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Colombia Coffee, Culture & Cuisine

9 Days | A Signature Luxury Journey

9 Days

Colombia Coffee, Culture & Cuisine

Welcome to Colombia! Prepare to be amazed by beauty, culture, and wildlife during this once in a lifetime trip!

10 Day Sample Journey

Trip at a Glance

Day 1

Arrival into Bogota, Colombia

Day 2

Head outside the city to admire Zipaquira’s Salt Cathedral, then head back to explore key sites in Bogota

Day 3

Gain insight into local cuisine during an exploration of Paloquemao Market, and an Ajiaco Workshop

Day 4

Fly to Armenia, in Colombia Coffee Region

Day 5

Spend a day immersing yourself in the beauty of Colombia’s Cocora Valley

Day 6

Fly to Cartagena. Enjoy a tour of Colombia’s Caribbean jewel

Day 7

Enjoy a foodie experience inside Cartagena’s colorful historic center. Indulge yourself in a private salsa lesson in a colonial mansion.

Day 8

Embark on a private sunset cruise in Cartagena’s bay, and enjoy a sampling of delicious chocolate & rum

Day 9

Depart Colombia

FOR TRIP PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
Contact Our Colombian Travel Specialist

Desire a perfect trip? With the help of our travel specialists, this journey can be customized around your specific interests, tastes and preferences. We will provide helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.


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Day 1: ARRIVE BOGOTA

Welcome to Colombia!

On arrival, begin your journey with a stay in Bogota.

  • Accommodations: Four Seasons Casa Medina
  • Meals Included: None Today
Day 2: BOGOTA

Visit the famed salt cathedral in Zipaquira

Venture outside the city to visit the famed salt cathedral in Zipaquira and return to Bogota to explore the main sites.

Travel through the Bogotá Savannah and as you travel by, glance at the beautiful contryside. After a journey of roughly just over an hour, reach the impressive Salt Cathedral, a true achievement of engineering. The name Zipaquirá refers to Zipa, the leader of the Muisca tribe and the chief of these rich salt mines. Walk through tunnels, passing the 14 Stations of the Cross and continue to the dome.

The dome is lit in such a way that it allows one to contemplate the universe and the relationship between man and nature. After, visit the enormous cross carved into the saline rock and finally, the three naves of the Cathedral that represent the birth, life and death of Christ.

Head back to Bogota and start exploring the historic center, also known as La Candelaria. This archaic suburb has great significance in the country’s history due to its cultural heritage and is also a great example of Spanish colonial time architecture.

Visit the main square Plaza de Bolivar, where a statue of the great emancipator Simon Bolivar is located. The Cathedral, on the eastern side of the plaza, is constructed on the same spot where the first church was built in Bogotá in 1539 and houses an important collection of religious artifacts such as textiles and artworks, a collection that has been built over four centuries. Stop to admire other sites such as the Palacio de Justicia, the Mayor of Bogotá’s offices called the Edificio Liévano, the oldest school in the county called San Bartolome and the Casa de los Comuneros.

The visit continues with the Botero Museum, a colonial house exhibiting some of Fernando Botero’s works of art and in addition pieces from his own personal collection that includes works by Picasso, Renoir, Dalí Matisse, Monet, and Giacometti. Next is the Gold Museum which has a permanent exhibition of some 32,000 pieces of gold, 20,000 stones, ceramics, and textiles all precious to the Quimbaya, Calima, Tayrona, Sinu, Muisca, Tolima, Tumaco and Magdalena cultures.

  • Accommodations: Four Seasons Casa Medina
  • Meals Included: Breakfast Today
Day 3: BOGOTA

Gain insight into local cuisine during an exploration of Paloquemao Market

Gain insight into local cuisine during an exploration of Paloquemao Market, and an Ajiaco Workshop

Head to La Plaza de Mercado Paloquemao, one of the biggest and most recognized local markets in Bogotá, where all traditional produce and ingredients of Colombian cuisine can be found. Try some of the exotic fruits, local doughs, and Colombian cheeses sold by the vendors. Learn the local cooking techniques or visit the flower market and the popular food stalls to feel a true local experience.

Join a local chef at the market to learn how to prepare and cook the famous Ajiaco soup. Each region of Colombia has its own specialties and characteristic dishes. In Bogota, Ajiaco is a local favorite and can found at all the markets, restaurants, and sold by local street vendor. Enjoy a fun interactive culinary experience, and after, your delicious soup creation.

  • Accommodations: Four Seasons Casa Medina
  • Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch Today
Day 4: BOGOTA / ARMENIA

Fly to Armenia and begin your immersion in Colombia’s coffee region

Visit Hacienda Bruselas, a working coffee farm where you will learn the entire coffee process, from bean to cup. Walk through the coffee plantations, visit the farm facilities, and end the tour with a coffee tasting.

  • Accommodations: Hacienda Bambusa
  • Meals Included: Breakfast Today
Day 5: ARMENIA

Venture out for a full day of exploration in the Cocora Valley and the town of Salento

The Cocora Valley (Valle de Cocora) is like a postcard version of rural Colombia, with lush rolling hills, mist-capped mountains, and tall, slender palm trees. Tucked into foothills at the heart of the country’s UNESCO-listed “Coffee Cultural Landscape,” the serene valley makes a worthy detour from nearby Salento.

Explore the Cocora Valley by hiking or riding a horse along the valley’s well-marked, circular trail. Along the way, lookout points offer great views of the valley’s Palmas de Cera — the world’s highest wax palms, which grow up to 200 feet (60 meters) tall — and the hilltop cloud forests harbor a huge variety of tropical birds and butterflies.

Head to the colonial town of Salento for a coffee workshop at a local café. Learn to cup and sample a variation of delicious coffees, before returning to your hotel.

  • Accommodations: Hacienda Bambusa
  • Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch Today
Day 6: ARMENIA / CARTAGENA

Enjoy a tour of Colombia’s Caribbean jewel

Start with a visit to the San Felipe Fortress, erected in honor of the poet from Cartagena, Don Luis Carlos López, made famous for his sonnet “A mi ciudad nativa” It was built on San Lázaro hill to defend the city from pirate attacks. Walk around the fortress and learn how the castle was constructed, the engineering feats, the tunnels, underground galleries, and passageways.

Then continue on to the Ciudad Vieja (old city) to visit the Convent and Church of San Pedro Claver which was built in the middle of the XVII century and owes its name to the “apóstol de los esclavos”. Pay a visit to the handicrafts zone of the Bovedas, a collection of archways built into the city wall of Cartagena that were used until the end of the 1700s to house armaments and then later as a prison in the XIX century. Nowadays it is an artisan center where one can appreciate local handcraft.

  • Accommodations: Casa San Agustin
  • Meals Included: Breakfast Today
Day 7: CARTAGENA

Head out to wander the cobblestone streets of Cartagena's colorful historic center

Sample delicious local favorites during your foodie experience. Enjoy a fun and exciting private salsa lesson in a colonial mansion.

Immerse yourself in Cartagena’s local history and culture, starting in Bolivar Park, shaded by large trees and with four fountains the park has a statue of the great Liberator at the center. Around the square is the Gold Museum, which exhibits a fine collection of archeological objects dating back to the pre-Hispanic period; and the Inquisition Palace, recognized for its large baroque style door. The Inquisition held its meetings here and it was also the prison and torture chambers for presumed heretics, opponents of the Catholic Church.

Cartagena’s vibrant historic center hosts a huge variety of cuisine, combining Spanish flavors with African influences brought across by the slaves and migrants of 19th century. Locals have taken over this culinary tradition and culinary artisans are found throughout the streets of Cartagena. You will stop at several different establishments to sample the local fair. In addition, you will learn about Cartagena’s typical food by tasting 15 different types of food, all prepared by local cooks in different places along the streets.

Experience the vibrant culture of Cartagena during a private salsa lesson in a colonial mansion. Have fun learning the basic steps alongside your instructor!

  • Accommodations: Casa San Agustin
  • Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch Today
Day 8: CARTAGENA

Enjoy some leisurely time exploring the walled city on your own

Embark on a private magical sunset cruise in Cartagena’s bay. Once onboard, admire Cartagena’s beautiful skyline and enjoy a unique Rum and Chocolate tasting session. Learn about the history of rum and chocolate in Colombia, as you sample delicious delicacies and admire the beautiful sunset from a private boat.

  • Accommodations: Casa San Agustin
  • Meals Included: Breakfast Today
Day 9: DEPART COLOMBIA

End your Colombian adventure

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight from Colombia.

  • Meals Included: Breakfast Today
INTERESTED IN THIS TRIP?
Contact a Colombian Travel Specialist

With the help of our travel specialists, create a perfect trip planned around your specific interests, tastes and preferences. We will provide helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.


CONTACT US ABOUT THIS TRIP
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