Discover Colombia's Cityscapes & Landscapes: Bogotá, Medellín, Tayrona, Minca & Cartagena - 12 Days

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 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 Walking Tour, Cable Car Up Cerro Monserrate

This morning, venture out and join a half-day guided walking tour of the city, starting in the historic neighborhood of La Candelaria. Begin in the Plaza de Bolívar, home to the country's first cathedral and essential government buildings. You'll learn about the Palacio de San Carlos, where the chancellery operates, and visit Casa de Nariño, the president's official residence.

Next, step into the Colon Theatre to explore its ornate interior with your guide. Nearby, you'll find the 19th-century Primada Cathedral, which was built during Spanish rule. Walk a few blocks and visit the Museo del Oro, featuring thousands of pre-Columbian artifacts and goldwork. After the walking tour, ascend to the top of Cerro Monserrate by cable car with a local guide to enjoy an excellent view of the Colombian capital and the surrounding mountains and countryside. Explore the plaza with restaurants, shops, and 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). Upon returning to the city center, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Head into the Santa Fe neighborhood, where you'll find the Museo Nacional de Colombia (National Museum of Colombia) and MAMBO, the Bogotá Museum of Modern Art, as well as plenty of trendy pubs, wine bars, and breweries to explore.

Day 4: Medellín Transformation Tour, Pablo Escobar History Tour

Venture out on a half-day city tour this morning to learn about Medellín's history of transformation. Just over 25 years ago, it was one of the most dangerous cities in the world due to the presence of the Medellín Cartel. After the drug lord Pablo Escobar died in 1993 CE, Medellín experienced a resurgence thanks to the hard work of local politicians who invested heavily in infrastructure and public education. Today, the "City of Eternal Spring" is one of the most innovative cities in the world. 

Start the tour in the famous Plaza Botero before heading to the sprawling neighborhood of Comuna 13 that clings to the mountainside. Formerly plagued with violence from drug trafficking organizations and paramilitary groups in the 1980s and '90s CE, the area has been completely transformed and now offers graffiti art and street murals that climb the mountainside. The giant escalator that opened in 2011 CE in six sections to connect once-isolated residents to the rest of the city below is not to be missed.

You can also take a history tour highlighting Pablo Escobar and the Medellín Cartel as prime examples of how crime organizations can impact a whole country. Get to know the history of the drug lord and his impact on Medellín by visiting some of the most emblematic sights of his life with a private guide and thereby better understand why Escobar is still the most controversial person in Colombia's recent history.

Santa Marta is also the gateway to nearby Tayrona National Park, a massive protected area that includes an unspoiled coast, mountains, and archaeological sites in the Sierra Nevada range. It's here that you'll spend the next two nights. After your tour, join your local driver for a 30-minute transfer to your hotel on the edge of the national park overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Settle into your rustic jungle-style accommodation and relax as you admire the coastal and mountain views—natural highlights of the entire country where the forest meets the sea.

If you like, go on a nature hike to absorb 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.

Afterward, rest on the vast and inviting sands that fill the bays in Tayrona. Later, 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 8: Transfer to Minca, Coffee Farm & Village Tour

Meet your guide at the hotel this morning for a 40-minute 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. After you've settled into your hotel, get ready for a full-day tour. Remember that the village is at altitude, so dress in an extra layer or two (with a bathing suit underneath), as the temperatures here are cooler. First up, you'll head off with your guide to 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 for a refreshing dip in the natural swimming hole of Pozo Azul. On returning to Minca, grab some lunch in town before embarking on an afternoon walking tour of the town center. Alternatively, visit the hummingbird balcony at Hotel Minca, where you can relax and observe hundreds of hummingbirds that feed there, before heading to your hotel in the village.

If you're lucky, you'll spot exotic birds such as hummingbirds, brightly-colored parakeets, toucans, and white wrens. If you're extra lucky, you might glimpse the elusive royal flycatcher. You won't miss them—they sport a colorful headdress ready for Mardi Gras. Many of the birds are endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, including the Santa Marta brush-finch, foliage-gleaner, antbird, tapaculo, and white-lored warble. After several guided hikes in search of birds, you'll return to Minca for the night.

Day 12: 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!