Colombia
Colombia, few people do realize that Colombia has everything you can imagine of Latin America hidden in one country, and that nowadays it is a safe country to explore.
It has the highest potential for an absolutely amazing holiday of whole South America, it has the Caribbean coast, absorbed African culture and rainforest, the Pacific coast, intact indigenous peoples with their traditions, the Andes in three mountain chains, the coffee zone, active and sleeping volcanoes, high mountains with glaciers, paramo’s, flat lands with cowboys, cattle and abundant wildlife as in the Brazilian Pantanal, the huge vastness of the Amazon rainforest with waterfalls that can compete with the Iguazu waterfalls, abundant birdlife, colonial history & villages, arts & handicrafts representing the variety of many countries in one, salsa, African mapale, vallenato and cumbia (and not to forget the Colombian reggaeton at the Caribbean): the only risk of this holiday is wanting to stay, el riesgo es que te quieres quedar ! The people of Colombia belong to the most welcoming, beautiful and warm hearted people of Latin America, many people won’t be able to match this with the image they have from Colombia, but it really is, be invited to explore this amazing country and its people with us.
This individual holiday of 27 days is a sample itinery and can be tailor made in all ways. We have chosen for a larger itinery of 27 days to show the variety of Colombia in one single roundtrip. We can make shorter itineries, more focused on culture, special theme travels as for bird watchers, photographers or beach lovers, family holidays with kids, all as you wish. We do work on tailor made basis but we can also offer travel modules of three or more days and classical roundtrips. All itineries can be offered with public and private transport, for traveling with public transport you need to speak some Spanish and be an experienced traveller, with private transport the costs are significant lower when traveling with 4 together and all is taken care of.
To give an idea of more options in Colombia:
- Walking, hiking and/or horseriding in the Cocuy mountains (5-7 days)
- Walking at Los Nevados NP between volcanoes, lagoons and glaciers (2-5 days)
- Extension to La Guajira desert and Caribbean coast after Tayrona NP (4 days), Wayuu indigenous culture
- Trekking to the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida) at the Sierra Nevada and meeting of Kogui culture in the mountains (5 days)
- Meeting with the Tayrona people after a visit to the NP Tayrona (3 days extra)
- Wildlife in los Llanos – Casanares province at ecolodge Hato Aurora (filmed by BCC & Animal Planet), with capybaras, 325 bird species, caimans, deers, anacondas of 7m long, jaguars, safaris, piranha fishing, walking and horse riding, traditional life of vagueros
- Colombian cowboys & cattle farming
- Visit Cano Cristales, beautiful coloured river famous from photography books, from Yopal-Villaviciencia this can be combined by small plane after a stay at the hacienda Hato Aurora for instance
- Special birdwatching tours staying among others in lodges of Pro Aves evt. mixed with other excursions
- Diving holidays and PADI certification via dive school at Cartagena de Indias
- Luxury Travel at the Caribbean and/or Pacific coast in the best ecolodges available with whale watching and boutique hotels, fincas and spas in the coffee zone and Cartagena, honeymoon at the Caribbean
- Travel with private guide into the Vaupes region, this is all pristine Amazonian rainforest off the beaten trek with amazing waterfalls and wildlife
- Adventurous and special tailor made travel combining Venezuela’s tepui highlights with traveling upstream into Colombia at Inirida rainforest with private guide
- Private guided roundtravels or Group travels through Colombia with Latin American expert speaking fluent English and Spanish
Featured activities:
Meeting the authentic Colombia, being in nature, culture & meeting the people of Colombia. Walking in mountains, visiting coffee haciendas, beachlife, colonial villages & history, cumbia & salsa, horse riding, bird & whale watching, snorkelling, diving, learning Spanish.
Shortlist of some important festivals
January: Carnaval de Blancos y Negros in Pasto & Feria de Manizales (coffee zone), February: Carnaval de Barranquilla (of the carnavals highly recommended), March: Easter (Semana Santa) in Popayan, April: Festival de Vallenato in Valledupar, May: the San Pedro and Bunde Tolimense festival in Espinal, Wayuu culture festival in Uribia (La Guajira), June: Bambuco national folk festival in Neiva & festival del Mar in Santa Marta, August: Feria de Flores in Medellin, September: World Salsa festival in Cali, October: the World Coleo Encounter in Villavicencio (cowboy – vaquero festival) , November: Carnaval de Cartagena & Reina National de Belleza (Miss Colombia) in Cartagena de Indias, December: Feria de Cali. For more details on all Colombia festivals, the data and how to add a specific festival in your itinery, please contact us.
Sample Itineraries
Colombia for birdwatchers in 13 - 15 days, 2 variants
For birdwatching a ‘must see’ is probably ‘El Dorado’ near Santa Marta and very beautiful to add would be the reserve Hato Aurora for both birdwatching & wildlife safaris. These 2 programs were developed especially for groups of birdwatchers and can be tailor made in all ways. Proposal birding, fauna, and culture trip with wildlife safaris at Hato Aurora included.13 days This trip of 13 days (in Colombia), has a focus on birding and fauna, but is also suitable for nature lovers in general, and will have some extra dimension because of the cultural aspects. We visit almost all ecosystems including paramo (above de 3300m), cloud forest, sub-tropical, and tropical areas. The highlight for animal and nature lovers will be at the end, with our stay in an ecolodge deep into the department of Casanare, where we have a great variety of animals (including mammals), as well as birds. Read more
Colombia Highlights & Amazon in 12 days
Colombia’s highlights and the amazon in 12 days Colombia is a breath-taking country, which is just being discovered by tourism and travelers. During this journey, you will experience the beauty of Colombian nature and culture. The itinerary takes you through different climates and landscapes ranging from the green highlands to the warm Car-ibbean coast. And everything is complemented by authentic encounters with hospitable Colombians. Beside the travel program you will always have the opportunity to take a relaxing break from everyday life in one of the cozy hotels. Read more
Colombia highlights 17 days
Day-by-day experiences Day 1: Arrival at Bogota airport and transport to Hotel Abadia Colonial for the night. Day 2: City tour Bogota visiting la Candelaria, the most important monuments and squares, Gold Museum, Botero Museum and Monserrate by cable car. Second night in Hotel Abadia Colonial. Day 3: Private transport in the morning from Bogota to Fusagasuga. Here we visit the oldest Coffee Hacienda of Colombia, Hacienda Coloma. Short walk through coffee plantations and explanation about coffee process. Continue in transport to Neiva where we stay in the Hacienda Hospedería Matamundo. Day 4: Transport to Villavieja and the Tatacoa dessert. Together with local guide we make an ecological walk in the (semi)dessert to observe the different sand formations and typical flora and fauna of this region. In the early afternoon continue in private transport to San Agustin where we will stay in the Hacienda Anacaona just out side the village. Day 5: Tour in the morning to the archeological park of San Agustin. We visit Mesa A, B and C, Lavapatos and the nearby archeological museum and ‘Bosque de Estatuas’. Rest of the afternoon free. We can organize optional activities such as jeep tour in surroundings, rafting on Magdalena River, visiting watrefalls, Sucan Cane farm, local coffee farm. Horse ride, ect. Second night in Hacienda Anacaona. Day 6: Private transport from San Agustin via the Paramo de Puracé to Popayan. Arrival in the afternoon in Popayan and short city walk with local guide to get to know this beautiful colonial city. We spend the night in Hotel la Plazuela at one block from the center square. Day 7: Early morning transport to the mountain village of Silvia. Here we visit the Local Indian Market which only can be visited on Tuesdays. In the afternoon continue to Cali where we stay in the Hotel Boutique San Antonio. In the night we organize a salsa show. This show is by little children who receive lessons in a social project. Most of these children come from very poor neighborhoods and the money paid for these shows is invested in the project of these children. Day 8: Transport from Cali to the Coffee region where we will stay in the Hacienda San José just outside the town of Pereira. This is one of the most beautiful Haciendas of this area, former a coffee hacienda, now turned into a luxury hotel. Rest of the afternoon free to enjoy the Hacienda, it’s surroundings and/or pool. Day 9: Tour to the typical village of Salento and Valle de Cocora. We go to Salento in private transport from where we continue in Willys (typical jeeps from this region) to the Cocora Valley. Ecological walk to observe the Palma de Cera (highest palm trees in the world) and the flora and fauna of this region. In the afternoon back to Salento, some free time in the village and at the end of the day back to Hacienda San José for the night. Day 10: Transport to Medellin. A long but beautiful drive. On the way we will stop and have lunch at a viewpoint over the Cauca River. In Medellin we will stay in the neighborhood of ‘El Poblado’ in the Hotel Poblado Boutique. Day 11: In the morning we will visit a social project for poor children in Medellin. This project helps children from the street by giving them football and other sport activities. Also activities with music and theater. After the visit we continue for a city tour Medellin visiting the city center, the Botero Museum and a trip in metro and metro cable to the neighborhood of ‘Santo Domingo’ for stunning views over Medellin. In the evening/night we go to a Tango Bar for some nightlife and Tango shows of local people. Second night in Hotel Poblado Boutique. Day 12: Transfer to the airport of Medellin and welcome at the airport Santa Marta. Transport to Palomino beach area. Here we will stay in nice comfortable cabins and rooms at the beach in an ecohotel. Day 13: Early morning transport to NP Tayrona and hike from the beach Cañaveral to beach Arrecifes. Here we will stay the rest of the day enjoying the beach. For the trekking lovers we can continue to other beaches such as ‘la Piscina’ and/or ‘Cabo de San Juan’, or for those who like to do the 4 to 5 hour hike to Pueblito to visit the archeological site of the Tayrona culture. At the end of the day back to the eco beachhotel for the night. Day 14: Transfer to Cartagena. On the way we will stop at the local fisherman village of ‘la Boquilla’ where we visit a social project for poor children of Cartagena. This project is a school for the poorest children of Cartagena and the fisherman villages around the city. In the afternoon continue to Cartagena where we stay in the hotel Casa India Catalina for the night. Day 15: City tour Cartagena of half a day. We make a walk through the colonial center visiting the neighborhoods of Calamarí, San Diego and Getsemaní. In the afternoon time free to explore the city on your own. Second night Hotel Casa India Catalina. Day 16: Free day Cartagena. We can organize optional activities such as boat trips to the Islas del Rosario for snorkeling and/or diving excursions, Playa Blanca or a trip to the mud Volcano of Totumo. Third night in Cartagena. Day 17: Transfer to the airport of Cartagena and international flight back home. Tailormade for all tastes and styles Read more
Colombia holiday 27 days tailor made
Individual tailor made tours with public transport or private transfers, and/or with standard modules integrated. Group roundtravels with a tourguide tailor made. Sample itinery of 27 days. Day 1: Arrival at Bogota, welcome and transfer to hotel in Colonial area La Candelaria, hotel Abadia Colonial Day 2: City tour Bogota. In the morning guided walk through the colonial area La Candelaria. Main monuments and squares, visit the Gold & Botero Museum, visit Cerro Monserrate , overnight Bogota. Alternative: city tour on bike. Read more
Colombia holiday 27 days tailor made
Individual tailor made tours with public transport or private transfers, and/or with standard modules integrated. Group roundtravels with a tourguide tailor made. Sample itinery of 27 days. Day 1: Arrival at Bogota, welcome and transfer to hotel in Colonial area La Candelaria, hotel Abadia Colonial Day 2: City tour Bogota. In the morning guided walk through the colonial area La Candelaria. Main monuments and squares, visit the Gold & Botero Museum, visit Cerro Monserrate , overnight Bogota. Alternative: city tour on bike. Read more
Colombia holiday with wildlife, daywalks & hiking 19 days
Day 1: Arrival at Bogota airport and transport to colonial Candelaria quarter, hotel Abadia Colonial for the night. Day 2: City tour Bogota visiting la Candelaria, the most important monuments and squares, Gold Museum, Botero Museum and Monserrate by cable car. Second night in hotel Abadia Colonial Day 3: Tour to the Paramo de Chingaza, hike of 4-5 hrs at an altitude of 3000 - 3500m. Paramo ecosystems occur only in the Andes (mainly in Colombia) and are high mountain biomes with lakes and a vegetation characterized by huge rosette plants (frailejones). Tour includes a typical lunch at a local farm house. Third night in Bogota. Read more
Colombia with Leticia in Amazon 5 days including Cartagena
Day 1: Arrival at Bogota airport and welcome by our driver for transfer to hotel in Colonial area ‘La Candelaria’. As most flights arrive in the late afternoon or evening, we don’t have any program for the rest of the day. Just relax. Day 2: City tour Bogota. In the morning you will be picked up by our guide for a walk through the colonial area ‘La Candelaria’. We will pass by the main monuments and squares and also visit the Gold Museum (closed on Mondays) and the Botero Museum (closed on Tuesdays). Depending on the weather conditions we will visit Cerro Monserrate by cable car in the early morning or at the end of the city tour. Second night in Bogota. As an option we can also offer the city tour on bike. Especially on Sundays, when there is ‘cilcovia’ this is a very nice option to get to know the center of Bogota and some neighborhoods in the surroundings. Other option is to include the local market of Paloquemado in the city tour. Read more
