Colombia: Andean Vistas to Guatapé & the Caribbean

From soaring Andean peaks and the vibrant capital of Bogotá to the unspoiled Caribbean coast, Colombia’s beating heart pushes you to step out of your comfort zone. As you make your way to the city centre, scan the streets lined with colourful buildings awash with eye-catching art, and absorb the unique mix of history and modernity here. We welcome you to Colombia, and we invite you to open yourself up to curiosity as you traverse this country’s diverse lands filled with natural beauty and friendly people.

Arrive to Bogotá at any time and transfer to your hotel. Meet your fellow group members at the welcome meeting in the evening and get all the important information about the adventure ahead. Afterwards, head to a nearby restaurant for a delicious welcome dinner with new friends.

TRANSPORT: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

ACTIVITY: EVENING Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

The clouds that typically engulf Colombia’s mountainous Caldas province offer wet conditions and cold nights that have proven to be the perfect climate for coffee plants to thrive. Search for hints of distinctive flavours as you sip various kinds of beans and roasts. You’ll be able to walk off that coffee buzz on a tour of the historic centre of the city, featuring splendid views and a mix of old and new along its streets.

Set off to explore Bogotá today with a local expert and, later, on your own. The morning begins with a coffee tasting demonstration featuring authentic Colombian brew, followed by a walking tour of the charming La Candelaria neighborhood—a must-see for any culture or history lover. Enjoy a delicious lunch at a lively local restaurant before taking a free afternoon to visit museums or take a cable car ride up Monserrate Hill.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle from your hotel in Bogotá to your included coffee experience.

ACTIVITY: Begin your coffee immersion experience with a visit to a nearby speciality coffee shop. Here we embark on a sensory exercise with a local expert to understand the cultivation, selection, and production of these sought after beans. This hands-on experience allows you to learn why Colombian coffee is considered some of the best in the world, and better understand the role it plays in the culture of the region. Your exposure to this fascinating world of high-end coffee will conclude with a tasting of alternative brewing methods.

ACTIVITY: Discover the heart of Bogotá in the charming La Candelaria neighbourhood. Wander through Carrera Séptima, Plaza de Bolívar, Coliseo Street, Chorro de Quevedo, and La Concordia Market Square. From cobblestone streets to well-preserved colonial buildings you'll be able to see the sites with your own eyes, and listen to fascinating tales about the town's origin, legends, and other key historical moments. This area is a must-visit for any culture and history lover, offering a laid-back way to take in Bogota's cultural gems.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON After lunch, the afternoon is yours to do as you wish. Choose between museum visits and individual exploration of this lively Colombian capital city!

Shrouded in myth, legend and a troubled history, Medellín has moved beyond its negative stereotypes to become a hub of innovation and the arts, with a very lively food and nightlife scene. You'll discover the modern and efficient public transport system for yourself as you climb aboard a cable car up to the top of the valley for a hike through pine and eucalyptus forests offering incredible views.

Fly to Medellín and transfer to the Acevedo metro station for a cable car ride up to Parque Arví—an ecological nature preserve and archaeological site on the eastern slopes of Aburrá Valley. Spend time hiking along the trails to various viewpoints of the city below. Sit down for lunch at a typical restaurant within the park before taking the cable car back down to Medellín. Transfer to your hotel in the city.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle between the airport and Acevedo Station in Medellín. From there it will then be a 30 minute ride on the metro cable car to Parque Arví.

ACTIVITY: Parque Arví is in the village of Santa Elena just 30 minutes from Medellin. Here, there is an ecotourism reserve that has plenty of trails for walking, offering viewpoints of the city and valley. After some time exploring with your CEO, the group will have lunch at a local restaurant that's part of the reserve. The park is typically accessed via a metro cable car. Weather permitting, the group will take a cable car ride to and from Parque Arví.

TRANSPORT: After taking the cable car metro ride back to Acevedo Station, the group will settle into their private vehicle and transfer to the hotel.

FREE TIME: EVENING Spend an evening at your leisure and opt to find a local spot for dinner in this vibrant city.

Colombia consistently produces world-class professional cycling athletes and you may well see them riding the hills of Medellín over your time here. A great way to discover any city, you'll mount an e-bike and pedal past tree-lined parks and vibrant neighbourhoods, stopping at some of the highlights and hidden gems along the way. Embark on a culinary journey as you dive into a traditional lunch that celebrates the variety and history of paisa cuisine, then discover another neighborhood of Medellín that showcases its innovation, art and city planning.

Begin the morning with an e-bike tour of downtown Medellín led by a local guide to uncover history, art, and legends. Sample Paisa cuisine during an included lunch at a speciality restaurant focusing on preserving long standing culinary traditions. Later, visit the Comuna 13 neighbourhood on a private tour before a free evening at your leisure.

ACTIVITY: Hop on an e-bike and pedal around Medellín with access to hidden back roads, colourful neighbourhoods, quiet parks, and local knowledge about the best routes through the city. Make stops along the way to take photos and try some delicious local treats and excellent coffee. You'll be exploring the city as locals do while uncovering Medellín's history, legends, and art.

ACTIVITY: Sit down for lunch at Hacienda Origen. This is a paisa cuisine speciality restaurant focused on preserving the traditions of the local community by offering Colombian staple dishes like Bandeja paisa, Patacones, and much more. They celebrate their cultural identity and source products directly from local farmers and are committed to using eco-friendly materials in their packaging.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle when transferring to Comuna 13 for your private tour, and back to the hotel afterwards.

ACTIVITY: Visit a neighbourhood in Medellín formally plagued by violence and various injustices, that has since then undergone an impressive reformation. Walk the streets and enjoy an opportunity to learn from local guides, visit small shops, and purchase unique handicrafts. Capture some photos of the colourful buildings clinging to the hillsides, and appreciate the area's urban art and outdoor escalators leading up to the steep 28-story buildings.

Los Saltos Ecoparque is in Colombia’s largest area of waterfalls and features one of the highest in the country. Your adventure begins here with a hike to the base of those very falls where you can then choose between two great adventure activities within the park: flying on a zipline in one of the highest canopies in the world, or climbing a cliff face next to a waterfall in Via Ferrata. With flowing rivers, native forests, and traditional crops like avocado and banana, this eco-park is a great place to connect with nature and immerse yourself in the beauty and biodiversity of the country.

Travel by private vehicle to Los Saltos Ecoparque and start your day of adventure with a moderate hike to El Salto del Buey waterfall. Then, choose between two adrenaline-inducing guided activities within the park. Both options include a delicious lunch with a view. Continue on to your lakeside accommodations in Guatapé. The remainder of the day will be at your leisure.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Traverse both primary and secondary forests while hiking in Salto del Buey ecopark. The trail will take the group to the Buey River waterfall and is considered a moderate route. The total distance covered will be about 2 km (1.24 miles).

ACTIVITY: Option 1: a canopy cable flight tour offering amazing views of the forest below. Experience the longest in the country at 330m high and 1350m long. There will be two flights along the cables connecting through the canopy. Look for waterfalls, canyons, and wildlife as you soar above and a specialized team guides you along.

Option 2: a Via Ferrata experience with a unique view of Salto del Buey. Make the ascent up the series of iron rungs and ladders next to the waterfall and finish at the top with an adrenaline inducing view plunging down to the water below.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle en route to your OMG stay in Guatapé.

Located in the northwest part of the country, Guatapé boasts houses painted in every colour adorned with paintings of plants and animals. Sitting on the shores of the man-made lake and reservoir, Guatapé is also close to the climbable granite stone known as El Peñol Rock. You’ll climb to the top along the brick staircase rising up through a fissure in the side of the stone, and be rewarded with magnificent views of the green mountains in the distance and the fingers of the blue lake.

Climb El Peñol rock for impressive views of Guatapé. Follow this up with a walking tour around town with your CEO. Be on the lookout for colourful frescoes along the way, and choose from a variety of great local restaurants for lunch. Transfer back to your OMG Stay property to spend the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel, or choose from some of the optional activities available like a boat trip on the lake.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle as you travel from your OMG stay to El Peñol Rock, and then back to Guatapé for a free afternoon.

ACTIVITY: Climb to the top for breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. El Peñol Rock is 198m tall and while it seems intimidating from the bottom, it's rated as a relatively easy hike and shouldn't take more than an hour. Your legs will get quite the workout on the 740 stone steps to the top. Along the way there are several platforms offering exceptional views of the lake below and providing good stopping points to take a rest. The top offers 360-degree views that will leave you breathless.

ACTIVITY: This colourful pueblo outside of Medellín is famous for its surrounding turquoise lake and beautiful scenery. Discover Guatapé's vibrant charm as you explore the streets adorned with brilliantly painted frescoes (locally known as Zócalos), each telling a unique story. This place is also packed with loads of restaurants and street food to choose from, like arepas and fresh cheeses.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Enjoy a free afternoon to spend at your leisure. Perhaps, opt to head out for a boat excursion or kayaking on the lake.

Imagine coconut palms swaying in a gentle breeze as their trunks stretch out over white sands next to teal waters—a colour too bright to even seem real—and you will soon be there. Your next destination is Barú, a peninsula not far from Cartagena and famous for its relaxing, tropical atmosphere. Dotted along the northern coast are the coral archipelagos of Rosario and San Bernardo, known for their crystal clear waters and abundant schools of fish.

Travel back from Guatapé to Medllín and board a flight to Cartagena. Upon arrival, the group will transfer to Barú, an island paradise along the Caribbean Sea. Enjoy lunch at the hotel with views of the inviting white sand and aquamarine water, then set off on an orientation beach walk with your CEO before a free afternoon in paradise to relax, or take part in some optional water activities.

TRANSPORT: MORNING Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle on the way from your OMG Stay to the airport in Medellín.

TRANSPORT: MORNING Fly from Medellín to Cartagena this morning before transferring to Barú.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle en route to the peninsula of Barú from Cartagena.

ACTIVITY: Upon arrival to Barú, lunch will be had at the hotel restaurant. Then, enjoy an orientation beach walk with your CEO to become acquainted with this slice of paradise. The peninsula is often called an island, but it is bounded by the bay of Cartagena, the Dique Canal, and the Caribbean Sea. Famous for its white & pink sands, as well as the crystalline water, this is the perfect place to sit back and relax. Don't miss Puntilla Beach, where you can soak up the sun, soft waves, and warm tropical climate.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Take advantage of free time this afternoon to relax and settle in to the paradise that is Barú. Opt to swim, snorkel with colourful fish, or simply lounge in the sun.

The magic continues farther out at sea as you experience this idyllic area up close on a private boat trip to the Rosario Islands. Bask in the sun and visit this stretch of 27 isles with no roads and barely any people. Experience the rhythms of island life while you swim and snorkel in the warm, tropical waters in search of colourful fish and other underwater life.

Get out on the water with a private boat trip off the coast of Barú. Visit the Rosario Islands for snorkelling and swimming in paradise. Enjoy a free afternoon and evening at your leisure, with lunch and dinner included at the hotel.

ACTIVITY: Board your private boat and get out on the water for a half-day snorkelling excursion off of Barú. Travel to the nearby Rosario Islands and submerge yourself underwater to get up close to the native wildlife, and enjoy the stunning views of the landscape as you bob gently along in the Caribbean Sea.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON The afternoon belongs completely to you. Think walks along the shoreline, sitting at a local spot with a cold drink, or more swimming in paradise. Lunch and dinner will be served at the hotel.

Leave Barú behind but keep the Caribbean close as you head to Colombia's coastal hub—Cartagena. You'll wander the historic walled city's cobblestone streets with brightly-painted colonial mansions and 16th century squares that served as inspiration for so many of Gabriel García Marquez's celebrated books.

Travel to Cartagena and set off on a CEO-led orientation walk in order to get your bearings before enjoying the rest of the day to discover the city. Regroup in the evening for a farewell dinner together and celebrate this incredible Colombian adventure.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Your CEO will lead the group on an orientation walk of Cartagena's historical centre upon arrival from Barú. During this walk you will get your bearings of the walled city's many churches, plazas and historic landmarks before you set off to discover it on your own. Wander the picturesque cobblestone streets lined with colonial buildings and colourful flowers spilling over the rooftops before meeting up in the evening with the group.

Today your adventure comes to an end, but the memories made during your time in Colombia are sure to live on.

Depart at any time.

ACTIVITY: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.