The Santa Fe Tour

Itinerary Description

Day 1 - Travel to Bogota

Depart in the evening on the overnight direct flight to Bogota, staying for 2 nights, where you will be met by our representative and taken to your hotel. This is also the opportunity for our guide to provide you advice, explain your programme and answer any questions you may have.

 

Day 2 - Day at leisure in Bogota 

After arriving early morning you have this day to relax and explore Bogota on your own. Bogota is a vibrant capital steeped in history, with colonial churches and squares, surrounded by the peaks of the Andes.

 

Day 3 - Full Day tour of Bogota 

Drive through the colonial neighborhood of La Candelaria and make stops for photographs at Plaza de Bolivar, the main square and heart of Bogota. Walk through the streets where you will see the library of Luis Angel Arango, the Cathedral, the Congress Palace, the Cardinal's Palace, the colonial churches of El Sagrario and San Agustin, the House of Independence, the Palace of Justice and the City Hall. Visit to the famous Gold Museum, which houses the world greatest collection of Prehispanic Indian gold crafts. Galleries on three levels display pieces dating back nearly 2.500 years.6  00 Afterwards, visit the Fernando Botero Museum which contains around 120 pieces of paintings and sculptures of this famous contemporary Colombian artist. His work is well-known for the 'proportionally exaggerated' fat figures. In addition to his work, his personal collection by Picasso, Renoir, Dalí, Degas, Chagall, Matisse, Monet and Giacometti are also exhibited.

Itinerary Description

Day 4 - Travel to Villa De Leyva 

We journey northward through the plateau of Bogotá, taking in magnificent mountain scenery to our first stop, the town of Sutatausa after one and a half hour drive. The colonial church will be visited to admire the excellently kept 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 used to assist the Sunday service. Continuing during 30 minutes to a very nice restaurant where passengers can have lunch, included.

Afterwards one hour drive to the town of Ráquira, famous for its pottery and colony of artisans. Before entering to the colourful town, a visit to one of the factories where clay pots and decoration are made by the people of the village. Passengers will observe the different steps of the elaboration of this handicrafts. We continue our journey to spend the night in Villa de Leyva.

 

Day 5 - Tour of Villa de Leyva

Villa de Leyva was founded in 1572 and still exuding a grand though faded colonial charm. We take a walking tour of the town, enjoying the colonial architecture, large square and relaxed ambiance. In the afternoon we return to Bogota, for 1 night.

Itinerary Description

Day 6 - Travel to Pereira 

Morning flight to Pereira, you will be met by one of our representatives and taken to the historical Hacienda for a three-night stay.

 

Day 7 - Excursion & Coffee Tasting Hacienda San Alberto 

About an hour outside of Pereira lies the town of Buenavista, the smallest municipality in Colombia. There, up in the hills you will find a premium coffee producer: Hacienda San Alberto. San Alberto has been producing coffee since the early 1970's, so it came as no surprise when they decided to open their doors to the public and share this experience with the coffee lovers around the world. We will tour around the beautiful Hacienda and learn all about the coffee process from start to finish. You will get familiarized with the coffee bean germination process, visit the coffee nursery, walk around the coffee plantations and visit the processing plant. Afterwards we invite you to participate in an incredible experience that will awaken all your senses: a coffee tasting accompanied by our experts. A sip of coffee will never be the same again, you will learn to identify the characteristics and qualities that are present in a good cup of coffee.

Itinerary Description

Day 8 - Salento & Cocora Valley 

Join us for 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 for 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 old buildings are awash in harmonious colour, especially along Calle Real, the main street lined end-to-end with restaurants, bars, handicrafts shops and souvenir shops. A typical lunch with smoked trout is included at the Cocora Valley.

Itinerary Description

Day 9 - Travel to Cartagena

Flight to Cartagena, via Bogota. Afternoon tour exploring the historic city. Sights will include Bocagrande, the modern residential district and the Convent of La Popa, built at the beginning of the seventeenth century on a hill of the same name with magnificent views of the city & the bay. Continue to San Felipe's Fort, built to protect the city where we have time to walk along the streets to admire the old Spanish colonial architecture and beautiful balconies filled with flowers.

 

Days 10-11 - Days at Leisure in Cartagena  

Explore Cartagena at leisure, or visit one of the Islands on a full day excursions to the Baru or Islas del Rosario. 

 

Day 12 - Return

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight home, via Bogota, arriving the following day, Day 13.

Itinerary Description

Days 12-14 - Tayrona National Park

Depart Cartagena on a private transfer by road to Tayrona National Park on the Caribbean sea with a beautiful coastline and beaches. Stay for 3 nights at ECOHABS with 14 typical cabañas in the style of Tayrona culture

Day 15 - Departure for return flight

Transfer to Santa Marta airport for your departure flight home, via Bogota, arriving the following day, Day 14