Itinerary - The Northeast of Colombia
Bogotá - Zipaquirá - Villa de Leyva - Barichara - Canyon Chicamocha - Bucaramanga - Cartagena - Isla Mucurá

 

Travel information 
Day 1 - Arrival in Bogotá
Your travel companion will welcome you at the international airport "El Dorado" in Bogotá. After the welcome he will take you to the hotel.

 

Day 2 - City Tour with the most beautiful highlights of the world metropolis 
The private tour of the city starts with the pick up at the hotel. Your private guide will take you to the most beautiful and outstanding places of Bogotá. The first place to mention is the Plaza de "Simon Bolivar". There you will find the most important political and representative buildings of the capital, such as the City Hall, the Cathedral, the Palace of Justice and the seat of government of Colombia. Afterwards you will visit the historic old town with its narrow streets, colonial houses and countless small typical cafés. It is also worth visiting the Gold Museum in the center of the city. This has a pre-Columbian gold collection that is unique in the world and is also the largest of its kind with about 35,000 exhibits. You can also visit the famous Botero-Museum. But there is one thing you should not miss: the breathtaking view of the lively metropolis from the mountain Monserrate.

 

Day 3 - The northeast route through Colombia begins

Your private guide will pick you up from your hotel and you will travel by private car from Bogotá to Zipaquira. There you will first check in at the hotel, where you can refresh yourself a little and then visit the underground salt cathedral. This catholic pilgrimage site is an architectural masterpiece. It is carved into an enormous salt rock and has an extensive system of tunnels that you can visit. The ambience and attractive lighting make this attraction a special experience. Afterwards you can stroll a little through the pretty Zipaquirá and enjoy the colonial flair.

 

Day 4 - Two colorful, pretty little towns

On your journey further north, your guide will show you the two charming towns of Ráquira and Villa de Leyva. First you will drive to Ráguira. This small town is considered the capital of Colombia when it comes to pottery. Up here, at an altitude of 2,000 meters, the Muisca tribe used to live, and even at their height, which lasted until the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, Ráquira was known for its ceramic art due to its large clay deposits. With a tour you will get to know this "colorful pottery town". Afterwards you continue your journey to Villa de Leyva. In the late afternoon you will arrive there and move into the hotel.

 

Villa de Leyva is a magical place, which invites you to take a walk in the evening with its dimmed lighting, the cobbled streets and the impressive main square. In addition, you can enjoy the varied culinary offer in one of the romantic restaurants.

 

Day 5 - Villa de Leyva & surroundings   

Your guide will take you today to an architectural highlight not far from Villa de Leyva. It is the "Casa Terracota". A house of the Colombian artist Octavio Mendoza, which he designed in creative forms and made completely of clay. Furnished with many artistic and alternative elements, it represents a habitable house suitable for everyday use. For the afternoon we have prepared something special for you. Colombia is not exactly known for wine growing. The climatic conditions are very difficult for it in this tropical country. All the more we are pleased to invite you to a tasting of selected quality wines at one of the few wineries in Colombia. At the same time, you will learn how to extract these quality wines from this barren soil at an altitude of about 2,000 m above sea level.

 

Day 6 - Waterfall Juan Curi & Barichara

Today you continue your itinerary through Colombia. The day's destination is Barichara, which was rightly declared the most beautiful village in Colombia a few years ago. However, your private guide does not want to complete the 5 - 6 hour drive in one piece, but would like to take you on a stopover to a magnificent natural spectacle, the waterfall Juan Curi. In the midst of a wonderful nature park you will hike about 20 minutes to this glamorous waterfall. At the foot of the waterfall you can refresh yourself in a natural swimming pool and enjoy the breathtaking nature all around. Afterwards you continue your trip. In the afternoon you will reach Barichara. This extremely charming little village is spectacularly situated on a high plateau with a view into the valley of the "Rio Suarez". The unique and magical charm of the village is mainly due to the cobbled streets and the picturesque views. These and many other attractions will be familiar to you on the following days.

 

Day 7 - Colonial jewel Barichara

In the morning you will explore the beautiful village of Barichara with your private tour guide. This cozy place could easily serve as a movie set (as Villa de Leyva does, by the way) and offers you very rewarding sights. Strolling along the alleys and turning into the next street, you will be rewarded with the next "wow" view.

In the afternoon you will be warmly welcomed on a private tobacco farm. The international tobacco company Philip Morris knows about the 1a quality tobacco leaves of this farm and purchases them for its products. Your host would not only like to show you around the family farm, but also spoil you with a homemade cigar and a culinary meal. 

 

Day 8 - Great hiking trail with great views

For today, a beautiful hike in the beautiful and peaceful nature is planned. The special thing about it is that you will also follow the traces of past times. You will hike a stage of the so-called "Camino Real". It is a part of a centuries-old communication route system, which connected the villages "Barrancabermeja" and "Bogotá" in branches. Once the indigenous population group "Guane" used this trade route. A section of this road leads from Barichara to the nearest village Guane. This distance is about 5 km in total. Guane is a pretty little village, which enchants you with its charm already on arrival. After a long break and a short walk through the village your guide will bring you back to your hotel in Barichara. The afternoon is at your free disposal. 

 

Day 9 - The second longest canyon in the world - Chicamocha National Park  

 After breakfast you will say goodbye to Barichara and continue north to Bucaramanga. On your way there is the Chicamocha National Park. Majestically, steep mountains rise up and cut a narrow and high canyon into the landscape, leaving you in awe. With a length of 227 km this canyon (after the Grand Canyon, USA) is the second longest in the world. Not far from the main road is "Panachi", a gondola station. From here you take the gondola to the plateau "Los Santos". During the ride you will cross the canyon and have a spectacular view. On the other side, when you arrive in Los Santos, there is a typical farmers' market where you can get to know the variety of regional delicacies. Back in Panachi, continue your journey and arrive in Bucaramanga in the late afternoon.

 

Day 10 - The Caribbean Coast of Colombia

From Bucaramanga you fly today to the Caribbean coast of Colombia to Cartagena de Indias. This city is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the Caribbean. With its very well preserved old town center, its narrow, romantic alleys, picturesque houses, numerous excellent restaurants and stylish hotels, Cartagena envelops you with its irresistible charm from the very first minute. Especially in the evening, when the city's numerous plazas turn into true artistic performance stages, you can feel the extraordinary magic of this city. 

 

Day 11 - Cartagena de Indias

During the private guided tour through the historic old town you will also get exclusive insights into the "sweet world" of the Costeños with their aromas and fragrances. Further culinary surprises await you during the tour.

 

Day 12 - Cartagena de Indias

This day is at your free disposal. 

 

Day 13 - Boat transfer to the Caribbean island Mucurá

After breakfast you will be picked up by our tour guide at the hotel in Cartagena and taken to the port. He will take care of all formalities for the transfer by speedboat, which will take you directly to the small hotel complex on the island of Mucurá. Once you arrive on the island, the team of the first-class, well-kept resort will welcome you warmly.

 

Days 14-17 - Exclusive Relaxation on the Caribbean Island of Mucurá

Enjoy your remaining vacation days in this private paradise. Whether sun, beach & sea, active on the tennis court or completely relaxed with one of the exclusive spa offers, there is something for everyone. Culinary delicacies pamper your palate and a discreet, excellent service also ensures an all-round feel-good stay. 

 

Day 18 - Transfer to Cartagena and return

After breakfast, you will take the speedboat back to Cartagena and will be transferred to the airport for your return journey.

 

 

Services & Prices

 Including

- All domestic flights

 - 17 x overnight stays in design or boutique hotels

 - Room category: Suite or luxury double room 

 - All overnight stays include an extensive breakfast/breakfast buffet

 - Full board for the days of travel 14 - 17

 - All (airport) transfers and journeys of your round trip in a private car with chauffeur

 - Boat transfer Cartagena - Isla Mucurá, there and back

 - All services of the above described excursions and activities including all entrance fees

 - spanish/english speaking local tour guide 

 

 Not included

 - International flights

 - Insurance, such as travel cancellation, health or accident insurance

 - Lunch and evening meals of the travel days 1 - 13 

 

 Additional requests   for your trip

 - Rum-Tasting in Cartagena

 - Private catamaran excursion off the coast of Cartagena

 - Private yacht excursion through the San Bernardo archipelago

 

The tour described above is an example trip and serves as an orientation how your perfect vacation trip can look like. With the help of your personal wishes, ideas or additional options we will work out your own very private trip.  Our team is looking forward to meeting you! 

 

Inquire about this trip simply and conveniently with the following contact form. If you are interested, you can also include the additional activities or excursions offered in the field "Additional requests". We will then send you your personal offer immediately. This includes the respective hotels including descriptions as well as the travel price.