10 Day Luxury Bogota Medellin & Cartagena

Introduction

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  Day 1

  International Arrival Bogota

  International arrival flight. Private guided transfer from El Dorado International Airport to the hotel.

  Bogotá is Colombia’s commercial epicentre, where trendy neighbourhoods rub shoulders with traditions of the past. In essence a mix of regal elegance and a modern bohemian flair. Home to a vast array of museums, galleries, churches, and colonial mansions from various eras, providing a real-life history lesson walking its atmospheric streets. Bogotá strikes a fine balance between its historical past and its passage into the future. Adding in the cities ever-expanding culinary and buzzing nightlife scene make it one of South America’s most dynamic and colourful capital cities.

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  Day 2

  Paloquemao Market and La Candelaria District

  Paloquemao Market is a bustling labyrinth of stalls and home to over seven hundred and fifty individual merchants. Most popular are the food stalls, offering an abundance of tropical fruits and vegetables. Outside is a photographers’ dream, where fresh-cut flowers tempt the public. There will also be time to sample some of the exotic fruits and delicious juices. This working market is a sensory overload and offers a mouth-watering taste of Bogota’s gastronomic heritage.

  La Candelaria is Bogota’s oldest quarter of the city, and the birthplace of Bogota. At its centre, the Plaza Bolivar is embraced on all sides by grand colonial buildings, churches and museums. La Candelaria remains as vibrant today as in its 17^th Century heyday. A short drive from the historic centre is the hilltop monastery of Monserrate, the summit is reached via a cable car or funicular railway. The mountain was considered a sacred site in Pre-Columbian times and remains a place of pilgrimage for many Bogota residents. The church was originally constructed in the 17th Century and from this vantage point, it’s possible to see the expanse of the city below.

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  Day 3

  Zipaquirá Village and Salt Cathedral

  Salt has been mined in Zipaquirá for over 1,500 years when the Muisca Indians realised the value of this precious commodity. Mining still goes on today, but the main attraction now is the underground cathedral hewn from the tunnels and passageways left behind by the miners. Whether appreciated for its religious significance, artistic craftsmanship, or simply a masterpiece of modern engineering, this pilgrimage site is truly extraordinary.

  It was in the early 1930s that the miners constructed the first shrine, hoping it would protect them through their long hours of hard toil beneath the earth’s crust. Then in the 1950s, a more ambitious project began, and a formal church dedicated to “Our Lady of the Rosary”, the patron saint of miners was built. The cathedral still operates for religious and cultural celebrations and can accommodate over three thousand worshippers. However this attraction is viewed, it’s hard not to be impressed by its grandeur and scale.

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  Day 4

  Flight to Medellin

  Medellin, the “City of Eternal Spring” and the second largest in Colombia is located in the Andean highlands and is nowadays considered to have blossomed into one of the most innovative and alluring destinations in Latin America. It’s characterized by leafy parks, modern art, slick urban transportation and a wildly infectious energy. It has cast off its negative reputation, and over the last 25 years gone through a phenomenal period of reinvention.

  Innovative programmes of urban development were implemented that combine the modern use of public transport with the design of public parks and recreation areas, which has transformed Medellín from one of the most dangerous cities in the world, into a fine example of urban regeneration. Perhaps most distinctive of all though, is the unwavering community spirit, bestowing Medellin with friendly vibes and an addictive atmosphere that’s impossible to ignore.

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  Day 5

  Private Tour Medellin

  Medellin is a fascinating city, and our full-day tour encompasses all the facets of this dynamic metropolis. Downtown Medellin is a bustling urban environment, alive with vibrant street life and home to the famous Botero sculpture park. The park is an introduction to the works of Fernando Botero whose oversized art is instantly recognisable. Medellin has undergone a positive transformation in the past decades, with dynamic urban architecture playing a fundamental role.

  The neighbourhood of Comuna 13 highlights how through innovation, once-troubled districts can be transformed into vibrant and prosperous communities. Considered one of the most violent communities in Medellin, through investment in renovating the neighbourhood’s social fabric, it’s now a safe and cohesive part of the city. Comuna 13 is now synonymous with cultural expression, and many social initiatives have sprung up focused-on music, dance, and the street art that decorates many of the communal spaces.

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  Day 6

  Santa Helena Village and Local Farm

  There is much more to experience in the Medellin region than just the dynamic city itself. A trip into the surrounding Andean Mountain countryside yields a wealth of natural and cultural attractions. Santa Helena village is located less than an hour from Medellin and sits in the rolling Andean countryside. The husbandry of cut flowers for export forms an important part of the economy in Colombia, and the mountains surrounding Medellin have become a centre for this colourful industry. There will be time to walk through the flower fields, nurseries and cultivation areas appreciating the colour and scent of the blossoms while interacting with the owners and workers of the plantation and learning about their lives.

  One of the local farm workers will demonstrate how the decorated silleteros are made with an array of flowers and colours, then show how the decorated display is mounted and carried. The people of the region are full of tales, stories, and anecdotes, learning about their local culture and traditions is fascinating. Many of today’s silleteros are part of a lineage that for generations has proudly displayed their floral culture with pride, both in the fields and through the streets of the city.

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  Day 7

  Cartagena Historic Walled City

  The sultry allure of the Caribbean coast is perfectly epitomized by Cartagena de Indias, often described as absurdly photogenic and one of the most iconic destinations in Colombia. Founded in 1533 by Pedro de Heredia, Cartagena is a wonderful insight into the life of the region through the 16th to 18th centuries. A tumultuous time, which left its mark through beautiful churches, atmospheric plazas and fascinating historical sites; all of which can be seen in their glory today.

  Cartagena enjoys year-round tropical temperatures, and where the historic old town and Getsemani neighbourhood with their dramatic colonial buildings, juxtapose for prominence with the nearby Boca Grande beach peninsula and its Miami style exclusive high-rise towers.. The Costeños, locals, are an open and fun-loving people. They combine the best of the Caribbean with other racial and cultural backgrounds and have a delightfully laid-back attitude. This passionate and vibrant city with its rich history and well-preserved colonial architecture exudes character. Mix in African rhythms, indigenous influences, and Spanish colonial splendour all make Cartagena a truly amazing destination.

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  Day 8

  La Popa Convent and San Felipe Fortress

  Located just outside the historic old town, the imposing San Felipe de Barajas Fortress is one of the city’s most distinctive landmarks and is a formidable example of military might and architecture. Rising majestically above the skyline, from this dominant vantage point the Spanish kept watch over the entrances to the city both by land and sea. San Felipe is the largest Spanish built fortification in the New World, and along with the ramparts and stone walls was part of the city’s defence against marauding pirates and swashbuckling buccaneers.

  The La Popa Convent is the highest landmark in the city. The convent started life as a humble and modest wooden chapel in the early 1600s but was later fortified and expanded to its current might and majesty. The cool leafy flower-filled courtyard and patio with its dominant stone columns lead out to a viewing platform. From here there are panoramic vistas that stretch out over the city, old town, the bay of Cartagena, and the Caribbean Sea beyond.

  Rum & Chocolate Tasting Experience. This experience pairs the exquisite flavours of fine rum and decadent chocolate, all under the watchful eye of a local expert mixologist and rum sommelier. Taste the tantalizing flavours of two of Colombia’s most mouthwatering gourmet offerings and discover why the country is one of the world’s leading producers of both of these irresistible treats.

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  Day 9

  Private Boat Rosario Island Archipelago

  Viewing the magnificent historic old town, the mighty fort, and the city’s coastal defences from the sea give a unique perspective to Cartagena. Combine this with picture-perfect Caribbean islands, idyllic white sandy beaches, and impossibly crystal-clear waters to create the perfect escape from the heat and bustle of city life. The Rosario Island archipelago is a protected marine reserve located close to Cartagena and is one of the most beautiful spots along the Colombian Caribbean coast. Surrounded by coral reefs, golden sandy beaches and mangrove forests making it the perfect location for snorkelling, swimming or simply doing nothing at all!

  The flexibility of a private boat means the day can be tailored to individual needs. However, depending on local conditions, the idea will be to stop off at a couple of the islands to spend time relaxing or sunbathing on the golden sands, swimming, or exploring the stunning coastal scenery. After a locally prepared typical lunch, there will be a last opportunity for relaxing or exploring the island chain before the return trip back to Cartagena, arriving around mid-afternoon. As long as time and conditions allow, there will be a stop for snorkelling along the reef to enjoy the spectacle of the local corals and marine life.

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  Day 10

  International Departure Cartagena

  Private transfer to Cartagena Airport and international departure.