Day 1: Arrival in Bogota, Airport pick-up
Welcome to join the Colombia private tours! Today our guide and the driver will pick you up from the airport and send you to the hotel which is located in the popular Zona T area and surrounded by plenty of upscale restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shopping centers. After the check-in, you could have a good rest and later go for a walk at nearby places and experience the vibrant nightlife of the capital city. Accommodation: Hotel BOG (4 stars) - Superior Room
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Day 2: Full day highlight tour in Bogota
After breakfast, we will leave for Paloquemao first. You will see vendors selling flowers, fruits,vegetables, groceries and other daily necessities there. Next, we will drive to the Mount Monserrate, rising over the city center of Bogota and dominating the city's skyline with a 17th-century church high up on its top. We will get to its summit by cable car and enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Then we will drive to visit La Candelaria, a historical neighborhood located in the down city. When arrival, we will first take a leisurely stroll at Plaza de Bolivar, the central square in the area which is circled by many well-preserved colonial buildings. And then, we will pay a visit to Museo de Botero featuring an elaborate collection of paintings and sculptures by Fernando Botero, the most famous living artist of Colombia. Afterwards, we will tour another museum in the neighborhood called Museo del Oro containing over 55,000 pieces of gold works. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel BOG (4 stars) - Superior Room
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Day 3: Drive to Villa de Leyva, Stop by Salt Cathedral
The best Colombia private tours today will begin with a 3-hour drive to Villa de Leyva, one of the most beautiful colonial towns in Colombia, characterized by old cobbled lanes, tidy whitewashed buildings with terracotta tile roofs set to a mesmerizing backdrop of undulating green hills, and a kind of laid-back vibe. On the way, we will also tour the Salt Cathedral in Zipaquirá, located about 1.5 hours by car from your hotel. It is a magical underground Roman Catholic church built inside a salt mine tunnels and made almost of salt deposits. Overnight at a boutique hotel in Villa de Leyva. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Campanario de la Villa (4 stars) - Standard Room
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Day 4: Half day colonial city tour of Villa de Leyva
This morning, we will tour the Antonio Nariño House Museum whose owner is Antonio Nariño, a hero dedicated his life to Colombian independence. Then we will pay a visit to Museo del Carmen, a religious art museum housing religious objects, including paintings, sculptures, and sacrificial altars etc. Please notice that Museo del Carmen Museum only opens on weekends. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Campanario de la Villa (4 stars) - Standard Room
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Day 5: Drive to Barichara
After breakfast, we will drive about 5 hours to Barichara, a pretty Spanish colonial town frozen in time. Walking along the century-old cobbled street sand quaint houses will make you feel you've gone back to the old days. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Terra Barichara (4 stars) - Premium Room
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On today's Colombia tour, we will go to explore the Barichara, the most gorgeous village in Colombia. Then we head to Guane,which is only a 20-minute drive from Barichara. Upon arrival, we will visit Santa Lucia de Mucuruba Church, and Archaeology and Paleontology Museum, notable fora collection of fossils and a 700-year-old mummy. After that, you could take a leisurely walk around the small town before we drive you back to Barichara. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Terra Barichara (4 stars) - Premium Room
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Day 7: Barichara: Full-day tour in Chicamocha National Park
After breakfast, we will drive 1.5 hours to explore Chicamocha National Park along the Chicamocha Canyon, the world's second-largest canyon. En route, we will stop at Mercado Campesino, a very traditional local market, to experience the authentic daily life and rural charms. After arrival at the Chicamocha National Park, we will hike to sightsee the fountains and waterfalls, and take a cable car to appreciate the spectacular canyon. The attractions you will visit inside include Pueblito Santandereano, Guane Museum, a Monument to the Santanderean Spirit, as well as the Goat Park etc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Terra Barichara (4 stars) - Premium Room
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Day 8: Fly to Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast
After breakfast, we will send you to the airport at Bucaramanga for your flight to Santa Marta. Direct flight between Bucaramanga and Santa Marta is not available, and therefore you need to make a transfer at Bogota. The guide and the driver at Santa Marta will transfer you to the hotel. After a good rest, you could take your free time to knock around the city center or enjoy a relaxing afternoon at nearby beaches. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina Santa Marta (4 stars) - Standard Room
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Day 9: Santa Marta: Trekking tour to Cabo San Juan del Guia
Today, you will tour the Tayrona National Park, rich in wildlife and tropical rainforests and famous for some of Colombia's most beautiful beaches. Your driver will meet you at hotel and then send you to the entrance of the park. You will go into and explore the park at your own pace today. Please aware that the entrance fee should be paid on spot by yourself as the park only accepts cash payment. You will have a 3-hour hike to Cabo San Juan del Guia, a cape with a paradise-like beach at the park, which is surrounded by volcanic rocks. En route, you will trek through the jungles, see monkeys and colorful birds, sightsee the exotic beaches of Arrecifes and pass by La Piscina, a beautiful beach with crystal clear sea waters for swimming and snorkeling. Enjoy your own time in the beautiful cape after arrival. Around 14:00 at least,you need to go to the ticket office of Marítima Chez Boat to confirm the boat departures and then take a boat back to Santa Marta. On arrival, get a taxi to your hotel. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina Santa Marta (4 stars) - Standard Room
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Day 10: Santa Marta: Minca tour with La Victoria & Marinka
Today, we will take a 45-minute drive to Minca, a tiny town situated atop a mountain outside the city of Santa Marta. There we will have a visit to La Victoria, one of the oldest coffee farms in Colombia since the 1890s. In addition to the coffee tasting, we will also view the coffee-making process. Then take a hike through the forest to visit the Pozo Azul, the impressive Marinka Waterfall, and the Ear of the World Waterfall. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina Santa Marta (4 stars) - Standard Room
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Day 11: Drive to Cartagena, Explore the city on foot
After breakfast, we will transfer you to Cartagena and it takes about 4 hours to get there. Along the way, you could enjoy the gorgeous coastal landscape. After arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel for a good rest.
Cartagena is a popular port city on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, featuring long coastlines with stunning beaches and unique blends of modern and colonial cultures. In the afternoon, we will pay a visit to the Monastery of San Pedro Claver. It is a popular church for hosting wedding ceremonies in Cartagena.
Later, we will be on a walking tour to visit the Walled City in the heart of Old Cartagena. Massive stone walls stretch up to 11km (7 mi) long and centuries-old fortifications surround the area. We will first go to see the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, an imposing castle in a triangular shape atop a hill and a UNESCO World Heritage site together with the Walled City.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Armeria Real (4 stars) - Double Room
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Day 12: Depart Cartagena, Airport see-off
Today, we will send you to the Rafael Núñez International Airport on schedule. If you still have plenty of time, you could make independent visits to the galleries or museums at the Walled City. Thanks for your support. Hope you have a fantastic time during the best Colombia private tours! Hope you have had a fantastic journey! Meals: Breakfast
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