Explore Colombia

Colombia
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Colombia is one of those gems of South America that still is often skipped on the tourist trail. Be captivated by Bogota’s colonial-era centre, laze on palm-fringed stretches of Caribbean shoreline and meet the locals that make Colombia one of the world's friendliest countries on this 10-day South American adventure. While Tayrona National Park and the Guachaca region offer gorgeous hiking trails, off-track swimming holes and powdery beaches nestled in lush jungle, eye-catching towns like Barichara are a dream to explore, and adrenaline-fuelled San Gil is just moments away. For an off-track trip in that’s full of rhythm, music, colour and life, Explore Colombia is right up there with the best of them.

Availability

From 27/04/2024 to 08/01/2026

Departure dates & prices

Dates Availability Price
  • Apr Sat 27 2024 to May Mon 06 2024
    Available
    From
    $2,888*
  • May Sat 18 2024 to May Mon 27 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,610*
  • Jun Sat 15 2024 to Jun Mon 24 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,610*
  • Jul Sat 06 2024 to Jul Mon 15 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,760*
  • Jul Sat 13 2024 to Jul Mon 22 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,760*
  • Jul Sat 27 2024 to Aug Mon 05 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,572*
  • Aug Sat 03 2024 to Aug Mon 12 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,610*
  • Aug Sat 17 2024 to Aug Mon 26 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,610*
  • Sep Sat 07 2024 to Sep Mon 16 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,430*
  • Oct Sat 05 2024 to Oct Mon 14 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,610*
  • Oct Sat 19 2024 to Oct Mon 28 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,610*
  • Oct Sat 26 2024 to Nov Mon 04 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,760*
  • Nov Sat 02 2024 to Nov Mon 11 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,760*
  • Nov Sat 09 2024 to Nov Mon 18 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,760*
  • Nov Sat 23 2024 to Dec Mon 02 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,760*
  • Nov Sat 30 2024 to Dec Mon 09 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,760*
  • Dec Sat 07 2024 to Dec Mon 16 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,900*
  • Dec Sat 14 2024 to Dec Mon 23 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,900*
  • Dec Sat 21 2024 to Dec Mon 30 2024
    Available
    From
    $3,900*
  • Dec Sat 28 2024 to Jan Mon 06 2025
    Available
    From
    $3,900*
  • Jan Sat 04 2025 to Jan Mon 13 2025
    Available
    From
    $3,945*
  • Jan Sat 11 2025 to Jan Mon 20 2025
    Available
    From
    $3,945*
  • Jan Sat 25 2025 to Feb Mon 03 2025
    Available
    From
    $4,095*
  • Feb Sat 08 2025 to Feb Mon 17 2025
    Available
    From
    $4,095*
  • Feb Sat 15 2025 to Feb Mon 24 2025
    Available
    From
    $4,095*
  • Feb Sat 22 2025 to Mar Mon 03 2025
    Available
    From
    $4,095*
  • Mar Sat 01 2025 to Mar Mon 10 2025
    Available
    From
    $3,945*
  • Mar Sat 15 2025 to Mar Mon 24 2025
    Available
    From
    $3,945*
  • Mar Sat 22 2025 to Mar Mon 31 2025
    Available
    From
    $3,945*

What's included

Wander beneath the floral balconies of Cartagena – the World Heritage-listed town combining Caribbean splendour and irresistible old-world charm.
Tayrona National Park is a nature escape that seems to have it all, from perfect beaches and mountain backdrops to wildlife-filled jungle.
Admire the colonial-era architecture of Barichara – this little gem is widely considered Colombia's prettiest town.
Get lost on the cobblestone streets or head to nearby San Gil – a hotspot for adventure sports.
Head to a local factory supporting women in work and keeping alive a traditional paper-making method by using the natural fibres of the Andean fique plant.
Stay in the vibrant Chapinero neighbourhood in Bogota, one of the most culturally diverse parts of town.
By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, World Bicycle Relief.
Donations provide school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas with bicycles that provide access to education, healthcare, and income.
Breakfasts Included: 8.
Lunches Included: 1.
Dinners Included: 2.
Hotel (9 nts).
Plane,Private Bus,Private vehicle,Public bus,Van.
Age: min 15.
Group Size: 1 - 12.
Cartagena - Orientation walk of hotel neighbourhood.
Tayrona National Park - Entrance fee.
Tayrona National Park hike.
Barichara - Visit to a local artisan paper factory.
Barichara - Walk along Camino Real to the village 'Guane'.
.

Itinerary

  • 1 - Cartagena Bienvenidos a Colombia! Welcome to Colombia. Cartagena is one of South America's most historic cities. The old city, particularly the inner walled town, is the main attraction - it's packed with beautiful churches, monasteries, plazas and mansions. Your hotel is located in the vibrant Getsemani neighbourhood, a part of the old town with loads of colourful street art and an authentic feel. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. After the meeting, step out for an orientation walk with your leader to get a feel for the city (note that this may take place tomorrow morning instead).
  • 2 - Cartagena Spend some free time getting to know the old and new of Cartagena. Wander the old city, shop for local handicrafts, head up to San Felipe de Barajas Castle (the largest of the city's fortresses) or take boat to Punta Arenas or Playa Blanca for a well-deserved swim in the Southern Caribbean. Otherwise, book yourself in a tour out of town to the Volcan de Lodo El Totumo. Instead of lava, this peculiar volcano spews a cream-like mud that is said to contain many healing properties. Enter for a strange bathing experience, then wash the muddiness off in the nearby lagoon.The evening is yours to spend as you wish. Make sure to check in with your leader for great places to try some local food.
  • 3 - Guachaca In the morning, take a private van transfer (approximately 6 hours) north of Cartagena to Guachaca - your home for the next two nights. Guachaca is located in northern Colombia and is surrounded with lush jungle and mountains that collide with the sun-kissed coastline. Visit an initiative that fights to preserve the prehispanic Tayrona culture that populated this area and glimpse what the famous lost city once was. Meet with an indigenous member from one of the four communities that are still occupying La Sierra. You will even have the chance to give back to nature and the community by helping in a local project to reforest the area. Your accommodation is a simple and comfortable family-run guesthouse, nestled high in the jungle. In the evening, enjoy a cocktail or two with your fellow travellers or treat yourself to a relaxing massage.
  • 4 - Tayrona National Park Head to Tayrona National Park - a series of jungle and coves surrounding the Caribbean coast on the foothills of the Santa Marta mountains. Today is all about hiking the forest trails for Tayrona's beaches, and with a fair amount of hiking involved today, be prepared and make sure your walking shoes are on and you've packed some bug spray. Along the way, you'll experience lush the green rainforest, the ambience of the jungle and all wildlife that inhabit it, and the special glimpses of coastline and beaches that peek through the canopies. The trail to stunning Cabo San Juan is well worth the effort; it's further away than some other beaches however highly recommended. The hike today is flexible and can be tailored to suit all fitness and energy levels. There can be some steep ups and downs, high humidity, and some muddy spots if it's been raining, so your group leader can organise a route that pleases everyone. When you've had enough hiking, swimming and relaxing, head back to Guachaca for the evening.
  • 5 - Giron Enjoy a final morning in your jungle haven. After a continental breakfast, head off for an included flight from Santa Martha to Bucaramanga (with a transit in Bogota). Arrive at Bucaramanga in the late afternoon and then head onto the peaceful town of Giron. This quintessential 'white city' is part of the Colombian Heritage Towns, thanks to the cobble street and colonial buildings well preserved to this day. Follow your leader on an orientation walk then have some free time enjoying this charming town in the evening.
  • 6 - Barichara This morning, leave Giron behind and enjoy a spectacular drive through the iconic Chicamocha Canyon to Barichara (approximately 3.5 hours). On arrival, head to a local factory where you'll learn the traditional method of making paper from the natural fibres of the Andean fique plant. This factory is the number one employer in Barichara, which began with the aim to financially support single-parent women who previously did not have any promise of work. Afterwards, set out on a 3-hour walk along the Camino Real with a local guide to the village of Guane. Declared a national monument in 1988, the ancient trail was built by the indigenous Guane people as a trade route between towns, and you'll be hiking a small section between Barichara and Guane. The walk is stunning, full of panoramic views of the mountain ranges. It starts off with a gentle descent down the rim of a canyon before crossing a valley filled with cacti. The walking is mostly downhill, and you'll likely spot a few fossils embedded in the stones that pave the trail en route. On arrival in Guane, refresh with a cooling drink, soak up the peaceful atmosphere and perhaps check out the town's church, before catching the local bus back to Barichara.
  • 7 - Barichara With its quaint cobbled streets, stuccoed houses and hilly backdrop, Barichara is probably the prettiest colonial-style village in all of Colombia. With some free time, spend today however you please. Barichara means 'resting place' in the local indigenous language and is itself a fine place to wander around on foot, with its laidback feel and range of shops and artisanal workshops to explore. If you'd like to get more active, head over to San Gil, the thrill-seeking capital of Colombia (approximately 30 minutes' drive). Speak to your group leader for suggestions of things to do - rafting, mountain biking - it's an adventure sport hub. The Pescaderito swimming hole on the way there is well worth a visit too; even if the water is a little chilly, it's an idyllic spot to relax for an hour or two.
  • 8 - Bogota Today you'll travel by local bus to Bogota via San Gil (approximately 8 hours), so kick back and enjoy the drive as the scenery rolls by. There will be only the one stop along the way, so ensure you take drinks and snacks for the journey. Your hotel in Bogota is located in the Chapinero neighbourhood, one of the most culturally diverse parts of town.
  • 9 - Bogota Time for some exploring - today, You'll explore the oldest area in the city and understand more about the Colombian past, present and future. One is La Candelaria, the historic heart of the city. Boasting a wealth of cosy cafes and colonial churches, it's a neighbourhood full of surprises. As well as loads of museums, art and great food to try, it's also just a beautiful town to walk around, an interesting clash of the old and new. You'll also head to the Gold Museum for a chance to learn about the wealth this country once had. Fascinating and easy to navigate, the museum has 55,000 artefacts from various eras on display. During the day, you will also learn about Colombia's turbulent past on a 'War and Peace' tour, which outlines their history of war, including political assassinations and armed groups in conflict, and how the country has developed into the situation it finds itself now.
  • 10 - Bogota After an included breakfast, there are no planned activities today and no accommodation planned at night. If you wish to spend more time in Bogota, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
  • The following product terms and conditions apply in addition to our Booking Terms and Conditions (available on our website) and terms and conditions of the relevant travel service provider.
  • Prices quoted valid for sale until 03 April 2024 for travel during the period specified (if applicable) unless otherwise stated or sold out prior.
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  • Airfare (including internal flights) is not included unless otherwise stated and, if included, is economy class unless otherwise stated.
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