Magical Colombia

Flight tickets are not included on this trip, and you are therefore responsible for getting to and from Colombia on your own. We will meet in Bogota! We do not have a program planned for the first day, so you are free to arrive in Bogota at any time during the day. The participants and the guide will meet at the nice hotel where we will be staying in the center of the Colombian capital.

On Sundays the streets in Bogota are closed to motorists so that cyclists and pedestrians can experience the city undisturbed by traffic. On the sightseeing trip we visit some of the city's highlights - including the impressive Gold Museum. In the evening we have a nice welcome dinner and recharge for tomorrow's trip.

Today we will travel from Bogota to Juntas. The last part of the trip goes through Combeima River Valley up to the settlement of Juntas, where two rivers meet each other. Here we are accommodated at a very nice hotel with fantastic views of the valley around us and exciting vegetation.

We start the day very early, as we have a long trip ahead of us. We walk on good trails steadily uphill and gradually observe changes in the vegetation. Today we will ascend to one of the highest points on the route, Alto del Oso (2850 m), which marks the intersection between the eastern and western flanks of this mountain range. On clear days it is possible to see the Tolima volcano on the other side of the Combeima canyon. We walk down through the Normandia valley and pass several sheep and cattle ranches. There will be a break along the way where we eat lunch with a local family, and then we continue the descent to the bottom of the Machin volcano. At the end of the day we arrive at the beautifully situated La Florida farm. It is a simple accommodation run by a local family. Here we will stay in tents for the night, with a view of the Toche river valley.

Today we are going to move through the Toche river valley. This route is new for hikers, and goes quite a bit on trails off the beaten path. These trails connect several family farms that engage in coffee, banana and fruit production. Along the way we observe rural life in this area known for its wonderful coffee, and enjoy beautiful scenery around us on all sides. We pass the spectacular "Puente de Tierra" and end up in the town of Toche where we will spend the night.

Today we are heading out on a combined hiking and driving trip in the mountains. We are transported up along the Tochecito valley, before we arrive at Finca Las Cruces at 2690 m. Here the mountain trip starts where we will go up to the wax palm forest. Large parts of the trip today we get panoramic views towards the valleys around us, so just have your camera ready. The mountain trip ends at the farm La Cabaña de Doña Marleni at 2640 m where we get a well-deserved break and some light snacks. We travel on again by cars towards the La Carbonera viewpoint where we get to see the wax palms from a different angle and enjoy the view. From here we drive for about another hour to Salento where we will stay tonight.

After a well-deserved night's rest and a quiet morning, we take a coffee trip to one of the traditional coffee farms in the area. The coffee trip shows the entire coffee production process from seed to final product. It also includes a very informative coffee tasting to learn about the different types and qualities of local coffee. In the afternoon, there will be some free time to enjoy this relaxed town and explore the wide variety of handicrafts and local products.

Today we will visit the beautiful town of Filandia. This town is one of the most representative of the coffee cultural landscape and the architecture from the Antioquia colonization. The town is very well preserved and is known for its tradition of producing handmade products based on lianas. While we are there we get to try our hand at traditional basket weaving. This knowledge has been rooted in coffee production for over 100 years, and has become a tradition and cultural heritage in the Quindío region. In the afternoon we say goodbye to the coffee region and take a short flight over to the Caribbean coast.

Cartagena is perhaps Colombia's most beautiful and interesting city, and we will go on a city walk in the old town of Cartagena. During this walk we will get to know the architecture and history of the old town, and we visit the most important squares and buildings. There will be many photo opportunities, and you can just look forward to the beautiful evening lighting in this romantic city. In the afternoon we have some free time, where you can relax, shop and perhaps enjoy a drink on the old fortress walls, in the Caribbean sunset. In the evening we have a nice joint farewell dinner.

After a leisurely morning in Cartagena, we say goodbye at the hotel. There is no organized transport to the airport this day, and you are free to extend the trip afterwards, or travel home on your own. The adventure is over, for this time. Hopefully Colombia has surprised you – this is a country that is quite different from what many imagine.

Tayrona National Park is home to some of the most beautiful and iconic beaches in Colombia. It's easy to spend a few extra days here strolling through its lush jungles and relaxing on the beautiful beaches at this coastal gem. Contact us for program proposals.