BEST OF
Colombia
Possible extension to Santa Marta and National Park Tayrona
8 nights program
BOGOTA / ZIPAQUIRA / VILLA DE LEYVA / ARMENIA / CARTHAGENE
Daily travel time
D1- Bogotá
D2- Bogotá
D3- Bogotá/Zipaquirá/Villa de Leyva 4h drive
D4- Villa de Leyva/Bogotá – 4h drive
D5- Bogota/Armenia – 1 hour flight (flight not included)
D6- Armenia/ Cocora – Time of drive 55 minutes – Cocora/Salento –Time drive 25 minutes –
Salento/ Armenia 1h drive. Full day
D7- Armenia/Bogotá/Cartagena– 2 hours flight (2 flights not included)
D8- Cartagena
D9- Cartagena/Bogotá – 1hour flight (not included)
Extension Santa Marta & National Park Tayrona:
D9: Cartagena/ Santa Marta (time road 4h).
D10: Santa Marta/ National Park Tayrona (time drive 1h30, trekking around 1h).
D11: Santa Marta.
D12: Santa Marta/Bogotá (1h30 flight – not included)/ Europe (not included).
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
- Air – Please book direct international flights (Lufthansa) or via Madrid (Iberia or Avianca). These flights allow the J1 arrival late afternoon and departure late afternoon Bogotá to Europe (J10) Please book domestic flights on Avianca per itinerary. QUIMBAYACOLOMBIA can book these flights for you. Important: outside the recommended times, extra charges for private transfer schedules can be applied.
- Formalities – Please consult the authorities to check if passengers need a visa to enter Colombia depending on their nationality. A passport valid for at least six months after the date of return to your country is neccessary.
- Health – No mandatory vaccinations.
- Weather – Temperate and cold in the Andes (Bogota, Villa de Leyva and Armenia). Tropical in Cartagena and Santa Marta. The dry season runs from November to May. Please note the course in altitude J1 to J7 (between 2000 and 2600 m altitude).
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR TRIP TO COLOMBIA
- Assistance throughout the journey of our team on site.
- Services of bilingual guides.
- Visit to Gold Museum of Bogota, the largest collection of pre-Columbian gold objects, witnesses to the art and culture of Indigenous peoples of the country.
- Visit the Cathedral of Zipaquira Salt, major work built in an old mine.
- Walk in the streets and squares of Villa de Leyva, a remarkable colonial city.
- Crossing the sublime Andean road between Bogota and Villa de Leyva.
- Salento and the Valley of Cócora, Colombia emblem.
- Demonstration by experts of the famous Colombian coffee.
- Visit Cartagena, ranked world heritage site by Unesco, walled city with sumptuous colonial mansions.
- Discovery of the Caribbean Cartagena animation in place of Santo Domingo, the meeting point of the population.
- Accommodation in hotels of good comfort some of the most charming of the country.
- Domestic flights can be booked through our office in Colombia.
- Extension Santa Marta and Tayrona National Park: Observation of the fauna and of the Andean and Caribbean flora in the majestic setting of the Sierra Nevada
HOTELS
Bogota
BH BICENTENARIO***
A stay at Bogotá’s BH Bicentenario Hotel is truly something special. Perfectly located in the heart of the city, at the confluence of the commercial, financial and entertainment districts, this modern hotel has been consistently recognized as one of the top business hotels in the city.
Web Site: www.bhbicentenario.com/
Villa de Leyva
MESON DE LOS VIRREYES***
Featuring a spa, an indoor pool and a restaurant, Hotel Mesón de los Virreyes offers rooms with free Wi-Fi and TV, free parking is provided as well. The Main Square is 200 meters away. Arranged in a charming colonial-style building, rooms are very bright, some of them have hot tubs and private terraces.
Web Site: www.hotelmesondelosvirreyes.com/
Armenia
HACIENDA COMBIA***
The farm Combia has 32 comfortable rooms, ranging from single to multiple accommodation with private bathroom and hot water. Restaurant: equipped with an open kitchen that allows guests to enjoy preparing tasty lunch. Pool: endless panoramic effect, where you can see the beautiful sunset’s quindianos. Wetland: hot tub, steam room, sauna, gazebo with wet bar.
Web Site: www.combia.com.co/
Cartagena
DON PEDRO DE HEREDIA***
Hotel Don Pedro De Heredia located in the Historic downtown and fortified center of Cartagena de indias. We are located close to many wonderful attractions that cater to a variety of interests. Whether you are interested in history, local customs or a romantic setting, we have something for you.
Web Site: www.hoteldonpedrodeheredia.com
EXTENSION SANTA MARTA
TAMACA TORRE BEACH***
The Tamacá Beach Resort by Sercotel Hotel boasts a privileged location in front of El Rodadero Bay, Santa Marta. It is called the ‘Big House on the Beach’ in the local indigenous language.
The hotel’s strategic location is a space were nature itself is worshipped, tropical surroundings filled with peace and spiritual calm, used by the native Gaira Amerindians in the past as a place of reverence. It is also near large leisure and entertainment centers, restaurants, shops, banks and other businesses.
Web Site: www.tamacabeachresort.com/
Day 1 – Arrival in Bogota
Arrival at El Dorado International airport, reception by someone of our team.
Transfer and installation at the hotel BH BICENTENARIO*** or SIMILAR
Dinner not included.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 – Bogota
Breakfast.
First, visit of The Monserrate, from where you can have a wonderful view of the city, a magnificent panoramic point of the town. This place can be reached by cable car or funicular.
Walking tour in the historic center, La Candelaria and discovery all houses and churches of the XVIII and XIX centuries. On the way to the “Plaza Bolívar”, you will see “Casa de Nariño”, home of the President of Colombia. Around the “Plaza Bolívar” is located the “Capitolio Nacional”, the “Palacio de Justicia”, the “Alcaldía Mayor” of Bogotá, but also the “Catedral Primada”, the “Capilla del Sagrario” and the “Palacio del Arzobispado”
Visit Botero Museum. This Art collection was donated in 2000 by Fernando Botero, the Colombian artist recognized internationally and it is exposed permanently.
Lunch in a local restaurant where they serve ajiaco (a soup prepared with the potatoes of the highlands, with spices, chicken and corn).
Visit the Gold Museum, owned by the Bank of Colombia. Archaeologists have also contributed greatly in this collection creating a total of about 36000 pieces of gold and splendid emeralds.
Return to the hotel. Dinner not included. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 – Bogota / Zipaquira / Villa de Leyva
Breakfast.
Departure towards Zipaquirá (1 hour approximately).
Visit of the Salt Cathedral, an underground Roman Catholic Church built within the tunnels of a salt mine 200 meters underground in a Halite mountain.
Here you will find the salt mines from which a monumental Cathedral was excavated.
Lunch in a local restaurant
Continues towards Villa de Leyva (3 hours approximately).
It is a magical town steeped in a colonial atmosphere and surrounded by very different landscapes.
Arrival in Villa de Leyva, transfer and accommodation at the hotel MESON DE LOS VIRREYES*** or SIMILAR.
Dinner not included.
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 4 – Villa de Leyva / Raquira / Bogota
Breakfast.
Panoramic visit of Villa de Leyva The course begins with the plaza Ricaurte, also known as Plaza San Agustín and continues to the house of Antonio Nariño, journalist, politician and military, who has played an important role in the country’s independence. The tour continues to the Plaza “Mayor”, its 14,000 m2 makes it the largest square “plaza” in Colombia.
Departure to Ráquira (around 1h drive).
First monastery of Augustinian monks Recoletos in America, it was built in 1604 on the banks of the river Gacheneca by Father Augustine Mateo Delgado in order to gather in community hermits who lived in nearby caves. The convent is now for the novitiate of the Augustinian Fathers and the achievement of spiritual retreats. The ground floor is the Museum of Antiquities and paintings of Ceballos Vasquez are exhibited in the cloister. The choir of the church is decorated with a depiction of the “Virgen de la Candelaria” painted on a cedar trunk in the early days of the founding of the monastery.
Lunch not included.
Free time to enjoy the market. Ráquira market is famous for its handicrafts. There are terra cotta pieces, baskets, clothing, hammocks, silver, etc. This is the place to shop.
Depart towards Bogota. Arrival and accommodation at the hotel LA BOHEME *** or SIMILAR. Dinner at the restaurant ANDRES D.C. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 – Bogota /Armenia
Breakfast.
Transfer to the airport to take the flight towards Armenia located in the heart of the coffee region. Arrival at “El Eden” airport of Armenia, reception by our local guide.
The Route of the coffee Culture
The Route of the Coffee Culture is a tour that allows visitors to share the experience of peasants working in coffee farms in a fun and educational way. It is also an opportunity to explore the mythical and fantastic history of coffee growing in Colombia. From culture, the visitor passes at harvest, during which he clothes like the farm workers. Coffee beans harvested are then brought to the cooperative where they are pulped and dried. The tour continues to the technique cooperative that fulfills all requirements of the National Federation of Coffee of Colombia. During the visit, the visitor will have the opportunity to sort, toast and grind the coffee, as did past generations, to enjoy an excellent cup of Colombian coffee.
Lunch not included.
Quindío Botanical Garden
Drive 4.3 miles east of Armenia to Calarcá to reach the Quindío Botanical Gardens, where visitors are treated to an amazing tour of the butterfly farm. If you have a bit of patience, one of the 1,500 butterflies from 30 native species here will probably perch on your finger. This is an ideal setting to learn all about palms, ferns, heliconias, and other native plants.
Transfer and accommodation at the hotel HACIENDA COMBIA (Coffee Farm) or SIMILAR. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 – Armenia / Salento / Cocora Valley / Armenia
Breakfast.
Visit Valley Cocora located in the Colombian Andes by Jeep Willis (4 persons per vehicle)
Travel through the Cocora Valley located in the department of Quindío; on the way you can appreciate the beautiful landscape.
Once you reach the Valley, you will receive a welcome cocktail and assistance by an expert guide from Cocora; take a walk into the cloud forest where we will appreciate the biodiversity of fauna and flora.
Lunch in a local restaurant.
Visit to Salento, city tour in the famous town of Salento, we will visit the Plaza de Bolivar to know their typical colorful balconies, the main street, craft workshops and the viewpoint of Cocora.
Return to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 – Armenia / Cartagena
Breakfast.
Transfer to El Edén Airport and assistance to take the flight to Bogotá and connection with the flight to Cartagena.
Transfer and installation at the hotel DON PEDRO DE HEREDIA*** or SIMILAR.
Lunch in a local restaurant.
Walking tour in the historic center The walk takes passengers along the colonial streets of the historic center to admire the major attractions of the old city.
Visit to the church of San Pedro Claver
The church and monastery of San Pedro Claver, formerly the Church of San Ignacio de Loyola, were built in the early 17th century by the Jesuit community. Its current name is a tribute to San Pedro Claver, a missionary who lived and died in the convent next to the church and fought for the poor. He was called the “The Black Man’s Apostle.”
Dinner not included.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 – Cartagena
Breakfast.
Visit to « Cerro de la Popa » – is the perfect place to enjoy Cartagena as a whole but also the sea, the island of “Tierrabomba”, the historic center and “Boquilla”. Cartagena City Council found necessary to make a convent on the summit of “Cerro de la Popa” for the faithful of the region who themselves participated in the cleanup of the area. Fray Alonso de la Cruz Paredes, who received the divine message ordering him to build a monastery on the closest mount to Cartagena, was appointed as the superior of the monastery.
Visit to « Castillo San Felipe » – initially called “Castillo de San Lázaro”, the largest Spanish military building of the New World. The original construction dates of 1536 and was enlarged as required until 1657. The visit of the castle leads from the Parade Ground to the residence of the Lord through the kitchens and other sites of interest. The castle was a loyal defender of the city until it fell to the hands of the Baron de Pointes.
Lunch not included.
Afternoon time at leisure to enjoy the Beach and visit local surroundings. Dinner not included. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 – Cartagena / Bogota – France
Breakfast.
Transfer to the airport and assistance to take the flight to Bogotá (flight not included)
(Flight suggested: AV9759 12h21-13h48, not included).
Lunch not included.
Assistance and connection to take the international flight.
END OF OUR SERVICES.