Colombia: Culture, Coffee & Caribbean - Medellin Flower Festival

Welcome to Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, sat high on a plateau in the Andes. There’s plenty packed into this trip, but today we settle in and rest, ready for the adventures ahead.

Aim to arrive at the hotel this afternoon/evening, although we recommend arriving one day early to acclimatise and help get over any jetlag. There will be a message waiting with information about tomorrow’s meeting time.

Want more time in Bogotá? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

• Accommodation:Casa De La Vega (or similar)

Say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers this morning, when we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Following our welcome briefing, we embark on a walking tour through Colombia’s vibrant capital, including a visit to the Gold Museum and a cable-car ride up Monserrate for spectacular views over the city. We follow with a walking street food tour in the early afternoon, sampling the flavours of Colombia’s different regions at market stalls, snack bars and street food stands.

Later, we head to a traditional social club for a game of tejo. This popular pastime was invented by the Chibcha people – metal discs (tejos) are thrown at targets called mechas, small packets of gunpowder wrapped in paper. The aim is to hit the mechas and make them explode! Two national beers per person are included (this is the entrance fee for the game).

Your tour leader ensures a big welcome over dinner tonight.

• Accommodation:Casa De La Vega (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Transfer (approximately 30 minutes) to Bogotá Airport and fly for an hour south to the city of Neiva, the capital of the Huila department and much lower in altitude and warmer than Bogotá.

From Neiva, we drive (approximately one hour) to the Tatacoa Desert, an ochre-grey land pierced by green cacti. Here, we take a 1hr 30min to 2hr hike – remember your walking shoes, water bottles, long-sleeve tops and hats. It’s around a one-hour drive back to Neiva at the end of the hike.

• Accommodation:Hotel Chicala (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

We drive (about six hours) south to the town of San Agustín, following the Magdalena River valley for most of the journey. As we approach, we ascend and the climate cools.
In the afternoon, we visit the remarkable archaeological site of La Chaquira, which is spectacularly located near the Rio Magdalena, between the central and eastern Andes. We then visit El Tablón, which consists of five statues representing human and animal figures.

Upgrade to a suite with private balcony today – speak to your sales representative for more details

• Driving:230km - six hours
• Accommodation:Akawanka Lodge (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

Start the day exploring the countryside around San Agustín. We begin with the Estrecho del Río Magdalena – here the mighty Magdalena River passes through a section of rocks only 7ft (2m) wide. The landscape around the river is exceptionally picturesque.

Nearby is the small town of Obando, where we visit tombs plus a small archaeological museum. On the way to Obando, we pass a sugar mill (trapiche) where we taste freshly prepared panela (unrefined, whole-cane sugar), a product found in many Colombian kitchens.

We spend the afternoon in San Agustín Archaeological Park, a vast World Heritage complex housing a mysterious collection of pre-Columbian stone figures and tombs. The park is nestled amid lush hillsides and picturesque forests, which we can explore on foot along various trails (some of them quite steep) accompanied by an expert local guide, while the excellent museum offers comprehensive insights into the finds.

Upgrade to a suite with private balcony today – speak to your sales representative for more details

• Accommodation:Akawanka Lodge (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

A scenic drive (five to six hours, including two on unpaved roads) takes us from San Agustín to Popayán. Shortly after leaving, we make a side trip to Alto de los Ídolos Archaeological Park, the second-most important archaeological park in the area, after San Agustín, and home to stone tombs and carvings.

Continuing our journey, we ascend and pass through forested landscapes as we cross from the Huila department into Cauca and to Popayán. Founded in 1537 by Sebastián de Belalcázar, this small colonial city has magnificent architecture reflected in the houses, churches and bridges, which we have a chance to see on a walking tour (approximately three hours) of the historic centre.

• Accommodation:Hotel La Plazuela or Hotel Camino Real (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

Today, we travel into Colombia’s coffee region, where we spend two nights at a traditional hacienda on a working plantation. A hacienda stay offers an authentic insight into the region’s coffee heritage and a chance to experience the area’s slower pace of life.

Our journey takes around six to seven hours, with a stop in Buga along the way. One of Colombia’s oldest cities, Buga is known for its colonial charm and rich heritage. It’s home to the Basilica of the Lord of Miracles, an important pilgrimage site that offers a glimpse into local traditions and culture.

Upgrade to a deluxe room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

• Accommodation:Hacienda Combia (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

Head into the Cocora Valley, where slender wax palms rise above green slopes to heights of up to 197ft (60m). Colombia’s national tree makes an extraordinary companion for our walk along a cloud forest trail, before we help plant wax palm seedlings.

We then visit Salento, taking time to browse handicrafts and stroll around the main square, framed by houses with brightly painted doors and balconies.

Next, we visit Finca El Ocaso for a private, interactive coffee experience. Our hosts explain the work behind Colombia’s celebrated export, tracing the process from cultivation to preparation and tasting. There’s plenty to appreciate before we even lift the cup.

Returning via Salento, we continue to Filandia, where flower-lined balconies and colourful facades showcase the coffee region’s traditional architecture, before returning to our hotel.

Upgrade to a deluxe room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

• Accommodation:Hacienda Combia (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

Leaving the coffee region, we transfer (six to seven hours) to Medellín, arriving for a floral introduction to the city’s Flower Festival.

We head to Medellín Botanical Garden for Florecer, an exhibition celebrating orchids, nature and Colombian traditions. Orchids take centre stage, with displays revealing the remarkable variety of their shapes and colours.

Alongside the flowers, Colombian artisans showcase their work, bringing another dimension to this celebration of the country’s natural and cultural heritage.

• Accommodation:Hotel Boutique la Campana (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

Take our places in a viewing stand for the Silleteros Parade, a highlight of Medellín’s Flower Festival and a celebration of the farming families of nearby Santa Elena.

The stars are the silleteros (flower carriers), who parade through the city bearing elaborate silletas (flower arrangements mounted on frames) on their backs. These creations range from traditional displays to intricate floral pictures, showcasing skills passed through generations.

As the procession passes, we admire both the designs and the considerable effort involved in carrying them: a proud expression of the region’s farming heritage.

• Accommodation:Hotel Boutique la Campana (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

Today we learn about Pablo Escobar, the notorious drug lord and one-time head of the Medellín Cartel, who ruthlessly controlled large parts of the global cocaine trade in the 1980s and early 90s.

Our tour explores his controversial life and work in Medellín from a historical perspective, starting at his grave. We then visit the Parque Inflexión, a place that witnessed crucial moments in his life.

After, we head to Comuna 13, an area that has undergone one of Medellín’s most remarkable transformations in recent decades. Our guide leads us through the steep hillside streets, where colourful murals cover almost every wall, each one telling a story about the district’s past and the resilience of the community that lives here today.

We also visit the bustle of the downtown area and Botero Plaza, a park dedicated to the renowned Colombian sculptor and painter Fernando Botero.

Taking the modern Metro cable car, we head to San Javier. The cable car was constructed to facilitate access to the city centre for residents; now, it offers visitors the opportunity to gain an insight into the lives of the local people. Enjoy a breathtaking view over Medellín from the final station.

• Driving:80km - one to two hours
• Accommodation:Hotel Boutique la Campana (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

We are driven (approximately 40 minutes, depending on traffic) to Medellin airport this morning and catch our flight to Santa Marta, a city on the Caribbean coast.

Our arrival time varies according to the flights. On arrival, we are driven (about one to two hours) east to our hotel near Palomino, where there’s a beach nearby.

• Accommodation:Finca la Jorará (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

Drive (about 45 minutes) along the Caribbean coast to El Zaino this morning, the main entrance to Tayrona National Natural Park. Beginning the walk with a local guide, we reach Cañaveral beach, a wild and beautiful place, and we can enjoy a spectacular view of the sea from the top of a small hill. The walk continues through the tropical forest to Arrecife beach. We continue until we arrive at La Piscina, where we have time to swim and relax on the palm-fringed beach.

We can have lunch (not included) at a small, beach-front restaurant before returning through the forest. There are about four to five hours of walking today (approximately 6mi/10km).

For those craving even more adventure, there is the option to continue the hike for an additional 1.2mi (2km) to secluded Cabo San Juan. The trails ascend and descend partly over steps and wooden planks and take you through tropical forest with high temperatures and humidity. Be sure to bring appropriate footwear eg walking shoes, sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water. Due to strong currents, many beaches in Tayrona are unsafe for swimming. Please check with your tour leader before swimming.

• Accommodation:Finca la Jorará (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

Start the day with a cultural exchange with an Arhuaco community. The Arhuaco, who grow coffee and sugarcane and raise animals, are one of the many Indigenous groups in Colombia, and mostly live in the coastal mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

From our hotel, we drive (20 minutes) along the coastal road to the village of Perico Aguao, where we are met by a community guide. After a short introduction, we begin a hike through the tropical forest to the  seaside village of Katanzama. Our guide leads us through the houses and community buildings and explains the traditions and culture of the Arhuacos.

From there, we continue to small plantations, where we learn about Arhuaco agriculture, before we drive (five to six hours) along the coast to Cartagena.

• Accommodation:Hotel 3 Banderas (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

We have a full day in Cartagena, a city jam-packed with stories, fascinating sites and colonial architecture. We begin with a visit to the church of San Pedro Claver and the Castillo de San Felipe, a massive fortress where legends and secrets are hidden in its stone vaults. A statue of Blas de Lezo raises his sword in front of the fortress, a tribute to the Spanish admiral who defended the city against the British in 1741.

We continue into the bustle of Bazurto Market, where vegetables, meat, seafood, clothes, herbs and spices, fruits, natural remedies and other foodstuffs are sold. We can sample fresh juices and sweet fruits before heading back to the city centre. Entering the walled city through the official entrance, the archway of the Clock Tower (Torre del Reloj), we reach the monument to Pedro de Heredia, the founder of Cartagena de Indias.

• Accommodation:Hotel 3 Banderas (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

You’ve explored Bogotá and colonial Cartagena, celebrated Medellín’s Flower Festival and walked beneath Cocora Valley’s soaring wax palms, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home.

Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.

• Meals included:Breakfast