Signature Colombia Stories Beneath Wax Palms

Overview

Colombia’s many worlds reveal themselves through its people, stories, and moments shared

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 Day: Experience our distinctive Signature Day, choosing between immersive optional activities such as birdwatching and hiking on Tayrona’s coastal trails, tasting the diversity of bananas and plantains grown in the Sierra Nevada, discovering the techniques and spiritual meanings woven into traditional mochilas, or joining an evening kayak safari.

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

Key Information

Travel Style: Signature
Activity: Culture
Activity Level: Easy & Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you.
Comfort Level: Premium
Trip Code: LCA
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Colombia
Carbon Footprint: 66.7kg CO2e per person per day

Signature Exclusive Inclusions

Elegant, hand-picked hotels and a Signature Stay at Tewimake, a luxurious experiential retreat between jungle and sea
All breakfasts, six lunches and three dinners, featuring restaurants that capture the authentic cuisine of Colombia
Your preferred Signature Day experience, selected and prebooked ahead of travel
Named Signature Guide with outstanding knowledge and guest satisfaction
Complimentary transfers on arrival and departure, plus comfortable transport throughout in private vehicles, and two internal flights
Gratuities for local support staff so every detail of your journey feels effortless

Positive Impact

We donate to our Foundation and rewild 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller. Find out more about how our adventures support nature and people to thrive.

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Signature Experiences

Signature Colombia | Stories Beneath Wax Palms

Engage with the community in Bogotá’s Egipto district, hearing how former rivals reshape their streets through art, dialogue, and sport

Trace the craft of coffee at a small-batch hacienda, following each stage from seedling to harvest before sharing a rustic lunch with the growers

Share a slow afternoon with families in Pijao, Colombia’s pioneering Cittaslow town, gaining a gentle glimpse of daily life while preparing a warm, home-cooked lunch

Listen to Arhuaco leaders in the Sierra Nevada, meeting community members and sharing a reflective moment with one of their highly respected spiritual guides

Itinerary

First Destination: Bogotá
Next Destination: Cartagena

Accommodation:HAB Hotel
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:HAB Hotel
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:La Herencia Hotel Casas de Huéspedes
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:La Herencia Hotel Casas de Huéspedes
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Tewimake
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Tewimake
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Palacio del Agua
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Hotel Palacio del Agua
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Bogotá
Next Destination: Cartagena

Welcome to Bogotá, where Andean landscapes meet a vibrant cultural scene. Our journey begins at the stylish HAB Hotel, a contemporary base. Complimentary arrival transfers are arranged, giving you time to settle into the pace of the Colombian capital.

For those arriving early, join an optional 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 (both available to prebook on request).

As evening falls, gather for our welcome reception at Salvo Patria, regularly named among Bogotá’s top restaurants. Its seasonal menus celebrate Colombia’s extraordinary biodiversity, bringing together responsibly sourced ingredients from local producers and fishing communities. It’s a fitting first taste of the country, its landscapes and its rich culinary traditions.

Accommodation:HAB Hotel
Meals included:Dinner

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.

Accommodation:HAB Hotel
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

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 La Herencia Hotel, surrounded by birdsong and coffee plantations.

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.

Accommodation:La Herencia Hotel Casas de Huéspedes
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

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.

Accommodation:La Herencia Hotel Casas de Huéspedes
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

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: the Arhuaco people, descendants of the ancient Tayrona civilisation, who regard these mountains as the centre of the world and source of all life. Spend the day with Oliverio, a member of the Indigenous Arhuaco community, as he shares stories of his culture, traditions and way of life. Together, we walk through the forest to the coastal community of Katanzama. Then join a Mamo, a revered spiritual leader, whose teachings reveal Arhuaco beliefs around harmony, balance and guardianship of the land. A beachside picnic closes the experience.

Arrive at our Signature Stay, Tewimake, a luxurious experiential retreat between jungle and sea, where conservation and comfort combine in perfect harmony and we can enjoy a relaxed evening.

Accommodation:Tewimake
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is your Signature Day, where you can select an authentic, curated experience to connect deeply with Colombia’s landscapes and communities. You could:

Enjoy birdwatching in Tayrona National Park, walking shaded coastal trails between beaches and forest clearings, pausing at viewpoints and palm-lined bays for a cooling swim and an unhurried lunch (6am–4pm)
Stay closer to La Jorará for a banana experience that reveals the ‘fruit library’ of the Sierra Nevada, tasting dishes shaped from multiple banana and plantain varieties while hearing how they sustain local households (9am– 12pm)
Join Indigenous women artisans for a hands-on mochila weaving workshop, discovering the traditions and symbolism behind these iconic bags while learning about their culture and connection to the land (2pm – 5pm)
Visit the Don Diego River for an evening safari by kayak or boat. As dusk deepens, watch for howler monkeys and birds, then learn traditional line fishing on the river mouth before the sky fades to copper over the Sierra (5pm-9pm)

Accommodation:Tewimake
Meals included:Breakfast

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 Hotel Palacio del Agua.

Accommodation:Hotel Palacio del Agua
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

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.

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.

Accommodation:Hotel Palacio del Agua
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 Hotel Palacio del Agua 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.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Accommodation

Experience the best of Colombian hospitality

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: HAB Hotel (nights 1-2)

HAB Hotel

A stylish boutique hotel in Bogotá’s vibrant Chapinero Alto district, HAB Hotel blends contemporary design with the character of a restored heritage building. Elegant rooms and relaxed social spaces are complemented by a lively restaurant and bar, creating a welcoming base for exploring the Colombian capital.

Armenia: La Herencia Hotel Casas de Huéspedes (nights 3-4)

La Herencia Hotel Casas de Huéspedes

Set within Colombia’s Coffee Cultural Landscape, La Herencia Hotel Casas de Huéspedes combines rural charm with elegant comfort. Surrounded by lush gardens, forest and rolling coffee-country scenery, it offers a peaceful base for experiencing the landscapes and traditions of the region.

Tayrona: Tewimake (nights 5-6)

Signature Colombia | Stories Beneath Wax Palms

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: Palacio del Agua (nights 7-8)

Palacio del Agua

Set within a restored heritage property in Cartagena’s historic centre, Palacio del Agua pairs elegant design with a peaceful atmosphere. Quiet patios, inviting pools and a rooftop terrace create tranquil spaces to unwind, offering a calm retreat from the energy of the city.

Enhance your stay: Personalise your experience with curated room upgrades and additional nights tailored to your travel plans.

Essential Information

We have graded this trip Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page.

Signature Day: Select from a curated menu of optional experiences to create a day that is personal to you, or choose to slow the pace and enjoy the facilities of your accommodation. Simply prebook your chosen experience at least 60 days before departure through your Signature Collection travel expert.

To help you choose your Signature Day experience, here’s what to expect from the Tayrona National Park excursion, the most active of the options. A good level of fitness and some experience walking on natural trails are recommended. Expect ascents and descents over steps and wooden walkways in hot, humid tropical forest. Comfortable walking shoes, sun protection and a hat are essential.

Driving times: The longest travel time (six hours) takes place on Day 7, but this will be broken up with stops along the way. All other transfers are under two hours. We also take two internal flights on this itinerary.

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.

Arrival airport: El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá (BOG)
- Your adventure begins with a welcome reception at 6pm on Day 1 at our first accommodation.
Departure airport: Rafael Núñez International Airport, Cartagena (CTG)
- Your adventure concludes after breakfast on the final day.

Complimentary arrival and departure transfers are included between the airport and the tour’s designated start and end hotels on the first and last day of your tour. If you book additional pre-tour or post-tour nights at the designated start or end hotel through Exodus, your complimentary transfer will also be valid for those arrival and departure dates.

Additional charges may apply for transfers on different dates or to and from alternative hotels within the same city. To ensure arrangements can be made, complimentary transfers must be requested through your Signature Collection Travel Expert at least two weeks before your tour departure date.

Colombia

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.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/colombia
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/colombia
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/colombia/entry-requirements
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Colombia.html

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.

This journey is designed to deepen your connection to the country through its food and drink. In Bogotá, Salvo Patria Restaurant 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.

When meals aren’t included, your Signature Guide will be on hand with carefully chosen recommendations, leaving you free to dine together or enjoy the evening at your own pace.

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 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:

Walk with a community guide in the Egipto district of Bogotá, seeing how your visit supports former rivals who now rebuild their district through collaborative art, open dialogue, and youth-led sport.
Spend considered time with rural and Indigenous communities, meeting Pijao residents who champion slower living, then visiting Arhuaco leaders in the Sierra Nevada to learn ancestral practices and plant a native tree that supports ongoing reforestation.
Learn directly from makers, joining hands-on workshops, including mochilas weaving and coconut craft, that strengthen local livelihoods, safeguard cultural knowledge, and ensure traditional techniques are passed forward with pride.