Welcome to Colombia! We are met at the Bogota Airport and transferred to our hotel. Check in time starts from 3:00 PM.  The rest of the day is free to sample the city’s cultural highlights. Bogotá is Colombia’s historic and political capital, founded in 1538 as a Spanish colonial city, and nowadays, a dynamic hub of culture, museums, and contemporary life set high in the Andes.

OPTION 1 - Overnight: Hotel B3 Virrey (Standard – 3-star), Bogota (2 nights)
OPTION 2 - Overnight: Hotel Novotel Park 93 (Comfort – 4-star), Bogota (2 nights)
OPTION 3 - Overnight: Hotel Sofitel Victoria Regia (Superior – 5-star), Bogota (2 nights)

Head to Bogotá’s city centre to explore La Concordia food market, sampling fresh fruits, juices, and local snacks like tamal, lechona, and pan de bono. We’ll also learn about the traditional hand-operated kitchenware used by Colombians to this day. Next, take the cable car up Monserrate Hill (3,048 m/10,000 ft.) to visit the iconic church and enjoy panoramic views of the city. Then, drive north to Zipaquirá, exploring its 18th-century historic centre before venturing underground to the famous Salt Cathedral, an architectural masterpiece of chapels carved into stone. We’ll conclude with a short video on the mines’ history before returning to Bogotá. (B)

Start our walking tour in La Candelaria, Bogotá’s historic neighbourhood, wandering cobblestone streets lined with colonial buildings, baroque churches, and vibrant graffiti. Visit Plaza Bolívar to see the Cathedral and Liévano Palace, then explore the Botero Museum, home to the Colombian artist’s famous oversized works. Conclude at the Gold Museum, which houses the largest collection of pre-Hispanic gold in the world with over 34,000 pieces plus bone, stone, ceramic, and textile artefacts. After the tour, transfer to the airport for our flight (at additional cost) to the Coffee Triangle, a UNESCO World Heritage site where we’ll explore plantations, towering palms, and the coffee-making process from bean to cup. Upon arrival, we are met and transferred to our hotel.

Suggested flight: BOG/PEI – AV9839 (4:01 to 5:04 PM)
Note: Gold Museum is closed on Mondays. Botero Museum is closed on Tuesdays. Walking on this day is approximately 5 km (3 miles).

OPTION 1 – Overnight: Hotel Hacienda El Percal (Standard – 2/3-star), Coffee Region (2 nights) (B)
OPTION 2 – Overnight: Hotel Mocawa Resort (Comfort – 4-star), Coffee Region (2 nights) (B)
OPTION 3 – Overnight: Hotel Bio Habitat (Superior – 4/5-star), Coffee Region (2 nights) (B)

Journey through the rolling hills and lush coffee plantations of Colombia’s central mountains. Hop into a Willy Jeep, traditionally used to transport coffee and fruits, to discover Colombia’s 300-year coffee heritage. Follow scenic trails to the charming villages of Córdoba, Pijao, and Buenavista, each known for preserving traditional architecture, local crafts, and authentic rural life. Visit the San Alberto Hacienda, where we’ll be warmly welcomed and enjoy a cup of world-class coffee while learning about Colombia’s rich coffee culture. Stroll through the plantations to see the full coffee process—from planting and harvesting to roasting—before taking part in a guided coffee tasting to awaken our senses. The tour concludes with one final cup of coffee before returning to our hotel. (B, Coffee Tasting)

We drive through stunning landscapes to reach the Cocora Valley, where we are greeted with a traditional canelazo welcome drink. We stroll along the ecological trail to admire the Palma de Cera, Colombia’s national tree, soaring up to 60 m (200 ft.) with its iconic wax-covered trunk. Continue on to Salento, the region’s oldest village. On our walking tour here, we’ll be charmed by the colonial streets, artisan workshops and colourful balconies. Afterward, we transfer to Pereira airport for our flight (at additional cost).

Suggested flight: AV9388 (4:46 – 6:02 PM) – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays

Arriving in Cartagena, founded in 1533 by Pedro de Heredia, we step into a city shaped by gold-crafting tribes, Spanish colonialism, pirates, African slaves, and immigrant communities. This UNESCO-listed city boasts balconies bursting with flowers, ancient wooden doors, and a rainbow of houses and street art that combine to create a flavour unlike any other! Upon arrival, we are welcomed at Cartagena airport and transferred to our hotel.

OPTION 1 - Overnight: Hotel 3 Banderas (Standard – 3-star), in Cartagena (2 nights) (B)
OPTION 2 - Overnight: Hotel Caribe (Comfort – 4-star), in Cartagena (2 nights) (B)
OPTION 3 - Overnight: Hotel Bastion Luxury (Superior - 5-star), in Cartagena (2 nights) (B)

We embark on a tour of fascinating Cartagena, discovering the best of this unique city with Caribbean flavour. We first visit La Popa Monastery, set on Cartagena’s highest hill, offering panoramic views of the city and bay alongside tranquil gardens and a small museum. We then visit the San Felipe de Barajas Fortress, dating back to 1536, where we explore parts of its remarkable tunnel system and learn about its role in defending the city.

We continue with a walk through Cartagena’s historic center, ending at the San Pedro Claver Sanctuary. Founded by the Jesuits in the 17th century, the site features an elegant stone façade and houses religious art, pre-Colombian ceramics, and Afro-Caribbean works reflecting the city’s layered heritage.

Note: Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Group tours use a van for the visit to La Popa.

Optional: Rum Tasting Tour (2 hours)
We dive into Colombia’s rich rum tradition, uncovering how sugarcane is transformed through time-honoured barrel aging and the distinctive cama empacada method. Guided by a professional mixologist, we sample premium rums layered with notes of coffee, caramel, and vanilla, while stories of seafaring trade and coastal culture bring each sip to life.

Note: Walking experience; no hotel transportation.

Optional: Mangroves & Drums in La Boquilla (4 hours)
We journey to the fishing village of La Boquilla, gliding by dugout canoe through quiet, centuries-old mangrove channels alive with birdlife and local fishing traditions. The experience ends on a high note with an interactive Afro-Colombian drumming session, where we learn the rhythms and movements of Cumbia, Mapalé, and Champeta. (B)

Today is free to enjoy Cartagena at your own pace, whether that means lingering over a long lunch, wandering the colorful streets of the walled city, or simply relaxing by the sea. For those who wish to make the most of the day, Bestway Tours & Safaris can arrange a range of optional experiences, including a boat excursion to the Rosario Islands, a guided food or street-art tour, a hands-on cooking class. (B)

Check out by 11:00 AM. After our riveting journey through Colombia, we are transferred to the airport for our departure flight. (B)