Colombia Essentials

La Candelaria: walking tour around La Candelaria and its 400 years old streets. Visit of museums such as the Botero Museum, which exhibits a large collection of paintings and sculptures and the Museum of Gold, displaying the largest collection of pre-Columbian goldsmithing in the world. Cerro Monserrate: you will reach Bogota’s highest viewpoint, Monserrate Hill, where you will observe the vastness of the Colombian capital.

Lake Guatavita: A short drive north of Bogota will take you to Lake Guatavita, a high-altitude lake located in a sub-paramo ecosystem, where the Muiscas (local indigenous tribe) would throw gold objects and emeralds into the lake. A ceremony that formed the legend of the mythical El Dorado. Cathedral of Zipaquira: You’ll visit this architectural prowess showing some amazing artistic sculptures made of salt and marble in the tunnels leading to the heart of the mine and its central nave. After this visit, your transport will take you to the Bogota El Dorado airport. You will then board a flight bound for Medellin. Transfer to your hotel located in the most attractive neighborhood of the “city of everlasting spring”, El Poblado.

You will walk through the busy streets downtown and reach the city´s Plaza Mayor and the Park of Lights, where huge poles enlighten the place during the night. From here, you will enter an area composed of some of the city's most modern buildings and visit the Barefoot Park, a nice and quiet place where people come to relax and wet their feet in a water stream surrounded by bamboo trees. You will then visit Pueblito Paisa, a hill within the city. From this high ground, you will have a 360° view on Medellin.

You will take the road to a small village located 2-hours away from Medellin. On your way, you will make a stop to the Rock of Peñol, a 220-meter-high rock and its 725 stairs. From the top of this gigantic megalith, you can enjoy “the most beautiful view in the world”, a 360° landscape over Lake Guatapé. You will then visit Guatapé where every single building shows different patterns. The owner of each house originally decorated his wall, turning the city into an open-air art gallery.

In the morning, a private transport will take you to the José Maria Cordova airport of Medellin. You will then board a plane bound for Cartagena, the Jewel of the Caribbean and one of the most essential places to visit in Colombia. Upon arrival, a second transport will transfer you to your hotel in the walled city.

On your second day in the stunning Cartagena, you will discover the historical and architectural heritage of this centuries old city. Cartagena is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The city was a major hub at the time of the Spanish conquest and many riches left for Europe from its port. In the morning, you will visit the walled city’s landmarks, it’s churches, colonial buildings and splendid squares. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit different sites situated outside the walls and dating back to the era of piracy.

On the last day of you journey, a private transport will pick you up and transfer you to the Cartagena Rafael Nuñez airport. You will board a plane to Bogota where upon arrival you will be able to check your luggage for your international flight. This last step of the tour will mark the end of your trip around Colombia, the country of Magical Realism.