Colombia

Starting Price:	£2,433.00
Trip Length:	9 days
Includes airfare allowance from London (UK)

Interests:

Historical/Cultural

Rosario Islands

Villa de Leyva

A Carriage in Plaza Bolívar

Bogotá, Villa de Leyva, Cartagena and Rosario Islands

Description Pricing Itinerary Hotels

Make your way to Colombia before too many other travelers catch on to this upcoming destination. Tour Bogotá, Colombia’s capital; Villa de Leyva, a small and colonial town declared a national monument by Colombia in the fifties; and Cartagena, an classic Colombian city filled with rich history and architecture. This tour also includes a visit to Rosario Islands.

On this tour, you’ll spend 2 days in Bogotá (where you’ll visit La Candelaria, Plaza Bolívar, Monserrate and el Museo del Oro). You’ll visit the beautiful colonial city of Villa de Leyva and Zipaquirá’s Underground Salt Cathedral. Then you’ll spend 3 days in Cartagena (where you’ll take a trip to the Rosario Islands and tour the old, walled city center), and after that, you’ll spend 2 days in the beautiful Islas del Rosario. You may choose to add a few nights in Tayrona National Park or Santa Marta.

We offer a choice of 3-, 4-, 5-Star and deluxe hotels. In Cartagena the deluxe option is the Casa del Arzobispado or the Quadrifolio Hotel. Cartagena has more than a few fine hotels in the old section of the city; please inquire about these options with one of our travel consultants. On the Rosario Islands accommodation is in 3-, 4- or 5-Star hotels.

This tour includes airfare allowance from London (UK), on non-holiday dates. You do not need to fly via London; 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, Villa de Leyva, Cartagena, Isla del Rosario

Day 1

Bogotá
Upon arrival 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

City tour of Bogotá with Monserrate
First you'll visit 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. Then you'll head 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.

Once you leave this area, you'll continue on to la Quinta de Bolívar, the country house of Simon Bolívar. Set at the foot of Cerro de Monserrate and surrounded by impressive gardens, the museum is filled with documents, letters, maps, uniforms and personal possessions.

Notes: We travel by cable car up to 10,500 feet to the top of the Mountain that looks over Bogotá; museums closed on Monday.

Day 3

Bogotá – Zipaquirá – Villa de Leyva
As you head to the Salt Cathedral, you'll see the central region of the savanna and pass typical Colombian villages as well as greenhouses (in the Flower Region). The structure of the Salt Cathedral is impressive, to say the least. Our visit there begins in a tunnel that exhibits the fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross and leads to the dome from which you can observe the great cross sculpted in low relief. We then arrive at the three naves of the cathedral joined by openings that represent the birth and death of Christ. The central nave houses the main altar; a 16-meter cross; and the Creation of Man, a marble statue sculpted by Carlos Enrique Rodríguez.

Afternoon transfer to Villa de Leyva. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Founded in 1572 by Andrés Díaz Venero de Leyva (by order of the kingdom of Granada), Villa de Leyva boasts Spanish style houses, small alleys, cobblestone streets and the Plaza.

Day 4

Villa de Leyva – Bogotá – Cartagena
Morning at leisure to tour Villa de Leyva’s historic city center. Transfer back to Bogotá and visit the Convento Ecce Huomo on the way. Upon arrival in Bogotá take a flight to Cartagena. Then transfer to you hotel. Cartagena is the fifth largest city in Colombia and an important Caribbean port. After numerous pirate attacks in the colonial era, a wall was built to surround the historic city center and protect its inhabitants. Cartagena is now a popular tourist destination that retains its colonial architecture and charm.

Day 5

Cartagena Old Town Walk
Guided walk along the walled old town. (The walled, colonial city center of Cartagena was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.) You'll see churches; colonial houses (their balconies and other architectural nuances); the Museum that was the residence of the five-time president of the Republic, Rafael Nuńez; the Santa Catalina bastion; and Las Bovedas (The Dungeons), where you'll find hand-crafted souvenirs. Afternoon at leisure.

Day 6

Cartagena
Day at leisure to tour Cartagena. You may also want to add an excursion to the Totumo Volcano, where you could take a mud bath (known for its medicinal properties) followed by a regular bath at El Totumo Lagoon. Totumo Volcano is just 50 minutes from Cartagena.

Day 7

Islas del Rosario
Cruise to Rosario Islands (to the south of the Bay of Cartagena). These Islands constitute a National Natural Park on account of their 23 coral islands and marine fauna. The coral islands were formed by volcano activity that raised the seabed and created ideal conditions for the development of coral reefs. You'll have the chance to swim and snorkel. Lunch Included. Overnight on Rosario Island.

Day 8

Islas del Rosario
Day at leisure to explore the Rosario Islands.

Day 9

Cartagena – Bogotá
Return to Cartagena and transfer to the airport to take the flight to Bogotá. Upon arrival connect with your international flight back home.

Suggested Hotels by City and Category *

Bogota
3-star	Dann Norte
4-star	Morrison
5-star	Sofitel Victoria Regia
Deluxe	Charleston Bogota
Villa de Leyva
3-star	Hotel La Plazuela de San Agustin
4-star	Hospedaria Duruelo
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.
Isla del Rosario
3-star	Isla del Pirata, or similar.
4-star	San Pedro de Majaqua (standard room), or similar.
5-star	San Pedro de Majagua (deluxe room), or similar.

* Subject to confirmation at time of booking

Occupancy Type	3-Star	4-Star	5-Star	Deluxe
Double	£2433	£2580	£2889	£3084
Single	£3464	£4009	£4563	£4957

Yampu Tours is a trading name of Yampu Tours & Travel Ltd – Registered in England, Company No: 6054303 ATOL Number: 9522 VAT Number 919 1679 90 – 0800 011 2424 – Email Us

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