Day 1
Arrival at Bogota airport, transfer to hotel
Day 2
Private full-day sightseeing tour of the historical part of Bogota. After breakfast, we will walk around the historical center of the city. This is a charming colonial area known as La Candelaria. Here you will visit the world-famous gold museum, the Plaza Bolivar, take the funicular to the Monserrate Sanctuary, at an altitude of 3152 m, overlooking the city. You can also quickly visit the museum of the famous Colombian artist Botero. Duration 6-7 hours.
Included meals: breakfast
Day 3
Meeting at the hotel, transfer to the airport. Today we have a short (1 hour) flight to the city of Pereira, located in the heart of the Coffee area. From here we start the so-called Los Nevados trek. Upon our arrival, a transport will be ready to take the group to the beginning of the trail. But before that, we will have a short stop in the city to buy snacks and any last minute things, that participants may need. The journey then takes about 2 hours along the banks of the Autun River, passing the rural areas of "La Florida" and "La Suiza" to the start of the trail known as "El Cedral" (2105 m). From this point on, the group will follow a very beautiful trail with a moderate ascent rate for 2.5 - 3 hours to the refuge "La Pastora" (2460 m), located in the cloudy rain forest, where you can spend the night.
Night in a tent.
Ascent: 355 m / Maximum height: 2460 m / Distance: 5.9 km / Duration: 2.5-3 hours
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 4
After breakfast at “La Pastora”, we leave along the same path as the day before, but this time over steeper terrain. The road to a very famous farm called "El Jordan" will take about 2.5 hours. It is located in an idyllic location between volcanic hills covered with dense vegetation and adorned with waterfalls of crystal clear water. At this point, the vegetation begins to change to paramo and the forest begins to open up. The last section is quite steep, along a long path to the ridge of the El Agrado valley, which will lead to the next farm "Berlin" (3848 m). This is one of the most beautiful places in the park and a rarely visited area.
Night in a tent.
Ascent: 1388 m / Maximum height: 3848 m / Distance: 10.9 km / Duration: 4 hours
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 5
Today's hike begins with the ascent of our trail through the "El Agrado" valley along the river that passes through the "La Amargura" pass (4220 m), the border between the states of Risaralda and Quindio. For more active participants, there is the option to make a longer hike by climbing Pico Chispas (4378 m) and then walking the trail again. After the pass of La Amargura, a rather steep descent will take you to the valley of Quebrada Cardenas, where the river Quindio flows towards the valley of Cocora. After crossing the river (3804 m) we go to the mountain pass known as "La Linea" (4019 m) which separates the states of Quindio and Tolima. Here is an excellent observation deck in the direction of "Paramillo del Quindio" (4745 m), the highest peak of the state of Quindio and Nevado del Tolima in the neighboring valley. From the pass, you can easily walk down to “La Primavera/La Playa” (3769 m), another modest place where you will be served hot local drink “agua de panela” (hot drink with raw sugar) or coffee.
Night in tents.
Ascent to Angustía: 372 and ascent to La Linea: 215 / Descent to Quindio river: 416 m and descent to La Primavera/La Playa: 250 m / Maximum altitude: 4220 m / Distance: 12 km / Duration of the activity: 5-6 hours
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 6
Today is our last day in the mountains! After breakfast, we climb back to the La Linea pass (4019 m) and descend to the Quindio River (3804 m). Then a short climb to the abandoned farm "Buenos Aires". In about an hour, “La Argentina” farm will come into view. Descending through beautiful scenery and rainforest, making a semi-circular climb ending with a trail in the famous Kokora valley, an impressive valley located at an altitude of 2425 meters,
adorned with the national tree of Colombia: Wax palm. Once in the Cocora valley, the group will be picked up and driven to the beautiful city of Salento in traditional Willies jeeps (25 min.), which are a symbol of the coffee culture of the coffee zone. Upon arrival in Salento (1919 m), the group will be transferred to a hotel located in the colonial part of the city. It will be a good time to enjoy the city and drink some of the best Colombian coffee!
Overnight at the hotel.
Ascent: 250 m / Descent: 1594 m / Maximum altitude: 4019 m / Distance 16.5 km / Duration of activity: 6-8 hours
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7
After a well-deserved rest and a carefree morning, the group will have a coffee tour at one of the area's traditional coffee farms. The coffee tour shows the entire coffee production process from seed to final product. It also includes a very instructive coffee tasting to learn about the different types and qualities of local coffee. Lunch will be in one of the typical Salento restaurants and then you will have free time to enjoy this peaceful town and the wide range of handicrafts and local products. For the active traveller, there are many additional tour options such as the “La Kasa” botanical tour led by fauna and flora experts, horse riding trails, mountain biking trails and many more.
Overnight at the hotel.
Included meals: breakfast
Day 8
After breakfast, transfer (1 hour) to the airport of Armenia. Today we have another flight to Riohacha (3 hours) with a landing in the city of Bogota. We are flying with you to the northernmost point of the South American continent. From the airport, transfer to the hotel, and in the afternoon a pleasant walk along the promenade in Riohacha, where there will be many Wayu Indians practicing their crafts and admiring the sunset of the Caribbean Sea.
Included meals: breakfast
Day 9
Punta Gallinas is the northernmost point in South America. With a name that has a lot to do with the place (Chicken Point), this is definitely one of the most unique places in the country. Situated at the highest point of Colombia and the South American continent, Punta Gallinas offers some of the most amazing beaches on the Caribbean coast. Punta Gallinas, originally a lighthouse, now in ruins, is located 3-4 hours from Riohacha. To get there, first along the good road "Cuatro Caminos", to the intersection of 4 roads in the middle of nowhere, and then north along the main road passing in the distance of Uribia, the capital of the Wayuu, as well as the named capital of the indigenous peoples of Colombia.
After about 1,5 hours drive, the tour goes into the Colombian “outback” driving over a desert with only 4-wheel drive’s tracks to the followed. The landscapes get wilder and, the indigenous families living out there, have a hard daily life. During the roadtrip two bays will be passed: the Bahia Ondita y Bahia Onda, with amazing landscapes, open skies and colorful sand beaches. After 2 hours drive in this remote land, the sand dunes of Taroa will be reached. This is the highlight of this area, a place just our of a story, nothing to relate Colombia a tropical country with. The yellow sands falling down the hill into the roaring sea. Sunset here is a must and an experience of a life time. Punta Gallinas, where the ruins are, has a nice beach with an incredible turquoise sea and the view into an endless ocean! By the way….you are not very likely to be surrounded by many people, if any at all! The night will be spend in a local home-stay build and run by the local Wayuus, also part of the trip’s experience.
Night in rustic lodge
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 10
Today we will have a morning visit! We will enjoy the beautiful beach of "Punta Aguia". There is also an optional boat ride to Hondita Bay to see the pink flamingos (this tour is not included but can be booked the night before). After lunch, departure from Punta Gallina crossing once again La Alta Guajira’s deserts, until the Cerrejon Railroad (Cerrejon is the biggest open sky coal mine in the country), from where the road to Cabo la Vela starts. The last section, is more inhabited that the desert up North, and here lies one of the only windmill parks in the country. A 2-3 hours desert road trip from Punta Gallinas is what it takes to get down to El Cabo de la Vela, located on the Wester coast of the Guajira peninsula, South from Punta Gallinas. It has a some best beaches, very little visited, only crowded during the Colombian holidays. Otherwise, an idyllic spot to relax and enjoy the nature. The place is great to get lost in the many bays, desert trails and also exploring the local cuisine and traditions. The place is inhabited by the Wayuu indigenous group and it is possible to sea the traditional fishermen work, bringing the sea harvest a shore in the early mornings. El Cabo is also very popular for those into kite surfing, its permanent wind currents make it ideal for this sport. For those interested, it is possible to take a short course or rent the gear (not included). Again taking a walk up to “El Cabo” lighthouse to enjoy the sunset, it is a must.
Night in rustic lodge.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11
Today we have a transfer to Tayrona National Park. After breakfast, a short drive to the beautiful and famous beaches "Pilon de Azucar" or "Ojo del Agua". There will be time to enjoy the water and landscapes, before starting the trip back down to Riohacha after a nice local lunch. The road trip follows the desert, if dry, over a salt flat and then close to the railroad until cuatro Caminos, from there a short 1,5-2 hours to Riohacha and then ” La troncal del Caribe” highway will cross the Souther Guajira and down to Magdalena State. The Tayrona National Park lies about 2 hour from the state border, where the lodge is located. Afternoon free to enjoy the lodge.
Night at lodge.
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic
Day 12
Today we have a whole day to visit Tayrone Natural Park. We will have an early breakfast and leave the lodge for the start of the hiking trail. To get to this point, you can walk for about 1 hour (3 km) or take one of the public buses that run between the entrance to the park and the start of the trail. From here you can take a 1-hour easy walk to the Arrecife area, an iconic place in the park. We will walk along a well-marked trail that starts in the rainforest and ends at characteristic Caribbean beaches. We will visit an area with some of the most beautiful beaches of the Colombian Caribbean coast in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the highest coastal mountain range in the world.
Lunch can be spent at a local establishment where traditional fish is prepared. After that, you will have time to take a dip in the warm sea before returning to the start of the trail and then choosing one of two options to return to the lodge.
Overnight at the lodge.
Included meals: breakfast
Day 13
Today we have a transfer and trekking towards the Lost City. After breakfast, transfer in 4WD vehicles heading northeast along the Caribbean coast. After 1-1.5 hours we leave on the paved road and here the adventure begins!
After about a 1-hour drive on a dirt road, through a beautiful landscape, the village of “El Mamey” (150 m) also called “Machete Pelado” appears. Lunch will be served upon arrival and then the hike to “Ciudad Perdida” starts. This day’s hike is exposed to the sun or the rain, therefore it is important to have a good amount of water and suncream!. Tropical fruit will be offered along the trek. The group will take the river trail, which is a more pleasent walk than the main road. This trail follows “Quebrada del Alto Mamey” river valley for about 1 hour and then ascends steeply (1,5 h) to “El Mirador” pass (640 m) that has a great view down to the Mamey town and the Buritaca River. From this point, a constant descent (1,5 h) to the “Quebrada Honduras” river, where the “Donde Adan”s lodge is located. It is possible to take a swim in a beautiful natural river pool at the lodge.
Dinner will be served in this rustic lodge.
Night in hammocks.
Ascent: 490 m / Descend: 160 m / Highest altitude: 640 m / Distance: 8,9 Km / Activity duration: 4 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 14
Today we have the longest day in the program. After an early breakfast, the ascent begins right away taking a well marked trail that gently gains altitude up to “Mumake” pass (680 m). Before the pass, there is the invisible border between “Colonos” lands (Peasants not originally from the area) and the “Kogi’s” Indigenous territory. From now on, the trek will be done in an area protected and ruled by this tribe. There are also “Wiwa’s” Indians, original from another sector of the Sierra, had settled in these valleys and now are running some of the lodges. It is also noticeably the change from extensive farmland into a better-preserved and much less exploded area. From the mountain pass, there is a relative quick descent to the “Buritaca” river valley (430 m), where the only Kogi settlement on the trek is placed. This settlement is called: “Montangi” and is a perfect spot to get an glimpse into the local life style and traditions. In about 1 hour we will have a river crossing on a suspension bridge, leads to a second ascent (2 h) up to “Koskunguena” pass (824 m) and then back down to the “Buritaca” river (743 m) for a last crossing. The last part of the day is an almost flat area up to “El Paraiso” rustic lodge (870 m), the place for the night. This lodge is just by the shores of the “Buritaca” river, a fantastic place to relax and swim.
Night in hammocks.
To Mumake pass: Ascent: 200 m / Descend: 250 m / Highest altitude: 680 m
To Koskunguena pass: Ascent: 394 m / Descend to Buritaca River: 77 m / Ascent to “El Paraiso” Lodge: 127 m / Highest altitude: 824 m / Distance: 13.6 Km / Activity duration: 7-8 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 15
Today is a very early departure. The trail on the right margin of the Buritaca river for about 25 min. up to a crossing, once on the other margin, the archaeological stairway begins ascending rather steeply all the way to the first terraces of the Lost City (1175 m). From here begins a journey through time, to one of the most interesting archaeological sites of Colombia’s pre-Hispanic period. The Lost City of the Tayrona is worldwide known. Its original Indigenous name is “Teyuna” and is one of the three large citadels of vanished Tayrona civilization. Teyuna is the only city that has been discovered until now and thus partially restored. Tayrona’s cities were connected by a complex network of trails, from the Caribbean coastal area to the high mountain in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The Tayrona had a well-developed social organization and an effective system of products and goods exchange between the different settlements. Although there is no precise information of the role of Teyuna in the Tayrona culture, it is believed that it was a place for religious worship and center of political power. During the course of 4 hours visit to the archaeological complex, the group will learn about the different types of terraces and how the city was divided into areas according to hierarchy and types of work. During the visit, it is possible to see the home of a Kogi Mamo (shaman-wise person) who lives in the same traditional way, as it is thought the inhabitants did. It is also believed that the Kogis are descendants from the Tayronas, pushed to the higher lands during the Spanish conquest. After the visit, hike down to “El Paraiso” lodge to have some lunch and then continue (4,5 h), back on the same trail as the day before, but this time a bit further out, crossing the hanging bridge and down the Buritaca river valley, passing once again the “Montangi” Kogi settlement to “Mumake” lodge (389 m), just at the foot of the “Mumake” pass.
Night in hammocks.
To Lost City: Ascent: 305 m / Descend: 305 m / Highest altitude: 1175 m / Distance one-way: 1,9 Km / Activity duration: 5 including a 3 hours visit.
Ascent to Koskunguena pass: 77 m / Descend to “Mumake” lodge: 481 m / Highest altitude: 870 m / Distance one-way: 7,5 Km / Activity duration: 4 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 16
Today is our last day of hiking! From “Mumake” lodge (389 m), the ascent being right from the front step, leading up to “Mumake” pass (680 m) and after descending to “Quebrada Honduras” river to ascent (1,5 h) to the last pass: “EL Mirador” (640 m) and then to the final destination “El Mamey” town (150 m). Upon arrival there will be lunch and then a transfer to hotel in Santa Marta (2-2,5 h).
Night in hotel.
Ascent to Mumake pass: 291 m / Descend to “Donde Adan” lodge: 200 m / Ascent to El Mirador pass: 160 m / Descend: 490 m / Highest altitude: 680 m / Distance: 14,2 Km / Activity duration: 4-5 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic
Day 17
Morning transfer (5-6 h) to Cartagena, by the Caribbean Highway (Troncal del Caribe), passing by the city of Barranquilla and the impressing Salamanca National Park. Upon arrival in Cartagena, transfer to a hotel located in side the historical city. In the late afternoon or early evening, enjoy a city walk in the old town of Cartagena with private guide. During this walk you will get familiar with the architecture and the history of the old town and you will visit the main squares and buildings. There will be plenty of photo opportunities and you will also appreciate the beautiful evening illumination of this romantic city.
Night in hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 18
In the morning, you will continue to explore historic Cartagena by visiting the San Felipe Fortress, the most technically advanced military building during Spanish colonial times, as well as the old “Popa” Monastery where you will have a wonderful view of the city. Between these two places, visit the popular marketplace of Bazurto, where fruits, vegetables and fish are traded by the locals, most of them descendants of the slaves of the colonial times. Cartagena is perhaps Colombia’s most beautiful and interesting town. It was founded in 1533 and during the colonial period, was the main Spanish port on the Caribbean coast and primary gateway to South America to receive slaves and to send treasures to Europe. In the evening there will be free time for shopping, and perhaps to enjoy a drink on the old fortress walls, overlooking the sunset on the Caribbean.
Activity duration: City tour – 4 h
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 19
After breakfast transfer from Cartagena to Bogota airport for international flight.
Included meals: breakfast