Highlights
- Wander the cobblestone streets of Bogotá's historic La Candelaria neighborhood
- View some of the clearest night skies on Earth in the desert of Tatacoa
- Explore the mysterious, painted burial chambers of Tierradentro in the Andes
- Taste authentic Colombian coffee on a tour of a coffee farm in San Agustín
- See the pre-Columbian relics of San Agustín Archaeological Park on horseback
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Bogotá, Explore the Colombian Capital | Bogotá |
| Day 2 | Bogotá Fruit Market & Museums Tour, Cable Car Up Cerro Monserrate | Bogotá |
| Day 3 | Fly to Villavieja, Visit Desierto de la Tatacoa's Astronomical Observatory | Villavieja |
| Day 4 | Day Trip to Desierto de la Tatacoa | Villavieja |
| Day 5 | Transfer to Tierradentro, Discover Tierradentro Archaeolgical Park | Tierradentro |
| Day 6 | Transfer to San Agustín, Coffee Tour on a Local Farm | San Agustín |
| Day 7 | Visit the San Agustín Archaeological Park, Horseback Archaeology Tour | San Agustín |
| Day 8 | Jeep Tour in San Agustín | San Agustín |
| Day 9 | Transfer to Pitalito, Fly to Bogotá | Bogotá |
| Day 10 | Depart Bogotá |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Bogotá, Explore the Colombian Capital
Welcome to Bogotá, the vibrant capital of Colombia! Meet your driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel to check in and freshen up. When ready, venture out to explore this diverse and multicultural city at your own pace. You'll be enchanted by Bogotá's blend of modern and colonial architecture infused with the green spaces of its many parks and the eastern mountains overlooking the sanctuaries of Monserrate and Guadalupe.
Colombia's biggest city has culture to spare, and its regional gastronomy has made it a global foodie destination. If you feel like exploring, head to the cobblestone streets of La Candelaria neighborhood to discover the trendy restaurants and colonial-era landmarks. You'll also find excellent museums, shopping, and street food ranging from empanadas (baked turnovers filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables) to exotic fruit salads.
Day 2: Bogotá Fruit Market & Museums Tour, Cable Car Up Cerro Monserrate
You may want to skip breakfast this morning as your day starts with a delicious three-hour 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 mangosteen, granadilla, lulo, and uchuva (a type of gooseberry), each with its own distinct flavor and texture. You'll also enjoy three shots of fresh juice and delicious Colombian snacks.
Next, you'll tour two of Bogotá's best museums, starting at the Museo del Oro, home to one of the world's largest collections of pre-Columbian gold artifacts. Then, end the walking tour at the Museo Botero, dedicated to Fernando Botero, one of Colombia's most celebrated artists. Wander through the spacious galleries for a close-up look at his paintings, sculptures, and sketches.
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 and the Monserrate Sanctuary, a whitewashed Catholic church completed in 1657 CE. 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-fried green plantains).
Day 3: Fly to Villavieja, Visit Desierto de la Tatacoa's Astronomical Observatory
Today, fly from Bogotá to Neiva, where you'll transfer another 22 miles (35 km) to Villavieja, the gateway to the Desierto de la Tatacoa (Tatacoa Desert). Due to the absence of light pollution and proximity to the equator, the desert sky is clear most of the year, making it an ideal place for stargazing. At nightfall, visit the astronomical observatory in the El Cuzco region of the desert. During the excursion, you'll see various celestial bodies more closely through the observatory's telescopes and have a chance to take incredible photos while listening to a talk on astronomy.
Day 4: Day Trip to Desierto de la Tatacoa
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
This morning, continue exploring the geologic wonderland of Tatacoa. Ride a tuk-tuk from Villavieja to the entrance of the desert with a local guide and learn how this desert is a dry tropical forest. Admire its natural highlights, such as the candelabra cactus and sandy desert formations in varying shades of red and white. Then, begin a two-hour guided horseback ride through the landscape. Let the natural beauty engulf you as you explore El Cuzco (red desert) and Los Hoyos (white desert), followed by a dip in a spring-fed natural pool for a refreshing break.
Return to Villavieja for lunch before heading out to explore the Río Magdalena by boat, accompanied by a local who will share his fishing secrets. Afterward, walk through the gray and ocher desert with your guide as you wait for sunset, passing one of its most characteristic geomorphological landscapes. See key formations made from water and wind, including the Cathedrals, the Tower, the Wishing Tree, and the Labyrinths. Then, finish the day with a glass of cactus wine at the Cuzco Viewpoint while observing the impressive starry sky of the desert.
Day 5: Transfer to Tierradentro, Discover Tierradentro Archaeolgical Park
Leave Villavieja this morning and transfer about four hours to the village of San Andrés de Pisimbala. Located off the beaten track along rough dirt roads, you'll discover a peaceful place high in the Andes with friendly locals. Settle in and refresh at your accommodation, then lace up your walking shoes and spend the rest of the day exploring the adjacent Pre-Columbian wonderland of Parque Arqueológico Nacional de Tierradentro (National Archaeological Park of Tierradentro).
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its painted underground burial chambers, known as hypogea, dating from the sixth to the 10th century CE. Accompanied by your local guide, begin the tour by visiting the Archaeological Museum and the Ethnographic Museum to learn about the Indigenous Nasa culture. You'll then climb to Alto de Segovia and Alto del Duende to visit their many subterranean tombs, each carved into volcanic rock and painted in black and red geometric patterns by ancient Indigenous people.
As you explore, follow your guide along the paths between the significant tomb sites amid spectacular mountain scenery. Archaeologists have found 162 of these burial chambers—some up to 40 feet (12 m) wide—the only examples of their kind in the Americas. After the tour, return to your accommodation for dinner and an evening at your leisure.
Day 6: Transfer to San Agustín, Coffee Tour on a Local Farm
Transfer 4.5 hours this morning to San Agustín, nestled in the Andes. This small town is renowned for its rich archaeological heritage, natural beauty, and coffee growing. Check into your hotel, then head out for a coffee tour of a local farm. Coffee is an essential product for the economy of San Agustín and other towns in this region, where the best specialty coffees in Colombia are currently produced. On this guided tour, you'll visit an organic coffee plantation to learn about the bean production process from start to finish.
On arrival, you'll meet Luis Alejandro, your host and the owner of Finca La Cabaña. Together with his father, he has been growing coffee here for over 50 years. At the end of the tour, you'll taste some of the coffee plantation's specialty coffees to compare and contrast coffee varietals. As you sip, pause to breathe in the smell of each cup for a full coffee experience before returning to your hotel for the evening.
Day 7: Visit the San Agustín Archaeological Park, Horseback Archaeology Tour
This morning, you'll explore the impressive San Agustín Archaeological Park on a half-day tour. Considered the world's largest necropolis, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has more than 600 pre-Columbian statues and artifacts carved between the first and eighth centuries CE, so there's plenty to see. Start with a visit to the archaeological museum, followed by a walk in the park, where you can meander among gigantic stone idols, megalithic sculptures, and sacred tombs that peek out from the verdant rainforest.
Later, join a horseback ride to explore four archaeological sites with an expert local guide. You'll ride through the rural landscape to La Pelota to admire three ancient statues. Then, several feet away is El Purutal, where you'll discover four more statues, two of which have retained their original color. Continue a short distance to El Tablón to see another five classified as female and explore the small ethnographic museum. Next, you'll dismount and descend a hill to reach La Chaquira, an archaeological site with different human and animal figures carved into volcanic stone.
Day 8: Jeep Tour in San Agustín
Spend the whole day with your guide touring the San Agustín area by Jeep. You'll start at the Magdalena Strait, the narrowest point of Colombia's main river, which offers views of the scenic Andean forest. Just a few miles from here is the small town of Obando, where you'll discover tombs similar to those of the Tierradentro and explore a small museum that houses pieces even older than those found in San Agustín. The most famous is a replica of the Winged Fish goldwork, as the original was moved to the Museo de Oro in Bogotá.
Continue your 4WD journey to the Alto de Los Ídolos Park, the second site with the highest density of tombs and statues of the Augustinian culture after the San Agustín Archaeological Park. From there, you'll head to the Alto de las Piedras to see Doble Yo—the enigmatic warrior or guardian carved in stone. Finally, on your way back to San Agustín, stop to marvel at the Salto del Mortiño, an impressive waterfall almost 656 feet (200 m) high.
Day 9: Transfer to Pitalito, Fly to Bogotá
After breakfast, take a one-hour transfer to the airport in Pitalito, where you'll catch a short flight back to the capital, Bogotá. Once you arrive, meet your driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel to settle in. You'll have the rest of the day free to explore. Discover more of La Candelaria, the historic district, passing 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. In the evening, go to Zona G, known as the "Gourmet Zone," for its upscale restaurants and diverse international cuisines. If you're after a more low-key dinner, visit a local restaurant in La Candelaria to try authentic Colombian dishes like ajiaco (soup made with chicken, potatoes, and corn) or arepas (cornmeal cakes stuffed or topped with cheese, meat, or avocado).
Day 10: Depart Bogotá
It's time to say adiós to Colombia. At the appointed time, your driver will transfer you to the airport in Bogotá. Safe travels wherever the road takes you next!
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