Wellness no longer means just spa or massages but is nowadays a much broader and more complex concept, as there are many different ways to achieve well-being of body and soul. Consciously switching off and rediscovering oneself - through physical activity, a healthy diet, yoga, dance, crafts, or any other activity that has a meditative effect on us - is the basic idea of our wellness journey "A journey to yourself". For everyone who would like to completely recharge their energy and allow your body a time-out, but at the same time get to know different facets of the country, Colombia, with its immeasurable variety of flora and fauna, as well as many still rather remote and quiet areas, is the perfect place! During walks through the unique Andean landscapes, the coffee zone and the Pacific coast, cooking or campfire sessions or during the many other relaxing elements, you get to disconnect from the busy everyday life, leave all cares behind and let your body and mind unwind.
Tourstops Main Tour, 15 Days: ZIPACÒN - HONDA - MANIZALES/KAFFEEZONE - MEDELLÌN - NUQUÌ - MEDLLÌN
Tourstops Caribbean Extension, 6 Days: SANTA MARTA/TAYRONA
Upon request yoga lessons can be arranged daily (not included). |
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Day 1: | BOGOTÀ- ZIPACÒN about 60 km, 2 h | (-/-/D) |
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Upon arrival in Bogotá we are picked up by our local guide and driver, who take us away from the hustle of the big city to our accommodation, a coffee finca close to Zipacón, in a beautiful mountainous setting and a lovely climate. |
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| La Palma y el Tucan (2 nights) |
Room category: Standard Bungalow
Meals: Full board |
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Day 2: | ZIPACÒN | (B/L/D) |
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According to the basic principle of our journey, we take our first day in Colombia absolutely easy. After a delicious breakfast, the morning is at leisure so you can enjoy the environment to the fullest. In the afternoon we get in touch with the Pachamama (mother nature). The gardeners of the finca guide us through the spacious vegetable garden and the nursery where the coffee seeds are grown. We learn more about the seeds, germination and growing - of both, the coffee but also the vegetables and herbs, which are used in the hotel´s kitchen - and here and there we get to work the soil and plants ourselves. Duration: approx. 1.5h |
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Day 3: | ZIPACÒN – HONDA about 185 km, 4 h | (B/-/D) |
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In the morning we learn first-hand all about the daily activities at this coffee finca - a finca that produces such a special coffee, that it already received awards at some of the most prestigious contests on an international level. Apart from the already familiar vegetable garden of the finca, we get to see the nursery, the machinery, the drying area and the coffee plantation with its various exotic types of coffee plants. We get to know the team in charge of the entire process and end the tour with the tasting of the final product - a delicious cup of fresh coffee.
In the afternoon we make our way to Honda, a little village located on the shores of Colombia´s most important river, Río Magdalena. |
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| Hotel Boutique Posada Las Trampas (1 night) |
Room category: Standard Meals: Breakfast included |
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Day 4: | HONDA – MANIZALES about 140 km, 3.5 h | (B/-/D) |
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In the morning we explore the village by foot. Honda was founded in 1643 and is located right at the shore of Río Magdalena. We visit the market at Plaza de Mercado, the bridge puente Navarro and the museum Museo del Río.
Afterwards we drive through impressive Andean landscapes to the coffee region. Our accommodation, a family run finca close to Manizales, is a place where good alimentation, and wellbeing of body and soul are most important. |
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| Viga Vieja (4 nights) |
Room category: Standard Meals: Breakfast and dinner included |
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Day 5: | MANIZALES | (B/-/D) |
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Today, during a Reiki-session, we channel the energy of the universe and thus initiate the self-healing of our bodies, giving us a feeling of comfort, peace, serenity and pain relief. The session is conducted by Andres, a very special man, founder and father of the Viga Vieja family. Duration: about 1h
The rest of the day is free to explore the beautiful lush green grounds of the finca by foot. |
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Day 6: | MANIZALES – TERMALES SAN VICENTE - MANIZALES about 100 km, 2.5 h | (B/-/D) |
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After a healthy and revitalizing breakfast we head from our accommodation towards the municipality of Santa Rosa de Cabal, located in the Risaralda department. From there we drive uphill for about an hour, the landscape becomes more remote and rural, we leave the last houses behind us. At a slow pace on an unpaved road we get to enjoy the beautiful Andean landscape. Finally we reach the natural paradise of the thermal baths of San Vicente, which are located in the middle of a nature reserve of 472 hectares of beautiful cloud forest. In the whole San Vicente reserve there are 250 geysers with thermal water, 15 of which are used for bathing, Turkish steam baths, mud therapy, the spa and for an in-house mineral water treatment plant (Aguas San Vicente). Total relaxation and peace, in the middle of wonderful nature, is the order of the day. We spend about 4 hours in the reserve, enjoy the thermal baths, and some of the different spa therapies (one sand and one mud treatment, each about 15 min, included). If you would like to stretch your legs a little in between, take an about 15 min walk on a signposted ecological path, surrounded by giant ferns, to the waterfall "El Embrujo" (= the wizard), which flows down a 30-meter-high, moss-covered rock. If you look for something even more active, you can join a guided hike of about 45 minutes to explore geysers and clear cold waterfalls (not included). At the agreed time we make our way back to the hotel. |
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Day 7: | MANIZALES – FINCA LA ROMELIA - MANIZALES about 30 km, 1 h | (B/L/D) |
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Today´s destination is the family run orchids-farm Finca La Romelia, where we take a walk through the finca´s plantations and forest. Also, we explore the nursery and the main house. Finca Romelia has one of the largest and most varied private collections of orchids in the country, with about 500 genera and more than 800 species. After lunch we still have plenty of time to enjoy the view and to have a closer look at the orchids, bonsais and hummingbirds. |
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Day 8: | MANIZALES – MEDELLÌN about 200 km, 5.5 h | (B/-/-) |
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We leave Manizales before midday and drive to Medellin, the city of eternal spring. Our hotel is a remote, green oasis in the middle of Medellin and thus allows us to enjoy peace and silence although being in a city. |
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| Hotel El Patio del Mundo (1 night) |
Room category: Standard Meals: Breakfast included |
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Day 9: | MEDELLÌN – NUQUÌ/ GUACHALITO | (B/L/D) |
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In the early morning we head to Medellín´s city airport to take a small plane to Nuquí. |
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| Flight from Medellin to Nuquí (about 45 min) |
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In Nuquí we are picked up by our local guide and accompanies us to the dock, where our speedboat to the hotel leaves from (about 50 min boat ride). After getting to know the hotel and having lunch, ywe organize our activities for the following days with the guides.
Attention: The following activities are subject to change depending on climate, tides, etc. We program the exact schedule of the daily activities with our guide. |
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| Hotel La Kuka (4 nights) |
Room category: Standard |
Meals: Full board |
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Day 10: | GUACHALITO | (B/L/D) |
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After waking up to the sounds of the rainforest and the ocean, have breakfast before heading to the village of Termales. The walk along the beach takes about 1.5 h and you might cross little creeks and rocks. You will get to see some locals on their way to work, local fishermen in their traditional canoes and the chance to go for a refreshing swim whenever you feel like it. In Termales you experience the local life and can visit the the pretty hot springs, where you have the chance to enjoy a relaxing aroma therapy massage (not included). When you are finished exploring the village, you head back to the hotel for lunch. The afternoon is free to enjoy the beach, activities like surfing, kayaking, snorkelling, etc (not included). |
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Day 11: | GUACHALITO | (B/L/D) |
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Today is at leisure.
Optional activities, in case you feel like doing some physical exercise: - Included: A hike through the jungle or to a close by waterfall - Not included: kayaking, snorkelling, surfing, stand up paddling |
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Day 12: | GUACHALITO | (B/L/D) |
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After an about 20 min boat ride we arrive in Joví, a little fishermen village, where we meet a local guide who introduces us to the Afro-Colombian community and culture. Afterwards we travel by “chingo” (a traditional canoe) up the Joví River for about 1 h until we arrive at a waterfall in the rainforest, where we can take a dip in the crystal-clear water. We return to the village and walk along the beach to the neighbouring village Coqui, where we visit the Integral Gastronomic Centre of Coquí. Here we get to know the traditional gardens of the native population with several typical types of herbs and vegetables. Get insights on the secret flavours and ingredients of the unique cuisine of Colombia’s Pacific coast and prepare a traditional lunch together with some of the best cooks in the Chocó region. With a full stomach and a content heart (barriga llena, corazón feliz) we return by boat to our hotel. |
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Day 13: | NUQUÌ/GUACHALITO - MEDELLÌN | (B/-/-) |
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Early transfer (depending on our flight schedule) by speedboat from our hotel to Nuqui where your guide accompanies you to the airport.. |
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| Flight from Nuquí to Medellin (45 min) |
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Upon arrival in Medellín, we are taken back to our hotel.
The afternoon is free to process all impressions of the last couple of days in peace and silence. |
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| Hotel El Patio del Mundo (2 nights) |
Room category: Standard Meals: Breakfast included |
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Day 14: | MEDELLÌN – SANTA ELENA - MEDELLÌN about 25 km, 40 min | (B/L/-) |
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In the morning we head to Santa Elena, where, in a highly comfortable environment, we get in touch with the Pachamama again. During a very hands-on workshop we learn about medicinal plants, their cultivation and care. "Your food shall be your medicine" and "there is a plant for every ailment" are the basic ideas of this workshop. After a healthy, delicious lunch we finalize the class and return to Medellín, where we end our day in the beautiful garden of our hotel. |
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Day 15: | DEPARTURE MEDELLÌN | (B/-/-) |
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Today it is time to say good-bye Colombia. Privat transfer from the hotel to the airport for our onward journey (find the possible extension to the Caribbean coast). |
