Itinerary:
Bogotá - Villa de Leyva - San Gil - Neiva & Tatacoa - San Augustin - Salento - Medellin - Cartagena - Santa Marta - Palomino & Tayrona National Park
Trip duration:
23 days / 22 nights
Travel period:
Year-round
Travel price:
from €3,398,- p.p. for 2 persons
Transport:
Domestic flights and transfers (where stated)
Includes:
domestic flights, transfers, accommodation & excursions mentioned
Flights:
Intercontinental flights optionally bookable
Do you have 22 days or longer? And are you a type who prefers to travel off the beaten track? Then this roundtrip is best suited for you. Besides the highlights, you will also discover Colombia's only desert, explore the archaeological park in all of South America and, besides the Rio Claro, you also have the optional option of going on multi-day treks through the Amazon and to Colombia's Lost City. During this trip, you will explore not only the north, but also the south of the country. Decide for yourself how long you will be on the road: over three weeks or would you prefer five? With this trip, it's all possible!
Day 1 - Arrival in Bogotá
The flight is a tough one, so we'll arrange a transfer to take you to your first accommodation in Bogotá. This way, your trip can get off to a good start and you can start the journey rested with the Colombia Highlights. You'll probably be tired, so rest for the rest of the day. Candelaria is a popular and historic district in Bogotá and this is where your hotel is located. You'll sleep in a simply furnished but cosy hotel, breakfast included. In the evening, enjoy the panoramic views over the city on the small roof terrace. And in a few minutes you can walk from your hotel to the surrounding museums, bars and restaurants.
Day 2 - Easy going Bogotá
Bogotá is a big city with different neighbourhoods and to discover the city's nicest spots, today you'll go on a half-day cycling excursion. Together with a guide and an international group you will cycle through the lively and colourful streets, while the guide tells you more about Colombia's history. You will stop at cosy squares and make your way between the craziest kinds of fruit at the market. You also visit an ancient cemetery, where you walk past the most beautiful graves. The tour ends in the historic centre around lunchtime, where you can pop straight into a restaurant for your lunch.
Day 3 - Back in time at Villa de Leyva
Travel time approximately 4 hours by bus
Today you will step back in time a few centuries in the colonial village of Villa de Leyva. After a transfer and a four-hour bus ride, you will arrive in a this place surrounded by green mountains. Picturesque, cobbled streets and white houses adorn the setting. You'll walk across one of the largest squares in all of South America here and unwind after busy Bogotá. You'll stay in a colonial hotel a few minutes' walk from the centre. There is a large interior gallery with a relaxed atmosphere where you can relax on the wooden, carved benches after a day wandering the city.
Day 4 - Explore Villa de Leyva
Would you like to add more meaning to your visit to Villa de Leyva? Then it is possible to book a cycling or walking excursion on the side. We think cycling is one of the most fun ways to explore a city and nature. It is also possible to visit salt cathedral near Villa de Leyva. Centuries ago, a chapel was carved out of a former salt mine for miners. What first started with a simple chapel ended in a complete cathedral. 23 years ago, it was opened to the public and masses and celebrations are still held there today. The cathedral is 200 metres underground and you walk through corridors via crosses to an impressive hall where you see a huge, illuminated cross. You will also visit the extremely colourful village of Raquira, known for ceramics and pottery. Let us know and we will plan it for you.
Day 5 - En route to San Gil
Travel time approximately 4 hours
You will travel by private transfer to your next sleeping spot. After about 4 hours of travel, you will arrive in San Gil, the place for outdoor activities and adventure. The town itself is not very special, but then you come there for the scenery and all the activities around. Are you a daredevil? Then this is a veritable Valhalla for you, staying in a small, stylish hotel with breakfast 10 minutes' walk from the city centre. Breakfast is included and is made from ingredients straight from the family's finca. There is a large, open courtyard with wifi and from the balcony you have views over the old town and the church.
Day 6 - Adrenaline kicks in San Gil
The San Gil area is home to huge mountains, powerful waterfalls, plenty of caves and fast-flowing rivers. And the latter makes rafting one of the most popular activities in the area. Put this must do on your list and further complete the bucket list with excursions like paragliding, mountain biking and hiking. Excitement and thrills are guaranteed!
Day 7 - Bogotá stopover
Travel time approximately 7 hours
From San Gil, you will travel by private transfer and bus back to Bogotá in about 7 hours. You will sleep here for one night before travelling on to your next destination. In the evening, read a book at your hotel or return to your favourite neighbourhood that you discovered during the first days of your Colombia trip. Want to add another night to spend more time in Bogotá? Of course you can, just specify.
Day 8 - Stopover in the Tatacoa Desert
Travel time approximately 1 hour by plane
After your overnight stay in Bogotá, board the plane to Neiva. Airport transfers are included. From the airport, you will be taken to the Tatacoa Desert. If you thought you had already had all of Colombia's beautiful nature, you're sorely mistaken. Tatacao looks a lot like a desert, but is actually a tropical, dry forest made up of red rock formations. It's almost like walking on the moon, but in a red, surreal world. The special thing about this place is that it often rains here, so it is not a real desert. You walk around here for about two hours before the transfer takes you to Rivera. The desert is very hot and it is not big, so you won't need much time here. Here you'll sleep for one night and have time to reminisce by the pool or in the spa.
Day 9 & 10 - San Agustín's antiquities
Travel time approximately 5 hours
Today it's time to travel on to San Agustín. The trip takes about 5 hours and you will travel by transfers and a bus. As San Agustín is the archaeological site of all South America, we arrange a half-day with a private English-speaking guide for you in advance through the archaeological park. You'll see metre-high stone statues of the Indians and encounter many mysterious figures, such as half-human-half-animals. Not only is this park worth a visit, the surrounding area with clattering waterfalls, lush jungle and rugged mountains offers more than enough. You will stay in a stylish hacienda in quiet, green surroundings. If you're lucky, you'll spot the colourful birds from your hammock on the balcony.
Day 11 - Coffee in palm tree valley Salento
Travel time approximately 5 hours (excluding flight)
Today you have a longer journey ahead of you. First transfer by bus and transfers in just under five hours back to Neiva to take a domestic flight to Armenia from there. Here you will be picked up by a driver to take you to Salento. After this drive, you will definitely need time to recover so that the next day you have enough energy to explore one of the country's most beautiful natural spots: the Cocora Valley. You'll stay in a colourful hotel with a courtyard, where you'll join the bar for a drink after a long day hiking through nature. A simple breakfast is included here. In the evening, explore Salento's colourful narrow streets and be challenged to a game of Tejo, a traditional Colombian game.
Day 12 - Tour of the Cocora Valley
Today you will set out to explore the Cocora Valley with your guide. This verdant valley is set among jagged mountains with towering wax palm trees dotting the landscape. These are the tallest palm trees in the world, at least 60 metres tall! Because you must have seen this place, you will spend half a day on the road with a private guide. A jeep will take you to the valley, where you will come face to face with these giants. However, do you want to do a long hike of about 5-6 hours? Let me know and I will plan this for you.
Day 13 - Raw Medellín
Travel time about 7 hours
You board a bus that will take you to Medellín in about 7 hours. Formerly known as the murder capital of the world, today it is a hip city with a raw edge. Pabo Escobar left his scars here years ago, but the city has flourished and so much more than just its past. To learn more about Medellín's history, we schedule a private guided tour. You'll go on a half-day tour and learn more about the city and see key sights, staying in a stylish room with modern décor and 800 metres from Parque Lleras. Overnight accommodation includes breakfast.
Day 14 - Explore Medellín on your own
Today you have a day at leisure. Visit the surrounding coffee fields, stroll through the city and also be sure to go paragliding, as Medellin is the place in Colombia to undertake this. Tip: If you have time, I highly recommend a visit to Guatapé, one of the most colourful places in Colombia and also very picturesque. Guatapé is therefore a real treat for those who love colourful buildings!
The city of Medellin offers a range of accommodation options to suit different preferences. Hotel 23 Medellin on 23-hotel-medellin.medellinhotel.net is a standout choice for those seeking a stylish and contemporary experience. Located in the bustling El Poblado neighborhood, this hotel offers modern rooms, top-notch amenities, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic city views. It is ideally situated near popular attractions, restaurants, and nightlife, making it a convenient base for exploring the city. On the other hand, for travelers looking for a hassle-free and all-inclusive experience, Medellin all inclusive resorts provide an excellent choice. These resorts, such as the luxurious The Charlee Hotel and The Click Clack Hotel, offer a range of amenities, including swimming pools, spas, and multiple dining options, ensuring that guests have everything they need at their fingertips. With their attention to detail, attentive service, and comprehensive packages, Medellin's all-inclusive resorts provide a seamless and unforgettable vacation experience for travelers looking to indulge and unwind in the vibrant city of Medellin.
Day 15 - Colourful Cartagena
Travel time approximately 1 hour flight
You will travel by transfer to the airport and then fly to Cartagena. It's time to leave nature behind and embrace the colonial atmospheres of a city again. The next few days are all about colourful houses and beautiful streets. Would you like to have lunch or dinner with a Colombian family? Let us know and we will plan this for you. You will travel on your own to a known meeting point where you will be met. Together you will walk to the home where you will be welcomed with a drink before joining the table for a tasty meal. We work together with a foundation that selects and helps families to benefit from tourism without large investments. They also guide the family in professionally hosting travellers. It makes for special encounters that are guaranteed to stay with you for a long time.
Day 16 & 17 - Discover Cartagena on a city tour
To admire the áll the city's most beautiful spots, we schedule a city tour with private guide for you. The guide speaks English and the tour lasts half a day. You will explore the historic centre, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety, as well as the other districts. You will see the architectural styles of the city and learn more about Cartagena's history. Always wanted to learn salsa? A better place than Colombia hardly exists. We can schedule this for you. During a 1-hour salsa class, you will learn the basic steps from a professional dancer and learn salsa as only Colombians can. In the evening, you can immediately show off your skills on the dance floor in one of Cartagena's bars.
Day 18 - Santa Marta and Tayrona NP
Journey time approximately 4 hours
From Cartagena, it's about a four-hour journey to Santa Marta and you'll do this by bus. Santa Marta is Colombia's oldest city and it is considerably less touristy than the three big cities of Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena. You sleep one night in Santa Marta and have the day free to spend. Take a nice walk, check out the historic centre or visit some museums. In the end, what you really come for is for the nearby Tayrona National Park, one of Colombia's highlights. This is scheduled for the next day. Your accommodation is located a few minutes' walk from the beach and features a small swimming pool. Overnight accommodation includes breakfast.
Day 19 - The jungle beaches of Tayrona NP
A private transfer will take you to the entrance of the Tayrona national park in the morning. You will go on a day trip here before resting on the beaches of Palomino. The Tayrona NP is known for the jungle that borders the beach. You decide what to do here. Will you take a hike? Or do you prefer to rest on the beach? Then you'll travel on by private transfer to the last destination of the roundtrip: Palomino.
Day 20 - Palomino's laid-back palm coast
Travel time approximately 1 hour
A small village on the Caribbean coast, Palomino is ideal for doing nothing and enjoying the beach. We don't plan anything for you here, so you can really take time out to enjoy all the beauty you've seen during the trip. In the evening, you enjoy a purple sunset with live music playing in the background. You stay in lively accommodation surrounded by palm trees. Perfect if you enjoy meeting other travellers! We also have a fine comfort option suitable for couples and families. From the hotel, you have direct access to the beach. Take a refreshing dip in the outdoor pool or read a book in one of the hammocks in the adjoining garden. Breakfast is included at this accommodation.
Day 21 - Last day at the beach in Palomino
The sandy beach, countless palm trees and your flip-flops, that's all you need to enjoy one last day. For some more activity, go tubing down the Río Palomino on an inflated tractor inner tube. A true adventure where you get the most beautiful views of the mountains in the distance. You arrive at the beach where the river flows into the sea. Across the beach you can then walk back towards Palomino, stopping along the way for a nice cocktail at the beach.
Day 22 & 23 - Depart Palomino and arrival home
Travel time approximately 1.5 hours (excluding flight)
Today marks your last day in Colombia. You'll be transferred to Santa Marta airport, where you'll board the plane to head home. A special travel experience richer, a well-filled camera and probably heavier luggage than you arrived with....
Colombia off the beaten track
Our sleeping spots
Hotel room in Bogota
Cozy hotel in Salento
Hotel room Salento
Roof terrace in Santa Marta
Hotel in Palomino
Hotel with pool in Palomino
Hotel room Palomino
Cosy hotel in Salento
Hotel with pool in Palomino
Modify this roundtrip?
You can! With this flexible Colombia roundtrip, we have mapped out a varied route for you. Feel free to customise this individual roundtrip. Below, we have outlined some suggestions. Do you have your own ideas to customise the trip? Even better, feel free to let us know your wishes!