Luxury Getaway on Colombia's Caribbean Coast - 10 Days

Highlights

• Tour the historic highlights of Santa Marta and Cartagena
• Visit Indigenous villages and see exotic birds in Tayrona and Minca
• Go island hopping and scuba diving in the Islas del Rosario
• Laze on Caribbean beaches, play a round of golf, and learn to salsa

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Santa Marta, City Tour

Welcome to Colombia! This luxury jaunt will take you across the Caribbean coast, known for its colonial heritage, coral island archipelagoes, postcard beaches, sultry music, and colorful culture. You'll arrive via a connecting flight in Santa Marta, the site of Spain's first-ever settlement in South America in 1525. 

Upon arrival, your private driver will whisk you from the airport to the historic center and the Casa de Leda. This luxury boutique hotel occupies a Spanish colonial building revamped with a chic and modern interior design. Colorful lighting sets the mood for a relaxed time swimming in the rooftop pool, lounging on the terrace with a tropical drink in hand, or enjoying a rejuvenating steam bath at the on-site spa.

After checking in and dropping off your bags, you'll meet an expert guide for a private tour. As the oldest city in Colombia, there are many historical landmarks to discover here, like Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino. This hacienda holds a special place in South American history, as it's where Simón Bolívar, the great Libertador and Venezuelan president, spent his last days. Other stops include Santa Marta's historic center and a prime coastal viewpoint in adjacent Taganga, a charming little fishing village.

Day 2: Day Trip to Minca: Nature, Waterfalls & Coffee Farm

Rise and shine! In the morning, you'll head out on an early-bird tour of Minca. This small town is located 12 miles (20 km) south of Santa Marta on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Colombia is home to around 2,000 different species of birds, and Minca's dense vegetation and tropical rainforests are a haven for many exotic avian species.

First, you'll visit one of the area's many coffee fincas (farms). During a two-hour tour, you'll stroll the coffee fields and learn about the entire production process from bean to cup. After a cup or two of sublime Colombian coffee (and perhaps a craft beer), continue in a 4WD vehicle to the beautiful waterfalls of Marinka, where you'll have time to cool off in the crystalline waters surrounded by nature and many of the birds that call Minca home. These include toucans, parrots, hummingbirds, tanagers, araçaris, and more. Transfer back to Santa Marta at the end of the afternoon.

Day 3: Transfer to Tayrona National Park & Taironaka Reserve

After an early breakfast, meet your driver for the approximately 1.5-hour drive east from Santa Marta into Tayrona National Park. One of the natural highlights of the entire country, this 1,614 square mile (150 sq m) protected area includes unspoiled coast, mountains, and archaeological sites in the Sierra Nevada range.

Your destination is the Taironaka Nature Reserve. This extinct Indigenous settlement is located on the banks of the Río Don Diego in the foothills of Sierra Nevada. Even now, there are trails and agricultural terraces dating to the days of the ancient Tayrona civilization. (Their descendants, the Kogui people, still frequent the area). During a day trip, you and your private naturalist guide will hike on trails that follow the river (and go inner-tubing) amid exotic flora and pre-Hispanic terraces. You'll also stop in at a museum and native home to learn a bit about Indigenous history and culture. 

At the end of the day, you'll transfer to your accommodation adjacent to the Tayrona entrance. Villa Playa Tayrona is a luxury boutique hotel tucked away in an idyllic location at the mouth of the Río Piedra, where it meets the Caribbean. Besides the gorgeous private beach located mere feet away, there's also a shimmering pool great for lounging and doing laps. The well-appointed suites, which include king beds and air-conditioning, offer many creature comforts amid the wild rainforest beauty.

Day 4: Day Trip to Tayrona Beaches

One of the stars of Tayrona is its unspoiled beaches. This morning, you'll head out to visit some of the most popular stretches of sand, as well as some more secluded gems. First up is Playa Gairaca, a lesser-visited beach, meaning you'll have this crescent beauty mostly to yourself. Next, stop at Mirador Siete Olas. This lookout point offers incredible views over a picture-postcard bay with fierce waves crashing on the beach.

After some time to laze on the sands, you can take a 10-minute ride to the last destination of the day, Playa Cristal (Crystal Beach). Backed by the green coastal mountains of the Santa Marta range, this beach has earned its name, as it fronts crystalline Caribbean waters. While here, you'll have plenty of time to relax, swim, and snorkel along coral reefs. At the end of the day, you'll return to your hotel.

Day 5: Transfer to Cartagena, Art Tour & Rum Tasting

It's time to say goodbye to Tayrona. Wake up early and meet your driver for the transfer down the coast to Cartagena. Famous for its colorful colonial buildings, cobbled streets, ancient ramparts, and bougainvillea-draped balconies, this is the most well-preserved fortress city in the Americas.

Upon arrival, you'll check into the Bastión Luxury Hotel. The name says it all—a 5-start bastion of charm and exclusivity set in a 16th-century colonial home. The spacious rooms are equipped with antique furniture and king beds, and there are four different eateries on-site—offering everything from haute cuisine to modern bistro fare. Don't miss the rooftop pool, one of the most attractive such options in a city with no shortage of gorgeous rooftop pools. 

You can enjoy the hotel amenities later—for now, head out on a private walking tour of Cartagena's UNESCO-listed Walled City (historic center). Your guide is a local artist who will take you down Cartagena's historic streets, stopping at artists' workshops to marvel at collections of sculptures and paintings. Afterward, you'll walk to a local bar for a rum tasting. This hour-long experience, led by an expert mixologist, will introduce you to various artisanal rums, many of which feature notes of coffee, caramel, vanilla, and other unexpected flavors. A real treat is pairing the rums with chocolate. 

Day 6: Golf on the Caribbean, Salsa Night

Colombia may not be known for world-class golfing, but that's exactly what you'll experience this morning when you transfer 45 minutes north of Cartagena to Club Karibana Cartagena. This is just the second PGA Tour-operated club to open in Latin America, and it's quite a prize. The 18-hole course is part of a 360-acre (145 ha) development right on the coast. So grab your clubs, hop in a cart, and play a round amid incredible Caribbean views.

Later, you'll return to Cartagena just in time to experience the beating heart of Colombian culture: salsa. Music and dance link every corner of this nation, none more so than this genre. Under the tutelage of a local instructor, you'll learn the fundamentals of salsa dancing—its rhythms, heart, and soul—and 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.

Day 7: Transfer to Isla Barú, Optional Activities

After breakfast, transfer to the pier and board a water taxi for the 45-minute ride out to Isla Barú. One of 27 islands in Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park, Barú is famous for its unspoiled mangrove ecosystems and coral reefs. It's also home to Playa Blanca, a dream of powdery white sands and turquoise waters that's one of the most famous beaches in the country. 

Upon arrival, you'll transfer to your luxurious accommodations nestled on a secluded corner of the coast. The Sofitel Barú Calablanca Beach Resort is a modern, luxurious retreat designed to blend in with the natural surroundings. Though it boasts modern amenities and style, this 5-star resort still manages to capture the soul of Colombia's Caribbean coast. You'll see it in the local artwork hanging on the walls of the prestige suites, and you'll taste it in the fresh seafood and ceviche dishes, which you can enjoy right on the beach.

After settling in, you can head a few steps to the beach for a swim. Or opt for one of the many services and activities on offer from the hotel. These include bicycle tours, coffee tastings, a mixologist class, and an outdoor "cinema under the stars" experience where you'll watch a movie with your toes in the sand. If you like, you can also enjoy a sauna session and/or pampering wellness treatment at the on-site spa.

Day 8: Mini Diving Course, Evening Bioluminescence Tour

Never been scuba diving before? Not a problem. This morning, you're off on a scuba adventure! Here, amid the coral gardens and crystalline waters around Isla Barú, you'll discover an underwater world that draws divers from around the world. First, though, you'll learn the basics with a pool practice, followed by a transfer to a prime dive site around the island. There, you'll strap on your tank and mask and explore an area no deeper than 26 feet (8 m). Within this area, you'll swim among exotic marine life like tropical fish, eels, sea turtles, rays, and plenty more.

Later in the evening, long after the sun has dipped below the horizon, you can take a self-guided walking tour of the beaches near the islet of Cholón. Here, you'll witness bioluminescent plankton shine electric blue in the shallow waters running up to the white sands. It's quite a spectacle that you can only see in certain corners of the world, like the Caribbean. 

Day 9: Island Hopping Around the Islas del Rosario

Head to the pier bright and early and board a boat for a private, full-day tour around the Islas del Rosario—the perfect way to celebrate your penultimate day on Colombia's Caribbean coast. You'll visit three to four islands in the archipelago, enjoying fun activities and experiences at each one. This includes kayak rides, snorkeling, swimming, drinks on the boat, and lunch at a local restaurant on Barú. At the end of the afternoon, you'll return to your hotel and will have the evening free.

Day 10: Visit the National Aviary, Transfer to Cartagena, Depart

Squeeze in one last birding adventure before departing Colombia today. In the morning, you'll visit Aviario Nacional (National Aviary). This organization serves as a center for avian conservation, education, and research, focusing on protecting Colombia's diverse bird species. Some exotic birds you'll see during your time here include toucans, macaws, flamingoes, hummingbirds, and more.

After the tour, you'll return to Cartagena by water taxi and transfer to the airport, where you'll catch your flight home. See you soon!

More Great Colombia Itineraries