Colombia: Culture, Coffee & Caribbean

Welcome to Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, sat high on a plateau in the Andes. There’s plenty packed into this trip, but today we settle in and rest, ready for the adventures ahead. Aim to arrive at the hotel this afternoon/evening, although we recommend arriving one day early to acclimatise and help get over any jetlag. There will be a message waiting with information about tomorrow’s meeting time. Want more time in Bogotá? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

This morning say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Following our welcome briefing, we embark on a walking tour through Colombia’s vibrant capital, including a visit to the Gold Museum and a cable-car ride up Monserrate for spectacular views over the city. We follow with a walking street food tour in the early afternoon, sampling the flavours of Colombia’s different regions at market stalls, snack bars and street food stands. Next, we visit the Gold Museum, giving us a chance to admire some of the 30,000-plus pre-Columbian gold artefacts on display. Later, we head to a traditional social club for a game of tejo. This popular pastime was invented by the Chibcha people – metal discs (tejos) are thrown at targets called mechas, small packets of gunpowder wrapped in paper. The aim is to hit the mechas and make them explode! Two national beers per person are included (this is the entrance fee for the game). Your tour leader ensures a big welcome over dinner tonight.

Today we are driven (approximately 30 minutes) to Bogotá Airport and fly for an hour south to the city of Neiva, the capital of the Huila department and much lower in altitude and warmer than Bogotá. From Neiva, we drive (approximately one hour) to the Tatacoa Desert, an ochre-grey land pierced by green cacti. Here, we take a 1hr 30min to 2hr hike – remember your walking shoes, water bottles, long-sleeve tops and hats. It's around a one hour drive back to Neiva at the end of the hike.

We drive (about six hours) south to the town of San Agustín, following the Magdalena River valley for most of the journey. As we approach, we ascend and the climate cools. In the afternoon, we visit the remarkable archaeological site of La Chaquira, which is spectacularly located near the Rio Magdalena, between the central and eastern Andes. We then visit El Tablón, which consists of five statues representing human and animal figures. Upgrade to a suite with private balcony today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Start the day exploring the countryside around San Agustín. We begin with the Estrecho del Río Magdalena – here the mighty Magdalena River passes through a section of rocks only 7ft (2m) wide. The landscape around the river is exceptionally picturesque. Nearby is the small town of Obando, where we visit tombs plus a small archaeological museum. On the way to Obando, we pass a sugar mill (trapiche) where we taste freshly prepared panela (pressed sugarcane), a product found in the kitchens of all Colombian households. We spend the afternoon in San Agustín Archaeological Park, a vast World Heritage complex housing a mysterious collection of pre-Columbian stone figures and tombs. The park is nestled amid lush hillsides and picturesque forests, which we can explore on foot along various trails (some of them quite steep) accompanied by an expert local guide, while the excellent museum offers comprehensive insights into the finds. Upgrade to a suite with private balcony today – speak to your sales representative for more details

A scenic drive (five to six hours, including two on unpaved roads) takes us from San Agustín to Popayán. Shortly after leaving, we make a side trip to Alto de los Ídolos Archaeological Park, the second-most important archaeological park in the area, after San Agustín, and home to stone tombs and carvings. Continuing our journey, we ascend and pass through forested landscapes as we cross from the Huila department into Cauca and to Popayán. Founded in 1537 by Sebastián de Belalcázar, this small colonial city has magnificent architecture reflected in the houses, churches and bridges, which we have a chance to see on a walking tour (approximately three hours) of the historic centre.

Today we travel into Colombia’s coffee region, where we’ll spend two nights at a traditional hacienda set on a working plantation. A hacienda stay offers an authentic insight into the region's coffee heritage and a chance to experience the area's slower pace of life. Our journey takes around six to seven hours, with a stop in Buga along the way. One of Colombia’s oldest cities, Buga is known for its colonial charm and rich heritage. It’s home to the Basilica of the Lord of Miracles, an important pilgrimage site that offers a glimpse into local traditions and culture. Upgrade to a deluxe room today – speak to your sales representative for more details