Highlights
- Ride the cable car up Cerro Monserrate for epic views of Bogotá and the Andes
- Sip local coffee in the Indigenous village of Mutanyi on a jungle trek to the Lost City
- Snorkel and swim in the pristine Caribbean waters of Tayrona National Park
- See candelabra cacti and red and white sand formations in the Tatacoa Desert
- Discover stone idols and megalithic sculptures on a horseback ride in San Agustín
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Bogotá, Explore the Colombian Capital | Bogotá |
| Day 2 | Bogotá Museums Tour, Cable Car Up Cerro Monserrate | Bogotá |
| Day 3 | Fly to Santa Marta | Santa Marta |
| Day 4 | Trek to Ciudad Perdida (Day 1) | The Lost City |
| Day 5 | Trek to Ciudad Perdida (Day 2) | The Lost City |
| Day 6 | Trek to Ciudad Perdida (Day 3) | The Lost City |
| Day 7 | Trek to Ciudad Perdida (Day 4), Transfer to Tayrona National Park | Tayrona National Park |
| Day 8 | Explore Tayrona National Park | Tayrona National Park |
| Day 9 | Fly to Neiva, Transfer to Villavieja | Villavieja |
| Day 10 | Day Trip to Desierto de la Tatacoa | Villavieja |
| Day 11 | Transfer to Tierradentro, Discover Tierradentro Archaeolgical Park | Tierradentro |
| Day 12 | Transfer to San Agustín, Explore San Agustín | San Agustín |
| Day 13 | Visit the San Agustín Archaeological Park, Horseback Archaeology Tour | San Agustín |
| Day 14 | Transfer to Pitalito, Fly to Bogotá, Depart |
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 you're ready, venture out to explore the city at your own pace. An excellent place to start is La Candelaria, the historic district where you can enjoy a leisurely walk among the charming colonial architecture, vibrant street art, and cobbled streets. As you wander, admire landmarks like Iglesia de San Francisco, a historic church dating from 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, go to Zona G, also 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 (chicken soup with potatoes and corn) or arepas (cornmeal cakes).
Day 2: Bogotá Museums Tour, Cable Car Up Cerro Monserrate
This morning, you'll tour two of Bogotá's best museums on foot, starting at the Museo del Oro, home to one of the world's largest collections of pre-Columbian gold artifacts from Colombia's ancient Indigenous peoples. Then, follow your guide to 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 bustling plaza with restaurants and souvenir shops, as well as the Monserrate Sanctuary, 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), before returning to the city center.
Day 3: Fly to Santa Marta
Check out of your hotel this morning and transfer to the airport for a 1.5-hour flight to the historic port city of Santa Marta. Founded in 1525 CE, Santa Marta is the oldest city in Colombia with many notable colonial-era landmarks, like its Renaissance-style cathedral—the Catedral Basílica de Sagrario y San Miguel. After settling into your hotel, wander through the colorful streets of the restored historic center, where you'll find vibrant markets and shops. Be sure to visit the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) to dive into the region's rich pre-Columbian history.
Then, enjoy a seaside stroll along the scenic Malecón promenade and admire the statues of the Indigenous Tayrona people sprinkled along it, or relax at the city's most popular beach, el Rodadero, a short bus trip away. When the sun begins to dip, head to Parque de los Novios, a leafy square surrounded by restaurants and bars. Take your pick of dining options along Carrera 3, a nearby street, and settle in to people-watch as the area comes alive with energy and nightlife.
Santa Marta is also the main hub for excursions into Tayrona National Park and the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the latter of which is where you're headed tomorrow. So, head to bed early, as you'll begin your multi-day trek in the morning.
Day 4: Trek to Ciudad Perdida (Day 1)
Rise early and check out of your hotel for the first day of your multi-day trek to the region's most impressive archaeological site: Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City). Located deep in the Sierra Nevadas, this ancient complex and former center of the Tayrona empire comprises more than 250 terraces and dates from around 700 CE—predating the Inca Machu Picchu by about 800 years. On a four-day trek, you'll explore this archaeological gem, considered the center of the world and a sacred land by the descendants of the Tayronas.
The journey covers 26 miles (42 km) roundtrip, most of which involves trekking through the jungle. Today, your adventure kicks off with a three-hour transfer from your hotel to the rustic small town of Machete Pelao. After a break for lunch, you'll dive right into the trek, hiking about 4.7 miles (7.6 km) along jungle paths to reach Adán's Cabanas, the first base camp on the route to Ciudad Perdida. Spend the night here, sharing accommodation in bunk beds, tents, or hammocks.
Day 5: Trek to Ciudad Perdida (Day 2)
After an early breakfast at 5:30 am, you'll depart Adán's Cabanas on the second leg of the hike, which covers 9 miles (14.6 km), ascends 2,952 feet (900 m) above sea level, and takes about eight hours to complete. Today's trek is arduous, but you'll break up the march with regular rest stops, like a visit to the Indigenous village of Mutanyi.
Meet the locals while your guide shares fascinating information about the history, culture, and daily life of the more than 3,000 descendants of the Tayrona people (such as the Arhuaco, Kogui, Wiwa, and Kakuamo communities) who inhabit the area. After lunch, take a refreshing dip in the Río Buritaca, then enjoy a leisurely cup of locally grown coffee amid the lush mountain scenery before returning to the trail.
As you continue your ascent through the tropical forests, you'll see fewer people but will have ample opportunity to observe native animals in their natural habitat. Count on seeing monkeys, hummingbirds, and plenty of butterflies. Eventually, you'll arrive at your overnight accommodation at Rumualdo's Camp, where you'll have dinner and get an early night.
Day 6: Trek to Ciudad Perdida (Day 3)
Leave around daybreak from Rumualdo's Camp and embark on the final leg of your jungle trek to Ciudad Perdida, which takes about one hour. Upon arrival at the site, you'll ascend 1,200 steps to see the ancient terraces of the Lost City hidden within the mountains. The views here are incredible, and look out across Ciudad Perdida and the surrounding forests.
After a three-hour guided tour of the archaeological site, during which you can snap plenty of photos and imagine what life was like here, you'll return to Rumualdo's Camp for lunch. Afterward, continue to Gabriel's Camp near the Río Buritaca, where you'll overnight and enjoy the river's refreshing waters. The total distance you'll cover today is 5 miles (8 km), with an ascent up to 3,937 feet (1,200 m) above sea level.
Day 7: Trek to Ciudad Perdida (Day 4), Transfer to Tayrona National Park
It's another early start today as you leave Gabriel's Camp on the route back to Machete Pelao. The hike covers 9.7 miles (15.6 km), mostly downhill, and takes about seven hours. Upon arrival in town, you'll have lunch and then meet your driver for a transfer to the outskirts of Tayrona National Park, where you'll spend the night. One of the country's natural highlights, this 1,614 square mile (150 sq m) region protects the unspoiled Caribbean coast, mountains, and archaeological sites in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region.
Once you arrive at your rustic jungle-style accommodation, you can enjoy the showstopping scenery. Around the park's rainforests, beaches, and mangroves, you'll spot a wide variety of wildlife, including toucans, iguanas, various species of monkeys, sloths, and more. The park is overseen by descendants of the Tayrona people, who have lived here since at least the first century CE.
Day 8: Explore Tayrona National Park
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
You'll have today to enjoy the unspoiled paradise of Tayrona National Park. If you're all hiked out, you can relax on one of the park's spectacular beaches, like Bahia Concha. Other organized activities include snorkeling, boating, hiking, and wildlife spotting—keep an eye out for monkeys, toucans, iguanas, and more.
If you're up for it, join a guided excursion along the Nine Stone Trail (Ruta Sendero 9), which takes you along forest trails to Playa Arrecifes, where you can swim in the still waters of a natural pool. Continue walking for 20 minutes until you reach Cabo San Juan del Guía, where you can snorkel, marvel at the landscape, or bask in the sun. Another option is a tour to Playa Gairaca, a little-visited beach almost hidden from view, meaning you'll have it primarily to yourself.
Then, stop at Mirador Siete Olas. This lookout point offers incredible views over an idyllic bay with fierce waves crashing on the beach. Later, you can board a boat for a 10-minute ride to your last destination, Playa Cristal (Crystal Beach). Here, hills covered in native vegetation meet a sweep of white sand and those famously clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. You'll have plenty of time to relax, swim, and snorkel around the reefs teeming with marine life before you return to your hotel.
Day 9: Fly to Neiva, Transfer to Villavieja
Day 10: Day Trip to Desierto de la Tatacoa
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, then head 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 while waiting 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 11: 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 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 12: Transfer to San Agustín, Explore San Agustín
Day 13: 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 that look toward the impressive Estrecho Del Magdalena, a canyon of the Río Magdalena, one of the most spectacular views in San Agustín.
Day 14: Transfer to Pitalito, Fly to Bogotá, Depart
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