A Quieter Colombia

Andean towns that date back centuries and Old Cartagena beside the Caribbean.

'A Quieter Colombia'

What makes this trip special?

Bogota

Bogota is the nation's capital and its travel hub. It is big, exploding in a century from tens of thousands to 8 million now. Like most Latin American metropoli there are historic areas, government and business zones, prosperous neighbourhoods, and sprawling suburbs. There is a lot for visitors to see: historic and contemporary, art and architecture, gold and gardens, streets and markets.

Salt Cathedral

A place of imagination and passion

Walk through a simple tunnel into a sequence of enormous caverns left from a salt mine now transformed into atmospheric galleries, chapels and large nave-like spaces, with dramatic lighting, sets of sound and light displays, all building into a hugely intense and memorable experience.

Villa de Leyva

A step back into Colombia's history

One of several places in Colombia that remind you, in the best way, of the Cotswolds. Villa de Leyva's historic prosperity lives on with a constrained country elegance and more than a dash of sheer beauty. A lovely place to spend time, perfect for week-enders and the occasional movie star, and a fine complement to Bogota.

Barichara

A very attractive small colonial town

Barichara is a well-preserved small colonial town, with cobblestone streets, whitewashed houses with red-tiled roofs, and upmarket residents. Often described as one of the most beautiful towns in the country, it is perfect for relaxing, strolling the streets and plazas, and enjoying local arts and crafts. There are stunning viewpoints and scenic hiking trails in the countryside around.

Cartagena

Caribbean Magic

Set beside the Caribbean, Cartagena's role in the shipment of colonial gold to Spain, its grand buildings, and the fortifications needed to keep British pirates at bay, created the spell-binding old city that inspires all who know it - including Gabriel Garcia Marquez himself. It's a magical place to visit: lively, stylish, bohemian, quixotic and full of joy.

Mompox

Historic port on the Magdalena River

Mompox, on the Magdalena River, is a Spanish colonial town that played a significant role in Colombia’s history. Once a rich and thriving river port, it is now a very atmospheric and well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage site with graceful churches, fine colonial buildings, quiet streets and wonderful river frontage. Mompox is also known for its traditional filigree jewellery-making.

Arataca

Birthplace of Gabriel García Márquez

Aracataca, a small town in northern Colombia, is best known as the birthplace of Gabriel García Márquez. Often linked to 'Macondo' from 'One Hundred Years of Solitude', it offers visitors a chance to see the writer’s childhood home, now a museum. Surrounded by banana plantations, the town has a quiet, rural charm with strong literary significance.

Santa Marta

Vibrant coastal city with a strong identity and relaxed atmosphere

Santa Marta , founded in 1525, is Colombia’s oldest city offering a lively mix of history, culture, and Caribbean charm, with plazas, museums, colourful streets, and a cathedral that is among South America’s oldest churches. The seafront promenade, 'El Camellón', is lined with restaurants and street vendors - a popular spot for locals and visitors. The bustling 'Mercado Público' market has fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and a taste of daily life.

Minca

A delightful small town in the mountains

Minca is a small town in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a peaceful retreat among forests, waterfalls, and coffee farms. Visitors can swim in natural pools at 'Pozo Azul', visit organic coffee farms, and enjoy lovely mountain views. The area is also great for birdwatching.

Itinerary

Day Overnight
1 Bogota
2 Bogota
3 Villa de Leyva
4 Villa de Leyva
5 Barichara
6 Barichara
7 Bucaramanga
8 Cartagena
9 Cartagena
10 Mompox
11 Mompox
12 Mompox
13 Santa Marta
For the detail of each day click the ‘Day-by-day’ tab above.

Day-by-day itinerary for 'A Quieter Colombia'

DAY 1

Arrive in Bogota

Very early a.m. arrive Bogota off an overnight flight. Stay for two nights in the Capital. There will be an opportunity to take a nap before your guide comes to take you on a walking tour of La Candelaria district blending history, art and culture. Bogotá’s historic La Candelaria neighbourhood is known for its colonial architecture, with grand buildings featuring iron windows, wooden doors, and hidden courtyards. Your first stop is the Plaza de Bolívar, where you'll find a statue of Simón Bolívar. Once called Plaza Mayor, this square has served as a marketplace, bullring, and execution site. The Cathedral here is built over Bogotá’s first church (1539) and houses centuries-old religious artefacts. Nearby, the Capitol (1847-1926) showcases Renaissance and Neoclassical styles and is Colombia’s first Republican civil building. Surrounding the plaza are key landmarks like the Palacio de Justicia, the Edificio Liévano (Mayor’s office), the San Bartolomé school, and the Casa de los Comuneros, named after early independence fighters. Next, visit the Museo Botero, housed in a colonial mansion, showcasing Fernando Botero’s works alongside pieces by Picasso, Renoir, Dalí, and more. Then, head to the Museo del Oro, home to over 32,000 pieces of gold and artifacts from Colombia’s indigenous cultures, such as the Muisca and Tayrona. Afternoon free to relax and unwind.

DAY 2

HD City tour and Monserrate by cable car

Set off in a cable car to the top of Monserrate peak (over 3,100m) with views across almost the whole of Bogota. Returning, you step into the Quinta Bolivar a colonial house and lovely garden that was given to Simon Bolivar, The Liberator, for his use. Afternoon free.

DAY 3

Zipaquira Salt Cathedral en route to Villa de Lleva

Setting out from Bogota you visit the town of Zipaquira. "Zipa" was the honorific of the tribal chief of the native Muisca people in this section of their Confederation which contained rich salt mines. Here you explore the astonishing subterranian Salt Cathedral. Then continue 3h to the very photogenic historic small town of Villa de Lleva (2,149masl) where you stay for two nights. The town was founded by the Spanish in 1572 and named after the first president of Nueva Granada. It has white washed, adobe houses lining narrow cobbled streets and one of the largest main squares in Latin America. The colonial era buildings have been preserved so strolling around gives an evocative sense of life in a bygone days though these days many of the properties have been turned into charming boutique guest houses, restaurants and souvenir shops. This is a popular place for Bogotanos "rolos" to have second homes. So you can expect it to be sleepy and tranquil mid-week, bustling with local visitors over Colombia's frequent long weekends and holidays.

DAY 4

Explore surroundings - Fossil museum, El Infiernito antiquities, Convent Santo Ecco Homo

Its worth rising early to photograph the impressive main square as it gradually comes to life at the start of the day. You will then visit the main points of interest in the countryside close to Villa de Lleva this morning which include the pre-hispanic Muisca's main astronomical observatory Zaquencipa- this archeaoastronomical site called "El Infiernito" (The Little Hell) by the Spanish who considered it a place of pagan rites. it is often closed but some of the upright phalic shaped standing sandstone menhirs can at least be glimpsed through a wire fence. Alexander von Humboldt believed the alignment of the stones matched the solstices and equinoxes. You visit the Saint Ecce Homo Monastery founded by the Dominicans in 1620 which has a pretty cloistered courtyard and a small museum of ecclesiastical artefacts. Built from locally quaried stone there are fossils galore to spot in the paving stones and walls. You can then learn more about the paleontology of this region in one of the fossil museums where marine reptiles from the Cretaceous period such as Kronosaurus boyacensis can be wondered at. You will be back in the town of Villa de Leyva in time for lunch and you have a free afternoon to relax or explore independently.

DAY 5

5h drive to Barichara

Today you have a 5h scenic drive down from cool Villa de Leyva at 2,149masl (7,051ft) to a warmer Barichara at 1,335masl (4,400ft), in the department of Santander, your new base for the next two nights. Another popular weekend base for wealthy local citizens and a past Presidents too no less. It is ideal for photo shoots and film making with its perfect traditional Andalusian-style large houses with patio gardens, carved stonework and pantiled roofs lining sunny flagstone laid lanes backed by surrounding green hills. The main square is surrounded by tall palm trees and has a monument to the popular delicacy "Hormigas culonas" - large, fat-bottomed ants, which are gathered and fried when they emerge, typically in April. In the Casa de Arte de Oicios, local artists display their work such as woven cotton and fique rugs and baskets. Fique is a sustainable fibre from an agave like plant. It is the fibre that was traditionally used to make sacks to carry and store coffee beans.

DAY 6

Hike from Barichara to Guane

An early morning easy hike of about 3 hours along one of the network of stone trails known as ‘royal roads’. First created by indigenous people long before the arrival of the Spanish, these trails were later improved and proclaimed ‘royal’ by the conquistadors partly, it is said, in their search for El Dorado. The first, forested section of the trail offers good birding while later there are views of the Suarez Canyon as you walk in gentle scenes of rural life. The trail leads into the quiet village of Guane where there are little shops and cafes around a tree-shaded square. [Note: best to avoid Tue or Wed when some museums and workshops are closed]

DAY 7

to Cartagena

Transfer 100km to Bucamaranga airport, passing the Chicamocha Canyon along the way, for a flight to Cartagena. Fly Bucamaranga/Cartagena Stay in Cartagena for two nights.

DAY 8

Panoramic Cartagena and Gabriel Garcia Marquez walking tour

In the morning enjoy a panoramic tour of Cartagena which offers an excellent orientation of the city. Start at Convento de la Popa, set on a hilltop with tranquil courtyard gardens and panoramic views over the city, before continuing on to visit the impressive and imposing San Felipe Fortress, the largest military complex built by the Spanish in the Americas to explore its maze of tunnels, underground galleries and passageways. After the tour you will have some free time to relax at your hotel. In the afternoon you will be taken on walking tour of Cartagena dedicated to Nobel-prize winning Colombian literary giant and magical realist Gabriel García Márquez (known to Colombians as 'Gabo'), who had a profound connection with Cartagena. The city's vibrant tapestry of history and culture significantly influenced his literary work, featuring in almost all of his novels. On this 3hr guided walking tour starting at Plaza San Diego and ending at Plaza de la Paz, you will explore iconic sites and settings in Cartagena that inspired his works as well as buildings of personal significance to Garcia Marquez himself such as the University of Cartagena, where he began his law studies and where his ashes were scattered in an adjacent monastery in 2016. Your local guide will weave stories and context from Gabo’s works into your tour as you go along, bringing his literary world to life. After the tour you have the rest of the day free in Cartagena to explore independently.

DAY 9

Long journey through the Cienega wetlands to remote Mompox

Venture 330km inland through Colombia's remote Cienaga wetlands to the hot, hidden, sleepy colonial town of Mompox (also known as Santa Cruz de Momos). This is a UNESCO-listed colonial gem that seems suspended in time. Sitting along the Magdalena River, historically cut off from the rapid modernisation of the rest of the country, giving it an almost dreamlike quality many consider it the likely inspiration for Gabo's fictional town in One Hundred Years of Solitude; "Macondo". The 7 hour journey takes you into a breathtaking labyrinth of marshes, lagoons, and riverine forests sculpted by the meandering arms of the Magdalena River. On arrival you will need to slow down to the pace of the local residents who can be found sitting in rocking chairs on the riverside trying to catch any cooling breezes and hear the day's gossip.

DAY 10

City tour inc filigree workshop p.m. free

With bougainvillea cascading over whitewashed walls and ornate balconies there is plenty to photograph as you tour the old town by local tuk tuk. There are churches and a cemetery with myths and legends. Traditionally the local craftspeople have created filigree jewellery from gold and silver wires and you will be able to visit some workshops which still continue creating beautiful pieces using these age old skills.

DAY 11

a.m. free day in Mompox afternoon boat trip Cienega de Pijino flora and fauna free day in Mompox

Morning free to relax in the heat. Late aternoon boat trip for nature viewing on the Cienega de Pijino lagoon where there are opportunities to see aquatic birds such as cocoi herons and anhings, howler monkeys, iguanas and the Magdalena river turtle. Scattered along the edges of the Ciénagas are traditional palafito villages, where stilted houses rise above the water, testifying to the deep connection between people and their environment. Fishermen cast their nets from wooden canoes, keeping alive ancestral techniques that have sustained communities for centuries.

DAY 12

via Aracataca to Santa Marta on Caribbean coast

Departing Mompox via Gabriel Garcia Marquez's birthplace, Aracataca, today you travel (5h) to Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast. You'll be able to stretch your legs some more in the nobel lauriate's footsteps by visiting Aracataca's railroad station and see a sculpture of Remedios La Bella being lifted into the air by a swirling breeze as a fusio of reality and myth so characteristic of his writing. Other Gabo related landmarks include the Montessori School, Masonic Lodge building, Berarcaza family house, Remedios La Bella library, United Fruit Company commissary, museum, Bolívar square and telegraph house. On arrival in Santa Marta you stay for two nights in the historic centre of this lively port town.

DAY 13

Minca cloudforest day trip (coffee, waterfall and hummingbirds)

Day trip for a peaceful mountain escape to Minca, a village nestled in the foothills of the lush Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park, just a short distance from Santa Marta. A great opportunity to spot Toucan, hummingbirds even the elusive quetzal. As well as hiking perhaps to a water fall and visiting a sustainable bean to cup coffee farm, such as La victoria and Finca La Candelaria. NOTE: alternatively you could make a full day visit to Neguanje beach on the ocean side of the Tayrona in the Bay of Gayraca. This involves a 40 minute drive to the Palanganga, the first entry point to the Tayrona National Park. It is then a slow drive via a winding road through the scenic arid tropical forest to Neguanje one of the largest beachins in Tayrona set in the Bay of Gayraca. It is beautiful but has strong waves so not suitable for snorkeling. Weather and sea conditions permiting from here local fisherman can take you onwards by 10-15 mins by boat to the cove of Playa Cristal which has crystal-clear turquoise water and white sand and where you can snorkel over a coral reef.

DAY 14

Bolivar Mausoleum, transfer to Santa Marta airport - depart (Eg via BOG) Bolivar Mausoleum, transfer to Santa Marta airport - depart (Eg via BOG)

Depending on the timing of your chosen onwards flight, you can include a visit to the fascinating Quinta de San Pedro, final resting place of Simon Bolivar and where his impressive mausoleum is located. The Parque in which this is set is also a great spot for seeing families picnic under the shade of giant Cieba, Saman, Calabash and Mango trees, and a healthy population of curious iguanas. Then transfer to Santa Marta airport, depart

Route map for Colombia 'A Quieter Colombia' holiday

Guide prices for 'A Quieter Colombia'

options	based on	all year	low season	mid season	high season	peak season	other season
Guide price	2 people sharing	£call

Prices are per person and include:

Prices do not include:

international flights
airport and departure taxes if these are not included in the flight ticket
travel insurance
any optional excursions you may buy locally
items of a personal nature such as drinks, tips, laundry, etc

Customer reviews for 'A Quieter Colombia'

Recent reviews are shown here from holidays based on this initial design. In each case the itinerary may have been modified (a little or a lot) to suit the individual traveller.

Average

Seasonal information for 'A Quieter Colombia'

Select your month of travel:

Along this route in January

Day	Location	Max °C
1	Bogota	19°C	31mm
2	Bogota	19°C	31mm
3	Villa de Leyva	22°C	40mm
4	Villa de Leyva	22°C	40mm
5	Barichara	27°C	41mm
6	Barichara	27°C	41mm
7	Bucaramanga	28°C	68mm
8	Cartagena	31°C	2mm
9	Cartagena	31°C	2mm
10	Mompox	33°C	9mm
11	Mompox	33°C	9mm
12	Mompox	33°C	9mm
13	Santa Marta	32°C	7mm

Typical weather for January

Max °C figures are the average daily maximum temperatures for the month. Rainfall is the average precipitation for the month.

Hotels for 'A Quieter Colombia'

Select your preferred accommodation option