Itinerary - Colombia 360: From Bogota to Cartagena

Round trip flights are not included in the package, so you can choose from where and when you want to fly. This is to give you maximum freedom of choice!

Let's dive into the lively Latin beat of Bogotá to kickstart our adventure! These first hours in Colombia are perfect for bonding and discovering this captivating country that's bound to win us over by the trip's end!

We're geared up and ready to explore Bogotá! What better way to start than by ascending to the heights of Cerro de Monserrate via the cable car? Despite the altitude challenge, the breathtaking view of the sprawling city nestled in the valley makes it all worthwhile – the perfect beginning to our Bogotá discovery!

In the afternoon, we venture into La Candelaria, the heart of Bogotá's history, centred around Bolivar Square. Meandering through its narrow streets, we marvel at the grand colonial architecture and the vibrant murals by renowned South American street artists, now a major draw. Here, we encounter the renowned Gold Museum, offering insights into pre-Columbian Colombian history, and the Botero Museum, celebrating the works of Colombia's most illustrious artist.

Eager for adventure, we rise early and head to the airport, catching our first domestic flight to Salento, one of the oldest towns in Quindio, a Colombian department. After dropping off our backpacks at the hotel, we set out to explore. Nestled amidst verdant mountains and thriving coffee plantations, Salento beckons. We grab lunch at a quaint restaurant before delving into the secrets of the region's renowned beverage: coffee!

Salento, along with neighboring towns Filandia and Armenia, thrives on coffee production, nestled in Colombia's renowned Cafetera region. Our afternoon? It's dedicated to exploring a coffee finca, unraveling the secrets of arabica production from harvest to tasting. Guided through lush plantations, we learn about the art of harvesting and savouring the local brew, all while soaking in the laid-back atmosphere with the locals over a steaming cup of coffee.

Excited to witness the world's tallest wax palms? This morning, we dive into Colombian nature with a journey through the Cocora Valley, just 15 km east of Salento. As we enter the park, the towering palm trees, reaching up to 60 meters in height and serving as Colombia's national tree, captivate us. Whether on foot, horseback, or aboard classic Colombian "Willy" jeeps, we traverse forests and rivers, keeping our eyes peeled for the enchanting hummingbirds that call this area home.

After lunch, we tour Salento, it's the perfect time to discover this city a little more. Here one can find many Colombian craft stores that sell local artisan products. Sure, it's only day four, but it's never too early to buy some travel souvenirs, right? When we realize that sunset time is approaching, we head to the Mirador , from where we can admire a view of Salento and the surrounding area – then we return to the city center for dinner!

Wake up early because today we have a flight to Medellín . We arrive around lunchtime: we are in the town of Pablo Escobar, which almost everyone associates with the scenes from Narcos... but in reality, it has much more to offer. Named by Time magazine as the world's most innovative city in 2013, Medallo, as its residents affectionately call it, is the symbol of a Colombia that is reborn and looking to the future .

In the next two days, we will have the opportunity to explore Medellin from top to bottom, using the metro, cable car, tram, means of transport that have become symbols of the city's innovation. This afternoon, however, we are devoting ourselves to an essential stop: a guided walking tour of Comuna 13 , formerly a very violent neighborhood perched on the mountain, today made more touristy thanks to a unique system of escalators in the middle of air built by the municipality to facilitate the mobility of its inhabitants. It will be incredible to see with our own eyes how this neighborhood has been rehabilitated after years of neglect: that's the magic of Medellin!

We will spend the whole day in magnificent Guatapé , also known for being the most colourful city in all of Colombia . Not far from there is also the famous El Peñón de Guatapé, also called Piedra del Peñol , a granite monolith which is a national monument: to get to the top there are quite a few steps to climb, but apparently the view is one of the most beautiful in the whole country, and since we're here... let's get started! Whatever our choice, for the evening we are in Medellín and we can vibrate to the rhythm of its nightlife . Then we dance ?

It's our third day in Medellín and we're really spoiled for choice on what to do first! You can start with El Basurero de Moravia , a 30-meter old landfill transformed into a nursery, then continue with Ayacucho , a pedestrian street lined with murals and crossed by an ultra-modern tram.

There is also Ciudad del Río , the urban park meeting place for young people, which surrounds the MAMM , Museum of Modern Art; Parque de los Deseos , a popular meeting place, from which there is access to the magnificent University of Antioquia, the marvelous Botanical Garden , and the interactive science museum Parque Explora.

Alternatively, we might revisit Comuna 13 from a fresh angle. While we explored its bustling core two days ago, the community extends over a hill where thousands live with fewer opportunities for interaction with travellers. Here, we can engage in supporting a local social initiative focused on the children of the Comuna, aiming to enhance their education, safety, and provide alternatives to the prevalent poverty. The project's founder will share insights, and we can actively participate by joining the children in activities like soccer, learning to cook traditional dishes, or simply spending time together. If we're open-hearted and open-minded, this experience could profoundly impact us in unexpected ways!

It's time to say goodbye to Medellín and continue our journey to discover Colombia: even this morning, we wake up early because we have a flight to catch - Santa Marta, here we come! We leave the interior behind us to finally go see the ocean! In fact, in Santa Marta, where our flight lands, a transfer takes us to the entrance to the Tayrona National Park , a true Colombian paradise, where we will spend the night... in a tent! More local than that...

The Tayrona Park is immense: it includes approximately 120 km² of protected territory and 30 km² of marine waters rich in corals. Our campsite is very close to the sea, so we have all afternoon to enjoy this paradise or explore the surroundings during a hike. We came here to immerse ourselves in the peace of nature, so the human impact here is kept to a minimum so as not to disturb the balance of the park. It will be up to us to adapt to it and its inhabitants (we are talking about plants and animals, and yes, yes, even insects) - this night will be even more magical, because we will sleep under a starry sky in tents . So are you ready to push your limits and experience an unforgettable evening?

We wake up at Tayrona Park , so let's make the most of it! You can spend the morning relaxing by the sea or taking a walk in nature . In the afternoon, we will take a bus to Cartagena via Santa Marta. It's going to be strange returning to city life after our night at the park, but the journey must continue! We spend the evening in Cartagena (or Cartagena, its little French name), the pearl of the Caribbean coast.

Today, we are free to spend the morning as we wish. We can enjoy the city, explore the different neighborhoods, buy some souvenirs or go to one of the nearby beaches for a swim in the sea.

But whatever we do, we'll take our time: after all, we're in the Caribbean!

In the afternoon, and in our quest to immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of this fascinating city, we could take a guided tour of the Getsemaní district , or take a salsa class ! No one is born a professional dancer and since we have now all become close in this adventure: let's have fun!

It's our second day in Cartagena, so let's make it a special day. Today is the day we can finally head out into the open sea with a day trip to the magnificent Rosaire Islands , the 31 islands that make up the Rosaire Corals National Natural Park, a precious collection of mostly inhabited ecosystems by coral reefs, colorful fish, crustaceans and other species.

We will reach one of these islands by speedboat, where we will enjoy a day of rest, sunbathing, swimming in the sea and enjoying a good, well-deserved cocktail on the beach.

If you want adventure and adrenaline, there is no shortage of water sports , as is the possibility of snorkelling and discovering the sea also from this angle.

We return to Cartagena to prepare to enjoy the atmosphere of Colombian nights. Between exotic flavours and colourful cocktails, it will be an unforgettable evening!

Unfortunately, it's already our last day in Cartagena... In this city, we breathe an atmosphere of relaxation and we really need it after long transfers, crazy adventures and domestic flights. We have the whole day to discover each corner of this city and let ourselves be captivated by its streets full of colourful houses, buy some souvenirs to bring back to friends or for ourselves and taste some typical dishes: the local cuisine is one of the best in the country!

Or you can decide to spend one more day at the beach, just to experience one last total immersion in the Caribbean.

Check-out and goodbye – until your next WeRoad adventure!