Compare Best of Colombia by Geckos Adventures vs Colombia in 8 days - Unmissable Cities of Nature - Superior by Exoticca

Day 1 Bogota

Bienvenidos a Colombia! Welcome to Colombia. Settle into your accommodation in Bogota, then meet your fellow travellers at a group meeting at 6 pm. Afterwards, take an orientation walk around this good-looking town. Check out the colonial-era buildings (not to mention the mountains on the skyline). Maybe head out for dinner with the group.

Day 2 Salento

Enjoy a free morning in Bogota. Around midday, take a short flight (approximately 1 hour) to Armenia and transfer (approximately 40 minutes) to Salento. This is one beautiful village. Take the time to stroll through its quaint streets and admire the colours of the 'paisa' architecture. For some tasty local food, trout is the way to go. There are lots of different ways to enjoy it, but mostly it's served with a rich, garlicky cheese sauce. Colombia's national sport, tejo, is a popular pastime in Salento. Think bocce with gunpowder! If you're game, why not visit the local tejo hall and give it a go.

Day 3 Cocora Valley / Coffee Estancia

Travel by jeep out to the Cocora Valley, home of the tall wax palm (Colombia's national tree). Spend the morning checking out the region's awesome scenery on foot, maybe hiking up to Acaime Reserve where the hummingbirds feed. The hike to Acaime (approximately 5 hours) isn't easy, it has some steep and slippery sections, so you'll need good walking shoes, plus plenty of water and snacks. If you'd rather take it easy, you can explore the valley on your own, then cruise back to town in a jeep. Later, travel deep into Colombia's coffee region for a two-night stay in an old-school coffee estancia. NB: Lunch is not included during the hike, so stock up on food/snacks and plenty of water for the duration.

Day 4 Coffee Estancia

Thanks to its tropical altitude and fertile volcanic soil, Colombia is one of the world’s biggest coffee producers. You’ll get to know this addictive little bean a whole lot better on a guided tour of the coffee plantation and processing centre. Dig into the history of the plant, learning the inside story of the industry that's long buoyed the country's economy. See how the beans are grown and harvested, processed, dried, roasted and ground, and then sample first-hand what all the fuss is about. Try different types of coffee grains and get a lesson on preparing different types of coffees, finishing it all off with a steaming cup of freshly brewed joe. Afterwards, relax amid the estancia's beautiful surrounds of sloping green hills and valleys.

Day 5 Medellin

Jump aboard a comfortable public bus and head (approximately 6 hours) to Medellin. Your leader will take you on an orientation walk of this beautiful city. Having spent the 1980s and 90s with an international reputation as one of the world's most dangerous cities (no thanks to Pablo Escobar's notorious drug cartel), Medellin has turned itself around to become one of the most exciting cities in South America. And with some of the country's finest museums, parks and architecture (as well as a much safer and comfortable atmosphere now) it's easy to see why it's getting more popular.

Day 6 Medellin

Visit the Plaza Minorista Market with your leader. The market is split up into specific areas: flowers; fruit, vegetables, and herbs; and meat and fish. Maybe buy some exotic local fruits like feijoa, araza, guanabana, maracuya and lulo, some of which are rarely found outside of Colombia. After lunch, take in awesome views of Medellin and the surrounding areas on a cable car ride up to Santa Elena, a pretty town up in the mountains just east of the city. Sail up the mountain over brick houses, watching as the corrugated metal roofs give way to valleys and mountains (it may get a little chilly up here because of the elevation). Santa Elena is also known for its extravagant arrangements of colourful flowers, called silletas, which the local farmers are fond of strapping to their backs and parading through the city come August's annual flower festival. Back in Medellin, you might want to search out one of the city's pumping salsa bars (Medellin's nightlife may well be the best in Colombia).

Day 7 Medellin

Get out and about in Medellin. You might want to visit the Museo de Antioquia to see some of Botero's famous works or get more modern at the beautiful Museo de Arte Moderno. Or go further afield on an optional day trip to Santa Fe de Antioquia. This 16th-century township has kept a lot of its colonial-era pizazz. The Bridge of the West, Metropolitan Cathedral and House of Two Palms are sure to provide nice photo-ops, and the plaza is also home to a daily market where vendors sell varieties of locally-grown Tamarind product (you can try a few samples). One of the best things to do here is just moseying through the cobblestone streets and taking in the local scene.

Day 8 Cartagena

Fly to Cartagena (approximately 1 hour). Take a private transfer (approximately 5 hours) north to Palomino, a small town on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, in the Guajira region. It's about 40 minutes away from Tayrona National Park. This afternoon your leader will show you around Palomino town. For dinner, take the chance to feast on some fresh seafood like lion fish or prawns (Sua is a good place to go for dinner).

Day 9-10 Palomino

Today and tomorrow are free days with no scheduled activities. Head to Tayrona National park one of the days, spend a day chilling on the beach on the other day. It's a tough life.

Day 11 Cartagena

Travel to Cartagena. Cartagena is one of South America's most historic cities. The leader will take you on a short orientation walk around the hotel. Afterwards, head out to explore the old city as you please (this is highly recommended). The inner walled town is the main attraction – it's packed with beautiful churches, monasteries, and mansions. Maybe visit San Felipe de Barajas Castle, the biggest of the fortresses, or head out of town for a mud bath at Volcan de Lodo El Totumo. Visit Playa Blanca (White Beach) and the coral islands, or people-watch in Getsemani, Plaza de la Trinidad, where kids play football and singers strum their guitars.

Day 12 Cartagena

Finish in Cartagena.

Day 1: US - Bogotá

It's time to say 'adiós' to the US and 'hola' to Colombia as you head to your departure airport, ready for a flight* to Bogotá. Arrive and transfer to the hotel, ready to get some rest before your adventures begin in the morning. Overnight stay in Bogotá. * If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Day 2: Bogotá

Breakfast at the hotel. Get to know Colombia's most iconic cities with an action-packed panoramic tour of Bogotá. Discover the atmospheric streets of the historical La Candelaria neighborhood and soak up the artistic culture at the Botero Museum, home to the works of the best-known Colombian master. Enjoy people-watching in Plaza de Bolivar, home to majestic buildings such as the Palace of San Carlos, the Cathedral, and the Lievano Palace. End the tour with a fascinating visit to the Gold Museum to admire ancient pieces of Pre-Colombian goldsmiths. Return to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Dive into the glitzy nightlife of the Zona Rosa district or enjoy the laid-back ambience of the old town. Overnight stay in Bogotá. Note: On Monday the Gold museum is closed and on Tuesday the Botero museum is closed.

Day 3: Bogotá - Leticia - Tabatinga

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time transfer from the hotel to the airport to take the flight to Leticia in the Colombian Amazon. Reception at Leticia Alfredo Vasquez Cobo International Airport and transfer by taxi to the hotel. Lunch. At the appointed time transfer by land to visit the border of Tabatinga (Brazil) where you can appreciate the Amazon River and do some shopping. On the way back, at sunset, we will start walking through the city of Leticia, visiting the Orellana Park, the market, the pharmacy of medicinal plants and the Santander Park, where it is possible to observe and listen to hundreds of parrots that have their bedroom there. Dinner and overnight stay in Leticia.

Day 4: Leticia - Wochine - Lagos Tarapoto

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure at 7:30 am from hotel to walk to the dock and take a shared boat on the Amazon River in a journey of approximately two hours, arrival at Puerto Nariño, tour by population and continue by jungle path to the Wochine reserve, where you can appreciate the Victoria Regia, the Pirarucus and other species of fish. Lunch and visit to a nearby community. At the agreed time visit to the Tarapoto Lakes where you can appreciate the landscape and the ecosystem with the possibility of observing pink and gray dolphins. Return from Tarapoto Lakes to Leticia by shared boat and walking from the dock to the Hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Leticia.

Day 5: Leticia - Bogotá - Cartagena

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from the hotel to the airport to take the flight to Cartagena de Indias via Bogota. Arrival, assistance at the airport and transfer in private service to the chosen hotel. Overnight stay in Cartagena.

Day 6: Cartagena

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, get to know the colonial past and colorful present of the city. Set off on a panoramic tour of Cartagena, passing through the main neighborhoods of the city: Boca Grande, Castillo Grande and Manga until you arrive at the majestic Castillo de San Felipe, an important feat in military engineering. Visit the Church of San Pedro Claver and end the tour with a short walk through the walled area where you can admire its pretty squares, narrow streets and houses with balconies beautifully decorated with flowers. The city's charms are undeniable. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. Perhaps you'll head down to the beach for a lazy afternoon or enjoy a drink in one of the lively plazas. Overnight stay in Cartagena.

Day 7: Cartagena

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the day at your leisure. Explore the beaches along Manzanillo Bay, soak up the charms of Cartagena's old town or simply kick-back by the pool. We recommend an optional excursion to the paradise shores of Isla del Encanto, in the Rosario Islands National Park.* Overnight stay in Cartagena. * Optional Rosario Islands Tour: In the morning, self-transfer to the pier to board a shared speedboat service to the National Natural Park of the Rosario Islands. Admire the views of the Bay of Cartagena and Boca Chica, before arriving at the idyllic islands and taking the time to enjoy the beach and surroundings. Lunch included. (Does not include transfer hotel-pier-hotel, approx. $7 p.p. pier tax and optional entrance to San Martin Aquarium $14 p.p.) Price per person: $80.

Day 8: Cartagena - US

Breakfast at the hotel. After an unforgettable getaway in Colombia, it's time to head home. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight back to the US. Arrive in the US and end your trip.