Colombia: Andean Vistas to Guatapé & the Caribbean

From soaring Andean peaks and the vibrant capital of Bogotá to the unspoiled Caribbean coast, Colombia’s beating heart pushes you to step out of your comfort zone. As you make your way to the city centre, scan the streets lined with colourful buildings awash with eye-catching art, and absorb the unique mix of history and modernity here. We welcome you to Colombia, and we invite you to open yourself up to curiosity as you traverse this country’s diverse lands filled with natural beauty and friendly people. Arrive to Bogotá at any time and transfer to your hotel. Meet your fellow group members at the welcome meeting in the evening and get all the important information about the adventure ahead. Afterwards, head to a nearby restaurant for a delicious welcome dinner with new friends.

Included Experiences

• Arrival Transfer: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
• Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

The clouds that typically engulf Colombia’s mountainous Caldas province offer wet conditions and cold nights that have proven to be the perfect climate for coffee plants to thrive. Search for hints of distinctive flavours as you sip various kinds of beans and roasts. You’ll be able to walk off that coffee buzz on a tour of the historic centre of the city, featuring splendid views and a mix of old and new along its streets. Set off to explore Bogotá today with a local expert and, later, on your own. The morning begins with a coffee tasting demonstration featuring authentic Colombian brew, followed by a walking tour of the charming La Candelaria neighborhood—a must-see for any culture or history lover. Enjoy a delicious lunch at a lively local restaurant before taking a free afternoon to visit museums or take a cable car ride up Monserrate Hill.

Included Experiences

• Colombian Coffee Tasting Immersion Experience: Begin your coffee immersion experience with a visit to a nearby speciality coffee shop. Here we embark on a sensory exercise with a local expert to understand the cultivation, selection, and production of these sought after beans. This hands-on experience allows you to learn why Colombian coffee is considered some of the best in the world, and better understand the role it plays in the culture of the region. Your exposure to this fascinating world of high-end coffee will conclude with a tasting of alternative brewing methods.
• La Candelaria Neighbourhood Walking Tour: Discover the heart of Bogotá in the charming La Candelaria neighbourhood. Wander through Carrera Séptima, Plaza de Bolívar, Coliseo Street, Chorro de Quevedo, and La Concordia Market Square. From cobblestone streets to well-preserved colonial buildings you'll be able to see the sites with your own eyes, and listen to fascinating tales about the town's origin, legends, and other key historical moments. This area is a must-visit for any culture and history lover, offering a laid-back way to take in Bogota's cultural gems.
• Free Time: After lunch, the afternoon is yours to do as you wish. Choose between museum visits and individual exploration of this lively Colombian capital city!

Optional Experiences

• Gold Museum Visit: Explore this veritable treasure trove! Be amazed by the Bogotá Gold Museum’s collection of over 30,000 gold pieces in addition to thousands of bone, stone, ceramic, and textile artifacts from 13 different pre-Hispanic societies.
• Monserrate Hill Cable Car: Ride the cable car up the hill for spectacular views of the city.
• National Museum of Colombia Visit: Visit the largest museum in the country and one of the oldest on the continent. Built in 1823 and originally used as a prison, the National Museum of Colombia houses a collection of over 20,000 pieces. Explore exhibits of archeological and ethnographic artifacts and admire works of art by masters including Andrés de Santa María and Fernando Botero.

Shrouded in myth, legend and a troubled history, Medellín has moved beyond its negative stereotypes to become a hub of innovation and the arts, with a very lively food and nightlife scene. Embark on a culinary journey as you dive into a traditional lunch that celebrates the variety and history of paisa cuisine. Fly to Medellín and sample Paisa cuisine during an included lunch at a speciality restaurant focusing on preserving long standing culinary traditions before transferring to your hotel in the city. There will be free time to explore and relax.

Included Experiences

• Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
• Lunch at Hacienda Origen: Sit down for lunch at Hacienda Origen. This is a paisa cuisine speciality restaurant focused on preserving the traditions of the local community by offering Colombian staple dishes like Bandeja paisa, Patacones, and much more. They celebrate their cultural identity and source products directly from local farmers and are committed to using eco-friendly materials in their packaging.
• Free Time: Spend an evening at your leisure and opt to find a local spot for dinner in this vibrant city.

Colombia consistently produces world-class professional cycling athletes and you may well see them riding the hills of Medellín over your time here. A great way to discover any city, you'll mount an e-bike and pedal past tree-lined parks and vibrant neighbourhoods, stopping at some of the highlights and hidden gems along the way. Then, discover another neighborhood of Medellín that showcases its innovation, art and city planning. Begin the morning with an e-bike tour of downtown Medellín led by a local guide to uncover history, art, and legends. Later, visit the Comuna 13 neighbourhood on a private tour before a free evening at your leisure.

Included Experiences

• Green Bike: Hop on an e-bike and pedal around Medellín with access to hidden back roads, colourful neighbourhoods, quiet parks, and local knowledge about the best routes through the city. Make stops along the way to take photos and try some delicious local treats and excellent coffee. You'll be exploring the city as locals do while uncovering Medellín's history, legends, and art.
• Tour Comuna 13 (Private Transport, Guide, Snacks): Visit a neighbourhood in Medellín formally plagued by violence and various injustices, that has since then undergone an impressive reformation. Walk the streets and enjoy an opportunity to learn from local guides, visit small shops, and purchase unique handicrafts. Capture some photos of the colourful buildings clinging to the hillsides, and appreciate the area's urban art and outdoor escalators leading up to the steep 28-story buildings.

Located in the northwest part of the country, Guatapé boasts houses painted in every colour adorned with paintings of plants and animals. Sitting on the shores of the man-made lake and reservoir, Guatapé is also close to the climbable granite stone known as El Peñol Rock. You’ll climb to the top along the brick staircase rising up through a fissure in the side of the stone, and be rewarded with magnificent views of the green mountains in the distance and the fingers of the blue lake. Climb El Peñol rock for impressive views of Guatapé. Follow this up with a walking tour around town with your CEO. Be on the lookout for colourful frescoes along the way, and enjoy a meal at a local restaurant for lunch. Transfer to your OMG Stay property to spend the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel.

Included Experiences

• Climb El Peñol Rock: Climb to the top for breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. El Peñol Rock is 198m tall and while it seems intimidating from the bottom, it's rated as a relatively easy hike and shouldn't take more than an hour. Your legs will get quite the workout on the 740 stone steps to the top. Along the way there are several platforms offering exceptional views of the lake below and providing good stopping points to take a rest. The top offers 360-degree views that will leave you breathless.
• Guatapé Visit: This colourful pueblo outside of Medellín is famous for its surrounding turquoise lake and beautiful scenery. Discover Guatapé's vibrant charm as you explore the streets adorned with brilliantly painted frescoes (locally known as Zócalos), each telling a unique story. This place is also packed with loads of restaurants and street food to choose from, like arepas and fresh cheeses.
• Free Time: Enjoy free time to spend at your leisure at your OMG Stay property.

Guatapé is special for its stunningly colorful town with unique, artistic zocalos and its dramatic natural wonder. The choice is yours for a splash of whimsy or adventurous. From gliding across the Guatapé Reservoir on a breezy boat ride to a picnic nestled by the Guatapé River, you’re promised a half-day escape into the beautiful landscapes of this wonderful town. Today enjoy Guatapé's lovely landscapes. And choose between two guided activities one more adventurous and the other relaxing. Option 1 is a 90-minute boat ride to discover the Guatapé Reservoir. Enjoy the views and take breathtaking pictures from the most iconic spots in the area. The other option is a picnic by the Guatapé River, with waterfalls sounding nearby for a peaceful experience. Return to your OMG Stay. The remainder of the day will be at your leisure.

Included Experiences

• Reservoir Boat Ride or Riverside Picnic: Option 1: Discover the Guatapé Reservoir in a 90-minute experience departing from your OMG Stay. Enjoy the views from the water. Option 2: Sit down for a picnic lunch by the Guatapé River, with waterfalls sounding nearby and a peaceful atmosphere that will leave you relaxed. A local guide will accompany you.
• Free Time: Spend time at your leisure this afternoon and choose to enjoy some of the amenities at your OMG Stay.

Imagine coconut palms swaying in a gentle breeze as their trunks stretch out over white sands next to teal waters—a colour too bright to even seem real—and you will soon be there. Your next destination is Barú, a peninsula not far from Cartagena and famous for its relaxing, tropical atmosphere. Dotted along the northern coast are the coral archipelagos of Rosario and San Bernardo, known for their crystal clear waters and abundant schools of fish. Travel back from Guatapé to Medllín and board a flight to Cartagena. Upon arrival, the group will transfer to Barú, an island paradise along the Caribbean Sea. Enjoy lunch at the hotel with views of the inviting white sand and aquamarine water, then set off on an orientation beach walk with your CEO before a free afternoon in paradise to relax, or take part in some optional water activities.

Included Experiences

• Plane: Fly from Medellín to Cartagena this morning before transferring to Barú.
• Free Time: Take advantage of free time this afternoon to relax and settle in to the paradise that is Barú. Opt to swim, snorkel with colourful fish, or simply lounge in the sun.
• Barú Orientation Walk With CEO: Upon arrival to Barú, lunch will be had at the hotel restaurant. Then, enjoy an orientation beach walk with your CEO to become acquainted with this slice of paradise. The peninsula is often called an island, but it is bounded by the bay of Cartagena, the Dique Canal, and the Caribbean Sea. Famous for its white & pink sands, as well as the crystalline water, this is the perfect place to sit back and relax. Don't miss Puntilla Beach, where you can soak up the sun, soft waves, and warm tropical climate.

The magic continues farther out at sea as you experience this idyllic area up close on a private boat trip to the Rosario Islands. Bask in the sun and visit this stretch of 27 isles with no roads and barely any people. Experience the rhythms of island life while you swim and snorkel in the warm, tropical waters in search of colourful fish and other underwater life. Get out on the water with a private boat trip off the coast of Barú. Visit the Rosario Islands for snorkelling and swimming in paradise. Enjoy a free afternoon and evening at your leisure, with lunch and dinner included at the hotel.

Included Experiences

• Barú Private Boat Excursion: Board your private boat and get out on the water for a half-day snorkelling excursion off of Barú. Travel to the nearby Rosario Islands and submerge yourself underwater to get up close to the native wildlife, and enjoy the stunning views of the landscape as you bob gently along in the Caribbean Sea.
• Free Time: The afternoon belongs completely to you. Think walks along the shoreline, sitting at a local spot with a cold drink, or more swimming in paradise. Lunch and dinner will be served at the hotel.

Leave Barú behind but keep the Caribbean close as you head to Colombia's coastal hub—Cartagena. You'll wander the historic walled city's cobblestone streets with brightly-painted colonial mansions and 16th century squares that served as inspiration for so many of Gabriel García Marquez's celebrated books. Travel to Cartagena and set off on a CEO-led orientation walk in order to get your bearings before enjoying the rest of the day to discover the city. Regroup in the evening for a farewell dinner together and celebrate this incredible Colombian adventure.

Included Experiences

• Cartagena Orientation Walk: Your CEO will lead the group on an orientation walk of Cartagena's historical centre upon arrival from Barú. During this walk you will get your bearings of the walled city's many churches, plazas and historic landmarks before you set off to discover it on your own. Wander the picturesque cobblestone streets lined with colonial buildings and colourful flowers spilling over the rooftops before meeting up in the evening with the group.

Today your adventure comes to an end, but the memories made during your time in Colombia are sure to live on. Depart at any time.