Private Tour Highlights
- Stepping underground to visit the fascinating and beautifully illuminated Salt Cathedral, built in the caverns of a former salt mine.
- Lapping up the extraordinary atmosphere of Cartagena, the picturesque walled city awash with cobbled streets and pretty plazas.
- Picking up locally made souvenirs at the bazaars of Las Bóvedas (The Dungeons), formerly an underground prison during the 19th century civil wars.
- 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.
- Admiring sweeping views of Bogotá and beyond from the top of Monserrate Hill, reached by cable car and promising unforgettable vistas.
Tour Overview
Before too many other travelers catch on to Colombia, see three of the most exceptional and distinctive Colombian national highlights with Yampu’s Colombia Highlights Vacation! Bogotá, a capital city rife with culture and spirit; Cartagena, an archetypal Colombian city, and a UNESCO World Heritage site; and Tayrona a national park with a notably high concentration of biodiversity, where you’ll have 37,000 acres of white Caribbean beaches and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada at your feet.
During your 4 days in Bogotá, you’ll visit the Gold Museum, Monserrate, Plaza Bolívar, La Candelaria and Zipaquirá’s Underground Salt Cathedral, and after that, during your 3 days in Cartagena you’ll see the walled city of Old Cartagena, and you’ll have the option to see the Rosario Islands (or the Totumo Volcano).
Then you’ll take a 5-hour transfer from Cartagena to Tayrona National Park, located on Colombia’s northern Atlantic coast near Santa Marta. The main entrance to the park at El Zaino leads to solitary bays, unspoiled beaches, coral reefs, mangroves and mountains.
Inclusions
*A Yellow Fever vaccine is recommended to enter Tayrona National Park.
Package Price: From £$ 2850
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
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.
City tour of Bogota with Monserrate
First, read more...
First, 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, 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 Simon Bolivar, El Libertador. Originally called Plaza Mayor, it was used for civil and military events and as a marketplace, bull ring and execution platform.
After leaving this area, continue on to la Quinta de Bolivar, the country house of Simon Bolivar. 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: Travel by cable car up to 10,500 feet to the top of the Mountain that looks over Bogota; museums closed on Monday.
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Zipaquira's Underground Salt Cathedral
While read more...
While heading to the Salt Cathedral, 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. The visit there begins in a tunnel that exhibits the fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross and leads to the dome from which one can observe the great cross sculpted in low relief. 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. ...read less
Bogota – Cartagena
Transfer read more...
Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Cartagena. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Cartagena is the fifth largest city in Colombia and a pivotal, 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.
Afternoon 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.) 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 Bóvedas (The Dungeons), where one can find hand-crafted souvenirs.
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Cartagena
Day set aside for personal activities. A full-day tour of Rosario Islands (South of the Bay of Cartagena) is highly recommended.
Day set aside for personal activities. A full-day tour of Rosario Islands (South of the Bay of Cartagena) is highly recommended.
Cartagena – Tayrona National Park
After breakfast 4-5 hour private transfer to Tayrona National Park. Upon arrival check-in at Ecohabs. Afternoon at leisure.
Tayrona National Park, located on Colombia's northern Atlantic coast near Santa Marta, boasts expansive grounds and high concentration of biodiversity.
After breakfast 4-5 hour private transfer to Tayrona National Park. Upon arrival check-in at Ecohabs. Afternoon at leisure.
Tayrona National Park, located on Colombia's northern Atlantic coast near Santa Marta, boasts expansive grounds and high concentration of biodiversity.
Tayrona National Park
Free day. Explore Pueblito, lie out on the beach, try snorkeling, go horseback riding, rent a bike or just kick back.
Free day. Explore Pueblito, lie out on the beach, try snorkeling, go horseback riding, rent a bike or just kick back.
Tayrona National Park – Santa Marta – Bogota
Morning transfer to Santa Marta airport after breakfast followed by a connection to Bogota to take flight back home or overlap with an add-on of one’s choice.
Morning transfer to Santa Marta airport after breakfast followed by a connection to Bogota to take flight back home or overlap with an add-on of one’s choice.
Bogotá - Bogota, Colombia
Cartagena - Bolivar, Colombia
Tayrona National Park, Magdalena, Colombia
Places You'll See
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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.
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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.
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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.
Media Gallery
Hotel Options
3 Star Properties
Hotel Casa Deco
Bogota , COLOMBIA
Hotel Casa Deco emerges in a wonderful Decó refurbished building. The inside has a pleasant Italian touch with lovely details. It offers the perfect combination between discrete service with a personal, cozy and artistic touch. The interior of the hotel has generous spaces, wooden floors, big windows and balconies to look out over the nearby pedestrian streets. The hotel has 21 rooms, each with its own color and fully equipped with Italian furniture, private bathroom, Cable TV, WIFI and Room service 24 hours. The social areas include a lovely tearoom, a breakfast lounge with fireplace and an amazing terrace where guests can have a drink at the bar while enjoying a breathtaking view.
Abadia Colonial
Bogota , COLOMBIA
The Abadia Colonial is an intimate hotel in La Candelaria. The hotel has just 12 elegant and tidy, colonial style rooms, with colorful bedding. They are equipped with heating, Cable TV, Wi-Fi, private bathrooms, and large windows making them bright. The hotel also offers an elegant and inviting restaurant with views of Monserrate Hill, one of the main touristic attraction of the town. The restaurant serves charming and delicious Italian cooking, as well as traditional Colombian dishes. Guests can also enjoy a daily American style breakfast.
Hotel Bantu
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
The Bantú by Faranda Boutique invites guests to discover one of the most amazing accommodations in the Caribbean, full of warmth and authenticity. A charming boutique hotel in the historic center of Cartagena de Indias, the Colombian colonial city par excellence. Bantú By Faranda Boutique offers an avant garde interior design, eighteenth-century colonial architecture and unique services such as a colonial courtyard, a chill-out terrace, solarium area and swimming pool, spa, sauna, Jacuzzi, and a bar and lounge area. The Cabildo restaurant offers Caribbean and Colombian cuisine.
Alfiz
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
The Alfiz Hotel is located in a XVII century colonial house in Cartagena’s historical quarter. The restoration and decorative design of the eight rooms take in to account the most important periods of Cartagena’s history in order to provide a stylish getaway and encounter with Colombia’s historic city. The hotel offers 8 rooms featuring modern comforts such as air conditioning, Satellite TV, Wi-Fi, and a private bathroom. The hotel also features a beautiful garden, a library, a rooftop terrace, and an outdoor pool. Guests can also enjoy a complimentary breakfast, served daily, a coffee shop, and a bar and lounge area.
Tayrona National Park : Playa Koralia
Playa Koralia
Tayrona National Park , COLOMBIA
Playa Koralia is a unique nature hotel on the Caribbean coast near Santa Marta, Colombia. Nestled among protective palms, the dominant architectural element is nature herself. Particular attention has been given to the interior design, including the murals and the mosaics that decorate each individual habitation individually. The hotel offers 17 cabins, each one equipped with a fan, a hammock, and a private bathroom. The hotel also features a beach front bar, an outdoor dining area, free Wi-Fi, and the renowned Spa Koralia offering a variety of treatments with a special focus on healing and beauty.
4 Star Properties
Bogota : Hotel de la Opera – standard Room
Hotel de la Opera – standard Room
Bogota , COLOMBIA
The Hotel de la Opera is located in La Candelaria, next to the Cristobal Colon Theater. The generous interior spaces have been beautifully renovated and designed to provide some of the best accommodation in the city in a magnificent historic setting. Guests can enjoy the exquisite Mediterranean cuisine at La Scala, or regional cuisine at El Mirador. The Hotel de la Opera has 42 rooms decorated with fine Italian-made furniture, central heating, Wi-Fi, cable TV, minibars, and all the comforts of the best luxury boutique hotels. Guests can also enjoy services such as a bar and lounge, and a Thermae Spa offering body treatments and therapies.
Andino Royal
Bogota , COLOMBIA
The Andino Royal Hotel, offers a cozy atmosphere that make guests feel right at home. Located in a landscape of business, meeting and pleasure travel pursuits. This hotel stands in a beautiful cobblestone street that invites guests to take walks and visit the various famous boutiques, upscale restaurants, and luxury shopping centers. The 70 comfortable rooms are specially designed for business and leisure. Among the services and amenities offered are: complimentary buffet breakfast, complimentary wireless Internet access throughout the property, 24 hour Business Center, Restaurant, 24 hour rooms service, meeting facilities, dry cleaning service, gym and sauna.
Sonesta
Bogota , COLOMBIA
Sonesta Hotel Bogota is a modern and exclusive hotel in northern Bogota, with a cutting edge design and sophisticated customized service. The hotel has 126 spacious and contemporary rooms offering oversized soundproofed windows and natural light, writing desk, 40″ LED Cable TV, complimentary high speed Internet access, minibar, and private bathroom. The hotel also features a charming fireplace in the lobby, a fitness center, therapeutic massage treatments, and a lobby bar. Restaurant Cook’s brings together the most authentic taste of Colombia to a higher level.
Cartagena : Sofitel Santa Clara (Classic)
Sofitel Santa Clara (Classic)
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
A perfect blend of vintage and contemporary, striking a balance between art and beauty to accommodate modernity and technology in unique surroundings. Each detail tells a story. The Sofitel Santa Clara hotel offers the perfect combination of age-old tradition, local hospitality and French luxury. The hotel offers 122 rooms, including 19 suites. With its blend of colonial architecture and modern comforts, the hotel offers comfortable rooms, personalized service, gourmet cuisine, a first-class spa, meeting rooms and cutting-edge technology for events, conventions and weddings.
Cartagena : Hotel Casa Pestagua
Hotel Casa Pestagua
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
Casa Pestagua Hotel Boutique Spa, known as “the most beautiful house in Cartagena”, belonged to the 18th Century Count of Pestagua. Distinguished by its exquisite architectural and artistic harmony, today the Casa Pestagua Hotel Boutique Spa offers luxury hotel services, with the comfort and technology expected by the most demanding hotel standards. Casa Pestagua Hotel Boutique Spa is a boutique hotel with its exclusive offer of 11 rooms housed in spacious grounds, worthy of a first rate luxury hotel. Enjoy the privilege of being attended to in the Casa Pestagua Hotel Boutique Spa and receiving a totally personalized service in an oasis of peace and tranquility.
5 Star Properties
Bogota : The Orchids Real – Suite
The Orchids Real – Suite
Bogota , COLOMBIA
Strategically located in the heart of the cultural and diplomatic life of Bogota, the Orchid Hotel is a neoclassical house that dates back to 1892 and showcases a welcoming contrast between functionality and sophistication. The backyard invites a haven of fresh air and sunshine with a water fountain. All the suites at The Orchids Hotel have generous and inviting spaces, full of the sophistication and comfort of a modern hotel, and are equipped with fireplaces, internet, TVs, and private bathrooms. Besides the fine cuisine, The Orchids Hotel provides the option of savoring the well-known gastronomy of its associate Chef Harry Sasson.
Bogota : Sofitel Bogota Victoria Regia – Superior Room
Sofitel Bogota Victoria Regia – Superior Room
Bogota , COLOMBIA
The name Victoria Regia refers to an elegant Colombian water lily that floats in the Amazon and it is known for the strength of its leaves. The hotel reflects its beauty and vigor. True to its architectural concept of elegant lines and rich materials, this beautiful hotel is the ideal combination of the classic and contemporary. Renowned architect Miguel Soto has achieved a fine blend of elegant and modern French style, with characteristic local features, creating a welcoming and distinctive design. The hotel’s 102 rooms, including 5 private suites, offer a luxurious stay. The gourmet restaurant awakens the culinary senses and the three French-style meeting rooms are perfect for any event.
Cartagena : Ananda Hotel Boutique
Ananda Hotel Boutique
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
Ananda Hotel Boutique is located in the heart of the walled city of Cartagena de Indias. The hotel offers 23 spacious rooms, each one individually furnished and equipped with free Wi-Fi, Cable TV, minibars, and private bathrooms. The hotel also features a beautiful outdoor pool, an outdoor Jacuzzi with a comfortable lounge area, a massage room for total relaxation, and a gorgeous rooftop terrace. Carmen Cartagena offers contemporary cuisine with a fusion of ingredients and preparations from all over the world.
Cartagena : Sofitel Santa Clara (Superior)
Sofitel Santa Clara (Superior)
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
A perfect blend of vintage and contemporary, striking a balance between art and beauty to accommodate modernity and technology in unique surroundings. Each detail tells a story. The Sofitel Santa Clara hotel offers the perfect combination of age-old tradition, local hospitality and French luxury. The hotel offers 122 rooms, including 19 suites. With its blend of colonial architecture and modern comforts, the hotel offers comfortable rooms, personalized service, gourmet cuisine, a first-class spa, meeting rooms and cutting-edge technology for events, conventions and weddings.
Cartagena : Casa del Arzobispado
Casa del Arzobispado
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
Located in the center of the walled city of Cartagena de Indias, Casa del Arzobispado is the perfect retreat to relax, and soak up the charm of the city. At Casa del Arzobispado, guests can experience the magic and style of colonial times within the original architecture of the beautiful house. The 10 comfortable and attractive rooms feature antique pieces and modern amenities needed to provide the perfect combination of rest and relaxation in a luxurious atmosphere. The hotel also offers an outdoor pool with Jacuzzi, a steam room, and a solarium. There is also a complimentary breakfast served daily, as well as an onsite restaurant serving regional cuisine.
Tayrona National Park : Ecohabs Tayrona
Ecohabs Tayrona
Tayrona National Park , COLOMBIA
Ecohabs Tayrona provides the most comfortable accommodations in the Tayrona National Park. Located on the beautiful Cañaveral Beach, travelers can enjoy peace and privacy in the cozy bungalows, built with native wood. Each bungalow provides a great view of the Caribbean Sea and the green landscape. The ecohabs offer 18 individually named huts, each with a terrace, a seating area, hammocks, and private shower. From Ecohabs Tayrona guests may easily explore the rest of Tayrona National Park, choosing from a variety of activities such as bird watching, trekking to the ancient ruins of the Tayrona tribes, or simply taking long walks along the different beaches of the park.
Luxury Properties
Bogota : Sofitel Bogota Victoria Regia – Suite
Sofitel Bogota Victoria Regia – Suite
Bogota , COLOMBIA
The name Victoria Regia refers to an elegant Colombian water lily that floats in the Amazon and it is known for the strength of its leaves. The hotel reflects its beauty and vigor. True to its architectural concept of elegant lines and rich materials, this five-star hotel is the ideal combination of the classic and contemporary. Renowned architect Miguel Soto has achieved a fine blend of elegant and modern French style, with characteristic local features, creating a welcoming and distinctive design. The hotel’s 102 rooms, including 5 private suites, offer a luxurious stay. The gourmet restaurant awakens the culinary senses and the three French-style meeting rooms are perfect for any event.
Bogota : Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogota
Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogota
Bogota , COLOMBIA
With its stone columns and handsome brick façade, Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogotá has been declared a monument of cultural interest by the Colombian Ministry of Culture. Step through the doors and be enveloped in welcoming residential comfort, with Spanish colonial accents. The Hotel’s flagship restaurant and bar adds an elegant new destination to the exciting Bogota restaurant scene in the Zona G, featuring the best of Spanish cuisine and cutting-edge mixology. Its lively streetside terrace and sheltered courtyard will feature some of the district’s most desired tables. All this is complemented by a serene and intimate spa and the intuitive, personalized care for which Four Seasons is known.
Cartagena : Hotel Casa San Agustin
Hotel Casa San Agustin
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
A luxurious small hotel lovingly restored and reimagined for a new generation of travelers, exquisite Casa San Agustín echoes Cartagena’s fresh contemporary style and colorful Caribbean sensibility. From original frescoes in the library to centuries-old wood-beamed ceilings in the guest rooms, Casa San Agustín’s art and architecture evoke the city’s rich history as 17th century Spanish stronghold. The hotel’s 30 beautifully decorated guest rooms and spacious suites showcase an authentic Colombian style while seamlessly incorporating the modern services and amenities that contemporary travelers seek. Guests can also enjoy the swimming pool with poolside bar, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Cartagena : Charleston Santa Teresa
Charleston Santa Teresa
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
Charleston Santa Teresa, in Colombia’s Caribbean coast, is where a regal mix of historical grace and contemporary cool, meets the warmth of Colombian hospitality. After exploring the sites of the city, relax in the sumptuous and chic guest rooms, unwind in Cartagena’s most luxurious hotel spa offering number of therapies and body treatments, and then experience the magic of a Caribbean sunset over dinner in La Terrazza, one of the best restaurants in Cartagena serving a daily buffet breakfast as well as a broad menu with unique flavors.
Tayrona National Park : Hotel Merecumbe
Hotel Merecumbe
Tayrona National Park , COLOMBIA
For travelers who want a quiet vacation on the beach, Merecume Hotel is the perfect place to “unplug” from daily life. The rooms of this luxury hotel are ecohab style, with minimalist architecture and design. They are built bioclimatically with palm roofs and wood, ensuring cool nights, lulled by songs of crickets, frogs and cicadas. Merecumbre features Wi-Fi in public areas, a luxurious massage room on the beach offering therapeutic and restorative treatments, a daily breakfast, and a restaurant serving cuisine made with natural, fresh ingredients.
Testimonials
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
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
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.
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