Caffe Colombia

Upon arrival at El Dorado International Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure exploring Colombia’s cosmopolitan capital city. There are plenty of al fresco dining options where you can sample the local cuisine, and a variety of welcoming bars to get your evening started. Overnight – Bogota.

Get acquainted with Bogota today with a guided sightseeing tour of the city. The morning starts early with a visit to the vibrant Paloquemao Market, one of the largest and important in the country. As you browse the variety of fruit, vegetables, cheeses and medicinal herbs on offer, you can also take this opportunity to people watch as you witness the interactions between seller and buyer. Here you’ll have the opportunity to sample some exotic fruits and enjoy a small snack.

Leaving the market behind, continue on to the famous and well-preserved historical colonial quarter of La Candelaria. Wander through the streets and keep your camera handy as you’ll want to capture this picturesque area on film. On your walk you’ll pass such sights as the library of Luis Nagel Arango and the prominent Plaza de Bolivar, the heart of Bogota. Surrounding the square are impressive historical buildings, including the Cathedral, Congress Palace, Independence House, Palace of Justice and City Hall.

From Plaza de Bolivar you’ll continue your exploration to Monserrate Hill, a forested mountain with a white catholic church sitting on its summit. On a clear day you’ll enjoy a stunning view over the city below and may even see the snow-capped peak of Nevado del Tolima in the distance. Next up is a visit to the Museo del Oro - where you can learn about the history of gold in Colombia, followed by Museo de Botero - displaying a selection of artwork from a variety of world-famous artists.

Bogota – Villa de Leyva. Today you bid farewell to Bogota and continue your Colombian adventure, driving out through the northern residential area of the city and through the fertile plateau to the small town of Zipaquira. Here you can appreciate the extraordinary architecture of the Salt Cathedral – a local pilgrimage site, with its three naves, sculptures and cavernous pools. Your next stop will be the small town of Satatausa where you’ll explore its quaint colonial church, which houses a selection of 17th century paintings by anonymous artists.

Following a stop for lunch, continue on to the artisan town of Raquira, famed for its pottery and colourful architecture. On the outskirts of town are a group of factories where the local community produces clay pots and decorations, where you’ll have a chance to visit one to observe the process of creating these handicrafts. After you’ll have free time to wander around the quaint and colourful town centre. Nearby is the Monasterio La Candelaria, which dates back to 1604 and was the first convent to be built in Latin America. Enjoy a short tour of this convent before continuing to Villa de Leyva in the late afternoon.

Villa de Leyva – Zona Cafetera. This morning you’ll be taken on a walking tour of this attractive colonial town. Originally founded in 1572 Villa de Leyva has managed to maintain much of its original charm in its architecture, from its wooden balconies, arches and heavy wooden and brass laden doors. This quiet town has an easy going ambience that is quick to charm. After a break for lunch, drive to Bogota airport for your flight to the Zona Cafetera.

Spend today getting to know the history and the culture associated with Colombia’s production of coffee with a full day guided excursion. Your first stop will be the traditional small village of Filandia, which boasts colonial architecture, and the pretty and colourful Plaza de Bolivar. Stop off at a typical fonda, or restaurant-bar, to try the local liquor. Next head up to Colina Iluminada, a viewpoint set on a hilltop just outside of town overlooking the coffee triangle.

From Filandia, continue on to the spectacular Cocora Valley home to the wax palm – the country’s national tree and the tallest variety of palm tree in the world. Upon arrival in Cocora Valley you’ll have the chance to sample a warming local cocktail called canelazo, enjoyed across much of South America. Later embark on a guided tour of the misty forest to learn about the importance of conservation. You’ll even have the chance to plant your own wax palm with the Ritual de la Palma. Here in Cocora Valley you’ll also enjoy a traditional lunch of smoked trout.

Your day continues with a visit to the town of Salento. Dating back to 1842, this charming town was one of the area’s first settlements and is home to centuries-old buildings housing restaurants, bars, handicraft shops and souvenir stores.

Zona Cafetera – Cartagena. After breakfast you’ll be transferred to Armenia to join a shared tour of the Hacienda Combia coffee farm. Made up of nine stops, this unique tour takes you through the elements, environmental conditions and technical processes required to grow the high quality of coffee that Colombia is renowned for. Lunch will be provided before your next stop, the Botanical & Butterfly garden.

Stretching across ten hectares of Andean forest, this garden is home to 180 species of butterfly along with 850 varieties of local flora and 126 species of bird. Enjoy a walking tour here before being transferred to the airport for your flight to Cartagena.

Wake up in the colourful city of Cartagena this morning, home to beautiful colonial architecture, charming cobbled streets lined with artisan workshops and the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages. A walking tour today starts with a visit to the Convento de la Popa, a 17th century convent set on a hilltop overlooking the city below, followed by a stop at the Castillo de San Felope – a great fortress built in the 1600s under Spanish colonisation.

Continue your tour with a walk through La Bovedas, a series of 23 vaults built for military purposes in the 18th century to store munitions and provisions, and later even used as jail cells. Today these vaults are now house colourful craft market stalls selling anything from handicrafts and souvenirs, to jewellery and clothing. Your walking tour finishes with a stroll through the colonial streets of this charming city, admiring its many old houses, stunning balconies, hidden squares, buzzing plazas and more along the way.

This afternoon you’ll get a real taste for the local cuisine by joining a walking tour taking in seven authentic food stops, each with a different delectable tasting. Escorted by a local guide you’ll hear all about the city’s culture, history and food in an epic culinary journey.

This morning your tour of Colombia comes to an end. After breakfast and hotel check-out you will be transferred to the Rafael Nunez Airport for your onward travel.