Villages and Countryside
Easy / 3 domestic flights / 21 days (Ideal arrival on saturdays)
º The Villages and Countryside of Colombia tour in a few words:
A trip to discover iconic villages and breathtaking natural sites in Colombia. This tour avoids the hectic pace of the big cities and focuses on the charm of the colonial towns and the beauty of Colombia’s landscapes.
º Key itinerary destinations:
Bogota (Usaquén) > Villa de Leyva > Barichara > Quimbaya > Salento > Palomino > Mompox > Cartagena > Bogota
º Highlights of this tour:
Tour the colonial and republican architecture of Villa de Leyva, Barichara, Salento, and Mompox. Admire the vastness of Chicamocha Canyon and the breathtaking Cocora Valley. Discover the work of passionate artisans and farmers.
º Visiting season:
All year round. For more information regarding the weather in each region: Bogota, Tunja (V.de Leyva), Bucaramanga (Barichara), Pereira (Coffee Region), Cartagena, Santa Marta.
º Physical condition:
The excursions are easy and open to all public. However, it is important to take into account the climatic conditions of the different destinations. Bogota is located at an altitude of 2,600 metres and the Caribbean coast have a particularly hot climate. Moreover, the length of some journeys, which can take up to 6 hours.
You wish to discover the Villages and Countryside of Colombia, but first want to know more about our agency, our services, or a trip across Colombia in general. Do not hesitate to contact the members of CAPOA:
Day 1: Arrival in Bogota
Upon arrival at Bogota's El Dorado International Airport, a private transport will take you to your hotel located in one of the most charming areas of the city, Usaquén.
Day 2: Tour of Bogota
In the morning you will have the chance to take a stroll around the streets of Usaquén and visit its handicraft market (only on Sundays). Afterwards, you will go to la Candelaria to visit this 400-year-old neighbourhood.
Day 3: Ubaté - Road to Villa de Leyva
In the morning you will drive to Villa de Leyva, a historic municipality with a rich colonial history and architecture. On the way, you will stop in Ubate, considered the dairy capital of Colombia, where we will visit a Franco-Colombian cheese farm.
Day 4: Villa de Leyva - Ráquira
You will visit Villa de Leyva, a town filled with buildings dating back to colonial times, such as the Carmelite convent and the colonial house of Antonio Nariño. The grandeur of the central square reflects the historical grandeur of this town, where important figures such as Simon Bolivar once lived. You will then go to the village of Ráquira, famous for its ceramics of all kinds. You will discover its stalls of handicrafts and visit a community workshop with a local master potter.
Day 5: Gudalupe - Las Gachas
Early in the morning, you will take the road towards the town of Barichara. On the way you will make a stop at Guadalupe and one of the most astonishing natural sites of this tour, Las Gachas River. Here you will have timey to enjoy a swim in the river and explore the village, before continuing on to Barichara.
Day 6: Camino Real de Guane - Barichara
In the morning, you will follow the Camino Real hiking trail through splendid natural landscapes to reach the village of Guane, located down the hill. Afterwards, you will further discover the charms of Barichara, wander through its quiet white streets, and visit various sites of interest, including colonial churches and workshops processing fique, a variety of agave used by local craftsmen.
Day 7: Chicamocha Canyon - Flight to the Coffee Region
On your way to Bucaramanga airport, you will stop at Chicamocha Canyon, one of Colombia's most impressive natural wonders. You will then reach the small town of Giron, located on the outskirts of Bucaramanga, where you will have lunch before flying to the coffee region and finally reaching the village of Salento.
Jour 8 : Vallée de Cocora – Salento
Lors de cette journée, vous vous rendrez à la Vallée de Cocora, un espace naturel composé des fameux Palmas de Cera, l’arbre national de la Colombie, pouvant atteindre la hauteur vertigineuse de 80 mètres. Vous pourrez suivre des sentiers de randonnées de différentes durées et difficultés avant de regagner Salento pour une visite de ce village emblématique de la région du café.
Day 9: Finca de Café (Coffee farm) - Bamboo grove
You will go to an authentic coffee farm to discover the whole production process of an exceptional coffee. The programme includes a walk through the plants, selection of the beans, and tasting of a delicious coffee prepared in a most original way. Afterwards you will visit an estate dedicated to the conservation of a variety of bamboo species from all over Colombia and beyond.
Day 10: Rio la Vieja
A trip down the Vieja River by raft will allow you to observe howler monkeys in their natural habitat and stop for a dip in a waterfall.
Day 11: Buenavista-Pijao
You will discover off the beaten track villages such as Pijao, where the surrounding hills are covered with silver trees, and Buenavista, a small hamlet perched on a narrow ridge towering above the valley where the town of Armenia lies.
Day 12: Flight to the Caribbean coast
You will take off for Santa Marta airport, a city located on the Caribbean coast. Once there, a car will take you to Palomino, a village located on the seashore.
Day 13: Tayrona National Park
Colombia's first National Natural Park in terms of visitor numbers, the Tayrona National Park is a protected area with some of the most exceptional landscapes on the coast. It is also a sacred place for the indigenous Kogui tribe, some of whose members you may encounter during your hike across the park. During this excursion, you will observe a rich and diverse fauna and flora, you will be able to walk through the park following different hiking trails according to your physical condition, and you will also enjoy some beach time that will allow you to discover the terrestrial and marine ecosystems of this park.
Day 14: Cocoa Farm
In the morning, you will head for the Caoba Reserve, located a little higher up in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, an area where cocoa is grown. You will be able to discover this plant from which chocolate is produced and whose virtues are not only nutritional.
Day 15: Relaxing on the beach
Day 16: Aracataca - Road to Mompox
Early in the morning, you will take the road towards Aracataca, where the famous novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez was born. You will get to know different sites in the city that inspired the writings of the master of Magical Realism. You will then continue your journey towards Santa Cruz de Mompox.
Day 17: Mompox
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mompox's heritage lies not only in its colonial architecture, but also in the local silversmithing industry. Cienaga de Pijiño: This cienaga (marshland) is home to a variety of animal and plant species, which you will be able to observe during a boat trip.
Day 18: Road to Cartagena
You will leave Mompox in the morning to take the road that will lead you to the last part of your trip, Cartagena. You will arrive in the afternoon to get a first glimpse of this magnificent city, also listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Day 19: Tour of Cartagena
During this morning, you will enjoy a walking tour of the historical centre. The riches of the New World passed through the port of Cartagena during the colonial era. Various administrative buildings of the period, such as the Governor's Palace or the Customs Office, as well as religious buildings such as the Church of San Pedro Claver or the Church of Santo Domingo, make up the exceptional heritage of this city.
Day 20: La Boquilla
During this day you will visit an Afro-Colombian community located just outside Cartagena. You will have the opportunity to discover the techniques of trap fishing widely spread among local fishermen.
Day 21: Transfer to the airport, end of the trip
A transport will take you to Cartagena's airport where you will take off for Bogota. This will conclude this wonderful journey across Colombia, the land of Magical Realism.
We offer you the opportunity to visit Colombia in the way that suits you best. Therefore, the prices of our tours vary in function of the season or the services provided (guided or self-guided tours, hotel category, entrance fees to sites, etc.). Let us know your wishes and we will fulfil them!