Just a Week in Colombia

Colombia at full blast for a week. If that's all the time you have you'll want to make it count.



'Just a Week in Colombia'

What makes this trip special?

Bogota

Bogota

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

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.

Medellin

Medellin

The city of resilience, transformation, development and creativity

Colombia's second-largest city, Medellin, is known for its transformation from a violent past to a vibrant, innovative hub. Sprawling across the Aburrá Valley, it has a pleasant 'eternal spring' climate all year. Rich in culture, with Botero Plaza, Pueblito Paisa, and Jardín Botánico, Medellín is also a leader in sustainability and urban development. With its warm hospitality, Medellín is a city of growth, creativity, and resilience.

Cartagena

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.

Rosario Islands

Rosario Islands

An idyllic coral archipelago off Colombia's Caribbean coast

The Rosario Islands are a wonderful escape, just an hour from Cartagena by boat. An idyllic archipelago of small coral islands set in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, with beaches to lounge on, shallows to swim in, and coral reefs to snorkel on. Some beaches are lively with bars, music and rows of loungers, but with quieter beaches a few steps away through the palm trees.

Itinerary map for Colombia 'Just a Week in Colombia' holiday

Itinerary

  • Day      Overnight
  • 1 Bogota
  • 2 Bogota
  • 3 Medellin
  • 4 Medellin
  • 5 Cartagena
  • 6 Cartagena
  • 7 Cartagena
  • For the detail of each day click the ‘Day-by-day’ tab above.

Designer's notes

7 days is much too short - or is it? If that's the only time you have available there is a lot you can see and do. Just don’t expect to feel well-rested when you get home.

Day-by-day itinerary for 'Just a Week in Colombia'

DAY 1

Bogota

Your first day in Bogota is designed on the basis that you are arriving on an overnight flight that gets in very early in the morning. So you would first be transferred to a hotel in the historic quarter of the city called, La Candelaria where you can settle in, rest, have some breakfast, and leave your bags. You then meet your local guide who takes on a leisurely walking tour of the photogenic historic area of the city - a first introduction to the city’s culture and people. You walk by the Plaza Bolivar, the city's huge, cobbled main square bordered by its most important and grand buildings: the nation’s Capitol building, the huge modern Palace of Justice, the fine Cathedral with the exquisite Capella del Sagrario beside it, the very fine buildings of the College of San Bartolome, and the Leviano Palace, a large building in the French style that is now the mayor’s HQ. Spend some time at the Botero Museum, whose collection includes much by Fernando Botero, Colombia’s most prominent artist, with many others. You also visit Bogota's rather fabulous Gold Museum, which has the world’s largest collection of gold artifacts and a swathe of archaeological treasures from pre-Columbian times.

DAY 2
BL

Salt Cathedral at Zipaquira and Andres Carnes de Res Chia

With an early start you are driven out of the city to Zipaquirá to be among the first visitors of the day to enter the immense, subterranean Salt Cathedral. Its succession of vast caverns carved out by large scale salt mining creates an awe-inspiring setting for its blend of religious space and modern art gallery deep within the earth. It is a very unique spiritual and cultural experience that is visited by both tourists and pilgrims. Later, on your journey back to Bogota, you stop at Chia for lunch at Andres Carne de Res - a local institution. This is the original and best of these carnivalesque party palaces where you can try some well-prepared classic Colombian dishes and rub shoulders (and perhaps even dance) with the locals in its festive ambiance.

DAY 3
B

Medellin - cable car tour social transformation Comuna 13

This morning fly to Medellin, with its warm 'eternal spring' climate, vibrant culture and innovative spirit. Medellín's journey from violence to urban renewal is remarkable. Social reforms, including public parks, libraries, and education centres, have revitalised the city's spirit and quality of life, earning Medellín international acclaim. On arrival in Medellin a local guide will take you up on Medellín's swish cable car system which has created vital links between the city centre and the poorer hillside communities, fostering unity and helping to reduce social disparities. They also give great views across the city! You then visit the newly hip, formerly no-go neighbourhood of Comuna 13.

DAY 4
B

Coffee Tour

A morning tour into the countryside near Medellin to visit a coffee hacienda - a small sustainable producer, and learn how the best coffee is produced. It makes for a fascinating visit all year round. Afternoon free in Medellin, to relax at your hotel or perhaps independently visit some of the city's museums and galleries, such as the Casa de la Memoria and the Museum of Modern Art. We could instead arrange something for you in advance, at an extra cost, such as a bike tour or a cocoa workshop.

DAY 5
B

Cartagena

Fly direct to Cartagena where sea-level sunshine sets it apart from the rest of Colombia. Your local guide takes you an on afternoon wander through the crowded yet delightful cobbled streets which buzz with anticipation. Great shopping opportunities, great photographic opportunities, restaurants to suit everyone from good straight cooking to modern gastro. It feels like the place to be. Or just grab an ice cream and pause for timeout in a leafy square. At dusk on a clear day it is traditional to walk up onto the city wall to watch the Caribbean sunset.

DAY 6
B

Cartagena

After breakfast your guide and driver take you to visit key sites just beyond the city walls, starting with a drive up to the former Monasterio and La Popa church for an impressive 360 degree panoramic view of the city. You then visit the San Felipe Fortress and explore its maze of tunnels, underground galleries and passageways and briefly visit the Getsemani neighbourhood with its colourful murals. Your tour will take around four hours and will end at Las Bovedas at the northern end of the historic quarter, a series of 47 brightly painted yellow archways/vaults running adjacent to the city wall which functioned as an ammunition store during colonial times and later a prison. These days the archways are home to shops selling classic and slightly overpriced tourist souvenirs such as hammocks, magnets and t-shirts. The afternoon is free for you to explore independently. If you are looking for higher quality souvenirs then at the time of writing we highly recommend the following Colombian stores within the historic quarter, most of which are open from 10am until 8pm (closing earlier on Sundays): "Calamubuco" for genuine handicrafts - woven products, hats, fans, art (Calle 35 #6-37) "Adamo Coffee by Cafeto" - high quality coffee, chocolate and pottery (Calle San Juan de Dios #3-113 within Pasaje de la Candelaria) "Loto del Sur" for Colombian sourced and created beauty/bath products (Cra.5 #34-37) "Evok" for gourment chocolates, honey and tea and coffee (Cra.3 #33-46) "Serrezuela" mall for high end Colombian designers in sophisticated renovation of bullring, where there is also a nightly light show/fountain display from 6-8pm (Cra.11 #39-21) If you have your bearings perhaps choose to end here with a spot of lunch in or near the Plaza de la Aduana behind the collanade as there are two interesting places to visit nearby - the Convent and Church of San Pedro Claver (the patron saint of slaves) and the small Gold Museum Zemu are just a couple of minutes walk from each other in this section of the walled city.

DAY 7
BL

Rosario Islands

Full day excursion by boat out to one of the Rosario Islands for relaxation at the beach. Arriving at your chosen island you take a smaller boat for a snorkelling trip run by a PADI centre on the reef that surrounds the islands. It's back to the island for lunch and a siesta, and later a fast boat back to Cartagena.

DAY 8
B

Depart Colombia via Bogota

You'll have some free time in Cartagena today before you are transferred to the airport for your chosen onwards flight.

Guide prices for 'Just a Week in Colombia'

options based on all year low season mid season high season peak season other season
Guide price 2 people sharing £call
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 'Just a Week in 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 'Just a Week in Colombia'

Along this route in January

Day Location Max °C Monthly rainfall
1 Bogota 19°C rainfall 31mm
2 Bogota 19°C rainfall 31mm
3 Medellin 24°C rainfall 59mm
4 Medellin 24°C rainfall 59mm
5 Cartagena 31°C rainfall 2mm
6 Cartagena 31°C rainfall 2mm
7 Cartagena 31°C rainfall 2mm

Typical weather for January

rainchart

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

Hotels for 'Just a Week in Colombia'

Days 3 - 4

Hotel Poblado Plaza

Hotel Poblado Plaza