Mountains, Jungles & Bays: Bogota, Tayrona & Cartagena

Highlights

• Bogota: Paloquemao Market, La Candelaria, Botero Museum, Gold Museum, Monserrate Monastery.
• Santa Marta & Tayrona: Sierra Nevada mountains, tropical forests, 15 km hike to Cabo de San Juan, wildlife spotting.
• Cartagena: Historic port city, San Felipe Fortress, La Popa Convent, colonial architecture.

What's this trip about?

Begin your 9-day Columbia discovery in the capital, Bogota. Make your way from the Paloquemao Market's maze of over 750 stalls, sampling local fruits, juices, vegetables, and fruits while immersed in the colourful aromas of the surrounding flowers. Continue to La Candelaria, Bogota’s oldest city quarter and vibrant cultural heart, where you'll discover elegant colonial buildings and churches as you wander through the Plaza Bolivar. Marvel at the works of famed Columbian artist Fernando Botero at La Candelaria’s Botero Museum and explore over 55,000 pieces of goldwork at the Gold Museum. Ascend 3,153 m / 10,341 ft above sea level in a cablecar to the 17th-century Monserrate Monastery, overlooking the city below and beyond. Fly north to the city of Santa Marta, where you’ll find the expansive Tayrona National Park, home to the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, the highest coastal mountain range in the world. Immerse yourself in the region’s predominantly year-round hot and humid climate, creating the lush tropical forests along its coast. Embark on a 15 km / 9.5 mi hike through the lush tropical palm tree forests to the warm ocean waters and beachfront restaurant at Cabo de San Juan. Remember to keep your eyes peeled for iguanas, macaws, toucans, monkeys, and other incredible wildlife throughout your journey. Venture west to the living museum of Cartagena, a port city boasting a dynamic blend of African, European, and indigenous cultures. Explore impressive merchant houses, blossom-adorned balconies, and ornate churches surrounded by the city’s ancient stone fortification. Immerse yourself in the rich history within San Felipe de Barajas, wandering through the 16th-century fortress engrained in the city’s defense against pirates throughout its history. Continue to the flower-filled courtyards, stone columns, and gold-plated altar dedicated to the Virgin de la Candelaria inside La Popa Convent atop Mount la Popa.

What's excluded

• Travel insurance
• International and domestic airfare & airfare taxes
• Meals and beverages not mentioned
• Gratuities
• Items of a personal nature
• Visa fees if applicable

Accommodation