Off the Beaten Path in Southern Colombia - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bogotá

Welcome to Colombia! Arrive at Bogotá airport and transfer to your hotel in the historic center. Spend the rest of the day exploring your surroundings and enjoying Colombia's capital at your own pace.

Day 2: Full-Day Walking Tour of Bogotá

Start your day with a full-day walking tour of the city center. Discover the colonial district and Bogotá's beating heart, Barrio La Candelaria. Tour its narrow and lively streets before you make your way through Bogotá's historical center and its various squares and markets. Immerse yourself in the local culture. In the afternoon, visit the famous and highly popular Museum of Gold and admire the masterpieces of renowned Colombian artists at the Botero Museum.

Day 3: Fly to Neiva

Spend the morning visiting the fruit and vegetable market of Paloquemao. Stroll through the lively market—the largest in the country and where most of Bogotá's restaurants find their supplies. Return to the historic center and visit Cerro de Monserrate. Monserrate is a mountain in the Andean Cordillera and, at 10,341 feet above sea level, offers a stunning view of the city and the valley below. Built in 1925, the Señor de Monserrate Basilica sits on top of Monserrate and is worth a visit.

In the afternoon, transfer to Bogotá airport to fly south to Neiva. Drive to your hotel and spend the evening as you like.

Day 4: Explore Tatacoa Desert, Transfer to San Agustín

Located 24 miles (39 km) north of Neiva, the village of Villavieja is the gateway to the Desierto de la Tatacoa (Tatacoa Desert). Considered a dry tropical forest, Tatacoa is made of sandy formations of reds and grays and is spotted with magnificent candelabra-shaped cacti.

Head into Tatacoa from Villavieja and settle into your room at a rustic posada (hotel or inn). Explore Cuzco's red and ochre desert and the whites and grays of Los Hoyos. Go for a dip in a spring-fed pool in Los Hoyos, a lovely refreshing break! In the afternoon, drive to San Agustín and settle into your hotel.

Day 5: San Agustín Archaeological Park

With your guide, drive to the impressive San Agustín Archaeological Park, a significant UNESCO World Heritage Site. Start at the archaeological museum before walking in the park to discover gigantic pre-Colombian statues and sacred tombs amid forest and tropical flowers. Then, enjoy a few hours in the afternoon horseback riding through the countryside to La Pelota to see the remaining San Agustín naturally dyed statues. Continue to La Chaquira, a location with a stunning view of the Magdalena River Valley.

Day 6: Whitewater Rafting & Coffee Plantation Tour

The Magdalena River is over 932 miles (1,500 km) long and flows through Colombia crossing various terrain. Around San Agustín, however, it flows through a deep canyon. This part of the river is excellent for rafting due to its quality rapids, and the surrounding wild beauty offers a scenic backdrop.

Drive from San Agustín to nearby Sombrillero to participate in a safety briefing before picking up your paddles. Start your 7-mile-long (11-km) rafting adventure, navigating bumpy Class II and III rapids along the way before eventually reaching Versailles. You'll meet your driver here and return to San Agustín to visit a coffee plantation outside the city and learn all there is to know about coffee, from bean picking to tasting.

Day 7: Transfer to Mocoa, Half-Day Hike from Villagarzon

Leave bright and early today and drive southwest to Mocoa, located three hours away on the border of the Amazon rainforest and where you'll overnight. Then you'll drive a short distance to Villagarzon to begin your four-hour hike among lush vegetation. Working your way toward the Dantayaca River, you'll enjoy the many natural pools and waterfalls—inviting spots for a swim. The walk ends at a 230-foot-high (70 m) waterfall called Fin del Mundo (End of the World).

Day 8: Transfer to La Laguna de la Cocha 

Following 86 miles (138 km) of winding road, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the stunning views as you make your way to La Laguna de la Cocha. Break up the drive with stops in several villages along the way, like San Francisco, Sibundoy, Colon, and Santiago, where you can participate in the Inga and Kamsa Indigenous handicraft workshops.

When it's time to retire, you'll spend the night on the shores of La Laguna de la Cocha.

Day 9: Morning Paddle, Las Lajas Sanctuary in Ipiales, Transfer to Pasto

La Laguna de la Cocha is 8,793 feet (2,680 m) above sea level and offers beautiful views. The lush greenery and wooden structures surrounding the lake gave rise to the area's nickname, "The Switzerland of Colombia." Today, you'll have a chance to explore the lake by canoe. Paddle out to Isla de la Corota Flora and Fauna Sanctuary in the center of the lake. Walk around the island, keeping an eye out for tropical birds in the dense greenery.

Later, make your way to the city of Ipiales to visit La Lajas Sanctuary. Located six miles (10 km) from the Ecuadorean border, the basilica was built on a bridge over a canyon 328 feet (100 m) above the river. The church is an impressive example of Gothic Revival architecture and one of Colombia's treasures you'll enjoy exploring. When it's time, continue to Pasto and check into your accommodation.

Day 10: Transfer to Popayán, Explore

Spend the morning as you like, then in the afternoon, drive to Popayán—known as the "White City" due to the many whitewashed colonial structures—and check into your hotel. Meet your guide and enjoy a few hours visiting Popayán's many sights, including the cloisters of San Francisco, the Caldas Park, the sundial, the Humilladero Bridge, and the municipal theater, Guillermo Valencia. If you like museums, there are a few options: the Guillermo Valencia Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Museum of Religious Art. Return to your hotel and spend the evening as you choose.

Day 11: Discover Parque Natural de Puracé

With your local guide, drive to Parque Natural de Puracé (Puracé National Natural Park). The park is a mountainous area consisting of many lakes, volcanoes, and various frailejones plants located within the páramo ecosystem. Upon arrival at Puracé village, you will visit the colorful sulfurous waters of Termales de San Juan, the Bedón River waterfall, Laguna San Rafael, San Nicolas waterfall, and if time allows, the Piedra del Cóndor (Condor Stone). Return to Popayán in the late afternoon. 

Day 12: Transfer to Cali via Silvia

Leave Popayán bright and early and drive north to Cali, but not before stopping along the way at Silvia, a pleasant little town where numerous Indigenous communities meet on market day. Explore the market and immerse yourself in the cultures of Colombia—a great spot to pick up a souvenir or two. Later, check into your hotel in Cali and take the rest of the afternoon to explore at your leisure. 

Day 13: Explore Cali, Salsa Lesson

Santiago de Cali, commonly referred to as Cali for short, is known as the "Salsa Capital of the World." Follow your guide and tour this modern city. Start in the historic district and go up to Cristo Rey. Enjoy the best views of Cali from this vantage point before visiting the Chapel of San Antonio. Participate in a salsa class and learn the steps at a world-class school. Return to your hotel late afternoon and spend your evening as you choose.

Day 14: Depart

Depending on your departure details, spend your last hours enjoying Cali before transferring to the airport and making your way home.

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