Upon arrival at the International Airport El Dorado, you will be met by our representative and will be taken to your hotel. Our guide will assist you at the hotel with check in. Evening at leisure
Bogotá is Colombia’s capital city with approximately 8 million people; it is a cosmopolitan center of sophistication and has become an epicenter of business, politics and entertainment. The city has been transforming itself into a surprising tourist destination and welcoming city. Bogotá has a thriving nightlife, superb al fresco dining and bar culture as well as international shopping. Its privileged location and international airport makes it highly accessible and functional as a main gateway to destinations throughout the country.
The tour starts with an early morning visit to the Paloquemao’s Market. This is one of the largest and most important markets in the country and offers a great insight into the life and customs of the people of Bogotá. Everything is fresh and arrives daily to Bogotá from all regions of Colombia.
Afterwards visit the famous and well preserved historical colonial quarter of La Candelaria. Steeped in history, this area is a must for photographers with its splendid colonial architecture. Walk through the streets, by the library of Luis Angel Arango and down to the prominent Plaza de Bolivar, the heart of Bogotá, where locals and visitors mingle.
Continuing east, on top of the forested mountains, you will find “Cerro de Monserrate”. The white catholic church at the top has been a site of worship since 1657.
Visit the “Museo del Oro”, the most important gold museum in the world and a ‘must see’ when traveling to Bogotá. This museum displays one of the largest collections of pre-Columbian gold. Galleries on three levels display exquisitely crafted pieces dating back nearly 2,500 years.
The tour ends with a visit to the “Museo de Botero”, housed in a renovated colonial mansion. The works on display are all donated by Fernando Botero, Colombia’s most famous contemporary artist. His work is well-known for the ‘proportionally exaggerated’ fat figures. In addition to his own art, his personal collection by Picasso, Renoir, Dalí, Degas, Chagall, Matisse, Monet and Giacometti are also exhibited.
Note: The Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha are magnificent and some of Bangkok’s iconic sites. However, due to the growing potential for large crowds and long lines we generally recommend visiting alternative historic sites of significance which have fewer crowds. We are happy to include the Grand Palace if it is a must see for you.
Drive through the northern residential area of the city, and the fertile plateau to the small town of Zipaquirá. Experience this extraordinary architecture where the Stations of the Cross and three naves are eerily illuminated along with other sculptures and cavernous pools; all hewn from the salt mine tunnels under the Halite Mountains. Though a popular tourist destination it is still a place of pilgrimage for the local community.
The next stop is at the town of Sutatausa. In the center of the town lays the colonial church of Sutatausa. Here admire the excellently preserved and unique wall paintings made by an anonymous artist during the XVII century. The paintings show, among others, a native woman dressed with Indian textiles, which probably were worn during Sunday service.
Following lunch (not included) a one hour drive to the town of Raquira, famous for its pottery, colorful buildings and colony of artisans. Before entering the town, there will be an opportunity to a visit to one of the factories where clay pots and decoration are made by the community. Visitors will observe the different processes of production of this traditional handicraft.
Close to Raquira rests Monasterio La Candelaria the first convent built in Latin America in the year 1604. There will be a short tour of the convent to stroll around the cloisters to see exhibits of artworks and antiques before setting off for Villa de Leyva in the late afternoon. Evening at leisure.
Upon arrival at José María Córdova International Airport, you will be greeted by our guide and transferred to Santa Helena. Transfer will take approximately 1:15 hours with normal traffic.
Our representative will assist you at the airport. On the road, he will provide useful information for your stay in Medellin.
Our guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel to start a full day tour. You will experience the social transformation that the city has had, from the times it was consider the capital of drug trafficking in the decades of the 80s and 90s, to being an example of progress and civic culture now a days. At the end of this tour, you will understand why Medellin is one of the most special and interesting cities in Colombia.
Transfer to El Poblado you will visit three places, which are linked, to the history of the drug lord Pablo Escobar: The Monaco Building, la Virgen de los Sicarios and his tomb in the Central Cemetery. During this part of the tour, our guide will introduce you to key aspects of social problems generated by the Medellin Cartel and Escobar and its impact to the city between 1984 and 1994, year in which the famous drug trafficker was killed.
Afterwards, going through the Avenida del Rio to reach the city’s downtown and visit the “Parque de las Esculturas” also known as the Plaza de Botero, which has an outdoor display of 23 sculptures of Fernando Botero. Then continue to Pies Descalzos Park, which is a place for relaxation. This park is located in the middle of the city. Then you will go to the Museum of Antioquia, which houses the public collection of pre-Hispanic, republican and contemporary art of the most important national and international artists of the region.
Then you will be transferred to the Metro Cable, the first cable car system that works as means of public transport. You will take the route to Santo Domingo Savio neighborhood in which you will visit the Spain Library, designed by Giancarlo Mazzanti, Colombian; it is one of the 5 library-parks in town.
Here you will appreciate its stunning design while enjoying an interpreted tour which shows an overview of the significant socio-cultural transformation the city has had.
We continue with a scenic tour of the Arví Park, which has 16,000 acres of saltwater ecosystems, pre-Hispanic roads and a market operated by local producers and entrepreneurs.
The tour continues through the Cerro Nutibara, Medellin’s natural viewpoint, to visit Pueblito Paisa, a replica of an ancient Paisa town constructed in 1978. Our guide will instruct you about characteristics and idiosyncrasies of the Paisa culture while you enjoy a typical local snack touring in the the central square or the Pueblito’s fonda.
The tour ends in one of Medellin’s trendy zones located in the area of El Poblado, the Parque Lleras. Here you will have the opportunity to feel the festive atmosphere of Medellin and its people, and you will find the best bars and restaurants in town. Your guide will suggest the best one according to your preferences.
Transfer back to hotel.
Our guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel on time to transfer you to José María Córdova International Airport. The transfer will take approximately 45 minutes with normal traffic. Once at the airport, the guide will assist you with the registration procedure at your airline's counter.
Upon arrival you will be met by our representative and will be taken to your hotel. Our guide will assist you at the hotel with the check-in.
Join us for a visit to the traditional village of Filandia, where you will enjoy a tour around the small town. You will visit main attractions like the Plaza de Bolívar, the colonial streets and houses as well as the typical “fondas” (restaurant-bars) for a taste of the local liquor of the region. Next visit Quindío’s Viewpoint for an amazing view of the Coffee Triangle.
Continue with a visit to the beautiful Cocora Valley located in the department of Quindío. This majestic valley is home to the wax palm, Colombia’s national tree and the tallest variety of palm tree in the world. These palms can measure up to 190 feet tall and live more than 120 years.
Be amazed by the natural beauty and diversity of fauna and flora that you will encounter throughout the valley. Once you arrive, you will be welcomed with a typical cocktail called “canelazo”. Afterwards you will visit the misty forest where our guide will explain to you the importance of protecting and conserving this beautiful ecosystem. It is a great opportunity to take some pictures.
The tour continues with the “Ritual de la Palma”, a way to help preserve the wax palms. Visitors from all around the world have helped plant future wax palms at the park; you will also be able to grow your own palm tree for eternity.
Next, you will visit the town of Salento. Founded in 1842, Salento was one of the first settlements in the Quindío state and still today, it preserves its colonial bahareque architecture. Salento’s centuries buildings are awash in harmonious color, especially along Calle Real, the main street lined end to end with restaurants, bars, handicrafts shops and souvenir stores.
A typical lunch with smoked trout is included at the Cocora Valley. Transfer back to selected hotel and overnight.
Breakfast and after that, transfer to Armenia to do a shared (escorted by our private tour guide service) Inspiration Coffee Tour at Hacienda Combia.
Hacienda Combia is a coffee farm that has developed a unique tour, composed of nine stops that recreates the essential elements, environmental conditions and technical processes that are needed to grow Colombia’s high quality coffee.
Weaving a basket for collecting coffee, getting into a bird’s nest or feeling a relaxing water current under your feet, are some of the creative activities that this tour offers.
After lunch, the next stop will be at Quindío’s Botanical & Butterfly garden. The garden has a vast diversity of flora and fauna, including 500 species of plants, 1500 species of butterflies and 126 species of birds.
Once finished the tour, you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight to Cartagena.
The tour begins with a visit to the “Convento de la Popa”, where the city’s highest point is located and you can enjoy the best view of the beautiful city of Cartagena. The Augustinian Monks built this convent in the 17th century.
Continue with a visit to the “Castillo de San Felipe”. The Spaniards built this castle in the 1600s and it is the greatest and strongest fortress ever built in a Spanish colony. Located at the top of San Lázaro hill, its purpose was to protect and guard the city’s landward side from any attack or invasion. This fortress provides a complex system of tunnels connected with strategic points to distribute provisions and facilitate a possible evacuation. Additionally, the tunnel’s architecture was built so that any noise would echo along them, in order to make internal communications easier and hear even the slightest sound of the enemies approaching.
Afterwards, a walk through “Las Bóvedas” is included. These 23 vaults were built in the 18th century and they are considered the last major colonial construction made within the city walls for military purposes. The vaults were used as storerooms for munitions and provisions by the Spaniards, and later on, they became jail cells. Nowadays, they are used as crafts markets where you can find handicrafts, antiques, galleries, jewelry, clothing and souvenirs, among other things.
At the end of the tour you will take a walk through the inner walled section of the colonial city. Discover Cartagena’s rich history and beautiful colonial architecture where you will admire the old houses, stunning balconies and different little squares.
In the afternoon, we invite you to enjoy a delicious and colorful experience where you will be able to taste some of the local flavors of the city and learn about its culture. This walking tour through the inner walled section of the colonial city will let you experience Cartagena like a local resident in a neighborhood where people live, eat and shop. Featuring seven authentic food stops with different delicious tastings, you get to escape the crowds and taste the best of what the city has to offer.
Our guide will meet you at the lobby of the hotel and will take you to the Rafael Núñez Airport. We will assist you at the airport during the check-in at the airline counter to help you connect to your next destination.
