Colombia August 2008

The creative organizer for this trip is Leidy Hernandez, click here for her bio...

Colombia August 2008

DATES: July 25th to August 9th, 2008 (15 days)

PRICE: $2250 CDN, this covers everything except airfare

The itinerary's main lines:

First part:

Days 1-2 : Bogota and Zipaquira

We'll get a City tour of Bogota as we'll see some of the most interesting neighbourhoods of this country's capital. The Candelaria is an example, filled with colonial history and beautiful architecture, it is sure to charm your senses. We will also get to see areas in the Northern part of the city, like the "93", or the Zona Rosa. We will of course visit the Museum of Gold which holds more than 3600 artifacts made of gold, ceramics and precious stones, all explaining the varying colombian cultures and their history, and on display for our eyes to admire.

We will also head off to Zipaquira, a small little colonial town where many typical Colombian artisans are found. We will get to see the famous Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira which is considered to be by many one of the modern wonders of the world since it is built entirely inside the mountain's rock and holds impressive interior decoration, a true architectural feat! The lake of Guatavita si also close by, made famous with the legends of El Dorado, and so we conclude the first portion of our adventure.

Second Part:

Days 3 to 7 : Santa Marta and Cartagena

Once in Santa Marta we will stay in the Tayrona Park where we will be extremely close to the Atlantic Ocean and be able to trek along this area's beautiful vegetation to admire the views from different angles. We'll be surrounded by forests, white sand beaches and crystal clear water, making this a true paradise! Furthermore, the park also hosts some interesting archeological sites, like "El Pueblito", a small indigenous village left behind yet intact after so many years by the locals who used to live there, right in the middle of the forest.

As for Cartagena, this ancient "gold hub" is where the Spanish used to bing all their gold so they could then export it back to Europe, so it is well fortified o say the least! Named UNESCO World Heritage site, it exudes an amazing Colombian charm, with ancient fortresses, its colonial architecture and natural beauty with the caribbean shores at its feet. It will be a pleasure for us to wonder around its streets as we will find out why Cartagena is now a destination of choice for many well-informed travellers.

Third Part:

Days 8 to 15 : Quindio, Medellin and La Dorada

The last part of the trip is divided into three:

First we will discover Quindio, which is part of the Eje cafetero area where the famous Colombian Coffee comes from. Cafeteras are typical coffee farms and plantations where we'll be able to stay for a few days and discover the local culture that makes this area different from the rest of the country. We'll go on horseback riding excursins (called cabalgatas) as we ll as take treks to the different farms located in this beautiful region. We'll bathe in hot water springs as we take in the magnificent splendour of this part of Colombia.

Second, we will get to visit the great city of à Medellin, second largest in the country, but more importantly a true gem in the middle of Colombia. With a never changing climate (there are no seasons here!) Medellin boasts the Botero Museum, holding galleries from the world famous Colombian artist. Of course, the Pegnol, a huge rock endowed with a variety of restaurants and hotels, all offering an amazing view of palm treems and the surrounding mountains. We'll make sure to pass by El Pueblito Paisa, a small village in the nearby mountains which represents the Colonial medellin, definitely worth the detour!

Third, and last part of this trip, we will visit La Dorada Caldas, a small charming town where we will get to go on an excursion localled referred to as a Rio (River), meaning we'll spend the day along a river and prepare our own typical plates like the sancocho, typical of this region. We will of course get to swim and mix with the locals friends and family that will have joined us for this day in nature...this is sure to be a day to remember!

We'll then have to head back to Bogota for the end of the trip!!!!