Autotour

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1:

  Arrival in Bogotá

  

  A French-speaking assistant will meet you at the airport and accompany you to your hotel in a private vehicle. He or she will give you your travel documents and a telephone on loan. You settle in and rest before starting your trip the next day. Welcome to Bogotá, a multicultural and dynamic capital in the heart of the Andes, at an altitude of 2,600m. Dinner is free.

• day 2:

  Discovery of Bogotá

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Free day to visit the Colombian capital. Suggestions: You can take the cable car up to the Cerro Monserrate, located at an altitude of 3,150m (or you can go up on foot). The panoramic view over the valley and the city is unique. Afterwards, visit the historic quarter of La Candelaria and the Plaza Bolivar, where you will find the National Capitol, the Palace of Justice, the City Hall of Bogotá, the "Primada" Cathedral, the Chapel "del Sagrario" and the Archbishop's Palace. Discover the neoclassical façade of the Colon Theatre and the splendid Church of Santa Clara (approximately 2 hours of visit), the Botero Foundation (closed on Tuesdays). The Gold Museum (closed on Mondays) is surely the highlight of your visit as it houses the largest collection of gold coins from the Amerindian period. Dinner is free.

• day 3:

  Direction Villavieja

  

  Breakfast at the hotel This morning you will pick up your rental car at the hotel. A French-speaking assistant will accompany you during this process. You will then take the road to Villavieja, a small town near the Tatacoa desert. End of the day free. Lunch and dinner free.

• day 4:

  Tatacoa Desert

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Free day at leisure. Suggestions: Excursion to the desert, visit to Cuzco and Hoyos sites: giant cacti, extreme colours, eccentric geological formations. Arm yourself with a map and discover the different colours of the desert: ochre, red, green, grey... Tatacoa is full of surprises! Visit the town of Villavieja. Lunch and dinner free

• day 5:

  On the way to San Agustín, archaeological treasure

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to San Agustín and arrival mid afternoon. End of the day to rest and stroll around the village. Lunch and dinner free.

• day 6:

  San Augustin, archaeological treasure

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. San Augustin is the cradle of a civilization that mysteriously disappeared long before the advent of the Incas. The so-called "Augustinians" left us sanctuaries, sarcophagi and stone statues, some of which are said to be over 3000 years old. This day will take you to the heart of this civilization by visiting two key places: the Archaeological Park and El Alto de los Idolos. The department of Huila is the first Colombian coffee producer. In addition to this, sugar cane, tropical fruits and vegetables are also cultivated.   Route to the Archaeological Park of San Agustin. Visit of the park accompanied by an English-speaking guide. Suggestion: Visit the site of Lavapatas, with its waterfall of carved stones. A wonderful place that gathers statues and other wonders of the ancient Augustinian communities, in a green and pleasant environment. Free lunch and dinner.

• day 7:

  Direction Popayan

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Popayan with your rental car. On the way you will have the opportunity to see the Purace moor, with its endemic Espeletia (Frailejon) and the Purace volcano (if the climate is favourable). Lunch and dinner free.

• day 8:

  Popayan and its colonial charm

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Free visit of the town of Popayán.  Nestled in the green meanders of the Cauca, at an altitude of 1,737 metres, Popayán is the epitome of colonial charm, with its picturesque alleyways and pretty cobbled squares. The numerous churches are like works of art displayed in the open air, bearing witness to the town's religious tradition, which is still alive today during the Holy Week processions. Free lunch and dinner.

• day 9:

  Direction Cali

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Private transfer to Cali. Free afternoon to discover the city of salsa. The capital of Valle del Cauca offers a very active cultural life and musical rhythms that have made it world famous. The caleños (inhabitants of Cali) are very proud of their city, hence the expression "Cali es Cali y lo demás es loma". Free lunch and dinner.

• day 10:

  Cali, world capital of salsa

  

  Breakfast at the hotel Free visit of the city of Cali. Suggestions: You will discover the Cayzedo square, the church of the Ermita, the monument of Christ the King, a 42m high statue, opening its arms to a superb panorama of the city, and the colonial quarter of San Antonio. Also known as the salsa capital of the world, this is the ideal place to go to listen to or dance salsa, or simply watch the dancers in one of the city's salsa bars in the evening. Free lunch and dinner.

• day 11:

  Salento, coffee region

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. This morning you take the road to Salento, one of the key cities on the coffee axis. Once there, you settle into your hotel and have the day to stroll through the colourful streets of Salento. Lunch and dinner are free. Suggestion: "Trucha con patacón", a local speciality, a cooked trout accompanied by a patacon, fried plantain banana cake.

• day 12:

  Cocora Valley

  

  Breakfast at your hotel. Free day at leisure.  Suggestions: You can go to the imposing Cocora Valley, a sacred place that is home to the largest wax palm trees (Ceroxylon quindiuense - 60m) on the planet. You will be able to observe the peculiarities of the ecosystem known as the "fog forest". You can also visit a coffee finca and discover the entire production process and of course enjoy a tasting on site. Free lunch and dinner.

• day 13:

  On the way to Jardín

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Road to Jardín. Free afternoon to enjoy the peaceful village and the many activities available in the surrounding area. Suggestions to choose from: Birdwatching in the natural park "Jardin de Rocas", visit to an artisan panela factory, walk to the local waterfalls, take the La Garrucha cable car and overlook the banana plantations, horse riding, paragliding or canyoning. Free lunch and dinner.

• day 14:

  Direction Medellín

  

  Breakfast at your hotel. Free day to visit Medellín. 20 years ago, Medellín was one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Since 2002 the city has undergone a spectacular urban and social transformation. Today, the "City of Eternal Spring" is one of the most innovative metropolises in the world.  Free lunch and dinner

• day 15:

  Discovery of Medellín

  

  Breakfast at your hotel. Free day to visit Medellín. Suggestions: Take the cable car to see the city from above. You will have a panoramic view of the comunas. Visit of Comuna 13 and its graffiti, Moravia. Visit the Museum of Memory, Botero Square. Note the Flower Festival at the beginning of August, a highlight not to be missed. Free lunch and dinner.

• day 16:

  Excursion to Guatapé

  

  Breakfast at your hotel. Direction Guatapé, 2 hours from Medellín. Free day at leisure. Suggestions: Route to Guatapé and the Rock of the Peñol (entrance fees not included).  The charm of the village of Guatapé lies in the colourful relief friezes on the walls of the houses that tell the customs and legends of the region. There are many craftsmen's workshops in the village. The Rock of the Peñol is an enormous mass coming out of nowhere and 200m high... from up there the spectacle is simply grandiose! We can also take a boat ride on the lake. Lunch is free. Late afternoon return to Medellín. Dinner free.

• day 17:

  Direction Cartagena de Indias

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Flight to Cartagena. Upon arrival, your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel located in the historic centre of Cartagena. Lunch at leisure. Free afternoon to discover the warm atmosphere and the beauty and magic of Cartagena. Dinner at leisure.

• day 18:

  Discovery of Cartagena

  

  Breakfast at your hotel. Free day dedicated to visiting Cartagena and its most emblematic districts. Suggestions : Stroll through the colonial streets of the city founded in 1533. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 and it is easy to see why. The buildings are reminiscent of the splendour of the colonial era, with their superb carved wooden balconies, wooden doors opening onto sumptuous patios. You visit the Plaza Santo Domingo, Las Bovedas and its craftsmen, the Convent of La Popa offering a unique panorama of the city, the imposing fortress of San Felipe, from where you can admire the sunset. Free lunch and dinner.

• day 19:

  Santa Marta

  

  Breakfast at your hotel. Private transfer to Santa Marta. Settle into your hotel and enjoy the free end of the day to visit the centre of Santa Marta, a city located between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Caribbean Sea. Suggestion: Spend the afternoon in Minca, a lush corner of paradise. Its flora and fauna will surprise you! You can go for a walk to waterfalls and birdwatching, among other things.  Free lunch and dinner

• day 20:

  Tayrona Park

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Private transfer to Tayrona Park to start your day trip. This park of more than 15,000 hectares is one of the most fascinating ecological reserves on the South American continent. Situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain, it offers a wild landscape of thick tropical forest plunging into the Atlantic Ocean and rugged creeks with rugged relief. It is home to 108 species of mammals and 300 species of birds. You will walk along beautiful paths between forest and sea to Arrecifes. You take breaks on the beaches and in natural swimming pools. You walk to the beautiful beaches of Cabo San Juan where you can take a swim. Return to Santa Marta at the end of the day. Lunch included. Dinner is free.

• day 21:

  Return to Bogotá and international connection

  

  Breakfast at your hotel Private transfer to Santa Marta Airport to catch your flight to Bogotá and your international connection.