Colombia must-see tour
in 15 days

Welcome at Bogota’s El Dorado international airport, at an altitude of 2,640 m. Transfer to your hotel in Bogota’s northern neighborhoods. Overnight in a Bogota hotel.

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. – The Gold Museum , one of the most dazzling museums 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, ….) – Plaza Bolivar with its imposing buildings (City Hall, Palace of Justice, Cathedral, National Congress…)Note 1: La Candelaria is best visited on foot (3 to 4 hours’ walk into town), with vehicle support for Montserrate.Overnight in a hotel in Bogotá.

Transfer to Bogota airport for your domestic flight to Bucaramanga. Pick-up at Bucaramanga airport, capital of Santander, and drive to Barichara along the Chicamocha Canyon. Arrive at the village of Barichara, perched on a cliff overlooking the Rio Suarez. End of the day free to wander through its peaceful streets. Overnight in a hotel in Barichara.

Hike between cacti and bucolic landscapes along the Camino Real. When you arrive in the village of the same name, you’ll have the chance to explore the colonial houses and visit a museum housing numerous fossils dating back 60 million years, as well as a mummified princess.

barichara and the Santander region, in addition to offering some of the best coffee in Colombia, are home to the country’s largest tobacco plantations. This afternoon, you’ll set off to discover tobacco, at the heart of a typical farm in the region, in the company of a person who is passionate about his region, his land and his profession. Walking tour of the plantations with a full explanation (from seed to harvested leaf). Then, the tobacco leaves are dried and processed, ready for export. A delicious meal prepared with quality local products will be served in a rural setting. Night in a hotel in Barichara.

Route to Villa de Leyva, a beautiful colonial town in the Boyaca department. On leaving Barichara, we stop at the pretty colonial village of El Socorro. We return to the road and pass through the village of Barbosa, renowned for its bocadillos (local fruit jellies), before arriving at Villa de Leyva. Afternoon hike through the heart of the Cebada River canyon, towards some stunning waterfalls. You’ll be surrounded by tropical vegetation, and can observe bromeliads, orchids, oak forests, guaque (a tree native to Colombia) and other Andean trees. This hike in the heart of nature will offer you beautiful views of the Iguaque massif, the Saquenpiza valley and the surrounding area of Villa de Leyva. Overnight in a hotel in Villa de Leyva.

Departure for Bogotá. On the way, you’ll stop off at a place of great authenticity: 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 otic 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 the shape of a heart in the 1960s by miner Miguel Sánchez. The stalactite and stalagmite bays also feature an ecological trail, an auditorium and a geology room. Transfer to Bogota airport and domestic flight to Pereira. Arrival in the « coffee triangle » (made up of three departments: Quindío, Risaralda and Caldas). It is here, on the high Andean plateaus of western Colombia, that almost 10% of the world’s coffee is grown, at altitudes ranging from 800 to 1,800 metres.Welcome and transfer to your hotel. Night in a hotel in Salento.

A day dedicated to discovering the villages and landscapes typical of the coffee region. On the program, a Willys tour through the verdant Cocora Valley and a hike among the wax palms (Colombia’s national tree). Then you’ll head off to discover the avocado plantations of the Cocora Valley. We’ll explain everything you ever wanted to know about avocados. You’ll also enjoy a tasting of their best selection. Lunch break at a magnificent traditional hacienda. In the afternoon, visit the village of Salento: panoramic tour, discovery of local architecture and typical bamboo constructions (guadua). Return to your hotel in the late afternoon. Horseback riding in the Cocora valley, overnight in a hotel in Salento.

Return transfer between the villages of Salento and Filandia. Free visit of the village of Filandia, another marvel on the coffee route. This small, colorful village has nothing to envy of its neighbor Salento and offers beautiful views over the region. Overnight at Hotel Gran Azul in a Standard room.

Transfer to Pereira 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, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight in a hotel in Cartagena’s historic center.

Spend the morning visiting Cartagena’s historic center and main sights, exploring on foot the Getsemani, San Diego and Santo Domingo districts, witnesses to the city’s past. Afternoon free to enjoy Cartagena’s many attractions. You can visit the historic city at your own pace and enjoy its unique atmosphere, discover the modern district of Bocagrande, store for handicrafts in Las Bovedas, take a day trip to relax in the Rosario Islands, admire the sunset from the city walls. Overnight in a hotel in Cartagena’s historic center.

A day in the heart of the Aviario Nacional de Colombia, on the road to Baru. This 7-hectare park is the largest and most complete in Latin America, and one of the largest in the world. Accompanied by a specialized guide, you’ll discover the richness and diversity of the 2,000 species of exotic birds. Overnight in a hotel in Cartagena’s historic center.

Departure for the Tayrona region, on the Caribbean coast. From the road, you can admire the Cienaga Grande, the country’s largest body of water, home to many species of birds. Transfer to your hotel in the Tayrona region. Afternoon free to enjoy the Tayrona region, between Sierra Nevada and the Caribbean Sea: walking in the tropical forest, lazing on the immense palm-fringed beaches… Overnight in a hotel in the Tayrona region.

Morning drive to Neguanje beach in Tayrona Park. Board small lanchas (motorboats), which will take you to a magnificent beach in the park. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy a spectacular coral reef (lobsters, parrot fish, moray eels, rays, etc.) and long stretches of sand for a relaxing day by the sea.

there’s plenty to do: snorkeling to admire the magnificent coral reef, walks to meet howler and capuchin monkeys or to discover small waterfalls and freshwater pools in the heart of the forest, or simply relaxing in the hammocks and deckchairs available on the terraces! At lunchtime, you’ll be served a gourmet picnic. Return to your hotel at the end of the day. Night in a hotel in the Tayrona region.

Departure for the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, where you will take a small boat up the Don Diego River to reach the Tayronaka reserve. The city of Tayronaka is another lost city of the Tayrona Indians. This mythical city was the setting for the film Mission (1986) starring Robert de Niro. Accompanied by a guide, you’ll retrace the history of this ancient civilization, then float down the Don Diego River to the sea. Return to the reserve by boat and lunch in the heart of the Sierra Nevada. Afternoon free to enjoy the Tayrona region, between the Sierra Nevada and the Caribbean Sea: walking in the rainforest, lazing on the immense palm-fringed beaches… Overnight in a hotel in the Tayrona region.

Free morning to enjoy the Tayrona region, between Sierra Nevada and the Caribbean Sea: walking in the rainforest, lazing on the immense palm-fringed beaches… Transfer to Santa Marta airport for your domestic flight. Domestic flight to Bogota. Arrival at Bogota’s El Dorado international airport and check-in for your international flight.