The only risk is wanting to stay!
Travel and tours in Colombia used to provoke some concern but with its new motto that “the only risk is wanting to stay” it is clear that things have changed. This is a very beautiful and historic country with Pacific and Caribbean coastlines. From Bogota, we take you through the coffee region, to the true jewel of Cartagena, Colombia will fascinate you.
All of us at Escaped love Colombia, and we are very pleased that the security and tourism infrastructure in the country has improved greatly so we can show you its beauty on one of our tours in Colombia.
Day 1 | Arrival in Bogota
Your tour starts today when you arrive in the capital of Colombia, Bogota, you will be collected from the airport by one of our representatives and transferred to your hotel in the up-market area of the city. Depending on your arrival flight schedule, you may have time to visit the Salt Cathedral this first day. We will advise you when you give us your international flight details.
The Salt Cathedral tour is a spectacular visit to an ex-salt mine, 650 ft (200 m) deep. There is a fully functioning church that, every Sunday, attracts over 3,000 worshipers. This cathedral is an important place of pilgrimage for Colombians in general.
Day 2 | Bogota Gold Museum
Today, we will pick you up after breakfast for a full day of sightseeing in Bogota. During the morning you will visit the historic old center and have a tour including the famous Gold Museum, the main square – Plaza de Bolívar – the Capitolio Nacional and the Quinta de Bolívar.
Enjoy some exquisite pre-Colombian pieces at the Bogota Gold Museum
After time for lunch, you will be taken via cable car or funicular railway to the summit of Monserrate Hill, which towers over this capital city. From the top of this hill, you will have a spectacular view over the metropolis and have the chance to shop for knick-knacks.
We will then drop you back to your hotel for a free evening and the chance to discover a few of the excellent restaurants and bars on offer.
Option: If there are time and interest we could insert a half-day tour to the Salt Cathedral at Zipaquira, ask us about this.
Day 3 | Fly to the Coffee Zone
After breakfast, you will be taken to Bogota airport for the 5- minute flight to the center of Colombia’s coffee region, the city of Armenia. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the Los Girasoles hotel or the Bosques de Saman (or similar) set among thousands of coffee plants on a working plantation.
Getting fully involved at a coffee farm 
Coffee is a very important export for Colombia
Take the rest of the day to relax by the pool and soak up the atmosphere of this lovely place. Our tours in Colombia (and everywhere else) can be modified to spend more or less time at any location, just let us know.
Day 4 | Exploring the Coffee Zone
Today will be a full day of coffee zone sightseeing.
After breakfast, you will visit the Recuca Coffee Farm, where you will spend around two and a half hours learning about – and interacting with – the coffee process. You can dress up in traditional coffee farming clothes (as you can see), hear explanations and see how the process and the equipment work, walk among the plants and actually pick coffee yourself.
After all this, you will have the chance for coffee-tasting before you go off to lunch nearby.
In the afternoon, you will visit the “National Coffee Park” to learn more about the coffee region and enjoy the many attractions in the park. This park is particularly family-friendly and after this visit, you will go back to your plantation hotel to recover from the excursions and have a relaxed dinner.
Day 5 | Fly to the Caribbean
You may have some free time today at the hotel before flying to Bogota, but this obviously depends on the flight schedules for your dates.
Upon landing in Bogota you will connect with your 80-minute flight to lovely Cartagena on the Caribbean coast. Colombia is a warm, tropical country generally, but be prepared for the increase in heat and humidity when you arrive at the coast.
You will be taken to your hotel in the modern Boca Grande area of the city, where you will have a great beach-front location.
Take the rest of the day to relax and enjoy the beach, plus the many and varied restaurants and stores. Two of our favorite hotels in Cartagena are the historic Hotel Caribe and the modern Capilla del Mar, but there are many others to choose from, so let us know of your particular preferences.
Instead of staying in the modern area of the city, you could choose to stay in the historic old center – just ask us about the pros and cons of the two locations.
Day 6 | Explore Cartagena
After a hearty buffet breakfast, you will have the morning free to enjoy the beach just in front of your hotel.
After lunch, you will enjoy a Cartagena city tour, which includes the impressive Fort of San Felipe, the Santa Cruz Monastery on Popa Hill, offering great views of the city, plus an introductory walking tour of the historic center (serving to whet the appetite for tomorrow). The tour is rounded off by a visit to an emerald workshop to see the process, museum and have the chance to buy.
Day 7 | More Cartagena
Today you will have an in-depth, private walking tour of old Cartagena during the morning. Trying to avoid the heat of the early afternoon is always a good thing.
The old city is really beautiful with its Colonial buildings and narrow alleyways, so make sure you have plenty of memory space on your camera for the picturesque balcony shots.
You will then have the afternoon free for the beach, and the evening free for shopping and dining in style.
Day 8 | Optionals day = Your choice
Today you have time to choose optional activities. You could visit the Rosario Islands, play golf or just enjoy a free day lounging around on the beach.
Whatever you do with your free time, make sure you visit the Old City by night, which is wonderfully atmospheric in the evening: you can wander the narrow, Colonial streets, stopping to eat and drink in the many places available.
Day 9 | Farewell to Colombia
Today, unfortunately, you will have to bid farewell to Colombia, flying back to Bogota for your homeward flight.
If you wish to spend more time in Colombia or combine with another one of our tours we can arrange this easily – just let us know. We can add more days in Cartagena to relax, Cali for Salsa lessons, a stay in Medellin or anywhere else you fancy? Colombia can also be easily combined with some other South America destinations such as Peru plus Galapagos.
