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1. Day 1 Arrive Bogota, Colombia

   Meet Andean Discovery staff and transport to hotel

   Touch down in Colombia’s capital city of Bogotá, where Andean Discovery staff will transport you to your hotel. The cultural and commercial center of Colombia, Bogotá’s urban chic, evocative historic center, and its unique positioning between snowcapped Andean peaks, has enchanted travelers for generations. With La Candelaria’s splendid cafes, shops, and bars, to the historic Cerro de Monterrate towering overhead, it’s an easy city to fall for, accelerating your impending love affair with Colombia starting from day one.

   Meals: On your own

   Standard Lodging: Bioxury Hotel

   Superior Lodging: EK Hotel Bogotá

2. Day 2 City Tour of Bogota and Monserrate

   Tour colonial Bogotá and the Montserrate sanctuary

   Properly introduce yourself to Colombia on your first full day with a tour of La Candelaria, the colonial district and colorful neighborhood famous for its cafes and shops. Knowledgeable local guides will take you from the grand Plaza de Bolivar to the sweeping La Catedral, where you’ll feel the buzz of city life and the echoes of Colombia’s colonial past as you pass these historic landmarks. Next you will visit the Palacio de Justicia to glimpse the country’s government and learn about how the new generation is leading Colombia into a brighter future. Then, you will stop at the renowned Museo del Oro to hear how gold has affected colonization and development of Colombia. In addition to a history lesson, you will see how this precious metal is incorporated in modern day folklore, artisanal goods, and music.

   After a morning on the ground, elevate your Bogota experience with an aerial tram ride to Montserrate sanctuary. Here, you will enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city and as you sip steaming canelazo, a South American specialty. Watch the sun set over the city and clink your glasses to the start of your Colombian adventure.

   Meals: B, L

   Standard Lodging: Bioxury Hotel

   Superior Lodging: EK Hotel Bogotá

3. Day 3 Day trip to Zipaquira

   Visit the Village of Zipiquirá

   Head out of the city on a 1.5 hour drive to the village of Zipaquirá. This provincial hub is famous for its astounding Salt Cathedral, one of the most unique places of worship on the planet. Enjoy a subterranean tour of this underground church, which was build inside a salt deposit in the 1950s. You’ll ascend to get to know Zipaquirá from above ground then linger over a local lunch in the town square before returning to the big city.

   Upon your return to Bogota, in the evening, a local historian will engage the group in a fascinating discussion on the guerilla conflicts, drug cartels and wars that have plagued Colombia’s past and shaped the nation’s history.

   Meals: B, L

   Standard Lodging: Bioxury Hotel

   Superior Lodging: EK Hotel Bogotá

4. Day 4 Fly to Pereira and explore Coffe Country

   Tour the Coffee Triangle

   Now that you are acquainted with Bogotá, broaden your understanding of Colombia by flying to the famous coffee growing axis. The part of the country that contains Manizales, Armenia, and Pereira is known as The Coffee Triangle. The Arabica coffee beans grown here produce some of the finest coffee in the world. After landing in Pereira, we will transfer to Hacienda Castilla, a plentiful and peaceful natural zone that contains over 300 bird species, exotic fruits and intricate orchids. You will have time to wander the grounds and dine on a lunch made with local ingredients before visiting a coffee plantation. Here, you will learn how the beans are grown, harvested, dried, and exported across the globe. Then it’s time to taste one of Colombia’s most famous exports for yourself.   You will be guided through a coffee tasting where you’ll learn how to analyzing the aroma, flavor, and appreciate the body of a truly sophisticated Cup of Joe. Interested individuals can participate in an optional, traditional Temezcal Ceremony in the evening.

   Meals: B, L, D

   Standard Lodging: Hacienda Castilla

   Superior Lodging: Casa San Carlos Lodge

5. Day 5 Visit Cocora Valley and Salento

   Visit Cloud forests in the Cocora Valley

   Wake up to the smell the coffee before leaving Pereira to venture into the Cocora Valley, part of Los Nevados National Park. Known as Colombia’s valley of the palms, this region hosts ethereal cloud forests brimming with natural gifts. You will encounter the wax palm, Colombia’s national tree, and marvel at its dizzying height and its incredible ability to survive at such altitude. You will witness importance of the wax palm when local indigenous Quimbaya people bless a new crop of seedlings before planting them in the rich Andean soil during a sacred Colombian ritual. We return to Pereira in the afternoon via Salento, a gorgeous town known for the skillful artisanry of its locals. You’ll know you are in Salento because of the vibrant balconies that adorn its downtown.

   Meals: B, L, D

   Standard Lodging: Hacienda Castilla

   Superior Lodging: Casa San Carlos Lodge

6. Day 6 Travel to Medellin

   Drive through cloud forest on your way to Medellin

   We depart the hacienda in the misty morning for a drive through the cloud forest to Medellin. Known as the City of Eternal Spring, this refreshing mountain city enjoys a wonderfully temperate climate. Don’t be fooled by Mendellin’s moderate size because Medellin boasts the amenities and attractions of a city twice as large. This city has earned a reputation for leading the country during its recent reinvention, while devoting itself to innovation and the arts. You’ll notice the city’s energy shift from bustling industry during the day to an infectious nightlife when the sun goes down. Spend the afternoon exploring the downtown’s treasures on your own. You’ll be delighted to find public works and urban art projects scattered around the city.

   Meals: B, L

   Standard Lodging: NH Collection Medellin

   Superior Lodging: Hotel Park 10

7. Day 7 Tour Medellin

   City Tour of Medellín and surrounding areas

   Wake energized by the hustle and bustle of Medellin then set out for a city tour with a local expert. Familiarize yourself with the 23 distinct bronze statues donated by the legendary Colombian artist Fernando Botero at the Plaza de las Escultura (Botero Plaza). Then, take the Medellin Metrocable high above the city. Here you can enjoy panoramic views views as you traverse 1.2 miles to Biblioteca España, an ultra modern, mountaintop library complex.

   You will gain personal insight as you learn about the city’s recent transformation when you eat lunch with a local family. In the afternoon and evening, travel to nearby Santa Elena, a beautiful colonial town where locals uphold famous Colombian flower-growing traditions.

   Meals: B, L

   Standard Lodging: NH Collection Medellin

   Superior Lodging: Hotel Park 10

8. Day 8 Fly to Cartagena

   Tour the city of Cartagena

   To taste Caribbean Colombia, we fly from Medellin to Cartagena, Colombia’s famous port city and gateway to world. This attractive coastal city retains much of the colonial charm it cultivated during the Spanish colonial era. You will feel the diverse and eccentric cultural blend of this Cartagena when you taste its food, hear its music, and visit its museums.

   An afternoon tour will lead you through the 16th-century San Felipe Fort and the archway shops of Las Bovedas, which have been repurposed from their past purpose as dungeons. A traditional horse-drawn carriage ride will escort you to dinner in the old city, as a unique way to start your evening.

   Meals: B, L

   Standard Lodging: Hotel 3 Banderas

   Superior Lodging: Hotel Santa Clara

9. Day 9 Tour Cartagena

   Tour the colonial center of Cartagena

   Your second day in Cartagena will be devoted to exploring Ciudad Amurallada, the UNESCO World Heritage site colonial center. Let your imagination run wild as you enter this area flanked by military  walls from the days of pirates, cannonballs, and warfare by sea. Walk along the 12-foot high protective embankments and meander the cobblestone streets that crisscross to lovely plazas adorned with fresh flowers and lush gardens. Spend the afternoon exploring Cartagena on your own. This evening learn about the history of music and dance in Colombia and opt for a Salsa and Cumbia class with local dancers.

   Meals: B, L

   Standard Lodging: Hotel 3 Banderas

   Superior Lodging: Hotel Santa Clara

10. Day 10 Visit la Boquilla, Cartagena

    Visit a school in a Caribbean fishing village

    Leaving Cartagena, we head for a small fishing village to visit a local school, play games with the children, and drop off some much-needed school supplies. Seven kilometers north of Cartagena, La Boquilla stretches along a slim peninsula sandwiched between the sea and the lagoon of Cienega de Tesca. You’ll be allowed to sleep in relative to the locals who awake at 4:00am to rush to the sea in an effort to catch enough fish to feed their families. The local school provides services to the students that allow their parents to maintain their traditional fishing lifestyle without sacrificing the children’s education. This afternoon return to Cartagena and enjoy some free time on your own.

    Meals: B, L

    Standard Lodging: Hotel 3 Banderas

    Superior Lodging: Hotel Santa Clara

11. Day 11 Depart

    Transfer to the airport for your international flight

    This morning you will be transferred to the airport in time for your international flight.

    Meals: B