the ultimate colombia trip

AN INDIVIDUAL travel itinerary FULL OF BREATHTAKING NATURAL PARKS, BUSTLING CITIES, CARIBBEAN BEACHES AND tropical SALSA NIGHTS

Buenos dias! The travel proposal you were waiting for is ready! A beautiful custom made trip through Colombia.

My name is Teun and I am your personal travel consultant. After exploring many countries in Latin America, this continent stole my heart. I have lived in Nicaragua and Guatemala for some time; they will always have a special place in my heart. The fantastic Colombian city Medellín stole my heart 5 years ago; I live here ever since. Here I learned the tricks of salsa dancing, and in the weekends I love to go hiking in the green mountains around Medellín. I am 100 % sure that you will have a fantastic time during your stay in Colombia. Therefore, I can say with certainty that you have a fantastic trip ahead of you! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or doubts; I’m here to assist you!

This journey through Colombia takes you in 14 days along the most beautiful, authentic destinations and unmissable highlights. Get inspired and enjoy the endless possibilities of this breathtaking country.

During this trip, we take you to the vibrant capital city of Bogota, with local neighborhoods that are breathing history. Visit the world’s tallest wax palms in Valle de Cocora and have a sip of the best coffee during the coffee tour in Quindío. Metropolis Medellín is the city of eternal spring, with a beautiful skyline and modern Latin culture. Seek adventure in the dense rainforest of Tayrona Park, and enjoy the adjacent golden sand beaches. Have tast of the Caribbean while enjoying the colonial coastal city of Cartagena, where you can soak up the laid-back atmosphere.

During this individual trip through Colombia you will sleep in a nice mix of beautiful, small-scale hotels, and all your transportation is arranged. For each day we indicate whether breakfast, lunch or dinner (O/L/D) is included, in what kind of accommodation you are staying, and the duration of traveling.

Our young team of experienced travel specialists live and work year-round from Central and South America. We have visited all destinations ourselves, have done all the tours and seen all the accommodations. In addition, both before and during your trip, you will be in direct contact with one of Travelfiesta’s Dutch travel specialists. We are at your service for all your questions, and are happy to share our unique, local suggestions, food recommendations and everything else you need to know!

Do you have any wishes or would you like to change certain elements after reading our proposal? That is absolutely possible. We create personalized trips to Latin America. Plan your next meeting with one of our travel specialists, and we are happy to hear your wishes! Would you like to add a few more days? No problem! We have tons of recommendations in Colombia. Would you like more ‘days off’, or perhaps more activities? Sure! We’ll fix it for you. We customize the travel proposal without any obligation, until it adds up 100% to your wishes!

Watch this video to get a quick impression of Colombia in just one minute!

day 1 - Arrival in BOGOTá

bienvenidos a colombia!

After a long flight, your vacation is finally about to begin: welcome to beautiful Colombia! Your driver is waiting for you at the airport, and will take you to the first charming boutique hotel. Don’t forget to keep your eyes open during the ride, to not miss out on those first glimpses of Colombia! Enjoy your first destination: the bustling capital Bogotá!

Bogotá is an exciting and vibrant city, surrounded by the impressive mountain peaks of the Andes. This city is infused with sophisticated, urban culture. La Candelaria is the bustling center of Bogotá; a district with many colorful fruit stands, and fabulous buildings. The historic downtown area is truly a feast for the eyes!

day 2 - bogotá

discover vibrant bogotá on a bike!

Buenos días! Ready to hop on a bicycle? Today is the day, you will get your first taste of Bogotá while biking around the city. You will learn all you need to know about Colombia during an impressive street art tour. This tour will take you to a several neighborhoods, off the beaten path where standard city tours won’t go. Win-win, because this gives you the opportunity to see the real Bogotá! Ready to play some Tejo during the tour? This typical Colombian game appears to be some type of bowling, but with gunpowder and loud bangs involved, that sounds exciting!

Colombia has a long history – which hasn’t always been pretty – and is therefore full of interesting stories. While cycling and passing by all the gorgeous mural arts, the guide will tell you all about the country’s history.

day 3 - Salento

traveling from bogotá to the coffee region quindío

After a domestic flight from Bogotá to Pereira, you will be transferred to the town of Salento. Your final destination today is the strategically located Quindío. This coffee region is located exactly in between of the cities Bogotá, Medellín and Calí.

The Quindío area is well-known for its beautiful landscapes with sky high palm trees, extensive coffee fields and picturesque villages. The people are called Paisas, and are known as the most friendly and proud people in Colombia.

dag 4 - Salento

hike through the famous valle de cocorna

Ready for a great adventure? Today you will do a special tour to the famous Cocorna Valley. There are hundreds of the world’s tallest wax palms in this beautiful green valley. Fun fact: These palms can grow up to 60 meters high!

Stroll through the impressive fields, filled with towering palm trees, and don’t forget to take amazing pictures. Later on, you will hike up through the woods. It is very spectaculair to walk under all these enormous palm trees!

day 5 - quindío

Optional: coffee tour, horse riding or mountain biking

Craving for some action? We have three attractive optional activities to offer! How about some mountain biking? Go and discover the beautiful surroundings of Quindío on a bike, a great way to explore and to enjoy the amazing views. (+€90 p.p.)

Or.. you might like to take a ride? We’re not talking about a car, but about a horse! Enjoy the beautiful views from the back of a horse and get deep into the wonderful nature. We guarantee you, you might have a lot of fun! (+€25 p.p.)

As you might know by now, Colombia is one of the biggest coffee producers worldwide. The country is praised because of the high quality. Nothing beats a good coffee, right? Let’s take a closer look on the process during a tour at an authentic coffee farm. Here you will learn everything about selecting the right coffee beans, and how to make the best coffee out of it. Of course, there will be coffee to try! This activity can be a follow up after mountain biking or horse riding. (+ €20 p.p.)

day 6 - medellín

onto the dazzling metropolitan medellín

A driver will pick you up at the hotel to take you to Pereira Airport, where you will board a flight to Medellin. Medellín is an impressive metropolis, situated in a beautiful valley and surrounded by green mountains. The best view over the city you will find on top of the higher mountains, a must!

Medellin embodies the modern Latino culture, and because of its climate also called “the city of eternal spring”. The temperature here is always pleasant and the city is often lit up by a delicious Colombian sun.

day 7 - medellín

explore comuna 13 & salsa class

Today is the day! The extraordinary Comuna 13 tour is what waits you, ready? Vamos! Comuna 13 used to be one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the world, but now it is a place where outstanding street art meets the impressive history of Colombia. The local guide will show you Comuna 13 in a unique and authentic way.

Afterwards, it’s time to shake those hips during an exciting salsa class. Did you know that the Colombians consider themselves the best salsa dancers of the world? So show them what you’ve got! These Latin skills might be useful during the rest of your tour in Colombia, if you like dancing.

day 8 - medellín

optional: paragliding, guatapé tour or visit museums

Not scared to feel the adrenaline flowing through your veins? We have the perfect optional activity for daredevils: paragliding! Enjoy the bustling morning view of Medellín from above, while you fly high in the sky. Your take off will be from the hills that surround Medellín. Guaranteed breathtaking views and an experience you will talk about for a long time! (+€60 p.p.)

Do you prefer to do something less extreme, but still adventurous today? Let the pittoresk village of Guatapé surprise you during this daytrip. Guatapé is known for its colorful houses and the impressive rock ‘La Piedra del Peñol’. To reach the top of this gigantic rock, you must first climb the stairs with no less than 740 steps. As a reward for this exercise, you can enjoy the breathtaking view over the beautiful landscape, and you will forget immediately about those stairs . (+€60 p.p.)

Fancy some art and culture? You can also choose an artistic day! First stop: the vibrant Plaza Botero in the old center of Medellín. There are 23 gigantic bronze sculptures made by the hand of Fernando Botero. Next visit: the Museo de Antioquia. Here you will find even more beautiful art pieces by Botero, and other famous Latin American artists.

daY 9 - Tayrona

paradise beach

Ready to take off? Today a domestic flight brings you to Santa Marta. A driver will take you to the next beautiful accommodation: on a tropical beach where you can relax completely for the next few days.

After you arrive, you can do whatever you feel up to! Enjoy the beautiful beaches, take a walk or dive into the refreshing pool. Don’t forget to watch the impressive sunset when the night falls!

day 10 - Tayrona

adventurous hike at TAYRONA PARK

Buenos dias! When asking a local about the most beautiful place of Colombia, most likely he will tell you Tayrona Park. This beautiful park is in fact part of Colombia’s magical caribbean coast. Beautifully golden sand beaches, surrounded by coconut palms and the rainforest. Hidden behind the rainforest is the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta located – the world’s highest coastal mountain range.

After breakfast, it is time to put on your comfy outdoor clothes. There’s a hike on the schedule, that will lead you to the indigenous village of El Pueblito. Enjoy the beautiful, green nature of Tayrona Park during this exciting hike. You will hear all about the old traditions and habits of the indigenous people of Colombia.

Optional: Turn this hike into an overnight trip! You will sleep in a beautiful site on the beach. The costs are € 100 p.p.

day 11 - Tayrona

enjoy the day at the beach

Spent the day as you wish! There’s nothing on the program, so give those legs some rest, enjoy the sun, swim in the ocean.. and finish off with a delicious cocktail!

Of course we can offer you some optional activities as well! There are possibilities for horseback riding and tubing; check the video It is possible to organize another activity such as horseback riding or tubing (see the video for an impression of the tubing).

More about surfing? Costeño Beach is a perfect place to ride the waves and enjoy the water.

day 12 - cartagena

vamos a CARTAGENA

A transfer picks you up at your accommodation to take you to the beautiful city of Cartagena. In 1553 an important port was founded here, which turned Cartagena in a big hub. The main income is currently coming from tourism, since it’s a populair place to spent vacation at the beaches of Colombia.

Cartagena is a place with two faces: there’s the old, historic centre surrounded by an ancient city wall, where colorful colonial buildings are dominating the streets. But Cartagena has its modern side as well, which can be found in the new centre called Bocagrande. A complete different world, with an impressive skyline.

daY 13 - cartagena

optional: city tour or a sunny boat trip to islas del rosario

The old town is truly a feast for the eyes, and perfect for a nice stroll through the beautiful streets; colorful and full of small squares with nice bars and restaurants. Would you like to discover more about Cartagena? A local tour guide can take you in the afternoon on a city tour (+€80 per group with your own private guide).

In 1984 the walled city was added to the World Heritage List by UNESCO. Obviously that turned it in a popular place for visitors, so it can be a little bit crowded. The perfect place to watch the sunset is from the city wall. Here the sun disappears slowly into the Caribbean Sea.

Do you want to escape the heat in the center? We have the perfect activity; a day on the water! Take the amazing boat trip (optional +€80 p.p.) along the beautiful coasts of the Islas del Rosasio. These are a number of paradisiacal Caribbean islands off the coast of Cartagena. In our opinion, this boat trip gives you the ultimate vacation feeling!

Enjoy these paradise islands, take a refreshing dip in the crystal clear water and discover the impressive coral reef and underwater world, while snorkeling. Would you like to spice things up and some more action? It is also possible to rent a private speedboat with captain (+€500 total).

Enjoy the delicious Colombian cuisine, the cozy Caribbean atmosphere and take a walk downtown during the night. The perfect ingredients for a wonderful night! Maybe you can practice your salsa moves one more time? Salud to a wonderful vacation.

dag 14 - going home

flight back to amsterdam

Time to go home! Unfortunately everything comes to an end, including this fantastic trip through Colombia. Hopefully you have enjoyed all the beautiful places and activities, and made unforgettable memories.

Adios & hasta luego!

Discover colombia with travelfiesta

Custom made journey

Latin America specialist

Personal attention

Travelfiesta package

Enjoy the benefits of this comfortable package, because we make sure that you barely have to arrange anything yourself: we do that for you! A care-free vacation is what we want for you, so you can enjoy all the beauty that Colombia has to offer. We can offer this package for €2.046 per person, based on 2 persons, depending travel dates and availability. Do you have any questions or do you want to change elements? Let us know during a follow-up conversation. All activities, accommodations or destinations can still be changed, according to your wishes. This travel proposal is valid for 14 days, until 24-03-2022.

including

Accommodation: All accommodations are included and based on private rooms with private bathrooms.
- Hotel B3 Virreyin Bogotá – private room with private bathroom.
- La Posada de la Plaza in Salento – private room with private bathroom
- Hotel 574 in Medellin – private room with private bathroom
- Costeño Beach hostel in Tayrona – private room with private bathroom
- Casa Mara in Cartagena – private room with private bathroom
Activities:
- Bicycle tour with graffiti and Tejo in Bogotá (shared)
- Hike through Valle de Cocora (private guide with shared transport)
- Comuna 13 tour with local guide in Medellín (private)
- Salsa dance class in Medellín (private)
- Day hike through Tayrona park with local guide (private)
Transportation:
- All transportation between the destinations.
Domestic Flight:
- Domestic flight Bogotá – Quindío
- Domestic flight Quindío – Medellín
- Domestic flight Medellín – Santa Marta
Meals:
- It is indicated per day whether meals are included. B = breakfast, L = lunch and D = dinner.
Reisgarantie:
- SGR: The SGR guarantee scheme applies to this agreement. You can find the conditions at www.sgr.nl/garantieregeling. SGR will send you these conditions upon request.
- Calamiteitenfonds: The Calamity Fund guarantee scheme applies to this contract. You can find the conditions in the Guarantee Regulation.
Guidance:
- Upon arrival you will receive a local SIM card with data bundle from us, to make sure tyou will always be able to contact Travelfiesta. We live and work in the same time zone, so we’re always available for questions or support, no matter the problem. You will receive enough data to be in contact with us during your trip. If you run out of phone credit, you are responsible for recharging it to be able to stay in touch.
Booklet:
- You will receive a detailed description of the travel itinerary, and information about the destinations you will visit during your trip. The booklet contains all the information, contacts, telephone numbers, travel information, places to eat, and so on. This way you always have all the necessary information, and be able to independently travel around.

Excluding

International flights:
- The international return flight between Amsterdam and Colombia is not included in the travel package. Booking the international flights is completely up to you, so you have the freedom to choose specific airlines and dates. You are not bound to specific departure dates regarding our activities and tours. Let us know your flight details, and we will adjust the itinerary. Of course, we can assist you to obtain free quotes for cheap airline tickets. The costs for the flights and the trip arrangement will always be presented separately. This way you always know exactly what you pay for.
Money and tips:
- During this journey, you will make additional expenses on meals, drinks, activities that are not included, souvenirs, and so on. In Latin America it is very common to tip. You will receive an useful booklet from us before departure, in which we indicate how much tipping is customary per guide and activity.
Optional activities: All optional activities are not (yet) included in the total price.
- Coffee tour in Salento (+€20)
- Horse riding in Salento (vanaf €25)
- Mountain biking in Salento (+€90)
- Paragliding in Medellín (+€60)
- Day trip to Guatapé (+€60)
- Overnight hike in Tayrona Park (+€100)
- City Tour in Cartagena (+€80 per groep, privé)
- Speedboat in Cartagena (+€500 per groep privé)
- Catamaran Sailing Trip in Cartagena (+€80)

additional information

Passport: Your passport needs to be valid at least six months at the end of your trip.
Vaccinations: For up-to-date information and advices about vaccins, we suggest to read more on GGD.
Local knowledge: We have many more suggestions and ideas for nice restaurants, the best hotspots and so on. We will include everything in the booklet that you will receive from us before your trip.

what other clients say about us

"We had a fantastic trip to Panama City and Colombia. Everything was very well organized! Great excursions with very good local, English speaking guides. Activities ranged from a coffee tour to paragliding, accommodations from a finca in the middle of nowhere to a luxury hotel. Thank you so much for organizing this top family trip!"

"Thank you for two fantastic weeks through Guatemala and Belize. Contact with Travelfiesta was very easy due to the sim card we received at the beginning. Once when we had an emergency late at night, someone was immediately there for us. A very professional organization, both during the preparation and during the trip. Really recommend it!"

"The perfect way to go on vacation with a group of people. When we landed there was a van ready with cold drinks, the driver had a SIM card for us. This way we could always contact the tour company. Every activity was fantastically arranged. It was very nice not to have to think, all the details were taken care of. Thanks for two fantastic weeks."