Colombian Nature- Multi-Destination

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 Bogotá 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 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. 

After breakfast, we will head to the airport for your flight to La Macarena. We will visit the National Parks office for an introductory talk about the National Park of Sierra de La Macarena. Here you will have time to fill your water bottles and change clothes if needed before we head off to the Guayabero river. You will take a wooden boat with your luggage to begin your tour of the Caño Cristalitos, heading upstream and on the way, it is possible to spot many wildlife species. We will reach a farmer’s house where we will prepare for the first hike, a 25-minute ascent to the Mirador. Here the guide will explain about the different ecosystems and the social history of La Macarena. After lunch, we will hike 45 minutes’ hike along a semi-flat terrain till we reach Caño Cristalitos, where we can see the Macarenia clavigera, plant and bathe in the small pools. We will then return to our riverboat to head upstream to the La Manigua Lodge, where we will spend the evening.

Our start time will be dictated by the National parks, so that there are not too many people visiting at any given time. We will head downstream the Guayabero River to take a 40 minute 4x4 trip along an unpaved road to enter the National Park Sierra de La Macarena and Caño Cristales. We will hike along a trail in the National Park, spending approx. 7 hours in the park. We can hike, enjoy lunch, go bathing in the pools, visit waterfalls and enjoy the pristine river. At the end of the hike, we will return along the same route to La Manigua Lodge. In the evening we will enjoy a cultural activity on the river, enjoying a show with regional music.

After breakfast, we will head out once more along the Guayabero river to visit the Raudan de Angosturas. We will then hike for 90-minutes to the Ciudad de Piedra, a rock labyrinth and a valley decorated with rock formations that only the wind and the water could have sculpted. We will be able to bathe at the Caño El Encanto and appreciate the stunning landscapes of the valley. We will then return along the same route to the Lodge. In the evening we will enjoy a chocolate workshop in the community.

After breakfast, we will head out on a horse riding trip. We will enjoy a 45-minute ride along “morichales” and natural savannahs till we arrive at Caño Piedra. If we have enough time, we can bathe in the natural pool. We will then return to the lodge to collect our belongings and return by boat to La Macarena.  We will take you to the airport for the next flight to Bogotá and the connecting flight to Medellin.

Green hills surround the impressive city

of Medellín and you can experience Andean nature just a few minutes away. Today we will hike along an eco-trail that will take you to “La Miel” waterfall. The hike takes about 90 minutes along a small river to reach this waterfall through a dense cloud forest. During the hike, you will cross the river several times and can bathe in the waterfall to freshen up afterwards. Enjoy this natural activity, admiring the Andean flora and fauna offered by the La Miel nature reserve.

 After breakfast, we will leave Medellín, heading towards the town of Guatapé, to visit the enormous rock of Piedra El Peñol. We will pass through the incredible scenery of Antioquia along the way to Guatapé The town has a reservoir created by the Colombian government for a hydro-electric dam. In the middle of the reservoir is where we can find the massive  Peñol Rock, thought to be a meteorite due to its size.  There is an optional walk up the 654 steps to view the entire Guatapé region. We will then visit the picturesque village of Guatapé where all of the houses are painted in pastel hues, contrasting with the green valley.  After lunch, we will tour the Guatapé reservoir by boat, before returning to Medellin.

After breakfast, we will head to The Olaya Herrera Aiport for the flight to Nuquí. On arrival, we will head to the dock for a boat transfer to La Kuka. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a hike to the Cascada del Amor waterfall. This stroll in the jungle will take us to a paradise where crystal clear waters tumble over a 4m high waterfall. Finally, we can enjoy the deserted beaches near the river before returning to our hotel for the evening.

Humpback whales or “yubartas” arrive in the Colombian Pacific every year between July and October to mate and give birth to their young. Being a protected area and nature reserve, this is a privileged site for observing the whales from the beaches or from the comfort of your hammock. Today, we will leave by boat to do some whale watching, either morning or afternoon, depending on where the whales have been sighted. The rest of the day free to enjoy the beach and the stunning natural environment that surrounds us. 

In the morning, we will enjoy a guided walk to a native community. Along the Chori River, there is an indigenous community of 450 natives of the Emberá tribe. Here you can talk with the natives, visit their city, learn about their fascinating culture and buy their souvenirs for a totally authentic experience.

After breakfast, we will head out by boat to Nuquí and on to the airport for our flight back to Medellín. On arrival, we will head to the domestic airport for our flight to Bogotá and marking the end of this incredible nature tour of Colombia.