Colombia

Arrive in Bogotá, Colombia’s capital city, located 8,600 feet above sea level in the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. Transfer to our hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure to relax, rest from travel, and acclimate to the altitude.

Spend the day exploring La Candelaria and Veracruz, two of Bogotá’s oldest neighborhoods. Visit the stunning Museo del Oro, arguably one of South America’s most fascinating archaeology museums, home to more than 55,000 pieces of gold and other materials from Colombia’s most significant pre-Hispanic cultures. Also, take a guided tour of the Museo Botero, housing works by Colombian artist Fernando Botero and parts of his own impressive private art collection, and the Casa de la Moneda, a museum located in a historic cloister where the first gold coins in the Americas were minted. Enjoy a walking tour through the colonial heart of the city, stopping at the Plaza de Bolívar, the city’s main square with its neoclassical civic buildings and cathedral. Gather this evening for a festive welcome reception and dinner.

Take a day tour outside Bogotá to Zipaquirá. Rock salt has been mined here since the 5th century BCE and was one of the most important economic activities of the pre-Columbian Musica people. Learn about the historic mines and visit the subterranean Salt Cathedral, located 650 feet underground. We also explore the small city of Zipaquirá, where author Gabriel Garcia Márquez once attended school. See the historic town square with its perfectly preserved colonial architecture. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Bogotá.

Monserrate, the 10,500-foot mountain that dominates the city of Bogotá, is both a pilgrimage site and a popular attraction. Ascend via tramway or funicular, then climb to the summit and visit the 17th-century church known as the Monastery of Monserrate. Take in spectacular panoramic views of the capital and enjoy a lunch of classic Bogotá dishes. Then, descend Monserrate and drive to the airport to catch a short flight to the city of Pereira in the heart of the Coffee Zone. Check in to our hotel, located within walking distance of the city center.

Journey into the lush Cocora Valley and take a guided walk through the Wax Palm Forest, home to the tallest palm trees in the world. Drive to the Salento Mirador to take in sweeping views of the valley, then continue to the colorful town of Salento, known for its original bahareque (wattle-and-daub) architecture. After lunch, enjoy time on your own to explore picturesque Salento independently before returning to Pereira.

Drive to Finca Don Manolo, a picturesque coffee estate overlooking Pereira, to learn about the traditional process of Colombian coffee production. Walk through rows of lush coffee plants and hand pick ripe beans, then follow their transformation from seed to cup. Observe a roasting demonstration and participate in a guided coffee tasting that explores various brewing methods and flavor profiles. Return to the city and enjoy a tasting menu of traditional Colombian dishes and a concert of typical Central Colombian music in a historic restaurant and art gallery located in one of Pereira’s oldest and most iconic buildings.

Take a guided tour through the Jardín Botánico del Quindío, one of Colombia’s greatest botanical gardens. Encompassing approximately 27 acres of natural Andean Forest, it features four fascinating museums and one of the largest mariposarios (butterfly gardens) in the country, showcasing a collection of 30 different native species. Enjoy lunch in the charming town of Filandia, then visit the Centro de Interpretación “Del Bejuco al Canasto” to discover the ancestral art of vine basketry with a hands-on workshop. Participate in this living tradition, deeply rooted in the coffee-growing culture of the region, alongside local artisans who continue to preserve the craft.

Catch an early morning flight to the city of Medellín, in the heart of Colombia’s mountainous Antioquia Department. After lunch, take a guided tour of the Antioquia Museum, a treasure trove of Colombian art, history, and culture, boasting over 8,000 works by local and national artists, including the world’s largest collection of paintings, drawings, and sculptures by Fernando Botero. End the day with a visit to the Parque Memorial Inflexión, a powerful place of remembrance located on the grounds of the notorious Monaco Building. Once a residence of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, it was bombed by the rival Cali Cartel and later demolished by the city. Today the site has been transformed into a memorial park dedicated to the victims of narcoterrorism. Check in to our hotel, located in the heart of Medellín’s exclusive El Poblado district.

Embark on a scenic drive through the Antioquia countryside to El Peñón de Guatapé, a massive granite monolith. Climb its 750 steps and be rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and the turquoise waters of Lake Guatapé below. After descending, explore the cheerful streets of Guatapé town, nicknamed the “City of Zócalos” for the colorful two-dimensional murals that decorate the lower walls of its buildings. Take a leisurely lunch cruise on scenic Lake Guatapé, then return to Medellín.

Venture inside Comuna 13, a neighborhood that would have been inaccessible just 15 years ago, due to the violence, drug trafficking, and lack of security for which this area was once infamous. Today, it has been transformed into a livable community and a center of creative expression, with vibrant street art, music, libraries, and parks. Learn about the meaning behind the graffiti as we ride the series of open-air escalators and the Metrocable gondola lift systems that connect the isolated hillside neighborhood to the city below. Next, enjoy a tasting of some of Colombia’s most amazing and delicious tropical fruits, many of which, including grandadilla, lulo, feijoa, and curuba, are seldom seen outside the country. Take a break in Barefoot Park, then end the day in Medellín’s Civic Center, home to the city’s most important heritage buildings, monuments, and sculptures. Toast the culmination of our adventure at a farewell dinner this evening.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights returning home.