Highlights
- Discover the historical sights of Bogotá and go stargazing in the Tatacoa Dessert
- Visit a coffee farm before learning about archaeological remains in San Agustín
- Hear about the history of the Indigenous Guambiano-Misak community
- Relax on Tayrona's beaches, followed by a trip to the forests near the Río Minca
- Experience Cartagena's rich culture and unwind on the nearby island of Múcura
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Bogotá, Explore the City | Bogotá |
| Day 2 | Bogotá Highlights Tour | Bogotá |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Villavieja, Visit the Tatacoa Desert & Astronomical Observatory | Villavieja |
| Day 4 | Transfer to San Agustín, Local Coffee Farm Tour | San Agustín |
| Day 5 | Visit the San Agustín Archaeological Park, Horseback Archaeology Tour | San Agustín |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Popayán, Gastronomic Tour | Popayán |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Cali via Silvia & the Guambiano-Misak Community | Cali |
| Day 8 | Cali City Tour, City Market & Salsa | Cali |
| Day 9 | Fly to Santa Marta, Santa Marta City Tour | Santa Marta |
| Day 10 | Day Trip to Tayrona Beaches | Santa Marta |
| Day 11 | Transfer to Cartagena via Minca, Nature, Waterfalls & Coffee Farm Tour | Cartagena |
| Day 12 | Cartagena City Tour, Street Food Tour | Cartagena |
| Day 13 | Sailing Trip to Isla Múcura | Isla Múcura |
| Day 14 | Beach Tim on Isla Múcura & Optional Activities | Isla Múcura |
| Day 15 | Sail to Cartagena, Cocktail in Café del Mar | Cartagena |
| Day 16 | Depart Cartagena |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Bogotá, Explore the City
Day 2: Bogota Highlights Tour
Embark on a rich full-day tour of Bogotá's most iconic highlights, starting in La Candelaria, the city's charming historic center. You'll begin at Plaza de Bolívar, the main square and government seat, before going to the world-renowned Gold Museum. With over 34,000 pre-Columbian gold artifacts, this museum boasts the most extensive collection of its kind. Next, visit the Museo de Botero, home to an impressive art collection donated by the celebrated Colombian painter and sculptor Fernando Botero.
Stroll through Paloquemao Market, a bustling hub of activity where 750 vendors sell everything from fresh produce to meats and cheeses. Here, you'll have the chance to mingle with locals and vendors while sampling delicious Colombian treats like empanadas and various tropical fruits. Once you've fueled up, head to Cerro Monserrate for some of the city's most breathtaking views. Whether you hike, take a cable car, or take a funicular to the top at 2,690 feet (820 m), the stunning panoramas will be well worth it. Explore the Monserrate Sanctuary before making your way back down the hill.
Day 3: Transfer to Villavieja, Visit the Tatacoa Desert & Astronomical Observatory
This morning, a driver will meet you at your hotel for a ride to the airport to catch a one-hour flight to Neiva. From there, a driver will be waiting to take you an hour north to Villavieja, your final destination in the Tatacoa Desert. There will be time to settle at your hotel before exploring your surroundings. Meet your guide in the lobby to discover the spectacular landscapes of Tatacoa, the second-largest arid zone in Colombia after the Guajira Peninsula.
Hop in a tuk-tuk to see two different parts of this tropical dry forest region. There is Cuzco, with its characteristic ocher color, and Los Hoyos, where the landscapes change to gray tones, producing unique panoramic views. Along the way, there will be stops to take short walks appreciating the formations originated by water and wind.
This evening, you'll visit the Tatacoa Desert Astronomical Observatory. Due to the absence of light pollution and its proximity to the equator, the sky in the desert is clear most of the year, making it an ideal place for astronomical observation. Lying on the floor, you'll look up at the sky while listening to an exciting talk on astronomy. During the excursion, you will see various celestial bodies more closely from the observatory's telescopes and get a chance to take incredible photos of them.
Day 4: Transfer to San Agustín, Local Coffee Farm Tour
Meet your driver to make the five-hour drive to San Agustín. After checking in at your hotel, head back out for a coffee tour. Coffee is an essential product for the economy of San Agustín and other towns in this region, where some of the best specialty coffees in Colombia are currently produced. On this tour, you'll visit an organic coffee farm, where you'll learn about the bean production process, from start to finish, in a very authentic way.
Your host will be Luis Alejandro, owner of Finca La Cabaña, who will proudly walk you through how he and his father have been growing coffee for over 50 years. At the end of the tour, Luis will invite you to taste some of his fantastic specialty coffees and experience them with all your senses.Day 5: Visit the San Agustín Archaeological Park, Horseback Archaeology Tour
Visit the impressive San Agustín Archaeological Park on this half-day tour. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has several pre-Columbian statues and artifacts, so there's plenty to see. Start with the archaeological museum, followed by a walk in the park, where you can meander among gigantic stone idols and sacred tombs that peek out from the rainforest.
Later, enjoy a horseback ride in San Agustín led by an expert local guide who will take you along a circuit around four archaeological sites. First, cross the rural landscape to La Pelota, where there are three statues near where they were initially found, as well as vestiges of an original mound. Several feet from here is El Purutal, where there are four more statues, two of which have retained their actual color, which is believed to have been characteristic of other monoliths in the area.
Continue to El Tablón, an archaeological site where there are five statues classified as female. The residents of El Tablón township also operate a small ethnographic museum. Next is La Chaquira, an archaeological site with different human and animal figures carved into volcanic stone that look toward the impressive Río Magdalena Canyon, one of the most spectacular views in San Agustín. After your journey, return to your hotel for dinner.
Day 6: Transfer to Popayán, Gastronomic Tour
Hop in the car as your driver takes you on the 3.5 ride to Popayán. Popayán is a city with a fascinating gastronomic tradition as a consequence of both the geographical and social diversity and the history of the Cauca department. Its Gastronomic Congress, which has been held since 2003, brings together more than 30,000 visitors. The "La Ciudad Blanco" (White City) has also been named by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy (the first in the world).
Once checked in at your hotel, you're invited to a tour through the streets of the historic city center, where you'll learn more about the gastronomic culture of the Payanese (residents of Popayán), its festival, and the landmark UNESCO declaration. Of course, you'll try the famous pipián empanadas (spicy, fried potatoes filled cakes) and other specialties. Be sure to start the adventure on an empty stomach!Day 7: Transfer to Cali via Silvia & the Guambiano-Misak Community
Rise early to make the 2.5-hour transfer to Cali. Along the way, you'll visit the town of Silvia, located 1.5 hours north of Popayán, where the headquarter of the Indigenous Reservation of the Guambiano-Misak Community is located. This center helps preserve the ancestral heritage of the descendants of the Indigenous communities that originally inhabited this region. In the central square, meet the local hostess who will accompany you on a short visit to the town. Learn about the customs and history of the community as you head to the Sierra Morena Trail.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 8: Cali City Tour, City Market & Salsa
Discover Cali and learn more about Colombia's arts and food traditions today with your local guide. At Calima Gold Museum, see goldsmith pieces and ceramics from the area's pre-Columbian communities. Continue to Plaza de Mercado Alameda to try unusual fruits such as lulo and chontaduro and taste a tamal filled with meat and vegetables or an empanada made with corn dough. Finish up your tour by taking your salsa skills to the next level with a short lesson and private show.
Day 9: Fly to Santa Marta, Santa Marta City Tour
Day 10: Day Trip to Tayrona Beaches
In the morning, you'll head out on an excursion to some of the most secluded and scenic parts of Tayrona National Park. First up is 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.
Afterward, rest on the vast and inviting sands of the bays in Tayrona. You will have the option to board a boat for the 10-minute ride to your final destination, Crystal Beach (Playa Cristal), where a sweep of hill-backed white sand meets those famously crystal clear waters. You'll have plenty of time to relax, swim, and snorkel near the marine life-rich reefs. At the end of the day, you'll return to your hotel.
Day 11: Transfer to Cartagena via Minca, Nature, Waterfalls & Coffee Farm
Get ready for a change of scenery as you join your driver for the transfer to Cartagena today. Along the way, you'll stop at Minca, a small town one-hour southwest of Santa Marta and 1,968 feet (600 m) above sea level on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Its thermal transition climate and the Río Minca passage provide it with exuberant vegetation and make it home to numerous exotic birds, many of whom are endemic.
First, you'll visit La Victoria Coffee Farm, 2,952 feet (900 m) above sea level. This farm has one of the most efficient coffee mills in Colombia. During a two-hour tour, you'll learn the entire ingenious process, from the harvest to the cup. After a good coffee or craft beer, both produced here, continue in your 4WD vehicle to the beautiful waterfalls of Marinka, where you'll have time to cool off in the crystalline waters surrounded by nature. Afterward, you'll continue five hours south along the coast to Cartagena, where you'll stay for the night.Day 12: Cartagena City Tour, Street Food Tour
After breakfast, take a tour of Cartagena which begins with a transfer just outside the city center to Convento de la Popa. This convent dates to 1606, and its position atop a hill affords panoramic city views. From there, you'll proceed to nearby San Felipe de Barajas. This hilltop castle was built to defend the coast, and to this day, it remains the most significant colonial fortress in the Americas. Walk along its ramparts and explore its tunnels.
Afterward, return to Cartagena's historic center and visit the city's important landmarks. These include the Walled City and the Plaza de Reloj, where the iconic clock tower stands. Explore colonial neighborhoods like San Diego and Santo Domingo, then visit the Palace of the Inquisition in Plaza de Bolívar. This was once the seat of the Holy Office of the Inquisition and is now a macabre museum. Hear fascinating stories about the founding of Cartagena and tales of pirate attacks.
Day 13: Sailing Trip to Isla Múcura
Get ready for the island life as a driver will pick you up from your hotel and transport you to the pier. You'll depart from the mainland in a speedboat to Isla Múcura, one of 10 small islands in this archipelago off the Caribbean coast. Check in and have lunch at your hotel before discovering its calm turquoise water, or relax on the beach. Múcura is one of the most beautiful and pristine islands off the coast of Cartagena. You'll spend the next two days on this stunning island, relaxing against a backdrop of powdery white-sand beaches and palm trees swaying in the ocean breeze.
Day 14: Beach Time on Isla Múcura & Optional Activities
You'll have a full day on the island, free to do what you choose. If you've had your fill of lazing on the beach, there are plenty of options available to enjoy your day that are easy to organize. Go on a sailboat excursion to visit some of the other nearby islands. Take a snorkel tour with an expert guide who'll lead you to the best spots to explore. Try your hand at paddle surfing and navigate along calm waters. Enroll in a scuba diving course that's designed for one day, or go sea kayaking to spot the endemic species in the area. Finally, pamper yourself at one of the spas on the island for a massage.
In the evening, join an excursion to experience the Caribbean waters set alight by the glow of bioluminescent plankton—witnessing this fascinating natural phenomenon up close, which is only possible in a few places on the planet.
Day 15: Sail to Cartagena, Cocktail in Café del Mar
Savor your final hours on Múcura this morning. Have a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and enjoy one last swim in the turquoise water. You will then board a boat for the two-hour return trip to Cartagena. Be on the lookout for beautiful views as you pass the beautiful Rosario Islands. The ship returns in the early afternoon, so you'll have more time to explore Cartagena, take in the sights you may have missed, and have dinner out on the town.
This evening, your guide will accompany you to the Café Cocktail del Mar, where you'll have a farewell cocktail celebrating the finish of your trip. Afterward, you can return to the hotel or dive into some of Cartagena's famous nightlife, getting tips on the best places from your guide.Day 16: Depart Cartagena
Enjoy your last morning in Colombia. After breakfast, relax at a sidewalk café, or explore a new neighborhood. Walk through a maze of colorful houses and ancient squares, some from the 16th century, or explore the colonial district of Saint Philip's Castle. In the afternoon, a driver will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the airport. Safe travels!
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