Compare Authentic Colombia by Culture Trip vs 4 Day Bogota Vacation by Gate 1 Travel

DAY 1

Arrive in Bogota

Arrive in Bogota and make your way to the hotel where you’ll be greeted by our Local Insider at 7pm; they'll help you checkin and accompanying the group throughout the trip. Get to know your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner at Andrés DC restaurant, with a lively atmosphere and an extensive Colombian menu. Expect hearty meat dishes, cheese platters and plenty more. Be sure to get a good night’s rest ahead of a busy day tomorrow.

ACCOMMODATION

• Hotel B3 Virrey

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• Welcome dinner

DAY 2

Learn about Colombia’s fascinating history and explore the graffiti district of Bogota

Start your Colombian adventure with a guided walking tour to learn about the country’s turbulent political history, drug trade and how it emerged from 52 years of civil war to become one of the happiest countries in the world. Sample local delicacies at La Concordia market before continuing your tour through the flamboyant district of La Candelaria, admiring the eclectic street art on display. Come nightfall, venture out to the lively bars of Bogota and sample the city’s thriving craft beer scene.

ACCOMMODATION

• Hotel B3 Virrey

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• Bogota history walking tour
• La Concordia market visit
• Bogota graffiti tour
• Coffee stop

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Evening drinks

DAY 3

Kick-start your road trip and try river rafting

After breakfast, it’s time to begin your road trip across the mountains. You’ll notice major changes in temperature and terrain as you descend more than 2,000m (6,561ft) from the Bogota plateau into the Magdalena River Valley. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to try rafting in the Río Negro in the town of Tobia and learn about the importance of the river at El Río Museum. Take a walking tour through the former colonial town of Honda en route to Mariquita – your home for the night, where you’ll enjoy an authentic dinner at Los Guaduales restaurant.

ACCOMMODATION

• Hotel Boutique San Rafael

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• Río Negro river rafting
• Honda walking tour
• El Río Museum visit

DAY 4

Ascend high into the Andes and enter the Zona Cafetera

Ready for spectacular views? Today, you’ll embark on the most dramatic section of your road trip, ascending to 3,700m (12,140ft) above sea level as you cross the Cordillera Central. If visibility levels are good, you may spot Nevado del Ruiz – a 5,311m (17,425ft) high, glacier-capped volcano. You’ll gradually descend through the cities of Manizales and Pereira, eventually arriving at your next stop, Circasia, in the heart of the Colombian coffee-growing region known as the Zona Cafetera. In the evening, you'll learn about folklore through a session with a local music group.

ACCOMMODATION

• Bio Habitat Hotel

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• Folkloric show

DAY 5

Hike in the Cocora Valley and visit a coffee farm

Climb aboard a Willys Jeep, an ex-US army truck that will take you into the Cocora Valley. Hike through this extraordinary landscape, renowned for its gigantic Quindío wax palm trees, and enjoy a picnic lunch. Discover why Colombian coffee is among the finest in the world at a local farm before returning to Salento and trying your hand at tejo. This is a traditional sport which involves hurling steel discs at a loaded gunpowder target, typically played with a beer in hand. It’s a lot of fun, and much less dangerous than it sounds. Later on, head out for dinner at Bernabé restaurant.

ACCOMMODATION

• Bio Habitat Hotel

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• Cocora Valley hike
• Coffee farm tour
• Tejo game

DAY 6

Stop by an orchid farm on the road to Medellín

Set off on the final leg of your road trip – a 250km (155mi) northward journey from Circasia to Medellín. Stop at Finca La Romelia on the way, a family-run farm housing more than 800 species of orchid and over 200 species of bird. Tuck into a delicious lunch in picturesque surroundings before hitting the road once more. In late afternoon, you’ll arrive in Medellín, nicknamed the City of Eternal Spring due to its pleasant year-round climate. The rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure.

ACCOMMODATION

• La Campana Hotel Boutique

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• Orchid and bird farm visit

DAY 7

Explore Medellín and learn about its radical 21st-century transformation

Medellín has come a long way since the conflict-ridden Pablo Escobar era, transitioning from one of the most dangerous cities in the world during the 1990s into a flourishing metropolis today, brimming with cultural attractions and technological innovation. On a guided walking tour, you’ll gain a thorough understanding of the city’s troubled past and the changes in governance, which fuelled its transformation over the past 20 years. Viewers of the Netflix Narcos series may well recognize several locations. In the evening, toast to your fellow travelers over a farewell dinner.

ACCOMMODATION

• La Campana Hotel Boutique

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• Medellín walking tour
• Farewell dinner

DAY 8

Depart from Medellín

After one final breakfast, check out of the hotel and say adios to the group at 1pm. Take an optional transfer to the airport to catch your flight back home. Alternatively, continue your Colombian adventure by joining our Colombian Caribbean Coast trip and discover a whole other side to the country.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Airport transfer