Highlights
- Taste the capital, Bogotá's exciting restaurants and nightlife
- Explore Medellín's dangerous past and innovative future
- Explore the famous coffee triangle with an overnight stay in a coffee finca
- Hike the beautiful Cocora Valley, with the country's famous giant wax palm trees
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Medellín, Explore | Medellín |
| Day 2 | Medellín City Tour | Medellín |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Salento | Salento |
| Day 4 | Hiking in Valle de Cocora | Salento |
| Day 5 | Walking Tour of Salento | Salento |
| Day 6 | Fly to Bogotá, Optional City Tour | Bogotá |
| Day 7 | Depart Bogotá |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Medellín, Explore
Welcome to Medellín! You'll be picked up at the Medellín airport and then transferred to a hotel nearby. Depending on the time of your flight, you can explore on your own or join a local tour to learn more about this thriving, modern city.
Despite its dangerous past, Medellín today is quite charming with its beautiful mountain setting, friendly locals, and vibrant culture. Most of the city's tourism is centered around Parque Lleras in the heart of the trendy El Poblado district, where the best dining, nightlife, and hotel options are within easy reach. You can take a ride on the city's gondola (metrocable) to see the views or walk around the various parks, plazas, and museums. Either way, enjoy the weather—due to a high elevation near the equator, the city has year-round spring temperatures.
Day 2: Medellín City Tour
This incredible guided tour starts with breakfast and takes you through one of Colombia's most successful urban projects. Named the World's Most Innovative City in 2013, the city has undergone a massive transformation through a number of social and infrastructure victories aimed to include, empower, and revitalize some of Medellín's worst areas.
You'll take a ride on the metrocable, the city's iconic gondola car system (great views!), toward remote neighborhoods on the valley side. You'll also visit entire areas that have been redeveloped, allowing the Paisas (people from Medellín and Antioquia—the department of which Medellín is the capital) to enjoy their city once more.
After descending once more on the metrocable, you'll have a typical Paisa lunch at one of the city's well-known restaurants. The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours to enjoy at leisure.
Day 3: Transfer to Salento
Today, you'll fly to Armenia and head to the beautiful colonial town of Salento, surrounded by lush green Andean scenery. Despite a rise in tourism (mostly backpackers) over the past decade, this beautiful place retains an old-world charm with colorful Paisa architecture, musicians on street corners, and an incredible range of handicrafts. Near the town center, you'll find yourself in view of the distinctive Quindío wax palms, which are among the highest trees in the world, reaching a height of up to 230 feet (70 m).
Furthering this experience, you'll stay overnight at a local coffee farm (finca in Spanish) and learn every step of the coffee production process, not to mention frequent tastings!
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Hiking in Valle de Cocora
Near the charming colonial town of Salento, this remarkably lush (and thankfully protected) cloud forest gives the phrase "verdant green" new meaning. Add in the soaring, skinny wax palms—Colombia's national tree—which cheerfully dot the mountainous landscape, and the Valle de Cocora (Cocora Valley) makes for an outstanding hiking opportunity that you won't want to miss.
When you arrive, there are two possible routes, so it depends on how much time you have and how much hiking you want to do. For those that want more exercise and adventure, there's a 5-6 hour loop that takes you through the forest, over wooden suspension bridges, and along steep hiking tracks. It's from this vantage point you'll find the best views. For those with less time, you can experience the Valle de Corcora by heading straight for the trees for a 1-2 hour hike. Either way, you'll capture some amazing photos.
Day 5: Walking Tour of Salento
Today is an in-depth walking tour of the quaint colonial streets of Salento. Founded in 1850, the town is a shining example of the typical guadua-bamboo-influenced architecture with brightly colored facades and is even more beautiful in the presence of the surrounding Andean views. Coffee and trout fishing are big industries here. If you haven't done so yet, take the opportunity to go hiking in the nearby Cocora Valley.
Day 6: Fly to Bogotá, Optional City Tour
It's time for your flight to Bogotá! Depending on your arrival, you may be able to fit in a walking tour of the city.
This guided tour starts with a ride on the scenic cable car to the mountainous peaks of Montserrat to see one of the best panoramic views of the city. On your return trip, visit the food market of La Concordia, where you can practice your Spanish while tasting fruits, vegetables, and spices used in local cuisine. Stroll through Bogota's lively streets to experience walled graffiti art, coffee cafés, bookstores, art galleries, and historic plazas and statues while learning about the fascinating political history of Colombia's capital.
Day 7: Depart Bogotá
It's time to say farewell to Colombia! Enjoy your last moments in Bogotá with a leisurely breakfast, city stroll, and/or souvenir shopping. A representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home.
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