100% customisable travel idea
Colombian Resilience and Cultures Colonial Heritage, Urban Transformations and Coastal Charm
Colombia - Bogotá - Villa de Leyva - Barichara - Medellín - Mompox - Cartagena
100% customisable travel idea
Colombia - Bogotá - Villa de Leyva - Barichara - Medellín - Mompox - Cartagena
100% customisable for you
Upon arrival, you’ll have a private transfer to the trendy Chapinero Alto district, where you’ll settle in for two nights. Shaped and lovingly restored by a pair of designers, your hotel stands out for its three elegant brick houses dating back to 1910. The décor touches created by local artists give each space a unique character. The rooms feature soft colours and contemporary furnishings. The landscaped communal areas add a refreshing tropical touch to the whole. The café, open all day, offers a culinary experience far beyond what you might expect from a typical hotel restaurant, using produce from the organic farm just outside the city. You’re also ideally located to explore the capital with ease.
Bogotá is a city of contrasts, perched at an altitude of 2,600 metres (8,530 feet). Its neighbourhoods pulse with Andean energy and showcase eclectic architecture: the colourful colonial buildings of La Candelaria, as well as more recent red-brick apartment blocks. In many places, the painted façades reveal the creativity of local graffiti artists and muralists of Bogotá. In fact, contemporary art is booming and galleries are springing up everywhere, just like the innovative restaurants in “Zona G” (for “gastronomic”). An astonishing city that never stops reinventing itself.Scheduled - La Candelaria, in private. The historic centre of the capital, La Candelaria is a colourful neighbourhood, with charming colonial and baroque architecture. Accompanied by a guide, you’ll stroll through this maze of narrow streets lined with small squares, numerous churches and pastel-coloured façades. Next, you’ll step through the doors of the Gold Museum. Its exhibitions offer essential insight into pre-Columbian civilisations and are strikingly beautiful - something you might not expect from the building’s rather austere exterior. A ten-minute walk away, you can also visit the Botero Museum, dedicated to the famous Colombian artist whose signature style is the rounded forms of his subjects.You won’t want to miss it - Views from Cerro Monserrate. Wherever you are in Bogotá, the silhouette of Monserrate towers above at 3,512 metres (11,519 feet). It has always fascinated people, and in the 17th century, it was crowned with a sanctuary that was later transformed into a beautiful basilica. Behind its immaculate walls, the basilica houses the statue of the “Fallen Christ”, to which many miracles are attributed. The climb can feel like a pilgrimage or a pleasant stroll in search of a 360-degree view over the sprawling city and the nature below. Those who do not have the courage to walk up can take the cable car.
Private transfer to Villa de Leyva. Isolation and the absence of prized natural resources can be a good thing in the long run. This is the case for Villa de Leyva, where 400 years of slow development have preserved a remarkable colonial ensemble. The large paved square, lined with white buildings, is a fine example and strongly evokes cities from the Spanish conquest. Its impressive size is due to both civil and military needs. Today, the village enjoys the status of a protected historic site. You’ll stay overnight in a beautifully renovated house, just five minutes from the main square, on a quiet street. Behind the pretty white façade is a beautiful garden, especially pleasant for having breakfast and taking in the view of the mountains. Inside, the décor is an inspired blend of traditional and contemporary. The rooms are spacious and comfortable.
After a private transfer to Barichara, you’ll check in for three nights in the northern part of the town. The casa has only a few rooms, ensuring guests have plenty of privacy. Tastefully decorated and welcoming, they are set around a lush, tranquil courtyard. A delicious homemade breakfast is served every morning. The property also features a library, an outdoor pool and a beautiful terrace with views of the Cordillera de los Yariguíes.
Time seems to have stopped in Barichara. The small town, founded in 1705 at the spot where the Virgin is said to have appeared, exudes a gentle provincial charm that is easy to fall for. On your itinerary - A day around Barichara, in private. Accompanied by a guide, you’ll explore this incredibly well-preserved village, walking along cobbled lanes of clay-coloured stone, crossing small tree-lined squares, and admiring the adobe houses topped with terracotta tiles. From the top of the lookout, you can see the Suarez Canyon and the Andes to the east of the country. This walk is also an opportunity to meet the city’s artists and artisans - blacksmiths, sculptors, makers of eco-friendly paper, and more.
To do - Hike on the Camino Real. Long neglected, the old path laid out during the viceroyalty between the villages of the region has been cleared and reopened. An easy hike takes two hours from Barichara to the village of Guane, at the foot of the Yariguíes mountain range. With a guide, you’ll walk in the shade of acacia trees through a stirring landscape. We’ll pass tobacco fields and drying sheds, recalling the pre-Columbian origins of this crop. Along the way, attentive travellers might spot the rare Rufous-bellied Hermit, a Cerulean Warbler or a Red-crowned Woodpecker. At the archaeological and palaeontological museum of Guane, ancient pottery, elongated skulls and fossils bear witness to the ancient and very ancient periods of Santander.
Private transfer to Bucaramanga airport, then a quick flight to Medellín. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred and then settle in for two nights at a unique property, halfway between a guesthouse and an actual hotel. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the service is attentive. The décor is superb, with an extensive use of natural fibres, baskets and other woven pieces. The walls display pretty, soft and calming shades. A few antique elements - such as the tiles and furniture - are combined with more contemporary mirrors and lighting, along with local arts and crafts. A contemporary take on Colombia, far from certain clichés. It’s the same story at the restaurant - a café that charmingly embraces its French bistro style. Hearty breakfasts and international dishes are served here. All of this takes place in one of Medellín’s most pleasant and lively districts, El Poblado.
Social harmony, urban space, art… While Colombia is undergoing significant changes in many areas, Medellín is probably the most striking symbol of this change. Known about twenty years ago as one of the most dangerous cities in the world, today it is an example of sustainable social development. Fashion, design, lifestyle - the city of “eternal spring” now sets the tone on all fronts.Scheduled - A day around the new Medellín. Lessons have been learned from the period of violence in the 1980s-1990s. The city is experiencing a new lease of life: easier mobility, connecting poor neighbourhoods to different communication networks, ecological and cultural policies, and research. A transformation that becomes clearer when you visit the comuna Manrique, where a large-scale art project has been carried out, reshaping the face of the neighbourhood. Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll then head to the historic centre, exploring, among other sites, Fernando Botero Square, named after the famous artist born in the city. You won’t want to miss it - La Casa de la Memoria. If it’s not very welcome to share your fascination with Pablo Escobar’s exploits with the Medellín locals, it’s because Colombia - and especially the wounded region of Antioquia - wants to move forward. In this sense, the Casa de la Memoria Museum is a wonderful tool for the essential duty of remembrance. For foreign visitors, it is also a place full of insights into the different episodes of violence, explained through photographs, interactive elements and audiovisual displays. It’s a moving exhibition that teaches us a lot about Colombia’s complex history. Take advantage of being in the neighbourhood to stroll over to the Placita de Flórez, where Colombia’s first covered market opened. You can immerse yourself in charming scenes of everyday life in a colourful setting.
Private transfer to the airport and a quick flight to Mompox, on the banks of the Magdalena River. You’ll settle in for two nights in a 17th-century colonial mansion standing proudly in the heart of the historic centre. The elegant building with white walls and tiled roofs, carefully converted into a small hotel, has kept its period charm. The seven rooms arranged around a leafy patio are cool and decorated with simple décor and a superb, timeless look. In another courtyard at the back of the house, you’ll find a beautiful swimming pool lined with sun loungers.
Scheduled - Private tour of Mompox. Santa Cruz de Mompox was founded in 1540 by conquistador Alonso de Heredia. The city, once prosperous thanks to its strategic position on the Magdalena River - then a vital trade route between the country's interior and the sea - grew quiet after river commerce declined in the 19th century. Now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mompox is known for its outstanding preservation of colonial architecture. During the tour, you’ll discover iconic sites such as the Church of San Francisco, Liberty Square and the house of poet Candelario Obeso, one of the country’s most important literary figures. Optional - Workshop with a jeweller specialising in the filigree technique, in private.
Private transfer to the airport and flight to Cartagena. After another transfer, you’ll settle in for two nights in the San Diego district, at the heart of the old town. The building displays elegant 18th-century architecture, and the rooms have undeniable colonial charm. Some reveal bare stone, others feature exposed beams. Guests can enjoy terraces outdoors, courtyards shaded by climbing plants, and a delightful swimming pool in the middle of a patio. Another pool, perched above, looks out over the city’s tiled rooftops. The restaurant, meanwhile, invites you to sample local flavours, once again sheltered in a small courtyard. A few streets from here stand the Clock Tower and the house of Gabriel García Márquez.
Scheduled - Private tour of the historic centre. Cartagena exudes Caribbean lifestyle, with a mild climate all year round that fosters a festive atmosphere. Founded in 1533 and known for its colonial architecture, it has inherited a rich history and remains a symbol of prosperity and independence. Often considered the twin sister of Havana - although, unlike the Cuban capital, it has been completely restored - Cartagena was a major Spanish port in South America for a long time. The imposing San Felipe de Barajas and San Fernando de Bocachica fortresses (18th century), where privateers and pirates met their match, still stand as noble witnesses to this history. Prosperous yesterday, prosperous today. As for its religious history, you can follow it along the streets, from the Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Alexandria (17th century) to the Palace of the Inquisition (18th century), passing by the Iglesia de San Pedro Claver (17th century), known as the apostle of enslaved Africans. You’ll experience all this, as well as a few museums, in the company of a guide.
You won’t want to miss it - Getsemani, a delightfully bohemian district with colourful streets lined with charming colonial houses and many murals. It's no surprise that artists express themselves freely in the area - Getsemani is a historic place of protest, revolution and alternative culture. The vibrant heart of the neighbourhood, the beautiful Plaza Trinidad is always full of life. Between Getsemani and the historic city centre, don’t miss Centenario Park - a charming little green space where sloths, monkeys and iguanas rescued from wildlife trafficking have made their home.In the late afternoon, a private transfer will take you to the airport for your international return flight. Night on board, arrival the next day.
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