The abundant colonial wealth of Cartagena, small villages, cosmopolitan cities and coffee plantations

Day 1

Fly to Bogota

Depart in the evening on the overnight direct flight to Bogota.

 

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Day 2

Day at leisure in Bogota 

After arriving early morning, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your chosen hotel for 2 nights. This is also the opportunity for our guide to provide you with expert local advice, explain your programme and answer any questions you may have. The rest of the day is at leisure 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.

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Day 3

Full day tour of Bogota 

Enjoy a fascinating full day tour of Bogota. We drive through the colonial neighbourhood of La Candelaria and make stops for photographs at Plaza de Bolivar, the main square and heart of Bogota. We continue on foot  through the streets where you will see the library of Luis Angel Arango, cathedral, Congress Palace, Cardinal's Palace, the colonial churches of El Sagrario and San Agustin, House of Independence, Palace of Justice and the City Hall. We visit the famous Gold Museum, which houses the world greatest collection of pre-hispanic Indian gold crafts. The galleries on 3 levels display pieces dating back nearly 2500 years.  Afterwards, we visit the Fernando Botero Museum which contains around 120 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 includes pieces by Picasso, Renoir, Dalí, Degas, Chagall, Matisse, Monet and Giacometti.

Day 4

Travel to Villa De Leyva 

We journey north through the plateau of Bogotá, taking in magnificent mountain scenery to our first stop, the town of Sutatausa. We visit the colonial church 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. Enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant.

Continue to the town of Ráquira, famous for its pottery and colony of artisans. We also visit to one of the factories where clay pots, decorations and handicrafts are made by the people of the village. We overnight  in Villa de Leyva.

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Day 5

Tour of Villa de Leyva

Villa de Leyva was founded in 1572 and still exudes a grand yet 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 a 1 night stay.

Day 6

Return to Bogota

Villa de Leyva was founded in 1572 and still exudes a grand yet 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 a 1 night stay.

 

Day 7

Travel to Pereira 

Take a morning flight to Pereira, you will be met by one of our representatives and taken to the historical Hacienda for a 3 night stay.

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Day 8

Tour and coffee tasting at 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 become familiarised with the coffee bean germination process, visit the coffee nursery, walk around the coffee plantations and visit the processing plant. Afterwards enjoy a coffee tasting accompanied by coffee 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.

Day 9

Cocora Valley and Salento 

Today we visit 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. You will be amazed by the natural beauty and diversity of fauna and flora that you will encounter throughout the valley. On arrival, 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. 

Lunch at a local restaurant, with smoked trout, is included today.

We continue to 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 with restaurants, bars, handicrafts shops and souvenir shops. 

Day 10

Explore Medelin

A full day to explore this notorious city, made famous by the exploits of the drug barons in the 1980's such as Pablo Escobar.

Day 11

Travel to Cartagena

We fly to Cartagena, via Bogota. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided 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 and 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.

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Day 12

At leisure in Cartagena

Explore Cartagena at your leisure - it is a wonderful city to enjoy relaxed independent exploration. Or perhaps take a full day excursion to Baru Island or Islas del Rosario. 

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Day 13

At leisure in Cartagena

Further day at leisure.

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Day 14

Return

Transfer to the airport for your overnight flight home, via Bogota.

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Day 15

Arrive in the UK