Current as of: December 19, 2025 - 07:16
Current as of: December 19, 2025 - 07:16

2 out of 7 - Easy & Moderate
The spirit of Colombia lives in its people: in conversations, kitchens, communities, riverbanks, and hill towns. This Signature Collection journey invites you to be part of that spirit, guided by those who call the country home. Understand how Bogotá residents are reshaping their neighbourhood, spend unhurried time with coffee growers in the Andes, meet Arhuaco leaders in the Sierra Nevada, and trace coastal life across stilted villages and Caribbean streets. Each moment is led by your handpicked Signature Guide, each evening refined by elegant stays that showcase the best of Colombian hospitality.
Venture to the very heart of each destination on our Signature Collection, where every journey is shaped by our unrivalled local connections and insider expertise. Step beyond the ordinary with private invitations, rare encounters, and experiences few will ever share. So when someone says, “I’ve been there,” you’ll simply smile, knowing you’ve experienced it differently.
Signature Experiences:
Signature Day: Experience our distinctive Signature Day, choosing between a float down the river in Taironaka, Tayrona’s coastal trails, La Danta’s waterfall paths, or a banana-led tasting shaped by the Sierra Nevada
Signature Stay: Relax at Tewimake, a luxurious experiential retreat between jungle and sea, where conservation and comfort combine in perfect harmony
Signature Guide: Let your hand-picked Signature Guide lead you to the country’s soul — sharing their home, heritage, and heart
We have graded this trip Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page.
Driving times: The longest travel time (six hours) takes place on Day 7. All other transfers are under two hours. We also take two internal flights on this itinerary.
Prebooking activities: An immersive adventure of your choice awaits on the Signature Day. All you need to do is prebook the activity at least 60 days before departure through our Signature Collection travel experts.
When it comes to unlocking a destination, your Signature Guide is the key holder. Hand-selected for their extensive experience and unrivalled local knowledge, they ensure your experience runs effortlessly thanks to their exceptional organisational skills. Our Signature Guides are named on our website, so you can begin your journey with complete confidence and anticipation of the wonders each day will bring.
Adult min age: 18
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 16
Welcome to Bogotá, where our journey begins among Andean light, layered histories, and Casa Legado, your elegant city hideaway. Complimentary arrival transfers are arranged, giving you time to settle into the pace of the Colombian capital.
Early arrivals could join a private bike tour that moves through parks, plazas, and striking graffiti, opening conversations around politics, art, and daily life. Alternatively, step inside Colombia’s emerald trade with a guided market tour and workshop, learning about every step of the journey and how expert artisans enhance the stones’ beauty.
As evening falls, gather for our welcome reception at Leo Restaurante, regularly named among the top restaurants in the city. Chef Leonor Espinosa’s tasting menu reveals the biodiversity of Colombia on the plate, each course inspired by their unique culinary philosophy, Cyclobioma: ‘the interconnection between human beings, cultural heritage, and the natural environment’.
Overnight at Casa Legado
Step into pre-Hispanic Bogotá at the Gold Museum, guided by a private historian through intricate goldwork and the myths behind it. Later, a cable car glides up Monserrate, where the city stretches below; fast-track access keeps the experience unhurried.
Lunch is ajiaco, Bogotá’s signature chicken and potato soup, served in a much-loved restaurant in the historic core of the city.
Signature Experience: In the afternoon, we hear tales of resilience and transformation in the Egipto district, an area once ruled by criminals, now a symbol of hope. Here, we join the Breaking Borders project, hearing first-hand how former gang rivals are reshaping their community through street art, storytelling, and sport.
Second night at Casa Legado
An early morning private transfer brings us to the airport for our flight to Armenia, gateway to the green heart of Colombia’s coffee region. On arrival, we settle into Bio Habitat Hotel, surrounded by birdsong and forested slopes.
Signature Experience: Visit a Fairtrade coffee hacienda for a hands-on insight into the daily life of a small-batch coffee farmer. Walking the fields with the growers, we trace coffee from seedling to drying patios, lend a hand with the harvest, and listen to family stories shaped by global coffee prices and local resilience. A rustic lunch with the coffee growers and a tasting of freshly roasted beans completes the day.
Overnight at Bio Habitat Hotel
Signature Experience: Travel to the coffee community of Pijao today, the first town in Colombia designated a Cittaslow, which was recognised for its commitment to slow living, sustainability, and preservation of local culture. Here, we’re welcomed by local families who share gardens, heirloom furniture, and photo albums that quietly recount Colombia’s recent past. With Doña Rosalba, we prepare a simple, comforting lunch together, chopping, stirring, and talking at her kitchen table.
In the afternoon, we continue to the Forest of Silence, where wax palms rise high above the path. A gentle two-hour walk reveals the rhythm of the landscape, with pauses to notice birds, cloud patterns, and take in the stillness.
Second night at Bio Habitat Hotel
Bid farewell to the coffee region this morning and fly to Santa Marta, gateway to the tropical rainforests, sandy beaches, and vibrant coral reefs of Tayrona National Park.
Signature Experience: Meet the guardians of the Sierra Nevada, starting with a 45-minute guided walk through the forest to Katanzama. Here, we’re introduced to the Indigenous Arhuaco people, learning first-hand about their customs and traditions. Then join a Mamo, a revered spiritual leader, whose words illuminate Arhuaco cosmology and guardianship of the land. A simple beach picnic closes the visit.
Arrive at our Signature Stay, Tewimake, a luxurious experiential retreat between jungle and sea, where conservation and comfort combine in perfect harmony.
After a restful pause, we visit the Don Diego River for an evening safari by kayak or boat. As dusk deepens, we watch for howler monkeys and birds, then learn traditional line fishing on the river mouth before the sky fades to copper over the Sierra.
Overnight at Tewimake
Today is your Signature Day, where you can select an authentic, curated experience to connect deeply with Colombia’s landscapes and communities. You could:
Second night at Tewimake
Travel by private vehicle towards Cartagena, pausing at the Ciénaga Grande del Magdalena. By motorised canoe, we navigate quiet channels between mangroves and lagoons, watching for birdlife as stilted houses appear across the water.
In the stilt villages of Buenavista and Nueva Venecia, we see daily life unfold above the lagoon: schoolchildren crossing by boat, fishermen mending nets, homes painted in bright colour. A community leader shares the challenges of living on water and the efforts to protect this fragile ecosystem.
After lunch on the coast, we continue to Cartagena. Late afternoon light catches the city walls and balconies as we settle into Bastión Luxury Hotel.
Overnight at Bastión Luxury Hotel
Follow in the footsteps of Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez, walking through Cartagena’s historic streets on a literary tasting tour. With a specialist food concierge, we visit nine locations linked to his novels, pairing scenes from Love in the Time of Cholera and One Hundred Years of Solitude with generous bites, coffee, and local rum that shaped his imagined worlds.
Signature Experience: Later, we drive to La Boquilla, a fishing community with Afro-Caribbean roots on the edge of the city. As the sun drops, a dance teacher leads us through a drum and dance workshop in a simple beachside kiosk, tracing the roots of cumbia, bullerengue and champeta.
This evening’s farewell dinner is at Celele – named among the world’s top 50 restaurants. As we savour a carefully composed tasting menu, a Colombian historian joins us, drawing together the threads of Colombia’s past and the experiences we’ve shared.
Second night at Bastión Luxury Hotel
After a final breakfast, take a quiet moment to remember all that you’ve experienced: Bogotá’s museum halls, coffee hillsides, Sierra rivers, and Cartagena’s sun-warmed stones.
Depending on your flight time, you may wish to linger at Bastión Luxury Hotel or stroll once more through the historic streets. This chapter may close, but Colombia’s stories — and the conversations you’ve shared along the way — will remain ready to return to.
Alternatively, open a new chapter of discovery by speaking to your Signature Collection travel expert about extending your stay.
Every aspect of the Signature Collection is meticulously planned to take you deeper into the destination. That means your accommodation is a refined showcase of local hospitality, whether you’re staying in a pioneering luxury hotel or enjoying privileged access to a characterful stay designed to fully immerse you in the local culture.
Below are the accommodations we use on this adventure:
Bogotá: Casa Legado (nights 1-2)

A boutique hotel in the leafy Quinta Camacho district, Casa Legado blends mid-century style with a warm, home-like feel. Individually designed superior rooms, tranquil gardens, homemade breakfasts, and attentive service create a cosy retreat after exploring the cultural attractions of Bogotá.
Armenia: Bio Habitat Hotel (nights 3-4)

Immersed in native forest, you’ll feel at one with nature at Bio Habitat. The experience is completely inspired by the natural world around you, from the slow-food restaurant to the bio spa and wellness center. We stay in Suites.
Tayrona: Tewimake (nights 5-6)

Between jungle and sea, Tewimake is our Signature Stay: an experiential retreat where conservation and comfort combine in perfect harmony. We stay in luxury bungalows made from natural materials and offering private terraces. Arriving by boat adds adventure, while nature walks, river outings, and cultural experiences provide full immersion.
Cartagena: Bastión Luxury Hotel (nights 7-8)
Bastión occupies a restored 16th-century mansion within Cartagena’s historic walled city. Elegant rooms sit around a serene courtyard, while a rooftop pool and refined dining space provide a calm retreat above the city’s rhythm, combining considered design with attentive, discreet service.
This journey is designed to deepen your connection to the country through its food and drink. In Bogotá, a refined tasting menu at Leo Restaurante introduces the country’s biodiversity. In the coffee region, home-cooked lunches open intimate windows into family life. Coastal dishes shaped by cacao, plantain and fresh fish lead into Cartagena’s literary tasting tour and an elegant farewell dinner at one of the world’s top restaurants.
All transport on this journey is arranged for you. Private transfers are used throughout, including to and from airports, hotels, and all daily activities. Two domestic flights are included: Bogotá to Armenia on Day 3, and Armenia to Santa Marta on Day 5. Local travel in Tayrona, the coffee region, and Cartagena is by private vehicle, with additional boat or canoe travel where specified in the itinerary.
Colombia’s varied elevations create distinct microclimates across this journey. Bogotá sits high in the Andes with cool, crisp days year-round, while the coffee region is mild, with warm afternoons and gentle showers that nourish its hillsides. On the Caribbean coast, temperatures rise and breezes off the sea bring a softer edge to the heat. Conditions shift subtly as you move between mountains, forests, and shorelines, but each region reveals its character in every season.
As with all adventures in the Signature Collection, we take care of your arrival and departure transfers, allowing you to fully relax and immerse yourself in the local culture.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Bogotá
Location end: Cartagena
There’s no specialist equipment you need for this trip. For more information on what you might need to pack, please see our packing guide.
Citizens of the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most European countries do not require a visa and will be granted a 90-day entry permit on arrival. Please ensure you have at least three blank pages in your passport.
An online “Check-Mig” form needs to be completed between 72 and 1 hr before your flight: Check-mig – Migración Colombia (migracioncolombia.gov.co)
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
If you are travelling via the USA and are eligible to transit under the Visa Waiver Program, you are required to register in advance for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). There is a US$21 charge, which is only payable online. Please see our website www.exodus.co.uk/usvisa for further information.
Please note, not all nationalities have the same eligibility for travel to or transit via the USA, and you may not be covered by the visa waiver program. Regulations stipulate that any person who has travelled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since March 2011, or have dual nationalities of these countries, may no longer qualify. In addition, if you have travelled to Cuba since 12 January 2021 you will not be eligible for the visa waiver program and should instead apply for a visa.
If you are in doubt of your eligibility, please check the visa requirements with your local US embassy.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: polio, tetanus, diphtheria, typhoid, hepatitis A and yellow fever. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice.
Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Colombia's electricity: Plug types A (two flat pins) and B (three pins: two flat, one round) – 110V, 60Hz
Colombia's currency: Colombian pesos (COP)
On this adventure, tipping for any local support staff is included and will be taken care of locally by your Signature Guide. Tips for your Signature Guide are not included. We recommend a starting point of US$55 to US$65 per group member, to be given at the end. This is discretionary and you may wish to tip a different amount, depending on the service you have received.
As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.
We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.
This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.
We also weave Signature Legacy moments into your itinerary, so the positive impact of your trip lasts long after your stay. These are moments to remember which help people and nature thrive, ensuring you build a harmonious, positive connection with the places you visit.
On this journey, you can:
Your Safe Participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call us and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
Seatbelts
All vehicles used by us should be equipped with working seatbelts, except where approved by us based on the vehicle type or journey. Wherever seatbelts are available, we require our customers to use them for their own safety, even where it may not be a legal requirement.
Travel Safety
For additional information please have a look at the travel safety advice page on our website.
Speak to our Signature Collection travel experts to plan your adventure:
After booking
You will receive a confirmation document and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements. Our dedicated Customer Operations team will help you with any pre-travel questions or arrangements and can easily add extensions or extra accommodation to your booking. Final Joining Instructions will usually be sent out two to three weeks prior to departure.
Adding transfers to your booking
If you have arranged your own flights and would like to add transfers to your booking, please provide your arrival and departure details to our Customer Operations team around four to six weeks before departure. Where complimentary transfers are included, they are available for any flight but can only be added to your booking once we have received your flight schedule.
Trip Note validity
Trip notes may be updated after booking; if any updates significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary you will be advised in writing. A link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes will be sent out with your Final Joining Instructions before departure.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes, and occasionally it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.