Spend your week on this one-of-a-kind adventure in Colombia, from the vibrant city of Bogota to the pearl of the Caribbean, Cartagena. Discover the wonders of Bogotá on a sightseeing tour with an expert guide. Take a ride towards Monserrate Church and enjoy the most breathtaking views of this city. Walk in the cobblestoned streets of La Candelaria, surrounded by colonial architecture. Fly to Cartagena and experience the clear blue waters, white sand, and corals on a day tour at Blue Apple Beach. Discover the group of islands on the coast of Colombia, a perfect natural environment to have fun and relax. Enjoy the experience of learning the culture of the Caribbean, visiting the craft market, enjoying the cuisine, and learning about the history of Cartagena.
Highlights
Discover the most iconic and historical landmarks in Bogota
See Indigenous jewelry at the Gold Museum
Walk in the cobblestoned streets of La Candelaria, surrounded by colonial architecture
Explore Cartagena's rich culture and well-preserved colonial architecture
Spend the day relaxing in a picture-perfect beach in Blue Apple Beach
Visit the San Basilio de Palenque, known for first free town for Africans
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Upon arrival at Bogota Airport, a private vehicle will transfer you to your hotel in Bogota. After settling in, take a free walk around the hotel on your own and explore the restaurant or cafe nearby.
Bogota is a vibrant city, full of color, contrast, and history. On this tour, your host will take you on a walking tour to the most iconic locations in Bogota. This tour will give you a deep understanding of the capital's culture and allow you to learn about local food and traditions.
The walking tour will begin in the historical center of the city. Start at Monserrate, a church at the top of a mountain that gives you an appreciation of how big and diverse Bogota is. Afterward, you will head to La Candelaria, where your host will share the official and non-official history of the country. You will also have the chance to try some typical snacks and coca tea while exploring one of the oldest and most traditional handicraft markets downtown.
During your stay in Bogota, you can choose two optional activities; the La Chorrera tour and the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral visit.
Option 1: La Chorrera is known to be the tallest waterfall in Colombia, measuring almost 600 meters high. Spend the day hiking at this magnificent park located 1 hour away from Bogota.
Option 2: Visit one of South America’s wonders, the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral. Explore the magnificent salt mine of Zipaquirá and see the famous cathedral up close.
After breakfast, a private transfer will take you to Pereira airport to catch your flight to Cartagena. A private vehicle will take you from Cartagena Airport to your hotel for your next activity.
Stay at the Bantú Hotel by Faranda Boutique, the perfect place to stay to discover all of Cartagena’s charm. This 5-star boutique hotel will stun you with its tranquil courtyards and cutting-edge design. While the decoration draws inspiration from San Basilio de Palenque culture, the architecture is a product of colonial romanticism.
In the afternoon, go on a walking tour around the magnificent city of Cartagena. Cartagena was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1984 and is one of the most recognized cities in all of Latin America for its colorful diversity and architectural conservation. This walking tour with a historian and an English-speaking guide takes you through the beautiful streets of the old town and main sites and teaches you about the past and modern-day of this gorgeous and fascinating city. Your guide will also focus on architecture, art, music, food, and culture.
Arrive to a warm welcome in the Palenquera language. Your day will start with a historical tour through the most emblematic points of what is considered to be the most important aspects of humankind's intangible oral legacy.
Located 60 km from Cartagena, the Palenque de San Basilio is a community of descendants of African Maroons from the 17th century. The mythical leader, Domingo Biohó, was a leader whose fierceness was reflected in the reports that the governors of the Province of Cartagena sent to the Crown.
Learn about the memorial to Benko's Biohos, the creator and leader of Palenque, and the residence of Kombilesa Mi, a musical ensemble dedicated to preserving and promoting Palenquera music and its unique instruments. Learn about ancestral and communal justice, which has been the way to solve local problems within the Palenquera community. Traditional leaders oversee the process. Finally, your experience will end with a traditional lunch that will introduce you to local flavors and techniques.
This morning, take a private boat for a 20-minute ride to Isla Tierra Bomba in the Rosario Islands. A welcome cocktail and a typical coastal lunch will be served upon arrival. Spend the day relaxing in a picture-perfect beach chair and turquoise waters at the idyllic Blue Apple.
The location of this tropical bliss is the idyllic Blue Apple Beach House, an exclusive private beach club. It also features an excellent restaurant that serves fresh, local seafood dishes to tantalize your palate. Lounge by the pool in a hammock, sample cocktails at the bar, or enjoy a rejuvenating beachside massage. You can even take a dip in the blue Caribbean waters.
Head back on the return boat around either 4 pm or 5:30 pm, and soak up the relaxed atmosphere as you watch the sun begin to sink into the horizon.
In the evening, take your leisurely dinner in Celele Restaurant. The passionate undertaking by two of Latin America's most innovative and exceptionally talented chefs, this restaurant & food is more than just visually stunning and delights and surprises tastebuds. This Degustation meal will include 5-courses with matching drinks. It is an important investigation into Colombian ingredients and food traditions that have been overlooked for too long and are in danger of being lost forever.
The result is one of those truly special experiences where you feel you are witnessing a future chef's table genius in the making.
Day 7: Return Home
1 Breakfast
After breakfast, you will be transported from your hotel to Cartagena airport in time for your departure flight.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is 50%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
6 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 1 Dinner, 1 Box Lunch
6 Nights Accommodations
4 Days Locally Hosted Guide Service
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Domestic Flights
Carbon Offset Fee
Professional local English speaking guides throughout your tour
All entrance fees as per program
Local Fish Lunch in Palenque de San Basilio
Community Contribution in Palenque de San Basilio
Taxi transfer to/from Monserrate
Food Tastings During City Tour
A welcome cocktail drinks in Blue Apple Beach Club with 2 Course meal (Appetizer and Main) and a glass of the house wine or one cocktail, Bed and towel service, and use of the beach house (pool, beach, games)
A 5 courses meal with matching wines in Celele Restaurant
Bike & helmet per person
Entrances to San Felipe Castle
Excluded
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
International Flights
Map
When to Go
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.
This was my first experience with Adventure Life - and I couldn't have been more pleased with the trip. The guides and local staff in both Buenos Aires and Uruguay were terrific - extremely helpful and accommodating. I really enjoyed meeting the friendly staff in Buenos Aires in person (I left my bags with them for the afternoon).
Karen Snider
TrustScore 4.8 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
1 day ago
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
3 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
5 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
6 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.