Bienvenidos a Colombia: A Renaissance in South America

12 days
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4.4/5 Great
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Small Group Tour
Gain a comprehensive understanding of Colombia as you learn about paintings in Bogotá, cuisine in Manizales, coffee in Armenia and the great writings of Márquez in Cartagena.
24%
$4,899
From$3,699
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Explore the world-famous Gold Museum and learn about the gold on display, its shamanic significance and how the collection was formed
    • Discover the amazing underground construction and architecture of the Salt Cathedral
    • Learn about Colombian coffee from production on the plantation to the delicious cup sold in the café

What's this trip about?

    Gain a comprehensive understanding of Colombia as you learn about paintings in Bogotá, cuisine in Manizales, coffee in Armenia and the great writings of Márquez in Cartagena.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 24 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityBogota, Colombia
End CityCartagena, Colombia

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking

Destinations

  • South America
  • Colombia

Attractions

  • Bogota
  • Caribbean
  • Cartagena
  • Medellin
  • Santa Barbara

Activities

  • Bird watching
  • Culture
  • Hiking
  • Historic sightseeing
  • History
  • Nature
  • Short Cruise

Trip includes

    • 11 nights of accommodations
    • 5 expert-led lectures
    • 13 expert-led field trips
    • 2 flights during the program
    • 1 hands-on experience
    • 1 performance
    • An experienced Group Leader
    • Customary gratuities throughout the program
    • Road Scholar Assurance Plan
    • Taxes

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1:

In Transit to Program

Bogota  Andino Royal

Evening: At leisure.

Day 2

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Andino Royal

Bogota Introduction, The Gold Museum, Sunset at Monserrate

Activity note: Bogota's altitude is over 8,000 feet. Walks will be short distances and at a leisurely pace. Walking and stand...

Day 3

Meals:  Breakfast and Lunch 

Accommodation: Andino Royal

The Cathedral of Salt & Cajica Village

Activity note: Travel by motorcoach approximately 1.5 hours each way to the Salt Cathedral and Cajica.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the ho...

Day 4

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Salento Real

Fly to Armenia, Colombian Coffee Production: Bean to Cup

Activity note: Please note that internal flights allow one carry on of up to 22 pounds and one checked bag of up to 44 po...

Day 5

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Salento Real

The Cocora Valley

Activity note: The Cocora Valley is at 7,875 feet. The hike to the river and the Camino Real is 30 minutes each way, with an elevation change of 300 feet down and then ...

Day 6

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Europa Manizales

Bonsai & Orchids, Manizales

Activity note: At the plantation, the walk from the coach drop off through the orchards is downhill on unpaved ground. Walking sticks are prov...

Day 7

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: NH Collection Medellin Royal

Through the Coffee Region to Medellin

Activity note: The drive takes about six hours with three stops en route: a morning rest stop, lunch, and an afternoon rest stop. ...

Day 8

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: NH Collection Medellin Royal

Guatape Lake

Activity note: Drive to Guatape Lake is 1.5 hours each way on winding, but good condition, roads.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: ...

Day 9

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: NH Collection Medellin Royal

Medellin, Its Art & Transformation

Activity note: Walking in the city up to a half mile at a time, rest stops available in some places. Travel by public transportation, cab...

Day 10

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Movich Cartagena De Indias

Fly to Cartegena

Activity note: There is no motorcoach access inside the walled city. Luggage will be transported to the hotel in small vans. The walk from the motorcoach drop of...

Day 11

Meals: Breakfast  and Dinner

Accommodation: Movich Cartagena De Indias

Walled City of Cartagena & Author Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Activity note: Walk to the lecture venue. After the lecture, up to 3 hours of slow walking over uneven and cobblest...

Day 12

Meals: Breakfast

Program Concludes

Breakfast: Early continental breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Program ends. Transfer to the Cartagena Airport for return flights to the US.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,699
Price per day$308
Single supplement (single occupancy)$760
Last Updated: 11/9/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Michael

Dec 2023

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Not a good bicycle trip

Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, th...

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Marsha

Nov 2023

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Travel Section Incompetent, Unhelpful, and Won't correct error

I booked a tour to Italy for May 2024. I cancelled in Oct. for a lot of reasons. Before I enrolled, I asked if Road Scholar would book the flights so that on the las...

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Jane Johnson

Sep 2023

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There is a nonrefundable deposit

Please know that Road Scholar will always keep a nonrefundable $100 deposit. I cannot find that buried in all the paper and fine print but they state it is there???...

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Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel since 1975, offers 5,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. Alongside local and renowned experts, experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural tours and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Programs For Whatever You Love to Do:

Much more than a tour, a Road Scholar program is a true learning adventure. Whether you join us in Seattle or Santiago, Beijing or Berlin, Road Scholar programs all share four unique attributes:

--Exceptional opportunities for learning and exploration through special behind-the-scenes access to the world's most fascinating treasures, led by our passionate and knowledgeable instructors.

--The shared fellowship of learning and warm camaraderie, whether a solo traveler or with a companion.

--Comfortable accommodations and appetizing meals.

--Excellent value.

Explore Your Mind and the World:

There are no grades or tests on Road Scholar programs. All that's needed is an inquiring mind, an adventurous spirit, and the belief that learning and discovery are lifelong pursuits.

Established in 1975, Road Scholar offers participants once-in-a-lifetime experiences delivered by local and world-renowned experts. Experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural excursions and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Our Most Popular Tours:

Adventures Afloat Cruises: On these educational cruises, you’ll traverse some of the world's most spectacular waterways, offering you a convenient and rewarding way to learn and explore aboard ocean liners, riverboats and small ships.

Independent City Discoveries: Combine structured learning with independent discovery — each program includes hotel accommodations and some meals, lectures, expert-led field trips and detailed outlines for four self-guided excursions.

Grandparent Travel: Discover and explore together with your grandchild through interactive learning experiences and field trips. Both you and your grandchild will share the joy of learning with other grandparents and their grandchildren, bridging generations and opening doors to discovery and friendship.

National Parks: From Denali to the Everglades and countless beautiful, historic places in between, field trips to America’s National Parks reveal what tourists can’t see on their own, with specialized experts showing you how to track wildlife or lead you to the spot with the most awe-inspiring view.

Outdoor Adventures: From hiking in the Grand Canyon to exploring France by barge and bicycle, to sharpening your golf or tennis skills, these active programs exercise the body and the mind.

Service Learning: From tutoring school children or helping restore a crucial forest habitat for wildlife, to assisting with artifact restoration and museum curatorial work, Service Learning adventures are an opportunity to make a difference in the world.

Small Groups: Love to learn in a small-group setting? Check out this collection of programs that have 10-24 participants.

Why Road Scholar?

You Can't Beat Road Scholar's Remarkable Value: Our all-inclusive prices have no hidden costs. Compare the price of one of our programs to what it would cost to duplicate the experience on your own (if that's even possible) and you'll see what we mean by "remarkable value."

Lifelong Learning and Lifelong Friends: When you participate in a Road Scholar program, you will not only expand your mind, you will be in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the best parts of life.

Instructors Who Inspire: Road Scholar instructors are both experts in their field and lifelong learners themselves who are excited to answer your questions, hear your opinions and share in your experience.

Solo Participants Love Our Programs: Road Scholar programs are renowned for being inclusive, warm and welcoming for solo participants. We can either match you with a roommate or, on most programs, you can choose to room on your own.

Think Outside the Tour: The educational focus of Road Scholar programs makes us completely different from a commercial travel tour. Road Scholar programs offer educational experiences that answer the what's, the why's and the how-to's.

You Go Where Others Can't: We've been offering educational experiences since 1975 and we've made connections with educators and other local "insiders" all around the world, creating learning opportunities that show you the world in a way that just can't be done on your own or on a "tour."

We've Covered All the Bases: From expert-led lectures and field trips to comfortable lodgings and meals, we handle all the details, including the ones you might not anticipate. We've taken the worry out of the planning, so you can focus on your learning experience.

Peace of Mind Through the Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan: The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, which is purchased on behalf of every participant, provides 24-hour emergency assistance in the unlikely case of a medical emergency.

Scholarships for Those in Financial Need: Each year, Road Scholar awards $250,000 in scholarships toward programs in North America for those who do not have the financial means to participate.

Our Donors: Each year, thousands of donors contribute to our Annual Fund, helping to cover the gap between the tuition we charge and the actual cost of our programs.

What they’re known for
Popular global tours with a unique focus on educational experiences for mostly senior travelers.

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Logistics

Accommodation

,Andino Royal - 3 nights  Bogota Expect the best at the Andino Royal Hotel in Bogotá, a destination designed to deliver the ultimate in relaxation to discerning business and holiday travelers. From room and suite accommodations appointed with every luxury amenity to a modern gym, soothing sauna, chrometherapy shower, and massage room and elegant fine dining restaurant, our reputation as one of the premier Bogotá hotels has been built on our unmatched amenities and personalized service. Think of us as your home away from home when visiting Colombia’s vibrant capital.   Hotel Salento Real - 2 nights  Salento The Salento Real Hotel is a cozy hotel in Salento, right in the Coffee Region of Colombia and 20 minutes from Valle de Cocora. Colonial style, environmentally friendly, and specially designed for couples, families, and groups of friends who want to enjoy nature and tranquility in a warm environment where traditional hospitality of Quindio prevails.   Hotel Europa Manizales - 1 night  Manizales The Europa Hotel - Boutique is located in the Centennial Avenue near the bullring in one of the sectors with the highest tradition of the city of Manizales, near the historical center and commercial area of the city. In our hotel every guest is unique and this is precisely why we guarantee an unforgettable stay for both tourists to the executive, thanks to our personalized service, focused on meeting the needs and desires of each of the people staying with we.   NH Collection Medellin Royal - 3 nights  Medellin A stay at the Medellín Royal Hotel is truly something special. Perfectly located in the exclusive El Poblado district of Medellín, Colombia, just steps from the Centro de Negocios Edificio Forum, the Santa Fe and Oviedo Shopping commercial centers and the Hard Rock Café, this elegant hotel has been consistently recognized as one of the top hotels in Medellín by Tripadvisor.com. Modern and innovative, with a gracious staff dedicated to making you feel at home, we surpass the expectations of discerning business and holiday travelers with exceptionally appointed accommodations, superb regional cuisine in our restaurant and impressive venues and services for meetings and special events. To unwind after a day of meetings or sightseeing, our terrace pool, gym and spa offer a true urban oasis. Enjoy the contemporary style of the Medellín Royal Hotel while relaxing in beautiful rooms and suites overlooking the city. Surrounded by notable attractions, fascinating cultural destinations, fashionable shopping and thriving nightlife, our hotel is the perfect choice for exploring the many splendors of Medellín, Colombia.           Movich Cartagena De Indias - 2 nights  Cartagena de Indias This property is a 11-minute walk from the beach. Situated on a quaint cobblestone street and strategically located within Cartagena's Historic Centre, Movich Hotel Cartagena de Indias is close to Plaza de la Aduana, where shopping, dining and touristic attractions can be found. Its rooftop terrace features a swimming pool with 360-degree panoramic city views. The rooms freshly decorated with an elegant and modern-style décor and are equipped with air conditioning, ceiling fan, iPod dock and pillow menu. The full bathrooms boast a double shower. The rooftop lounge bar offers sophisticated cocktails and views San Felipe de Barajas Castle and the Marina Park, 0.6 miles away.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

11 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches and 5 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
roadscholar-973

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