Colombia. Indian heritage, beaches, jungle, coffee, colorful neighborhoods - 13 days

Description

Day 1. Capital city Bogota, Plaza Bolivar, Cathedral

Fly to Bogotá and check into the hotel. We walk around the city, which was founded in the 16th century by Spanish colonizers. Life here booms around the huge Plaza Bolivar square, where circus performers and bullfights were held during the Spanish colonizers' time. Nowadays, tourists stroll around the square, and locals sometimes gather for another protest meeting.

We look at the main architectural masterpieces of the country along the perimeter of the square - Palace of Justice, Parliament, City Hall. But the main building that immediately attracts all eyes is the Cathedral with its spires reaching to the sky. The church on this place was built four times, first wooden, then stone, but they were destroyed by fires and earthquakes. The cathedral that stands on the site now was built in 1823.

Day 2. Mount Monserrat, Salsa Master Class

In the morning we take the cable car up Monserrat Mountain. From the top 3,251 meters above sea level you can see the entire city of 8 million people! Indians used to come up here to pray to their gods, as the mountain was considered sacred. Their sanctuaries were destroyed by the Spaniards, and in 1650 a Catholic monastery was built here. Now pilgrims come here from all over the country.

Familiarizing ourselves with the national cuisine. We're going to try Bogotá's ajiaco potato soup. They put several different varieties of potatoes in it, as well as avocado, corn, sour cream and chicken. Another popular pandeja paisa dish is equally diverse. It consists of beef, pork, beans, rice, fried bananas, eggs, and avocado! All the calories we will be able to shed at the evening salsa master class.

Day 3. Armenia Region, Finca el Ocaso Coffee Plantations

In the morning we fly to Pereira and then drive about an hour to the colonial town of Salento. We ended up in Armenia, the region of the country that grows the best coffee beans in the world! We settle into a colonial house and immerse ourselves in the unhurried life of coffee planters, which has changed little over the past hundreds of years.

But most importantly, the views! Imagine sitting with a cup of fragrant coffee in your hands, while your eyes glide over bright green slopes, slender rows of coffee plants and the shadows of the mountains that can be seen in the distance....

After lunch we go to the coffee plantations of Finca el Ocaso. Here we will learn all the peculiarities of growing and brewing the favorite drink of people all over the world!

Day 4. Cocora Valley National Park, World's Tallest Palm Trees, Hummingbirds and Nosebills, Salento Township

In the morning we leave for Kokora Valley National Park. Here grow the tallest palm trees in the world, which are called wax palms. The Indians used the wax that coated the palm trunks to make candles and soap. They are the only palm trees that can grow more than 2,000 meters above sea level. Some of the trees we will see are 80 meters high!

We will walk around the park for about 5 hours, enjoying the views of valleys covered in mist and slopes with palm trees where cattle graze. We will also have the opportunity to feed the families of rhinoceros and the smallest birds on our planet - hummingbirds.

After lunch we return to Salento and stroll through the cozy streets of this quiet two-storey town. Houses painted in all bright colors, mountain views, friendly locals and the unforgettable taste of fresh coffee will make you fall in love with Salento forever.

Day 5-6. City of Medellín, Botero Sculptures, Sacred Mountain El Peñón De Guatape, Guatape Township

We leave by bus for Medellín (7 hours on the road). We settle into the hotel and go out for a walk around the second largest city of Colombia. The attention is immediately attracted by unusual sculptures of the most famous Colombian artist and sculptor Fernando Botero, who was born in Medellin. He is even considered the founder of a new trend in art. And it's true - very original!

In the morning we leave by public transportation to Guatapé. After about an hour and a half we will see an unusual mountain, more like a huge boulder in the middle of the plain. This is El Peñón De Guatapé, a hill 200 meters high that was worshipped by the ancient Indians. We climb 740 steps to the observation deck at the top. Between the two neighboring towns there was a heated dispute for the right to call the mountain their landmark. The culmination was the appearance of the mysterious inscription GI on the mountain. We'll tell you more about it on the spot!

We return to Guatapé by motorcycle cab. We walk around the town of two-story brightly colored houses, have a traditional grilled meat lunch and return to Medellín in the evening.

Day 7. Medellín, Cable Car, Comuna 13, Santa Marta City, Parque de los Novios

In the morning we ride the cable car, which is used here like a subway. Under our feet we pass neighborhoods of terracotta-colored houses. We go to the Comuna 13 neighborhood. In the 1980s it was controlled by the famous drug lord Pablo Escobar. Because of this, Medellín was known as the country's criminal center. But the last twenty years of unique reforms have turned it into a cultural center and almost the safest place in Colombia.

For example, one such reform included the construction of a street escalator to a nearby neighborhood to make it more convenient for residents to get there in search of work. After all, Comuna 13 used to be quite isolated because of its location. Once the most dangerous place in Colombia, tourists now walk through the neighborhood, looking at graffiti and listening to street concerts by hip-hop artists.

After lunch we go to the airport and fly to the city of Santa Marta. We check into a hotel. We see off the sun on the Caribbean beach, have dinner at a seafood restaurant, and stroll through the Parque de los Novios park, breathing in the evening coolness.

Day 8-9. Tyrone National Park, Beaches, Kogi Indian Settlement

Early morning departure by bus to Tyrone National Park (approximately 1.5 hours travel time). For about 2 hours we will walk through the jungle, the only place on the planet where Oedipus tamarins still live. This species of monkey is characterized by its white breast and white fur on its head.

As we emerge from the jungle, we find ourselves on a beach of extraordinary beauty. The purest sand is framed by bright green trees and a few large rocks. The water here is clear and at the bottom is one of the best coral reefs in the country. We settle into a campsite on the beach and rent hammocks under a thatched roof. We watch the sunset on the beach and spend the night in the hammocks under the thatched roof, falling asleep to the sounds of the waves and wild jungle.

In the morning we watch the sunrise, have breakfast and go to see the ancient settlement of the Kogi Indian tribe. These are descendants of the great civilization of Tayrona, which existed in the time of the Incas and Aztecs. These Indians were famous for their rebellions against the Spanish colonizers. We will walk around the village of Cogi, see stone terraces, house foundations, staircases. And we can meet the representatives of the tribe in the jungle, where they go out in search of coconuts and other fruits.

Day 10-12. Cartagena, Saint Felipe Fortress, Santa Domingo Square, Palenqueras, Mangrove jungle boat ride

Departure to Cartagena (6 hours on the road), check into the hotel. We walk around the square of Santa Domingo, look at the fortress of San Felippe, go into cozy churches of the 15th century. But the main attraction is of course the palenqueras. These are descendants of runaway slaves who have been coming to Cartagena from neighboring villages for decades, carrying bowls of fruit on their heads. Smiling women in brightly colored traditional dresses have become symbols not only of Cartagena, but of all of Colombia!

We advise you to stop by jewelry stores to look at the famous Colombian emeralds. The country ranks first in the world in mining these stones. By the way, they are mined near Cartagena.

In the evening we go for a walk in the mangrove jungle. We will spend several hours boating through the jungle and watching the life of wild birds and animals before sunset. We listen to the sounds of wildlife and silence... On the morning of the last day we fly to Bogotá, there we transfer to a flight home.

Is this journey a good fit for you?

A trip of a light level of physical exertion. It consists of long walks through towns and nature parks, transfers by rented and public transportation, particularly buses (up to 7 hours). Three domestic flights and a boat tour are also included. Accommodation in rooms for two people in 3-4* hotels and tourist class gesthouses. All rooms will have private bathroom, hot water and wi fi internet. We will spend two nights camping on the Caribbean beach. We will sleep in hammocks under a thatched roof or in tents. Showers and toilets will be on the campsite.

Included:

• Three domestic flights
• Accommodation in rooms for two people throughout the trip
• Breakfasts in hotels
• Renting hammocks or tents in Tyrone National Park
• All movements along the route
• All activities and excursions along the route
• Entrance fees to all places mentioned in the itinerary
• Accompaniment throughout the trip.

Not included:

• Flight to Bogota and back home. (We will help you find the best tickets);
• Insurance (mandatory)
• Meals throughout the trip ($15-25 per day).

Take with you:

• Passport
• Headdress
• Money for souvenirs
• Personal care products
• Comfortable shoes