DAY 1: ARRIVE IN BOGOTÁ

We greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

Meals Included: –

DAY 2: BOGOTÁ TOUR: FOOD MARKET OF PALOQUEMAO, GRAFFITI TOUR, WALKING TOUR AT LA CANDELARIA

Start your day with a visit to the food market of Paloquemao, discovering a world of fresh harvested products, exotic fruits and organic local produce. Visit the best street graffiti art in the city, and discover the wonders of “El Dorado” at the gold museum. We make our way to Bolivar Square for a taste of local food at a typical restaurant. We stop at one of the local cafes and enjoy a cup of delicious coffee.

Meals Included: B, L, D

DAY 3: SALT CATHEDRAL OF ZIPAQUIRA

Early departure takes us away from Bogota to the village of Muzo, a legendary emerald mine. On our way to Muzo we stop at the salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, and walk through an active salt mine, watching miners combine techniques in salt extraction. Once in Muzo we visit Rio Minero to learn about emeralds formed millions of years ago. We stop briefly in town to collect out rubber boots and helmet for our next day journey.

Meals Included: B, L, D

DAY 4: EXPLORE THE EMERALD MINES & TRAVEL TO VILLA DE LEYVA

We go deep into the heart of the mountain, crossing the emerald mining tunnels, to talk to the miners themselves and learn what their day to day duties are like. The local mine manager will explain how these people work not for a salary but as equity partners in the business.

At noon we enjoy lunch with the mining staff, a typical meal called “Almuerzo Minero”. During or after lunch many of the locals will stop and show you exotic and unique crystals and mineral formations they’ve gathered from the mines, and this is of course, a perfect opportunity for purchasing a souvenir. In the afternoon we head out to Villa de Leyva, a small and charming village in the heart of the Andes. Its colonial architecture was home to the Spaniard troops during the Conquest, and later witness to the independence of Colombia.

Meals Included: B, L, D

DAY 5: VISIT SANTO ECCE HOMO MONASTERY, THE FOSSIL MUSEUM, & WALKING TOUR OF VILLA DE LEYVA

We go on a morning visit to Santo Ecce Homo Monastery, a Dominican architectural beauty founded in 1620. We later stop at the Fossil Museum before heading out to Villa de Leyva. We have lunch at a typical restaurant and the afternoon finds us walking through the cobblestone streets of the town, stopping to visit the oldest house and the old mill as well as the legendary paths that lead to the mountains.

Meals Included: B, L, D

DAY 6: TRAVEL TO BARICHARA, VISIT THE TOWN OF EL SOCORRO, & WALKING TOUR OF BARICHARA

We leave Villa de Leyva and make our way to Barichara, located in the Santander region. On the way, we stop at the village of El Socorro, home to famous Manuela Beltran, a woman who led the Colombian troops in the colonial war against the Spanish Crown. We ́ll enjoy a tasty local lunch here, and once we reach Barichara, we walk along its streets in search of “Hormigas Culonas” a local and exotic variety of ants the locals consider their most typical food product.

Meals Included: B, L, D

DAY 7: HIKE CAMINO REAL FROM BARICHARA TO GUANE

Today we walk the famous four-mile cobblestone path known as “Camino Real”, originally built by the indigenous Guane people and later used by the Spaniards. This beautiful hike takes you from the canyon to the valley, through breathtaking scenery filled with spectacular flora and an amazing collection of bird and butterflies.
Arriving at Guane, we ́ll have the opportunity to try a sugar cane juice known as “Guarapo”, a cold refreshing, fermented drink preferred by locals during weekends and celebrations.

Meals Included: B, L, D

DAY 8: COFFEE TOUR AT LA MESA DE LOS SANTOS & TRAVEL TO CARTAGENA

We leave Barichara and continue to a local hacienda located at La Mesa de los Santos, which produces top quality organic Colombian coffee. We experience the step-by-step process of coffee making, from berry collection to the perfect cup of java. We finish our visit and take a flight to beautiful Cartagena, considered one of the most iconic cities of Colombia and South America.

Meals Included: B, L

DAY 9: CITY TOUR OF CARTAGENA & STREET FOOD

Early morning we head for a walk through the streets of the old town, delighting in corsair stories and the famous attacks that raided the city for hidden treasures, emerald, gold, medicine and miracle healing plants. Cartagena is also the setting scene to the famous novel “Love in the time of Cholera”, by Nobel Prize Winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In his novel, he mentions “portal de los dulces”, a well known street where we try these Caribbean delicacies. Visit San Pedro Claver square, in honor of this patron of slaves. We pass along the streets of Badillo for seasonal fruits. Our lunch will be at a small restaurant serving several local-loved specialties. During the afternoon we visit the fortress of San Felipe and the monastery of La Popa.

The evening finds us enjoying a farewell dinner and sharing our best memories of this fantastic journey in Colombia.

Meals Included: B, L, D

DAY 10: DEPART CARTAGENA

Free morning. Your guide will pick you up and transfer you to the airport for your international flight.

Meals Included: B

This itinerary is subject to change without notice due to seasonal changes and inclement weather