The must-sees: from the Andes to the Caribbean - 14 days

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. They will give you your travel documents and a loan phone. Welcome to Bogotá, a multicultural and dynamic capital in the heart of the Andes, at an altitude of 2,600 m. Dinner at your leisure.

• day 2

  Discovery of Bogotá

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Head to Cerro Monserrate, located at an altitude of 3,150 m. The panoramic view over the valley and the city is unique! Next, visit the historic district of La Candelaria and Bolivar Square, where the National Capitol, the Palace of Justice, the Bogotá City Hall, the "Primada" Cathedral, the "del Sagrario" Chapel, and the Archbishop's Palace are located. We discover the neoclassical façade of the Colón Theater and the splendid Santa Clara church. Lunch at leisure. In the afternoon, visit the Gold Museum (closed on Mondays), which is surely the highlight of our visit as it houses the largest collection of gold pieces from the Amerindian era. Finally, you will visit the Botero Foundation (closed on Tuesdays), which contains, in addition to Botero's works, 85 paintings by the greatest impressionist masters, as well as the Casa Moneda and its religious reliquaries. Dinner at leisure.

• day 3

  Heading to the coffee region and discovering Pereira.

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Flight to Pereira, heading to the coffee region. Free lunch on the way. After lunch, head to the botanical garden and its butterfly house, which will amaze both young and old. After the visit, return to the finca.

• day 4

  Cocora Valley and visit of Salento

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Head towards the village of Filandia, where you stroll through its charming streets. You then take a traditional "Willis" jeep to the entrance of the Cocora Valley, where you begin an easy hike of about 3 hours. You move through a landscape of hills where wax palms, the national emblem of Colombia, rise up, reaching up to 60 m in height. Lunch at your leisure. Then, on the way to Salento, a major ecotourism destination in Colombia with a very pleasant climate. Salento is a beautiful ensemble of traditional "paisa" architecture, with painted wooden facades and corridors with elegant colonnades. Return to the hotel and dinner at your leisure.

• day 5

  Manizales and the hot springs of Santa Rosa de Cabal

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Heading to Manizales. On the way, stop at the Santa Rosa de Cabal hot springs. Take this opportunity to relax in the hot water of the thermal baths. Lunch at your leisure. After swimming, transfer to Manizales and check-in at the hacienda. Dinner at your leisure.

• day 6

  Manizales and discovery of cocoa production

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Morning and lunch at leisure. In the afternoon, you take part in the cocoa tour. You observe its production, starting from the plant, then the fruit, up to the chocolate bar. Tasting possible! Dinner at leisure.

• day 7

  Direction Cartagena

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Flight to Cartagena and check-in at the hotel in the historic center. Free day to stroll and wander through the colorful streets of this surprising city. Lunch and dinner at your leisure.

• day 8

  Discovery of Cartagena de Indias

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Free day in Cartagena. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984, and it is easy to see why. The buildings recall the splendor of the colonial era, with their superb carved wooden balconies. The wooden doors open onto sumptuous patios. Lunch and dinner at your leisure.

• day 9

  Heading to the Rosario Islands

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the port of Cartagena to board a boat to the Rosario Islands: the Rosario archipelago is located about 1 hour by speedboat from the bay of Cartagena. You can relax far from the hustle and bustle of the city, enjoy the beach and the sun, go diving and maybe spot some coral fish. Lunch and dinner at your leisure.

• day 10

  Return to Cartagena

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Morning and lunch at leisure. After fully enjoying the beach and the sea, you leave again in the middle of the afternoon by boat for Cartagena. Private transfer from the port to the hotel. Dinner at leisure.

• day 11

  On the way to Santa Marta

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Heading to Santa Marta, a city on the Caribbean coast located not far from Tayrona Park, a protected park that is home to great biodiversity. It is situated between the Sierra Nevada, the lungs of the world, land inhabited by several indigenous ethnic groups, and the Caribbean Sea, which makes it an interesting place. Lunch and dinner at your leisure.

• day 12

  Day at Tayrona Park

  

  Breakfast at the hotel Day in Tayrona Park. This park of more than 15,000 hectares owes its name to the Tayrona Indians who lived in this region when the Spanish colonists arrived. It is one of the most fascinating ecological reserves on the South American continent. Hike along beautiful trails, between forest and sea, to Arrecifes. Breaks on the beaches, in natural pools, passing by the beaches of San Felipe and Gumurra. Walk to the magnificent beaches of Cabo San Juan, where you can swim. Lunch at your leisure. Return to Santa Marta and dinner at your leisure.

• day 13

  Excursion to Minca and the coffee plantation

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Head to Minca, a village in the Sierra Nevada. You will go for a walk of about 7 km along waterfalls and pools where you can swim. You will also walk among coffee plantations. Lunch included. Visit a coffee plantation and swim in the Marinka waterfalls. Return to Santa Marta in the middle of the afternoon. Dinner at your leisure.

• day 14

  Return to Bogotá and departure.

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. You enjoy your last moments on the Caribbean coast and head to Santa Marta airport. Direct flight to Bogotá, where a member of the team will be present to share the final moments before your international connection. Lunch and dinner at your leisure.