Colombia Culture & Walking Quest

In the morning, we’ll have a walking tour through the heart of Bogotá’s old quarter, known as La Candelaria, with numerous restored, 300-year old homes and public buildings. Our tour passes through Plaza Bolívar, San Francisco Church, the lively pedestrian street Calle 11 (known for its countless family-owned local restaurants) and, time permitting, the 17th-century Santa Clara Convent.

The day’s highlight is a visit to the world-renown Gold Museum, which houses over 33,400 gold pieces from Colombia’s pre-Hispanic cultures. Here, we will learn about how gold was once used for political and social purposes, in myths, offerings and finally, the metallurgical techniques used to work with gold. This is only an introduction to the cultural history around the gold of pre-Hispanic cultures as well as the Spanish’s lust for this precious metal, following the 1502 landing party led by Vasco Nunez de Balboa. After visiting the Gold Museum, we head to the north of Bogotá and make our way to Villa de Leyva (a 3-hour drive). Once in Villa de Leyva, we will check in at the hotel. (B)

Comfort Hotel, Posada de San Antonio.

https://www.hotellaposadadesanantonio.com/

This colonial village is strategically located in the desert of La Candelaria and its quaint cobblestone streets and white-washed houses provides a warm welcome to visitors. The main plaza is possibly one of the largest in South America and was once a preferred location by Spanish troops for parades and demonstrations. A visit to Villa de Leyva’s fossil museum provides insight on how the village was created, developed and decorated with thousands of fossils from the surrounding valley. From there, we will visit Infiernito, a site where the first inhabitants of the region used to adore the sun as their god and the earth as the mother of life. The Spaniards considered this place an abomination and thereby named the place El Infiernito (the little hell). Here, several phallic stones where placed into the ground and used in rituals to fertilize the land and are strategically located to accurately mark the winter and summer solstices.

After Infiernito, we’ll continue to the Terracota House. Built in situ, this huge house took over 10 years to complete and is now considered as an art work. Stroll through its corridors and take in the views from its balconies. This place is sure to give you novel ideas for any changes to interior décor back home. (B)

Comfort Hotel, Posada de San Antonio.

https://www.hotellaposadadesanantonio.com/

The day begins with a visit to Raquira, a town famous for its clay handcrafts, where you will get to meet Mr. Guillermo Lozano, a master potter that has traveled the world teaching ancestral technics used to make unique figurines. Learn the basics to make your very own sculpture during a hands-on experience. From here, we’ll continue on to Barichara where we will check into the hotel upon arrival. (B)

Comfort Hotel, La Nube Posada

http://lanubeposada.com/home/

This morning, we’ll hike through a six-mile stone trail originally built by the indigenous Guanes and later by the infamous Geo von Lengerke. This is one of the most scenic roads belonging to a network of thoroughfares used during the colonial era. Enjoy the scenic views of the Suarez Canyon, numerous exotic bird species and rural farm life.

In the afternoon, we’ll go for a stroll through Barichara, starting at a park near our hotel with a stunning view of the Suárez river gorge in the distance. As we wander through the historic streets, we’ll make our way to a family-run paper factory and observe the papermaking process which uses local plant fiber to create a finished product. We’ll come across three types of traditional architecture the town is famous for, including: rammed earth (tapia pisada), mud and cane (bahareque), and mud adobe brick. We will also visit the elaborately made Cathedral of Barichara, notable for its architecture in yellowstone from the Santander region. (B)

Comfort Hotel, La Nube Posada

http://lanubeposada.com/home/

In the morning, we’ll leave the hotel and go to the Juan Curi waterfalls, located in a small nature reserve. A 2.5-mile forest hike will take us along a limestone river path to a refreshing pool at the base of a waterfall. Along the hike, you’ll enjoy the sight of butterflies, hummingbirds and other bird species. We will then continue to the Chicamocha Gorge, the second largest canyon in the world, where we’ll cross the canyon in a cable car with an incredible view. We’ll end our day at the hotel in Bucaramanga. (B)

Premium Hotel, Club Campestre Bucaramanga

http://www.campestrebucaramanga.com/hotel/

In the morning, we will take you to the Bucaramanga airport for your flight to Medellín.

Once you arrive in Medellín we’ll be waiting to take you to your hotel and will continue with the city tour after checking in. Through a gradual process of transformation that relied on the engagement of each citizen, Medellín has become a remarkably inclusive city. On our tour, you’ll witness the transformative power of art, enjoy the urban graffiti art of the comunas, typical and innovative street food throughout the city, and massive sculptures by Fernando Botero. (B)

Comfort Hotel, Poblado Alejandria

https://www.hotelpobladoalejandria.com/

As we leave the city through the Andes mountains, a huge rock will loom overhead. If you’re up for the challenge, climb up the 637 steps to reach the top of the rock and take in the incredible view. Make your way back and explore the town of the “Zocalos” – Guatape has special decorations made on the base of the facades of all the houses of the place, and every single one has a different meaning. (B)

Comfort Hotel, Poblado Alejandria

https://www.hotelpobladoalejandria.com/

Today we’ll explore Colombia’s coffee region! Once we arrive to our destination, we will visit the Cocora Valley, home of the national tree, a wax palm that grows up after the 2.800 m.a.s.l and is one of the tallest palms in the world. Afterwards, we’ll visit the colonial town of Salento to see the colorful streets, colonial architecture and local handcrafts. (B)

Comfort Hotel, Sonesta Pereira

https://www.sonestapereira.com/

In the morning, we’ll take the road to the town of Santa Rosa, where we’ll visit a finca del café, or coffee farm. Once we arrive at the finca, we’ll start an interactive coffee tour, where we will learn about the Colombian coffee production process, including picking, pilling, drying and roasting of the coffee beans. Finally, to close the tour, we’ll enjoy a delicious cup of locally-produced coffee. (B)

Comfort Hotel, Sonesta Pereira

https://www.sonestapereira.com/

We’ll start the day with a walking tour through the old quarter of Cartagena. The tour takes us through Plaza de San Diego, Plaza Fernandez of Madrid, Bolivar Park, Plaza de los Coches and Plaza Santo Domingo. We will also get to walk along the walls and visit the bastions of Santo Domingo and San Francisco Javier, where we will learn about the history and defense strategy of the city. On this tour you’ll see the most scenic streets of the city and visit important churches like the Cathedral San Pedro Claver and Santo Domingo. (B)

Comfort Hotel, Don Pedro de Heredia

http://www.hoteldonpedrodeheredia.com/

Today your guide will pick you up from your hotel and accompany you to Bodeguita Pier. Here you’ll board a speedboat to visit the Rosario Islands. The boat trip to the islands takes approximately 90min and includes a brief stop at the Fortresses of San Fernando and San José de Bocachica, which protected the bay from pirate and corsair attacks in colonial times. Upon arrival at the island you’ll be free to enjoy the sea to your heart’s content. Optional activities include snorkeling, kayaking, or a visit to the Aquarium of San Martin de Pajarales. These activities can be booked and organized on the island. Included in your daytrip is a delicious lunch. At the end of the day we’ll return to Cartagena. (B, L)

Comfort Hotel, Don Pedro de Heredia

http://www.hoteldonpedrodeheredia.com/

Comfort Hotel, Don Pedro de Heredia

http://www.hoteldonpedrodeheredia.com/

At the scheduled time, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your international flight. (B)