Roots & Rhythms of Colombia

Day 1: Arrive Bogota

Airport transfer and check-in. Easy evening, grab ajiaco (chicken and potato soup) at a local restaurant and get an early night. Bogota's at 2,640m so don't push it.

Day 2: Bogota City Tour

Walking tour of La Candelaria: Gold Museum, Botero Museum, Plaza Bolivar, the colourful street art of Calle 10. Ride up Monserrate for the view. Afternoon free to explore Usaquen.

Day 3: Fly to Medellin

Morning flight to Medellin. Check in at El Poblado. Afternoon orientation walk, the neighbourhood is walkable, green and full of good restaurants. If you have energy, the Parque Arvi cable car is worth the ride.

Day 4: Medellin & Comuna 13

Morning city tour: Plaza Botero, metro cable, botanical garden. Afternoon guided tour of Comuna 13, the street art, the outdoor escalators, the hip-hop performances, and the story of how the community rebuilt itself. It's one of the most powerful experiences in Colombia.

Day 5: Guatape Day Trip

Full-day excursion to Guatape. Climb the 740 steps of El Penol Rock (it sounds worse than it is, there are rest platforms). The view from the top is genuinely one of the best in South America. Walk the colourful streets of Guatape town, known for its painted tile facades. Return to Medellin.

Day 6: Fly to Cartagena

Morning flight to Cartagena. Check in near the walled city. Afternoon free to explore Getsemani, the neighbourhood just outside the walls with the best street food, murals and nightlife.

Day 7: Cartagena City Tour

Guided walking tour: Clock Tower, the old city's plazas, San Pedro Claver church, the Palace of the Inquisition. Visit San Felipe de Barajas Castle, the largest Spanish fortress in the Americas, with a maze of underground tunnels. Walk the old city walls at sunset.

Day 8: Fly to San Andres

Morning flight to San Andres island, about 90 minutes from Cartagena. Check in to your hotel. Afternoon at Spratt Bight beach, the main beach in town, with warm shallow water and a coral reef just offshore.

Day 9: San Andres Island Tour

Full-day island tour by golf cart or van. Visit Johnny Cay (a tiny coral cay with reggae music and fried fish), the Aquarium (a natural pool in the reef), and La Piscinita (a rock pool for snorkelling). The "Seven Colours Sea" is not an exaggeration, the water shifts between shades of blue and green depending on the depth and coral below.

Day 10: San Andres Free Day

Full day at leisure. Go snorkelling or diving on the reef, take a boat to Haynes Cay, or rent a scooter and circle the island (it takes about an hour). The west side has great sunset spots. Stock up on duty-free goods, San Andres is a free port.

Day 11: Departure

Breakfast, then transfer to San Andres airport for your flight back to Bogota and onward connection home.