Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Bogotá
You'll touch down in Bogotá and head straight to your accommodation. After you grab your luggage and settle in, take a moment to step outside and feel that mountain air mixed with the city's energy. Tomorrow you'll start exploring, so tonight is mostly about getting your bearings and resting up.
Landmarks Bogotá - Day 2
Bogotá
This morning you've got options for Cerro de Monserrate—hike up if you're feeling it, or take the cable car or funicular. From the top you'll see Bogotá spread out below with the Andes in the distance. After coming down, head into La Candelaria district where the buildings are painted pink and yellow, and the walls are covered with street art. Wander around and grab lunch somewhere in the neighborhood.
Included Activities
- Visit Cerro de Monserrate for panoramic city views
- Explore La Candelaria district
Optional Activities
- Hike up Cerro de Monserrate (optional)
- Cable car to Cerro de Monserrate (payable on site)
- Funicular to Cerro de Monserrate (payable on site)
- Gondola descent from Cerro de Monserrate instead of walking (payable on site)
Landmarks Cerro de Monserrate La Candelaria - Day 3
Bogotá
Spend a relaxed morning at Simón Bolívar Park, then make your way to Usaquén district. This area's got boutiques and creative markets where you can walk around and pick through shops. By lunchtime, get to La Puerta Falsa restaurant for tamales and hot chocolate—it's the real deal for Colombian food and gives you an actual feel for what people eat here.
- Meals
- Lunch (Colombian traditional lunch at La Puerta Falsa restaurant with tamales and hot chocolate)
Included Activities
- Visit Simón Bolívar Park
- Explore Usaquén district
- Lunch at La Puerta Falsa restaurant
Optional Activities
- Bike rental in Simón Bolívar Park (payable on site)
- Paddle across lake in Simón Bolívar Park (payable locally)
Landmarks Simón Bolívar Park Usaquén La Puerta Falsa - Day 4
Bogotá to Neiva
You'll fly from Bogotá down to Neiva and immediately notice things slow down. After checking into your hotel, explore the relaxed streets and walk along the Río Magdalena waterfront. Hit up Parque Santander, try some street food at local cafés, then head to the Malecon for sunset. There's usually music and a nice view of the river as evening sets in.
Included Activities
- Explore Neiva streets and local atmosphere
- Visit Río Magdalena waterfront area
- Visit Parque Santander
- Visit Malecon at sunset
Optional Activities
- Street food stalls along Río Magdalena
- Local cafés and dining options
Landmarks Neiva Río Magdalena Parque Santander Malecon - Day 5
Neiva
Leave early for Tatacoa Desert, where the landscape shifts to dry gorges and cacti in shades of ochre and red. You'll walk El Cuzco's circular route through the rugged terrain and narrow passages. Later when the sun gets lower and casts long shadows, the stargazing here is incredible—there's basically no light pollution, so the sky fills with stars.
Included Activities
- Visit Tatacoa Desert
Optional Activities
- Bus transfer to Tatacoa Desert (payable locally)
- El Cuzco circular hiking route
Landmarks Tatacoa Desert El Cuzco - Day 6
Neiva to San Agustín
The drive to San Agustín takes you through winding mountain roads past rivers and coffee plantations. When you arrive, you'll notice it's cooler and quieter than the lowlands. Check into your accommodation, which has views over the Magdalena river valley, then take a walk around town. Over 500 ancient stone sculptures are hidden in these hills, and you'll start exploring them tomorrow.
Included Activities
- Travel through mountain landscapes
- Explore San Agustín town
Landmarks San Agustín Magdalena River Valley - Day 7
San Agustín
You'll head into the archaeological park and encounter massive stone faces with expressions that are hard to read, standing guard over ancient tombs. Move from one figure to the next, taking in the atmosphere and thinking about the history here. In the afternoon, grab fresh juice or coffee from a local finca, chat with people around town, and later you can stargaze from your accommodation.
Included Activities
- Visit archaeological park
Optional Activities
- Archaeological park entrance (payable on site)
- Fresh juice or coffee from local finca
Landmarks San Agustín Archaeological Park - Day 8
San Agustín to Salento
Travel to Pitalito airport and fly to Pereira, then head to Salento. This town is the center of the coffee triangle and has colorful houses lining Calle Real with cafés scattered throughout. Settle into your accommodation and walk around for a bit to get the feel of the place—it's got that mix of Colombian culture and coffee culture that makes the region unique.
Included Activities
- Fly to Pereira
- Travel to Salento
- Explore Calle Real
Optional Activities
- Coffee break in Salento
- Bus or taxi transfer from Pereira to Salento (payable locally)
Landmarks Salento Calle Real - Day 9
Salento
Take a jeep into Cocora Valley where wax palms reach up to 60 meters high—they're the tallest in the world. You'll hike through jungle trails with knee-high grass and massive ferns surrounding you. After a lunch with traditional Colombian dishes, you'll head back to Salento with plenty of energy and photos to sort through later.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional Colombian lunch during Cocora Valley tour)
Included Activities
- Jeep tour to Cocora Valley
- Trekking through jungle trails
- View the world's tallest wax palm trees
- Lunch with traditional Colombian dishes
Landmarks Cocora Valley - Day 10
Salento
Follow Calle Real to El Mirador viewpoint and see the town spread out below in the jungle landscape. Explore Plaza Bolívar and the alleyways with local cafés and small shops. If you're interested, you can take a ride in a colorful 'Willi' jeep out to nearby coffee farms where farmers show you how the production works and you can taste different batches.
Included Activities
- Visit El Mirador viewpoint
- Explore Plaza Bolívar
- Walk through colorful alleyways
Optional Activities
- Ride in 'Willi' jeeps to coffee farms (payable on site)
- Coffee tastings and farm visits
Landmarks El Mirador Viewpoint Plaza Bolívar - Day 11
Salento to Medellín
A bus takes you from Salento through green mountains to Medellín, known as the city of eternal spring because of its consistent temperature around 72°F/22°C year-round. This city transformed from a difficult past into one of South America's more innovative and safe places. When you arrive, you'll see futuristic skyscrapers next to street art and green spaces.
Included Activities
- Travel to Medellín
- Explore city highlights
Landmarks Medellín - Day 12
Medellín
Head to Comuna 13 where vibrant street art and colorful murals cover nearly every surface telling stories of neighborhood transformation. Ride the iconic escalators going uphill while taking in the creative energy, then use the cable car to reach Santo Domingo. From there you can descend into the green forests of Parque Arví and get a different perspective of the city.
Included Activities
- Visit Comuna 13
- Explore street art and murals
- Ride iconic escalators
- Cable car to Santo Domingo
- Explore Parque Arvé
Landmarks Comuna 13 Santo Domingo Parque Arvé - Day 13
Medellín
Spend the day in El Poblado, Medellín's trendiest neighborhood with green parks, stylish cafés, hip boutiques, and modern buildings that jungle plants are reclaiming. Stroll down palm-tree-lined streets, check out concept stores, have excellent coffee, and talk with the friendly people around. This is where the city shows its best side.
Included Activities
- Explore El Poblado neighborhood
- Visit green parks
- Browse concept stores
- Enjoy local cafés and coffee
Landmarks El Poblado - Day 14
Medellín to Guatapé
Take a bus to Guatapé, a small town famous for brilliantly colored house facades with artistic zócalos depicting local stories. You'll spend time taking photos throughout town, then get on a boat and cruise through the landscape past green islands and calm lake water. If you're up for it, the optional hike up 650 steps to Piedra del Peñol gives you a 360-degree view of the lagoons.
Included Activities
- Visit Guatapé town
- Explore colorful house facades
- View artistic zócalos
- Boat tour through lake landscape
Optional Activities
- Bus transfer to Guatapé (payable locally)
- Boat tour through lake (payable locally)
- Climb Piedra del Peñol 650 steps (payable on site)
- Views of ruins of Escobar's villa from boat
Landmarks Guatapé Piedra del Peñol - Day 15
Medellín to Rinción del Mar
You'll fly from Medellín to Cartagena, then travel by bus or cab along the coast to Rincón del Mar, a small fishing village that doesn't see many tourists. The streets are sandy, hammocks hang from trees, and your accommodation sits right on the beach. There's no fixed schedule here—just sea breeze, palm trees, and beach access whenever you want it.
Included Activities
- Fly to Cartagena
- Travel to Rinción del Mar
- Explore fishing village
Optional Activities
- Bus or cab transfer from Cartagena to Rinción del Mar (payable locally)
Landmarks Rinción del Mar - Day 16
Rinción del Mar
Start with coffee by the waves and then walk through the village greeting locals and admiring the painted houses and palm trees. Your accommodation offers access to activities like stand-up paddling or kayaking through mangroves, or you can join community-led activities if something interests you. For dinner, the vegetarian restaurant at your accommodation serves good meals, and beach bars nearby have drinks and a relaxed vibe.
- Meals
- Dinner (Vegetarian dinner at accommodation's restaurant)
Included Activities
- Explore Rinción del Mar village
- Dinner at accommodation restaurant
Optional Activities
- Stand-up paddling (payable on site)
- Kayaking through mangroves (payable on site)
- Community-led local activities (payable on site)
- Drinks at beach bars
Landmarks Rinción del Mar Beach - Day 17
Rinción del Mar
Book a boat tour to Islas de San Bernardo and snorkel around coral reefs with bright fish in turquoise water. Relax on small islands with fresh fish and coconuts. When you get back to Rincón del Mar, you'll have afternoon beach time, and if energy allows, try the evening plankton tour—you'll jump into bioluminescent water after dark and see it glow with natural light.
Included Activities
- Afternoon beach time
Optional Activities
- Boat tour to Islas de San Bernardo (payable locally)
- Snorkeling at coral reefs
- Swimming and relaxing on mini-islands
- Fresh fish and coconut meal on islands
- Evening plankton/bioluminescence tour (payable locally)
Landmarks Islas de San Bernardo - Day 18
Rinción del Mar to Cartagena
Say goodbye to Rincón del Mar and travel to Cartagena with coastal views and ocean breeze. The old town has historic palaces, pastel houses, and horse-drawn carriages moving through the streets. You'll hear street musicians and try Caribbean cuisine with fresh fish, crispy patacones, and ceviche at various spots around town.
Included Activities
- Travel to Cartagena
- Explore historic old town
- Experience Caribbean cuisine
Landmarks Cartagena Old Town - Day 19
Cartagena
Visit Castillo San Felipe, one of Colombia's major fortresses with views over Cartagena spread below. Back in the old town, explore more of the colorful colonial buildings and meet local people. Later you can cool off with a swim in the Caribbean at La Boquila, Bocagrande, or Playa Marbella depending on which beach appeals to you.
Included Activities
- Visit Castillo San Felipe fortress
- Explore old town colonial buildings
- Swim in Caribbean Sea
Optional Activities
- Beach visits at La Boquila
- Beach visits at Bocagrande
- Beach visits at Playa Marbella
Landmarks Castillo San Felipe de Barajas La Boquila Bocagrande Playa Marbella - Day 20
Departure from Cartagena
Your last day has arrived and you'll head to the airport for your departure flight. As the plane goes up into the sky, you'll reflect on everything you've seen and done. The trip delivered far more than you expected, moving you through very different parts of Colombia and giving you experiences that will stay with you.
Landmarks Cartagena - Day 21
Arrival Home
The plane lands and you're back home. After you arrive safely, you'll start telling family and friends about all the Colombian adventures. You'll think back on the experiences and probably already be considering when you might return to explore more.
