Signature Colombia

Welcome to Bogota, Colombia’s vibrant and cosmopolitan capital, situated 2,600 metres above sea level in the Andean mountains.

In the evening, after settling into your hotel, you might choose to visit either the Chapinero or Usaquen districts and dine at one of their many restaurants which serve Colombian and South American cuisines such as arepas, ajiaco, asado, ceviche, empanadas, rondon and more.

Today you will tour Bogota’s main sights including La Candelaria, Museo del Oro, the Botero Museum and Monserrat Hill.

La Candelaria is the city’s old town, where you will find Plaza Bolivar, Bogota’s main square. There you can see Colombia’s Palace of Justice, the Capitol Building, the Cathedral of Bogota and the city mayor’s office. Nearby are buildings painted with colourful murals and street art.

Within the old city we will visit Museo del Oro, or the Gold Museum, which houses more than 55,000 pieces of gold jewellery and ornaments from Colombia’s various indigenous groups.

You will then head to the Botero Museum. It houses the works of Fernando Botero, a famous Colombian artist and sculptor, whose ‘Boterismo’ style depicts people and figures in an exaggerated manor.

We will then go to Monserrat Hill and ride a funicular (cable car) to the top to take in a panoramic view of the city

You will fly from Bogota to Medellin, Colombia’s second largest city.
Known as the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ thanks to its excellent weather year round, Medellin is home to coffee plantations, flower farms and cloud forests.

Once a city with a notorious history, Medellin has had a complete makeover and is a safe and attractive city that now plays host to the Feria de las Flores (festival of flowers) each August.

Today you will enjoy a full day tour of Guatape.

Located on a man-made reservoir, Guatape is an Andean resort town located east of Medellin that’s famous for its giant granite rock monolith known as Piedra del Penol. There you can climb its 740 steps to the top to take in spectacular views of the region.

You will then take a boat ride on the reservoir and see local’s enjoying water sports such as kayaking, fishing and sailing. Back In Guatape, we’ll wander through the village to see its churches and the colourful paintings that adorn the town’s houses.

Enjoy a half-day tour of Medellín starting downtown at Plaza Botero, where you can admire the striking architecture of the Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture and the Museum of Antioquia. Don’t miss the twenty-three sculptures by Botero scattered throughout the plaza.

Next, take the Metrocable to its final station, La Aurora, which offers a panoramic viewpoint of the city. From there, explore the neighbourhood on foot and discover street graffiti that reflects how the area’s identity has evolved.

The most vibrant street art can be found in San Javier, also known as Comuna 13. Once one of the most dangerous places in the world due to Colombia’s drug cartels in the 1980s, the area changed dramatically after the 2002 Operation Orion. The government-led operation, which included air strikes, successfully ousted the guerrillas and paramilitaries, paving the way for the community to rebuild and transform.

From Medellin, you will fly to Cartagena, a city situated on Colombia’s Caribbean coastline.

Cartagena is famous for its walled old town and fortress, which were both listed as a world heritage site in 1984. After your arrival you might like to spend your time exploring the cobbled streets of this district and see the Monumento Torre del Reloj, a clock tower built between 1601 and 1631.

Today you will tour Cartagena, starting at the Convent of Santa Cruz de La Popa and its nearby monastery. Situated on top of Mount la Popa, the highest point in the city, the convent site provides excellent views.

Originally a wooden chapel built in 1607, the convent has since been reconstructed. Inside, you will find the image of La Virgin de la Candelaria, the patroness of the city. While the nearby monastery no longer houses the Augustinian monks who founded the convent, it has an attractive central courtyard you can visit.

The convent is located nearby our next stop, San Felipe castle-fortress. You will take a walk through the fortress, which is situated on San Lazaro Hill, and learn about its construction and how it once defended the city from pirate attacks. Now an artisan centre, it’s a wonderful place to purchase local handicrafts.

Enjoy a a tour to discover the tastes and local street food of Cartagena. This will allow you to gain an insight into the daily lives and culture of the locals and sample some of the local delicacies on offer such as local exotic fruits, arepas, papas rellenas, Bollo de Mazorca and Raspao.

Discover a corner of Africa in South America!

This town was founded by Benkos Biohó, a runaway slave who, along with 36 others, hid in the area. It became the first freedom town established in the country. Recognised by UNESCO for its intangible cultural heritage, the town has its own unique dialect and traditions. You’ll explore local customs, meet artisans who share their stories through their crafts, and enjoy a traditional lunch accompanied by a live music performance before returning to Cartagena.

On your final day in Cartagena you might choose to wander the historical districts of El Centro and San Diego to take one more look at the colonial architecture in the city’s old town before you are collected from your hotel and taken to the airport for your onward flight.