Colombia Cultural Tour

Transfer from Bogotá airport to the hotel.

Take a walk to get to know the contrast between the modern and historical part of the city of Bogotá. Walk through the passages of the Paloquemao market, full of merchants offering fresh products from the countryside that gives this region, taste a delicious fruit juice that calls your attention and be impressed with the colors of the outdoor flower market. Walk through the mythical district of La Candelaria, decorated with its colorful colonial houses, located in the old center of the city, in its main square or Plaza de Bolívar.

There you will find the government district, the Primate Cathedral of Colombia, the Palace of Justice, the Parliament and the Mayor’s Office, an important place for its historical events. Visit the famous museum of the Colombian artist Fernando Botero, where you will find from his sculptures in different materials, to the paintings that have made him a recognized artist, additional know an exceptional collection of contemporary art, with artists like Monet, Picasso, among others. Walk through the halls of the Gold Museum, to see a unique collection of pre-Columbian gold jewelry, made by the indigenous communities that inhabited Colombia. If the weather is good, a short cable car ride will take you to the hill of Monserrate. From the top, you will be amazed by the impressive size of the city, which is home to more than eight million inhabitants.

Transfer from the hotel to Bogotá airport. Flight from Bogotá to Popayán. Transfer from Popayán airport to the hotel. Popayán, known as the White City of Colombia, is a unique cultural and architectural experience. Famous for its colonial buildings, its rich history and its importance as a religious and cultural center, this tour allows you to see the main attractions of the city and enjoy its peaceful and friendly atmosphere.

You will start the walking tour at the agreed time and visit the Clock Tower, Pueblito Patojo, the Ermita, Puente del Humilladero, Caldas Park and other emblematic places of this city. During the tour you will be able to taste typical products. The estimated time of the tour is 4 hours.

In this cultural exchange tour you will leave from Popayan to visit the town of Silvia and the native reservation of the Mizak ethnic group. You will share their culture in native houses of traditional musicians, artisans and later you will taste typical foods with a family from the community. With this deep exchange with the ancestral spirituality that is still preserved in the Mizak community, you will be imbued with their wisdom in this temple of culture.

Your route continues from Popayán through the Andes mountain range to San Agustín. If the weather allows, you can see the active Puracé volcano in the distance. The winding road takes you through the typical landscape of the páramo (moor) in one of the most water-rich regions of Colombia. This is where four of the country’s largest rivers originate. You make a few stops to enjoy the view and the vegetation. You will especially discover the famous frailejones, plants that can only be found on the heights of Ecuador and Colombia.

Today your tour is a trip back in time, visiting the San Agustín Archaeological Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Accompanied by your guide you will know the most important and the largest collection of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures in Colombia, also in South America. This site, which was only discovered in the 17th century, is still a mystery to archaeologists today due to the mountainous terrain and lack of written records. Admire the highlights of this archaeological collection, such as the “Ceremonial Well” and the fascinating “Forest of Statues”.

Transfer from the hotel in San Agustín to Pitalito airport. Flight from Pitalito to Bogotá. Transfer from Bogotá airport to the hotel.

It’s time to leave the capital to go to the old colonial city of Zipaquirá. You visit its impressive underground church, entirely carved in salt stone, and know more about the history of the salt of the region from the indigenous time until today. Then continue on the main road towards Guatavita lake, This is an opportunity to learn more about El Dorado: a ceremony in which a man covered himself with gold, throwing emeralds and gold objects into the lake.

The typical flora of the region, and especially the famous frailejones, a very important tree for the water reserves of the region. Arrival in the late afternoon at Villa de Leyva, the former summer residence of the bishops of Tunja. Take a leisurely stroll through the cobbled streets and head towards the Plaza Mayor to end the day with a delicious meal.

Explore the surroundings of Villa de Leyva on a beautiful walk in the surrounding hills (2 hours, easy level). The view of the old colonial town is magnificent. During the tour you will be able to visit different historical attractions, starting with a visit to the Santo Ecce-Homo monastery, declared one of the 7 wonders of Colombia in 2007. Walk through the charming and colourful garden of the monastery.

Then, if you are interested in fossils, you can visit the paleontological research centre. Your next stop could be the Monastery of La Candelaria, also known as the “Monumento Nacional del Silencio”, an Augustinian monastery built in 1604 and considered by some as the oldest in South America.

Today you continue your journey towards warmer lands in the direction of Barichara. You cross lush pastures and then follow a gorge that stretches towards the Suárez river. You can make a few stops to visit a traditional refinery, taste a typical guava mousse, or taste the Cuajada con Melao, a cheese cream with sugar molasses. Arrive at Barichara located at 1300 m above sea level with a pleasant temperature all year round. Feel free to stroll through the cobbled streets and the colonial architecture of this perfectly preserved village, declared the most beautiful village in Colombia.

Today enjoy an easy walk accompanied by your guide, begins from Barichara to the small village of Guane (about 2 hours). You will pass through tobacco fields and pastures along this road called the Camino Real. Appreciate the fabulous view of the Suarez River valley and the surrounding mountains. Take advantage of a stop at the Guane Fossil Museum to discover the relics of the indigenous tribe of the same name.

If you want to refresh yourself after the effort, try the local specialty: Sabajon. A liquor made from milk, jam, and brandy. Surprising but unavoidable once you arrive in Guane! To return to Barichara, you will take the bus or a tuk-tuk, typical transport in the area.

You continue your journey from Barichara to Bucaramanga, stopping at Café Alfanía. On arrival, you will receive a warm welcome from the coffee farmers, who will take you on a walk through the coffee plantations and share their knowledge about the cultivation and processing of this black gold. The experience ends with a delicious cup of coffee and a brunch of typical tamales, chorizos and arepas in the main house.

You then continue on the main road towards Bucaramanga. The route takes you through the Canyon del Chicamocha, where, if conditions permit, you can cross the canyon by cable car and enjoy a fantastic view of the deep gorge. You will have the opportunity to look back over the canyon and after a short break you will continue to the airport of Bucaramanga. Flight from Bucaramanga to Cartagena, stopover Bogotá.. Transfer from Cartagena airport to the hotel.

Get to know the picturesque streets of Cartagena, its republican and colonial architecture full of history such as the Plaza de la Aduana, where the slave market, the Plaza de Bolívar and the Gold Museum used to be, admire the Inquisition Palace and appreciate the architecture of the Heredia Theatre.

In the old city meet the convent and church of San Pedro Claver with its construction of the mid-seventeenth century, walk through Las Bóvedas place that houses a colorful craft market. Visit the Castle of San Felipe, one of the most important forts in the city built on the mountain by the Spanish, during the tour you will be able to contemplate a spectacular view of the city and its coasts. Climb to the highest point of the city to visit the old Convent of La Popa and enjoy the panoramic view of the city.

Transfer from the hotel to Cartagena airport. It’s time to say goodbye to Colombia. You will leave your hotel in order to return to Bogotá where you will wait for your international flight.