Best of Colombia

Our adventure starts in Medellín, nicknamed the City of Eternal Spring thanks to a year-round agreeable climate. This modern metropolis is cradled by the Andes mountains and combines innovative architecture, beautiful sculptures (including many by the renowned Colombian artist Fernando Botero), and thought-provoking street art. Once synonymous with drug lord Pablo Escobar, it has transformed in recent years into one of the most exciting cities in Latin America. We can check into our hotel this afternoon or evening. Stay: Café Hotel by Lars (or similar).

Today we have a half-day tour of Medellín, focussing on how it transformed from ‘the most dangerous city in the world' to the thriving, innovative hub we see today. At the beginning of the Nineties, the hunt for Pablo Escobar, head of the Medellín cartel, reached its peak, only ending when he was shot dead on a roof by special forces in 1993. From 2002, Medellín gradually began to change for the better and it is now considered one of the most innovative metropolises in the world.

We embark on a fascinating tour of Medellín's past and present and learn more about its transformation. We visit Plaza Botero and the city centre, take a ride on the metro and metrocable, and visit Comuna 13, once a dangerous neighbourhood, but now a living gallery packed with incredible street art murals. Stay: Café Hotel by Lars (or similar) (B).

We are driven to the airport today for our flight (1hr 20min) from Medellín to the city of Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast. We take a morning flight (subject to schedules and availability) then transfer about 1hr 30min to our accommodation surrounded by tropical gardens, close to the beach and Tayrona National Natural Park. We have the afternoon free to relax. Stay: Villa Maria Tayrona (or similar) (B).

In the morning, we drive a short way along the Caribbean coast to El Zaino, the main entrance to Tayrona National Natural Park.

Following a walk, we reach Cañaveral beach, a wild and beautiful place; from the top of a small hill, we can enjoy a spectacular view of the sea. The tour continues with a one-hour hike through the tropical forest to Arrecife, another beach. There is plenty of time to have lunch at a restaurant (not included). We continue our trek for another hour, passing beaches such as Arenillas, La Piscina and Cabo San Juan – where we have time for a well-deserved swim and a relax on the palm-backed sands.

We have about four hours of walking today. The trail ascends and descends partly over steps and wooden planks and takes you through tropical forest with very high temperatures and humidity. Be sure to bring appropriate footwear (eg walking shoes), sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water. Due to strong currents, many beaches in Tayrona are unsafe for swimming. Please consult your tour leader before swimming. Stay: Villa Maria Tayrona (or similar) (B).

We visit Taironaka today, a nature reserve in the rainforest-clad foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Ruins of the Tayrona civilisation can be seen here and the descendants of the Tayrona, the Kogi people, still live in the area. Howler monkeys roam the treetops, toucans and other exotic birds hide in the branches, and tropical flowers line the paths. We drive from our hotel to the Don Diego riverbank. We board a small boat and head upstream to the reserve. In the small Tayrona Museum, we have an introduction to the indigenous culture and history of the region.

We visit a typical Kogi house (known as a bohío), the prehispanic stone terraces of the Tayrona and hike to a viewpoint (approximately 1hr 30min). We then enter the forest and follow a path along the Don Diego River. We float gently down the river in tubes until we reach the sea (you may walk along the riverbank if you prefer not to join this activity). Here we have time to relax, enjoy the surroundings and the beautiful scenery. Stay: Villa Maria Tayrona (or similar) (B).

We start our day by driving (1hr 30min) to the village of Minca, in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta at 1,970ft (600m) above sea level. From here, we visit an organic coffee farm at 2,950ft (900m) and learn about coffee production. Fortified by the caffeine, we visit Don Camaritos, a local who prepares us some delicious smoked fish and sausages. A short 4x4 ride and hike brings us to the Marinka Waterfalls in the jungle, where we can take a refreshing dip. We have a short tour of Minca before driving to Cartagena, about five hours' away, arriving in the evening. Stay: Hotel Monterrey (or similar) (B).

Cartagena is packed with stories, fascinating sites and colonial architecture. We have a half-day walking tour through the picturesque old town, a Unesco World Heritage site. We pass through cobbled streets and squares and along the old city walls. The afternoon is free. Stay: Hotel Monterrey (or similar) (B).

We travel out of Cartagena today to visit San Basilio de Palenque, about two hours' away. Founded in 1603 by Benkos Biohó, a man who escaped slavery, it was the first free African town in the Americas. Here, the Afro-Colombian population still preserve their Creole language, Palenquero, which is considered the only Spanish-based creole language still alive. The town was recognised by Unesco in 2005 as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The monuments, music and dance styles bear witness to a rich history. A guide from the community will teach us some basic Palenquero words and we learn about the history of San Basilio.

After a walk through the town, we listen to the students of the Batata music school. The rhythms, including mapalé and bullerengue, have strongly influenced the musical identity of the Colombian Caribbean. We also try playing some of the traditional instruments. After our visit, we return to Cartagena. Stay: Hotel Monterrey (or similar) (B).

Our adventure ends in Cartagena this morning. If you'd like a bit more time in this intoxicating city, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay (B).