Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Bogota
You'll depart around midday and touch down in Bogota by evening. Your guide meets you at the airport and drives you to the hotel, so you can settle in and get some rest after traveling.
- Day 2
Bogota
Start with exotic fruits and fresh juices at Paloquemao market, Bogota's largest spot for local produce. After grabbing lunch, head into La Candeleria to walk around the historical center, checking out Bolivar Square and the colonial houses scattered throughout. Later, take a cable car up Monserrate mountain and catch the sunset views overlooking the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Paloquemao market and taste exotic fruits and juices
- Explore La Candeleria old town including Bolivar Square and colonial houses
- Cable car ride up Monserrate mountain (3200m) with panoramic city views
Landmarks Paloquemao Market La Candelaria Bolivar Square Monserrate - Day 3
Chingaza National Park or Bogota
After an early breakfast, you have two options. The first is hiking the Suasie trail through Chingaza National Park, where you'll walk through high Andean paramo landscape and might spot deer, birds, spectacled bears and wildflowers. The second is a free day in Bogota to visit the Gold Museum at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike Suasie trail through Chingaza National Park high Andean forest
Optional Activities
- Visit Gold Museum in Bogota (approximately 1 EUR per person, payable locally)
Landmarks Chingaza National Park Gold Museum - Day 4
Zipaquira to Villa de Leyva
Head down into the underground salt cathedral of Zipaquira, an impressive sanctuary sitting 80 meters below ground with sculptures and decorations. You'll learn about the Muiscas' connection to salt, then continue to Villa de Leyva. Once there, wander around the main square and pop into local cafes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Zipaquira salt cathedral
Landmarks Zipaquira Salt Cathedral - Day 5
Villa de Leyva
Take a city tour through Villa de Leyva and its 445 years of history, from conquest through modern times. Check out the Dominican monastery Santo Ecco Homo dating back to 1620, with its Andalusian architecture and beautiful gardens offering unique views. You'll hear stories about independence heroes and other notable figures who left their mark.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- City tour of Villa de Leyva
- Visit Dominican monastery Santo Ecce Homo (1620)
Landmarks Santo Ecce Homo Monastery Villa de Leyva - Day 6
Villa de Leyva to Neiva
Leave Villa de Leyva early heading back toward Bogota, stopping at Guatavita Lagoon, an almost perfectly round emerald-green lake at 3000m elevation tied to the Eldorado legend. From there, drive to Bogota airport for your flight to Neiva and transfer to your hotel in Villavieja.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Guatavita Lagoon
Landmarks Guatavita Lagoon - Day 7
Tatacoa Desert to San Agustin
Check out the Tatacoa Desert's ochre-colored rock formations at El Cusco, then see the gray formations at Los Hoyos including landmarks like Las Catedrales, La Torre and the Árbol de los Deseos. You'll drive along the Rio Magdalena to reach San Agustin, a lodge town close to important archaeological sites.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Tour Tatacoa Desert rock formations including El Cusco, Los Hoyos, Las Catedrales, La Torre and Árbol de los Deseos
Landmarks Tatacoa Desert Rio Magdalena 
- Day 8
San Agustin
Spend the day at the archaeological park of San Agustin, one of South America's most impressive excavation sites with mysterious stone sculptures and burial sites. These reveal how ancient inhabitants saw the spiritual world. In the afternoon, visit the Estrecho where the 1600 km Rio Magdalena narrows to just 2 meters wide.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit San Agustin archaeological park
- Visit Estrecho on the Rio Magdalena
Landmarks San Agustin Archaeological Park Estrecho on Rio Magdalena - Day 9
San Agustin to Popayan
Travel through Purace National Park on a bumpy road heading to Popayan, known as the 'white city of Colombia'. Tour the colonial city center with its well-preserved white architecture. Wander through this lively, art-filled place known for UNESCO-recognized Holy Week processions and its food scene.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- City tour of Popayan
Landmarks Purace National Park Popayan 
- Day 10
Popayan to Cali
Travel to Silvia for a cultural exchange with a Guambiano indigenous family. Learn about their traditions and visit a medicinal plant garden plus community pharmacy to understand their way of life. Later, continue to Cali for an evening salsa show.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Salsa show in Cali)
Included Activities
- Cultural exchange with Guambiano family in Silvia
- Visit medicinal plant garden and pharmacy
- Salsa show in Cali in the evening
Landmarks Silvia - Day 11
Cali to San Cipriano
Leave Cali for Buenaventura, stopping in Córdoba at the rainforest edge. Transfer to San Cipriano via a unique 30-minute ride on motorcycle-powered carts along an old railroad line. Explore the nature reserve with easy hikes, waterfalls and natural pools, then head back to Cali the same way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Motorcycle-powered cart ride (brujita) to San Cipriano along disused railroad
- Easy hike through San Cipriano nature reserve with diverse flora and fauna
- Visit waterfalls and natural pools in San Cipriano
Landmarks San Cipriano Nature Reserve 
- Day 12
Cali to Coffee Finca in Alcala
Drive toward Salento in Colombia's coffee heartland, then out to a remote coffee finca in Alcala. After checking in, tour the grounds and get involved in the full coffee production process, picking ripe cherries, grinding, drying, threshing and hand-roasting beans.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Coffee finca tour and grounds visit
- Pick ripe coffee cherries
- Manual grinding of coffee
- Experience traditional drying process
- Thresh beans with wooden or stone poles
- Hand-roast coffee in pan
- Grind and enjoy coffee at the finca
Landmarks Salento - Day 13
Cocora Valley
Hike through Cocora Valley's palm forest featuring the Quindio wax palm, Colombia's national tree. Walk past different cloud forest tree and flower species while learning regional history and culture, and take in panoramic views over rolling green hills.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Hike through Cocora Valley palm forest
Landmarks Cocora Valley - Day 14
Coffee Region to Guatape
After breakfast, travel through green landscapes toward Guatapé, stopping in Santa Rosa to relax in warm natural hot springs surrounded by mountains and cloud forest. You'll refresh yourself with mountain air and scenic waterfalls before heading on to Guatapé.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Relax in natural hot springs at Santa Rosa
Landmarks Santa Rosa Hot Springs - Day 15
Guatape to Medellin
Climb over 740 steps up the Piedra del Peñol rock formation (200m high) for panoramic views of emerald hills and blue lakes. Explore the colorful village of Guatapé with its distinctive painted plinths and charming alleyways. Take a boat tour on the lake with other international guests, then drive to Medellin.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Climb Piedra del Peñol rock formation
- Visit Guatapé village
- Boat tour on Guatapé lake
Landmarks Piedra del Peñol Guatape 
- Day 16
Medellin to Santa Marta
Join a morning guided historical tour exploring Medellin's defining chapter through Escobar and the cartel, visiting key sites and learning how the city transformed from one of the world's most dangerous places to a vibrant cultural hub. In the afternoon, fly to Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided historical Pablo Escobar tour in Medellin
Landmarks Medellin 
- Day 17
Tayrona National Park
Hike an easy full-day route through Tayrona National Park exploring diverse plants and animals. Walk past beautiful beaches and a natural pool where you can relax on palm-fringed shores and soak in Caribbean vibes. Follow a circular route back to the park entrance for transfer to Santa Marta.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Full-day hike through Tayrona National Park
Landmarks Tayrona National Park 
- Day 18
Santa Marta to Cartagena
Leave Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and travel to Cartagena, one of South America's most elegant cities. Explore the historic old town with colonial mansions featuring wooden balconies. Late afternoon you're free to stroll the streets and enjoy a nightcap with food and colorful cocktails.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Cartagena Old Town 
- Day 19
Cartagena
Walk through Cartagena's historic old town with a guide, checking out the clock tower, monument to founder Don Pedro de Heredia, Simon Bolivar Square and San Pedro Claver Square honoring the 'slave of slaves' priest. Visit the Getsemani district, named one of the world's coolest by Forbes. You can optionally join a coconut workshop with the DAMARTES women's art collective.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Cartagena old town
- Visit clock tower
- Visit San Pedro Claver Square
- Visit Getsemani district
Optional Activities
- Coconut workshop with DAMARTES women's art collective on beach at La Boquilla
Landmarks Cartagena Old Town Clock Tower San Pedro Claver Square Getsemani District 
- Day 20
Departure from Cartagena
Depending on your flight time, the morning is free in Cartagena before heading to the airport for your return flight to Europe. If you want, consider extending your stay individually to explore Cartagena further or visit the offshore Islas del Rosario.
Optional Activities
- Extend stay in Cartagena
- Visit Islas del Rosario
- Day 21
Arrival in Germany
You'll arrive back in Germany with unforgettable impressions and memories of Colombia's diverse landscapes, cultures and experiences.
