nature walks along the hotel’s trails, lazing around and relaxing, panoramic tours of the surrounding islands, scuba diving… Overnight at the Punta Faro hotel in a Standard Deluxe room.

Transfer from the port of Cartagena de Indias to your hotel. In the late morning, return to Cartagena de Indias by boat. End of the day free to enjoy Cartagena’s many attractions (historical sites, strolls through typical streets, crafts, restaurants, swimming…). Note: approx. 2 hours’ sailing. Afternoon free to enjoy Cartagena’s many attractions. Overnight at the Hotel La Passion in a Premium room.

Transfer to Cartagena airport for your domestic flight. Domestic flight to Bogota.