Colombia holiday
| country: | Colombia |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2008: 21 Jun |
| price: | From £1980 (16 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. Single supplement £350. Price includes twin share accommodation, meals, transport and entry fees, as per the itinerary. Max group size 12 people |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Vibrant Colombia is a land of contrasts and legends, an entire continent encompassed by one country. After being off the travel map for some time, Colombia is gradually moving back into the spotlight as an exciting new travel destination, and this year we are delighted to be taking a small group to discover this fantastic country.
Ranging from palm fringed Caribbean beaches, snow capped Andean mountain peaks, verdant rain forests and national parks, the Colombian terrain is truly diverse. From the cosmopolitan metropolis of Bogota to the cobbled alleys of the colonial towns, farmhouses and fishing villages we will explore all aspects of the country and indulge in a multitude of activities, from bathing in mud volcanoes to trekking in Tayrona National Park.
Taking in the spectacular underground salt cathedral at Zipaquira, Los Nevados National Park and the dazzling Festival of Light in Villa De Leyva, there will be plenty of opportunity to experience the real Colombia, meet the warm and hospitable locals and have a truly memorable trip.
Ranging from palm fringed Caribbean beaches, snow capped Andean mountain peaks, verdant rain forests and national parks, the Colombian terrain is truly diverse. From the cosmopolitan metropolis of Bogota to the cobbled alleys of the colonial towns, farmhouses and fishing villages we will explore all aspects of the country and indulge in a multitude of activities, from bathing in mud volcanoes to trekking in Tayrona National Park.
Taking in the spectacular underground salt cathedral at Zipaquira, Los Nevados National Park and the dazzling Festival of Light in Villa De Leyva, there will be plenty of opportunity to experience the real Colombia, meet the warm and hospitable locals and have a truly memorable trip.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly to Bogota. Transfer to our hotel in Bogota's historical zone. |
| Day 2: | Bogotá – Villa De Leyva. Explore Bogotá’s fine colonial buildings, museums and churches, before taking a cable up to the Moserratte Convent for spectacular views. Drive to picturesque Villa de Leyva to stay at a local finca (farm house). After a traditional Colombian Asado (BBQ), head into the town for the 'Festival de Las Luces' (festival of the lights). |
| Day 3: | Villa de Leyva. Morning tour of Villa de Leyva, with its white washed buildings and cobbled streets. Afternoon visiting the countryside on horse-back (or vehicle), travelling out to El Fossil, a pre-historic marine reptile fossil and the ancient astronomy site 'The Observatory', used by the Indians to determine the seasons. A second evening of festivities in town. |
| Day 4: | Villa de Leyva. Nature walk, accompanied by a local naturalist, in the picturesque countryside with lakes, caves and waterfalls. Visit a local winery to sample the local produce. |
| Day 5: | Villa de Leyva – Zipaquira – Bogota - Taganga. Transfer to Zipaquira's spectacular Salt Cathedral, carved from the mountain salt mines. Fly to Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast, then transfer by traditional style Chiva to our hotel. |
| Day 6: | Tayrona NP. Day trip to Tayrona National Park, a stunning marine and coastal park with great trails and nature walks, swimming and snorkelling, or relaxing on pristine white sandy beaches. Overnight in the small fishing village of Taganga. |
| Day 7: | Taganga - Cartegena. Drive along the coast to Cartegena de Indias, full of wonderful colonial buildings lining flower-filled streets and shops selling emeralds in the old city. Walking tour of the old town, visiting the Cathedral and the main plazas. |
| Day 8: | Cartegena – Mud Volcanoes - Cartegena. City tour of Cartegena's fort, Castillo de San Felipe and the convent. Visit an unusual natural phenomenon, Volcan de Lodo El Totumo, a 15m volcano that spews mud, and hear the local legend. Mud bath in the mineral-rich, luke-warm creamy mud, rinse off in the lagoon, then return to Cartegena. |
| Day 9: | Cartegena. Free morning to visit museums, shops and sidewalk cafes. Afternoon sunset sailing trip around the bay. Nighttime excursion to a local salsa club! |
| Day 10: | Cartegena - Medellin. Early morning flight to Medellin, then visit the Botero museum and take a cable car up to the view point. See the thousands of Christmas lights, famously strung across the city streets and parks. Dinner and traditional Colombian entertainment at a 'La Majoria'; a very spectacular show. |
| Day 11: | Santa Fee de Antioquia. Day trip to Santa Fee de Antioquia, the regions oldest and best-preserved settlement, set in a low-lying valley and famed for its elaborate wood carvings, visible on many white-washed houses and pretty courtyards. Late afternoon return to Medellin. |
| Day 12: | Medellin - Manizales. Traverse spectacular scenery up to the coffee region surrounding Manizales with plenty of photo stops. We’ll stay in a peaceful local farmhouse, where there will be the opportunity to spot local wildlife. |
| Day 13: | Los Nevados NP. Drive into the breathtakingly beautiful Los Nevados National Park, consisting of snow-covered Andes peaks (5325m), cloud forest and open plains, for a challenging trek up one of the volcanoes and spectacular views. Soak in the thermal baths on the way back down to Manizales. |
| Day 14: | Manizales. Tour of the the coffee region (Zona Cafetera), visiting a local plantation and processing plant. Optional horse ride out from the finca, visit a local hummingbird park or go in search of the spectacled bears. |
| Day 15: | Manizales - Bogota. Drive from Manizales, crossing from the central cordillera to the eastern range, to Bogotá. Farewell meal in Bogotá. |
| Day 16: | Departure. Fly from Bogota to London (via Miami) overnight. |
| Day 17: | London. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.how this holiday makes a difference
|
In South America we use local ground handlers - this means that all the operational costs go directly into the local economy and helps to improve employment opportunities in remote regions. By incorporating home-stays, locally owned hotels, restaurants and the services of guides and drivers into our itineraries, we ensure that money you spend on your trip goes directly into the local economy and local communities benefit from tourism.
We have a strict environmental policy to make sure that the environments we visit are not damaged or spoilt in any way. All our guides are trained to uphold this policy and all clients are fully briefed on appropriate/responsible behaviour whilst in wilderness areas. Our 'Leave No Trace' ethic is applied to all trips in all regions, and as tour operators is something we are careful to promote.  When you take one of our trips, we automatically make a contribution to Climate Care – an organisation devoted to 'offsetting' or 'neutralising' harmful greenhouse gas emissions caused by your flight. This is done by funding projects across the world that will reduce greenhouse gases on your behalf through sustainable energy or rainforest restoration. We also support emergency relief efforts in the areas we travel to, such as the Pakistan Earthquake Fund set up in 2005 and a variety of other community benefiting NGOs around the world. We also support several other NGOs around the world such as the Hope Foundation, Tibetan schools trust and Adopt-A-Minefield, which are all carefully selected to improve the standard of living for the communities we visit. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've lead the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |