COLOMBIA – Treasures of Colombia | Patrick Syder Travel

Colourful colonial architecture, Cartegena

Colombia
7 – 18 November 2018

This journey explores the best of this fascinating country, travelling from Andean peaks to tropical Caribbean coastlines. Visit the mountain capital of Bogotá with its excellent Gold Museum, continue through fertile valleys and delightful coffee country and explore vibrant Medellín, Colombia’s second most important city. End in the colonial port of Cartagena, one of South America’s most beautiful towns.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 NOV 7: Fly overnight from London Heathrow to Bogotá.

Day 2 NOV 8: Bogotá
Early morning arrival in Bogotá and transfer to our hotel for two nights. Lunch at Las Margaritas restaurant, located in Chapinero neighbourhood, where you’ll try one of the most typical lunches of Bogotá, Ajiaco soup, and get to know how to prepare the traditional snack called empanadas. Then, a tour around one of the gourmet area of the city, Usaquén, that used to be a small village far away from Bogotá where you could get by train, and today it is an iconic spot of restaurants still conserving its original architecture and structure of a main square of a village that it was. Rest of day at leisure after a long flight! Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3 NOV 9: Full day city tour
City tour includes the historical centre (La Candelaria) and the Botero and Gold museums. Visit the historic downtown of Bogotá with its magnificent churches, the government palace and the “Plaza Bolivar.” You cannot miss visiting the famous and unique gold museum “Museo del Oro” as well as the museum of Botero where you can marvel at the many great works of this famous Colombian artist. Later we take a cable car up to the top of Monserrate, where you can enjoy a breath-taking view of the bustling metropolis of Bogotá. To end the day, dinner will be taken at Andres D.C restaurant, one of the most famous places where you can enjoy great food as well as the Colombian rumba! Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4 NOV 10: Zipaquirá’s Salt Cathedral & Villa de Leyva
Drive via Zipaquira and the Salt Cathedral to Villa de Leyva for overnight at Hotel and Spa Getsemani. Walking tour with visit to the Fossil Museum. We head to the beautiful colonial town Villa de Leyva which is about 4 hours from Bogotá. During the journey we stop at Zipaquirá, the former centre of salt production of the Muisca Indians. Here we will find one of Latin America’s wonders: a gigantic cathedral built inside a salt mine – the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira.In the afternoon we visit the charming colonial town of Villa De Leyva and include its interesting fossil museum Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5 NOV 11: Fly to Armenia. Transfer to Salento
We journey back to Bogota pausing at the Convento del Santo Ecce Homo founded by the Dominican fathers in 1620 San Jose. In the afternoon we take a short flight to Armenia and transfer to Salento, our base for the next two nights to explore Colombia’s coffee region and unique landscapes of the Cocora Valley. Two nights in Salento at the Salento Real hotel. Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 NOV 12: Salento & Cocora Valley
Visit Cocora Valley and Salento, located in the central Andean mountains, the Cocora Valley is the ideal location to view the wax palm tree; Colombia’s national tree that grows to a height of 70 m. Hopefully we will see the hummingbird and perhaps the endangered yellow-eared parrot. We return to Salento, with its colourful houses dating back to colonial times before returning to our hotel for dinner. Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 NOV 13 : Coffee tour – Medellín
Visit a coffee producing farm and enjoy a tasting. Drive to Medellín. This morning we visit a local coffee farm to learn about the growing and production of high quaility coffee beans. Later we travel by road to Medellín (journey time approximately 5 hours), stopping at the scenic lookout for views over the Cauca river. Three nights at the HOTEL BOUTIQUE CAMPANA. Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8 NOV 14: Guatapé and Peñol Rock
Drive to Guatapé and explore the Peñol. Rock We explore the surrounding areas of Medellin today including Guatapé; a charming little village consisting of colourful houses with all kinds of decoration consisting of flowers, animals or characters inspired from the Spanish colonial times. La Piedra del Peñol is a huge monolith of 220 meters with fabulous view over Guatapé and the surroundings. Later we take a short cruise on the nearby reservoir created for a hydro-electric dam. Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9 NOV 15: City Tour Medellín We have a full-day city tour, including the curved sculptures by local artist Fernando Botero and the gigantic outdoor escalators. We take a cable car to the Arvi Park Reserve for a nature walk and learn about the cultural and social transformation projects of the city in the district of Santo Domingo. Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10 NOV 16: Fly to Cartagena. In Cartagena & City walk
We fly to Cartegena this morning. Walking tour of Cartagena’s colonial district. Today we can enjoy strolling through charming, romantic alleys and admire impressive colonial buildings as well as the city wall and the castle of San Felipe de Barajas, which was built during Spanish colonial times. Cartagena de Indias is an impressive city that holds the secrets of its history in its walls, its buildings and its narrow cobblestone streets. During our tour we will visit the church and the monastery of San Pedro Claver, the Inquisition Palace, the Gold Museum of Zenú, the cathedral, the church of Santo Domingo, and the barricade of Santo Domingo, Santiago and San Francisco Javier as well as other famous places. Two nights at the Hotel 3 BANDERAS. Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11 NOV 17: Tour of Cartagena.
During our city tour this morning we will visit two monuments which are of great historical value outside the old city. San Felipe de Barajas is a fortress built in order to defend the city. The monastery and the church of La Candelaria on the hill de La Popa are outstanding examples of religious and colonial architecture. From here we will enjoy an amazing view. This evening, the farewell dinner will take place at one of the most traditional restaurants of the city by the bay. Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12 NOV 18: Day at leisure in Cartagena. Evening flight to Bogotá for connecting flight to UK.
We have a day at leisure in Cartagena to explore the exquisite streets and squares of this charming colonial city on your own before our late afternoon transfer to the airport for a flight to Bogotá and connecting flight to London, arriving the following day. Included meals: Breakfast

PRICE: £1895.00 per person based on sharing a twin room
Single Supplement cost is £300.00

INCLUDED
• Accompanied from London by Patrick Syder FRGS
• Private transportation throughout the entire program
• Comfortable small boutique style hotels/haciendas
• All entrance fees
• English speaking guides during tours
• Meals as specified in the day to day itinerary (A lunch or dinner included at a local or hotel restaurant each day)

Flights

Current price is £800.00
From London to Bogota

Leg 1 Wednesday, 07 November , 2018
Departure: 10:05 PM London, United Kingdom – Heathrow, terminal 2
Arrival: 04:30 AM +1 day(s) Bogota, Colombia – ElDorado International Airport, Terminal 1 El Dorado

Airline: Avianca AV 121 Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner