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)
|
Day 2: Full day highlight tour in Bogota
After breakfast, 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)
|
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, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Campanario de la Villa (4 stars)
|
Day 4: Explore colonial city Villa de Leyva
This morning, we will tour the El Infiernito, a mystical pre-Columbian Indian ruins of religious ceremonies, with notable rows of upright standing stones, burial mounds and a subterranean altar. Next, we will sightsee in the Vineyard Aim Karim and learn about tropical wine production and tasting. Later, go to see Monasterio Del Santo Eccehomo, a Dominican convent built in 1620 highlighted a gorgeous garden. Then we will pay a visit to a whimsical house called Casa Terracota, entirely made of clay and thought to be the world's largest piece of pottery. At last, we will go for a walk at the old town square Plaza Mayor while observing the locals lives. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Campanario de la Villa (4 stars)
|
Day 5: Fly to Bucaramanga, Drive to Barichara
After breakfast, we will drive to Bogota and send you to board the flight to Bucaramanga. When arrival, the guide and the driver waiting at the airport of Bucaramanga will pick you up and drive 3 hours to visit Barichara, a pretty Spanish colonial town frozen in time. Walking along the century-old cobbled streets and quaint houses will make you feel you've gone back to the old days. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Terra Barichara (4 stars)
|
Day 6: Hiking to Guane by Camino Real
On today's Colombia private tours, we will go to explore the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at the main square of Barichara, flanked by two towers and with a unique wooden roof inside. Then we will hike along the Camino Real, a 10 km (6 mi) long historic cobblestone trail winding along the hillsides to the heritage town of Guane. On the way, we will enjoy extensive views of Colombia countryside, occasionally getting a glance of the magnificent Andes Mountains, cross a beautiful canyon of cactus, and discover fossils in the stones under your feet if lucky. The hike will take about 2 or 3 hours. After arrival at Guane, we will go to visit Archaeology and Paleontology Museum, notable for a 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, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Terra Barichara (4 stars)
|
Day 7: 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. We will hike to sightsee the fountains and waterfalls, and take a cable car to appreciate the spectacular canyon. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Terra Barichara (4 stars)
|
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 relaxed afternoon at nearby beaches. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina (4 stars)
|
Day 9: Trekking tour to Cabo San Juan del Guia
Today, we will tour the Tayrona National Park, rich in wildlife and tropical rainforests and famous for some of Colombia's most beautiful beaches. We will have a 2-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, we 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. In the afternoon, we will hike back to the entrance and then drive to your hotel. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina (4 stars)
|
Day 10: 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 short hike through the forest to visit the impressive Marinka Waterfall. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina (4 stars)
|
Day 11: Drive to Cartagena, Explore the city on foot
After breakfast, we will send you to take the bus to Cartagena. It will take about 4 hours to get there. Along the way, you could enjoy the gorgeous coastal landscape from the window. 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 be on a walking tour to visit the Walled City in the heart of Old Cartagena. Massive stone walls stretch up to 11 km (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. Later, pay a visit to Convento de La Popa, a 17th-century convent situated on the highest hill of Cartagena and offers sweeping views of the whole city. When wandering at cobbled streets, you could take photos in front of the colorful houses and try some tropical fruits and snacks at the street stands. Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Armeria Real (4 stars)
|
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! Meals: Breakfast
|