Duration: 8 Days
PLEASE NOTE: PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF FLIGHTS WITHIN THIS ITINERARY
Colombia has been called the happiest country in the world, and this Independence by Globus holiday in South America is the happiest way to bring a smile to your face with expert Local Guides in Bogota, Pereira, and Cartagena. Peruse the impressive collection of pre-colonial gold in Bogotá’s glittering Gold Museum and take a fantastic ascent on a funicular ride to 10,000-foot Mount Monserrate for soaring views of the city below. Indulge in the I-time you deserve with a day to explore on your own. Take you pick from 50 fabulous museums, and the markets and shops you’ll find hard to resist. Consider a visit to the popular pilgrimage site at the underground salt cathedral of Zipaquirá. Next, fly to Pereira in the heart of the Coffee Triangle and see what’s brewing with a visit to a local coffee farm, plus many more awakening experiences in the Cocora Valley and Filandia. Hop a flight for Cartagena on the Caribbean Coast and join your Local Guide to explore the must-see streets and squares of this ancient city. Capture your imagination with pre-Colombian artifacts and pristine beaches on the Caribbean Sea. Magic!
Traveller Notes
- Transportation: As outlined in the day-by-day itinerary and private airport transfers to/from intra-holiday flights; intra-holiday flights not included
- Guides: In Bogotá, Pereira & Cartagena
- Maximum elevation on holiday is 8,660 ft.
- Maximum elevation on tour is 9,350 ft. in Quito.
Please note: Itinerary is based on 2024, and is subject to change. Full details will be confirmed in 2024.
Arrive in Bogotá, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.
Included private sightseeing starts in a lively local market in the heart of the city, where you will learn about traditional Colombian food.
Continue walking through the well-preserved colonial part of the city, La Candelaria, before visits to the Gold Museum, housing one of the largest collections of pre-Hispanic gold, and the Botero Museum, featuring famous paintings from well-known artist Fernando Botero.
Cap your day off with a funicular ride up to Mount Monserrate at 10,000 feet for expansive views of Bogotá. (B)
Today is free to explore the modern city of Bogotá on your own. (B)
Today's I-Time Tips
Today, perhaps take an optional tour to Zipaquirá's fascinating underground salt cathedral. More than 600 feet underground, you will find this monumental architectural masterpiece built inside a salt mine. Following the labyrinth of tunnels, you will find Stations of the Cross, angels, and the Madonna statue inside this unique underground cathedral. Today, it is still a popular pilgrimage site.
Board your flight for Pereira in the heart of the Coffee Triangle of Colombia, the third-largest producer of coffee in the world.
After lunch in a typical restaurant, your Local Host takes you on a visit to a coffee farm to learn about the process, from planting and roasting to tasting. Walk through lush plantations, uncover the secrets of the production process, and expand your palate with the help of local baristas who share the fine art of coffee tasting.
Stay in a beautiful hacienda dating back to 1888 for the next two nights. (B,L)
Drive through the region of Quindío to Cocora Valley with your Local Guide, where you will find Colombia's national tree, the Palma de Cera-the highest palm tree in the world. Help preserve this protected species of tree through a small ritual that includes planting one of these very rare palm trees.
Next, stop in Salento, a typical village of this region, where you have time to walk through the small but vibrant streets.
Continue to Filandia, another village boasting gorgeous views of the vast Andes Mountain range. (B,L)
Fly to Cartagena on the Caribbean coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of well-preserved colonial architecture.
Upon arrival, your private guided tour includes a visit to the Monastery of La Popa. Built on a hillside at the beginning of the 17th century, it features panoramic views of the city, its beaches, and the bay.
Next, tour San Felipe Fort, built to protect the city from pirates as well as the British and French. Head into the walled colonial city and see the brightly hued streets and plazas of Old Cartagena.
End the day with a tour of the San Pedro Claver Convent, housing impressive Pre-Columbian artifacts. (B)
Today is free to explore on your own. (B)
Today's I-Time Tips
Perhaps take an optional excursion to see the old colonial city by horse carriage. Ride past churches, squares, and old houses with balconies full of flowers.
Your holiday ends after breakfast this morning. (B)
