Itinerary - Colombia: Adventure from the Amazon to the Caribbean Sea of San Andrés

Flights to/from Italy are not included in the package, so you can decide which airport to leave from, at what time and with the airline you prefer... This is to give you maximum freedom of choice.

Our adventure begins in the capital of Colombia, Bogota ! We are ready to start this adventure off on the right foot. Let's use these first hours on Colombian soil to get to know each other and get involved in the Latin rhythm of this new country, which we will surely fall in love with by the end of the trip... are you ready?!

Today we will dedicate the whole day to getting to know Bogota and to get in touch with the Colombian culture! We can visit the Catedral de Sal , a unique underground complex located inside the Zipaquirà salt mine! Walk through the streets of the historic center to discover Candelaria , a typical neighborhood that winds around Plaza Bolivar, where we will see beautiful colonial buildings and murals by South American street artists . In Candelaria you will find the famous Gold Museum, essential for understanding the history of pre-colonial Colombia, and the Botero Museum. We could end our tour at Cerro de Monserrate , and see our first sunset, or immerse ourselves in the local culture in some bar in the lively La Candelaria neighborhood.

Today our adventure in the Amazon begins! We will take a flight that will take us to Leticia , located on the Amazon River between Brazil and Peru, which will be our starting point to explore the uncontaminated nature and immerse ourselves in the unique atmosphere of this jungle, with its sounds, colors and scents. We will have a quick lunch and begin this unique experience!

We reach Terapacá, where our first excursion awaits us! We will take a walk in the Amazon forest, to reach the indigenous community of Wayruru . Once we reach the “Maloca”, the heart of the village, we will be welcomed by a shaman who will tell us their history, their culture and the sacred plants used by them such as Mambe, Coca, Rape, Ambil and ground tobacco.

We will prepare a typical dinner with the locals and visit the "chagra" where traditional crops such as cassava, banana, pineapple, coca plant and tobacco are grown. After dinner we will begin our night trek in the jungle , to see bioluminescent mushrooms and fascinating plants and other animals that populate the Amazon at night. We will sleep surrounded by nature and silence , in this corner of paradise. What an unforgettable day!

Today we have an intense and adventurous day ahead of us: with a local boat we will sail along the Amazon River , the longest river in the world, which crosses nine South American countries, observing local fishermen at work and uncontaminated nature! We will be surrounded by tropical plants, giant centuries-old trees, wild animals and hidden rivers , discovering a unique and still largely unexplored world.

Once we reach the Marasha Reserve, we will walk in the forest surrounded by unspoiled nature, medicinal trees, wild animals and birds that inhabit the area. Here a typical lunch awaits us and an excursion through which we will reach the treetops with a zip line , we will admire the view from above and the many exotic animals that populate this area. No, it's not a dream: we will "fly" from one tree to another !

After lunch you will be spoiled for choice: we can try our hand at piranha fishing , bird watching or kayaking around the river. After dinner, for adventure lovers there will be the possibility of going out in a canoe to spot the local alligators or admire the night sky full of stars! And to make sure we don't miss anything... we will sleep in the heart of the Amazon, in tree houses!

Today is our last day in the Amazon: wake up early to go back to Leticia where we will take the internal flight to Salento. If we have time, before leaving the Amazon, we will stop in the Brazilian city of Tabatinga , to visit the Chocolate Museum, buy some souvenirs and, why not, also taste a Capirinha!

Our Colombian adventure continues: we arrive in Salento , in one of the most typical and symbolic areas of Colombia! Salento is an ancient town in Quindio, a Colombian department located on the central mountain range. We use the rest of the day to settle into the hotel, relax and share the emotions of the days in the Amazon :) .. and get ready to visit this fantastic area immersed in splendid green mountains and coffee plantations .

Description Ready for another dive into Colombian nature? Today a unique spectacle awaits us: we will be able to admire the tallest wax palms in the world ! We climb aboard the famous Colombian Willys jeeps to reach the Cocora Valley , 15 km east of Salento. It will be impossible not to notice the very tall palm trees that dominate the landscape: they can reach up to 70 meters in height and are considered the national tree of Colombia!

A 5-6 hour trek awaits us immersed in uncontaminated nature among giant palm forests, rivers and, if we are lucky, we might even spot the hummingbirds that inhabit this area... in short, an unmissable adventure! We can't wait to test our legs and our energy, to discover this corner of paradise. Once we reach the top of the mountain, the spectacular view over the entire valley will truly leave us breathless.

Salento and the surrounding areas base their economy on the production of coffee: we are in fact in the Cafetera area of Colombia , the most famous when it comes to this drink. We cannot, therefore, miss the unique opportunity to visit a coffee farm and discover all the secrets of the most famous drink in these parts: from harvesting, to production, up to tasting the local Arabica. Our guide will accompany us through the plantations, explaining when is the right time to collect the most precious beans, and then we will relax with the locals in front of a good cup of coffee!

At sunset we move towards the Mirador, from where we can admire a breathtaking view of Salento and the surrounding area, before returning to the center for dinner!

Wake up early: today we have the longest transfer of our trip . We get comfortable and enjoy the on the road that, between landscapes, group playlists, laughter and naps, will take us to Medellin: the city of Pablo Escobar . Many associate it only with the scenes of Narcos... but in reality it has much more to offer. Named by Time magazine as the most innovative city of the year in 2013, Medallo, as its inhabitants call it, is the symbol of Colombia that is reborn and looks forward . Between colorful neighborhoods, graffiti, local markets and nightlife, we will have the opportunity to explore the city far and wide, aboard the metro, the cable car, the tram, means of transport that have become the symbols of the city's innovation.

We start with a walking tour of Comuna 13 , also known as “Pablo Escobar’s cradle”. This neighborhood, located in the northwest area of Medellin on the slopes of the mountain, has gone from being one of the most dangerous neighborhoods, full of violence and guerrilla warfare between drug traffickers, to becoming one of the most visited places in the city. An open-air museum that tries to tell the story of Comuna 13, a neighborhood of young artists, made more modern and touristic thanks to a unique open-air escalator system. It will be incredible to see with our own eyes how this neighborhood has been revalued after years of abandonment: it’s the magic of Medellin!

We can choose to visit El Basurero de Moravia, a 30-meter-high former landfill transformed into a nursery, and Ayacucho, a pedestrian street surrounded by murals and traversed by a modern tram. Or the Ciudad del Rio park and the Museum of Modern Art. If we don't feel like staying in the city, there is the Arvi Park, a 16,000-hectare ecological nature reserve, 54 miles of walkable trails, home to a rich wild flora and numerous butterflies, including the brightly colored morpho. In short, we certainly won't be bored today!

Today we are ready to visit the splendid Guatapé , known for being one of the most beautiful but above all most colourful cities in the world! In fact, in the city there are the very colourful “zocolas” , the bas-reliefs that decorate the facades of the houses and the drawings linked to the history of the families who live here. In the afternoon we move not far away, towards the famous El Peñón de Guatapé , also called Piedra del Peñól, a granite monolith that is also a national monument: to get to the top there are a few steps to do, but it will be worth it because the view is one of the most beautiful in the whole country!

Today we change the area completely: we wake up early and, with an internal flight, we reach the wonderful city of Cartagena , the jewel in the crown of the Caribbean coast.

In this city you can breathe that "dolce far niente" atmosphere that we really need, after long transfers, crazy adventures and internal flights. We have the whole day to discover every corner of this city rich in history, and let ourselves be enchanted by its streets full of colorful houses. We can buy some souvenirs to take home and taste some typical dishes: the local cuisine is one of the best in the country. To make this day memorable, we cannot miss the sunset from the castle of San Felipe de Barajas : a spectacular view that will leave us breathless.

After so many adventures in the greenest nature, three days of sea and relaxation await us from today! We take our last internal flight that will take us to San Andres : a Colombian archipelago off the coast of Nicaragua, a true jewel of the Caribbean! There is no point in trying to describe this paradise in words, we can only experience it: we will spend the day among crystalline waters, corals and fine white sand . And then, we cannot forget to taste the delicacies of the area, such as rondón, a Caribbean dish of fish, pork, shellfish, banana and coconut milk... perhaps accompanied by a tropical fruit cocktail. In short, today we just have to enjoy the sun and the sea, in an atmosphere of pure joy!

Even today sea and relaxation! The coral island of San Andres offers a varied ecosystem of corals, geysers, plantations and reefs. With its crystalline waters , it is in fact the perfect destination for lovers of diving and snorkeling . We can therefore choose to take a boat trip, to come into contact with the archipelago, snorkel and explore the coral reef: the visibility here is up to 30 meters and the sea is so splendid that the locals say it is made of 7 colors!

Today we can dedicate the day to exploring the archipelago and its unique ecosystem: the best beaches, the Santa Catalina Island "satellite" of San Andres that can be reached by walking along a 100-meter long pedestrian bridge, the beach of Johnny Cay with its cedars that seem like natural homes for the birds that populate it, the mangrove forests, Morgan's Cave, and the Blow Hole. In short ... you'll be spoiled for choice!

The island is full of fun and energy: reggaeton music fills the air, and blends with the notes of salsa and calypso music. The inhabitants love to dance, party, smile at life. Today is our last night together so let's get ready to dance and have fun like never before and enjoy every single moment to the fullest, letting ourselves be carried away by the emotions of this fantastic journey!

It's time to say goodbye, but if the flights are late at night - yes, that's right, it's an invitation to take them as late as possible 🙂 - we will have the opportunity to visit the city again and experience another day of the carnival.