On this 9-day tour, you'll enjoy some of the favorite destinations in Colombia. Start your journey in the vibrant city of Bogota, where you'll find spectacular churches, learn about local food, and dance the traditional salsa. Next, head deep into Salamina, one of Colombia's splendid and historical towns, and visit the Wax Palm reserve. Learn about the coffee world and explore the Hacienda Venecia coffee farm, where you will experience every stage of the coffee production process as it happens and enjoy an authentic glimpse of life on a coffee farm. Lastly, discover Cartagena's rich culture and well-preserved colonial architecture, arts, music, food, and culture. Visit multiple parts of Colombia and see the best that each place has to offer.
Highlights
Enjoy a guided tour through the vibrant city of Bogotá
Learn the traditional dance moves of Colombia, Salsa
Visit Mirador Valle de la Samaria Wax Palm in Salamina
Learn about Colombia's coffee culture and visit local coffee farm
Discover Cartagena's rich culture and well-preserved colonial architecture
Experience swim and snorkel in crystal-clear waters of Tierra Bomba Island
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. Stay at Hotel Casa Deco in Bogota, steps from 17 Route MTB and Chorro de Quevedo Square. This hotel is close to Monserrate and the Plaza de Bolivar.
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.
Take a private salsa class at the top-recommended dance studio in the afternoon. Learn the basic steps with a private salsa lesson, then enjoy a traditional dinner and finally you will be given the opportunity to practice your steps at a local salsa bar. This is the perfect chance to learn the traditional dance moves Colombia is famous for and prep for a night out in the city.
After breakfast, a private transfer will take you to the airport in Bogota to catch your flight to Pereira. A private vehicle will take you from Pereira Airport to your hotel in Salamina for your following activity.
Salamina, in many aspects, personifies Colombia and is one of its most splendid towns. Located in the north of the department of Caldas, the brightly painted buildings are the hallmark and look nearly like works of fantasy. The physical and architectural wonders of Salamina are worth a visit. The buildings in the center have earned the town its national heritage status.
Your expert guide will take you through the historical village during your tour. Discover the town’s delightful old houses and famous carved wooden windows and doors, and visit architectural highlights like the church and cemetery. Take a stop for refreshments at Salamina’s oldest bakery to sample some local preparations.
After breakfast, embark on a traditional local jeep for a one-hour drive through the Central Andes Mountains of Colombia. Before visiting the Wax Palm reserve, take a stop in the charming village of San Felix, a wonderful town with colorful facades and friendly locals.
After having coffee and snacks in San Felix, continue your journey to the Samaria Valley, a region as important as the Cocora Valley for its giant Wax Palms (Colombia’s National Tree), but with three times as many of the 60-meter tall trees, and seeing a fraction of the tourists.
Enjoy a guided hike through the woods, and learn all about the trees from the host, who runs a conservation project whose aim is to protect and save endangered species. You will see hundreds of Wax Palms in their natural forest habitat (and even get to see seedlings: it’s remarkable to see how something so tiny can grow into such a mighty tree!). After a hearty local lunch overlooking the valley of the palms, you will be driven by jeep back to Salamina.
Day 5: Salamina | Manizales | Hacienda Venecia Farm
During your stay at the Hacienda Venecia Coffee Lodge, you can choose two optional activities; the Hacienda Venecia farm tour and the Chocolate Workshop.
Option 1. The Hacienda Venecia Coffee Tour is a trip throughout the coffee world and an exploration of a working coffee farm. The farm provides a stunning backdrop for this tour, where visitors can experience every stage of the coffee production process as it happens and enjoy an authentic glimpse of life on a coffee farm. During the tour, you will learn about several key issues relating to coffee, the product that is symbolic of this region and Colombia and is recognized all over the world.
Listen and learn about the coffee culture, including its origin and history, worldwide distribution, species, growing, processing, and harvesting (walk through the coffee plantation). Visit the wet mill (operational weekdays only), marketing (Juan Valdez brand), roasting process, aromas and properties of coffee, Café de Colombia and its institutions, and the Coffee Cultural Landscape (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Option 2. This chocolate workshop is the perfect activity for those who love chocolate and want to learn how chocolate is made. Take part in this unforgettable interactive chocolate workshop that will let you splendidly appreciate chocolate! You will pick fresh fruit from the cacao tree in the Hacienda Venecia and taste the raw cacao bean. After that, you will learn the journey of the dried and fermented bean that magically transforms into chocolate splendor. During this workshop, you will roast and grind your cacao beans to discover the whole chocolate-making process.
The cacao experience is full of delicious aromas, colors, and flavors. Create your homemade custom chocolate delight with flavors that match your taste buds to enjoy after the class or as a treat to bring home
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.
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.
In the evening, head over to Carmen Cartagena Restaurant for a special dinner. Carmen offers contemporary food with Colombian flavors. We highlight the devotion, love an uattention with which each ingredient is worked. In any of its three cozy environments, a unique gastronomic experience in the city is guaranteed, accompanied by an original proposal of craft cocktails and a carefully selected wine list.
Day 9: 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 or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day 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
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
