ESSENZE COLOMBIANE

Welcome upon arrival and transfer to the hotel. Bogotá rises at 2,600 metres on the Andean plateau, a vast and contrasting metropolis that is Colombia's political, cultural and economic heart. Its historic core is La Candelaria, a maze of cobbled streets and brightly coloured colonial houses where museums, universities and literary cafés cluster. At its centre lies Plaza de Bolívar, framed by the Catedral Primada, the Palace of Justice and the Capitolio Nacional. A short walk away stands the famed Museo del Oro, home to an extraordinary collection of pre-Columbian goldwork, and the Museo Botero, which gathers the rotund works of the great Colombian artist. Monserrate hill, reached by funicular, rewards visitors with a spectacular view over the sprawling city at the foot of the Andes. Bogotá is also dynamic and modern: the Zona G is full of fine dining, the Zona Rosa of nightlife, while on Sundays the ciclovías close the streets to traffic for cyclists and families. The cuisine ranges from ajiaco, the capital's chicken-and-potato soup, to specialities from across the country that converge here. Between altitude, art and creative energy, Bogotá reveals itself as a complex and captivating capital, the gateway to all of Colombia.
Accommodation BH Bicentenario Hotel.

Breakfast. Departure for Zipaquirá to visit the wonderful "Salt Cathedral", a magnificent work of art and engineering. The visit winds along a tunnel that traces the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross, ending at the Dome, from where you can see the Great Cross in bas-relief. You will admire the High Altar and the marble Cross known as "La Creacion del Hombre", 16 metres high. Return to Bogota. Afternoon available.
Accommodation BH Bicentenario Hotel.

Breakfast. Departure for the local market, where you will find all the traditional products and ingredients of Colombian cuisine. You can taste exotic fruit, visit the flower market and stroll among the street-food stalls for an authentic local experience. Afterwards, a walking tour with a private guide of the city's historic centre, known as La Candelaria, which brings together a wealth of old buildings, an important architectural heritage, the renowned Plaza Bolivar with the statue of Simon Bolivar the Liberator at its centre, La Capilla del Sagrario and the Capitolio, among others. The visit continues towards the Palace of Justice and the seat of the Alcaldia Mayor, or Lievano Building. Then, a visit to the Botero Museum and the "Museo del Oro", which holds some 34,000 gold objects and is considered the most important collection of its kind in the world. Free time for lunch (not included). Airport transfer. Flight to Armenia (not included). Armenia is one of the capitals of the Eje Cafetero, Colombia's coffee region declared a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape. Surrounded by rolling hills planted with coffee, banana and wax palms, the city is an ideal base for discovering a land of lush greenery and rural traditions. Nearby, visitors tour haciendas that follow the whole coffee process from harvest to cup, and the Parque Nacional del Café, a theme park devoted to coffee culture. The nearby Valle de Cocora enchants with its towering wax palms, the tallest in the world, rising through the mountain mist. Among welcoming fincas and green vistas, Armenia is the authentic face of coffee-country Colombia. I arrive and transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation Finca Hotel El Palmar.

Breakfast. Day dedicated to visiting the Cocora Valley in Los Nevados National Park, known for the richness of its ecosystem. In the morning, departure for the Cocora Valley, set among the mountains of the Quindio region; it forms part of Los Nevados National Park and is an ideal place to admire the "Quindio wax palms" (Ceroxylon quincense) - Colombia's national tree. This tree can reach a height of 60 metres. A great many bird species live in this area, including the hummingbird and the yellow-eared parrot, as well as endangered species. Arrival at the top of the valley, covered in forest, from where you can appreciate its biodiversity. On the return journey you cross the Quindio river; the ecological trail leads to the very tall wax palm trees, whose symbol is revered by the native peoples. Stop at a trout farm. In the afternoon, continue on to the traditional town of Salento. Visit to the Plaza de Bolivar with its colourful balconies, the Calle Real and craft shops. Afterwards, transfer to the traditional village of Filandia; visit the village with its typical colonial houses, the Plaza de Bolivar and the coffee shops. Time at leisure to enjoy a good coffee and/or to buy local products such as coffee and liqueurs. Typical lunch.
Accommodation Finca Hotel El Palmar.

Breakfast. In the morning, visit to the "Plantación La Morelia", the place where coffee expresses its finest aroma! The visit is accompanied by an expert who, walking through the Special Coffee plantations, will show guests the sowing and growing process, then move on to selective hand picking and finally to the roasting of the coffee beans. The visit offers the chance to admire the fabulous landscape over the plantations. Afterwards, a professional barista will give tips on preparing a good espresso, cappuccino, macchiato or mochaccino, as well as the traditional and non-traditional ways of drawing out the flavours of the world's favourite drink. The tour ends with a coffee tasting, with an explanation of the characteristics of Colombian coffee through practical sensory exercises, in particular using smell, so that you can recognise the quality and the very essence of coffee. Airport transfer. Flight to Medellin (not included). Medellín nestles in a verdant Andean valley, nicknamed the "city of eternal spring" for its mild year-round climate. Once marked by a difficult reputation, it is today a symbol of urban transformation and creativity across Latin America. Its Metro and Metrocable cable-car system, linking the hillside districts, has revolutionised mobility and social inclusion: riding up to Comuna 13 reveals a neighbourhood reborn through murals, outdoor escalators and a vibrant art scene. Downtown, Plaza Botero displays the monumental sculptures of master Fernando Botero in the open air, beside the Museo de Antioquia. El Poblado is the hub of restaurants, bars and nightlife, while the Jardín Botánico and Parque Arví offer green breathing space. Medellín is also an ideal base for excursions nearby, from the colourful towns of Antioquia to coffee farms. With its unstoppable energy and the warmth of its paisa people, the city tells one of the continent's most remarkable stories of renewal. I arrive and transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation Poblado Alejandria.

Breakfast. Departure for the town of Guatapé, known for an impressive monolith set in the middle of a man-made archipelago created by the Colombian government in the 1970s, where a hydroelectric power station operates. This is the Rock of El Peñol which, given its size, is believed to be a meteorite. There is the option of climbing it on foot up a staircase of 654 steps. The summit of the Peñon stands at approximately 2,135 metres above sea level and offers a spectacular view! Alternatively, a panoramic visit of the Guatapé reserve. Afterwards, an exploratory stroll through the picturesque little town of Guatapé, where you can admire the famous houses painted in pastel colours. Boat excursion on the Guatapé dam (30 minutes) before returning to Medellín. Lunch during the visit. Return to Medellin.
Accommodation Poblado Alejandria.

Breakfast. Morning dedicated to a visit of the city of Medellín. You will visit the most important sites of the social transformation that has taken place in this city. It was considered one of the most dangerous in the world until the 1990s, when it was in the hands of Pablo Escobar, head of the Colombian drug-trafficking cartel. Since the drug lord left the scene, Medellín has been at the centre of a great renewal thanks to major projects that have fostered social transformation for the benefit of its citizens. During the visit you will come across 23 Botero sculptures in a small square, and you can admire a splendid panorama by riding the escalators of the Comuna 13 district. It is a moving journey through past and present, offering a deeper understanding of the transformation of this fascinating metropolis. Free time for lunch (not included). Airport transfer. Flight to Cartagena de Indias (not included). Cartagena de Indias unfolds along Colombia's Caribbean coast as one of Latin America's best-preserved colonial cities, a fortified port that for centuries guarded Spain's New World treasures. Its heart is the Ciudad Amurallada, a walled old town enclosed by mighty limestone ramparts now strolled at sunset, when the sky glows orange over the Caribbean Sea. Within the Centro Histórico, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, pastel mansions with timber balconies spill over with bougainvillea, shady squares such as Plaza Santo Domingo and Plaza de los Coches invite a pause, and stern colonial churches line the streets. The Getsemaní district, once working-class and now the city's creative soul, throbs with murals, salsa bars and courtyards alive late into the night. The skyline is dominated by Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, the largest Spanish fortress in the Americas, while La Popa hill offers sweeping views over bay and islands. Cartagena is also a gateway to beaches, from the high-rise strand of Bocagrande to the crystalline waters of the Islas del Rosario, reached by boat for days of sea and snorkelling. The cuisine blends Caribbean and African flavours, from coconut seafood to the arepas de huevo sold on street corners. With its music, warmth and timeless architecture, Cartagena remains one of the continent's most seductive destinations. I arrive and transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation Casa Villa Colonial B&B.

Breakfast. City tour with a stop at the Castle of San Felipe de Barajas. It continues with a walking visit of the walled city, starting from Parque Bolívar, surrounded by large trees, four fountains and the statue of the Liberator at its centre. Around the park's square stands the Palace of the Inquisition, recognisable by its baroque-style doorway at the entrance. The court's hearings were held in the palace, which also housed the prison and the torture chambers for those suspected of opposing the Catholic Church. The visit continues with the Church of Santo Domingo and ends at the Walls and Fortifications of Cartagena. Afternoon available.
Accommodation Casa Villa Colonial B&B.

Breakfast. Free day.
Accommodation Casa Villa Colonial B&B.

Breakfast. Airport transfer.