The Best of Colombia

Day 1. Bogotá

Arrival in the city of Bogotá, assistance at El Dorado International Airport, and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Accommodation.

Day 2. Bogotá – City Tour

Breakfast at the hotel. At the agreed time, the City Tour will begin through the historic center of Bogotá, also called "La Candelaria." The tour includes a visit to the Gold Museum, where you'll see about 34,000 pieces of pre-Hispanic gold and more than 25,000 pre-Columbian objects. Next, visit the Casa de la Moneda and Donación Botero, exhibiting works by the internationally renowned Colombian artist Fernando Botero in various artistic techniques such as painting, drawing, and sculpture. The tour continues with a panoramic tour of the Bolívar Square (The Primatial Cathedral, Nariño's House, Liévano Palace, and the Palace of Justice). Return to the hotel. Accommodation.

Duration: 4 hours

Includes: Professional Spanish-speaking tour guide, private transportation, entrance to the Gold Museum - Casa de la Moneda and Donación Botero

Important Note: Gold Museum closed on Mondays, Casa de la Moneda, and Donación Botero closed on Tuesdays

Day 3. Bogotá – Zipaquirá + Guatavita

Breakfast at the hotel. At the agreed time, the visit to the Sacred Guatavita Lagoon and the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral will begin: A comprehensive circuit through the so-called "Sabana de Bogotá," visiting as the first destination the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral, one of Colombia's main tourist sites, considered the country's first wonder, built 180 meters underground in a salt mine. Later, you will head to the Sacred Guatavita Lagoon, historically and globally known for the legend of "El Dorado." In the afternoon, return to the hotel. Accommodation.

Duration: 10 hours

Includes: Professional Spanish-speaking tour guide, private transportation, entrance to the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral, entrance to the Guatavita Lagoon, and typical lunch.

Day 4. Bogotá – La Macarena

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, transfer to El Dorado International Airport to take the scheduled Charter flight (included). The airport check-in time is at 05:00 am, and the flight duration is approximately 1 hour. Arrival in the municipality of La Macarena, and an induction talk will be given by municipal authorities. Transfer to the assigned accommodation, where a room will be provided for changing clothes and storing luggage. A visit will be made to an alternative location to Caño Cristales according to the indications and assigned by environmental authorities:

• Alternative Location 1: Caño Cristalitos and viewpoint
• Alternative Location 2: Caño Piedra
• Alternative Location 3: Rio Bajo Lozada

Lunch will be taken (included) during the assigned activity. Return to the hotel for check-in (3:00 pm), Dinner (included). Accommodation.

Note: It is essential that the Caño Cristales itinerary starts on Thursdays or Saturdays due to flight operations to La Macarena.

Day 5. La Macarena – Cajuche Spring

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure in the morning (according to schedules established by environmental entities) to start a 20-minute boat ride on the Guayabero River, enjoying the landscape. Continue with a 20-minute journey in association trucks from the boat landing point to the Cajuche Spring. The assigned trail will be visited by Coormacarena or National Parks according to the permit. Enjoy a typical regional lunch (included) consumed during the walk, wrapped in plantain leaves ("Bijaos").

Return to the urban area of La Macarena, following the same route as entering Caño Cristales. In the evening, there will be an integration event including a Folkloric and Gastronomic showcase of the region; music and dance integration of the local youth with visiting tourists. Dinner (included). Accommodation. 

Day 6. La Macarena Mountain Range Trail – Bogotá

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, departure to visit the trail in Caño Cristales assigned by environmental entities according to permits from authorities. Around noon, transfer to the airport to take a charter flight (included). The departure time is estimated between 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm to Bogotá. Arrival in Bogotá, assistance at El Dorado International Airport, and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Accommodation.

Day 7 – Bogotá – Pereira

Breakfast at the hotel. At the agreed time, transfer to El Dorado International Airport to take a Flight (Not Included) to the city of Pereira. Arrival in Pereira, assistance at Matecaña International Airport, and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Accommodation.

Day 8 – Pereira – Visit to Salento and Cocora Valley

Breakfast at the hotel. At the agreed time, the journey to Cocora Valley will begin, appreciating the beautiful landscape of the area. Once in the Valley, we will have a welcome cocktail (canelazo) and assistance from a specialized Cocora eco-guide who provides an introduction to the Cocora Natural Reserve. Walking, transfer to the palm forest where we can appreciate the biodiversity of fauna and flora of the place, and take the ecological trail of the world's tallest wax palm, the national emblem tree, where we will perform the ritual of the wax palm of Quindío, which consists of learning the history of how the natives worshiped this palm. Then, continue with the planting of palm seedlings. Transfer to the typical town of Salento where we will have a walking tour visiting its colonial streets, craft workshops, and the Cocora viewpoint. Return to the hotel. Accommodation.

Duration: Approximately 7 hours.

Includes: Professional tourism guide in Spanish and environmental interpretation, private transportation, Ritual of the wax palm, tasting of Canelazo, and lunch in a local restaurant.

Day 9 – Pereira Coffee Farm Visit + Santa Rosa de Cabal Hot Springs

Breakfast at the hotel. At the agreed time, the journey to the municipality of Santa Rosa de Cabal will begin. Once at the Coffee Farm, the tour begins in the company of a local expert, guiding tourists through beautiful special coffee plantations, explaining the coffee process from planting, selective manual harvesting, and pulping. After this, we will roast special coffee beans on a wood stove in the typical peasant house kitchen where we can have an authentic coffee experience. The tour has several stations with viewpoints made of guadua where we can appreciate the beautiful landscape and natural surroundings while enjoying a cup of coffee. Finally, we move on to the innovative coffee bean drying process and then to the beneficio, ending in the main house where we are bid farewell with a delicious coffee lemonade.

Time for lunch (included).

Later, visit and thermal bath at the Santa Rosa de Cabal Hot Springs, a unique site for recreation and rest. It offers visitors mountains and hot and cold waterfalls; its hot springs flow from the earth at a temperature of 70º Celsius and descend by a beautiful 80-meter fall to the pools at a temperature of 40º degrees, suitable for bathers. Return to the hotel. Accommodation.

Duration: 8 hours.

Includes: Professional tourism guide in Spanish and environmental interpretation, private transportation, interactive Coffee process, assistance by expert hacienda staff, typical lunch, and entrance to the hot springs.

Day 10 – Pereira to Cartagena

Breakfast at the hotel. At the agreed time, transfer to Matecaña International Airport to catch a flight (not included) to the city of Cartagena. Arrival, assistance at Rafael Nuñez International Airport, and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Accommodation.

In the afternoon (2:00 pm), start of a panoramic tour in a private air-conditioned vehicle through the residential neighborhoods of Bocagrande, Castillogrande, and Manga. Arrival at La Cima de la Popa, where you will have a complete view of the city, guided tour of the convent and church. Next, visit the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, the most important military engineering work in Spain in America, which protected the city from pirate attacks. At the end of this visit, return to the hotel via Avenida Santander, where you can appreciate the bastions and walls of the historic center; visit the artisan center Las Bóvedas.

Duration: 4 hours

Operating Days: Every day

Includes: Professional Spanish-speaking tour guide, private transportation, entrance to the mentioned places.

Day 11 - Cartagena – Isla del Rosario (Enchanting Island) in shared service

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, assistance at the hotel and transfer to La Bodeguita pier to take a speedboat that will take us to the Rosario Islands (approx. 45 min), appreciating during the journey a panoramic view of Cartagena Bay and Bocachica, additionally a beautiful landscape with the forts of San Fernando and San José. Along the coast of Barú Island, you will reach the base island in the Rosario Islands to enjoy its crystal-clear waters. Free time to enjoy the sea and facilities. In the afternoon, return to Cartagena. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Duration: 8 hours.

Operating Days: Every day

Includes: Tour of the group of islands, hotel - pier - hotel transfer, Caribbean typical lunch

Not included: Departure and Coralia taxes (USD 10 per person), entrance to the Oceanarium (USD 10 per person).

Day 12 - Cartagena – Next destination

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, assistance at the hotel and transfer to Rafael Núñez International Airport for a flight (not included) to the next destination.