Highlights of Colombia

Passengers who purchase flights will depart the same day as the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.

For flight details, see Before You Depart.

Bienvenidos to Bogotá, Colombia's vibrant capital filled with rich history, colonial beauty, colorful street art, beautiful architecture, and exquisite gastronomy. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive package will be greeted at the airport and escorted to our centrally located hotel. Later, we'll meet our Tour Director for a briefing and local recommendations for our evening at leisure.

After breakfast, we'll drive north to visit the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, an underground church and architectural jewel built by miners. We'll enjoy a welcome lunch at the famous Prudencia restaurant where we'll be welcomed by the chef and enjoy a special 7-course menu. Next, we'll walk along the cobblestone streets of "La Candelaria," a historic district that blends Spanish colonial architecture and baroque churches with modern graffiti and contemporary museums. We'll visit the Gold Museum, home to over 34,000 gold pieces and countless other artifacts from some 13 pre-Hispanic societies. After a short drive, we'll ride a cable car up to the top of Monserrate Hill to visit the iconic church and appreciate unparalleled views of the city.

Today we'll fly to Armenia, located in Colombia's coffee region, also called the Coffee Triangle. After we land, we'll hop into Willys jeeps, cast-offs from WW2 that are uniquely suited to handle the region's challenging terrain, to take our explorations off the beaten path. We'll visit "El Paraiso," a family farm where we'll try "Sancocho," a traditional soup of the region as a part of our countryside lunch. Afterward, we'll visit the plantation and learn more about how coffee is made from planting and harvesting to drying and finally roasting. Our tour ends with a taste of one of the best coffees in Colombia. Later, we'll check into our hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

This morning, we'll drive to the Cocora Valley, to see Colombia's national tree, the "Palma de Cera", which can reach heights of up to 200 ft. Our lunch includes typical Colombian fare, followed by time to peruse Salento's small shops and see the town's colorful homes. Next, we'll taste a local beer as we try an indigenous game called "Tejo" which includes tossing metal discs into a ring, aiming for gunpowder (and a small explosion) to gain points. Afterward, we'll drive to Filandia, known for its colorful architecture and hand-woven baskets made of bejuco. Here, we'll visit a workshop and meet the traditional basket weavers and learn about their process. En route to our hotel, we'll stop to take in the captivating vista at "El Mirador."

Today's journey to Medellín will take us through beautiful mountain landscapes and several changes in climate and altitude. We'll enjoy stops along the way to stretch our legs and take in our route's beautiful vistas. Our first stop is at "E Tambo," where we'll have a spectacular view of the city of Pereira; and "El Porteño del Cauca”, for beautiful views of the Cauca River. We'll stop for lunch near the town of La Pintada where we can enjoy a delicious lunch of Colombian dishes, and later we'll enjoy one more stop at “Rancherito de Amaga” before arriving at Medellín, dubbed "the City of Eternal Spring" for its pleasant climate and moderate temperatures.

Today we'll enjoy views of the lush valley from the Metro Cable up to San Javier and then explore "Comuna 13," a once-notorious and dangerous neighborhood transformed into a symbol of Medellín's (and Colombia's) social transformation. Today, "Comuna 13" is better known for its escaleras electricas that connect the fabella to the rest of the city; eclectic graffiti, its fascinating melting pot of cultures, and its warm and friendly residents. After lunch at a local restaurant, we'll continue our tour of the old quarter and visit the famous Botero Square where we can appreciate the unique style of Colombian artist, Fernando Botero through his 23 sculptures that are featured here.

Today we'll fly to the port city of Cartagena, located on Colombia's Caribbean coast! We'll drop off our luggage at our hotel and have time for an independent lunch before we begin our city tour. We'll visit San Felipe de Barajas Fortress where we'll explore and learn about its interconnected tunnel system. Afterward stroll along the cobblestone streets of the historic center, passing important landmarks, pastel-colored colonial buildings, and the clock tower while our Tour Director helps us to uncover Cartagena's history and charm. Next, we'll board our yacht and sail around the bay so we can enjoy marvelous views of the city and sea at sunset while sipping on a special cocktail. Salud!

This morning we'll board dugout canoes bound for the mangrove forest, a vitally important ecosystem that stores carbon and protects coastal communities by blunting floods and storm surges. We'll see the local fauna and flora as we ride to our destination where we can take part in the Mangrove Project by planting a Mangrove tree! We'll visit La Boquilla, an Afro-descendant fishing village that has preserved its ancestral traditions, of which drums play a leading role. We'll meet members of the Batambora Drum School and learn more about the meaning and history of this community project. We'll return to our hotel with some free time to relax or explore before coming together this evening for our farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Today we say adios to Colombia. Our tour comes to end after breakfast this morning. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive package will transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S.