Colombia and Ecuador holiday, Bogota to Quito
| country: | Colombia, Ecuador |
| departures: | 2010: 29 Jan |
| price: | Ł2395 (15 days) excluding flights |
| more info: | Minimum age 18 |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
If you want to discover some magical unexplored destinations, look no further than southern Colombia. Our recce trip ventures into the indigenous heart of the country, starting in Bogotá before heading to Lake Guatavita, where the legend of El Dorado was born.
Journeying south to the Tatacoa Desert famed for its bizarre rock formations, we’ll continue on to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Agustin – a spectacular archaeological park peppered with hundreds of stone monoliths carved with bizarre images. Horse riding through the steep and unspoilt countryside surrounding Rio Magdalena we’ll explore the colonial gem of Popayán and Purace National Park - a geothermal wonderland of hot springs and waterfalls. Travelling on the Pan-American Highway we’ll cross into Ecuador (stopping to visit the monument at the equator) and finish in the colourful capital Quito.
Journeying south to the Tatacoa Desert famed for its bizarre rock formations, we’ll continue on to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Agustin – a spectacular archaeological park peppered with hundreds of stone monoliths carved with bizarre images. Horse riding through the steep and unspoilt countryside surrounding Rio Magdalena we’ll explore the colonial gem of Popayán and Purace National Park - a geothermal wonderland of hot springs and waterfalls. Travelling on the Pan-American Highway we’ll cross into Ecuador (stopping to visit the monument at the equator) and finish in the colourful capital Quito.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Bogotá (2650m). Join the tour late afternoon at our hotel in Bogotá’s historical zone. |
| Day 2: | Bogotá. After breakfast we set off to explore the highlights of La Candalaria, Bogotá’s oldest suburb, boasting dozens of fine colonial buildings, churches and museums including the Botero Art Museum. After lunch we will 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 at sunset. This evening we have the opportunity to experience Bogota’s vibrant nightlife. |
| Day 3: | Bogotá – Zipaquira – Guatavita - Bogotá. Today we head north out of the city to Zipaquira to visit the spectacular Underground Salt Cathedral. Located just west of the town, the mine houses an eerie and magnificent spectacle carved out directly from the rock salt. The cavernous cathedral, opened to the public since 1995, consists of a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers and can hold an impressive 8,400 people. After a tour of the cathedral we’ll continue north to the sacred meteor crater lake of Guatavita, a site where ritualistic gold sacrifices were performed by the Cacique (Indian chief) and the legend of El Dorado was born. After a scenic walk up to the lookout point we will return to Bogotá to spend the night. |
| Day 4: | Bogotá – Neiva (442m). An early morning start today begins with a decent from the Bogotá Plateau to the lowlands in the Magdalena river valley. Our drive covers some stunning scenery, and north of Neiva we will take a detour to the Tatacoa Desert - 370 square kilometres of surreal rock formations dotted with prickly pear and Candelabra cactus. The area, wedged between two mountains, is starved of water and baked dry, making this bizarre desert-like landscape. This red rock scene is amazing at sunset and we will have time to walk around the desert and settle down in a good spot to watch the sun go down. As it gets dark we can pay a visit to the observatory for a presentation on the night sky. As the Tatacoa Desert gets virtually no light pollution it is one of the best places in Colombia for star gazing. A local astronomer is on hand to give a short talk on the stars and point out the constellations (weather dependant). After this we take a trip to the small pueblo of Villa Viejas for dinner and continue the last 50km of our journey to Neiva. |
| Day 5: | Neiva – San Agustin (1700m). Departing from Neiva we continue southwards with today’s journey to San Agustin. Although essentially a travelling day, we will stop en route for lunch and at “El Gigante” – a small nature park just off the main road famous for its enormous Ceiba trees with their huge buttress roots. We will arrive into San Agustin late afternoon and after the long drive will have time to stretch our legs and explore the town before dinner. |
| Day 6: | San Agustin. This morning we set off to explore the magnificent Parque Arquelogico de San Agustin. Centuries before the Spaniards ever dreamed of setting foot in the new world, this area was home to an indigenous people and civilization. Little is known about the people that lived here, but what they left behind in these lush mountains and dramatic canyons still keeps people wondering about this lost civilization today. As many as 500 statues have been discovered in the region left behind by this ancient civilization, and we will take several hours to stroll around the park and take in this impressive site. There is a second site further uphill with tombs guarded by more statues and amazing views of the surrounding countryside. In the afternoon we will head back to the hotel and have time to relax and prepare for tomorrow’s excursion. |
| Day 7: | Near San Agustin. After breakfast it’s time to head out on our overnight horseback adventure to explore the region in more detail. The horse trek will be at a nice steady pace and is a wonderful way to see the countryside and the amazing scenery en route to the finca (local farmhouse) that will be our overnight base. The finca is very simple but a great chance to experience rural Colombian life for a night, highlighting the contrast between rural life and that of the cities. On the way we will make several stops, including the archeological sites of El Tablon, La Pelota, La Purital and La Chaquira, as well as El Estrecho – a section of the Rio Magdalena only 2m wide which has created a narrow gorge as the river rushes through on its way to the Caribbean coast. |
| Day 8: | San Agustin. We head back to San Agustin today, again by horse stopping in Parque Altos de los Idolos. This is the second largest and most important of the archaeological sites in the region. It is home to the tallest of all the stone statues, at over 7m high. Our ride takes us through a spectacular and deep gorge crossing the Magdalena valley. We’ll arrive in the afternoon for a final evening in San Agustin. |
| Day 9: | San Agustin – Popayán (1760m). The journey through the mountains continues today on our way to Popayán. Just outside the town we will pause to see the thermal pools and mud pool called Aguas Tibia or warm waters. Stopping for a quick dip in these pools to give the bones a respite from the bumpy dirt road, we will arrive in the colonial town of Popayán in the early evening. |
| Day 10: | Popayán. After breakfast we head into Purace National Park with its many waterfalls and stunning scenery. This national park is home to the four most important rivers of Colombia, including the mighty Magdalena and Cauca rivers that traverse the country. Departing early in the morning we’ll head to the town of Pilimbala (3400m) at the foot of the 4760m peak of Volcan Purace where there is a chance to see some of the orchids native to this area. A short distance from Pilimbala are the thermal springs of San Juan and we’ll visit the "condor rock" where we may have the opportunity to see the park wardens feeding one of the three Andean Condors that were introduced into the park in 2001. We’ll return to our hotel in Popayán in the early evening. |
| Day 11: | Popayán – Silvia - Popayán. An early start today as we head off to the town of Silvia. This quaint mountain town is populated by Guambiano Indians, and still considered one of the most traditional indigenous groups in Colombia. Every Tuesday the Guambianos come in to Silvia to attend the thriving weekly market, buying or selling the local produce. Most still wear traditional dress and this is an excellent opportunity to see living and breathing indigenous Colombian culture. In the afternoon there will be time back in Popayán to explore the town and some of its historic churches. Popayán still holds much of its old Colonial charm and character, and with its white-walled buildings and numerous churches it’s easy to wile away a few hours meandering the streets. |
| Day 12: | Popayán – Ipiales (2898m). Predominantly a transit day today, but through some of the most spectacular scenery in Colombia. The Pan-American Highway cuts through the mountains of southern Colombia winding its way towards Ecuador. There will be plenty of photo stops along the way and time to enjoy the rugged mountain scenery. We will spend the night in Ipiales, the last stop and frontier town before Ecuador. The town really does have a frontier feel and it’s a great place for people watching and observing the many interesting characters passing through this major thoroughfare. |
| Day 13: | Ipiales – Otavalo (2600m). This morning we will visit the Santurario de Las Lajas, an amazing church in neo-gothic style that straddles a deep gorge. This popular site for pilgrims was said to have been where an image of the Virgin Mary appeared on a rock face, and a small church was built over the spot. The current church dates from 1926. We will then cross the border into Ecuador and travel on to Otavalo, a provincial town famous for its handicrafts and weavings, a tradition that pre-dates even the Incas. We will spend the night at a traditional and characterful hotel just outside the town, owned and run by local indigenous people. |
| Day 14: | Otavalo – Quito (2850m). After breakfast we set off to explore the artisan markets that Otavalo is famous for, with opportunities to purchase a wide variety of garments, carvings, ceramics, jewellery and other knick-knacks (brush up on your haggling skills!). The indigenous peoples of the area come from miles around to trade here, as they have done for hundreds of years. Leaving Otavalo after lunch we continue down the highway, reaching the equator. We will stop at La Mitad del Mundo (the Middle of the World) marking the point of 0 degrees latitude with a huge monument erected first in 1936, but replaced by the grander version we see today in 1979. There are a number of museums here, as well as the obligatory gift shops! We will then continue on to Quito, the lively capital city where we shall have our end of trip meal and spend the night. |
| Day 15: | Quito. The tour ends with breakfast at the hotel. |
small group cultural tours
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 it's 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 experiencing new cultures.how this holiday makes a difference
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