Colombia

Starting Price:	$5,033.00
Trip Length:	12 days
Includes airfare allowance from Miami (US)

Bogotá

Cartagena

Tayrona National Park

Unexplored Routes – Bogotá, La Guajira, Tayrona and Cartagena

Description Pricing Itinerary Hotels

Choose your own adventure in Colombia. You may explore a capital city rife with culture; the salt marsh of Manaure and its small, White Mountains; the lagoon at the flora and fauna sanctuary of Los Flamencos; Tayrona National Park, known for stone paths that take you through the jungle to the Caribbean coast.

This Colombia tour begins in Bogotá, Colombia’s capital city. Set high in the Andes (at more than 8,000 feet), Bogotá is replete with culture and rich colonial heritage. You’ll see main squares, churches and museums such as the Museum of Botero home to the artwork of Picasso, Renoir, Matisse and Monet, to name a few.

After Bogotá, you’ll take in Riohacha and Cabo de la Vela (home to the salt marsh of Manaure and its small, white mountains) and the flora and fauna sanctuary of Los Flamencos (known for flocks of ibis). You’ll see deserted beaches, expansive desert and sand dunes, and you’ll learn more about legends of the Wayuu (the indigenous, nomads who live between Colombia and Venezuela), legends that indubitably add to the intrigue of La Guajira.

From there, you’ll head to Tayrona (a national park with a notably high concentration of biodiversity), where you’ll explore 37,000 acres of white Caribbean beaches and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

Your last stop will be Cartagena, a city filled with historic streets, alley ways and stories. Take in the old, walled city’s tiled roofs, balconies and courtyard gardens.

We offer a choice of 3-, 4-, 5-star and deluxe hotels. In Bogotá the deluxe option is the Sofitel Bogotá Victoria Regia, and in Cartagena the deluxe option is the Casa del Arzobispado or the Quadrifolio Hotel. Accommodation in Tayrona National Park is in Ecohabs, round, ecologically-friendly, two-floor cabins with thatched roofs (in the style of Tayrona Indian architecture). Please inquire about these options with one of our travel consultants.

This tour includes airfare allowance from Miami (US), on non-holiday dates. You do not need to fly via Miami; Yampu will fly you the most direct way to your city of destination. Depending on your travel dates and proximity of travel, we will quote you the most economical surcharge from your city or country of origin.

Additional information on this trip:

Days of Week the Trip can Start:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Dates this trip is NOT available for online booking (please submit a regular request):
06 April - 12 April

20 December - 02 January
Visited Cities:
Bogota, La Guajira, Tayrona National Park, Cartagena

Day 1

Bogotá
Upon arrival to Bogotá transfer to your hotel. Bogotá is a modern capital city with stand-out cultural, intellectual and social draws as well as rich colonial heritage.

Day 2

Bogotá City Tour
After breakfast start in on our private tour to the historic center known as La Candelaria. Old “casonas” (grand houses marked Spanish influence) with iron windows, thick wooden doors, balconies and internal patios and gardens line the ancient streets. La Candelaria unfolds around the Plaza Bolívar, named after Simón Bolívar, El Libertador. Originally called Plaza Mayor, it was used for civil and military events and as a marketplace, bull ring and execution platform.

The cathedral beside the square (on the land where Bogotá’s first church was built in 1539) holds weighty collection of liturgical, textile and ornamental objects collected over four centuries. Next to it is the Capilla del Sagrario, known for its superior architecture, and nearby is the Capitolio, built between 1847 and 1926. Influenced by Ionic, Neoclassical and Renaissance styles, it is made of white stone built by several generations of stonemasons. The central area is occupied by the Salón Elíptico, where the meetings of congress take place. The wings house the current Cámara de Representantes and Senate. Busts of former presidents as well as General Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera and Rafael Núńez (the composer of the national hymn) line the internal patio. The tour finishes up in the Palace of Justice.

From there, you'll go to the Museo Botero home to the artwork of Picasso, Renoir, Dalí, Matisse, Monet and Giacometti, to name a few (donated by the artist Fernando Botero and others). After that, you'll head to the Museo del Oro whose collection features nearly 34,000 gold objects and 20,000 in stone, ceramic, textiles and precious stones from the Quimbaya, Calima, Tayrona, Sinu, Muisca, Tolima, Tumaco and Magdalena cultures. The Museo de Oro's collection is considered one of the most meaningful and substantial collections of its kind—worldwide.

Afternoon at leisure. (We recommend checking out another city museum if you're up to it.)

Day 3

Bogotá – Riohacha
Transfer to the airport, and take a flight to Riohacha. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Riohacha, founded in 1526 (with the name Nuestra Seńora de la Nieves), is a small, quiet town on the narrow bay of Boca de Camarón. Lunch and an afternoon visit to Los Flamencos, a flora and fauna sanctuary. Expect to see some ibises. The Navío Quebrado lagoon is home to over 300, and they're constantly on the look out for food. When you return to the hotel, you'll have dinner.

Day 4

Riohacha – Cabo de la Vela
After breakfast you'll set off on a private 37-mile road trip to the salt marshes of Manaure, large salt pools that change color. Sometimes they're white. Sometimes they're purple. Sometimes they're somewhere in-between. After that, you'll visit Uribia, where you can take a break and check out local craftsmanship, from hammocks to hand bags.

The tour continues on a dirt road that runs parallel to the railway used by the trains that transport coal from the mine to the port of Bolívar, where it's exported on cargo ships. Beyond the railway, the tour-circuit road goes into the desert, where you'll see cacti and Wayuu housing here and there. Upon arrival to Cabo de La Vela, you'll check-in in a simple hostel and have lunch. In the afternoon you'll visit Playa Pilón de Azúcar. From the top of the Pilón, take in the 360-degree view: the sea and sand on one side, the salt marshes on the other. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5

Cabo de La Vela – Riohacha
Morning at leisure. Lie out on the beach or explore. The Wayuu religion takes Cabo de La Vela to be the road where the souls of the dead begin their journey into the unknown.

In the afternoon, after lunch, you'll return to Riohacha and check-in at the hotel there.

Day 6

Riohacha – Tayrona National Park
3-hour private transfer to Tayrona National Park after breakfast. Upon arrival check-in at Ecohabs, round, ecologically-friendly, two-floor cabins with thatched roofs (in the style of Tayrona Indian architecture). The rest of the day will be at leisure.

Day 7

Tayrona National Park
Day at leisure. You may want to go to the beach or take one of the excursions available in the park.

Day 8

Tayrona National Park – Cartagena
After breakfast you'll travel by car to Cartagena. Upon arrival check-in at your hotel.

Day 9

Cartagena City Tour
After breakfast you'll set off on a private tour with a panoramic view of the city from the monastery and church of La Popa. You'll have the chance to check-out the church of La Popa. Built in 1606 and perched on the area’s only noteworthy elevation, the church used to be known as “La Popa del Galeón” on account of its strong resemblance to the stern of a galleon.

Next up: a visit to the fortress of San Felipe de Barajas, built on the San Lázaro hill in order to defend the city from pirate attacks.

From there, you'll head to the old town to visit the convent of San Pedro Claver and the artisan center in Las Bóvedas. Afternoon at leisure.

Day 10

Cartagena
Day at leisure. We recommend an excursion to the Rosario Archipelago.

Day 11

Cartagena
Day at leisure. Explore Cartagena.

Day 12

Cartagena – Bogotá
After breakfast transfer to the airport for flight to Bogotá, where you'll take your flight back home or overlap with an add-on of your choice.

Suggested Hotels by City and Category *

Bogota
3-star	Dann Norte
4-star	Morrison
5-star	Sofitel Victoria Regia
Deluxe	Charleston Bogota
La Guajira
Standard - 3nt package	La Guajira - 4/3 Package 2 nights in Riohacha and 1 night in Cabo de la Vela (Rancheria) + HD Tours + Full Board
Tayrona National Park
3-star	Ecohabs
Cartagena
3-star	Hotel Caribe, Almirante Estelar, Hotel La India Catalina, or similar.
4-star	Hotel Hilton Cartagena (Bocagrande area), Hotel Bovedas de Santa Clara (Old Town), or similar.
5-star	Sofitel Santa Clara (Old Town), La Merced Hotel Boutique (Old Town), or similar.
Deluxe	Casa del Arzobispado Hotel Boutique (Old Town), Quadrifolio Hotel Boutique (Old Town), La Passion Hotel, or similar.

* Subject to confirmation at time of booking

Occupancy Type	3-star	4-star	5-star	Deluxe
Double	$5033	$5322	$5811	$6187
Single	$8557	$9454	$10293	$11068

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