Colombia for Foodies: Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena & Santa Marta - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bogotá, Dinner at El Chato

Welcome to Colombia! Your trip starts in the capital of Bogotá, nestled in the Andes at an impressive 8,660 feet (2,640 m). Colombia's largest city has culture to spare, and its regional gastronomy has made it a global foodie destination. You'll have ample free time to explore this Andean capital on foot. Start with the cobblestone streets of La Candelaria neighborhood, where trendy restaurants and colonial-era landmarks are located. You'll also find excellent museums, shopping, and street food ranging from empanadas to exotic fruit salads. 

Later, get ready for a swanky culinary experience at El Chato, one of the best restaurants in South America. Located in the trendy Chapinero neighborhood, chef Alvaro Clavijo serves a gourmet menu celebrating locally sourced produce. 

Settle in, then head to dinner at the famed Elcielo Restaurant. Led by a wunderkind Paisa chef, Elcielo made its mark with a molecular gastronomy approach to transforming local ingredients into creative dishes that engage all five senses. The evening's culinary journey involves a tasting menu featuring different themes for each course.

Day 4: Medellín City Tour, Culinary Social Project Experience, Dinner at OCI.med

Day 5: Fly to Cartagena, Sunset Drinks at Café del Mar, Dinner at Candé

Catch a flight from Medellín to Cartagena de Indias and start enjoying your first day in this vibrant city. With its spectacular sunsets, whimsical architecture, waterfront setting, and mouthwatering cuisine, it's the perfect place for anyone who wants to experience authentic Colombian Caribbean culture.

Take an afternoon stroll around the city to get your bearings and lose yourself in the historic streets of the Old Town, or "Walled City." In the late afternoon, go for sunset drinks at Café del Mar on top of the old city walls. This popular bar has excellent sunset views and a fantastic atmosphere. Continue to Candé for dinner, which features a menu of Caribbean classics and fresh seafood accompanied by live music and dancing. After the meal, stroll down the cobbled streets of Cartagena's historic center before retiring to your hotel.

Afterward, you'll produce your own chocolate directly from cacao beans. You'll be participating in the "Bean to Bar" workshop at the ChocoMuseo (Chocolate Museum) in Parque Bolívar, in Old Town. 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 own handmade chocolates customized to your specific taste.

In the evening, the culinary theme continues with dinner at Alma. Translating to "soul," that's exactly what this restaurant puts into every dish, which includes regional classics like seafood casserole and ceviche. 

Day 7: Traditional Cooking Class, Rum & Chocolate Tasting, Dinner at Mistura

Attend a cooking class this morning inspired by the diversity of flavors from the Caribbean coast of Colombia and its many cultures. You'll have the chance to interact with a local chef and learn about the aromas, recipes, ingredients, and flavors behind delicious Colombian dishes. You'll assist the chef in preparing a three-course lunch, then sit down to enjoy it.

Later, head to Getsemani to learn about Caribbean rum and Colombian chocolates. You'll sample both—smartly paired by an expert—during this lively afternoon activity. The spectrum of rum and chocolate spans the coastal and mountainous regions of Colombia, from the smallest artisanal houses to the largest producers. Finish your day with dinner at Mistura, a small restaurant in the Walled City with a globe-trotting menu that features fusion plates that range from seafood cazuelas (stews) and ceviches to tacos and fried rice dishes.

Day 8: Transfer to Santa Marta via Barranquilla, Santa Marta Tour with Street Food

Today, a private driver will take you up the Caribbean coast from Cartagena to Santa Marta, breaking up the journey with a stop for lunch in Barranquilla. The largest city on the northern Caribbean coast and the main industrial, shopping, educational, and cultural center of the Caribbean region of Colombia, Barranquilla is also home to the Carnival Museum, dedicated to Colombia's most important folk and cultural festival.

Upon arrival at Santa Marta, you'll check into your hotel. This busy port enjoys the distinction of being the first Spanish settlement in Colombia. You'll witness this history during a half-day city tour with a private driver. There are many historical landmarks to discover, like Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, where Simón Bolívar, the great Libertador and 19th-century Venezuelan president, spent his last days. Other stops include Santa Marta's historic center, the Museo del Oro Tairona (Tayrona Gold Museum), and a prime coastal viewpoint in adjacent Taganga, a charming fishing village. 

Then, you'll take a street food tour to discover the flavors of Santa Marta. Stop at local vendor stalls to sample tidbits that mix influences from Colombia, Spain, the Caribbean, and even enslaved West Africans from hundreds of years ago. You might sample arepas (corn cakes), patacones (smashed plantains), butifarra (a Catalan sausage), various fresh fruits, and local sweets like cocadas (coconut macaroons).

Day 9: Day Trip to Minca with Coffee Farm Tour

Your guide will meet you at your hotel this morning for a transfer to Minca, a mountain village located on the coastal hillside. Tucked away in the Sierra Nevada mountains, remote Minca is seemingly a world away from the bustling city of Santa Marta just down the Caribbean coast. It's also at altitude, so remember to bring an extra layer or two, as the temperatures here tend to be cooler.

Your Minca adventure includes a full-day tour, and you'll start at one of the working coffee farms in the region. After learning about the production process and enjoying a coffee tasting, you'll continue in a 4WD vehicle to the beautiful waterfalls of Marinka, where you'll have time to cool off in the crystalline waters. Have lunch on your own before you embark on an afternoon walking tour of the town center, then transfer back to Santa Marta for the evening.

Day 10: Fly to Bogotá, Depart

It's time to say adiós to Colombia. At the appointed time, your driver will take you to the airport in Santa Marta, where you'll board a plane back to Bogotá and to destinations beyond. Safe travels, wherever the road takes you next! Hasta pronto!