10 Day Luxury Tour Bogota Coffee Region & 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.

  Vibrant and diverse, Bogotá is Colombia’s pulsating capital city, its commercial epicentre, cultural heart, and the perfect starting point for any Colombian adventure. Colombia’s bustling cosmopolitan metropolis is a fusion of classic architecture and contemporary culture, where trendy neighbourhoods rub shoulders with traditions of the past. Home to a dazzling array of museums, galleries, churches, and colonial mansions from various eras, providing a real-life history lesson when walking its atmospheric streets. Adding in the cities ever-expanding culinary and buzzing nightlife scene make it one of South America’s most dynamic and colourful capital cities.

  The city is located just north of the equator at an elevation of 2,600 m./8,660 ft. and sits on a mountain plateau high in the Andes Mountains. Founded in 1538 by Spanish conqueror Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, the city became the capital of New Granada (later renamed Colombia) in 1830 after independence from Spain. From a small initial settlement centred around what’s now the historic “Candelaria” neighbourhood the city grew. With a current population of over 9 million and growing, this melting pot is not only the country’s political, financial, and educational backbone, but also its cultural, culinary, and artistic hub. As in many countries, the capital city does not reflect the rest of the country, but on the road to understanding Colombia, a visit to its capital city is key.

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  Day 2

  Paloquemao Market, La Candelaria and Museums

  Appreciate Bogota’s diversity on this full-day tour. Paloquemao Market is a bustling labyrinth of stalls and home to over 750 individual merchants. Most popular are the plethora of 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 heart and soul and the capital’s most endearing neighbourhood.

  This is the 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 and churches. Exploring La Candelaria away from the square, the myriad side streets and alleyways are just as intriguing. La Candelaria remains as vibrant today as in its 17thCentury heyday. The Botero Museum is an exhibition of artworks by Fernando Botero. One of Colombia’s most famous artists, Botero’s “oversized” art is instantly recognisable. The Gold Museum is located close to the Plaza Bolivar. Far from being the mystical hidden world of El Dorado, a place sought by Spanish conquistadors, today the museum shares openly its golden treasures. Home to one of the finest collections in the world, with more than 35,000 pieces of pre-Columbian gold work.

  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

  The drive north of Bogota passes through the ancient territory once occupied by the Muisca Indians and the famous Zipaquirá underground salt cathedral. The road meanders through rolling scenic countryside, agricultural landscapes, and rural Colombian towns and villages. Salt has been mined in Zipaquirá for over 1,500 years when the Muisca Indians realised the value of this precious commodity. Alexander Von Humboldt commented on the mine during his explorations in Colombia in 1801. Salt 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.

  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 modern cathedral was completed in 1995. The descent into the mine begins with the 14 Stations of the Cross, each intricately carved into the halite rock salt and illuminated with subtle lighting. It is a sight beyond compare. After the cathedral visit, the journey continues back to Bogota.

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  Day 4

  Flight to Pereira

  Flight from Bogota D.C. to Pereira. Private Transfer from Matecaña Airport to the hotel. With its rolling hills, covered with verdant green coffee plants and dotted with quaint, brightly-painted haciendas, this UNESCO world heritage status landscape represents some of the most stunning scenery in Colombia. The adage that the journey is as important as the destination certainly applies to this region, as every twist and turn is rewarded with spectacular views and new perspectives. The coffee region is the rural heart and soul of Colombia, where pastoral life continues as it has done for centuries, harvesting coffee and plantains (a type of banana) as well as numerous other crops in this lush and fertile land.

  Coffee of course plays a pivotal role in the local economy and has moulded the culture of the region. In the space of just a few hours’ drive, the scenery can change from the rugged beauty and harsh temperatures of the towering mountain peaks to the sultry heat of the Cauca Valley. After the hustle and bustle of one of the big cities, the peace and natural surroundings create a startling contrast. As the name suggests, the coffee region is the home to the famous Colombian coffee, but there is far more on offer in this amazing part of the country.

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  Day 5

  Traditional Country Coffee Towns

  Tour to the traditional coffee towns of Filandia & Salento with short nature walk in the Cocora Valley. A full day spent exploring the small rural communities or “pueblos” and walking in the majestic landscapes of the Cocora Valley is the best way to appreciate the stunning beauty and unique culture of Colombia’s iconic coffee region. In Filandia, coffee and laid-back rural life are the backbones of this enchanting little Colombian village. Filandia and its inhabitants are an attraction in themselves in this living breathing coffee producing community.

  The main square still retains all of its historical character, the local police station and mayor’s office jostle for position with the barbers and hardware store. Walking the quaint colonial streets and enjoying freshly ground coffee in one of the cafes is a looking glass into Colombia’s rural past. The picturesque and colourful town of Salento is located in the department of Quindío. This quaint rural settlement dates back to the early 1840s and is a delightful showpiece of well-preserved colonial architecture, with its brightly coloured homes and nearby coffee plantations. This photogenic village boasts a typical main square with lanes of charming traditional-style houses in a collage of colours.

  Nature-lovers will revel in the pristine beauty of the Cocora Valley which is perfect for walks, trekking, and horseback riding. The verdant emerald expanse of rolling mountains with its subtropical climate is also home to abundant wildlife and birdlife, including the endangered Yellow Eared Parrot.

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  Day 6

  Coffee Hacienda Experience

  The local haciendas take their coffee very seriously and have built their entire existence around the germination, classification, and preparation of Colombian coffee, generally regarded as some of the finest in the world. Understanding the trials and tribulations behind this energetic brew, like the coffee itself is a step closer to understanding the complexity and balance of flavours that is Colombia. Many Coffee farms located in the Coffee Region, with its rolling hills of lush green plantations, is the traditional “Hacienda Cafetera” where it is produced some of the finest gourmet coffee that Colombia has to offer.

  This hacienda offers picture-postcard coffee studded mountainside and the brightly painted traditional main house that creates the quintessential coffee region backdrop. There will be time to walk the plantations, understanding the full lifecycle of planting and seedlings through to cultivation and harvest. The rolling mountain terrain means there is a very intricate human element to the coffee process. Local workers toil the hillside, handpicking just the right rich red beans. Experiencing the stunning countryside scenery while learning about the complexities of Colombian coffee will help to explain why this delicious product that keeps the world energised is such a highly prized export. After this in-depth coffee baptism, it will be impossible to look at that simple morning brew in the same way!

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  Day 7

  Flight to Cartagena

  Private transfer from the hotel to Matecaña Airport Domestic and fly from Pereira to Cartagena. 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. Cartagena was the Caribbean gateway port of the Spanish. 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

  This experience takes in two of the most iconic sights in Cartagena. 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 sits in a privileged position and 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. Inside the small chapel is the immaculate gold-plated and carved alter and ornate decoration dedicated to the “Virgin de la Candelaria”, patron saint of the city.

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  Day 9

  Private Boat Rosario Island Archipelago

  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. What’s not to love about this indulgent combination and rich marriage of sensory delights! Many of Colombia’s rums have won high accolades at international festivals across the world.

  Colombia is now globally one of the top producers of cacao, the raw product for one of the world’s favourite sweet treats, chocolate. The chocolate tasted will range from sweeter and milkier samples with a cacao content of around 45%, to other richer, more bitter and indulgent varieties of up to 70% cacao and higher, making some of the samples as hard-hitting as the rum! Each refined rum is selected to pair with a corresponding chocolate to create a sensory overload of flavours. This indulgent experience evokes the mythical world of pirates, storytelling and unbreakable bonds of friendship where the palate will bear witness to some of Colombia’s greatest treasures. Rum and chocolate, it’s naughty…but nice!

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  Day 10

  International Departure

  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. This group of 27 islands are surrounded by coral reefs, golden sandy beaches and mangrove forests making it the perfect location for snorkelling, swimming or simply doing nothing at all!

  Heading out in a private motorboat from one of the main piers, the journey begins by passing through the bay of Cartagena and past the solid stone forts that once protected the entrance to the city in colonial times. Then continuing through the “Bocachica” straight, the primary maritime gateway to the city, before heading out into the turquoise-coloured open sea. Depending on your preference, we will 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.