Colombia holiday
| country: | Colombia |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2010: 4 Dec |
| price: | £2495 (16 days) excluding flights. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
introduction to Colombia holiday
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: | Bogota: Meet the tour late afternoon at our hotel in Bogotá’s historical zone. |
| Day 2: | Bogotá: Explore the highlights of La Candalaria, Bogotá’s oldest suburb, boasting dozens of fine colonial buildings, churches and museums including the Botero Museum. Visit the dazzling gold museum which houses one of the finest collections in the world, before taking a cable car ride up to the Monserrate Convent for some spectacular views of the city. In the evening experience Bogota’s vibrant nightlife. Hotel (no meals). |
| Day 3: | Villa de Leyva: Drive to the picturesque Colonial town of Villa de Leyva, the city where “time stands still”, exploring the white-washed buildings and cobbled streets. After dinner we shall head into town for the ‘Festival de Las Luces’ (festival of the lights) where local towns compete against each other for the best fireworks display. Hotel (B, L, D). |
| Day 4: | Villa de Leyva: After breakfast we will visit the neighbouring countryside on horse-back*, travelling out to El Fossil - an impressive 120 million year old pre-historic marine reptile fossil measuring over 12m long. (*Alternative transport provided for those who do not wish to ride). We will also visit the ancient stone astronomy site “The Observatory”, which was used by the Indians to determine the seasons. The site contains 30 cylindrical monoliths which acted as a giant sundial; shadows cast by the sun were used to identify when to plant crops. After lunch we shall head off on foot for a nature walk to explore the picturesque countryside. Hotel (B, L, D). |
| Day 5: | Villa de Leyva - Zipaquira - Bogotá: After breakfast we will drive to a nearby artisan village, Raquira, to see traditional handicrafts. Continuing on to Zipaquira we will visit the spectacular Salt Cathedral. The cavernous cathedral, opened to the public since 1995, consists of a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers and can hold an impressive 8400 people. After the tour return to Bogotá to spend another night. Hotel (B, L, D). |
| Day 6: | Bogota - Santa Fe: A morning flight to Medellin brings us to the regions oldest and best-preserved settlement. Set in a low-lying valley on the banks of the Cauca River, this steamy tropical town has changed little since it was the capital of the region in the 18th century and is famed for its local craftsmen who produce elaborate wood carvings, visible on many of the white-washed houses and pretty courtyards. Hotel (B, L, D). |
| Day 7: | Santa Fe - Medellin: Returning to Medellin, we’ll freshen up at our hotel before taking the metro into the city and visiting the Botero museum. We shall also have the chance to see the famous Christmas lights - every year from 7th December to 6th January the town becomes colourfully illuminated when thousands of lights are strung across the city streets, the main river and the parks in dazzling displays. During this period there are also many food stalls out on the streets and so you will have the opportunity tonight to sample the local fare. Hotel (B, L). |
| Day 8: | Medellin - Manizales (coffee region 2100m): Traversing some spectacular scenery, this full day transit takes us up in altitude from Medellin to the highlands surrounding Manizales. As we climb there will be plenty of photography stops along the way. After the party atmosphere of Medellin we’ll stay in a peaceful local farmhouse. Finca (B, L, D). |
| Day 9: | Manizales: Taking over 1% of the country’s land mass, the coffee region (Zona Cafetera) yields 50% of the country’s crop. Taking a tour of the area, we shall visit a local plantation that produces, processes and exports coffee. After the tour you’ll be able to sample the farms’ produce. In the afternoon there is a chance for equestrians to take a horse trek from a neighbouring finca. Finca (B, L, D). |
| Day 10: | Manizales (5000m): Full day trip to Los Nevados National Park, encompassing the Colombian spine of the snow-covered Andes. With peaks rising up to 5325m, the park consists of mountains, cloud forest and open plains. We trek up one of the volcanoes to a lookout point just short of the summit. Due to the rise in altitude, the scenery changes throughout the day, and although the climb is challenging, the views are simply spectacular - weather permitting! On the descent, we shall stop off for a well-earned rest, taking time to soak in the hot thermal baths, before returning to the finca. Finca (B, L, D). |
| Day 11: | Manizales - Santa Marta - Tayrona NP: This morning there will be time to relax and enjoy the wonderful views from the finca and hopefully spot some of the birdlife. We will then take a lunchtime flight to Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast and transfer to our accommodation, local Posadas (wooden thatched huts) located on the edge of the beautiful Tayrona National Park. These Posadas are part of a government-funded project to encourage coca farmers to find alternative forms of income, and working in tourism has proved a very successful way. Local style eco-huts (B, L, D). |
| Day 12: | Tayrona: Today we set off for a full day trip into Tayrona National Park. This stunning marine and coastal park offers a variety of great trails and nature walks, and we’ll trek through the jungle and along the coast, before stopping at one of the pristine, white sandy beaches for lunch. After some free time for swimming and relaxing we shall head back to our Posada for dinner.Local style eco-huts (B, L, D). |
| Day 13: | Tayrona - Cartagena: Heading southwest along the coast, we shall drive to the colonial town of Cartagena de Indias. Soaked in sunshine and steeped in history, Cartagena is full of wonderful old buildings lining flower-filled streets and is quite literally the ‘Jewel of Colombia’ - as shops selling emeralds line the old city (Colombia produces over 50% of the world’s emeralds). This afternoon we will take a walking tour of the old town, visiting the Cathedral and the main plazas. The evening is free to continue exploring - dinner at own expense. Local style eco-huts (B, L). |
| Day 14: | Cartagena - Mud Volcanoes - Cartagena: Morning city tour of Cartagena, during which we will visit the strategically sited fort, Castillo de San Felipe and the convent. After lunch we shall head out to an unusual natural phenomenon - Volcan de Lodo El Totumo - a 15-metre volcano that spews mud instead of lava and ash. The crater is filled with lukewarm creamy mud that is rich in minerals and famed for its therapeutic qualities. After a mud bath we will rinse off in the lagoon before returning to Cartagena to enjoy another free evening - dinner at own expense. Local style eco-huts (B, L). |
| Day 15: | Cartagena: Free morning to visit one of the many museums, shop (cigars, emeralds, gold and handicrafts are abundant) or relax in one of the many sidewalk cafes. This afternoon we’ll take a sunset cruise around the bay, giving us a chance to take in Cartagena from the sea, before our end of trip meal and a chance to check out the local salsa clubs to practice your fancy footwork! Hotel (B, L, D). |
| Day 16: | Cartagena - Departure: The tour finishes with breakfast at the hotel. Hotel (B). |
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
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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 “Carbon Clear” – an organisation who work with hundreds of organisations to measure their carbon footprint and reduce their carbon emissions. 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 led 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. |
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