Wonders of Colombia

Arrive in Bogotá

Arrive in Bogotá and transfer to your hotel with the help of your bilingual guide. Often called the "Athens of South America," the capital of Colombia is a multicultural city filled with beautiful parks, colonial mansions, historic churches, and fascinating museums. Enjoy a welcome dinner at San Isidro restaurant, located in a colonial building that sits high atop Monserrate Mountain. Try the renowned French cuisine served here, a three-course seasonal feast paired with the twinkling lights of Bogotá at your feet.

Discover the Colonial Heart of Bogotá

Tour the city's colonial district and the historic main square, then visit the city's best museums. Botero Museum features the work of Fernando Botero, Colombia's most famous artist known for his "oversized" art, as well as collections of Monet and Van Gogh. At the Gold Museum, see a spectacular collection of 35,000 pre-Colombian gold artifacts, including a golden raft. You'll never forget standing in a darkened room when suddenly the lights turn on, revealing hundreds of illuminated gold pieces. Round out the day traveling by cable car up to Monserrate Sanctuary (10,347') — an iconic church dating back to the year 1640.

Explore Colombia’s “Coffee Axis”

After breakfast, take a flight to Pereira, a bustling city in the coffee-growing foothills of the Andes. Known as the "coffee triangle," this region is the heart and soul of Colombia, a spectacular landscape of rolling hillsides lush with coffee plantations and plunging valleys. Dotted with fincas (coffee farms), many of which can be visited, the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Check out the rural life as it's been lived for centuries, harvesting coffee, plantains and fruits that grow in this fertile region.

Trek to Cocora Valley & Acaime Reserve

Travel toward the magnificent Cocora Valley, a haunting place adorned with Colombia's national tree: the towering wax palm. Start your hike in colorful Salento, a colonial pueblo at the heart of the Zona Cafetera, then to Cocora Valley, with postcard-perfect panoramas of verdant Andean foothills. Ascend into the cloud forest, crossing rivers along rickety bridges, tree roots, stepping stones, and slippery turns. The reward is amazing: Acaime Reserve is filled with hummingbirds and red-and-blue masked trogons. Enjoy coffee and agua de panela (a traditional hot drink) before descending along the same path.

Discover Cartagena

Fly from Pereira to Cartagena, then settle into your hotel and head out on a walking tour of this delightful Caribbean city. Founded in 1533, Cartagena was where the Spanish stored their plunders. No wonder buccaneers, pirates, and even Sir Francis Drake attempted to take the city on many occasions, leading the Spanish to spend 200 years fortifying the city. Not only is Cartagena steeped in history, it's also breathtaking, with colonial townhouses, flower-laden balconies, and a maze of shady alleyways and squares.

Take a Cooking Class in Cartagena

Dive into the fascinating culinary world of Colombia's Caribbean coast, led by a local chef. Start at Mercado Bazurto, Cartagena's labyrinthine central market. Check out the piles of freshly caught fish, colorful stalls packed with tropical fruit and vegetables, and women brewing pots of stew. Then head to a private colonial house in the walled city, where you'll cook using the fresh ingredients you just picked up. Enjoy a farewell dinner at Club de Pesca, a traditional seafood restaurant inside an old fort.

Depart from Cartagena

After breakfast, transfer to Cartagena airport and depart on homeward-bound flights.