13 Day Luxury Tour Colombia & Galapagos

Introduction

• 1

  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.

• 2

  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.

• 3

  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.

• 4

  Day 4

  Flight to Caratgena. Afternoon Tour

  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.

• 5

  Day 5

  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. 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!

• 6

  Day 6

  Flight to Quito

  Flight from Cartegena to Quito.  Explore the World Heritage of UNESCO city which has the best-preserved historic centre in Latin America. The monasteries of San Francisco and Santo Domingo, and the Church and Jesuit College of La Compañía, with their rich interiors, are pure examples of the ‘Baroque school of Quito’, which is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art. Also take a walk on Calle La Ronda, a street that is also worth seeing for its picturesque vibrancy. A haven for painters and poets in the 1930s, this colonial lane is still today the meeting place for bohemians and romantics.

• 7

  Day 7

  Luxury Galapagos Cruise 6D/5N

  Venture across these majestic isles in style and comfort aboard our Totally Latin America Endemic Cruise. The Endemic catamaran accommodates just sixteen guests with an almost one-to-one service ratio from its crew and guides. Imagine a magical world of soaring frigate birds, lumbering tortoises, frolicking sea lions, and sleek sharks. Imagine cruising through turquoise waters on a luxurious cruise yacht with your partner, family, or friends. Picture a deluxe suite cabin, spacious and inviting as warm sea breezes blow in gently from the balcony. The staff are courteous and professional, the naturalist guide is knowledgeable and friendly, and the chef somehow sends one masterpiece after another out of the kitchen. This is your Endemic luxury journey of a lifetime through the Galapagos.

• 8

  Day 8

  Luxury Galapagos Cruise 6D/5N

  See the descriptions for Day 7 for details.

• 9

  Day 9

  Luxury Galapagos Cruise 6D/5N

  See the descriptions for Day 7 for details.

• 10

  Day 10

  Luxury Galapagos Cruise 6D/5N

  See the descriptions for Day 7 for details.

• 11

  Day 11

  Luxury Galapagos Cruise 6D/5N

  See the descriptions for Day 7 for details.

• 12

  Day 12

  Luxury Galapagos Cruise 6D/5N. Quito

  See the descriptions for Day 7 for details.

• 13

  Day 13

  Depart Quito

  Speak to your expert Totally Latin America adviser for details. Click here to learn more.