Highlights
- Walk the cobblestoned streets of Bogotá's historic district, La Candelaria
- Go horseback riding through giant wax palms in the lush Valle de Cocora
- Ride a traditional bamboo raft on the Río La Vieja and swim in a waterfall
- Learn how to cook local dishes and dance in the colorful city of Cartagena
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Bogotá, Explore the Colombian Capital | Bogotá |
| Day 2 | Bogotá Fruit Market Tour, Ride Cable Car to Monserrate Sanctuary | Bogotá |
| Day 3 | Fly to Pereira, Visit the Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal | Pereira |
| Day 4 | Explore Coffee Farms, Cloud Forests & Salento | Pereira |
| Day 5 | Río La Vieja Rafting Trip | Pereira |
| Day 6 | Horseback Riding at Hacienda el Palomar, Visit Parque del Café | Pereira |
| Day 7 | Fly to Cartagena, Free Time | Cartagena |
| Day 8 | Cartagena Bike Tour & Dance Class | Cartagena |
| Day 9 | Cartagena Market Visit & Cooking Class, Chocolate Workshop | Cartagena |
| Day 10 | La Boquilla Day Trip: Fishing, Coconut Crafts & Drum Lesson | Cartagena |
| Day 11 | Depart Cartagena |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Bogotá, Explore the Colombian Capital
Welcome to Bogotá, the vibrant capital of Colombia! Meet your driver outside the airport and transfer to your hotel to check in and freshen up. When you're ready, venture out to explore the city at your own pace. An excellent place to start is La Candelaria, the historic district, for a leisurely walk among the charming colonial architecture, vibrant street art, and cobbled streets. Pass landmarks like Casa de Nariño (the president's official residence) and Iglesia de San Francisco (a historic church dating back to the 16th century).
Continue to Parque Metropolitano Simón Bolívar, one of the largest green spaces in the city at 970 acres (392 ha). Stroll along the tree-lined pathways past lush gardens, expansive lawns, and serene lakes perfect for boating. In the evening, make your way to Zona G, also known as the "Gourmet Zone," for its upscale restaurants and diverse international cuisines. If you want a more low-key dinner, visit a local restaurant in La Candelaria and try authentic Colombian dishes like ajiaco (chicken soup with potatoes and corn) or arepas (cornmeal cakes).
Day 2: Bogotá Fruit Market Tour, Ride Cable Car to Monserrate Sanctuary
You may want to skip breakfast this morning as your day starts with a delicious tasting tour of Bogotá's Paloquemao Market. Learn about the market's history and meet local vendors as you peruse the array of tropical delights. Taste 15 different fruits, such as guayaba (guava), lulo (little orange), carambola (starfruit), and maracuyá (passion fruit). You'll also enjoy three shots of fresh juice and delicious Colombian snacks.
End the day with a scenic cable car ride up Cerro Monserrate, an iconic mountain that rises 10,170 feet (3,100 m) above sea level. At the top, enjoy panoramic views of the city sprawling beneath you and the surrounding Andes. You'll also find a charming plaza with restaurants and souvenir shops, as well as the Monserrate Sanctuary. Spend some time absorbing the views, then settle into one of the hill's cafés to try traditional Colombian street food, such as patacones (deep-friend green plantains).
Day 3: Fly to Pereira, Visit the Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal
Day 4: Explore Coffee Farms, Cloud Forests & Salento
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Spend your day exploring the lush Valle de Cocora, just one hour outside Pereira in the Zona Cafetera, Colombia's "Coffee Triangle." This triangle encompasses the departments of Caldas, Quindío, and Risaralda, and its lush, mountainous terrain, ideal climate, and rich volcanic soil contribute to the region's exceptional coffee. Learn about the country's coffee culture as you walk under the region's iconic wax palms (the tallest palm trees in the world), then ascend into the valley's cloud forests, where the air is cooler and misty.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then head to a finca (coffee farm) to learn about the meticulous process of growing high-quality coffee. Watch each stage of the process, including drying, milling, and roasting, and discover how each step influences the flavor profile. Then, try a freshly brewed coffee and savor the rich, complex flavors. End the day with a leisurely stroll through the charming town of Salento to discover its colorful colonial-style buildings. Walk along Calle Real (Royal Street), lined with picturesque houses, shops, and restaurants, before returning to Pereira.
Day 5: Río La Vieja Rafting Trip
Listen for the sound of a river flowing as you travel through the mountains and cloud forests of Colombia's Central Andes. Follow your guide and trace a path to the Río La Vieja as the ancient Quimbaya (local Indigenous people) once did. Board a guadua (bamboo) raft and feel the power of the natural material that some describe as "vegetable steel."
Learn fascinating facts about the region's biodiverse ecosystem as you float down the waterway, then stop for a dip into a refreshing waterfall. Eat a picnic lunch on the river's banks, then continue rafting before returning to Pereira for the afternoon.
Day 6: Horseback Riding at Hacienda el Palomar, Visit Parque del Café
Explore more of the Zona Cafetera today on horseback as you transfer 15 minutes to Hacienda el Palomar, a large estate with a backdrop of rolling green hills, vast coffee plantations, and mountain vistas. Meet a local cowboy and your horse for the day, then start your journey through Valle de Risaralda, passing charming rural farms and quaint villages. Enjoy views of the lush Valle del Cauca along the way. After the 2-3-hour ride, transfer one hour to Parque del Café, a 237-acre (96 ha) theme park centered around the country's rich coffee traditions.
Spend the rest of the day learning about coffee through interactive exhibits, a tour of the park's coffee plantation, or the on-site Coffee Museum. You'll also find plenty of rides and attractions, including rollercoasters and a cable car that provides an aerial view of the park. Check the schedule for the daily shows that feature traditional Colombian music and dance performances showcasing the region's heritage. Ride the panoramic train through the park, then grab dinner at one of the themed restaurants before returning to Pereira.
Day 7: Fly to Cartagena, Free Time
Catch a flight from Pereira to Cartagena and start enjoying your first day in this vibrant city. With its incredible sunsets, intricate architecture, mouthwatering cuisine, and even pirate history, it's the perfect place for anyone who wants to experience authentic Colombian culture. Depending on your arrival time, you'll have a few activities to choose from. Wander the narrow streets of the Walled City, or historic old town, snapping photos of the lively plazas, colorful houses with bougainvillea-draped balconies, and the brightly decked-out palenquera women who sell fruit.
If you're interested in culture and architecture, check out the colonial neighborhoods of San Diego and Santo Domingo, stopping at key sites like the Plaza de los Coches, Plaza de la Aduana, Parque Bolívar, and Plaza de Santa Teresa. Other sightseeing options include walking along the Old Town's original fortress walls (dating from 1586), constructed to protect Cartagena from sea attacks. These ramparts also afford panoramic city views and make great sunset-viewing spots.
In the evening, explore Getsemaní, a bohemian neighborhood outside the old city walls. Once a seedy area, Getsemaní is now a cultural enclave filled with Spanish colonial-era architecture, graffiti art, boutique hotels, and street food vendors. It's a great place to discover Cartagena's thriving culinary scene, choosing from casual cafés frequented by locals to the upscale restaurants of some of Latin America's most famous chefs.
Day 8: Cartagena Bike Tour & Dance Class
A great way to start exploring Cartagena is on two wheels. Meet your guide and bike through colorful Getsemaní on Holy Trinity Square, and then visit the home of Florentino Ariza, the main character in the novel "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Colombian Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez. Next, cycle across the Roman Bridge toward the Manga neighborhood to visit Villa Roman, a Moorish-inspired house built in 1929. Your last stop is Manga Cemetery, the city's oldest, before finishing at the waterfront. From here, have a drink at one of Cartegena's rooftop bars.
Later in the day, it's time to find your Colombian groove with a one-hour dance class in Cartagena. Music and dance are essential elements of Colombian culture, especially the beats of traditional vallenato (multi-instrument folk music originating from this region). Your dance teacher will show you key steps, including salsa and merengue, that you can try on your own at a bar or club this evening.Day 9: Cartagena Market Visit & Cooking Class, Chocolate Workshop
Cartageneros are rightfully proud of their Caribbean cuisine, and today, you'll learn about some of their most popular dishes, including coconut rice, ceviche, and fish soup, during a group cooking class. First, meet your local guide, who will take you through Bazurto Market to buy ingredients for lunch. Then, walk to a colonial house in the Getsemaní neighborhood to learn how to combine those raw materials into classic dishes. After a two-hour cooking demonstration, have the fruits of your labor for lunch.
Afterward, you'll produce your own chocolate directly from cacao beans. You'll participate in the "Bean to Bar" workshop at the ChocoMuseo (Chocolate Museum) in Parque Bolívar, in the Walled City. You'll learn the history of this substance and even prepare and taste a legendary chocolate drink dating back to the Spanish conquest. At the end of the workshop, you'll leave with your handmade chocolates customized to your specific taste.
Day 10: La Boquilla Day Trip: Fishing, Coconut Crafts & Drum Lesson
The coast around Cartagena is dotted with colorful fishing villages, home to locals who earn their living in the nearby mangrove ecosystems. After breakfast, you'll transfer by private car to one such village, La Boquilla. Located just north of Cartagena, the village is home to many families of African origin, and the vast lagoons here still provide a primary source of income. Head out in canoes with your guide, and learn some traditional fishing techniques as you marvel at the diversity of flora and fauna on display, which includes waterbirds like herons, frigatebirds, and ospreys.
Then, get crafty with a workshop that utilizes local coconuts to make beautiful things. Local women generate income by teaching visitors how to make crafts from common coconuts. During this workshop, you'll hear the ladies' stories as you make your own coconut souvenirs, such as a bracelet, key chain, earrings, necklace, bowl, or cup.
Later, take an immersive journey into the lifeblood of Colombia: music. The nation is home to dozens of distinct genres, but they all share the uniquely Latin American thrum of percussion instruments. Discover these rhythms firsthand when you participate in a one-hour music workshop led by a group of young people from La Boquilla at a local drum school. There's no need to be shy—as locals say: "Play even if you don't know how; dance even if you don't move at all." All that's required is you open yourself up to the rhythms of traditional music like cumbia, mapalé, and champeta.
Day 11: Depart Cartagena
It's time to say goodbye to Colombia! If possible, take advantage of the morning and visit the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas. This 16th-century fortress offers sweeping views of the city and a glimpse into Cartagena's colonial history. You can also explore the Mercado de Bazurto, a bustling market with fresh produce, seafood, and local crafts. Or relax at one of the city's beaches, such as Playa de Bocagrande or Playa Blanca.
When the time is right, a private driver will take you to the airport for your flight home. Safe travels!
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