Capital to Cartagena - 10 days

Capital to Cartagena - 10 days

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10 Days From

$4445

Capital to Cartagena - 10 days

10 Days Starting in Bogota and ending in Cartagena

Visiting: Bogota, Bogota City Tour, Zipaquira & Raquira, Medellin, Zona Cafetera, Filandia, Salento & Cocora Valley, Coffee and butterflies , Cartagena

Tour operator:

On The Go Tours

Tour code:

1843/COTC

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 24

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

Not recommended for under 5yrs.

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Small Group

Interests:

Cultural

From: $4445

NB: Prices correct on 07-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Trace the turbulent history and admire the progress of Colombia as you get acquainted with some of its major cities. Be blown away by Bogota, marvel at Medellin and be captivated by Cartagena as you delve deep into the most fascinating parts of Colombian culture on this 10 day adventure.

Highlights

  • Medellin - Stay in this city that is famous for its pleasant weather, it earns the nickname “the City of Eternal Spring”

  • Bogota – Enjoy a tour of Colombia’s capital city, taking in Paloquemao’s Market, the colonial quarter of La Candelaria and the prominent Plaza de Bolivar. Also visit the Museo del Oro and Museo de Botero

  • Zipaquira – Marvel at the spectacular Salt Cathedral and Stations of the Cross, all hewn from the salt mine tunnels under the Halite Mountains

  • Sutatausa – Admire the excellently preserved paintings in the town’s colonial church, dating back to the 17th century

  • Raquira – Visit this artist town, famous for its pottery colourful buildings and colony of artisans. Nearby is the Monasterio La Candelaria, the first convent built in Latin America

  • Villa de Leyva – Explore this colonial town and its beautiful architectural features, from wooden baloncies and arches to heavy wooden and brass laden doors

  • Filandia – Overlook the city from the Colinda Illuminada view point

  • Cocora Valley – Sample the local cocktail of canelazo and plant a wax palm, Colombia’s national tree and the tallest variety of palm tree in the world

  • Salento – Visit this charming town with its preserved colonial bahareque architecture and streets lined with restaurants, bars and shops

  • Hacienda Combia – Join a shared tour of this coffee farm, allowing you the opportunity to learn about the elements, conditions and the technical processes needed to go Colombian coffee

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Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Bogota

Location: Bogota

After touching down at the El Dorado International Airport, you will and transferred your hotel. After check-in you can freshen up and relax before starting the real fun tomorrow.

Day 2: Bogota City Tour

Location: Bogota City Tour

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today starts with an early wake-up call followed by a visit to the Paloquemao Market, one of the largest and most important markets in the country. You will be able to peruse stalls selling everything from fruit and vegetables to cheese and seafood as well as some medicinal herbs. You’ll have the chance to top off this cultural experience by tasting one or two authentic Colombian snacks. From the market you will walk to the historical colonial quarter of La Candelaria, an excellent spot to snap a few photos and do some quality people watching in Plaza Bolivar.





Continuing the tour, you will be taken to the top of the forested mountains in the East to Cerro de Monserrate, home to a stunning white Catholic Church. The Museo del Oro (Gold Museum), which holds one of the largest displays of pre-Colombian gold in the world and the Museo de Botero conclude the tour.

Day 3: Zipaquira & Raquira

Location: Zipaquira & Raquira

Meals Included: Breakfast

Bogota - Zipaquira - Villa de Leyva. Today you will be driven through the residential part of Bogota and out towards the fertile plateau to Zipaquira. Here, you will get a chance to witness the magnificent architecture of the Stations of the Cross and the Three Naves, sculptures that have been hewn from the salt mine tunnels under the Halite Mountains. The next stop is in Sutatausa, the site of a beautiful colonial church that contains a collection of stunning paintings.





After a stop at a traditional Andean restaurant, where you can purchase a bite to eat, you will be taken to Raquira, a small town that has gained fame for its pottery and colourful buildings. You will get the chance to visit a clay pot factory and learn about the traditional production processes of this handicraft. A tour through the Monasterio La Candelaria, a nearby convent, winds up the day before you are whisked off to Villa de Leyva, where you will spend the evening.

Day 4-5: Medellin

Location: Medellin

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Villa de Leyva - Medellin. From Villa de Leyva you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport in Bogota in time for a short flight across the country to Medellin. On arrival, you will be met at the airport by one of our representatives and taken to your hotel.





The following day you will be picked up from your hotel and taken on a Social Transformation Tour, an eight hour journey that will take you through Medellin’s progress as a city, from its drug trafficking days in the 80s and 90s through to its modern successes. The tour starts by visiting the Monaco Building, la Virgen de los Sicarios and Pablo Escobar’s Tomb in the Central Cemetery. These three sites form an introduction to Pablo Escobar and the social problems created by his cartel. Various parks and museums crop up throughout the rest of the day, along with a cable car journey before you head to one Medellin’s trendiest zones for some bar-hopping and merry-making.

Day 6: Zona Cafetera

Location: Zona Cafetera

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Medellin - Zona Cafetera. It’s time to learn all about one of Colombia’s most popular crops – coffee. Follow the path that the Antioquian colonisers took as they transported coffee from Medellin across to the Andean West region of Colombia. You will be driven through the south of the Aburra Valley, where breathtaking scenery will become the norm and the coffee plantation reigns supreme. A tour through Jardin breaks up the day as a guide details the history of the town and shows you its main spots.

Day 7: Filandia, Salento & Cocora Valley

Location: Filandia, Salento & Cocora Valley

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Get ready for an action packed day as we set off for the traditional village of Filandia, where you will get a chance to tour the colonial streets and check out Quindio’s Viewpoint for stunning vistas of the Coffee Triangle. Next, you get a dose of natural beauty in the Cocora Valley, home of the wax palm, Colombia’s national tree. After drinking your welcoming cup of canelazo you will be guided through the misty forest and taught about the different plants. Finish up by planting your own wax palm as part of the region’s conservation efforts. The day ends with you perusing the restaurants and boutiques of Salento.

Day 8: Coffee And Butterflies

Location: Coffee and butterflies

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Zona Cafetera - Cartagena. Start the day with a hearty breakfast before being taken to Haciendia Combia for a Coffee Tour, where you will learn all about the essential elements of coffee production and engage in some hands-on activities. After lunch it’s time to check out the beautiful butterflies at Quindio’s Botanical & Butterfly Garden. This magical reserve is filled with hundreds of different plants and butterflies so be sure to pack some extra batteries for your camera. Next, you will be transferred to the airport in time for a flight to Cartagena.

Day 9: Cartagena

Location: Cartagena

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today, you will get to explore Cartagena, one of Colombia’s most popular, vibrant and charming cities. Experience the people, food and sights of the city, along with your English speaking guide, starting at the Convento de la Popa, the city’s highest point. From there you will visit a hilltop castle (Castillo de San Felipe) and stroll through the vaults of Las Bovedas before embarking on a tasting tour of some of Cartagena’s most delicious gastronomic delights.

Day 10: Cartagena

Location: Cartagena

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today marks the end of your Colombian adventure. After breakfast and check-out you'll be transferred to Cartagena airport for your flight home.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Standard (superior and deluxe available on request)

  • 9 breakfasts and 5 lunches

  • 9 nights 3-4 star hotels - upgrade to superior accommodation available on request

  • Airport arrival and departure transfer on day 1 and day 10

  • Services of local English-speaking specialist guides

  • Entrance fees to all sites and activities as described in the itinerary

  • All relevant transfers and transportation

What's Not Included

  • International flights and visas

  • Tipping – an entirely personal gesture

  • Domestic flights – South American airpasses are available with LATAM and other airline carriers when booked in conjunction with international flights, offering significant savings on domestic flights. Please ask a member of the team for more information.

Age Policy

Not recommended for under 5yrs.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    Airport arrival and departure transfer on day 1 and day 10

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1998

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this operator

Nicola Hodgkinson (Google Reviewer)  

Recently returned from Greece, a...

07-May-2024

Recently returned from Greece, a 5 day tour with OTG. Unfortunately, I had a negative experience on day 2 where I needed local support to get me out of a tricky situation. Thank you to Alexandra Z from Hetco Tours in Athens for helping me continue on with the trip, to the Hotel Zafolia staffing team and to Danielle and team here in the UK for supporting me with the aftermath. Your kindness will not be forgotten and I will pay it forward. I've now booked 3 trips with yourselves and will continue to go back. Thank you all. Honestly, I am SO grateful. Blessings to you all. Nicola

Calvin  

Wonderful experience

05-Jan-2023

Jamal is our tour guide. Right from the start, he created a group chat in whatsapp and if any issues to make sure we contact him. He was on the ball with every issue thrown at him. Luggage being left behind, stragglers wondered off in a different path, hotel room etc. He explains the various site along our route to give us a better understanding of the local cultures. We had a great time, thanks to Jamal.

Trustpilot
Norma Sullivan  

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10-Sep-2021

The Land of Northern Lights tour was a triumph! My tour of Southern Iceland was absolutely wonderful. The venues chosen, the timing allotted at each venue and the variety of things to experience was nearly perfect. Our guide, "Thor", was smart, amusing, full of history and anecdotal stories as well as being incredibly hospitable and helpful. This small group experience was my first, but not my last thanks to On the Go.

Trawls (Google Reviewer)  

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05-Feb-2024

On The Go Tours Sri Lanka was an incredible experience that was made even better by our tour guide Akthar. He was incredibly knowledgeable about his country and he loved sharing it with us. The tour covers a wide range of activities so you can truly experience what Sri Lanka is all about. The beautiful 4-5 star hotels at the end of every day was an absolute bonus. Thanks for a great trip OTGT I’m sure this won’t be my last

Xtreme Floor Care (Google Reviewer)  

Traveled through Egypt with On...

30-Nov-2023

Traveled through Egypt with On the Go Tours, professional service, very informative and helpful tour guides. The choice of hotels was excellent... Definitely recommend this company

Gavin Harrigan  

King Tutankhamun 10 day tour of Egypt

16-Sep-2021

I have just returned from my tour with On The Go and it was an amazing trip! From arriving at the airport and meeting the OTG representative, everything was well organised and hassle free.  Our tour guide was Amir. He is awesome!! From the beginning he was so friendly and enthusiastic about showing us around Egypt, giving us loads of information at each place and time to explore ourselves. Learnt so much from him about this fascinating place, and he was always happy to answer more questions.   The trip itself was amazing. There's lots of travelling on this trip, but it's really not too bad, and the sights you see when you get to where you are going are worth it. I'm not a big fan of boats, but the Felluca ride across the Nile was pretty fun too.  On the first day I also did the optional tour of Cairo with Ahmed Helal - another excellent guide from OTG. It's worth doing this add on as you don't spend much time in Cairo, and you go to three very different places.  I'm so glad that I decided to do this trip. It was just ace.  If you're thinking about it too, you should probably just book it. And hopefully you get Amir as your guide.

Paul Kelly (Google Reviewer)  

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9...

26-Feb-2023

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9 day tour of Morocco visiting many main cities and places of interest. The coach was very comfortable and we felt safe with the driver Suliman. The guide was Hicham Touraouine and he was fantastic. He spoke perfect English as well as French, Arabic and Berber. He was so kind and considerate and made a good tour great. We particularly enjoyed ‘glamming in the Sahara Desert. So much to see and do and great food and company. We would definitely use On The Go Tours again, especially if Hicham was the guide. Paul & Penny

Joyce Heitler (Google Reviewer)  

I would give this tour...

09-May-2024

I would give this tour group no stars if possible. The tour was not guaranteed but they did not inform me when I booked and they did not have enough people. Way after I booked they said I needed a doctors letter because I was over 70. Also way after booking I was informed I needed travel insurance. They knew my age when I booked. They would not refund my tour even though it was 4 months away.

Sarah Paterson (Google Reviewer)  

Terrible tour of India. For...

27-Dec-2023

Terrible tour of India. For some reason On the Go hadn't realised that my room mate had booked her own room for the first night of tour. So the hotel in Delhi had tried to put me in her room after midnight, by wheeling in an extra bed. She went Crazy!! I then had to sit in hotel reception for hours. While the tour guide said he couldn't find me a room. Throughout the tour the guide consistently ask me and my room mate for money for my room, causing more friction between us. Don't book with this company had the worst experience ever. Go with Intrepid or G Adventure

brandy hoffman (Google Reviewer)  

I had used them once...

09-Aug-2023

I had used them once before and loved them. I decided to try them again for a Baltic tour not knowing that they put me on another Tour group- Baltic vision. Loved that tour but was not impressed they marked up the cost for me over 100%. I understand taking some for yourself because of paperwork, but over double the cost everyone else paid on the tour. Just double check before you book with them that you’re not over paying.

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Prices last published on 07-Nov-2024

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    On The Go Tours requires a minimum deposit of 600 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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