Colombia's Colonial Jewels & the Coffee Triangle

12 days
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Small Group Tour
Discover hidden riches when you travel to Colombia, the land that inspired the myth of El Dorado—and whose borders are now open to travelers after decades of being closed. While Spanish explorers searched in vain for a legendary “Lost City of Gold," when you journey here with OAT, you'll witness a country in the midst of a cultural renaissance ... and find th...
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Explore Bogotá
    • Discover Medellin
    • Visit the Antioquia Museum at the Plaza de Botero in Medellín
    • Visit the Cocora Valley
    • Visit the massive cathedral on Plaza Bolívar

What's this trip about?

    Discover hidden riches when you travel to Colombia, the land that inspired the myth of El Dorado—and whose borders are now open to travelers after decades of being closed. While Spanish explorers searched in vain for a legendary “Lost City of Gold," when you journey here with OAT, you'll witness a country in the midst of a cultural renaissance ... and find that the real treasures of Colombia are all around you. Our comprehensive adventure takes us from the colonial gems of Bogotá and Cartagena to bustling modern Medellin and the Coffee Triangle region around Pereira, Manizales, and Armenia. Along the way, we'll meet the friendly and resilient Colombian people, experiencing a vibrant blend of cultures with a rich history.

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Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal transport included (including local flights)
Start CityBogotá
End CityCartagena

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Local Immersion & Homestays
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • South America
  • Colombia

Attractions

  • Bogota
  • Cartagena
  • Medellin

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • History
  • Nature

Trip includes

    • All land transportation and internal flights
    • Accommodations for 11 nights
    • 24 meals—11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 6 dinners
    • 19 small group activities
    • Services of a resident, English-speaking OAT Trip Leader
    • NEW: Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and luggage porters
    • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next adventure—an average of $299

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Depart U.S. • Arrive Bogotá, Colombia

Accommodations: Hotel de la Opera or similar

Depart the U.S. today, arriving in Bogotá in the evening. An OAT representative will meet you at the airport and assist with the transfer to our hotel, where you'll  join travelers who took the pre-trip extension to Bolivia: La Paz & Lake Titicaca. Dinner is on your own.

Day 2: Explore Bogotá • Monserrate Hill, La Candelaria & Gold Museum

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodations: Hotel de la Opera or similar

This morning after breakfast, we begin our discovery of Bogotá. Originally a settlement known as Bacatá by the indigenous people who inhabited this area on the high plains of...

Day 3: Bogotá • Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral optional tour

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodations: Hotel de la Opera or similar

After breakfast today, you can join our optional tour to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá in the mountains north of Bogotá, a fascinating religious site. En route, we visit Paloquemao, Bogotá's...

Day 4: Fly to Medellin • Explore Medellin

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodations: Le Parc Hotel or similar

View Medellin from a metrocable

Our travel in Colombia continues with a flight from Bogotá to Medellin this morning. As we explore the city, we'll see how it is undergoing an econ...

Day 5: Medellin • Discover Guatape

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodations: Le Parc Hotel or similar

This morning, we head for Guatape, a colorful village in the countryside outside of Medellin known for its socalos, beautifully crafted tiles that decorate houses and the town's church. ...

Day 6: Medellin • Fly to Pereira

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodations: Hacienda Castilla or similar

Explore a coffee plantation in Ecuador

After breakfast, we visit the Antioquia Museum at the Plaza de Botero in Medellín. The plaza has an open-air collection of 23 sc...

Day 7: Quimbaya • A Day in the Life of the Coffee Triangle

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodations: Hacienda Castilla or similar

See the coffee plantation Hacienda Venecia

This morning, we’ll visit Santa Ana, a village in the town of Quimbaya in the countryside near Armenia, and experience A Day...

Day 8: Salento • Cocora Valley

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodations: Hacienda Castilla or similar

Explore Corcora National Park

The final turn in our triangle is the region around Armenia, once a way station on the march of Simón Bolivar. We visit Salento, a 19th-c...

Day 9: Fly to Cartagena

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodations: Hotel Bantu or similar

Encounter the tango in Colombia

This morning, we'll fly from Pereira via Bogotá to Cartagena on Colombia's Caribbean coast. Officially known as Cartagena de Indias—so named because...

Day 10: Explore Cartagena • Visit San Felipe Castle • Cumbia dancing lesson

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodations: Hotel Bantu or similar

Encounter local cuisine in Cartagena

We begin our day in Cartagena's oldest section, the Ciudad Amurallada, or Walled City, which is encircled by twelve-foot stone walls and conside...

Day 11: Cartagena • Getsemani walk

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodations: Hotel Bantu or similar

Discover La Popa Convent and San Felipe Castle

This morning, we'll take a walking tour of the Getsemani neighborhood, the oldest part of the city. We continue to the hilltop La Pop...

Day 12: Cartagena • Return to U.S. or begin post-trip extension

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our flight home. Or, begin your optional post-trip extension to Ecuador: The Andes & the Devil's Nose Train.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,095
Price per day$258
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours).

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours) Reviews & Ratings

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Policy over practical customer service. zero customer service

Dec 2023

Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours) Company Reviewsby Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours)

don't expect humanity or common sense

This letter is effectively what was communicated no less than 8 times in writing and conversation to OAT representatives up the chain, beginning 19 days before the t...

Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours) Company Reviewsby Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours)

Trip of a Lifetime

Our recent Tanzanian Safari was indeed the trip of a lifetime. Saw the big 5, met the wonderful locals and spent 5 days in the Serengeti. Saw many lions, zebras, gi...

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Feb 2023

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Be careful

Booked for July and gave them $12,000. They talked us into early arrival and then come back to us a two months later saying we can't offer. We have to keep our airli...

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Tour Operator

Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours)

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Overseas Adventure Travel offers unique small group adventures worldwide to Americans over 50. By land and sea, we explore on—and off—the beaten path with a resident OAT Trip Leader, immersing ourselves in local cultures, sampling unique modes of transportation, and staying in authentic lodgings that reflect the essence of your destination. Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises serves both our GCT and OAT brands with an award-winning fleet known for exceptional value and high-quality experiences in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Custom-designed according to our travelers’ specifications, our fleet includes 50+ small river and ocean-going ships that we own or privately charter.

Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise—comprised of a family of travel companies—committed to changing people’s lives by offering high-impact experiences to our travelers and building local communities through philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and volunteerism.

Simply by traveling with OAT, you support the work of the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation, which was created with the mission of changing people’s lives through travel—both those of our travelers, and of the people who welcome us so warmly into their homelands.

Journey with the Leader in Adventure Travel and Watch Your Dreams Take Flight: It is the stuff of dreams: gazelles bowing to lap at a glassy pool in the Serengeti as the vast sky turns purple with night, the tiered splendor of the Himalayas, rising behind a Tibetan monastery. Dreams like these are everyday realities for OAT travelers, thanks to the principles which ground every OAT adventure: value, choice, discovery, and carefully paced itineraries.

Our Value puts your travel dreams within reach: OAT can help you realize your travel dreams for a lot less than you thought possible. Together with our regional offices located throughout the world, we’ve been able to establish long-term relationships with many local vendors and hotels. Buying direct brings down our costs—and allows us to pass the savings on to you. And negotiating directly for hotel space also allows us to secure as many single room allotments as possible for our solo travelers. That way, we can also extend our great value to solo travelers. In fact, we offer the best value for solo travelers, guaranteed.

The Choice is yours: You’ll always have plenty of choices with OAT. We offer you a breadth of awe-inspiring travel destinations—from the peaks of the Andes to the sweeping desert sands of the Sahara to the rugged natural beauty of Iceland. You'll also enjoy more trip extension choices than ever before—like hiking to ancient monasteries in Bhutan or discovering the Moai monolithic rock statues on Easter Island. You have plenty of choices within each adventure, too, including several interesting optional tours. And the free time we’ve woven into our itineraries allows you plenty of opportunities for independent exploration. You can shop, unwind, perhaps linger at a sidewalk café, visit an interesting gallery or museum, or explore a cobbled street that caught your eye earlier in the day. You can do as much or as little as you want on an OAT adventure—the choice is yours.

OAT Difference

Adventure Travel: Adventure travel with OAT is a journey beyond the familiar, one that takes you into the very heart of a destination—to meet people where they work and live.

OAT Advantages: Journey with the leader in adventure travel and watch your dreams take flight, thanks to the principles which ground every OAT adventure: value, choice, discovery, and carefully paced itineraries.

Small Groups, Big Discoveries: When you discover the world in an OAT small group, you’ll journey off the beaten path to the places the big tour groups miss—and enjoy an intimate, discovery-filled adventure filled with personal connections, shared experiences, and treasured memories.

Trip Leaders: No matter where in the world you venture with OAT, you'll have one of our resident, expert Trip Leaders by your side. All are fluent in English and possess the skills, certification, and experience necessary to ensure an enriching adventure.

Airport Transfers: We’ve listened to your feedback, and will now offer international airport transfers to and from your hotel to our travelers who choose to purchase their own airfare on OAT adventures as part of our Personalize Your Trip program, which allows you create the OAT adventure that's right for you.

Personalize your trip: OAT travelers have long expressed the desire to decide exactly where they’re going, how they get there, and when they wish to leave. That’s why we developed a variety of choices that enhance the value of every trip we offer, allowing you to create the adventure that works best for you.

Traveling solo? Enjoy your own room or cabin—at no extra cost: You’re in control of your travel dreams—and we’re making them more affordable than ever: Maybe you prefer the freedom of solo travel—or maybe you and your usual traveling companion can’t agree on a destination. Whatever the reason, you don’t have to put your travel dreams on hold. When it’s time to go it alone, you’ll never pay a Single Supplement to have your own room or cabin with OAT.

What they’re known for
Small group tours for seniors and retirees wanting an international adventure, especially solo female travelers.

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Logistics

Accommodation

,Hotel de la Opera Bogotá, Colombia Housed in Bogotá's La Candelaria district, the 29-room Hotel de la Opera boasts traditional Spanish-style architecture, two on-site restaurants, a café bar, spa, fitness center, heated pool, and Jacuzzi. Each room features high-speed Internet access, and a private bath with a hair dryer. Le Parc Hotel Medellín, Colombia The Le Parc Hotel is located in the El Poblado section of Medellín, a short walk from El Poblado Park and the city’s “Golden Mile," which has many restaurants and shops. Each of the 47 air-conditioned rooms features cable TV, free wireless Internet access, safe, telephone, kitchenette, and private bath. Hotel facilities include an on-site restaurant and bar. Hacienda Castilla Pereira, Colombia The Hacienda Castilla in Pereira is a historic accommodation that was originally a plantation house built in 1737. The building retains its Spanish colonial features, including a central courtyard with a fountain, and is set in a grove of citrus, mango, and guava trees. The hacienda’s nine rooms each feature wireless Internet access, a TV, minibar, safe, and private bath. Hotel Bantu Cartagena, Colombia Situated within the walled historic section of Cartagena, the Hotel Bantu is in a renovated 19th-century building with decor that reflects the city's Afro-Caribbean culture. Facilities include three inner courtyards with lush greenery, a roof deck with a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, and an on-site restaurant. The 27 air-conditioned rooms feature cable TV, direct-dial telephone, minibar, and private bath with hair dryer; there is wireless Internet access throughout the hotel.
Cancellation policy

Cancellation Charges Generally: Unless otherwise stated next to the program’s rate chart, you will receive a refund equal to your Trip Price less the following per-person charges. Charges shown include the $300 administrative fee.

Cancellation Charges for Land Tours:

  • If Prior to departure is 90 days or more, then charge is $300
  • If Prior to departure is 89-60 days, then charge is 10% of selling price or $300—whichever is greater
  • If Prior to departure is 59-30 days, then charge is 65% of selling price
  • If Prior to departure is 29 days–departure, then charge is 100% of selling price
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

11 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, and 6 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Optional Activities

Pre-trip: Bolivia: La Paz & Lake Titicaca

5 nights from only $1295 |  Single Supplement: FREE

From the shores of Lake Titicaca to the blend of modern and ancient cultures in La Paz, countless discoveries await you in Bolivia. Journey here before you travel to Colombia and explore Andean landscapes, visit indigenous villages, and discover ancient ruins that pre-date the Inca Empire.

Post-trip: Ecuador: The Andes & the Devil's Nose Train

6 nights from only $1895 |  Single Supplement: FREE

Explore Domes Cathedral in Cuenca, Ecuador.

Experience the Andean side of Ecuador, a region of snowcapped volcanoes, traditional cultures, and a dramatic rail route. From local markets in the countryside to Spanish colonial Cuenca, you'll meet the people who call this scenic region home. Join us to discover more of South America's cultural and natural diversity.

Optional Tours

Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral

Day 3 $95 per person

Explore Zipaquira Salt Cathedral in Colombia

This optional tour takes us into the mountains north of Bogotá, where we'll explore a fascinating religious site, the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá. En route, we visit Paloquemao, Bogotá's largest local market, where we'll learn about Colombian fruits and flowers. Then we continue to the cathedral, where we'll see how it is built into the tunnels of a salt mine, stretching more than 600 feet underground, with statues and ornaments carved out of the mine’s rock walls. The complex features three main sections, including an entryway lined with 14 small chapels that depict the Stations of the Cross, and is considered a highlight of Colombian architecture. More than just a monument, this site is an active Roman Catholic church, drawing up to 3,000 visitors to its Sunday services. Following our tour of the cathedral, we’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant that features dishes cooked using salt from the Zipaquirá mine, as well as ajiaco, a traditional Colombian soup of chicken, potatoes, and corn.

Trip ID
overse-ColColOve

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