Coffee Triangle of Colombia

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 church was built in 1539. The Capilla del Sagrario is located just beside the Cathedral and is a great example of religious architecture. It houses valuable pieces of colonial religious art by Gregorio Vasquez de Arce y Ceballos. 

The Capitol, built between 1847 and 1926, shows both renaissance and neoclassical influences with intricately carved stonework and tall columns. The central area of the Capitol, known as the Elliptic Hall, is where congress meets and is the Senate's actual chamber. Around the Plaza de Bolivar are buildings such as the Palacio de Justicia, the Mayor of Bogotá’s offices called the Edificio Liévano, the oldest school in the county called San Bartolome and the Casa de Los Comuneros. We will continue with the Botero Museum, a colonial house exhibiting some of Fernando Botero ́s works of art and in addition pieces from his own personal collection that includes works by Picasso, Renoir, Dalí Matisse, Monet and Giacometti.  We will then head to the Gold Museum which has a permanent exhibition of some 32,000 pieces of gold, 20,000 stones, ceramics and textiles, belonging to the Quimbaya, Calima, Tayrona, Sinu, Muisca, Tolima, Tumaco and Magdalena civilisations of Colombia. 

Transfer to the airport and flight to Pereira. Arrival, transfer and hotel check-in. 

Half-day visiting the coffee plantations along the steep hills typical of this area. On a secondary pathway view the green carpet of coffee plants that spread out as far as the horizon interrupted only by fincas and heliconia flowers. Here we will travel to the Hacienda San Alberto one of the traditional coffee estates, near the town of Buenavista Quindío. We will enjoy an introductory talk about coffee, its preparation, toasting, the characteristics of quality and the properties that allows for such a variety of coffees in the world. We will continue through the plantations, appreciating the coffee

pickers' work and understanding the famous characteristics of Colombian coffee. This land of volcanic terrain along the Central Andean Mountain Range has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

After breakfast, we will head out on a visit to the Cocora valley, located in the central mountains of the department of Quindío. This valley forms part of the Parque Nacional de Los Nevados and is ideal for marvelling at the “Quindian wax palm”, the national tree of Colombia. This tree can reach a massive 60 metres high and is the home of a number of bird species, such as the hummingbird and the endangered palm parrot.

We can get to the valley either by hiking or on horseback and we will head into the cloud forest to witness its incredible biodiversity of flora and fauna. On our way back to the hotel, we will make a stop off to visit the tallest wax palm in the world.  We will learn why the indigenous people of the region, worshipped this tree. In the afternoon, we will head to the traditional town of Salento to enjoy a city tour, visiting the Plaza de Bolívar with its colourful balconies, the Calle Real, the handicrafts shops and the Cocora mirador. We will then head to Filandia for the evening, a traditional Colombian town of colonial buildings, the Plaza de Bolivar and a number of coffee shops. This is the perfect place to absorb the traditional atmosphere and perhaps some local spirits before returning to the hotel in Pereira for the evening.

After breakfast, we will head to the airport for our flight to Cartagena. On arrival, we will be taken to our hotel for the evening.

Today, we will head out on a city tour and appreciate fabulous views from the Monasterio and Iglesia de La Popa. Constructed in 1606. This church and monastery are located above the city, offer a panoramic view not only of the city but also the coast and port, one of the most important in the Caribbean. We will then head to the San Felipe Fortress, erected in honour of the poet, Don Luis Carlos López, from the city. It was built on San Lázaro hill to defend the city from pirate attacks back in colonial times. Walk around the fortress and learn how the castle was constructed, the engineering feats, the tunnels, underground galleries and passageways. We will then visit the Ciudad Vieja (old city) with the Convent and Church of San Pedro, which was built in the middle of the 27th century We will end the tour with a visit to the handicrafts zone of the Bovedas, a collection of archways built into the city wall of Cartagena and that were used until the end of The 1700s to house weapons and then later as a prison in the 19th century.

Today is a free day to enjoy the sights of Cartagena

Today is our final day of this luxury tour. We will take you to the airport for your flight home or onto your next exciting destination.