15 days - Unbelievable Colombia

Description

Day 1: Arrival in Bogota - Welcome at the Hotel and Trip Briefing (-/-/-)

Start your trip to Colombia the comfortable way with our airport transfer option.  Before dinner time, a representative of our team will welcome you at the Hotel and present briefly the upcoming days and any updates there might be regarding the scheduled plan. It will be a chance for everyone in the group to present themselves, and start preparing for the amazing trip ahead! Finally, we will hand out our welcome kit and toast for an unforgettable trip start!

Day 2: Bogotá City Tour with Bolivar Square, Botero, Gold Museum and Monserrate (6h) (B/L/-)

10:00 AM You will be guided by a knowledgeable guide who will teach you about historical and current facts of Colombia. The first stop will be a visit through the picturesque cobbled streets of La Candelaria. You will visit the Botero Museum, which features works of the eccentric artist who has become an icon of Colombian contemporary art, Fernando Botero. You will have a stop at Chorro de Quevedo to appreciate the diverse contrasts that the historical center offers and learn more about Bogotá's history.

After the walking tour in La Candelaria, you will reach Plaza de Bolívar; The main square of the city. The square is surrounded by administrative and governmental buildings that have been fundamental to the historical processes of the country that you will know through the tour guide. Finally, you will walk through Jimenez Avenue to visit an impressive collection of indigenous gold pieces at the Gold Museum. End your tour in Bogotá with a visit to Monserrate. Enjoy breathtaking views of the city and savor a warm drink to acclimatize to the cool temperatures after sunset. It's the perfect way to conclude your journey.

Day 3: Fly Bogota to Yopal. Welcome at the Natural Reserve "El Encanto de Guanapalo" (B/L/D)

Aftern landing in Yopal you will be transferred 1h by car to the reserve. Once you arrive dive into El Encanto's 9,000-hectare paradise! Meet your cowboy guides, then embark on a 4 hour "Safari Llanero" on horseback. Witness a stunning array of birds, mammals, and more across the plains, savoring a local snack along the way. When the sun goes down the horizon painting the sky with dazzling hues, return for a delicious open-air dinner by a sparkling glen. Finally, unwind in your comfortable room, dreams filled with llanero magic.

Day 4: Sunrise canoe trip through the flooded plains and cultural evening (B/L/D)

5:45 AM You will wake up very early and with a delicious coffee and typical llanero snack. The sunrise wil be appreciated while enjoying a ride in a canoe through the glens of the reserve, where you will enjoy the calm waters and the sound of birds in the morning. You will be able to carry out artisanal fishing and learn from this traditional practice that the llaneros do with a hook for their subsistence. Later participate in a handicraft workshop to learn how with natural resources the "llaneros!" (cowboys) creat useful elements for the daily tasks in the plains. Enjoy a typical outdoor lunch under the shade of a tree, then you can rest in the hammock area of the ranch. After a short break we will go out to visit the other two ranches that are part of the Natural Reserve, on a 4x4 tour that will allow you to appreciate the landscapes and be surprised by the wildlife that can be found here. Later on appreciate a beautiful sunset in the middle of the savannah with a delicious snack before returning to the ranch. At night a combo of cowboys and musicians will lead a traditional night of barbecue, myths and legends next to the heat of a bonfire and some torches. You will listen to the llaneros as they narrate the stories of the oral tradition of the region joined by the sounds of the music in the plains.

Day 5: Cattle work and afternoon 4x4 birdwatching and wildlife experience (B/L/D)

Your guide will take you to live an experience typical of “los llanos”, you will live a morning of milking and cattle work with the company of the singing for the cattle. You will learn from this ancestral work, to milk a dairy cow and to link a colt and brush it. 11 AM Back at the ranch you will enjoy a morning of relaxation, rest, contemplation of the landscape and listening to the sounds of nature. In the afternoon, embark on a Safari Llannero ride to the "Garcero Galapagos," a natural marvel where over 15 species of herons nest. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for other avian residents like the majestic Orinoco goose, graceful ducks, and the striking soldier heron and the full wildlife that is present in Los Llanos Ecosystem like Capybaras, Anacondas, Deers, Cocodriles, Anteaters and even Jaguars. 

Day 6: Farewell of Los Llanos and stopover in Bogota onwards to Medellin (B/-/-)

Watch one last time the infinite horizon of the plains and get ready to pack your bags as you take the vehicle to drive you back to the nearest airport in Yopal. Stop-over in Bogota while you wait for your second flight of the day with the final destination in the city of Medellin. Be greeted at the Medellin Jose Maria Cordoba Airport and get a safe and comfortable ride to your hotel in the central part of the city. Night at own pleasure. 

Day 7: We don't talk about Pablo Escobar Tour (5h) (B/L/-)

10 AM Start a leisurely morning at the hotel enjoying the delicious buffet breakfast served at the main restaurant and start exploring the City of the Eternal Spring with a history known to almost anyone but understood by a few. On our 5h We Don't Talk About Pablo Escobar Tour you'll discover the history behind Narcos and Griselda. This tour was designed to bring to light the B side of the narcos story that was never told by popular TV series, grounded in actual facts of the story of the narco phenomenon of Colombia. The journey will take place in the center-east of Medellin. We will walk through multiple stops that will help us show different narratives of the story, like the memorial park Parque de la Inflexion, Miraflores station, El Pinal, use the cable car system to visit comuna 8 then the tram to reach Ayacucho. 

Lunch will be taken in a typical "Fonda Paisa" where your paladar will relish typical dishes of the region such as empanadas, bandeja paisa, arepas, fruit juices, aguardiente (liquour), patacones and more.

Day 8: Botero Walking Tour - Botanical Gardens and Moravia Urban Recovery (B/L/-)

On this 3-hour tour, you will get the chance to learn about Medellín and Colombia through the life and work of the famous Colombian contemporary artist Fernando Botero, while you walk downtown Medellín. 

After lunch time, you will visit one of the must-see attractions in Medellin, the Botanical Gardens. There you’ll get the chance to visit the award-winning Orchideorama, as well as themed gardens with more than 1000 different plant species. Later live one of our HEART brand experiences in Medellin. Moravia: Urban Recovery is the real-life experience of thousands of inhabitants that arrived in Medellin because of internal force displacement in rural regions of Antioquia to transform one of Medellin's biggest landfills into the city's biggest flower garden. 

Day 9: Jardín and Santa Fe de Antioquia Overnight Trip (B/L/-)

8 AM Explore Jardín and Santa Fe de Antioquia, two picturesque colonial towns, from Medellín. Visit a coffee farm and see the best of the towns enjoying their relaxed vibe.

This overnight trip takes you to two of Antioquia’s oldest and most picturesque towns: Santa Fe de Antioquia and Jardín. Santa Fe de Antioquia is the oldest settlement of the region founded in 1541 and known as one of the towns that gave shape to Colombian cities as we know them today. The village of Jardín was officially founded in 1863 and known for its unique Church and whitewashed houses with colorfully painted doors and balconies. You will visit a traditional coffee farm and Puente de Occidente, a large suspension bridge over the Cauca River.

You will be driven for about 2 hours before the first stop at the Puente de Occidente (Bridge of the West), located in the Western region of Antioquia. This Bridge was considered the seventh largest suspension bridge worldwide and was declared a National Monument of Colombia in 1978. Here, you will capture magnificent panoramas of the surrounding scenery while walking above the immense River.
 
From here, you will take the local Tuk Tuk to Santa Fe de Antioquia where you’ll arrive at the main square and get a first impression of Antioquia’s former capital. There, you will go to have lunch and have a nice walk along traditional cobblestone streets lined with whitewashed houses.

You’ll end your first day by driving about three hours to Jardín where you will spend the night at La Casona Hotel. Make yourself comfortable in a cozy, quiet traditional house and use your free time in the evening to explore the village and visit one of its excellent restaurants (at your own expense).

Day 10: Walking in Juan Valdez’s Footsteps: Coffee and Colors of Jardín (B/L/-)

8 AM The next morning you’ll start the day with a typical Colombian breakfast before going to see one of Colombia's most impressive birds the Gallito de Roca.  Afterward, you’ll stroll down the streets to have a closer look at beautifully painted houses as well as chairs that are pieces of art with hand-painted pictures on them. Then you’ll enjoy a fabulous view over Jardín when you take a gondola to the top of a mountain.

Afterward, you’ll visit a traditional coffee farm and hear about how Colombia’s finest coffee makes its way from bean to cup. You’ll learn everything from growing the beans to harvesting and processing them until they’re ready to be roasted and consumed in a delicious cup of coffee. You’ll watch the cafetero (coffee farmer) preparing the exquisite beverage while explaining different methods of brewing coffee. Then, you will have the opportunity to drink a freshly brewed coffee.

Before returning to Medellín, you’ll have a traditional lunch at the coffee farm prepared with fresh regional ingredients.

Day 11: From Medellin to Cartagena by plane. Arrival and afternoon city tour in Cartagena, a UNESCO-declared city. (B/-/-)

Morning flight to Cartagena. Airport transfers included for the group.

3 PM This tour begins with a visit to the San Felipe Castle, a fort built by the Spanish on top of a mountain to gain control of the bay. There, you will have the opportunity to discover the impressive architecture and history behind it. The city tour of Cartagena will continue with a pleasant walk through the Historic Center where you will visit the Clock Tower in the Plaza de la Aduana, a place used for the trade of enslaved Africans during the colonial period.  Then you will go to the square in front of the San Pedro Claver Church, a historic church that exhibits art and religious history. In that square we will have a short break for a refreshing juice or coffee. From there, we continue to Plaza de Bolivar surrounded by some of the city's most iconic colonial buildings.Finally we will leave through the Clock Tower to pass by Centenario Park, a beautiful oasis in the middle of downtown where free sloths, marmosets, iguanas and other animals live (not in cages and not permitted to touch!!) and finish our tour in Getsemaní, a very special neighborhood, very colorful, full of graffiti, flowers, colorful houses and music everywhere.

Day 12: Island Escapade to Isla Mucura (B/L/D)

8 AM Start your day with a scenic morning transfer to the pier in Cartagena's vibrant center, where you’ll embark on a 2-hour boat ride to the tropical paradise of Isla Mucura. Surrounded by crystal-clear waters, Isla Mucura offers a peaceful escape with a full-board plan, ensuring delicious meals and comfort throughout your stay. Enjoy a range of exciting activities, including stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling, and biking around the island. Unwind at the spa, or simply relax on the beach—the perfect blend of adventure and tranquility awaits!

Day 13: Day at leisure in Isla Mucura (B/L/D)

Enjoy a day at leisure on Isla Mucura, where you can unwind at your own pace. Lounge on pristine beaches, explore the island by bike or take a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear waters.

Day 14: Day at leisure in Isla Mucura (B/L/D)

Enjoy a day at leisure on Isla Mucura, where you can unwind at your own pace. Lounge on pristine beaches, explore the island by bike or take a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear waters.

Day 15: Adiós, Isla Múcura: Return to Cartagena and Beyond (B/-/-)

11 AM On your final day, savor the last moments of your Caribbean paradise. Enjoy a relaxed morning before preparing for the boat ride back to Cartagena around 11 AM, depending on tide conditions. As you sail back across the sparkling waters, take in the beauty of the islands one last time. Upon arriving at the port in Cartagena, a private driver will be waiting to take you to the airport or your chosen destination in the city, ensuring a smooth and comfortable end to your adventure.

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