10 Days • 9 Nights
Colombia Highlights: Bogota, Coffee Region & Cartagena
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Trip Highlights
- Historic Bogota and its gold museum
- Vibrant street art and the Candelaria
- The emerald coffee region and Cocora Valley
- Towering wax palms and coffee farms
- Colonial Cartagena and its walled old town
- Caribbean colour, seafood and warm hospitality
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 10-day journey.
Welcome to Colombia. You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the high-altitude capital. Take it easy to adjust to the altitude, with a welcome dinner of Colombian cuisine.
A guided tour of Bogota, the historic Candelaria quarter, the world-famous Gold Museum, the Botero art collection and the funicular up Monserrate for panoramic city views, with its vibrant street art.
You fly to the coffee region, the emerald heart of Colombia, settling into a coffee-farm hacienda among the vivid green plantations. Enjoy an afternoon exploring the estate and its coffee.
A day learning the journey from bean to cup on a working coffee farm, with a tasting, and a visit to the stunning Cocora Valley, home to the towering wax palms, Colombia's national tree, amid misty green mountains.
A day exploring the colourful town of Salento, the artsy villages of the coffee region and their painted balconies, with time to relax at your hacienda.
You fly to Cartagena on the Caribbean coast, the jewel of colonial Colombia. Settle in and take an evening stroll through the walled old town as it comes alive with music and colour.
A guided walking tour of Cartagena's UNESCO-listed walled old town, its colourful mansions, flower-draped balconies, plazas, churches and the mighty San Felipe fortress, steeped in history.
A day trip by boat to the Rosario Islands, a national park of white-sand beaches and coral reefs, for swimming, snorkelling and relaxing in the Caribbean.
A free day to enjoy Cartagena, the bohemian Getsemani district, its rooftop bars, cuisine and nightlife, or simply the atmospheric old town, with a farewell dinner.
After breakfast you are transferred to the airport for your onward flight, full of Colombia's colour and warmth.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- 9 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner and a coffee-farm lunch
- Airport and internal transfers
- Touring, sightseeing and activities as per itinerary with expert English-speaking guides
- Domestic flights as specified
- National park and attraction entry fees as per itinerary
- a Bogota tour, a coffee-region and Cocora Valley tour, a Cartagena old town tour and domestic flights
Exclusions
- International airfare
- Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa & entry: Most nationalities, including UK, US, EU, Canadian and Australian passport holders, do not need a visa for tourism and receive up to 90 days on arrival; a passport valid for at least six months is required. We confirm details for your nationality
- Currency: The currency is the Colombian Peso; cards are widely accepted in cities and hotels, but carry cash for markets, small vendors and the coffee region and coast. We advise on current money matters
- Diverse climates: Colombia sits near the equator, so temperature depends more on altitude than season, Bogota is cool, Medellin is the 'city of eternal spring', and the Caribbean coast is hot year-round; pack for the range in your itinerary
- Best time to visit: Colombia is a year-round destination; the drier months (December to March and July to August) are ideal, though the coffee region and coast are lovely throughout, with occasional rain
- Getting around: Colombia is large and mountainous, so itineraries use domestic flights between regions such as Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin and the coffee region; these are arranged and included where specified
- Safety: Colombia has transformed in recent decades and is a warm, welcoming and increasingly popular destination; we use trusted local guides and drivers and sensible precautions, and most visitors find it friendly, safe and easy in the areas we visit
- Health: A yellow fever vaccination is recommended for the Amazon and some jungle and coastal areas; bring insect repellent and sun protection, and drink bottled water outside the main cities. We advise on current requirements
- Culture & power: Colombians are famously warm and welcoming; a little Spanish goes a long way, and tipping around ten percent is customary. Power is 110V with type A and B plugs, so US travellers need no adapter
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bogota's altitude a concern?
Bogota sits at around 2,600 metres, so you may feel the altitude on arrival; we suggest taking it easy on the first day, staying hydrated and eating lightly. Most travellers adjust quickly, and the rest of the itinerary is at lower elevations.
Is Colombia a good first-time South America destination?
Very — it is warm, welcoming, easy to travel and offers a wonderful variety of Andean cities, coffee country and Caribbean coast without the extreme distances of some neighbours. It has become one of the region's most popular and rewarding destinations.
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included, along with any meals named in the itinerary such as a welcome dinner or a coffee-farm lunch. Colombia's food, from fresh Caribbean seafood to hearty Andean fare, is a delight, so most other meals are left free with our recommendations.
Are domestic flights included?
Yes — the domestic flights between regions specified in your itinerary, such as Bogota to Cartagena or the coffee region, are arranged and included, along with all airport and hotel transfers, so your journey is seamless.
Is Colombia safe to visit?
Colombia has transformed in recent decades and is a warm, welcoming and increasingly popular destination. We use trusted local guides and drivers and sensible precautions throughout, and most visitors find the areas we visit friendly, safe and easy.
Do I need a visa for Colombia?
Most nationalities do not need a visa for tourism and receive up to 90 days on arrival with a passport valid for at least six months. We confirm the requirement for your nationality when you book.
When is the best time to visit Colombia?
Colombia is a year-round destination; the drier months (December to March and July to August) are ideal, though the coffee region and coast are lovely throughout. Temperature depends on altitude, so pack for the range in your itinerary.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. We can adjust the balance of city, coast, coffee region and jungle, add the Amazon or Tayrona, change the pace and tailor hotels to your interests and budget.
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