Ultimate Colombia Vacation | Yampu Tours

Custom Travel Experiences Since 1998

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Ultimate Colombia Vacation

PRIVATE TOUR - 12 DAY SAMPLE ITINERARY

FROM £$ 4790

Private Tour Highlights

  • Touring the charming architecture of La Candelaria, the colonial Old Town of Bagota.
  • Stepping underground to visit the fascinating and beautifully illuminated Salt Cathedral, built in the caverns of a former salt mine.
  • Sipping and tasting your way through a private coffee plantation tour across the verdant, undulating hills of the coffee region.
  • Lapping up the extraordinary atmosphere of Cartagena, the picturesque walled city awash with cobbled streets and pretty plazas.
  • Delving into the jungle at Tayrona National Park to glimpse the pre-Columbian civilization of the Tayrona at the archaeological site of Pueblito, before finishing up at heavenly beaches.
Interested in this tour?   Let us build you a customized quote based on your budget.

Tour Overview

Experience sunny Tayrona National Park and sip some of the world’s finest coffee with Yampu’s Ultimate Colombia Vacation. Colombia is the second most diverse country in the world. In one visit to Colombia, explore  sunny Tayrona, a national park with a notably high concentration of biodiversity and 37,000 acres to its name; Bogotá, a capital city rife with culture; the Coffee Triangle, where you’ll tour a plantation and taste some of the world’s finest coffee; and Cartagena, a city filled with historic streets, alley ways and stories.

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).

From there, you’ll head to The Coffee Triangle, or the coffee farming region (comprised of three Colombian departments, or states: Caldas, Risaralda and Quindio). You’ll have the chance to see colorful, colonial houses and tour plantations, where some of the world’s finest coffee is produced.

Next up: Cartagena, a city filled with historic streets, alley ways and stories. Take in the old, walled city’s tiled roofs, balconies and courtyard gardens, and be sure to pack your camera. Words don’t seem to do Cartagena justice.

You’ll wrap up your tour 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.

Inclusions
Prices include: Domestic air transportation from Bogotá to Armenia and from Pereira to Cartagena, private airport transfers including one piece of luggage, land transfer from Armenia to Pereira and from Cartagena to Tayrona National Park, hotel accommodation including breakfast, meals where specified, guided tours with bilingual guide and entrance fees. Local airport taxes that are payable in the country of destination are not included. You may have to pay a surcharge if you book a trip during late December, early January or Easter.

*A Yellow Fever vaccine is recommended to enter Tayrona National Park.
Best Time to Travel
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Best Good Consult

Package Price: From £$ 4790

Prices shown above are per person. Hotel categories do not adhere strictly to international ratings; Yampu has evaluated the hotels according to destination and availability. Prices include local airfare (where applicable), hotel accommodation including daily breakfast; all transfers with baggage handling, all guided tours in English and all entrance fees.

Please note that prices are subject to change based on availability and seasonality, especially during the holiday season from December 20th through January 5th each year. Please contact a Yampu Travel Specialist for more information on best times to travel.

Trip Type:

All our trips are operated on a private basis unless specified otherwise. This is only a sample itinerary; your Yampu Tour Consultant will personalize this trip for you according to your available dates, interests and type of hotels. This is your trip and we will work on making it perfect!

Tour Itinerary

Day
1

Bogota

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

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

Day
2

Bogota City Tour

In the morning visit to the Colombian capital, starting in the Plaza de Bolívar (the city’s main square), which is surrounded by federal government buildings, and continues into the old colonial part of the city better known as "La Candelaria", the San Francisco Church and the Gold Museum (closed on Mondays). The tour finishes with a trip in a cable car to the top of the Monserrate Hill, which offers a spectacular view of the city.
Then enjoy lunch in Bogota.
Afterwards head north out of Bogota, cross the savanna landscape to the town of Zipaquira. Upon arrival, visit the fully functioning Salt Cathedral. This unique building was constructed underground in a former salt mine. The trip ends with a visit to Zipaquira’s charming central square. Return to the hotel for the evening.
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Bogota-PlazadeBolivar-Colombia
Day
3

Bogota – Armenia

Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Armenia. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. After check-in, take a private tour of the Quimbaya Museum to see a collection of gold, ceramic and wooden objects that date back to the first, local settlements.

Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Armenia. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. After check-in, take a private tour of the Quimbaya Museum to see a collection of gold, ceramic and wooden objects that date back to the first, local settlements.

Coffee-plant-rain-Colombia
Day
4

Filandia – Valle del Cocora – Salento – Pereira

After breakfast, take a private tour of Filandia (known for basket weaving and its “antioqueno” architecture) and the Cocora Valley. Located within the central mountain range, the Cocora Valley is part of Los Nevados National Park, home to the wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense), a tree that can grow to be as tall as 60 meters. The park also boasts many species of birds—such as the hummingbird, the orejiamarillo and the endangered, palmero parrot. The local roads are lined with colonial farm houses with architecture typical of Colombian coffee growing regions. The colonizers, mainly from Antioquia, built houses with wooden columns, tile roofs, and bamboo and mud walls painted in bright colors during the period of the so-called Antioquian colonization. Take a short walk to see the palms before continuing to Salento, characterized by colorful, colonial houses. Transfer to Pereira. ...read less

Day
5

Pereira – Chinchina – Coffee Process Farming Region – Pereira

Full-day read more...

Full-day private tour through coffee plantations set on steep hills. Visitone of the area’s coffee producing farms to see the plantation and production system (harvesting, sun drying and processing). (Harvesting in Colombia takes place year round though the principal harvesting months are: October, May and June.) Colombian plants (mainly of the Arabica variety) yield a delicate, light (and well-appreciated) coffee. The coffee process starts after the beans are placed in a germination facility (for about 75 days) and then put in plastic bags (partially exposed to the sun) until they germinate. The small trees are then planted, and they yield their first fruit in about two years. The fruit is harvested once turns bright red (the indication that it has matured). Once the fruit is picked, the pulp is removed, and the beans are washed and sun dried. (Now, most big producers use machinery to clean and dry the beans.) The beans are roasted on-site, sold in grains, ground and exported (ready for consumption). Visit to a “trilladora” after lunch to observe the manual selection of the coffee grains and take part in a tasting. ...read less

coffee-tasting-Colombia
Day
6

Pereira – Cartagena

Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Cartagena. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel.

Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Cartagena. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel.

Cartagena-night-Colombia
Day
7

Cartagena City Tour

After breakfast, set off on a private tour with a panoramic view of the city from the monastery and church of La Popa. 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 Galeon” 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 Lazaro hill in order to defend the city from pirate attacks.
From there, head to the old town to visit the convent of San Pedro Claver and the artisan center in Las Bovedas.
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Plaza-Santo-Domingo-Cartagena-Colombia
Day
8

Cartagena

Day at leisure. It is recommended to take an excursion to Islas del Rosario.

Day at leisure. It is recommended to take an excursion to Islas del Rosario.

Islas-del-Rosario-Colombia
Day
9

Cartagena – Tayrona Park

After breakfast, start in on a 4 to 5 hour trip towards Tayrona National Park in a private car. Arrival and check-in at Ecohabs.

After breakfast, start in on a 4 to 5 hour trip towards Tayrona National Park in a private car. Arrival and check-in at Ecohabs.

Ecohabs-Colombia
Day
10

Tayrona National Park

Day at leisure. Lie out on the beach, try snorkeling, go horseback riding, rent a bike or just kick back.

Day at leisure. Lie out on the beach, try snorkeling, go horseback riding, rent a bike or just kick back.

Tayrona-National-Park-Colombia
Day
11

Tayrona National Park

Another day at leisure.

Another day at leisure.

Juice-shack-Tayrona-National-Park-Colombia
Day
12

Tayrona Park – Santa Marta

After breakfast transfer to Santa Marta’s airport to take the flight to Bogota. Upon arrival international flight back home or overlap with an add-on of one’s choice.

After breakfast transfer to Santa Marta’s airport to take the flight to Bogota. Upon arrival international flight back home or overlap with an add-on of one’s choice.

Bogotá - Bogota, Colombia

Armenia, Quindio, Colombia

Filandia, Quindio, Colombia

Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia

Cartagena - Bolivar, Colombia

Tayrona National Park, Magdalena, Colombia

Places You'll See

  • Plaza-de-Bolivar-Bogota-Colombia

    Bogota

    Located in the center of Colombia, the city of Bogota appeals to all types. The La Candelaria area draws in the lovers of art and culture with its many museums including the Botero Museum and the Gold Museum. Other notable attractions include botanical garden Jose Celestino Mutis, the National Observatory, and over 100 shopping malls.

  • Coffee-plants-Colombia

    Armenia

    A sure cultural center is the city of Armenia. Located in the center of the coffee region, Armenia offers travelers many different cultural lessons with its museums and nearby destinations including the Colombian National Coffee Park.

  • Coffee-zone-Colombia

    Pereira

    Part of Colombia’s “Coffee Triangle”, Pereira is a perfect destination for a perfect cup of Joe. Along with coffee, the city is known for its public and private universities, so the students keep the place buzzing. To keep up with the excitement, visit the nightclubs of Avenida Simon Bolivar. Or for a quieter time, enjoy the Museum of Art, or the Orchids and Catleyas Garden.

  • Cartagena-Colombia

    Cartagena

    The walled city of Cartagena, with its cobblestone streets and gorgeous colonial architecture, is full of exciting and engaging sites and activities. Visit the Palacio de la Inquisicion, where the Spanish Inquisition condemned men accused of crimes against religion. Or spend the day at the Playa Blanca beach, enjoying the surf and the sand.

  • Tayrona-National-Park-Colombia

    Tayrona National Park

    Tayrona National Park is a protected area in northern Colombia, encompassing over 50 square miles of land and some of the loveliest coastlines of Columbia. With its two ecosystems between the sea and the mountains one may see some of the local wildlife including the elusive Titi Monkeys.

Hotel Options

3 Star Properties

Bogota : Hotel Casa Deco

Bogota : Abadia Colonial

Armenia : Bosques del Saman

Pereira : Hotel Movich Pereira

Cartagena : Hotel Bantu

Cartagena : Alfiz

Tayrona National Park : Playa Koralia

4 Star Properties

Bogota : Hotel de la Opera – standard Room

Bogota : Andino Royal

Bogota : Sonesta

Pereira : Hacienda San Jose (Suite)

Cartagena : Sofitel Santa Clara (Classic)

Cartagena : Hotel Casa Pestagua

Tayrona National Park : Cabanas Arecife

5 Star Properties

Bogota : The Orchids Real – Suite

Armenia : Las Camelias

Pereira : Sazagua

Cartagena : Ananda Hotel Boutique

Cartagena : Sofitel Santa Clara (Superior)

Cartagena : Casa del Arzobispado

Tayrona National Park : Ecohabs Tayrona

Luxury Properties

Cartagena : Hotel Casa San Agustin

Cartagena : Charleston Santa Teresa

Tayrona National Park : Hotel Merecumbe

Testimonials

Barbara

Traveled February 2016

First and foremost, we had a fabulous trip!

Thank you and the whole local team so much!! We truly appreciate the immediate attention and swift action due to the missed flight connection. It was handled very professionally with lots of communication, so we had no anxiety, and while we missed some sleep since we arrived in San Agustin quite late, we were very pleased not to have to sacrifice any of the planned tour as a result of it.

Traveled To

Edoardo

Traveled February 2016

It was a most memorable trip and we enjoyed every minute of it

It was a most memorable trip and we enjoyed every minute of it, thanks to the impeccable Yampu’s organization and the great support offered by your local agents.
Claudia is feeling much better and thinks it was thoughtful of you to send her some teas.

Traveled To


Claudia ed Edoardo

Traveled February, 2016

It was a most memorable trip

And we enjoyed every minute of it, thanks to the impeccable Yampu organization (it is not a novelty…) and the great support offered by your local agents. Excellent guides, interpreters and drivers. Remarkable choice of hotels. To sum it up: a fantastic trip. Would you please convey our deepest thanks to all of your local agents for their generous assistance and their willingness to satisfy our requests.
A special grateful thank you to you, Wendy. I did appreciate your unstinting support, your professional approach and your astonishing ability to interpret and develop your customer’s project.
We do not say addio but arrivederci, hoping to travel with Yampu again.

Traveled To

Let Us Customize This Trip For You

Our World Experts offer full support and dedication to customizing this tour to fit your wishlist - We can mix and match experiences, hotels and highlights to fit your budget and taste.

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