COLUMBIA

This day we will dedicate to the capital of Colombia – Bogotá. Santa Fe de Bogotá is a city of contrasts. It is a dynamic, attractive, and unique metropolis where historical landmarks from the colonial era blend surprisingly well with modern, sometimes even futuristic, architectural masterpieces.

First, we will head to Mount Monserrate. The best way to remember Bogotá is from a bird's-eye view. For this, we will ascend to the observation deck near the monastery built in honor of the Black Madonna of Monserrate. Only here, looking at Bogotá, do you truly begin to understand how vast this city is and how it manages to combine so many different lives.

Afterward, we will return to the central part and study the history of the city and the country through graffiti. Everything that happens in the country, what the locals live for, and what they dream of is reflected on the walls of the city.

We will continue our acquaintance with the capital of Colombia at the famous and unique, in its own way, Gold Museum, where wonderful artifacts that can be said to have miraculously survived and reached us from pre-Columbian times are collected.

Gastronomic Bogotá deserves special attention. Tourism in Colombia begins with local food. In the evening, we will go to one of the local restaurants with local cuisine to confirm this. After dinner, we will head to the hotel to recharge before the exciting adventures that await us ahead.

Early in the morning we will head to the city of Pereira – the coffee "capital" of Colombia. We will dedicate the first half of the day to this invigorating drink. Colombia is rightly considered the world leader in coffee production, but Colombian coffee is most famous for its quality. Only Arabica varieties are grown here. The import of Robusta coffee is officially banned in the country to avoid accidentally spoiling the results of many years of selection in creating unique varieties. We will visit coffee farms – fincas, where the best Colombian coffee is grown, and stroll through the coffee plantations, which offer wonderful views. During the tour, we will see all stages of coffee production and conduct a tasting.

After lunch, we will head to the Cocora Valley, also known as the palm valley. Here grow the tallest palms in the world. The height of these trees reaches 80 meters! The tops of the palms are located among the clouds, as the valley itself is at a high altitude. The trunks of the palms are covered with wax, which the locals used to make candles, so another name you might hear is wax palms.

The valley is home to 5 different species of small hummingbirds. We will have several hiking routes and we will be able to fully enjoy this unique nature.
In the evening, we will transfer to the hotel in the city of Pereira.

After breakfast, we will travel to the city of Medellín. In the 1980s and 90s, Medellín was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world!

Medellín is the hometown of the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar. It was here that the Medellín cocaine cartel was created, which was involved in the illegal production and trafficking of drugs, money laundering, kidnapping, terrorism, and murders.

In the 1980s and 90s, many poor neighborhoods of Medellín were uncontrolled by the police. All power in these areas belonged to the drug cartel, and the most dangerous of them was considered to be the 13th commune – San Javier. To restore order and establish control over the commune, two military operations involving tanks and helicopters were conducted in the late 90s and early 2000s.

Today, the 13th commune is open for tourist visits. We will go on a tour with a local guide to understand how what was once the most dangerous area in the world has transformed into a tourist Mecca of Medellín. We will learn the history of the commune and immerse ourselves in its unique atmosphere. We will see how people live today in one of the most dangerous areas in the world, and we will look at the creativity of local artists and dancers.

In the evening, we will stroll through the city center and head to dinner at one of the restaurants.

Today we will dedicate ourselves to the outskirts of Medellín. The first location of the day will be the Piedra de Guatapé rock, from where breathtaking panoramic views open up. This rock, 220 meters high, can be climbed via a staircase with 649 steps. The Tahamí indigenous tribe in this region has long worshipped the rock. We are in for incredible views of Lake Guatapé, where we will be able to take many wonderful photos.

Next, we head to the small town of Guatapé, which is called one of the most colorful towns in the world. This is because the residents of the town paint their houses, shops, cafes, and even hospitals in bright colors, and the floors are decorated with frescoes. The walls, doors, window frames, stairs, and even the roofs of the houses are covered with colorful paintings! Thanks to the steep terrain of the streets and the bright facades, the town looks very photogenic.
In the evening, we return to Medellín, have dinner, and head to rest at the hotel.

Probably many of us have heard a name like Pablo Escobar. Today we will visit the filming locations of the series "Narcos" – we will see the prison that Pablo Escobar built for himself, visit the cemetery where Pablo and his family are buried, and also go to the namesake one that Escobar built for the poor population, with its famous graffiti and museum in his honor.

Today we will set off to the pristine islands of the Caribbean Sea. 700 kilometers from the coastline of mainland Colombia lies the island of San Andres – a small paradise where the influence of the English, Spanish, pirates, and corsairs intertwines to create a rich culture that pulses to the rhythm of reggae. It is a wonderful place for beach vacations, water sports, diving, and ecotourism. Already through the airplane windows, San Andres shows travelers its calling card – an amazing seven-colored sea with a multitude of colorful fish and vibrant corals.

On this day we will take a boat trip through the San Andres bay. We will have the opportunity to appreciate the underwater world of the Caribbean Sea using snorkeling masks. Numerous tropical fish, starfish, corals, sponges, rays, turtles – this is far from everything we will see during the sea excursion.

Today we have a beach day.

San Andres Island is the perfect place for a beach holiday with fine white sand and sea water that shimmers from blue to green shades. Travelers from all over the world flock here in search of stunning landscapes, as if from a postcard. Here, the joy of Colombians lives in the breath of the sea breeze, in the rustling of coconut palm leaves, and in carefree smiles.

Today we have a flight to Cartagena, a city that rightfully is considered the "business card" of Colombia!

The historic center of the city is under UNESCO protection. Here you can find numerous colonial-era buildings, churches, monasteries, and shady squares. The pedestrian zone, surrounded by a wall, is called the "outer city." The trading rows of Cartagena, built on the site of the Las Bovedas prison, are also interesting.

Let's have breakfast and head out to explore the old part of the city. Here you can stroll for hours, admiring the colonial buildings, each of which is a unique work of art.

Above Cartagena rises a hill where the ancient Catholic monastery Convento de La Popa has stood since the 16th century. From here, you can look at the city from a bird's eye view and learn more about its religious history. You can also touch upon the military events of ancient times during a tour of the San Felipe fortress – the main defensive citadel of medieval Latin America.

We say goodbye to the bright and colorful Colombia and fly home.

*Tour leaders may make changes to the itinerary depending on weather conditions and unforeseen circumstances.