COLOMBIA AND ITS DIFFERENT CULTURES

Bogotá, Villa de Leyva, Región Cafetera, Tayrona, Medellín and Cartagena.

Embark on an unforgettable journey and discover the essence of Colombia, a country full of contrasts, history, and unique landscapes. This tour package takes you to some of the most iconic destinations: Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, the Coffee Region, Tayrona, and Villa de Leyva, offering a perfect blend of culture, nature, and modernity.

In Bogotá, the capital, you’ll enjoy a bike tour through its squares, parks, and historical landmarks, and visit the Gold Museum, a true pre-Columbian treasure. Next, you’ll head to Villa de Leyva, one of the best-preserved colonial towns in South America, with a stop at the magnificent Salt Cathedral in Zipaquirá.

The Coffee Region awaits with its lush green landscapes and the iconic wax palms of the Cocora Valley. You’ll also visit a traditional coffee farm to learn about the process from seed to cup. In Medellín, experience its urban transformation, from the Metrocable to the vibrant Comuna 13, full of art and culture.

On Colombia’s Caribbean coast, you’ll be amazed by the natural beauty of Tayrona National Park, with its dreamy beaches surrounded by tropical rainforest. The journey concludes in Cartagena, a colonial gem and UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you’ll explore the walled city, San Felipe Castle, and La Popa Monastery.

Be captivated by Colombia, a country where history, culture, and nature intertwine to offer you a unique and unforgettable experience 

!Three cities, one country: Colombia, where history, culture 

and nature intertwine to offer an unforgettable tourist experience.

 Reception at El Dorado International Airport (IATA: BOG) and transfer to the selected hotel. - English speaking guide included

DAY 2. PRIVATE BIKE TOUR OF BOGOTÁ - ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE INCLUDED

Our guides take us on a bike tour of Bogotá and show us not only the squares, beautiful parks and historical monuments of Colombia's capital, on this bike tour we also see the "real Bogotá" and learn more about the politics, culture, art, graffiti art and the turbulent history of this beautiful country. 

The tour is very flexible and always turns out slightly different depending on the special knowledge of the tour guide.

Note: This tour operates from hotels in La Candelaria.

We'll marvel at Colombia's rich history and culture at the famous Gold Museum, where we can travel even further back in time and admire over 30,000 pre-Columbian gold pieces (closed on Mondays). Entrance fee included. 

In The afternoon, PLAYING TEJO, COLOMBIA'S NATIONAL SPORT

we will get our hands dirty and play some serious Colombian pub games. 

"Tejo" requires some skill and concentration - and some say a few beers. It is a popular pastime throughout Colombia and was originally a sport invented by the Chibcha people. Metal discs, "tejos", are thrown at the targets, which are small gunpowders wrapped in paper, called "mechas". These are embedded in sand. The aim is to hit these mechas with the tejo so that they set off a small explosion. If they do, you get points! 

A private van picks us up from our hotel. We then spend a fun afternoon in one of Bogotá's rustics and utterly unadorned Tejo eateries - authentic to the core. 

We can look forward to beer, noise, music, cheering and laughter. 

Included: 2 national beers per person (which is also the entrance fee to the tejo game)

Duration: approx. 2-3 hours

 DAY 3. BOGOTÁ – VILLA DE LEYVA. 

After breakfast we leave Bogotá via the northern highway.

On the way, we visit a true masterpiece: the unique Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá (entrance fee is included). This impressive piece of ecclesiastical architecture was excavated 120 metres underground in a salt mine in the 1950s. 

Then, we will stop in Ráquira, a cheerful and colourful village known for its pottery and ceramics. 

Our journey continues to Villa de Leyva. As soon as we enter, we realise why Villa de Leyva is considered one of the most beautiful colonial cities in South America. 

We check into our hotel before setting off for a walk around the square, through the cobbled streets and to cafés and handicraft shops. 

Villa de Leyva, nestled in the heart of Colombia, is a captivating colonial village that exudes charm. Founded in the 16th century, the city once served as Colombia's hub for grain storage and trade, and although it experienced a prolonged period of dormancy following the decline of this economic activity, it has remarkably preserved its historic village center. As a result, Villa de Leyva boasts one of the country's best preserved historic districts. The city's main square stands as one of the largest in South America and is encircled by striking colonial buildings and churches. Meandering through the narrow streets, visitors can admire the architectural splendor of the historical structures or simply unwind in one of the many cozy cafes. The village is a favored destination for hikers, as it offers access to the nearby Iguaque National Park. Within the park, hiking enthusiasts can embark on scenic trails leading to the sacred Iguaque Lagoon, situated at an elevation of 3,600 meters and revered by the indigenous Muisca people of the past

DAY 4. VILLA DE LEYVA – BOGOTÁ – COFFEE REGION.  

We go back in time even further and visit the paleontological museum, where we can admire dinosaur fossils over 150 million years old and learn more about the Jurassic past of the region. 

We start the return journey to the airport in Bogotá for our flight (included) to Coffee Region. 

DAY 5.  COFFEE REGION. DAY   TRIP TO COCORA VALLEY, SALENTO AND FINCA EL OCASO. 

​Wax palms lining   the lush slopes in great numbers tower high into the mystical cloud forest:   the Cocora Valley is considered one of the most beautiful valleys in   Colombia, and it's not hard to see why. 

The valley in Colombia's coffee zone is not only   home to the country's national tree, but also offers a breathtaking backdrop   for hiking and horseback riding. The Quindian wax palm grows up to 60 metres   high, making it one of the tallest palm species in the world - a fascinating   sight not to be missed. We can walk under the wax palms, immerse ourselves in   the cloud forest and spot numerous species of birds - horse riding is   optional (not included in the price). 

The return journey to our hotel takes us through a   scenic backdrop of hills and picturesque haciendas. 

A stop in the traditional and colourful town of   Salento, one of the most beautiful coffee villages, completes our day trip.   We can stroll through the streets and across the main square, looking for   delicious coffee, lovingly made handicrafts and fine food. 

Just outside Salento, nestled in fertile hillsides,   we reach Finca El Ocaso, a traditional coffee finca and popular visitor   destination. Here we learn all about the process of coffee production from   seed to cup.

DAY 6. COFFEE REGION – MEDELLÍN.

At the agreed time private transfer Salento - Medellín (250 km/ 7 h approx.) - English speaking guide included

DAY 7.  HALF DAY CITY TOUR MEDELLÍN - HISTORY OF TRANSFORMATION.

Around the turn of the millennium, Medellín was one of the world's most dangerous cities. 

In the early nineties, the hunt for Pablo Escobar, the head of the Medellín Cartel, reached its peak. When he was shot on a rooftop by Colombian military special forces, the reign of "El Patrón" suddenly came to an end. The battles continued with Escobar's successors until the millennium, and from 2002, Medellín gradually began to change for the better. Smart local politicians successfully began investing massively in infrastructure and public education. 

Today, the "City of Eternal Spring" is regarded as one of the world's most innovative metropolises, boasting large public libraries and a well-functioning metro system. We embark on a fascinating tour of Medellín's past and present, learning about the transformation from a city once doomed to one revered by urban developers. Using public transportation, including the Metro and cable car, we head to the famous and infamous neighborhood of "Comuna 13." On the electric escalators of Comuna 13, another intriguing infrastructure project in Medellín, we delve deeper into the neighborhood and get to know the daily life of the people in Medellín. 

Afterwards, we explore Berrio Park and Botero Plaza in downtown Medellín, adorned with numerous bronze sculptures by the famous painter and sculptor Fernando Botero.

DAY 8.  At the agreed time, reception at the hotel and transfer to Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (IATA: MDE) to take a flight to Santa Marta (included).

Reception at Simon Bolivar International Airport (IATA: SMR) and transfer to Tayrona park. (48km/1h)

it is suggested to take a tour Day Trip Tayrona Park - Arrecife/Cañaveral/Cabo San Juan, Rate of 232 USD per person, minimum two passengers

We leave our hotel in the morning and drive east along the Caribbean coast to El Zaino, the main entrance of the Tayrona National Park. 

After a short walk, we reach Cañaveral beach, one of the most beautiful places in the park. From the top of a small hill we can enjoy the spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean. 

The tour continues with a one-hour hike through the tropical forest to Arrecife, another stunning beach of the Tayrona National Park. There is plenty of time to have lunch at a restaurant (not included). 

We continue our trek for another hour, passing beaches such as Arenillas beach, La Piscina and Cabo San Juan beach - perhaps the most spectacular site in the park - where we have time for a well-deserved swim and to relax on the palm-fringed beach.

Duration: approximately 9 hours, including hike of around 3-4 hrs.

Attention: The walk inside Tayrona National Park can be lengthy and exhausting, with an easy to intermediate level of difficulty, depending on physical fitness. The trail ascends and descends partly over stairs and wooden planks and takes you through tropical forest with very high temperatures and humidity. Make sure to bring appropriate footwear (sports hoes), sun block and a hat.

Due to heavy currents and swell it is prohibited to swim at the beach Arrecifes!

Note: Tayrona Park closes its doors to tourism three times a year at the request of the indigenous people, who request this measure to guarantee the ecological recovery of the ecosystem. Closing dates are from February 1st to 15th, from June 1st to 15th, and the last two weeks of October.

 DAY 10.  SANTA MARTA - CARTAGENA.

Private transfer Tayrona area - Cartagena (262 km/ 4-5 h) - English speaking guide included.

HALF DAY CITY TOUR WITH SAN FELIPE AND LA POPA

Embark on an intriguing half-day exploration of Cartagena's iconic landmarks, commencing at the revered La Popa Monastery, nestled atop the city's highest point, boasting an impressive elevation of approximately 140 meters. 

Our journey continues to the magnificent Felipe de Barajas Fortress, an architectural marvel that stands as a testament to the Spanish Empire's military prowess, constructed with meticulous precision from stunning coral stone. Engross yourself in the captivating tales of Cartagena's defense strategies, honed to safeguard against audacious pirate raids that plagued the city during the 17th and 18th centuries, as we embark on a captivating and informative tour lasting approximately one hour. 

Subsequently, we meander through the captivating historic center, indulging in a leisurely two-hour stroll through the enchanting squares, churches, and winding streets that define the city's vibrant spirit. 

Allow the harmonious fusion of colonial architecture, gastronomic delights, and cultural vibrancy to etch indelible memories of Cartagena, a captivating destination that has rightfully earned its prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.

DAY 11. At the agreed time, reception at the hotel and transfer to Rafael Nuñez International Airport (IATA: CTG) to take a flight to the city of origin.