SALT · WAX PALMS · CARIBBEAN
Colombia & Its Different Cultures
11 days / 10 nights, Colombia packs an absurd amount of variety into one country. This trip is design
Your trip
Your 11 days in Colombia
Colombia packs an absurd amount of variety into one country. This trip is designed to show you as many sides of it as possible, Bogota's bike lanes and gold vaults, a tejo bar where you throw gunpowder-wrapped rocks, the colonial freeze-frame of Villa de Leyva, wax palms taller than most buildings, Medellin's outdoor escalators, Tayrona's jungle beaches, and Cartagena's candy-coloured streets. It's a lot. That's the point.
At a glance
11 days10 nights
Private tripJust your own party
ModerateActivity level
Flights includedATOL protected
Flexible datesYou choose when you go
ColombiaOur destination guide
WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL
Trip highlights
Bogotá by bike
Ride through Bogota on a guided bike tour covering parks, markets and street art
Tejo, the national sport
Play tejo, Colombia's national sport, where you throw metal discs at gunpowder targets
The Salt Cathedral
Visit the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, carved 200 metres underground in a working salt mine
Villa de Leyva
Wander Villa de Leyva's enormous cobblestone plaza, one of the largest in South America
Wax palms and a coffee farm
Hike among 60-metre wax palms in the Cocora Valley and visit a working coffee farm in Salento
Tayrona
Explore Tayrona's jungle-fringed beaches on the Caribbean coast
Day by day
Your itinerary
Day 1Arrive Bogota
Airport transfer and check-in. Take it easy at 2,640m. If you're up for it, walk the Zona Rosa neighbourhood for dinner, it's flat and close to most hotels.
Day 2Bogota Bike Tour & Gold Museum
Morning guided bike tour through Bogota, covering La Candelaria, parks, fruit markets and street art. The city has one of the world's best cycling networks. Afternoon at the Gold Museum (free, and the collection is extraordinary). Evening tejo experience at a local bar, Colombia's national sport involves throwing heavy metal discs at gunpowder-filled targets. It's loud, social and involves beer.
Day 3Salt Cathedral & Villa de Leyva
Morning excursion to Zipaquira for the Salt Cathedral, a full cathedral carved 200 metres inside a salt mine. It's far more impressive than it sounds. Continue north to Villa de Leyva, a colonial town preserved almost exactly as it was in the 1700s. Check in and walk the enormous cobblestone plaza before dinner.
Day 4Fly to Pereira, Coffee Region
Morning transfer back towards Bogota for the flight to Pereira. Check in to a traditional finca in the coffee zone. Afternoon at leisure, hammock on the veranda, hummingbirds in the garden, coffee from the farm next door.
Day 5Cocora Valley & Salento
Drive to the Cocora Valley and hike among the towering wax palms, the tallest palm species on earth, some over 60m. The trail goes through cloud forest with good birding. Afternoon in Salento for coffee tasting at a working farm and browsing the artisan shops. Return to your finca.
Day 6Fly to Medellin
Transfer to Pereira airport for the flight to Medellin. Check in at El Poblado. Afternoon free to explore the neighbourhood, restaurants, wine bars, and the Parque Lleras area.
Day 7Medellin Transformation Tour & Comuna 13
Full-day Medellin experience. Morning covering the city's transformation story: the metro cable, the library parks built in former conflict zones, and Plaza Botero. Afternoon guided graffiti tour of Comuna 13, the outdoor escalators, the art, the music, and the personal stories from local guides who grew up there.
Day 8Fly to Santa Marta, Tayrona
Morning flight to Santa Marta. Transfer to accommodation near Tayrona National Park. Afternoon at the beach or exploring the town of Taganga.
Day 9Tayrona National Park
Full day in Tayrona. Hike from the park entrance through jungle to Cabo San Juan beach, a spectacular bay with boulders, palm trees and howler monkeys overhead. Swim, have lunch at the beach restaurant, and hike back. The round trip takes about 5 hours including beach time. Optional: stay at the park's basic camping or hammock accommodations.
Day 10Transfer to Cartagena
Morning drive along the coast to Cartagena (about 4 hours). Check in and spend the afternoon exploring the walled city. Guided walking tour covering the Clock Tower, the main plazas, and San Pedro Claver. Walk the old city walls at sunset for your last evening in Colombia.
Day 11Departure
Breakfast, then transfer to Cartagena airport for your departure flight.
Your price covers
What's included
Flights
Return flights from London, booked with your holiday and ATOL protected
We can also book other airlines, including flights with one stop, to suit your dates and preferences.
Internal flights
Domestic flights included: Bogota to Pereira, Pereira to Medellin and Medellin to Santa Marta
Accommodation
10 nights lodging with daily breakfast in hotels and fincas
Transport
Private transfers throughout the itinerary
Guides and tours
- Guided bike tour in Bogota
- Medellin transformation and Comuna 13 guided tours
- English-speaking local guides on all excursions
Experiences
- Tejo experience with local guide
- Cocora Valley hike and coffee farm visit
- Cartagena walking tour
Entry fees
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira entrance
Medical assistance
Medical assistance card for the duration of the trip
ATOL protection
Your holiday is ATOL protected (ATOL 10898). You get an ATOL Certificate when you book.
Not included: Lunches and dinners · Optional Tayrona National Park guided tour · Tayrona park entrance fee (approx. £15) · Travel insurance · Personal expenses and gratuities
Your next step
Dates and price
No commitment, we reply within one working day
Before you book
Frequently Asked Questions
Tejo is Colombia's national sport. You throw a heavy metal disc (like a small puck) at a clay board with gunpowder-filled paper triangles on it. When you hit one, it explodes with a small bang. It's played in bars with beer and snacks. The gunpowder is tiny, think Christmas cracker level. Your guide explains everything and it's good fun.
The main trail from the park entrance to Cabo San Juan takes about 2 hours each way. It's hilly and can be muddy after rain, but it's not technical. Wear proper shoes (not flip-flops) and bring water. There's a horse service for part of the trail if you prefer.
It's one of the highlights of the trip for most people. The plaza is absurdly large and the town feels like stepping back 300 years. The drive from Bogota takes about 3.5 hours through the Boyaca highlands, pretty landscape with very few tourists outside holiday weekends.
Three: Bogota to Pereira, Pereira to Medellin, and Medellin to Santa Marta. Each is about 60-90 minutes, and all three are included, booked with your holiday.
Absolutely. Extra nights in Cartagena are easy to add, and you can take a day boat to the Rosario Islands for snorkelling. Alternatively, add San Andres island for 3-4 nights of pure Caribbean beach time before flying home.
Interested in This Trip?
We price this trip to your dates and your party, with your UK flights booked by us, so the whole holiday is ATOL protected. Tell us who is travelling and when, and we will send you a tailor-made quote.
Real reviews
What our customers say
They organised excellent accommodation and transfers from airport to destination and between destinations which was seamless and gave us peace of mind for our trip. We stayed in the nicest casa particular in Havana right on the outskirts of the major hustle of the old town but within walking distance to every site and lots of lovely restaurants. Our hotel in Varadero had 5 a la carte restaurants which were delicious and wonderful beaches! Would definitely go back to Cuba and use TravelFab again.
Annabelle
Excellent service. Fabien responded to all our queries promptly and efficiently and was always willing to spend time talking to us. The itinerary was well-considered and well-organised with an adequate amount of time in each location. Locations were varied and interesting. The service provided by the B&B owners was good to outstanding. The organisation of the coach services for transfers from one destination to another was super with comfortable journeys in clean, air-conditioned coaches. Thanks, TravelFab!
David
I was very impressed with Fabian's dedication, patience and professionalism in organising a group of 8 young persons (over 60's) to get to Cuba. The whole experience has been a very positive one. Despite having to relocate to another hotel at the last minute, that change over went very smoothly. Our accommodations were excellent. We will definitely book with TravelFab again. Thank you!
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More holidays in Colombia
Colombia Small Group Tour: Bogotá, the Coffee Region, Medellín and Cartagena
Roots & Rhythms of Colombia
Exploring Colombia
Tailor-made · ATOL 10898
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