Luxury Colombia: Bogotá, Salgar, Cartagena & Isla Barú - 13 Days

Day 1: Welcome to Bogotá!

Welcome to Bogotá! Upon arrival, a driver will meet you at the airport and transport you to your hotel.

Colombia's biggest city has culture to spare, and its regional gastronomy has made it a global foodie destination. If you feel like exploring, head out on foot to the cobblestone streets of the 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. 

Day 2: Bogota Full-Day Walking Tour

After breakfast, it's time to hit the streets and explore! A local guide will pick you up and accompany you on a historic walking tour of the city. You'll begin in colorful La Candelaria—the heart of Bogota's historic center. Amble along its narrow streets, visiting cultural landmarks and local shops selling artisanal goods. Eventually, you'll reach Plaza de Bolívar, the city's main square dating back to 1539. There's a grand cathedral here as well as many important government buildings, such as the Capitolio Nacional (Colombia's national congress building). 

In the afternoon, you'll visit the city's renowned Gold Museum, which features the largest collection of Pre-Columbian gold artifacts in the world, and the Botero Museum, which houses a collection of masterpieces from renowned Colombian sculptor and painter Fernando Botero

Day 3: Fly to Medellín, Helicopter Flight to Finca El Diamante

This morning you'll be transferred to the Bogotá airport to catch a quick flight north to Medellín. Upon arrival, a private helicopter awaits to whisk you to your destination for the next three nights. Tucked away in the lush mountains of the Antioquia region, the splendid Finca El Diamante is set in the heart of a pine forest planted by its founding family. Today the traditional finca (farm) offers a peaceful haven for guests, where you can enjoy a terrace and swimming pool with sweeping mountain views, and a restaurant serving delicious food inspired by local specialties and ingredients. 

Day 4: Horseback Riding in the Zona Cafetera

Today you'll saddle up for an unforgettable horseback riding excursion into the beautiful countryside of Colombia's Zona Cafetera (Coffee Zone), exploring a terrain of lush mountains and coffee farms. In the afternoon, return to Finca El Diamante and spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Day 5: Day Trip to Jardín

After breakfast, set out on a full-day tour of the nearby village of Jardín, a beautiful colonial settlement cradled by steep Andean hills blanketed with coffee and banana plantations. Surrounded by untouched nature, including rushing rivers abounding with trout, Jardín is famous for its colorful houses and balconies, and the area around the central plaza has been declared a Cultural Heritage Village. After a day exploring its many highlights, you'll transfer back to Finca El Diamante and enjoy your final night in the mountains. 

Day 6: Flight to Cartagena, Salsa Class

This morning, a private driver picks you up for a three-hour drive from Finca el Diamante to the Jose Maria Cordova airport, where you'll catch a flight to Cartagena on Colombia's Caribbean coast. This ancient fortress city is rich in culture, colonial architecture, romance, and even pirate history. Upon arrival, a driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. 

As night falls, experience the beating heart of Colombian culture with a salsa dance lesson. Music and dance link every corner of this nation, none more so than this genre. Under the tutelage of a local instructor, you will learn the fundamentals of salsa dancing—its rhythms and syncopations, its heart and soul. The best part is all experience levels are welcome. In fact, you can do it by yourself if you're traveling solo. Ultimately, salsa in the Caribbean is about giving yourself over to the romantic mood and sultry night, and everyone's invited to the party.  

Day 7: Cartagena Walking Tour & Cooking Class

Today you'll experience the "Pearl of the Caribbean" on a half-day walking tour of Cartagena. Let its cobbled streets transfer you back to colonial times as you stroll amid colorful houses and lively squares. Visit the colonial districts of San Diego and Santo Domingo, pass through the Plaza los Coches, see the Parque Bolívar and the Palace of Inquisition, and marvel at the famous walls surrounding the Old Town. 

In the afternoon, you will take part in a cooking class! Gilles and his wife will welcome you to his restaurant in Cartagena's historic Old Town and you'll discover the exotic, rich flavors that comprise Caribbean cuisine. After a welcome cocktail, you will start cooking. The class culminates with an epic dinner where you'll get to enjoy the delectable dishes you've prepared.

Day 8: Cartagena Sunset Sailing Excursion

Your morning is free to relax at the hotel or head out to explore more of Cartagena at your own pace. You could wander the narrow streets of the historic Old Town, snapping photos of the lively plazas and colorful houses with bougainvillea-draped balconies, or walk along the original fortress walls (dating back to 1586), constructed to protect Cartagena from sea attacks. These ramparts also afford panoramic views of the city and make great viewing spots. Or discover Getsemaní, the bohemian neighborhood just outside the walls of Old Town. Once a seedy area, Getsemaní is now a cultural enclave filled with Spanish colonial architecture, graffiti art, boutique hotels, and street food vendors.

In the late afternoon, you'll set sail on a private sailboat to explore the Bay of Cartagena and enjoy a romantic Caribbean sunset surrounded by breathtaking scenery. 

Day 9: Transfer to Las Islas on the Barú Peninsula 

Today you'll trade the bustling streets of Cartagena for a Caribbean paradise of white sands and turquoise waters. After transferring from your hotel to the pier, you'll board a boat headed for the Barú Peninsula and the luxury eco-resort of Las Islas.

Days 10-11: Barú Peninsula Free Days

The next two days are free for you to relax in your island paradise, or take on as many or as few activities as you'd like! You can snorkel or dive, swim, sunbathe, go kayaking, take a short hike, join a cooking class, or simply relax on the beach. If you'd like to learn more about the area's natural wonders, you can take a tour of the mangroves with some local fishermen or learn about bioluminescent plankton on an evening excursion.

Day 12: Transfer to Cartagena

Bid island life farewell today as you board a boat for the scenic journey back to Cartagena. After transferring to your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to explore Cartagena, visiting any sites you may have missed so far.

Day 13: Depart Cartagena

It's time to say hasta pronto to Colombia! After one last coffee or stroll through the colonial streets, a private transfer will pick you up at your hotel and take you to Cartagena airport—about a 15-minute drive away. Safe travels!

More Colombia Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Colombia? Check out these other Colombia itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights. 

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