Bogotá to Cartagena - A Historical Adventure

Today, we will head out on a half-day visit to the historical centre of Bogota, also known as La Candelaria. This historical suburb is of great significance to the country ́ due to its cultural heritage and its stunning Spanish colonial architecture. The city’s main Plaza is the Plaza de Bolivar, where the statue of Simon Bolivar is found.  The plaza was originally used for civil and military purposes The Cathedral found on the eastern side of the plaza is constructed on the same spot where the  first-ever  churc...

Today we will leave Bogotá, passing through the towns of Tocancipá and Gachancipá, to reach the legendary Guatavita Lake. The lake is located within the reserve of Cacique Guatavita and Cuchilla de Peñas Blancas. This forest steeped in mystery was inhabited by the Muisca people, and we can observe a great variety of flora and fauna native to high - altitude Andean woodlands. Birdlife includes hummingbirds, hawks and blackbirds flying between the different native trees, such as Mano de Oso, Uvos de Monte an...

After breakfast, we will head to the local airport for our flight to Neiva, then on to the town of Villa Vieja to the Paleontology Museum. We will then continue through the impressive Tatacoa Desert formed by years of erosion. We will arrive at our final destination of San Agustín, appreciating along the way, the extensive floodplains of the Magdalena River valley.

After breakfast, we will head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of The San Agustín Archeological Park. Here we can see the enormous stone statues and the impressive raised plateaus, specifically built to observe the stone monuments and passing over sacred grounds. We will walk on to the ceremonial Fuente de Lavapatas before heading up the hill to the Lavapatas terrace, with its remarkable views over the surrounding countryside. We will also visit the small museum. In the afternoon, we will head to the wonderful Colombian massi...

Today we will head out to the rural town of Isnos to see some more Archaeological Parks such as the Alto de Los Ídolos and the Alto de Las Piedras. Here, some well-preserved tombs still show some of the original paintwork and some of the largest stone figures found to this day. Along the way, we can see breathtaking views of the Macizo Colombiano and the incredible waterfalls of The Salto del Mortiño and The Salto de Bordones. We will then visit La Chaquira, on the edge of a river canyon, combining a beautiful geographi...

After breakfast, we will drive to Popayán, the capital of the department of Cauca. The spectacular scenery will accompany us on the journey, with the Andean mountains and high-altitude plains.

Today we will visit the historical centre of Popayan founded in 1537. All around the Parque Caldas, we can appreciate the main religious and government buildings, as well as the Torre del Reloj, considered one of the main sites of the city. We will then head towards the Puente de Humilladero, built in 1873 to allow access from the city centre to El Callejón, the Iglesia de Santo Domingo, a baroque style church designed by the Spanish architect Antonio García, the Iglesia de San Francisco, considered the most beautiful b...

After breakfast, we will go to the local airport for our flight to Cartagena vía Bogota.

Today, we will head to Cartagena's colonial district, starting in The Parque Bolívar, which is surrounded by large trees, four impressive fountains and a statue of El Libertador as the centrepiece. Around the square, the Gold Museum exhibits pre-Hispanic objects, and the Palace of the Inquisition, with its impressive baroque entrance. This building housed the prison and torture chambers for the alleged opponents of the Catholic Church. The visit continues to the Santo Domingo church and the cathedral to end at the Museo de Las...

Free day for your chosen activities. We recommend a visit to the Archipiélago del Rosario.

Today is our final day and after breakfast, we will head to the airport for our flight to Bogotá, then your onward destination, marking the end of this historic journey!