Essential Colombia

Day 1: Arrival In Bogota
As you land in Bogota you’ll be warmly welcomed and taken to your accommodation. Your hotel will be located in Bogota’s historical centre of La Candelaria which is surrounded by Bogota's most traditional houses and important buildings. Having settled in, you’ll be able to spend some time with one of our local specialists who are always happy and excited to hear about your travel plans in Colombia and beyond - now’s the time to make the most of their many years of local know-how and ask questions until your heart’s content!
Depending on the time of your arrival in Bogota, you will have the rest of the day free to explore the area near to where you’re staying. La Candelaria is a hive of activity where the charming, cobblestone streets, and colonial architecture are a joy to explore. While soaking up the atmosphere of La Candelaria, stop off at one of the local street vendors for a cup of canelazo, made from agua de panela, cinnamon and aguardiente liquor that will be sure to warm you up from the Andean chill. Tonight, go to one of the many restaurants in Bogota’s trendy Zona Rosa before, discovering the liveliness of both the city and its people at the thriving bars nearby.
Overnight in Bogota

 Day 2: Bogota / Half Day Explore the City like a Local (Private Excursion)
This tour takes place in the historic centre of Bogotá, also known as La Candelaria. During the tour, you will visit emblematic places and highly appreciated by Bogota citizens, which will make you feel like an inhabitant of Bogotá instead of a tourist. Your guide will use all of his knowledge of the city to take you through colonial streets and other places of interest, which hold unexpected secrets and have witnessed the transformation of Bogotá. This tour is ideal for those who do not want conventional tours and prefer to know the city hand in hand, more than a guide, from a local adventure partner.
Take the funicular or cable car to Monserrate and upon reaching the summit you will be rewarded with stunning views over the sprawling city below and all the way to the peaks of the Andes. From this vantage point, you will be able to get a feel for the different zones from the contemporary high-rise office buildings of the financial district to the terracotta-coloured rooftops of Bogota's historical centre. Regain strength and energy to continue the tour with a cup of freshly ground Colombian coffee. Appreciate the graffiti that adorns the walls of downtown Bogotá, decipher its meaning and the message the artist wanted to transmit. Marvel at the wide variety of tropical and exotic fruits produced in Colombia while visiting a typical “Plaza de Mercado”.
In Chorro de Quevedo you can go back in time and imagine how Bogotá looked like in 1538 when it was founded by Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada. Know about the work of the master Fernando Botero while visiting the Museo Botero and contemplate an art collection of important artists from the 19th and 20th centuries. Finish the tour in the Plaza de Bolivar where the government buildings are located and walk a bit on the emblematic Carrera.
Following your Bogota city tour, you'll be transferred back to your hotel where the rest of the afternoon and evening is free for you to enjoy. Bogota is one of the rising gastronomic centres of Latin America and tonight you should go out to discover the city’s restaurants many of which are located the Gourmet Zone (Zona G), Usaquen and Zona Rosa.
Overnight in Bogota

 Day 3: Bogota – Salento
This morning, a private transfer will take you to Bogota airport for your flight to Pereira. Once you arrive at Pereira’s airport you’ll be warmly welcomed and taken to your comfortable hotel in Colombia’s Coffee Region. From your accommodation you’ll be a coffee bean’s throw away from some of Colombia’s most scenic landscapes and of course its world-famous coffee plantations! The Coffee Triangle is Colombia's largest coffee-producing region and is located in the centre of the country surrounded by breathtaking scenery, picturesque architecture and prosperous coffee farms known as, fincas. After settling into your hotel your evening is free to enjoy relaxing at your accommodation. As one of the most diverse areas of Colombia, keep an eye out for the exotic birdlife of the region which will accompany you as you sip on your delicious cup of coffee. Colombia was recently recognized for being the happiest country in the world and the locals of Colombia’s Coffee Region are known for being some of the friendliest in the country. They will make you feel at home and make sure that you enjoy every second in the beautiful heart of Colombia.
Overnight in Salento

Day 4: Salento / Half Day Cocora National Park (Private Excursion)
In the streets of Salento and throughout the Coffee Region, you'll notice colourful Willys Jeeps making their way along the picturesque roads. You'll have a unique experience as you board a traditional Willys Jeep (hopefully in your favourite colour) that will then take you into the magnificent Cocora Valley. With its rolling green hills and huge Quindio wax palm trees, the scenery is like something out of a magical land in a Dr. Seuss book. The Cocora Valley is home to Colombia's national tree, the Quindio wax palm tree which can grow up to 190 ft. tall. These tall, thin trees stand like giants guarding the valley, the farmland, avocado plantations, wandering cattle and of course coffee plantations. While in the National Park, your guide will provide you with information on the surrounding flora and fauna. Boarding your Willys Jeep, you will head back to the town of Salento.
Overnight in Salento

Day 5: Salento
Free at Leisure
Overnight in Salento

Day 6: Salento - Cartagena
Depending on the time of your flight, you will be transferred to Pereira Airport for your short flight to Cartagena.  Once you arrive in Cartagena, Colombia’s jewel and fairy-tale city on the Caribbean coast, you’ll be warmly welcomed and taken to your accommodation. Cartagena is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and demonstrates the perfect marriage between rich colonial history and the vibrancy of the Caribbean. The remainder of the day is free to explore the area near where you’re staying, the city’s maze of cobblestone streets and its charming buildings. The historic centre of Cartagena is surrounded by an impressive 8-mile-long colonial stonewall and is the perfect place to enjoy a refreshing cocktail in the Café del Mar while watching the sunset over the Caribbean.
Overnight in Cartagena

Day 7: Cartagena / Half Day Explore Cartagena’s Highlights (Private Excursion)
Today your local guide will pick you up from your accommodation to begin your private walking tour of Cartagena's highlights. The Caribbean weather, colonial architecture and Caribbean flair will keep you more than occupied. If that’s not enough, the city is shrouded in history and fascinating stories from when the Spanish first discovered gold in the tombs of Sinu to the five dreadful sieges on the city by pirates in the 16th century, including the most famous (or infamous) one which was led by Sir Francis Drake! Nowadays, as you’ll find out while walking through its pleasant and colourful streets Cartagena is among one of the world’s most beautiful cities. On today’s walking tour, you’ll visit the Santo Domingo Square, the iconic Clock Tower, Cartagena’s Cathedral and the Palacio de la Inquisición. Walking through the cobblestone streets of the historical city centre you will also be treated to the city’s most traditional buildings, enchanting squares and museums. You will also get to enjoy a fruit tasting with the lovely Palenqueras. Following your Cartagena city tour, the rest of the afternoon and evening is free for you to relax and enjoy this wonderful city. If you want to explore Cartagena further, you can take the afternoon to visit the Candelaria Convent located on the top of the Popa Hill, the Old Shoes Monument, and the impressive San Felipe de Barajas Castle and Fort. Tonight, you will have time to relax and enjoy this wonderful city that vibrates with colour and is refreshed by Caribbean Sea breezes.
Overnight in Cartagena

Day 8: Cartagena / Full Day Isla Majagua (Group Excursion)
Today you will have a taste of paradise as you board a traditional motorized canoe and speed your way across the azure Caribbean Sea to the stunning and secluded island of Isla Majagua. Situated off the coast of Cartagena, Isla Majagua is one of the 30 islands that make up the Rosario Islands archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. The island is small, but it makes up for its size with its beauty, deserted white sandy beaches and warm, crystal-clear waters. After a delicious lunch, full of Caribbean and Colombian flavours from plantains to coconut rice and of course freshly caught fish; you can enjoy some rest and relaxation on these stunning, quiet beaches. Alternatively, dive into the calm Caribbean waters with a number of water activities available from kayaking and paddle boarding to scuba diving and snorkelling. Later that day you will board your motor boat back to Cartagena where you will get a stunning panoramic view of the city. Once you have arrived back in Cartagena, stay near to the port to watch the sunset over the Caribbean before going out to enjoy the salsa-infused nightlife of Cartagena.
Overnight in Cartagena

Day 9: Cartagena
Free At Leisure
Overnight in Cartagena

Day 10: Cartagena – Flight Home
After your breakfast, you will have your private transfer to the Airport for your flight Home.