Coffee, historic villages and beautiful nature

Day 2: Bogotá

In the morning you will be picked up at your hotel for a bike ride through Bogotá. The tour starts in Candelaria, the historic heart of the city, where you will see several parks, squares and monuments. You will learn more about the turbulent history of Bogotá, you will pass places where most tourists don't come. During the tour you will learn more about the political and social growth process of Colombia.
Overnight stay: B.O.G. Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 3: Bogotá - Villa de Leyva

(approx. 200 km | 4 hour drive)
In the morning your rental car will be delivered to your hotel (cat. Kia Sportage or similar alternative). This will take you to your next destination, Villa de Leyva. On the way you will drive over the Sabana de Bogotá, where the floriculture of carnations and roses are an important source of income. You can visit the impressive salt cathedral of Zipaquira, a true architectural masterpiece. In this salt cathedral you will find the huge cross carved out of salt and the three scenes depicting the birth, life and death of Christ. After the visit to Zipaquira you drive on to the colonial town of Villa de Leyva. A visit to Villa de Leyva is like a romantic journey back in time. The town consists of small cobbled stone streets, squares and white plastered colonial buildings. Especially the enormous central square of 14.000 m2 and the church dating from the 17th century are an absolute must.
Overnight stay: La Posada de San Antonio | bed & breakfast

Day 4: Villa de Leyva - Barichara

(approx. 190 km | 4 hour drive)
After breakfast you continue your way to Barichara. Barichara is considered the most beautiful village in Colombia because of its charming white-plastered houses, built in the so-called bahareque style, where wooden frames are covered with loam and a white plaster layer. It is a place where it seems as if you are travelling back to times long gone, far away from today's hectic life. It is here where the chirping of birds and the scent of blossoming bougainvillea will stimulate your senses. Although the beauty of the town is recognized throughout the country, relatively few tourists know how to find their way to Barichara.
Overnight stay: Hotel Alto del Viento | bed & breakfast

Day 6: Barichara - Bogotá 

(approx. 350 km | 7 hour drive)
Today you will drive from the charming town of Barichara back to Bogotá. Here you drop off your rental car and stay at the B.O.G. Hotel again. 
Overnight stay: B.O.G. Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 7: Bogotá - Armenia

In the afternoon you will be picked up at your hotel and taken to Bogota airport, from where you will board your domestic flight to Armenia. You will stay here in Hacienda Bambusa. The pleasant hacienda is surrounded by banana plantations and overlooks the impressive peaks of the Andean Mountains. In the vicinity you can go horseback riding through the beautiful landscape of hills and rivers. You can make an exciting canopy tour, walk along the riverbed and spot birds. Enjoy this wonderful place!
Overnight stay: Hacienda Bambusa | half board

Day 8: Armenia

In the morning you will be picked up at your hotel and leave for Valle del Cocora, located in the mountains of the Quindio region. The valley belongs to the National Park Los Nevados and is the place where the 60m high 'Quindian wax palm trees' grow. During your walk through the valley you can enjoy the rich biodiversity and the different plant and animal species. On the way back you will cross the Quindio river where the largest wax palm trees in the world grow. In the afternoon you will visit the historic towns of Salento and Finlandia where you can walk around among the colonial houses, visit craft markets and stop at a nice viewpoint.
Overnight stay: Hacienda Bambusa | half board
 

Day 9: Armenia

This day is scheduled off. Enjoy the beautiful area you are staying in
Overnight stay: Hacienda Bambusa | half board
 

Day 10: Armenia - Medellín

Today you will change all the greenery around you for the cozy hustle and bustle of the city. A private transfer will take you to Medellín, the city of eternal spring. A ride that, depending on the traffic, takes about 6 hours. The city has a vibrant cultural life, including works of art, sculptures, fashion designs and literature. Medellín has also grown into an industrial trading city of textiles and cut flowers. The world famous artist Fernando Botero, known for his paintings and sculptures of inflated people and figures, comes from Medellín.
Overnight stay: Hotel Patio del Mundo | bed & breakfast
 

Day 11: Medellín

Today you will be taken to the Comuna 9 district. In this district a social transformation project has been set up in which they are committed to educate the local, poor population to eat affordable but healthy food. They get lessons in cooking these dishes, but also in entrepreneurship to earn money with this knowledge. Today you will start with an introduction about the transformation of the neighborhood, after which you will have time to discover the different neighborhoods. Visit renovation projects, works of art, educational and recreational spaces. Afterwards you will take part in a cooking workshop where you will make one of the dishes of the project yourself. Finally, you will be included in the innovative public transport system, consisting of hypermodern monorails, trams and cable cars, which has greatly improved the mobility of the local population.
Overnight stay: Hotel Patio del Mundo | bed & breakfast
 

Day 12: Medellín - Santa Marta

Today you will be picked up at your hotel and taken to Medellín airport where you will board a domestic flight to Santa Marta. Once here you will be taken to your hotel by one our local staff. Santa Marta is the oldest city of Colombia and because of its port it is also called the gateway to the New World. The city was founded on July 29, 1525 by the Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas who chose this location because of its strategic location. Santa Marta is a pleasant city with a casual Caribbean atmosphere. The city has a historic heart and a boulevard without embellishments and is still relatively rarely visited by tourists.
Overnight stay Hotel Casa de Leda | bed & breakfast
 

Day 13: Santa Marta

This day is at leisure. Santa Marta has a enormous historical value, such as the "hacienda Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino" museum, where the independence fighter and first president of Gran Colombia, Simon Bolivár, died on December 17, 1830. The hacienda is now a museum where you can learn a lot about Bolivár and the fight for independence. On the estate of the hacienda you can also find his mausoleum.
Overnight stay at Hotel Casa de Leda | bed & breakfast
 

Day 14: Santa Marta - Tayrona

In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to your accommodation near Tayrona National Park. The many bays, beautiful beaches, white coral reefs, green mangroves, mountains and lush vegetation give every visitor the ultimate holiday feeling. This park is the habitat for many birds, mammals and numerous reptiles. You will stay in the atmospheric Cayena Beach Villa.
Overnight stay: Cayena Beach Villa | half board
 

Day 15 and 16: Tayrona

In the morning you will go to Tayrona National Park. Tayrona National Park is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and has pearly white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and coral reefs. During your hike you will see different microclimates, an abundance of birds and all kinds of animals such as monkeys and squirrels playing in the trees. After a 45 minute walk you will reach Arrecifes; one of the park's most beautiful areas. You walk further along the coast to La Piscina and El Cabo de San Juan de Guía which is known for its enormous rock formations. Here you can enjoy your free time on the beach and afterwards you will be brought back to your hotel.

The next day is planned as a day off and you can enjoy the wonderful surroundings in peace and quiet.
Overnight stay: Cayena Beach Villa | half board
 

Day 17: Tayrona - Cartagena

After breakfast you will be taken to the city of Cartagena. Cartagena de Indias is a beautiful colonial town on the Caribbean coast. The historic center contains a maze of small picturesque streets, with cheerfully colored colonial buildings and romantic squares. Outside the old city walls, the city has expanded with modern, attractive neighborhoods. From the ramparts near the old town you can overlook both the atmospheric colonial city center and the impressive skyline of Boca Grande. You will stay in Casa Lola, close to Plaza de la Santísima Trinidad. This small square is the heart of the district of Getsemani. Formerly an old whorehouse district, today it is a nice neighborhood where you can still experience Colombian life. In the evening, the inhabitants of the district meet each other on the square where you can also find food stands and lots of fun.
Overnight stay: Casa Lola | bed & breakfast
 

Day 19: Cartagena

Today you is for leisure. Enjoy your last day at this special place. In the city ypu will find a vibrant Caribbean atmosphere. End your unique journey with a delicious cocktail in café del mar on the old city wall while the sun on the horizon disappears into the sea and then stroll through the center, looking for a good restaurant at one of the many beautiful squares.
Overnight stay: Casa Lola | bed & breakfast

Day 20: Cartagena - Amsterdam

In the afternoon you will be picked up at your hotel and taken to Cartagena airport where you will board your intercontinental night flight to Amsterdam. You will arrive the next day.

Day 21: Amsterdam

You arrive in Amsterdam today.