COLOMBIA TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

After breakfast, begin your city tour of Colombia’s cosmopolitan capital, Bogotá. Today, your guide will show you the impressive Botero Museum, home to one of Latin America’s most important international art collections, and the city’s main square, Plaza de Bolivar. You will also visit the Gold Museum and Monserrate Hill, where you can enjoy great views of the city. Depending on what time you finish your city tour, you will have some free time in the late afternoon to explore the city further. Overnight in Bogotá.

Leaving early, you will be transferred to Villa de Leyva, roughly a 4-hour drive from Bogotá, with a 1-hour stop in the artisan village of Raquira. Upon arrival in Villa de Leyva, Colombia’s most famous colonial town, you will be given a short walking tour to learn about the areas rich history. Overnight in Villa de Leyva.

After breakfast, you will have the morning to further explore the beautiful town of Villa de Leyva, before being transferred to Bogotá Airport for evening flights to the city of Armenia. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to a rural hotel in the local coffee area.

After breakfast, you will be given a tour at Hacienda Combia, one of the local coffee plantations; from bean to cup, the whole process will be explained! In the afternoon, you will visit the natural hot springs at Santa Rosa de Cabal, so remember to pack your swimsuits.

Today you will visit the typical paisa town of Salento. Founded in 1850, it is one of the oldest towns in the Quindio region. In the afternoon, you will visit the stunning Cocora Valley, famous for its wax palm trees that can grow up to more than 60m tall, making this one of the most special landscapes in the country. You will need to take hiking boots or trainers with you as there will be a 3-mile hike involved and the ground can sometimes be wet and muddy due its location in the hills. There is also a shorter, easier route for those who choose not to partake in the hike.

Today you will be transferred to Armenia Airport for flights to Santa Marta. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the Palomino area, a place known for its perfect beaches, as well as a base for exploring the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Palomino is roughly a 2-hour drive from Santa Marta. Overnight in Palomino.

Today will be spent at your leisure to relax on the beautiful beaches of Palomino.

Today will again be spent at your leisure. But after a rest you may fancy partaking in some of the optional day trips on offer. These include visiting the Flamingo Park, the Valencia Waterfalls and Tayrona National Park, depending on availability. Please note that the trip to Tayrona National Park involves a lot of hiking in the heat, so might not be for everybody. Your guide will let you know which activities are available upon arrival in Palomino. Overnight in Palomino.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the beautiful colonial city of Cartagena, roughly a 6-hour drive with regular stops from Palomino. Upon arrival, you will be checked-in to your hotel, and are then free to explore the city. Overnight in Cartagena.

After breakfast, you will begin a full day city tour of UNESCO World Heritage town, Cartagena. Known for its cobbled alleyways, colonial style buildings and abundance of beautiful churches, your last days in Colombia will be spent well in this city. Today you will visit the Convent La Popa, an impressive convent with amazing views over Cartagena, Castillo San Felipe, an immense fort built by the Spanish in 1536, and the historical centre of Cartagena. Overnight in Cartagena.

Today will be spent at your leisure to further explore the beautiful city of Cartagena. Dinner will be arranged for the final night of your Colombia tour. Overnight in Cartagena.

Sadly, your Colombia tour has come to an end! After breakfast, you will have some free time depending on departure times for your international flights home.

• Up to six weeks before departure, a place can be reserved on the Colombia Tour on payment of a deposit of £250.00, after this date it would be the full amount of the trip.
• Click the book now button and fill in the details and tick the box confirming you accept booking conditions.
• The outstanding balance is due 6 weeks before travel.
• Please ensure you have checked visa requirements. Get in touch if you are unsure.
• Ensure you have purchased travel insurance, as this is mandatory for all trips.
• International flights are not included in the price of the Colombia Tour and will need to be arranged separately. Please do not book flights until we have given the go-ahead. If you would like help booking, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
• There are also 2 domestic flights between Bogota & Armenia, and Armenia & Santa Marta which you will need for this trip. Please get in touch for the suggested flight times.

Trip Type Discover

Group Size Maximum 14

Physical Rating Moderate

Currency & Spending Money Colombian Peso / Spending £30 and upwards per day.

Hosts One of our local guides will be your main point of contact throughout this trip, and they will be on hand to answer all your questions and offer advice for your free days.

Clothing & Climates During your trip you will visit many different areas, all with varying climates and weather conditions. Bogota and the surrounding areas are noticeably cooler than Armenia and the Caribbean coast, so we recommend taking trousers and t-shirts or jumpers, as well as a rain jacket in case of sudden downpours. But don’t let the cooler climate fool you. Bogota is located 2,600m above sea level and the sun here is still very strong, so make sure you have plenty of sun protection; hats, sun cream, sunglasses, etc. You will start to notice the temperature difference when you reach the coffee areas of Armenia; the humidity will be higher and there will be more mosquitoes, so make sure you have light, loose-fitting clothing to prevent bites. By the time you reach Palomino & Cartagena you will know for sure that you are at the Caribbean coast. Temperatures will be anywhere between 28° and 33°C, whilst humidity levels can reach 95% so it’s incredibly important to stay hydrated and keep your head covered during the day.

Health Always seek medical advice from your doctor or travel nurse a minimum of 8 weeks before departure date and make sure your vaccinations are up to date. Remember that your travel insurance may not cover you if you do not have up-to-date vaccinations. UK health authorities have classified Colombia as being at risk from the Zika virus; pregnant women are advised not to travel to such areas. Dengue Fever, Malaria and Chikungunya are also present throughout the country, so take appropriate precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Single Supplement £449

Travel Advice We highly recommend that you read the foreign travel advice for Colombia before your departure date.