Colombia Explorer (10 days)

Upon arrival in Bogota you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the entertainment, shopping and restaurant “new” part of town and your hotel, Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogota. Balance of day at leisure.

A full day is needed to visit Bogota, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in South America with a population of about 8 million. It is truly a city that beautifully combines modern skyscrapers next to historical colonial buildings. At some 8600 ft above sea leave, the days are temperate and evenings cool. Highlights will include Plaza Bolivar, lined by the National Cathedral, National Capitol Building; Casa Narino (Simon Bolivar’s home, now a museum); the historical “La Candelaria” with its narrow sloping streets, colonial buildings with clay tile roofs; the Fernando Botero Museum, famed Gold Museum. Also take the teleferico up some 1500 ft. to Monserrate. This has been a pilgrimage site since it’s founding in 1640 and offers a fantastic overview of the city below. Lunch will be included on the tour.

NOTE: Gold Museum is closed on Mondays; Botero Museum is closed on Tuesday (itinerary may be adjusted)

Today you will drive out of the city. The first stop, about 2 hours away, will be the charming Andalusian-style town of Guatavita. Here there is a lagoon within the crater of a volcano that was sacred to the ancient Chibchas and home to one of the legends of El Dorado. It is said that a Guatavita Indian chief covered his body in gold and submerged himself in the waters to honor his wife. Continue to the magical and spiritual underground Salt Cathedral at Zipaquira, built some 600 feet within a salt mine with some small chapels representing the stations of the cross. Lunch will be included on today’s excursion.

Today you will head in the opposite direction, south, to the western slopes of the Andes ranges. Coming down from the cooler Sabana Plateau to more temperate, warmer climate turning the panorama to lush tropical vegetation, ideal for the famed coffee of Colombia. En route you will see green houses full of plants, flowers and cultivated orchids. Stop at a coffee finca to see how the “bean” is cultivated, harvested, processed and even turned into a delicious coffee liquor. Lunch will be included en route.

Transfer to the airport for short flight to the industrial capital of the country, Medellin. Upon arrival transfer to the Marriott Medellin. Located in the rather narrow Aburra Valley at some 5000 ft. above sea level with a subtropical climate and temperature ranging between 52-86F. For this reason it is often called the “City of Eternal Spring.” Though founded in 1616, this city of some 2 million inhabitants is not very colonial, rather more characteristic of a modern, progressive metropolis. The afternoon city tour highlights will include the metropolitan cathedral, Hill of Nutibara with its Pueblito Paisa (reminiscent of typical Antioquian village). The city is full of parks, museums and universities.

Enjoy a full day into the lovely country side of the “Paisas” (as those of Antioquia are called). There are numerous charming colonial towns near Medellin, the largest being Rio Negro, with its monument to a local Independence hero, Jose Maria Cordoba, in the main plaza. Also bordering the plaza is an impressive cathedral, as well as small museum of religious art. The countryside is dotted with flower-clad haciendas or fincas, many of which are summer or weekend homes. Stop at Tequendamita Waterfalls and Fitzebad farm with it collection of orchids. Lunch included on tour.

Transfer to the airport for flight to the Caribbean coastal city of Cartagena de Indias, among the most beautiful colonial cities in South America. The old Walled City is immaculately preserved with beautiful plazas, churches, boutique shops, quaint restaurants and old restored buildings. Your hotel will be the Casa San Agustin.

Founded in 1533, Cartagena was the only port in Spanish South America until Buenos Aires was founded. The morning city tour highlights will include the Convent of La Popa, on a hilltop overlooking the bay, visiting the monastery and the chapel of “La Virgen de La Candelaria". Visit the enormous fortifications at San Felipe built in the 17th century to protect the city from English, French and Dutch pirates. The walled city has the best preserved colonial architecture and has been declared a “Patrimony of Humanity". Here we find Las Bovedas (the old dungeons) now boutique shops, and handicraft stores, numerous plazas, churches, and restaurants. Afternoon at leisure.

Full day excursion to one of the 27 off-shore islands known as the Rosario Islands, about 45-minutes by boat from Cartagena for a day in white sand beaches with marine coral floors. Lunch included.

Your local host will call for you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your return flight home.