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
Explore spectacular churches in Bogota
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 El Dorado Airport, a private vehicle will transfer you to your hotel in Bogota. This afternoon is a great opportunity to stretch your legs after your flight and do some exploring on your own, book an optional on-site activity, or simply relax and enjoy yourself at the hotel.
Bogota is a lively city, brimming with color, contrast, and history. Today, in this five-hour tour your host will take you on a private walking tour to the most iconic locations in Bogota. The walking tour begins in the historical center of the city, at Monserrate, a church at the top of a mountain. The views from Monserrat will provide an appreciation of how big and diverse Bogota is. Next, head to the barrio (neighborhood) La Candelaria, where your host will share both the official and non-official, but arguably just as important, history of the country. Along the way, try some typical snacks and coca tea while exploring one of the oldest and most traditional handicraft markets downtown.
After breakfast, a private transfer will take you to El Dorado airport with an approximate travel time of 30 minutes, to catch your flight.
A private vehicle will take you from Matecaña Airport to your hotel in Salamina to settle in.
Explore an authentic small Colombian town on this walking tour, experiencing the coffee region’s architectural and cultural charm. Discover delightful old houses, and famous carved wooden windows and doors, and visit key sites like the church and cemetery with your guide. Stop at Salamina’s oldest bakery to sample local snacks along the way.
Duration: 3 hours approximately.
Day 4: San Felix | Mirador Valle de La Samaria Wax Palm Tour
Depart from Salamina aboard a traditional local jeep for a scenic one-hour drive through the Central Andes Mountains of Colombia. First, explore the charming village of San Felix, known for its colorful facades and welcoming locals.
After enjoying coffee and snacks in San Felix, continue to the Samaria Valley, renowned for its giant wax palms, Colombia’s national tree. Unlike the crowded Cocora Valley, Samaria boasts three times as many of these impressive 60-meter-tall trees and attracts fewer tourists. Embark on a guided hike through the valley's forests, led by a host dedicated to conserving and protecting these endangered species. Marvel at the hundreds of wax palms thriving in their natural habitat, including seedlings that illustrate their remarkable growth.
Conclude with a hearty local lunch overlooking the valley before returning to Salamina by jeep.
Following breakfast, get ready for transfer to Hacienda Venecia. A private car and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Salamina and take you to Hacienda Venecia. Spend the rest of the day settling in and exploring the surroundings.
Approximate duration: 2.5 hours.
This is your chance to venture out independently, opt for an on-site activity, or unwind and indulge in the hotel's amenities.
Embark on the Hacienda Venecia Coffee Tour, an immersive journey into the world of coffee and exploration of a working coffee farm. Experience every stage of coffee production firsthand against the backdrop of this picturesque farm.
The group tour begins at the Coffee Lounge, nestled in the heart of the plantation. This building showcases traditional regional architecture with a blend of industrial and natural materials like bamboo. Throughout the tour, delve into various aspects of coffee, a symbol of the region and Colombia known globally. Topics covered include origin, history, global distribution, coffee species, cultivation and harvesting (with a walk through the coffee plantation), processing (visiting the operational wet mill on weekdays), marketing (including the Juan Valdez brand), roasting techniques, coffee aromas and properties, Cafe de Colombia and its institutions, and the Coffee Cultural Landscape (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
This interactive experience allows you to explore, touch, taste, and appreciate coffee and its production process fully. Engage with your knowledgeable guides and workers, ask questions, and uncover the nuances of this beloved beverage.
From the hotel, a private transfer will take you to Matecaña Airport with a travel time of around 1 hour and 30 minutes to catch your flight to Cartagena.
A private vehicle will take you from Rafael Nuñez Airport to your hotel. Travel time would take 20-30 minutes.
Designated as a UNESCO Heritage site in 1984, Cartagena is celebrated for its vibrant diversity and well-preserved architecture.
Join a guided walking tour through Cartagena's stunning old town with the expert English-speaking guide. Explore key landmarks and discover the city's rich history and contemporary charm. Your guide will highlight architecture, art, music, cuisine, and culture. This 2-hour tour features various street food tastings, so come with an appetite!
What’s a Caribbean visit without a beach day? Start your morning with a 30-minute boat ride to Tierra Bomba Island in the Rosario Islands.
Spend the day unwinding in a beach chair with turquoise waters at your feet at Blue Apple Beach House, an exclusive private beach club. Enjoy fresh, local seafood at their top-notch restaurant. Relax by the pool in a hammock, sip cocktails at the bar, or indulge in a beachside massage. Take a swim in the clear Caribbean waters at your leisure.
Return by boat around 4:00 or 5:30 pm, soaking in the serene atmosphere as the sun sets.
Day 9: Return Home
1 Breakfast
A private car and driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Rafael Nuñez Airport in time for your flight. Travel time is 20-30 minutes,
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
We are so glad that we chose Adventure Life. The service is top-notch. Everything is well taken care of and we just have to print the documents and go. Franny even gave us timely updates on possible airport strike.
KC Chan
TrustScore 4.8 | 254 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
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1 day ago
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
1 day ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
1 day ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
6 days ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.