Highlights
- Relax in the natural thermal pools of Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal near Pereira
- Sample authentic Colombian coffee on a farm in the famous Valle de Cocora
- Indulge in a chocolate tasting at a cacao plantation near Manizales
- Trek to the top of Volcán Cerro Bravo for incredible views of the Andes
- Discover pre-Columbian stone idols and megalithic sculptures in San Agustín
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Bogotá, Bogotá Walking Tour, Cable Car Up Cerro Monserrate | Bogotá |
| Day 2 | Day Hike in Chingaza National Park | Bogotá |
| Day 3 | Fly to Pereira, Visit the Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal | Pereira |
| Day 4 | Coffee Farms, Cloud Forests & Salento in Valle de Cocora | Pereira |
| Day 5 | Transfer to Manizales, Cacao Experience in Caldas | Manizales |
| Day 6 | Hike Cerro Bravo Volcano, Transfer to Medellín | Medellín |
| Day 7 | Medellín Transformation Tour | Medellín |
| Day 8 | Fly to San Agustín, Explore San Agustín | San Agustín |
| Day 9 | Visit the San Agustín Archaeological Park, Horseback Archaeology Tour | San Agustín |
| Day 10 | Transfer to Pitalito, Fly to Bogotá, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Bogotá, Bogotá Walking Tour, Cable Car Up Cerro Monserrate
Welcome to Bogotá, the vibrant capital of Colombia! Meet your driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel to check in and freshen up. When you're ready, venture out on a half-day guided walking tour of the city, starting in the historic neighborhood of La Candelaria. Begin in the Plaza de Bolívar, home to the country's first cathedral and essential government buildings. You'll learn about the San Carlos Palace, where the chancellery operates, and visit the Presidential Palace of Nariño.
Next, step into the Colon Theatre to explore its ornate interior with your guide. Nearby, you'll find the 19th-century Primada Cathedral, which was built during Spanish rule. Walk a few blocks and visit the Museo del Oro, featuring thousands of pre-Columbian artifacts and goldwork. After the walking tour, ascend to the top of Cerro Monserrate by cable car with a local guide to enjoy an excellent view of the Colombian capital and the surrounding mountains and countryside. Explore the plaza with restaurants, shops, and the Monserrate Sanctuary, completed in 1657 CE.
Spend some time absorbing the views, then settle into one of the hill's cafés to try traditional Colombian street food, such as patacones (deep-fried green plantains). Upon returning to the city center, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Head into the Santa Fe neighborhood, where you'll find the Museo Nacional de Colombia (National Museum of Colombia) and MAMBO, the Bogotá Museum of Modern Art, as well as plenty of trendy pubs, wine bars, and breweries to explore.
Day 2: Day Hike in Chingaza National Park
After breakfast, dress warm, lace up your hiking boots and meet your driver for a 4WD day trip to Chingaza National Park. Wave goodbye to the city as you make tracks for this protected area covering 188,000 acres (76,000 ha) just a couple of hours northeast of Bogotá. Rather than bustling neighborhoods, you'll find remote forests, lagoons, and rivers here. The park's misty páramo (high-altitude plateau) ecosystem is responsible for generating 80% of Bogotá's drinking water. Keep in mind that the temperatures range from a cold 39°F (4ºC) to 60°F (16º C).
When you arrive, hit the trail on a 7-mile (11 km) hike through forests at an altitude of between 10,170 and 11,155 feet (3,100-3,400 m). At these heights, you'll pass exotic vegetation, including orchids, endemic mosses, and the iconic frailejón—a species of high-altitude plant resembling a palm that can grow up to 33 feet (10 m). Eventually, you'll reach Laguna de Fausto, a glacial lagoon that, like the rest of the park, is considered sacred by the local Muisca people. The hike takes about six hours, and afterward, you'll return to Bogotá by 4WD.
Day 3: Fly to Pereira, Visit the Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal
Trade the capital for Colombia's lush coffee region as you head to the airport for a one-hour flight to Pereira, a lively city known for its surrounding mountains, verdant coffee plantations, and rural villages. Meet your driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel to check in and change into your bathing suit before transferring 30 minutes to Santa Rosa de Cabal, with araucaria trees in its main square.
From there, continue for another 40 minutes, driving through the mountains until you reach the hot springs, Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal. When you arrive, step into one of the four natural thermal hot pools surrounded by neatly manicured lawns and gardens. The thermal springs are renowned for their therapeutic properties, and together with the spectacular waterfall backdrop and the Andean cloud forest, make for an ideal place to spend the rest of the day relaxing.
Day 4: Coffee Farms, Cloud Forests & Salento in Valle de Cocora
Spend your day exploring the lush Valle de Cocora, just one hour outside Pereira in the Zona Cafetera, Colombia's "Coffee Triangle." This triangle encompasses the departments of Caldas, Quindío, and Risaralda, and its lush, mountainous terrain, ideal climate, and rich volcanic soil contribute to the region's exceptional coffee. Learn about the country's coffee culture as you walk under the region's iconic wax palms (the tallest palm trees in the world), then ascend into the valley's cloud forests, where the air is cooler and misty.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then head to a finca (coffee farm) to learn about the meticulous process of growing high-quality coffee. Watch each stage of the process, including drying, milling, and roasting, and discover how each step influences the flavor profile. Then, try a freshly brewed coffee and savor the rich, complex flavors. End the day with a leisurely stroll through the vibrant town of Salento to discover its colorful colonial-style buildings. Walk along Calle Real (Royal Street), lined with picturesque houses, shops, and restaurants, before returning to Pereira.
Day 5: Transfer to Manizales, Cacao Experience in Caldas
Depart Pereira and head with your driver to Manizales, the most prominent city that makes up Colombia's "coffee triangle." After check-in at your hotel, it's time to head out to a coffee finca, Hacienda Venecia, within the volcanic Central Mountain Range of the Colombian Andes—one of the main coffee-producing areas in the country and a UNESCO-listed site. On arrival at this working farm, enjoy excellent views across coffee, plantain, and avocado plantations.
Soak up flora and fauna aplenty with native trees, water springs, and more than 260 species of birds. Then, visit the traditional main house to learn about Colombian coffee and the farm's history. Cocoa is also produced here, and you'll take a tour of the cacao plantations to gain insight into all the steps of cocoa production, from how the fruit is grown to how it's made into chocolate paste. Taste various chocolate products, which perfectly complement locally produced coffee.
After returning to your hotel, spend some time exploring Manizales on your own. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, then visit the Catedral de Manizales, where you can climb the tallest church tower in Colombia or take in the sunset from the Chipre neighborhood, which sits high above the city and offers gorgeous evening views.
Day 6: Hike Cerro Bravo Volcano, Transfer to Medellín
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Dress in warm layers today and join your driver for a transfer to the base of the Cerro Bravo volcano in the central mountain range of the Colombian Andes. On arrival, you'll lace up your boots and prepare for a hike to the summit. The steep approach to the crater is well worth the effort as Cerro Bravo has an unusual ecosystem characterized by high-altitude orchids and other plants with a high degree of endemism.
On reaching the edge of the crater, surrounded by steep, forest-covered walls, you'll be treated to sweeping views of the Nevado del Ruiz, Valle de Magdalena, and the rugged beauty of the Letras Páramo. The hike itself is a round trip of about three miles (5 km) and typically takes around 2.5 hours, depending on your pace. Since you'll be climbing to an elevation of 13,123 feet (4,000 m), make sure to bring warm clothes—the higher you go, the cooler it gets!
Day 7: Medellín Transformation Tour
Today, you'll join a captivating half-day guided tour to explore how Medellín skillfully blends modernity and tradition. Gain a glimpse into the city's complex history and experience its dynamic present as your guide highlights how neighborhoods have shifted from dangerous areas to artistic hubs. You'll visit Plaza Botero in the city center and Comuna 13 to see how the sprawling mountainside neighborhood links to the city below via a giant escalator. View significant murals and street art pieces as you learn about this innovative city's history.
Day 8: Fly to San Agustín, Explore San Agustín
Day 9: Visit the San Agustín Archaeological Park, Horseback Archaeology Tour
This morning, you'll explore the impressive San Agustín Archaeological Park on a half-day tour. Considered the world's largest necropolis, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has more than 600 pre-Columbian statues and artifacts carved between the first and eighth centuries CE, so there's plenty to see. Start with a visit to the archaeological museum, followed by a walk in the park, where you can meander among gigantic stone idols, megalithic sculptures, and sacred tombs that peek out from the verdant rainforest.
Later, join a horseback ride to explore four archaeological sites with an expert local guide. You'll ride through the rural landscape to La Pelota to admire three ancient statues. Then, several feet away is El Purutal, where you'll discover four more statues, two of which have retained their original color. Continue a short distance to El Tablón to see another five classified as female and explore the small ethnographic museum.
Next, you'll dismount and descend a hill to reach La Chaquira, an archaeological site with different human and animal figures carved into volcanic stone that look toward the impressive Estrecho Del Magdalena, a canyon of the Río Magdalena, one of the most spectacular views in San Agustín.
Day 10: Transfer to Pitalito, Fly to Bogotá, Depart
It's time to say adiós to Colombia. At the appointed time, your driver will transfer you to the airport in Pitalito, where you'll board a return flight to Bogotá and destinations beyond. Safe travels wherever the road takes you next!
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