Colombia & Panama in 3 weeks

Day 3 | Bogotá – Pereira – Cocora

After breakfast, you will be taken to Bogotá airport. On arrival at the airport, you will board your domestic flight to Pereira. Once there, you will be taken to your hotel. You have arrived in Colombia’s coffee region. This beautiful region, nestled amongst the coffee plantations, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015 due to its stunning landscapes. The hotel where you will be staying is set within a stunningly beautiful estate. In the evening, you can dine at the hacienda’s excellent restaurant, where traditional Colombian dishes are served.
Overnight stay: Sazagua Reserva Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 4 | Cocora

You’ll be picked up in the morning for a visit to the coffee plantations along the steep hillsides typical of this area. You’ll have the chance to admire the green carpet of coffee plants stretching as far as the eye can see. This view is punctuated only by fincas and heliconia flowers. You’ll visit Hacienda San Alberto, one of the region’s typical coffee plantations, situated near the town of Buenavista. Your trip begins with an introductory talk about coffee, its preparation, roasting, quality characteristics and the properties that account for such a wide variety of coffee around the world. You will then head to the plantations, where you can observe the work of the coffee pickers at close quarters and learn about the moist coffee bean that is characteristic of Colombian coffee. You will explore every step of the production process in minute detail. At the end, you’ll enjoy a coffee tasting led by a Master Taster from Hacienda San Alberto. Afterwards, you’ll return to your hotel.
Overnight stay: Sazagua Reserva Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 5 | Pereira – Medellín

Today you’ll swap the lush greenery around you for the hustle and bustle of the city. You’ll be collected from your hotel and taken to the airport for your flight to Medellín. Medellín is situated in the mountainous Aburrá Valley. Because Medellín is situated high in the mountains, the city enjoys a spring-like climate all year round, with an average temperature of20°C. Upon arrival in Medellín, you will be taken to your hotel in the city.
Overnight stay: Hotel Patio del Mundo | bed and breakfast

Day 6 | Medellín

Today you’ll visit the Moravia neighbourhood, which until a few years ago was Medellín’s municipal rubbish tip and where residents lived in absolute poverty. Due to the armed conflict in Colombia and the number of displaced refugees, more and more people moved to this neighbourhood in the city centre. Today, Moravia is known for its strong sense of community and the positive attitude of the people who live there. Numerous local projects have transformed Moravia into a hub for art, culture and entrepreneurship. One such initiative is a culinary experience led by women who combine traditional recipes with professional cooking techniques and sustainable eating concepts. This project, ‘Platos sin Fronteras’ (dishes without borders), offers you the chance to enjoy a unique gastronomic experience alongside this community. The hostesses share their life stories and talk about the social and economic impact that projects like this have on them and their families.
Accommodation: Hotel Patio del Mundo | bed and breakfast

Day 7 | Medellín

Today you have a day at leisure in the city of eternal spring. Why not visit San Antonio Park, also known as La Plazoleta? This park features 23 sculptures by Fernando Botero, which the artist donated to his hometown in 2000. You can also visit the Antioquia Museum. This museum houses an impressive art collection spanning the pre-Columbian and colonial periods, as well as contemporary artworks. The Plazuela de San Ignacio is one of the most historic parts of Medellín and is certainly worth a visit. You can also take a ride on a traditional tram or cable car. This mode of transport is ideal for easily reaching the mountainous outskirts of the city. From here, you’ll have a sweeping view of the city of Medellín. You can also take a trip outside the city, for example to Guatapé, where you can visit ‘La Piedra del Peñol’ on the way – a rock believed to be a meteorite due to its size. A flight of steps runs alongside the rock; if you climb them, you can enjoy the view over the Guatapé nature reserve from the top. The village of Guatapé itself is a charming, picturesque little village with pastel-coloured houses.
Accommodation: Hotel Patio del Mundo | bed and breakfast

Day 8 | Medellín – Cartagena

You will be collected from your hotel and taken to Medellín airport, where you will board your domestic flight to Cartagena. Cartagena de Indias is a beautiful colonial town on the Caribbean coast. The old town features a maze of small, picturesque streets, with brightly coloured colonial buildings and romantic squares. Beyond the old city walls, the city has since expanded to include modern, attractive neighbourhoods. From the city ramparts near the old town, you can take in both the charming colonial city centre and the impressive skyline of Boca Grande at a single glance. On arrival, you will be met at the airport and taken to your hotel in Cartagena.
Overnight stay: Sofitel Santa Clara | bed and breakfast

Day 9 | Cartagena

Today, a special activity is on the programme in the village of La Boquilla. This is a fishing village of African descent which, for over 200 years and right up to the present day, has been engaged in a heroic struggle of cultural resistance to preserve its ancestral traditions. Drums play a leading role in this. You’ll take part in a workshop where you’ll be invited to ‘play, even when you’re not playing’, ‘dance, even when you’re not dancing’ and ‘sing, even when you’re not singing’. It is a unique opportunity to experience the distinctive Afro-Colombian rhythms of folk music from this region, including cumbia, mapale and champeta. The workshop consists of a theoretical section in which you will learn about the history of the drums, a presentation to listen to and appreciate the distinctive sound, and finally an interactive session to play the instrument yourself in the traditional way.
Accommodation: Sofitel Santa Clara | bed and breakfast

Day 11 | Cartagena – Panama City

It’s already time to leave Colombia and travel on to your next destination: Panama. You’ll be collected from your hotel and taken to Cartagena airport. Here, you’ll board your flight to Panama City. On arrival in Panama, our local representative will be on hand to welcome you and take you to your hotel in Casco Viejo. Panama City is a cosmopolitan city offering a mix of attractions; you’ll find modern skyscrapers, whilst you can also wander through the quaint streets of the historic centre, Casco Viejo. The ruins of the original old town can still be found there and, to top it all off, the world-famous Panama Canal runs right through the city. For a good cup of coffee (or an even better iced coffee!), head to Bajareque Coffee House & Roastery.
Accommodation: American Trade Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 12 | Panama City

Your guide will collect you from your hotel for a visit to a magnificent feat of engineering: the Panama Canal. The greatest and most expensive human achievement of our time. From your hotel, it’s about a half-hour drive to the visitor centre, where you’ll see large ships passing through. At the visitor centre, you’ll learn about the history of the Panama Canal. You’ll be amazed by this masterpiece of human ingenuity. You’ll then visit the Amador Causeway, from where you’ll enjoy one of the most spectacular panoramic views of Panama City. The trip continues in the old quarter of Panama City, the historic centre of San Felipe, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 thanks to its eclectic mix of colonial, neoclassical and French architecture. Here, you’ll take a stroll through the streets, squares and cobbled lanes and visit iconic colonial buildings, churches and palaces. Lunch is included.
Accommodation: American Trade Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 13 | Panama City – David – Boquete

Today you’ll travel on to your next destination in Panama. You’ll be collected from your hotel and taken to Panama City’s local airport, where you’ll board your flight to David. On arrival, a representative will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Boquete. Boquete is beautifully surrounded by the Rio Caldera, wooded mountain slopes, the Barú volcano and coffee plantations. Thanks to its high, broad mountain ridges, mist-shrouded hills and fertile soil, Boquete is ideal for its many coffee plantations, flowers, vegetables and citrus fruits.
Overnight stay: Panamonte Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 14 | Boquete

A day at your leisure in Boquete and the surrounding area.
Accommodation: Panamonte Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 16 | Boquete – Boca Chica

Today you’ll be travelling on to your next destination. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken to your accommodation in Boca Chica. Boca Chica is situated on the coast of the Gulf of Chiriquí. This picturesque fishing village has a relaxed atmosphere. Here you’ll find vast white sandy beaches and crystal-clear blue waters. This makes Boca Chica a paradise for sun and sea lovers, but also for those who enjoy snorkelling and diving. In the evening, enjoy dinner at one of the village’s excellent seafood restaurants.
Overnight stay: Hotel Bocas del Mar | bed and breakfast

Day 17 | Boca Chica

A free day in Boca Chica. Explore the idyllic surroundings or simply relax by your hotel’s swimming pool.
Accommodation: Hotel Bocas del Mar | bed and breakfast

Day 18 | Boca Chica

Today, you’ll be picked up by a comfortable, modern boat from the jetty at your hotel. You’ll sail towards the Chiriquí Marine National Park, passing a number of islands in the gulf, where you’ll find beautiful beaches and have the chance to explore the marine life. You’ll stop at two of the islands; which ones will depend on the time of year you’re travelling. For example, Isla Bolaños, where you can go snorkelling and enjoy the beach, and Isla Gámez, which has a lovely tropical beach and where you can optionally book a picnic. During the boat trip, you’ll have a great chance of spotting dolphins, turtles or even manta rays!
Overnight stay: Hotel Bocas del Mar | bed and breakfast

Day 20 | Boca Chica – David – Panama City – Amsterdam

Today, unfortunately, your Unique Journey through Colombia & Panama comes to an end. You will be collected from your hotel and taken to David Airport for your domestic flight to Panama City. You will be met by our local representative and taken to Panama City International Airport (if you wish, you can stop for lunch in the city). Here, you will board your intercontinental overnight flight to Amsterdam, where you will arrive the following day.

Day 21 | Amsterdam

You will arrive in Amsterdam today.