10 Days • 9 Nights
Colombia & Panama: Cartagena & the Canal
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Trip Highlights
- Colonial Cartagena and its old town
- The emerald coffee region
- Panama City and Casco Viejo
- The mighty Panama Canal
- The idyllic San Blas islands
- Colonial culture, coffee and Caribbean beaches
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 10-day journey.
Met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Cartagena. Settle in and stroll the atmospheric walled old town, with a welcome dinner.
A guided walking tour of Cartagena's colourful old town, plazas, churches and the San Felipe fortress.
A day trip by boat to the Rosario Islands for swimming, snorkelling and beaches, with a fresh seafood lunch.
You fly to the coffee region and settle into a coffee-farm hacienda among the green plantations.
A day on a working coffee farm with a tasting, and a visit to the Cocora Valley with its towering wax palms.
You fly to Panama, exploring cosmopolitan Panama City and the atmospheric old quarter of Casco Viejo, with its plazas, churches and rooftop bars.
A visit to the mighty Panama Canal, watching vast ships transit the locks at the Miraflores visitor centre, and learning the story of this engineering wonder, with a rainforest excursion.
You travel to the idyllic San Blas islands, a paradise of white-sand islets and turquoise water home to the indigenous Guna people, settling into a simple island stay.
A day of Caribbean bliss in San Blas, swimming, snorkelling over coral reefs, island-hopping by boat and meeting the Guna community, in one of the world's most beautiful archipelagos.
You return to Panama City for your onward flight, having experienced two countries and a great engineering wonder.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- 9 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner, a coffee-farm lunch and full board at San Blas
- 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 Cartagena tour, a coffee-farm and Cocora tour, a Panama City and Canal tour, a San Blas trip and 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
Which airports do I use?
This 'open-jaw' itinerary flies into Cartagena and out of Panama City, avoiding backtracking, which we arrange with your flights. There is a short international flight between the two countries.
What are the San Blas islands like?
San Blas is a stunning archipelago of hundreds of tiny palm-fringed islets governed by the indigenous Guna people. Accommodation is simple and rustic, part of the authentic charm, with basic cabins and full board; we brief you fully on what to expect.
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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