100% customisable travel idea
Colombia - Bogotá - Tayrona Park - Cartagena - Isla Barú
100% customisable for you
Upon arrival, you’ll have a private transfer and check in for two nights in the bohemian district of Chapinero Alto. You’ll stay in a charming hotel, made up of three elegant brick houses dating from 1910, renovated with passion by a couple of designers. The decorative touches created by local artists give each corner of the establishment 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.
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, the historic centre, as well as more recent red-brick apartment blocks. In many places, the painted façades showcase the creativity of Bogotano graffiti and mural artists. In fact, contemporary art is booming and galleries are springing up everywhere. Just like the innovative restaurant in “Zona G” (for “gastronomic”). Scheduled - A bike ride with a guide, in private. The Colombian capital proudly displays its vibrant cultural scene. You’ll set off by bike to explore the parks, markets and places where locals live. The city reveals its charms as you explore its highlights and districts with colonial-style architecture. The route includes stops where you’ll discover street art - a reflection of Bogotá’s creative spirit.Must-see, must-do: During your explorations of the capital, especially after strolling through La Candelaria, be sure to step inside two of the country’s most interesting museums. First, the Gold Museum. Its exhibitions offer essential insight into pre-Columbian civilisations and are highly aesthetic - something you might not expect from the somewhat austere appearance of the building’s façade. The Botero Museum, dedicated to the famous Colombian artist who made the rounded forms of his characters and subjects his trademark, is just a ten-minute walk away. You can also gain some altitude by climbing - on foot or by cable car - Monserrate Hill, which overlooks the city from a height of 3,512 metres (11,519 feet). There stands a basilica with breathtaking views over the capital and its surroundings, as well as a refreshing touch of nature. In the evening, your table is reserved at one of Chapinero’s excellent restaurants, where Colombian cuisine is brought to life in a contemporary style.
Private transfer to the airport and flight to Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast. From here, it's easy to explore the surrounding area, especially Tayrona Park. Another transfer will take you to the gates of Tayrona National Park, where you’ll settle in for three nights at an intimate lodge with just a handful of traditionally styled rooms and palm-thatched roofs. The property is set in the heart of unspoiled nature, on the edge of a crescent of pale sand overlooking the Caribbean Sea… A certain vision of paradise!
The park includes a marine area, especially with coral reefs, and a land area. Where the two meet, sand, rocks and palm trees create a few idyllic beaches. Inland, the canopy rises up to 30 or 40 metres. The mantled howler monkey is the main sound-maker here. The birds display a dazzling array of colours: Santa Marta conure, green parakeet with a red band; Albert’s curassow, which looks as if it is wearing a tuxedo; king fan-tailed bird, whose crest turns red when alarmed; military macaw, as colourful as an officer; king vulture, with its yellow wattle and violet crown. In the early morning, you might even spot a shy tapir, an otter or a red brocketd eer. Scheduled - a meeting in private with the Kogi community. Descendants of the Tayrona people, one of the largest pre-Columbian civilisations in Latin America, the Kogis consider the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta a sacred place they are determined to preserve. You’ll meet them at the entrance to the national park, then set off on a hike to reach their village, enjoying beautiful views of the sierra along the way. Upon arrival at your destination, you’ll share a moment with the locals - an opportunity to learn more about the age-old traditions of a people who value harmony between people and nature.
At your own pace, you’ll explore the forest along the different walking trails. There’s no better way to spot animals going about their business. Hiking also lets you physically feel this lush environment. Colours, scents and sounds burst forth with intensity and clarity. The presence of many things is evident everywhere. The path will lead you to Cabo San Juan del Guía, a charming place that offers delightful swimming conditions.
After a private transfer to Cartagena, you’ll check in for two nights in the old town, in a building where undeniable colonial charm is harmoniously expressed around a lovely, light-filled patio. Inside, there are seven bedrooms and modest-sized rooms, along with impressive high ceilings and décor that tastefully and subtly reinterprets the colonial style: exposed beams, antique furniture, beautiful patterned fabrics, photographs on the walls and pieces crafted by local artisans. The whole place has real character and a distinctly personal touch. On the rooftop terrace, guests can enjoy a lovely space to relax, with a pleasant small pool overlooking the surrounding rooftops and the cathedral bell tower.Scheduled: a private tour of the historic centre. Cartagena has Havana and Seville in its family tree. For a long time, it was a major stronghold and a great Spanish port in South America - 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 will discover all this during a walk with a guide. Already arranged for the evening - your table is reserved at a Caribbean restaurant in the centreof Cartagena. Optional - salsa lesson in private.
Cartagena enjoys a mild climate all year round, creating a truly festive atmosphere. She embodies the Caribbean lifestyle, with a taste for rum, cigars and a natural sense of seduction.See and do - Strolls through the Getsemani district. To reach it from the fortified town, you’ll need to go past the Clock Tower. You’ll then enter a delightfully bohemian district, with colourful alleyways lined with charming houses with colonial façades and numerous murals that attract urban art enthusiasts. 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. Already planned: ceviche cooking workshop in private. You have an appointment at a restaurant set in a colonial house, where you will prepare a delicious ceviche - a dish of raw fish marinated here with lime juice and coconut - together with a chef. And then there will be a tasting, of course.
You’ll be transferred to the pier, then you’ll take a boat across to the paradise peninsula of Barú. You’ll stay for two nights in a hotel made up of bungalows scattered amid a lush tropical forest bordering the Caribbean Sea. This same forest supports your treehouse, offering a superb view of the surroundings. The bungalows are comfortable and equipped with the essentials, maintaining a traditional style with wooden architecture and a palm leaf roof. Yours has its own small pool - a delightful haven of privacy and coolness during the hottest hours. The days are filled with activities: snorkelling, swimming, cooking classes - and even massages. The hotel is also involved in a project to include vulnerable island communities.
Barú is part of the Islas Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo national marine park. Its purpose is to protect major coral reefs. Snorkelling and diving trips to discover vibrant, unspoilt marine life are on the agenda. The white sandy beaches shaded by coconut palms are on there too. You can’t miss the cheerful atmosphere here, or the tasty home-style cooking. Walks to the gentle sound of the surf or along the trails of the hinterland are part of the Barú way of life. However, one of the aims of these two days is to indulge in a certain pleasurable laziness - the Spanish version of farniente.
Boat crossing to Cartagena, then private transfer to the airport and international flight home. Night on board, arrival the next day.
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