Treasures of Southern Colombia

( 5 Star )

Visit: Bogotá-Neiva-San Agustín-Popayán-Cartagena

Overview
Itinerary
Inclusion / Exclusion
Dates Pricing

An excellent proposal for archaeology, history, and nature enthusiasts, covering Bogotá, the Coffee Region, Cartagena, and the South of the country: San Agustin, the archaeological capital of Colombia, and Popayán, a white city with colonial charm.

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Welcome to Bogotá! Located at 2,640 meters (8,660 feet) in the Andes, it is the cultural, economic, and political center of Colombia. With 8 million of inhabitants, Bogotá is a dynamic and modern metropole with numerous attractions, cultural events, and a thriving nightlife. The historic district can be found at La Candelaria, a pleasant quarter of cafés, churches, and museums.

Hotel/Other Details

Hotel Casa Deco 2* or similar

After breakfast at your hotel, you will have a whole day to explore some of the most attractive places of Bogotá. Visit Bogotá’s largest food market: Paloquemao! This typical market serves as the supplier for most of the city's best restaurants, being a real labyrinth of odors and flavors. Continue exploring La Candelaria, the heart of the historical center and first neighborhood of the city. This is a lovely historic quarter full of churches, renowned museums, and cafés. In the afternoon, visit the Gold Museum (closed on Mondays) to see the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian gold objects. Next stop is the Botero Museum (closed on Tuesdays) where, paintings and sculptures of Colombia's most celebrated artist are exhibited with a private collection of Picasso and Braque. Optional: Graffiti workshop with a local artist. Share his passion and do your own graffiti to take away! Optional: Empanadas workshop. Make a typical Colombian dish accompanied by a young Colombian chef (closed on weekends and holidays).

Hotel/Other Details

Hotel Casa Deco 2* or similar

Flight Bogotá – Neiva. Visit the Tatacoa desert. This is the second largest desert in Colombia, and it has two large distinct geographical zones. The “Cuzco” sector, where the erosion carved canyons, ravines and labyrinths of ocher and glowing colors, and the “Los Hoyos” sector, where the ground is tinged with gray and anthracites. Hike through this unusual dark red or light gray landscape dotted with small canyons. Transfer to your hotel.

Hotel/Other Details

Hotel Casa Bohemia 3* or similar

Transfer to San Augustin. You will be going along the Río Magdalena, emerging in the mountains, and opening into the Caribbean Sea. On the way, make a stop in a traditional coffee plantation where you will be explained the whole process, from the harvest to the cup. This immersion will show you how the grains are selected, but also the drying and roasting process, until obtaining the final product. Finish the visit with a good cup of coffee.

Hotel/Other Details

Hotel Akawanka 3* or similar

Visit the Archaeological Park of San Agustín (closed on Tuesdays). This fascinating archaeological park, with more than 300 massive statues and sacred tombs, is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. You can discover El Bosque, a small museum, and the Mesitas where ancient dwellings, tombs, statues with remarkable finishing and artificial mounds are housed. You will then visit the archaeological site of Alto de La Piedras to discover beautiful statues. In the middle of tombs decorated with geometric forms, some of them are among the most known of San Agustín.

Hotel/Other Details

Hotel Akawanka 3* or similar

This morning you will travel to Popayan and check in at your hotel. Popayan is considered as the religious capital of Colombia with the largest number of churches per inhabitants. It is one of the best-preserved colonial cities in the country although partially destroyed by an earthquake in the 1980s. In the afternoon, you will visit the village of Popayan, and discover its baroque churches (Of San Francisco and Ermita), the Basilica Cathedral and the sumptuous stone streets. Discover the city and its colonial houses with white walls, wrought iron balconies and flowering bushes. End this visit with the tasting of the famous “aplanchadas” at Doña Chepa. This sweet donut is a specialty of Popayan.

Hotel/Other Details

Hotel Camino Real 2* or similar

This is time to travel to the Coffee Triangle. On your way, take a break to visit the Finca El Diamante. You will be welcomed on the property surrounded by vegetation to take a break. Taste the buffalo cheese they prepare at the hacienda, then walk through a forest of “guaduas”, a Colombian bamboo. With a little luck, you will have the chance to observe some birds, while walking along the river. Have lunch outside to taste a typical dish of the region, and continue your ride to the Coffee Region. If the transfer takes place on a Tuesday, you could go to the village of Silvia for a meeting with the Guambiano community and visit the market. Exchange with the inhabitants, and discover their customs, history, traditional medicine and crafts. Every Tuesday, the Guambianos exhibit and sell traditional crafts transforming the market into a real meeting place and cultural discovery.

Hotel/Other Details

Hotel Hacienda Combia 2* or similar

Today, you will discover the Cocora Valley. First, take a beautiful walk along the Quindío River that will allow you to discover the cloudy rainforest and admire the wax palms, the Colombian national tree, impressive by its height that can reach 70 meters. Head to the village of Salento to enjoy its colonial architecture with its colorful balconies. Continue with the small village of Filandia known for its colorful houses and its square surrounded by coffee shops. Optional: Hop on a Jeep Willys to go to the Cocora Valley (private or shared). The Jeep Willys were imported to Colombia after the war to allow farmers to get around in this mountainous region. It still occupies this function but is also used as a tourist way of transportation. Optional : Visit a private natural reserve. Plant your own « Palma de Cera » and contribute to preserve this unique panorama. You can also horseback ride in the reserve.

Hotel/Other Details

Hotel Hacienda Combia 2* or similar

In the morning, you will be transferred to the airport of Pereira for your flight to Cartagena. You will be picked up and driven to your hotel for checking in. Welcome to Cartagena! Go back in time and relive some of the highlights of the city’s history with a walking tour. Cartagena has suffered repeated attacks from pirates, like the notably Captain Francis Drake. Discover the church and the monastery San Pedro Claver, the Cathedral also called Minor Basilica and the colonial houses which border the alleys of the historical center. End the visit with a homemade ice cream. Optional: Join a private or group salsa class. (1h, water included). Optional: Sunset cruise in the bay of Cartagena by collective boat (semi-public yacht with open bar: cocktails, lemonade, soda, water (from Wednesday to Sunday only).

Hotel/Other Details

Hotel Alfiz 3* or similar

Free day. Additional activities in option. Optional: Visit the Boquilla community. A fishing village of Afro-Colombian culture located 20 minutes away from Cartagena on the beach and surrounded by mangroves. After visiting the community, observe different types of native and migratory birds aboard a local boat through the mangroves. Optional: Visit the Popa convent and San Felipe fort, a masterpiece of military architecture, erected in 1536 to defend the city of many pirates and corsairs. The convent of Popa offers a panoramic view of the city and its many popular neighborhoods. Optional: Excursion to the Rosario Islands (roundtrip collective boat and lunch included, port taxes to pay at arrival). The Rosario Archipelago is one of the 56 natural parks of Colombia, located only 35 km from Cartagena and is composed of 27 coral islands.

Hotel/Other Details

Hotel Alfiz 3* or similar

In the morning, visit the Bazurto Market (from Monday to Saturday). During this culinary journey, you will be visiting the colorful, authentic, and hectic alleyways of the market to discover the gastronomic and cultural tradition of the city. Enjoy breakfast with your guide at a restaurant in Getsemani. Cartagena’s cuisine is one of the richest and most varied in Colombia and one of the most original in America thanks to its history and the fusion of three communities: indigenous, Spanish and African. Each of them brought its products and its eating habits. The result is marvelous. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport. Hasta luego!

Inclusion

English-speaking support on arrival at Bogotá airport.
Accommodations in the hotels mentioned (or similar).
The meals mentioned in the program.
The visits and excursions mentioned in the program with an English/Spanish speaking guide are subject to availability.
The private ground transfers mentioned in the program with a Spanish-speaking driver (unless otherwise specified in the program).
Domestic flights mentioned in the program (prices estimated to date and subject to change).
24 hours assistance during the trip – English-speaking telephone hotline.

Exclusion

International flights.
Optional activities.
Other meals, drinks, tips and other personal expenses or services not specified on the program.
Alcoholic beverages.
Additional luggage on domestic flights.
Personal expenses.
Assistance and repatriation insurance.
Voluntary tips for guides or drivers.
Anything not mentioned in "THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES".

Note

The organization and the course of the excursions are given as an indication and can vary according to the conditions of the moment.
The flight schedules are given for information only. The final schedules are subject to existing flights available at the time of the program.
The prices of the domestic flights mentioned in the program are estimates at this time and are subject to change.
The ground transfers mentioned in the program are organized with a Spanish-speaking driver.
Our proposal does not include assistance insurance. For more information do not hesitate to ask us.
Rates are subject to change and different rates may apply during holiday seasons and special events.
IMPORTANT: Local imperatives: transportation delays, seasons, holidays, and public holidays, opening of museums, restaurants or sites visited, local weather conditions... may lead us to modify the itinerary on site.

Optional visits:

Graffiti workshop with a local artist
Empanadas workshop
Meeting the Guambiano community
Jeep Willys in the Cocora Valley
Sunset in Cartagena (on collective boat)
Salsa class in Cartagena (private or collective)
Visit the Boquilla community
Visit La Popa Convent and the San Felipe Fort
Excursion in the Rosario Islands

*Domestic flights (estimated prices to be confirmed at moment of purchase).

Rates not valid for the following periods: Holy Week; Bank holidays, high season (July, August), end of year (December, January) and Christmas. Please ask for a specific quote for requests concerning these dates.

Our quote is based on Standard category of hotels, rates for Superior category of hotels are available on request.