Classic Colombia itinerary: Coffee & Caribbean

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Hike or ride through the forest to the Valle de Cocora
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Get a warm welcome from the friendly Colombians
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Take a tour of a traditional Colombian coffee farm
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Wander between the giant wax palms of Valle de Cocora
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Explore Bogota with a local guide
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Snap the bright balconies of Salento
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Spot hummingbirds in the Colombian coffee hills
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Discover the colonial plazas of Cartagena

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Hike or ride through the forest to the Valle de Cocora
Image

Get a warm welcome from the friendly Colombians
Image

Take a tour of a traditional Colombian coffee farm
Image

Wander between the giant wax palms of Valle de Cocora
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Explore Bogota with a local guide
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Snap the bright balconies of Salento
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Spot hummingbirds in the Colombian coffee hills
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Discover the colonial plazas of Cartagena

Trip ideas

Duration(in days): 8

From: Bogotá

To: Cartagena

From

£1,305

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See more ideas for: Colombia

Overview

This Colombia itinerary is the perfect introduction to the country. Featuring Bogota and Cartagena, as well as the gorgeous coffee hills, it’s a trip packed with must-see places. You’ll spend the first two nights in Bogotá, discovering its rich history and cultural heritage with a guided tour of the capital. You will then fly to Pereira, one of the major cities of the Colombian coffee triangle. Here, you will visit the coffee plantations, discover the local haciendas of Salento and see the gigantic palms of Valle de Cocora.

After a short flight, you’ll arrive at your last destination in Colombia - Cartagena. Sitting on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena de Indias is one of the most beautifully-preserved colonial cities in South America, with brightly coloured balconies and tumbling bougainvillaea. It’s the perfect ending to your Colombian holiday.

This Colombia itinerary can be tailored to suit your personal requirements. Please contact one of our consultants to start planning your dream trip.

Highlights

Take a guided tour through La Candelaria historical district in Bogotá
Soak up the beauty of the coffee plantations and sample Colombian coffee
Visit the brightly-painted pueblo of Salento, tucked between the coffee hills
Hike between giant wax palms in the gorgeous Valle de Cocora
Soak up some regional atmosphere at the traditional village of Filandia
Walk through the colourful buildings in The Walled City of Cartagena

Itinerary

Itinerary in brief:

2 nights in Bogotá
2 nights in Pereira
3 nights in Cartagena

Day 1: Arrive Bogotá

When you arrive at El Dorado airport, you'll be met and taken by private transfer to your hotel.

Day 2: Bogotá city tour

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel for a private tour of the city. You will visit the main sights in the historic centre known as La Candelaria, as well as the fascinating Botero and Gold museums. The afternoon will be free to spend at your own leisure.

Day 3: Fly to Pereira and tour of the coffee plantations

This morning, you will be driven to the airport for your flight to Pereira, in the heart of the coffee hills. On arrival, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel. You’ll spend the afternoon visiting the coffee plantations along the rolling hills that define this area. You’ll visit Hacienda San Alberto, a traditional coffee estate in the region, where you’ll learn about the production of coffee.

Day 4: Valle de Cocora and Filandia

In the morning, you will head for the breath-taking Valle de Cocora, located in the mountainous Parque Nacional de Los Nevados. Upon arrival, you will hike or ride on horseback (price not included) into the cloud forest to enjoy the biodiversity of flora and fauna. When you arrive in the valley itself, you’ll see hundreds of gigantic palm trees dotted across the hills. It’s a surreal and beautiful place.

In the afternoon, you will continue by car towards the charming, traditional town of Salento. At the end of the day, you’ll reach Filandia to enjoy a city tour and soak up the local atmosphere in the evening. Why not try some local spirits before returning to the hotel?

Day 5: Fly to Cartagena

Today, you will be transferred to Pereira airport for your flight to Cartagena. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day will be free for you to explore this beautiful city.

Day 6: Half-day panoramic tour of Cartagena

You’ll begin the day with a panoramic tour of the city. You will start with the Monasterio and Iglesia de La Popa from where you will have beautiful views of the whole city and the coast. You will continue to the San Felipe Fortress and the Old City. You’ll finish the tour in the handicrafts zone of the Bovedas, under a collection of archways built into the city wall of Cartagena. They were used until the 1700s to house ornaments and later as a prison in the 19th century. Nowadays, it’s an artisan centre crammed with local art and handicrafts, giving the chance to pick up some Colombian souvenirs!

Day 7: Day at leisure in Cartagena

Today is free for you to enjoy at your own pace. Why not take a boat trip out to the tropical Rosario Islands or head for the beach at nearby Playa Blanca?

Day 8: Depart Cartagena

Today, you will be transferred to Cartagena airport in time to catch your onward flight.

Info

The high season of December to February is ideal for sunny skies across Colombia. May to October brings the most rain, but there are plenty of bright intervals between showers.

We've done a similar trip...

If you'd like to get a feel for this trip, read our blog post 'Visit Colombia: it's safe, it's beautiful and here are my 6 top spots' - written by one of our consultants who has been there.

This Colombia itinerary is purely a suggestion and can be tailor-made to your requirements. Please contact us with your requests and we’ll put together a bespoke quotation for you.

What's included