Style
Luxury Travel Idea
Destinations
Bogota, Zipaquira, Villa de Leyva, Barichara, Socorro, Cañón del Chicamocha, Bucaramanga, Tayrona Natural Park, Santa Cruz de Mompox, San Basilio de Palenque y Cartagena De Indias
Duration
15 Days / 14 Nights
HERITAGE TOWNS
Arriving in Bogotá, the vibrant Colombian capital home to more than 7 million people, financial and political center of the country, you’ll see excellent museums and cultural events, graceful churches, and thriving nightlife. You’ll visit the historical neighborhood of La Candelaria, ride to Monserrate Sanctuary, and visit the colorful Paloquemao market to enjoy the traditional cuisine.
In Zipaquirá you will see the marvelous underground Salt Cathedral, then head to Villa De Leyva, a truly colonial town that has been preserved in its entirety. Activities to choose from here include local vineyards, a Dominican Monastery or the Muisca Indian observatory. You’ll also visit the town of Raquira, with its brightly painted facades and beautiful Pottery workshops.
From there you’ll head North to the Department of Santander, and visit the picturesque bohemian town of Barichara with some of the most well-preserved colonial architecture. This will be your base to see other magical towns of San Gil, Socorro, and Girón, that play an important part in Colombia’s history.
You’ll visit the magnificent Chicamocha Canyon, a must see landscape of arid mountains high-above the river. You’ll have a once-in-a-lifetime experience flying over the canyon by helicopter while marveling at its stunning beauty. You will visit the village of Guane, its paleontological museum, and its camino real. Then continue your adventure with a coffee tour on a traditional Hacienda.
For a change of scenery, you’ll fly to Tayrona Natural National Park, a fantastic slice of Colombia’s Caribbean Coast that combines endless golden sandy beaches and thick rainforest. As a backdrop, you will find the world’s highest coastal mountain range, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Absorb all these wonders of nature while resting in the comfort of your Bungalow, then visit the indigenous community of the Kogui, and discover their traditions and rich culture, being one of the purest pre-colombian groups never conquered by the Spaniards.
Next you’ll travel to Santa Cruz de Mompox, a fascinating port onthe River Magdalena, which gives life to the term “Magical Realism”, first described by Gabriel García Marquez in his novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude” – a Nobel Prize Literature Winner. Step back in time and enjoy the atmosphere of this magical town while discovering the legends that makes this place special. This visit will be complemented with a trip to Aracataca, birthplace of the writer.
You will stop in the Village of San Basilio de Palenque, the first “free town” of the Americas in the times of slavery, before arriving to Cartagena de Indias. Here you will find the crown jewel of Colombia and UNESCO World Heritage Site, called by the locals “La Fantástica” with its history, legends, magic, and vibrant nightlife. You will say farewell to Colombia with a Rum and Salsa tour.
If you like to explore even more of this country´s treasures, why not extend your trip with a visit to the Idyllic Rosary Islands with it crystal clear waters and the authentic Caribbean flavor to add to your memories of this Magical Colombia!
