Explore Colombian Coffee and Nature

Arrival at any time. You will be received by a member of our team who will take you to the hotel and will explain your program. Visit the Cerro de Monserrate, a monument 3.152 meters above sea level, where you will find the sanctuary of Saint Christ Fallen and a spectacular panoramic view of the capital city and the green savannah. Later, explore the Candelaria, the city’s historical district. The Chorro de Quevedo, a small plaza that marks the site of the original settlement, is sure to charm with its cobblestone streets, bohemian cafés, art galleries and museums, including the world’s largest collection of gold, housed at the Gold Museum.

Transfer to Villa de Leyva. On the way, visit the Salt Cathedral and Ráquira. Hike from the high Andean jungle to the páramo, the area above the continuous tree line and an ecosystem unique to the region. Here you will find the sacred lagoon of Iguaque, the source of water and Muisca mythology, the Legend of Bachué. This is also an ideal spot for birdwatching, and for observing other flora and fauna.

Early in the morning, you will travel by car to Guane and Barichara. Walk along the cobblestone path to Guane, a little village with a rich archaeological history. Once in Guane, visit a small museum which houses an important collection of aquatic fossils, a Guane mummy, and a variety of other treasures from both the colonial and contemporary periods. Visit Barichara, one of Colombia’s prettiest towns, renowned as a fine example of colonial architecture and an oasis of tranquility. The most distinctive features include the cobblestone streets, the rammed-earth houses, the bahereque building style, mud tiles and stone monuments made by well-known Barichara’s artists.

In the morning, cross one of the deepest canyons in the world from one extreme to the other in a cable car, and enjoy the astonishing view of the canyon from the Chicamocha Park. In the afternoon, walk the paths of El Roble Hacienda, a coffee estate with more than 100 years of tradition of producing some of the world’s finest coffee. Learn about the production process of Mesa de Los Santos Coffee, and enjoy the tastes and smells of the numerous varieties.

Fly from Bucaramanga to Pereira (via Bogotá). Visit the Hacienda San Alberto in Buenavista, place of cultivation, selection and production of the exclusive Café San Alberto. Tour of plantation (germinator, nursery and coffee plants) and coffee process (threshing, roasting and physical analysis of coffee). Coffee taste at then end of the tour. Back to the hotel at the end of the afternoon and free evening. Visit the Cocora Valley, the birthplace of the wax palm, the national tree of Colombia. Enjoy a hiking to the Niebla Forest and witness an indigenous ritual held at the world’s tallest palm tree. Then visit Salento, a traditional coffee town with multicolored houses and artists working in the streets. Free afternoon in Salento and back to the hotel at the end of the afternoon.

Fly to Cartagena (via BOG). Visit Cartagena, Colombia’s walled city. Within its fortifications you will find a unique culture and history that seem to blend reality and fantasy. Stroll the cobblestone streets and admire the colonial buildings. Visit the city’s plazas, galleries, churches and vaulted walkways where crafts and antiquities are sold. Visit the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built during the colonial era to protect Spanish interests from invasions by the English and French. Explore Cerro de la Popa, where you will find a church and colonial convent constructed in the 17th century.

Travel to Tayrona by car (5 hours). Time at leisure in Tayrona National Park, a nature and archeological reserve, though perhaps it is best known for having the best beaches in Colombia.

Transfer out to Santa Marta airport (1 hour). Departure at any time.

• Private guided tours.

• Private transfers.

• All entrance fees.

• 14 nights accommodation in hotels.

• Meals as mentioned (B: breakfast; L: lunch; D: dinner).

• Contribution to reforestation project (15 trees per person).