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Peregrine Travel Centre

Premium Colombia

Premium Colombia

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Description

Discover the fascinating history, warm hospitality, and rich culture of Colombia on a 11-day small group tour from Bogota to Cartagena. Learn about Colombia’s culture and heritage on multiple food tours, float down a river that has been compared to the mighty Amazon, settle back for a scenic drive through the Eastern Highlands of Antioquia and learn how to roast your own beans in the lush surrounds of Colombia’s coffee country. With signature stays at hotels housed in historic mansions and an expert leader and specialist local guides to show you the way, this tour promises the trip of a lifetime.

Trip Name
Premium Colombia
Last Updated
2024-08-07
Days
11
Capacity
12
Highlights
  • Delve into Colombian culture through its food, by dining at a legendary local restaurant with roving bands of performers and tasting tropical fruits at the famed Paloquemao market in Bogota, and enjoying a traditional cooking class in Mompox.
  • Stay in the heart of Colombia’s coffee country where you’ll learn about all things coffee at your Feature Stay, Hacienda Sazagua, a cozy family-owned hotel filled with local art collected by the owners.
  • Tour Finca Romelia, a family tourism project with more than 800 species of orchids which shows how agricultural production and the conservation of biodiversity can coexist hand-in-hand.
  • Get off the beaten path in Mompox, where you'll enjoy a Premium Exclusive Experience - a leisurely canoe ride on the Magdalena River which is famous for its rich biodiversity, with many comparing it to the mighty Amazon.
  • Learn about the diverse history of Colombia with specialist guides, including a transformation tour in Medellin and a visit to San Basilio de Palenque - the first free town created by enslaved people in the Americas.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, PAC. Donations help them bring life-changing healthcare to rural communities in Colombia.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk. DEMONSTRATIONS & STRIKES: Demonstrations and protests, often in response to local labour or social issues, occur regularly in Peru. National strikes can be called at short notice and can cause disruption to road networks leading to inevitable itinerary changes. We will do everything possible for these changes to be at little or no extra cost; however in such circumstances we find that travellers may need to use their contingency funds to cover the costs of itinerary changes.

Day 1 - Bogota
Welcome to Bogota! Upon arrival at El Dorado International Airport in Colombia, you will be met by an Intrepid representative and transferred to your hotel. Here you will meet your leader and fellow travellers at a 6pm welcome meeting. If you arrive early, perhaps take some time to stroll through the Botanic Gardens or visit the National Museum of Colombia. After the welcome meeting, your leader will take you to a legendary local restaurant with 4 floors inspired by Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. With multiple dance floors, a 75 page menu, and roving bands of performers, it’s the perfect spot to get to know your group and kick off your Colombian adventure in the heart of Bogota.
Day 2 - Bogota
After breakfast, discover Colombia's charming mix of old and new on two exclusive walking tours with an expert local guide. First you’ll head to Bogota’s fruit market to taste famous local fruits like lulos, granadillas and guanabanas and learn about Colombia’s culture and heritage as you chat with market traders. After you’ve eaten your fill of delicious fruit, head to the La Candelaria District where your expert guide will introduce you to the historic buildings and street art that make this area famous. Learn about Colombia's storied history and why cosmopolitan Bogota is so full of surprises. Tonight, you may like to take advantage of your hotel’s excellent location near one of the city’s best dining precincts and head out for a bite to eat with your group.
Day 3 - Pereira
After breakfast, take a private transfer to the airport for your flight from Bogotá to Pereira. On arrival, drive to the heart of Colombia’s coffee country where you’ll learn about all things coffee, from how the seed germinates and grows to what makes the perfect cup of coffee, at a local coffee farm. After you’ve toured the farm, a coffee grower or ‘chapolera’ will welcome you to their house and show you how to dry roast the beans you collected in a wood stove, grind it the traditional way and filter it to create a wonderful, authentic brew. Then travel less than an hour to reach Hotel Sazagua, a family run Feature Stay hotel with lush tropical surrounds. If you have time, take a dip in the pool or sway in a hammock before a dinner of traditional dishes like ceviche in chipotle ‘leche de tigre’ and patacon (smashed plantains).
Day 4 - Pereira
After breakfast, travel from Hotel Sazagua to the Cocora Valley and discover Salento’s lush landscape, traditional architecture, craft workshops and colourful houses decorated with hanging baskets filled with flowers. From here, continue to the verdant Valle del Cocora where Palma de Cera, Colombia's national tree and the tallest tree in the world, thrives surrounded by the lush landscape and distant hills covered with palms. Get close to nature on a hike and learn about the local plants followed by a delicious lunch and traditional games such as ‘Tejo y Sapo’ accompanied by a ‘Colombian pola’, a traditional beer and soda mix named after the country's first female revolutionary.
Day 5 - Medellin
Today you’ll travel from the coffee region to Medellin. On the way, visit Finca Romelia, a family farm dedicated to the preservation and conservation orchids, Colombia's national flower. Stroll past 840 species of orchids and admire more than 200 different bird species as you tour the farm which produces citrus and avocados. After a delicious farm lunch, continue on to Medellin and your comfortable hotel for the next two nights. After a long day of driving you may like to unwind by joining an optional salsa class where you can learn how to dance like a local.
Day 6 - Medellin
After breakfast, it’s time to discover the town of Medellín. The "City of Eternal Spring" was once known for danger and conflict. Today, it has been transformed into a thriving, welcoming and innovative destination with a focus on social justice and inclusion. Join an expert local guide to learn about the turbulent history of Medellin, how it has changed and what it is like to live here in the present day. Discover the city’s newest invention, the Comuna 13 escalators, which uses transport to unite different social classes. This afternoon, you can choose to explore independently or you may like to join an optional tour of Moravia, the most populated ‘barrio’ of Medellín where rubbish piles have been transformed into a garden-covered hillside.
Day 7 - Mompox
After breakfast, you'll leave the city behind and head off the beaten path to the hidden gem of Mompox. First you'll transfer to Olaya Herrera Airport for the 1.5 hour flight to Corozal. From here, you will travel to Mompox - a village frozen in time. Founded in the 1500's on an island in the Magdalena River, Mompox hasn't changed much over the centuries. Upon arrival, you'll set out on a leisurely canoe ride on the Magdalena River which flows from Colombia into the Caribbean Sea. The river’s beauty has inspired artists, painters and poets for hundreds of years and its waters are famous for their rich biodiversity. Take in the beauty of the sunset from its calm waters before you head back to the hotel to relax or perhaps enjoy dinner with your group.
Day 8 - Mompox
After breakfast, join a three hour walking tour to discover the historic centre of Mompox which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The city grew from what used to be an island vault for gold and silver plundered by the Spaniards during the colonization of the Americas, and is filled with historic squares and churches. This afternoon, attend a three-hour cooking class where you will learn how to cook one of the region’s traditional dishes. This afternoon, you may like to join an (optional) filagree workshop where you can make your own piece of jewellery in the local style or go on a bike ride through the Albarrada waterfront area.
Day 9 - Cartagena
After breakfast, sit back and enjoy the scenery as you head towards magical Cartagena. Along the way you'll stop at San Basilio de Palenque, where an expert local guide will share the history of this unique town which achieved freedom 200 years before the Independence of Colombia. Having maintained its own culture, including a unique language, throughout the centuries, Palenque is a world within a village. Discover the traditional medicine practice, the museum house, the Benkos Biohó monument and more, and share the culture and customs of the local people as you learn a little of their language. After a traditional lunch, travel to Cartagena and your hotel - an historic mansion within the historic center.
Day 10 - Cartagena
The inner walled city is the main attraction in Cartagena – it's packed with beautiful churches, monasteries, plazas and mansions, which you will explore with a local guide this morning. Founded in 1533 by Spaniard Don Pedro de Heredia, Cartagena was a major centre of early Spanish settlement in the Americas. Its gold and silver exports made it a popular target for pirates, and its walled fort (now on UNESCO's World Heritage list) was built to protect both shipping and the slave trade. Today its laidback atmosphere and colorful streets make for easy strolling and great photo opportunities. The rest of the day is yours to explore your way. Join an optional rum tasting experience, explore the old city or walk the city walls. Tonight, head out to dinner with your group at a local restaurant for a delicious farewell dinner.
Day 11 - Cartagena
Your trip through Colombia comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to stay on in Cartagena, we can help arrange additional accommodation for you (pending availability), or talk to your sales agent if you would like to add on a transfer to the airport.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type

Accommodation

Comfortable Hotel (10 Nights),Feature Stay (2 Nights)

Transport

Plane,Private vehicle

Map

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