Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Medellín
You'll land in Medellín and get your first feel for the city known as the city of eternal spring. The skyline shows you right away how much has changed here, with modern buildings mixed alongside green spaces and street art everywhere. Once you've settled into your accommodation, grab a traditional Colombian coffee and start exploring the neighborhood around where you're staying.
Landmarks/POIs Medellín - Day 2
Medellín: Comuna 13 and Santo Domingo
This morning heads to Comuna 13, where the street art and murals cover nearly every surface telling stories of the neighborhood's transformation. You'll ride the iconic escalators up the hillside while taking in the colorful walls and watching street performers work. From there, a cable car takes you up and over the city to Santo Domingo, then you descend into the cooler, forested areas of Parque Arví where the vegetation gets thicker as you go down.
Included Activities
- Visit Comuna 13 with guided exploration of street art and murals
- Cable car ride to Santo Domingo
- Parque Arví forest exploration
Landmarks/POIs Comuna 13 Santo Domingo Parque Arví - Day 3
Medellín: El Poblado
Today you're checking out El Poblado, the trendy neighborhood with tree-lined streets and modern buildings that seem to be reclaimed by jungle plants. You'll wander through the parks and boutiques, stopping at concept stores and local coffee spots. It's a good day to practice Spanish with the friendly people you meet around here and just get a feel for how the neighborhood works.
Included Activities
- Explore El Poblado neighborhood
- Visit concept stores and boutiques
- Enjoy local cafés
Landmarks/POIs El Poblado - Day 4
Guatapé: Colorful Town and Lake Adventure
An optional bus ride takes you to Guatapé, where the houses are painted in bright colors and the whole town has an artistic vibe. After exploring, you'll do a boat tour through the lake seeing green islands and old ruins. If you're feeling up for it, there's a 650-step climb up Piedra del Peñol that rewards you with a 360-degree view of everything around the water.
Optional Activities
- Bus transfer to Guatapé (payable locally)
- Explore Guatapé town and street art
- Boat cruise through lake landscape including Escobar villa ruins (payable locally)
- Climb Piedra del Peñol with 650 steps (payable on site)
Landmarks/POIs Guatapé Piedra del Peñol - Day 5
Transfer to Salento via Pereira
You head back to Medellín by bus, then fly to Pereira. From there, it's a drive into the mountains to reach Salento, which sits in the heart of Colombia's coffee region. After checking in, you'll walk down Calle Real and take in the colorful colonial houses that line the streets, getting oriented to your new location.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Calle Real in Salento
Optional Activities
- Coffee break at local café
Landmarks/POIs Salento Calle Real - Day 6
Cocora Valley Jeep Tour and Wax Palms
A jeep takes you out to Cocora Valley early in the day for a trek through jungle trails where wax palms tower 60 meters overhead. The towering trees and giant ferns make the hike feel like you're walking through another world. Your guide explains what you're seeing in the ecosystem, and around midday you'll stop for lunch with traditional Colombian food before heading back to Salento.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional Colombian dishes)
Included Activities
- Jeep tour to Cocora Valley with English-speaking guide
- Trekking through wax palm forests
- Lunch with traditional Colombian dishes
Landmarks/POIs Cocora Valley - Day 7
Salento: Walking Tour and Coffee Farms
You start at El Mirador viewpoint to see the valley layout, then walk down Calle Real checking out the colorful alleyways and Plaza Bolívar. After grabbing coffee at small cafés and browsing local shops, you have the option to ride a vintage 'Willi' jeep out to surrounding coffee farms. There you'll learn how coffee gets made and taste it straight from farmers who grow it.
Included Activities
- El Mirador viewpoint with city views
- Walking tour of Calle Real
- Plaza Bolívar exploration
Optional Activities
- Vintage Willi jeep ride to coffee farms (payable on site)
- Coffee farm visit with tastings and production process education
Landmarks/POIs El Mirador Plaza Bolívar - Day 8
Transfer to Cartagena
A flight takes you from Salento to Cartagena on the Caribbean coast. Once you land, you're in the Old Town with its historic palaces and pastel-colored houses. Horse-drawn carriages move slowly through streets where street musicians add to the atmosphere. Try the Caribbean cuisine here, especially the fresh fish, patacones, and ceviche.
Included Activities
- Explore Cartagena Old Town with historic palaces and colonial architecture
Optional Activities
- Caribbean cuisine dining experience
Landmarks/POIs Cartagena Old Town - Day 9
Cartagena: Castillo San Felipe and Beaches
You spend the morning at Castillo San Felipe, a fortress with views overlooking Cartagena and the water beyond. After returning to the Old Town to walk past colonial buildings and soak in the Caribbean atmosphere, the afternoon is for swimming. You can choose La Boquila, Bocagrande, or Playa Marbella depending on what kind of beach experience you want, all with turquoise water and nice sand.
Included Activities
- Castillo San Felipe fortress visit with views
- Cartagena Old Town exploration
- Beach visit at La Boquila, Bocagrande, or Playa Marbella
Landmarks/POIs Castillo San Felipe La Boquila Bocagrande Playa Marbella - Day 10
Arrival in San Andrés
A flight brings you to San Andrés island where turquoise water and white sand meet swaying palms right at the airport. After checking in at your accommodation, you head straight to Spratt Bight Beach to relax with locals and swim in the clear Caribbean water. The whole vibe here is slower and more laid back than the mainland.
Included Activities
- Beach time at Spratt Bight Beach
Optional Activities
- Taxi from airport to accommodation (payable locally)
Landmarks/POIs Spratt Bight Beach - Day 11
San Andrés: Johnny Cay and Beach Exploration
This day is flexible, so you can relax or take an optional boat trip to Johnny Cay, a small island surrounded by turquoise water. If you go, you'll chill under palm trees, snorkel with colorful fish, and eat fresh ceviche. Back on the main island, you can optionally ride a golf cart to Playa San Luis for more beach time, then end the evening with sunset drinks and reggae music on the beach.
Optional Activities
- Boat trip to Johnny Cay (payable locally)
- Snorkeling at Johnny Cay (payable locally)
- Ceviche meal at Johnny Cay (payable locally)
- Golf cart ride along coast to Playa San Luis (payable locally)
Landmarks/POIs Johnny Cay Playa San Luis - Day 12
San Andrés: Snorkeling and Beach Relaxation
Today is for snorkeling at the island's best spots with goggles. La Piscinita or West View have corals and colorful fish you'll see underwater. For something different, visit El Hoyo Soplador where sea splashes up through rocks into the air. You'll spend the afternoon back at San Luis Beach with hammocks strung up and fresh coconut cocktails to cool you down.
Optional Activities
- Snorkeling at La Piscinita or West View (payable on site)
- Visit El Hoyo Soplador
Landmarks/POIs La Piscinita West View El Hoyo Soplador San Luis Beach - Day 13
Transfer to Panama City
You say goodbye to the island and head to the airport for your flight to Panama City. When you land, a transfer meets you and takes you to your accommodation. Once you're settled, you can explore either the colorful alleyways of Casco Viejo old town or walk around looking at the modern skyscrapers that rise up across the skyline.
Included Activities
- Explore Casco Viejo Old Town (optional)
Landmarks/POIs Casco Viejo Panama City Skyline - Day 14
Panama City: Panama Canal and Casco Viejo
The iconic Panama Canal is your focus today, the 82-kilometer waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. You'll watch the water move through the Miraflores locks from the visitor center, then head to Pacific Lookout for views of the city skyline. Later you walk through Casco Viejo looking at colonial buildings, the presidential palace, and the cathedral. Stop for coffee at local cafés and grab a photo with a traditional Panama hat.
Included Activities
- Explore Casco Viejo old town with colonial architecture
Optional Activities
- Miraflores locks visitor center visit for Panama Canal views (payable on site)
Landmarks/POIs Panama Canal Miraflores Locks Pacific Lookout Casco Viejo - Day 15
Panama City: Cinta Costera and Metropolitan Park
You take a walk along the Cinta Costera, a stylish coastal path with green parks and skyline views. The 22 skyscrapers over 200 meters high line up in front of you across the water. After that, you head into Parque Natural Metropolitano, a tropical rainforest in the middle of the city with trails where you might see toucans, coatis, or sloths. The hike up to Cerro Cedro gives you another angle on the skyline before you head back.
Included Activities
- Walk Cinta Costera coastal path
- Explore Parque Natural Metropolitano rainforest trails
Landmarks/POIs Cinta Costera Parque Natural Metropolitano Cerro Cedro - Day 16
Departure from Panama City
One last morning, you take a stroll along the city's promenade and soak in the sparkling skyline view one more time. By afternoon, you're heading to the airport with all your memories and stories from the past weeks filling your head.
- Day 17
Arrival Home
Your plane lands and you arrive back home safely. Now starts the fun part of sorting through where to begin telling everyone about what you saw and did on this trip.
