Itinerary
- Days 1 - 4
Taganga - Tayrona
You'll land in Cartagena and dive straight into the old city, walking through those narrow cobbled alleys lined with colonial buildings and churches. After some time wandering the UNESCO streets, head up to Las Murallas walls for views over the waterfront, then find a quiet patio cafe to sit for a bit. A boat takes you out to Playa Blanca for swimming, and later you'll head to Volcan de Lodo el Totumo where you can slip into the mud volcano for a surreal soak. From there, it's on to Taganga, a relaxed Caribbean town where things slow down. The next part involves trekking through Tayrona National Park, following jungle trails that lead to hidden beaches tucked between rainforest and water. You'll have chances to snorkel or dive if you want, exploring what's underwater.
Included Activities
- City tour of Cartagena's old city and colonial architecture
- Boat trip to Playa Blanca beach
- Walk Las Murallas (historic city walls)
- Visit Volcan de Lodo el Totumo mud volcano
- Explore trails and beaches in Tayrona National Park
- Overnight in hammock accommodation in Tayrona National Park
Optional Activities
- Snorkeling in Tayrona National Park bays
- Scuba diving in Tayrona National Park bays
- Chiva Bus Tour - Cartagena (US$25)
Landmarks Cartagena Old City Las Murallas (City Walls) Playa Blanca Volcan de Lodo el Totumo Taganga Tayrona National Park 
- Days 5 - 10
Salento
Heading south toward Medellin, you'll stop at a bush camp for the night before arriving in the city. Medellin's got energy, so you can take salsa or tango lessons, hit up galleries and museums, or go dancing at night if you're into it. If you want a side trip, local buses run to Santa Fe de Antioquia, a colonial town that's worth a few hours. After that, you're climbing into the mountains toward Salento, where the air gets cooler and coffee farms dot the landscape. You can tour one of these farms to see how the whole process works, then hike in Parque Los Nevados with those distinctive tall palms and peaks reaching 5000m/16,404 ft. Back in town, the bars have character and the vibe is laid-back.
Included Activities
- Coffee plantation tour in Salento
Optional Activities
- Salsa lessons in Medellin
- Tango lessons in Medellin
- Discos and clubs in Medellin
- Art galleries and museums in Medellin
- Day trip to Santa Fe de Antioquia by local bus
- Parque Los Nevados Day Trip (US$65)
Landmarks Medellin Santa Fe de Antioquia Salento Parque Los Nevados 
- Days 11 - 13
Tatacoa Desert - Parque Purace
You'll travel through Tatacoa Desert, a dry eroded landscape with cliffs and distant peaks over 5000m creating something really different. The stargazing here is excellent, especially if you camp overnight under clear skies. After that, you're heading west through mountain scenery toward the Pan American Highway, then taking an unpaved road into Parque Purace. This park is home to Colombia's only condor population, and you've got multiple options: hike to the Sulphur Mine, trek to Termales de San Juan hot springs with water slides, or tackle the challenging climb up Volcan Purace at 4750m/15,584 ft if you're up for it. Before leaving the area, spend time at San Agustin Archaeological Park seeing ancient carved stone figures and tombs from pre-Columbian times.
Included Activities
- Explore Tatacoa Desert landscape
- Stargazing at Tatacoa Desert camping area
Optional Activities
- Scale Volcan Purace (4750m)
- Hike to Sulphur Mine in Parque Purace
- Visit Termales de San Juan hot springs with water slides
- Visit San Agustin Archaeological Park
Landmarks Tatacoa Desert Parque Purace Volcan Purace Termales de San Juan San Agustin Archaeological Park - Days 14 - 21
Popayan - Pasto - Ipiales - Ecuador border - Quito - Otavalo
West takes you to Popayan, called the white city because of its chalk-white colonial buildings that rival Cartagena. Stop to look around and grab supplies, then continue south through the Andes toward Pasto. Santuario de Las Lajas appears next, a striking neo-Gothic church sitting on a stone bridge across a gorge near Ipiales, worth seeing. You'll decide whether to camp in Pasto, Ipiales, or push toward Ecuador. Crossing the equator means heading to Quito, Ecuador's capital surrounded by peaks in the mountains, great for hiking and mountain biking. On the way, stop in Otavalo, which has a vibrant craft market worth exploring.
Included Activities
- Visit Popayan colonial city
Optional Activities
- Santuario de las Lajas Museum - Ipiales (US$1)
Landmarks Popayan Santuario de Las Lajas Pasto Ipiales Equator crossing Quito Otavalo 
- Days 22 - 29
Amazon Jungle - Banos - Cuenca
Leaving Quito, you head east on winding roads toward the Amazon basin, entering the jungle through a gateway lodge with guides who take you on foot through this environment. After jungle time, you're heading south to Banos, a spa town high in the Andes where hot thermal baths are the main thing. This place attracts adventure seekers, so you can do whitewater rafting, canyoning, waterfall treks, bridge swings, or just get a massage. From there, you drive south along the Andes spine toward Peru, passing through Cuenca, a colonial city with its own character, on your way.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Jungle lodge meals included in 3-night jungle trip), Lunch (Jungle lodge meals included in 3-night jungle trip), Dinner (Jungle lodge meals included in 3-night jungle trip)
Included Activities
- 3-night jungle trip with lodge accommodation and meals
- Guided exploration of Amazon jungle on foot
Optional Activities
- Whitewater Rafting - Banos Grade 4/5 (US$75)
- Canyoning/Rappelling/Abseiling - from (US$60)
- Jungle Activity Package, from (US$30)
- Bridge Swing (US$25)
- Hot Springs - Banos, from (US$5)
- Entrance to Del Diablo waterfall - Banos (US$5)
- Massages - Banos, from (US$20)
- Waterfall treks from Banos
Landmarks Amazon Jungle Banos Del Diablo waterfall Cuenca - Days 30 - 38
Peru border - Punta Sal - Mancora - Chan Chan Ruins - Lima
A full day's drive through changing landscapes takes you toward Peru, where things shift from highland farms and subtropical forest to dry desert. You'll relax for a couple days at beach towns Punta Sal and Mancora before heading to Chan Chan ruins, an imperial citadel built by the pre-Inca Chimu kings and later taken over by the Incas, known as the world's largest mud brick city. Continuing south with the Andes on your left and ocean on your right, you arrive in Lima, Peru's capital. The city contrasts wealth and poverty, modern skyscrapers sit alongside museums and historical sites worth seeing.
Included Activities
- Chan Chan Ruins entrance and guided tour
Optional Activities
- Horse Riding, from (US$20)
- Mountain Biking - Mancora, from (US$10)
- Sun & Moon Temple - entrance (US$5)
- Thermal Mud Pools (US$12)
Landmarks Peru-Ecuador border Punta Sal Mancora Chan Chan Ruins Sun & Moon Temple Lima
