Bienvenidos a COLOMBIA - A Country of History and Traditions!

Arrive in Cartagena. Check in to your hotel.

Embark on a guided walking tour of the renowned Fortress Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas. Here you will step back in time to learn its origins, battles and its impressive stonework design to the winding tunnels while you enjoy the great views of the colonial city from its walls. We will stop for lunch in the neighborhood of San Diego, walk the streets to admire the traditional Spanish architecture with its unique doors, right down to the intricate door handles used to signal the hierarchy in society. Your mind will keep wandering about each story.

After dinner, we will take an evening tour of the famous Chivita, where live music will accompany the guests. Following Colombian tradition, drinks will be served. Be prepared to be amused.

After breakfast, we will set out to explore Getsemani, Cartagena’s emerging cultural quarter. Learn about the barrio’s street art scene and the graffiti gallery that has given a face to the neighborhood. You will stroll the thriving streets of Getsemaní to admire the creativity and message behind each painting.

We will eat lunch at a local restaurant and afterward we will meet our tour guide for a walking tour of the walled city, witnessing almost 500 years of piracy, wars and slavery — its steeped history is fascinating.

We will take a break from city life to visit the Islas del Rosario, approximately an hour from Cartagena by boat. We will spend the day on the island relaxing, or snorkeling, or simply watching the fisherman anchoring their boats to sell some fresh-out-of-the-sea lobster and shellfish. It will be a day to re-energize from all the walking done in the past few days.

From the Airport, go check in at your hotel.

After breakfast, we will embark on a guided walking tour of the city. You will gain insights into Medellin’s reputation, history and its evolution. We will visit some of Medellin’s parks, squares and streets while learning about the city’s history, culture and people. One of the highlights will be walking through Plaza Botero to admire the huge collection of spectacular sculptures donated to the city by the artist. It will be a tour to remember as you hear fascinating stories, explanations and legends.

Be prepared for a magical day. The bus will pick us up for our day tour. Our first stop will be 40 minutes from Medellin to enjoy a delicious typical breakfast. The journey continues as we take a short break at Marinilla, a neo-colonial village. We will tour the main plaza and enjoy their surrounding landscapes. The next stop will be at El Penol, where the adventure begins. We will see the world’s third largest stone and the first to be able to be climbed by stairs. The climbing is not for the fainted soul, because there are 720 steps. From the top you will not only be able to appreciate the immensity of the dam and its surroundings but you'll also experience one of the most scenic views in the entire country. Enjoy a typical lunch at a local restaurant. The journey doesn’t end here. We will stop at the town of Guatape, a small town that will excite you with its unique architecture, cobbled streets and brightly colored houses decorated with a peculiar type of molded art on the skirtings’ of every house. It’s very typical of this area and is said to represent the family, daily life and enjoyable pastimes. We will end the day on a scenic boat cruise around the lake’s islands before we head back to Medellin.

Today we will take Medellin’s famous aerial lift system and escalators up to Comuna 13 and see how this neighborhood has been transformed. Be mesmerized with the elaborate street art in Comuna 13, then travel by cable car for almost five miles to Arvi Park. You will experience phenomenal views of the city, where you can hike around the park and enjoy the tranquil forest and much more!

Get ready to our next destination, Pereira. Check in to your hotel.

We will head to the countryside this morning and we will visit Valle del Cócora where we will take a hike surrounded by the world's tallest palm trees. If you haven’t seen them, you can’t imagine how tall they are. Then, we will head to the colorful town of Salento, walk its streets and enjoy the charm of the town. Be ready for a ride on a Willy Jeep that will transport us behind the scenes on a tour of a coffee plantation to learn all there is to know about coffee, from growing, harvesting and roasting to brewing it for our enjoyment. We will return to our hotel for a relaxed evening.

Meals: Breakfast

A relaxation day for our own enjoyment.

Your journey through the capital of Colombia begins. You will learn about the history and traditions of its colonial past.

Embark on a guided tour of La Candelaria, with its elegant colonial facades going back to the 16th century. Visit the Botero Museum, which houses one of Latin America’s most important art collections. Then we will head up to the hills to take a funicular to visit Monserrate, which is over 10,000 ft. above sea level, and enjoy the views of the sprawling city below. We will tour the famous cathedral and enjoy its lovely gardens. We will return to the hotel, and you will be free to explore the evening on your own.

Be ready for a spiritual encounter in the tunnels of a former underground salt mine, in the small town of Zipaquira. There is a stunning cathedral unlike any other you have ever seen, built inside the depths of a salt mine, about 700 ft. underground. Hundreds of multicolor lights illuminate the spectacular cathedral. The walls and pillars of salt shimmer and sparkle as the lights illuminate this underground church. After the tour, we will head to the town's main plaza, where you can stroll the streets, visit the shops at your leisure or just enjoy a cup of coffee in a local coffee shop. We will return to Bogota to have our farewell dinner in a very special place.

Return home!