For all our clients, who are looking
for a tour that shows the true heart of Colombia, we have just the right thing
to offer: our 17 days SIB tour “The Hidden Treasures of Colombia”, which comes
with solely ground transportation and combines authentic cultural experiences
with impressive landscapes and culinary elements.
Tourstops:
Bogota –
Villa de Leyva – Tatacoa – San Agustín – Popayan – Coffee Region - Támesis -
Medellín
Possible Extensions:
Pacific Coast - Nuqui
Caribbean Coast - Santa Marta,
Tayrona, Cartagena
Please find the detailed description
of the tour below and on our homepage.
Day 1: Bogotá – Arrival
Day 1: Bogotá – Arrival
The Colombian capital is located in
the very center of the country at approx. 2650 meters above sea level in an
area known as the Savanna of Bogotá (Sabana de Bogotá). The east side of the
city is flanked by the Cordillera Oriental, which are foothills of the Andes
Mountains. In terms of area, Bogotá is Colombia’s largest city: It extends more
than 40 km from north to south, and 20km from east to west. It is not only the
main economic and industrial center, but also the political heart of the
country: The National Legislature, the Supreme Court of Justice and the
residence of the President of the Republic (Casa de Nariño) reside here. With
its 8 million inhabitants, the city is Colombia’s most populous and the huge
cultural offer is among the best and largest in the country - Bogotá is home to
numerous museums such as the famous Gold museum or the Botero museum, theatres
and libraries.
Private transfer from Bogotá airport
(BOG) to Hotel in the historic center- with Bilingual guide
Dinner included (depending on arrival time!)
Day 2: Bogotá
FD City Tour with Paloquemao,
Monserrate & Botero Museum - with Bilingual guide
In the morning visit to the public
market of Paloquemao, then city tour with visit to the colonial old town, the
Plaza de Bolivar and the surrounding government buildings, churches worth
seeing, the Botero museum and a cable car ride to the mountain Monserrate, from
where one has a great view on Bogotá, In the afternoon detailed visit to the
Gold Museum.
Lunch included
Day 3: Bogotá – Villa de Leyva
About 170 m / 3.5 hours
Located only four hours from Bogota,
Villa de Leiva is a fascinating, small, colonial town. Founded in 1572 and home
to many important politicians, artists and wealthy families of the colonial
period it is steeped in history and is extremely well-preserved. The enormous plaza mayor (the largest in
Colombia) is flanked on all sides by red-tiled, white houses and most of the
streets are cobbled. The town is perfect
for wandering at a leisurely pace taking in the atmosphere of times gone by and
browsing in the handicraft shops. There are also a number of small, but
interesting museums. This region of Boyacá was once under the sea surface and a
large number of marine fossils can be seen in the area. The scenery of the
surrounding countryside is rather Mediterranean in appearance, olives, oranges
and curuba are grown in the region.
Our day starts with an overland
transport from Bogotá to Villa de Leyva vía Zipaquirá, visiting the unusual
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira. This unique building was constructed approximately
120 meters underground in a former salt mine. Stop en route to visit the pretty
village of Ráquira, famous for its handicrafts, the best place in Colombia for
buying pottery. We continue towards Villa de Leyva, one of the most beautiful
and well-preserved colonial towns in South America. Upon arrival in Villa de
Leyva, transfer to our hotel.
Lunch included
Day 4: Villa de Leyva
We stroll through the village of
Villa de Leyva visiting the central plaza with its churches, restaurants and
handicraft shops, afterwards we visit the “Ecce Homo” Dominican convent,
constructed in the XVII century and continue to a fossil discovered just
outside the town, which has been dated at more than 150 million years old,
finishing in the Casa de Terra Cotta.
Lunch included
Day 5: Villa de Leyva – Tunja –
Bogotá - Girardot
About 300 km / 6 hours
Girardot is a city with over 100.000
inhabitants located in the department of Cundinamarca about 3 hours southwest
of Bogotá. Year-round tropical and hot climate attract tourists from Bogotá
especially on the weekend escaping the capital's rainy weather. People search
distraction here in the many hotels and resorts, water parks, swimming pools
and the Río Magdalena - also excursions in the field of eco-tourism are
possible.
After breakfast departure from Villa
de Leyva towards Bogotá taking an alternative scenic back-road via Tunja,
capital city of the department of Boyacá; we first stop at the most important
monument in Colombian history: the “Boyacá Bridge”. On that bridge Simón
Bolívar fought and won his most decisive battle against Spanish settlers.
When entering Bogotá we pay a visit
to the foundation Hogar de Paz where we learn about their project to support
adolescents who don´t get much support from their families.
Afterwards we cross Bogotá and drive
south to Girardot. Here we have a relaxed night at our hotel with pool.
Lunch and dinner included
Day 6: Girardot - Tatacoa Desert – San Agustin
About 300 km / 6.5 hours
The Tatacoa Desert is located very
close to Neiva in the department of Huila. It is a striking landscape of eroded
cliffs and gullies, sculpted by the infrequent rain. Because of the dry, clear
conditions, lack of light pollution and location in close proximity to the
equator, Tatacoa is a great spot for stargazing – the skies above both the
Northern and Southern hemispheres are spread out for all to see. Tatacoa isn't
really a desert, although the thermometer states otherwise – it can hit 50°C at
times. It's technically a semi-arid dry tropical forest.
In the morning we drive towards
Neiva and enter the desert of Tatacoa.
Afterwards we drive through a scenic
landscape to San Agustin, the arecheological hotspot of Colombia where we spent
3 nights.
Lunch included
Day 7: San Agustín
San Agustín is a village in the
southern department of Huila, which is located 227 km from Neiva and counts a
population of around 30,000. The village was originally founded in 1752 by
Alejo Astudillo, but attacks by indigenous people destroyed it. In 1790, Lucas
de Herazo y Mendigaña founded the present village. The temperature averages 18
°C year-round. The area is very well known for its pre-Columbian archaeological
sites, known as the San Agustín Archaeological Park, which generates
significant revenue to the economy due to the high volume of tourists, both
Colombian and foreigners. In 1995, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site.
Today we visit the San Agustín
Archaeological Park, which is formed by the “Mesitas” and the “Fuente
Ceremonial de Lavapatas”. We end the day with a visit to the Archaeological
Museum.
Lunch included
Day 8: San Agustín
Today we head to the famous strait
of the Río Magdalena. Here, the longest river of Colombia narrows and is just 2
meters wide.
The afternoon is free, so take your
time to relax.
Lunch included
Day 9: San Agustín - Popayán
About 140 km / 4.5 hours
Popayán is the capital of the Cauca
department. Founded by Sebastian de Belalcazar in 1537, Popayán is located in
the Valley of Pubenza between the Western and Central Cordillera in the
southwest of the country. The old and historic center of Popayán is considered
one of the most beautiful and best preserved in Colombia as well as in all of
Latin America.
In the morning we travel to Popayan.
We stop at the Village Isnos where nearby we will find some more impressive
tombs and statues at Alto de los Idolos. We continue our Journey from San
Agustin to Popayan (4-5 hours), crossing the beautiful Puracé National Natural
Park. We will observe some more Colombian landscapes as the Andean cloud forest
and the Paramos. Arrival in Popayan, also known as the white City. In the
afternoon walking tour through Popayan.
Lunch included
Day 10: Popayan – Silvia – Coffee Region
About 360 km / 6.5 hours
Armenia is the capital of the
Departamento Quindío located in the Coffee Triangle 290 kilometers west of
Bogotá. Surrounded by beautiful landscapes, nature and ancient cultures, the
region is a key player in Colombia's rich coffee culture. For anyone interested
in nature and culture, Armenia and the Quindío department will be a highlight
of their trip.
Transfer from Popayan to the Coffee
Region with a stop in Silvia, where -on Tuesdays- the Guambiano come together
dressed in their native costumes to offer and buy their products at the market
and to meet with each other. This takes place at the famous market in Silvia,
which creates a special opportunity to see and meet these ancestral groups that
are proud of their culture. After this
visit we will continue to the Coffee Region with another short stop in Buga,
where the famous Basilica del Señor de los Milagros is located. Further
transfer to our coffee finca in the heart of the Coffee Region.
Lunch included
Day 11: Coffee Region
Half Day Coffee Process Hacienda
Combia - SIB, with English Speaking Guide
Visit to the coffee growing farm
Combia including a technical and practical introduction to the whole coffee
cultivation and production process with a special didactics.
Day 12: Armenia – Valle de Cocora – Salento
- Armenia
About 56 km / 2.5 hours
Full Day Cocora Valley and Salento -
with English Speaking guide
With breathtaking landscapes, this
is one of the most beautiful valleys in Colombia. Here one will find the
impressive “Palma de Cera”, the official Colombian national tree and one of the
tallest species of palm in the world. On the way back to Armenia, we visit
Salento, a picturesque village with artisanal and crafts shops.
Lunch included
Day 13: Armenia - Támesis
About 200 km / 5 hours
Támesis is a town and municipality
in the southwestern region of Antioquia. It is bordered by the Andes, Jardín
municipality to the south and the Caldas department to the south. The
municipality is located between the San Juan river, which is called Docató
(meaning "stone river") by the natives, and a branch of the Western
Cordillera. Jardín is identified by its preserved colonial architecture, lush
vegetation, and abundant rivers and streams. Among others, rivers that flow
through Jardin include San Juan, Claro, and Dojurgo. Trout that is caught in
the local rivers is a popular dish in the area.
Private transfer from Armenia to
hotel in Támesis - Just Transport
Lunch included
Day 14: Támesis
Option 1:
Full Day Tour - Gold & Archaeology
Through a beautiful landscape you
travel down the valley of the Cauca River to the Puente Iglesias bridge. On the
banks of the Cauca River you will meet traditional gold washers and learn more
about their daily work. Try to wash gold on your own and interact directly with
the artisanal miners. In the afternoon you enjoy spectacular views over the
vastness of the Cauca River Valley and visit the idyllic mountain village of
Támesis, known as the green coffee balcony. A guide will lead you through a
tour of Támesis to visit the archaeological sites. Támesis is known as one of
the places with the greatest density of indigenous pre-Hispanic petroglyphs in
Colombia. Observe different types of petroglyphs and learn some of their
significances.
Option 2:
Chocolate & Archaeology (Instead of Gold-Mining, we do a
Chocolate-workshop)
In the morning you visit an organic
cacao plantation and learn more about the process of chocolate
production, the harvesting and
processing – from the tree to the cup. The family run cacao farm produces
organic chocolate and the owners do a lot to keep the traditional sustainable
way of cacao farming alive. In this workshop you also make your own chocolate.
Day 15: Támesis – Jérico - Medellín
About 220 km / 5 hours
Medellín, the capital of the
department of Antioquia, is located in northwestern Colombia and lies cradled
in the Aburra Valley, bisected by the Medellín River which runs north to south.
With its year-round warm temperatures, it is also known as the “City of Eternal
Spring”. It´s population is about 3 million, which makes it the second largest
city of the country. In addition, the city stands out as one of the major
cultural centres in Colombia: It hosts numerous nationally and internationally
recognized events such as the Flower Fair and the International Poetry
Festival.
In the morning we drive to Jérico.
Its' town centre with its' 16 chapels is considered one of the most beautiful
in Antioquia. Jericó is also famous for its handicrafts and the manufacture of
small leather goods. Explore the historic centre of Jericó with its traditional
facades and visit the village museum, which explains the pre-Columbian culture
through a comprehensive exhibition of findings in the region. The tour also
includes visiting a workshop of carriel, the typical leather bags of the
locals. Just a few walking minutes further we visit the Botanical Gardens and
the Cristo Rey monument, from which you get amazing views of both the town and
the surrounding mountains, valleys and rivers.
From here we continue to Medellin.
Lunch included
Day 16: Medellín
Half Day visit to the city -
Private, with English Speaking guide
This tour takes you to the most
important touristic sights of the “City of Eternal Spring” in just 4 hours.
Explore downtown Medellin and the historic centre and listen to local musicians
and the traditional Guasca music while visiting the Parque Berrio. Stroll
through the hustle and bustle of downtown Medellin to the famous Botero Plaza
with an exhibition of the Colombian artist Fernando Botero, whose sculptures
have become a landmark of the city. Take the Metro Cable up to Santo Domingo,
which has once been a notorious area of gang violence in Medellin. The cable
car was constructed to make the inner city more accessible to people from the
outskirts and allows visitors a glimpse into the lives of the marginalized
population. While enjoying the spectacular view you learn more about the
transformation of Medellin from one of the most dangerous cities in the world
into a fascinating melting pot of cultures with possibly the friendliest and
warmest people in the world. Duration: approximately 4 hours.
Day 17: Departure/Onward Journey
Private transfer from the hotel to
the Airport (MDE) - Only driver
From the airport you continue your
onward journey either back home or to one of the additional optional
destinations (see extensions).
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