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Discover Colombia

Resort:Discover Colombia
Operator: Exodus
Destination: Colombia, Latin America
Price From: £3249.00

Overview


Discover Colombia’s natural beauty and cultural heritage

Colombia is a vast country still largely undiscovered despite its amazing
variety of landscapes and culture. On this journey from the Andes to the
Caribbean we experience the contrasts between cosmopolitan Bogota, colourful
Cartagena, and welcoming rural towns. After soaking up the atmosphere of
Villa de Leyva and walking amid giant wax-palms in the the Zona Cafetera,
we’ll learn what it takes to produce the finest coffee.

Highlights

* Uncover the historical delights of Colombia’s capital city
* Explore Villa de Leyva’s colonial centre
* Learn all about coffee production on a farm tourin the lush Coffee Zone
* Walk amid wax palm trees in Cocora Valley
* Visit Medellin the “City of Eternal Spring”

Itinerary

Day 1
Depart London

Depart London

Day 2
Free morning; afternoon tour of La Candelaria district.

Passengers on our Avianca group flight will have flown overnight and arrived
today in the early hours of the morning. The morning is free to rest (hotel
rooms are available for all clients) and in the afternoon the group will meet
up in the hotel lobby before setting out with the tour leader on a walking
tour of La Candelaria district where the hotel is located. Today we’ll have
an introduction to Bogota and Colombia in general, with the walking tour
including a visit to the much celebrated Gold Museum.

Accommodation: Hotel Augusta or similar

*Standard Hotel*

Day 3
Morning walking tour including Monserrate viewpoint; free afternoon.

This morning we’ll have breakfast in the hotel and then set off once more to
continue exploring this fascinating capital city. We’ll visit the museum
exhibiting works from famous Colombian painter and sculptor Fernando Botero,
and then get a cable car up to Monserrate viewpoint high above the city. Back
down in the city, we learn about the diverse cultures of Colombia whilst
visiting the Paloquemao market. This afternoon is free for you to do as you
please – you may wish to visit one of the artisanal markets, go on a graffiti
tour, or do a cookery class. Your tour leader will be on hand to give advice
and assistance.

Accommodation: Hotel Augusta or similar

*Standard Hotel*

Day 4
To Villa de Leyva via the salt cathedral in Zipaquira.

We leave Bogota this morning and drive northwards for about an hour and a
half to Zipaquira, where we’ll visit the unique Salt Cathedral. This
subterranean cathedral was carved out of the salt bedrock in an old salt
mine. We will have a guided tour, following the carved stations of the cross
to reach the main part of the cathedral, which has the capacity for over 8000
worshippers. Continuing onwards by road, we should arrive at the beautiful
colonial town of Villa de Leyva in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Hotel Meson de Los Virreyes or similar

*Standard Hotel*

Day 5
Walking tour of Villa de Leyva; visit fossil museum.

This morning we will have a walking tour of Villa de Leyva, taking in the
main plaza and the most important and significant colonial buildings, and get
an insight into the town’s history and the local culture. We will also go to
the Fossil Museum, home to an incredibly well preserved 12-metre long
fossilised Kronosaurus discovered by a local farmer. The afternoon has been
left free for further exploration of the town’s cobbled streets and craft
shops, or to simply relax in the laid-back cafes and restaurants.

Accommodation: Hotel Meson de Los Virreyes or similar

*Standard Hotel*

Day 6
Fly to the ‘Coffee Zone’; travel to Salento.

We drive back to Bogota (approx. 4hrs depending upon traffic) today to catch
a short flight to Armenia, in the heart of Colombia’s ‘Coffee Zone’. From
here its a fairly short drive (approx. 1 hour) to the quaint town of
Salento, a municipality in the north eastern part of the department of
Quindo. This colourful and picturesque mountain town boasts a number of
fine houses built in the traditional architectural style from the region.
Surrounded by distant snow-capped mountains, Salento has a very special feel,
and this evening we recommend visiting one of the music bars around the main
town plaza.

Accommodation: Hotel Salento Real or similar

*Standard Hotel*

Day 7
Walk amid the wax palm trees of Cocora Valley; coffee tour.

Today we’ll board ‘Jeep Willys’ to drive out on the scenic route to the
wonderful Cocora Valley. Part of the wider Parque Nacional Los Nevados,
Cocora Valley is located in the central Andean range, just outside of
Salento. The valley has a unique landscape and has been regarded by Colombia
as a sanctuary for its national tree; the Wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense).
The tall Palms cover the valley, which is now protected and declared as a
monument to protect both the tree itself and also the endemic species that
depend on it. The spectacular valley is great for walking as well as taking
photos from some of the viewpoints. We’ll do a two hour walk, and if anyone
prefers not to walk on the rough terrain then there are a couple of cafes’ in
town in which to wait and enjoy a freshly prepared coffee.

Afterwardswe will visit a coffee plantation, where we will find out about
the whole production process from seedling to cup, as well as learning about
the plantations themselves and the many workers who rely on coffee for their
livelihoods. Naturally, we will have the chance to sample some of this
glorious coffee.

Accommodation: Hotel Salento Real or similar

*Standard Hotel*

Day 8
Orchid farm visit; fly to Medellin.

This morning we will visitLa RomeliaOrchid Farm whereyou will enjoy
more than 6000 orchid plants, an interesting variety of carnivorous plants
and around 122 species of wild birds. The farm has spectacular surrounding
mountain views and you will also find many other crops like yucca, citrus and
avocado. After lunch we will catch our flight to Bogota and then Medellin,
where we will be transferred to the hotel.

Accommodation:Hotel Acqua Express or similar

*Standard Hotel*

Day 9
City tour of Medellin.

Today we take to the streets to discover Medellin, visiting the botanic
garden, city centre, Botero square and Antioquia Musuem, a wonderful art
museum. Medellin is a busy city situated in a narrow but very fertile valley,
between two Andean mountain ridges. This region is famous for its coffee
plantations, butterflies, orchids and mild climate, giving it the nickname as
the ‘City of Eternal Spring’.

Accommodation: Hotel Acqua Express or similar

*Standard Hotel*

Day 10
Visit flower farm in Santa Elena; fly to Cartagena.

Today we visit a flower farm in Santa Elena to witness the wonderful variety
and colour of this famous region. The flower farm we visit has rows and rows
of dahlias, geraniums, pansies, petunias, orchids, anthuriums, begonias,
lilies and more. Colombia is a huge exporter of cut blooms, supplying around
60% of the flowers in the USA.Afterwards, we take a flight to Cartagena
where we’ll spend the next few nights.

Accommodation: Hotel Casa Mara or similar

*Standard Hotel*

Day 11
Walking tour of Cartagena old town.

Today we explore the beautiful colonial centre of Cartagena on foot,
wandering through narrow streets and colourful plazas to discover some of the
city’s historical gems, including the Puerta del Reloj (clock tower gate),
Plaza de los Coches, Plaza Bolivar, and the church of San Pedro Claver. After
a break for lunch and an escape from the heat of the day, we resume our tour
of the city this afternoon with avisit to San Felipe Fortress. San Felipe
dominates the old town and is the largest Spanish fort in the Americas, and
its solid construction allowed Colombian forces to successfully defend the
city against frequent attacks in the 17th and 18th centuries. Tonight is the
perfect opportunity to enjoy the lively nightlife of this Caribbean gem of a
city.

Accommodation: Hotel Casa Mara or similar

*Standard Hotel*

Day 12
Morning mangrove canoe tour; free afternoon.

In the morning we will transfer by vehicle to La Boquilla fishing village
about 20 minutes outside of Cartagena. After an introduction from a local
guide, we will board canoes along with local guides who will take us on a 1
hour ride around the tropical mangroves of Cinaga de La Virgen. Along the
way our guides will explain the endemic birdlife and talk about the way of
life for people who live here. Once the canoe ride is over you will have some
time to visit the village and then we’ll head back to Cartagena. If you
prefer to stay at the beach in La Boquilla, you could do this and take a taxi
back later on.

This afternoon has been left free for further exploration of the city or
simply soaking up the atmosphere by sitting in a shaded plaza. Tonight we’ll
enjoy our third and final night in Cartagena.

Accommodation: Hotel Casa Mara or similar

*Standard Hotel*

Day 13
Transfer to Cartagena Airport; fly to Bogota; trip ends.

Our final morning, we transfer to Cartagena Airport to catch our flight to
Bogota which will arrive in time for the evening flight to London. If not
travelling on the international group flight please be aware that you will
probably not be back in Bogota until at least 17:00. The land only portion of
the trip ends upon returning to Bogota, and we recommend making any onward
travel arrangements for the following day.

Day 14 Arrive London.

**