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  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 actual chamber for the Senate. 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 also 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.  

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 and Té de Bogotá. 

The legend of El Dorado came about from the ancient Muisca traditions. When the Muisca elected a new chief, he would be accompanied to the lake bathed in honey and then covered in gold dust, before being launched out into the lake on a raft, taking with him offerings of gold and precious stones to throw into the lake. This ceremony created the legend known as El Dorado. 

Visit the town of Guatavita and the lake of Tominé, striking with its white painted houses, beautiful square and tranquillity.

After lunch, we will head towards Zipaquirá to the spectacular Salt Cathedral. The name Zipaquirá refers to Zipa, the leader of the Muisca tribe and the chief of these rich salt mines. We will head through a tunnel in the cathedral, taking us to the dome. After we will reach the enormous cross carved into the saline rock and finally the three naves of the Cathedral that represent the birth, life and death of Christ. The central nave is the main altar, with the huge cross made by the Colombian artist Carlos Enrique Rodriguez. This is the largest cross made from salt in the world. We will then head to the salt mine. The trip ends at a water mirror where it is possible to see the spectacular visual effects of water on carved rock. 

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 massif and the source of the Magdalena River, an impressive rocky gorge that forces the river through it. We will then drive back to San Agustín for a short visit to the town.

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 geographical site with an impressive archaeological site. We will then head back to San Agustín for the evening.

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 baroque church in town, and the Panteón de Los Próceres. We will then head to the Religious Art Museum and the Casa Museo Mosquera.

You will have a free evening to enjoy this historic city.

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 Fortificaciones. You will then have a free afternoon for your chosen activities.

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!