Colorful Colombia 2024

Travel to Bogotá to start the tour! Airport transfers are available so you can have a pre-arranged ride to the hotel. These will be organized once everyone purchases their flights. We will aim to have participants arrive at similar times for included group transfers. If you arrive at an hour when no one else is, there may be a small additional fee added to cover that cost. Kate will help you with finding flights and coordinating transfers! 

Our hotel is available to check-in starting at 3PM. Get some rest upon arrival in preparation for an amazing week in Colombia!

Today you will delve into the beauty, flavors, and views of Bogotá!

You start the morning with a visit to the Paloquemao Plaza Market. Here Juliana Salazar, a writer and culinary arts expert will be our guide. You will taste different Colombian tropical fruits, seeds and vegetables such as native potatoes, cassava, cubios, mango, granadilla, mangosteen, feijoa, dragon fruit, passion fruit, chontaduro, guava, lulo, cape gooseberry. and many more. You will also find various artifacts, flowers, plants, crafts, as well as friendly merchants and farmers,

You will finish the tour doing a cuisine workshop and tasting in Chapinero, where you'll learn a traditional recipe with a Colombian chef. You will learn about preparation, conservation techniques, ingredients, and recipes while having a pleasant moment eating a delicious plate that exhibits Colombian tropical abundance. 

After all the delicious food, it's time to stretch our legs on a walking tour to see the best sights of Bogota's historic center, La Candelaria. You will visit the Plaza de Bolívar, Chorro de Quevedo, and more. You'll also take the cable car up to the Monserrate Sanctuary. This important religious site overlooks the city and provides amazing views. Your knowledgeable guide will focus on taking you to places within La Candelaria that still remain off the beaten track. You will learn about Bogota's current issues, social, and economic dynamics, and they'll share interesting historical anecdotes.

After a bustling first day, it's time for our welcome dinner at Kuna Mya! This event sets the stage for your upcoming journey, providing an opportunity to connect with fellow travelers, discuss the travel plans, and ensure everyone is ready for the adventures ahead.

Kuna Mya is an innovative boutique market and sustainable farming restaurant that dedicates its dishes to its roots in the region of Cundinamarca. The space helps to market products from the region, allowing artisans and producers to receive fair economic recognition and support to perfect their techniques! Our dinner will feature local and organic ingredients, crafted into delectable local cuisine! 

You have options today! Either enjoy free time in the city or join the fantastic optional experience to the Zipaquira Salt Cathedral! We will provide a map full of pins with recommendations for activities, sights, and restaurants to enjoy. 

A few ideas for your free time during the day include: 

• Take a street art tour
• Visit the Gold Museum 
• Try the Colombian delicacy of hot chocolate and cheese at a local café
• Take a trip to the National Museum 
• Shop at the Pasaje Rivas Craft Market 
• Stroll down 7th Street (Carrera Séptima) 
• Visit the Botanical Garden
• Taste local craft beers
• Grab a bite at La Puerta Falsa, where they have served traditional tamales and more for over 200 years!
• Sign up for an emerald jewelry class (Colombian mines produce more emeralds than anywhere else on earth)
• Day trip to: 
  • hike Colombia's tallest waterfall, La Chorrera
  • Villa de Leyva
  • horse back ride in the Andes

You also get to pick how you'll spend your evening!  Here are some ideas to get you started: 

• Dine at:
  • Andres Carne de Res
  • Leo
  • El Chato
  • Prudencia
  • Restaurante Neuve
  • Mini-mal
  • Central Cevichería
  • a simple Empanada shop! 
• Enjoy some beverages while playing the national game of Tejo (but be prepared to get dirty)
• Go dancing in Zona Rosa (Zona T), which is filled with clubs and bars, or salsa dance at Siboney
• Sip cocktails at locations like Huerta Coctelería Artesanal, Black Bear, Mesa Franca, and Cantina y Punto
• Take in a live show at Bar Asilo or Matik Matik
• Check the schedule and see if there are performances taking place at Teatro la Candelaria, Corporación Colombian de Teatro, or the Teatro Nacional!

Today we will travel by air from Bogotá to Medellín. This flight is included in the price of your tour and will be booked by our partner. 

Upon arrival, immerse yourself in the charm and culture of Medellín on a tour that's been carefully curated to showcase the most captivating facets of this vibrant Colombian city. Our adventure begins at Alpujarra, where the striking sculpture by master artist Rodrigo Arenas. As you stroll through Plaza de las Luces, let the surroundings unfold tales of Medellín's evolution, marked by its rich history and cultural diversity.

A visit to the historical Carabobo area follows, unveiling architectural gems and hidden gems that speak volumes about the city's past. Take a delightful pause at Salón Málaga for a refreshing beverage, allowing you to absorb the local ambiance and savor the historical charm of this iconic establishment. Continuing our journey, marvel at the grandeur of the Palacio Nacional and the artistic allure of the Palacio de la Cultura, landmarks that echo Medellín's political and cultural legacy.

Delve into the world of art at the Botero Plaza and the adjacent Museum of Antioquia, where you'll encounter the distinctive humor and irony of Fernando Botero's sculptures and the world's largest collection of his paintings. Explore not only the artist's creations but also a diverse array of pre-Hispanic, Colonial, and Contemporary art.

If time permits, embark on an optional adventure to the cable car or the charming Pueblito Paisa, offering panoramic views of the city or a glimpse into Colombia's traditional village life. We'll end in El Poblado at the Parque Lleras. This hotspot is beloved by both tourists and locals, beckoning with a vibrant nightlife scene. Choose to conclude your day or stay longer here to indulge in the area's excellent restaurants, recommended by your knowledgeable guide. 

Today is all about growth through our visits to the Moravia neighborhood and the Botanical Gardens. 

You'll witness a remarkable transformation at Moravia: Urban Recovery, where a former landfill has blossomed into a flourishing flower garden, a testament to the indomitable spirit of its inhabitants. The people who live here arrived in Medellín due to forced internal displacement in rural regions of Antioquia. They've now transformed the neighborhood into a green oasis. 

We'll journey on to the Jardín Botánico de Medellín, one of the must-see attractions in the city. You’ll have the chance to visit the award-winning Orchideorama, as well as themed gardens with more than 1,000 different plant species. Lunch is included at the splendid In Situ restaurant here at the gardens today! 

You'll head out on a full day adventure, east of Medellín, to the charming town of Guatapé. The day is filled with cobble-stoned streets, colorful facades, a huge natural rock and beautiful landscapes.

First up, one of Colombia’s must-see attractions: the massive rock La Piedra de Guatapé, also known as El Peñol or simply La Piedra (The Stone). The rock is located right next to the Peñol-Guatapé Dam, near the border of the towns Guatapé and El Peñol. While you'll be winded from climbing the 649 stairs up to the top, it's the views that leave you truly breathless! (If you're not up for walking up, you'll still see beautiful views at the base too!) 

The next part of our tour includes visiting the gorgeous, colorful town of Guatapé. Walking down the cobblestone streets of the laid-back village you’ll admire the decorative panels at the base of the houses. In Guatapé you’ll also enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the nicest traditional restaurants that uses the best local ingredients.

After a good hike, and a walk through the town of Guatapé, you’ll return back to Medellín.

Today we visit the vibrant community of Comuna 13. It has become a synonym of transformation and resilience and is a must-visit for travelers in Medellín. With our guide you will meet with resilient artists who recovered youth and public spaces through reconnection to their African roots in music, dance, and art.

We will visit three different neighborhoods, allowing us to take in the view of the sprawling Comuna, learn about the Comuna's transformation, take in the eclectic street art, ride the outdoor escalators, and more. 

To give you a first-hand experience of the activities that held the community together, you will visit Son Bata’s music studio where local musicians recorded one of their hits “Estamos Melos” and learn how to play it with percussion instruments, instructed by the experts. After this easy and enjoyable activity, you can get loose and learn how to dance with one of the best dancers at Son Batá who will lead you into making great steps, easily and in no time!  Finally, you will have a local snack before returning to your hotel with the company of our guide. 

Tonight we will gather at Colosal for our Farewell Dinner. Colosal brings together a whole range of experiences due to its stunning architecture, top-notch service, first-class gastronomic proposal, and beautiful, spacious, and comfortable spaces, making it a benchmark for the cuisine of the city of Medellin.

After a fabulous time in Colombia, it is time to sadly say goodbye. Don't worry though, you're departing with a full heart, full camera gallery, and full of new memories of this beautiful country and its people!

 

July 25-29
The Estelar Square Hotel is a new hotel located in the El Poblado sector in the beautiful city of Medellin. This hotel offers a stay fully loaded with comfort and services just a few blocks away from the most popular areas of the city. Breakfast is included daily. All rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, and a safe. The hotel also offers room service and laundry service.

While in Colombia, I am your private trip leader. Not only am I there to assist you, but I'm also the founder and CEO of Detailed Journeys! This is my second tour to Colombia, the first being the test trip I led in 2019 when deciding to start the company. I'm excited to head back and have you join us - see you in Colombia! 

For the duration of the tour you will be accompanied by a local Colombian guide! Their goal is to build a two-way bridge between the local context and the rest of the world. They are certified by the national registry of tourism and approved as a professional guide. They will be bilingual (English & Spanish), if not trilingual. Apart from their degree as a professional guide, they also will have a university degree. Our guide is hired and vetted by our ground operator and aligned with their values, purpose, and ethos. 

We will have a private guide and driver any time we need to take vehicle transportation during the trip!