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.

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.

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. Drive to the top of the valley for a hike through pine and eucalyptus forests offering incredible views before returning to the 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. Embark on a culinary journey as you dive into a traditional lunch that celebrates the variety and history of paisa cuisine, then discover another neighborhood of Medellín that showcases its innovation, art and city planning.

Los Saltos Ecoparque is in Colombia’s largest area of waterfalls and features one of the highest in the country. Your adventure begins here with a hike to the base of those very falls where you can then choose between two great adventure activities within the park: flying on a zipline in one of the highest canopies in the world, or climbing a cliff face next to a waterfall in Via Ferrata. With flowing rivers, native forests, and traditional crops like avocado and banana, this eco-park is a great place to connect with nature and immerse yourself in the beauty and biodiversity of the country.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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