2-week trip of Colombia

Day 3 | Bogotá – Cocora Valley

You will be collected and taken back to Bogotá airport. From here, you will fly on to Pereira. On arrival, you will be met by one of our local staff and taken to your hotel. Sazagua Cocora is situated in the heart of the Colombian coffee region in the central Andes. The hacienda is the perfect embodiment of the region’s hospitality and unrivalled culinary delights. The name Sazagua refers to the Quimbaya civilisation, an indigenous people who inhabited this region in ancient times. The coffee region is renowned for its pleasant climate and stunning natural beauty, and a stay at this hacienda completes the picture perfectly. The hacienda’s charming atmosphere is partly defined by its dark wooden structures, wide corridors, colonial-style floors with Spanish tiles, vibrant colours and crackling fires.
Accommodation: Sazagua Reserva Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 4 | Cocora Valley

In the morning, you will be collected from your hotel and set off for the Cocora Valley, situated in the mountains of the Quindío region. The valley forms part of Los Nevados National Park and is home to the 60-metre-tall ‘Quindian wax palms’. You’ll arrive in the valley, where your hike through the cloud forest begins. During your walk, you can enjoy the rich biodiversity and the variety of plant and animal species. On the way back, you’ll cross the Quindío River, where the world’s tallest wax palms grow. In the afternoon, you’ll head to the towns of Salento and Filandia, where you can stroll amongst the picturesque colonial houses, visit a craft market and stop at a beautiful viewpoint. Afterwards, you’ll be taken back to your hotel.
Overnight stay: Sazagua Reserva Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 5 | Cocora Valley – Medellín

You will be collected from your hotel and taken to Pereira Airport, where you will board your domestic flight to Medellín. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by a local representative and taken to your hotel.
Accommodation: Quinta Ladera | bed and breakfast

Day 6 | Medellín

Today you’ll visit one of Medellín’s working-class neighbourhoods, where the changes are perhaps most visible: Comuna 9. First, you’ll be given an introduction to the neighbourhood’s transformation, after which you’ll have time to explore the different districts of Buenos Aires and La Milagrosa. Visit regeneration projects, works of art, and educational and recreational spaces that have helped to improve the quality of life for local residents. Finally, enjoy a ride on a traditional tram and the new cable car, which have made the city’s mountainous outskirts easily accessible. Afterwards, you’ll be taken back to your hotel.
Overnight stay: Quinta Ladera | bed and breakfast

Day 7 | Medellín

Today you’ll be going on a special excursion outside Medellín. You’ll leave Medellín and travel to Guatapé. On the way, your first stop will be ‘La Piedra del Peñol’ (the Guatapé rock), which is thought to be a meteorite due to its size. A flight of steps runs alongside the rock; once you’ve climbed them, you can enjoy the view over the Guatapé nature reserve from the top. You will then drive to the town of Guatapé itself, a picturesque village with pastel-coloured houses. After lunch, you’ll take a boat trip across the Guatapé nature reserve. Afterwards, you’ll return to Medellín.
Overnight stay: Quinta Ladera | bed and breakfast

Day 8 | Medellín – Tayrona

Today you will be collected from your hotel and taken to Medellín airport, where you will board a domestic flight to Santa Marta. A few kilometres from Santa Marta lies Tayrona National Park, situated on Colombia’s Atlantic coast. The park’s boundaries stretch from Taganga Bay to the mouth of the Piedras River. Temperatures in this area can reach up to 30°C. The many bays, beautiful beaches, white coral reefs, green mangroves, mountains and lush vegetation give every visitor the ultimate holiday feeling. This park is home to many birds, mammals and numerous reptiles. The various archaeological sites, which confirm the existence of ancient cultures, are an absolute must-see.
Accommodation: Villa Playa Tayrona | bed and breakfast

Day 9 | Tayrona

Today you’ll go on a trek to Tayronaka, an archaeological and ecological reserve. Here you’ll find the remains of an ancient settlement of the Tayrona indigenous tribe. The area is known for its abundance of wildlife and its beautiful vegetation. You can still find various paths, terraces, steps, aqueducts and a ceremonial house, which show how the Tayrona people lived and how the Koguis still live today. Accompanied by a guide, you’ll set off for Tayronaka in the morning. During this journey, you’ll cross a number of rivers until you finally reach Tayronaka. This heritage site is situated in the heart of the stunning natural surroundings. You’ll have the opportunity to go kayaking or simply enjoy this beautiful spot in peace and quiet. There’s also a small museum where you can admire all sorts of artefacts found in the region, such as axes, plates and flutes belonging to the Tayrona people. The Koguis still live in this region. After the excursion, you’ll return to your hotel.
Overnight stay: Villa Playa Tayrona | bed and breakfast

Day 11 | Tayrona – Cartagena

Before you set off for Cartagena, you’ll be taken on a city trip of Santa Marta. You’ll learn more about the Tayrona culture, which existed long before the arrival of the Spanish, by visiting the monument to the Tayrona gods and the anthropological museum. You will then head to the beautiful Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino hacienda with its stunning gardens. It was here that the national hero and great liberator Simón Bolívar died in 1830. Finally, you will drive past the bays of Rodadero and the fishing village of Taganga. Afterwards, you will be taken to Cartagena. Cartagena de Indias is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in South America. The old town features a maze of small, picturesque streets, with brightly coloured colonial buildings and romantic squares.
Overnight stay: Hotel Capellán de Getsemaní | bed and breakfast

Day 12 | Cartagena

Today you’ll be exploring Cartagena by bike, accompanied by a professional guide. You’ll start in the historic centre, where the main highlights are located. You’ll continue your route to Getsemaní, the neighbourhood where the fictional character Florentino Ariza grew up and lived. He is known from the novel ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’, written by the Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel García Márquez. Your cycle trip continues via the Roman Bridge to the Manga district, past the beautiful Villa Roman. In Manga, you will visit Cartagena’s oldest cemetery before cycling back to the city centre.
Accommodation: Hotel Capellán de Getsemaní | bed and breakfast

Day 13 | Cartagena – Amsterdam

Unfortunately, your two-week trip of Colombia has already come to an end. You will be collected by one of our local staff and taken to the airport, where you will board your intercontinental flight.

Day 14 | Amsterdam

You arrive in Amsterdam today.