Colonial Cartagena and Tropical Tayrona National Park Tour | Yampu Tours

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Colonial Cartagena and Tropical Tayrona National Park Tour

PRIVATE TOUR - 6 DAY SAMPLE ITINERARY

FROM £$ 2402

Private Tour Highlights

  • Lapping up the extraordinary atmosphere of Cartagena, the picturesque walled city awash with cobbled streets and pretty plazas.
  • Hopping over to the beautiful Rosario Islands, a National Park brimming with vibrant marine life, for an exciting day of swimming and snorkeling.
  • 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.
Interested in this tour?   Let us build you a customized quote based on your budget.

Tour Overview

Explore two of Colombia’s gems: beautiful, architecturally rich Cartagena and the lush, bio-diverse jungles of Tayrona National Park with Yampu’s Colonial Cartagena and Tropical Tayrona National Park Tour. Four reasons why you should take a look at this Colombia tour: white Caribbean beaches, the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, a wide variety of wildlife, and a colonial city filled with historic streets, alley ways and stories.

This Colombia tour begins in Cartagena, a UNESCO World Heritage site (and for good reason). Known for its stunning (and well-preserved) architecture and its Caribbean coast, Cartagena is replete 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.

Next up: Tayrona (a national park with a notably high concentration of biodiversity). There, you’ll see 37,000 acres of unspoiled, white Caribbean beaches; the foothills of the Sierra Nevada; solitary bays; coral reefs and mangroves. On top of that, you’ll have the chance to check out Pueblito. The Tayrona, descendants of the Chibcha, were one of the most advanced pre-Columbian cultures. Pueblito showcases their masterful engineering and rich culture.

You’ll spend 3 days in Cartagena (where you’ll tour the old, walled city center), take a trip to the Rosario Islands, and then spend another Tayrona National Park. You may want to consider adding a few nights on in San Andrés Island or in Bogota.

Inclusions
Prices include: Domestic air transportation from Santa Marta to Bogotá, private airport transfers including one piece of luggage, land transfer 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 £$ 2402

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

Cartagena

Take the flight to Cartagena. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Cartagena is the fifth largest city in Colombia and a pivotal, Caribbean port city. 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.

Take the flight to Cartagena. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Cartagena is the fifth largest city in Colombia and a pivotal, Caribbean port city. 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.

Cartagena-night-Colombia
Day
2

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.) 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. Afternoon at leisure.

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. Afternoon at leisure.

Plaza-Santo-Domingo-Cartagena-Colombia
Day
3

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. There will be a chance to swim and snorkel. Lunch Included. Return to Cartagena.

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. There will be a chance to swim and snorkel. Lunch Included. Return to Cartagena.

Islas-del-Rosario-Colombia
Day
4

Cartagena – Tayrona National Park

4-5 hour transfer to Tayrona National Park. Upon arrival check-in at the Ecohabs. Dinner Included. Day at leisure.
Located on Colombia’s northern Atlantic coast near Santa Marta, Tayrona National Park is well-known for its wide variety of wildlife and expansive grounds.

4-5 hour transfer to Tayrona National Park. Upon arrival check-in at the Ecohabs. Dinner Included. Day at leisure.
Located on Colombia’s northern Atlantic coast near Santa Marta, Tayrona National Park is well-known for its wide variety of wildlife and expansive grounds.

Tayrona-National-Park-Colombia
Day
5

Tayrona National Park

Free day. Check out Pueblito's bridges, canals, terraces and ceramics; lie out on the beach; try snorkeling; go horseback riding; rent a bike; or just kick back.

Free day. Check out Pueblito's bridges, canals, terraces and ceramics; lie out on the beach; try snorkeling; go horseback riding; rent a bike; or just kick back.

Pueblito-Colombia-Tayrona
Day
6

Tayrona National Park – Santa Marta – Bogota

Morning transfer to Santa Marta airport to take the flight back to Bogota, to connect with the international flight back home (driver only).

Morning transfer to Santa Marta airport to take the flight back to Bogota, to connect with the international flight back home (driver only).

Cartagena - Bolivar, Colombia

Tayrona National Park, Magdalena, Colombia

Places You'll See

  • 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.

  • 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.

Hotel Options

3 Star Properties

Cartagena : Hotel Bantu

Cartagena : Alfiz

Tayrona National Park : Playa Koralia

4 Star Properties

Cartagena : Sofitel Santa Clara (Classic)

Cartagena : Hotel Casa Pestagua

Tayrona National Park : Cabanas Arecife

5 Star Properties

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

Caroline T.

Traveled January, 2016

Our trip was excellent!

Highlights from our trip: Bogota museums and the Sunday bike ride (absolutely fabulous guide for that), Hotel in Villa de Leyva (the best!), Medellin (wonderful Aquarium, also visit to Level 1 neighborhood, also great restaurant), Botero sculptures and museum, walking around in Cartegena, hotel in Cartegena, great restaurants in Cartegena, snorkeling.

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

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


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