Family Fun & Learning in Colombia: Medellín, Zona Cafetera & Cartagena - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Medellín

Day 2: City Tour, Explora Park, El Castillo Picnic

Today, get to know beautiful Medellín better. Start in the city center by visiting the large Plaza de San Antonio, from where you can see views of the mountains, and Botero Square, where you'll find many cool sculptures by Colombian artist Fernando Botero. Then, step into the metro station for a panoramic tour by cable car. Learn more about the city on the way and enjoy the views from the top.

Day 3: Tour a Silletera Flower Farm

Day 4: Day Trip to Guatapé 

Day 5: Fly to Pereira, Botanical Gardens & Butterfly Vivarium

This morning, transfer to the airport and fly to Pereira, in the heart of the UNESCO-listed Zona Cafetera (Coffee Zone). Upon arrival, you'll be picked up at the airport and taken to your hotel. Get settled in, then head out for some family-friendly activities that both kids and adults will love. Check out the Botanical Gardens, which contains the vast Butterfly Vivarium. The natural forest of the gardens spans 32 acres (13 ha) and contains over 600 species of plants, 70 species of birds, and 2,000 species of butterflies.

Then continue to a local coffee farm for a tour. Learn about the coffee-making process in an interactive and participatory way, from the sowing of seeds to the final cup of coffee. 

Day 6: Tour the Coffee Park

In the heart of Quindío and immersed in the natural wealth of the Colombian Coffee Region is the Parque del Café (Coffee Park), arguably one of the most important theme parks in Latin America. More than a million tourists from all over the world visit every year to learn all about Colombian coffee culture. The park was founded by the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia and the Departmental Committee of Coffee Growers of Quindío.

Day 7: Valle de Cócora Walk & Picnic, Coffee in Salento

The Zona Cafetera is a rich tapestry of historic villages, charming coffee farms, fantastic nature reserves, and grand mountain peaks. Coffee is more than a cash crop here; it is a way of life. You'll be immersed in this landscape today, starting with a walk in the Valle de Cócora. In this lush valley, wax palms, the national tree of Colombia, reach up to 180 feet (55 m) high. Learn about this remarkable ecosystem while the kids run and play in nature.

After your walk, relax in a private natural reserve, Aguas Claras, where you can enjoy a typical lunch made in a clay pot and heated outdoors over logs while listening to the gentle sounds of the river. End the afternoon by visiting the colorful town of Salento, where parents can recharge with a cup of specialty coffee at the Café Jesús Martín, a café established by a local man who has been instrumental in changing the way coffee is produced in the region.

Day 8: Fly to Cartagena, Chocolate Experience

Bid the Zona Cafetera farewell this morning as you catch a flight to Cartagena. The undisputed queen of the Caribbean coast, Cartagena's walled Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage site, containing a maze of cobbled alleys, balconies covered in bougainvillea, and massive churches that cast their shadows across leafy squares.

After getting settled, kids will be sure to love this afternoon's chocolate experience. Youngsters will start the tasty workshop learning about cocoa beans, exploring their taste, texture, and smell as they watch how Colombian cocoa and chocolate are made. Then it's time to get creative, as little ones are free to design their own molds, decorate with cocoa butter-based paints, and add their favorite toppings to create one-of-a-kind chocolate masterpieces. Along the way, they'll sample some delicious chocolate drinks, take fun photos, and be presented with a mini amateur chocolatier certificate. 

Day 9: Barbacoco Pirate Game & Evening Picnic

Aspiring pirates are in luck today as they join an interactive treasure hunt for a day of fun and adventure throughout the historic center of Cartagena. Inspired by the corsairs who frequented the Caribbean coast on the hunt for Spanish galleons laden with the riches of the New World, Barbacoco's Treasure introduces children to the flavors and history of the city through the fantastic world of pirates.

Following a treasure map and a series of fun tests and challenges along the way, the game is designed for ages five and up, stimulating the imagination, the spirit of adventure, and the capacity for teamwork while exploring a true colonial city that real pirates attacked. After a day of solving clues, firing cannons, and fleeing from sharks, the adventure ends with a picnic at sunset, full of kid-friendly local dishes.

Day 10: Mud Volcano, Pink Sea & Horseback Ride, Depart Cartagena

It's your last day in Colombia, but there's still time to experience some nearby sites to the fullest. After packing up and getting ready to leave, travel a few miles outside Cartagena to see the Totumo Mud Volcano, where the whole family can climb a wooden staircase to the summit and dive into the mud (make sure you take an old bathing suit that you don't mind getting dirty!)  You could also opt for a visit to the Salinas de Galerazamba (Pink Sea), about an hour east of Cartagena along the coastline, where you'll learn how minerals and algae give this natural wonder its candy-pink hue. 

If you have an evening flight, end your trip on a high note with a visit to a ranch that has been declared a National Heritage Site for its treasured Paso Fino horses. Tracing their roots back to the horses of the Spanish Conquistadors, this gentle breed is known for its smooth, comfortable gaits and high-stepping style. After learning about the horses, each member of the family will be paired with the perfect mount for their abilities and set off to enjoy a horseback ride along the beach. When the time comes, say your goodbyes to Colombia and head to the airport to catch your departing flight. Safe travels!