Individual Trip: Colombia: Bogota – Cartagena – Medellin, 10 days

Day 1: Athens / Thessaloniki – Bogotá

Departure via an intermediate station and arrival late in the afternoon. Arrival, meeting with our English-speaking representative and transfer to our hotel for check-in and rest.

Day 2: Bogotá (city tour and Monserrate)

After breakfast, we will start a tour to the historical center of Bogotá, beginning with a walking tour of Bolívar Square in the heart of the city and the surrounding streets, where we will admire impressive buildings such as the National Capitol and the historical House of the Comuneros building. The Comuneros were rebels of New Granada (modern-day Colombia) who reacted against the heavy taxes and authoritarian policy of the Spanish colonial administration. The revolution began in 1781 and was one of the first major resistance movements against colonialism in the region.
Afterwards, we will pass by the Casa de Nariño (House of Nariño), which is the seat of the Presidency of the Republic of Colombia, the Santa Clara Church Museum, and the Gold Museum, which houses approximately 34,000 gold pieces from various pre-Hispanic civilizations. The route will continue from the city’s 2,600 meters above sea level to the 3,152 meters of the sanctuary where the Christ of Monserrate is honored. From there, we will enjoy the best panoramic view of Bogotá, ideal for photos that will remain unforgettable. Overnight stay.
Note: Visits to Monserrate take place Monday through Saturday, as on Sundays it operates only upon request, due to the difficulty of visiting the sanctuary because of the large number of pilgrims.

Day 3: Bogotá – Zipaquirá

Breakfast and departure for the city of Zipaquirá (the city of our father), 49 km north of Bogotá, after crossing the “Bogotá savanna”. This is not a savanna in the African sense, but a high plateau in the heart of the Andes and is one of the most unique and impressive landscapes of the country at 2,600 meters. It is a fertile plain with rivers, lakes and agricultural land surrounded by mountains. It is internationally known for the cultivation of flowers (roses, carnations, orchids), potatoes, corn and grains.
Before the arrival of the Spanish, the area was the heart of the Muisca civilization, one of the most advanced indigenous peoples of South America. In Zipaquirá, we will visit the Salt Cathedral.
During the pre-Columbian period, salt springs were utilized in this area to produce “salt bricks,” a powerful currency used by the Muisca for trade. Over time, technology evolved and tunnels began to be opened to extract larger quantities of salt. In these ancient underground galleries lies the Salt Cathedral at a depth of 180 meters below the earth’s surface. There is a small chapel of the miners in honor of the Virgin, Our Lady of the Rosary of Guasa (this word means “mine” in the Chibcha language).
During our journey through the cathedral, we pass 14 Stations of the Cross, carved into salt, a huge central hall with a 16-meter-high cross, illuminated with mystical blue and purple light and vaulted corridors that resemble a Gothic church, but are carved into the salt rock and the walls shimmer naturally due to the salt crystals.
The cathedral is considered one of the seven wonders of Colombia and attracts over a million visitors a year. It is not only a religious site but also a cultural, artistic and geological monument. After the visit, we return to Bogotá.

Day 4: Bogotá – Medellín

Breakfast and departure for the airport for our domestic flight to the city of eternal spring, Medellín, the second-largest city in the country, which was “discovered” on 2/3/1616 by the Spanish conqueror Francisco Herrera Campuzano and named San Lorenzo de Aburrá. In 1675 the name was changed to Villa de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Medellín. Arrival and transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 5: Medellín (city tour)

After breakfast, we will start with an extensive tour of the city of Medellín, which will allow us to get to know both its history and its modern character. The tour begins in the distinguished El Poblado district, which is the financial, hotel and commercial center of the city. There are luxury hotels, shopping centers, cafes and restaurants, giving a first taste of the modern lifestyle of the inhabitants.
Then, we will visit Nutibara Hill, a small hill in the city center. At the top of the hill is a representation of a typical “Antioquia” town with traditional architecture, museums and exhibits showing the daily life of the region. From there, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding mountains.
During the tour, we will see the Botanical Garden with its rich collection of plants and orchid exhibitions, Parque Explora, an interactive science park that combines education and entertainment, Parque de los Deseos, known for cultural events and outdoor film screenings, the Barefoot Park, an original park where visitors walk barefoot on different textures and surfaces, experiencing the feeling of nature in the city, and the Metropolitan Cathedral, with its impressive architecture and historical significance.
Finally, our tour ends at Botero Square, where we will admire the 23 exotic bronze sculptures, a donation from the famous Colombian artist Fernando Botero. These sculptures are characterized by the artist’s distinctive forms and are a symbol of contemporary Colombian art.
During the tour, we will also have the opportunity to experience the metro, one of the most efficient and innovative mass transit systems in Latin America.
After the tour, return to the hotel for rest.

Day 6: Medellín (full-day excursion to the El Peñol dam and Guatapé)

Breakfast and we will start our full-day excursion to the eastern region of the Antioquia department. During the route, we will pass through the town of Marinilla, and then through the municipality of El Peñol, whose history includes the technical flooding of 1970 for the construction of the hydroelectric complex/dam. Today, the dam is an important water reservoir for Colombia and is famous for its beach.
We will visit the representation of Old El Peñol, which depicts the most characteristic points of the town before the technical flooding.
It is essentially a small town-museum created to revive the history and architecture of the old town. This initiative aimed to keep the memory of El Peñol alive and give visitors a sense of the lives of the residents before the flooding. We will see how the central squares and streets were, with precise details of the architectural style of the time, traditional houses with wooden balconies, tile roofs and the characteristic colors of the region, and public buildings and churches as they existed before the flooding, showing the way social life was organized.
Then, optionally ($8) we will reach the Rock of El Peñol (La Piedra del Peñol), a monolithic rock 220 meters high, which one climbs via 740 steps to reach the top and enjoy a stunning view of the area and the lake.
Our excursion concludes in the beautiful town of Guatapé, one of the most colorful towns in Antioquia, known as “the town of painted zócalos.” Here we can admire the colorful 20th-century house facades, decorated with zócalos that symbolize the customs and professions of the town’s inhabitants. Return to Medellín for overnight stay.

Day 7: Medellín – Cartagena

After breakfast, free time until our domestic flight to Cartagena. Arrival and transfer to the hotel for check-in and overnight stay.

Day 8: Cartagena (city tour)

Breakfast and we depart for our tour of Cartagena. We will start at the City Museum (Museo de la Ciudad) dedicated to the history, cultural heritage and urban development of the city from its foundation to the present day. Then we will get to know the distinct beauty of the city, where colonial and modern architecture are combined harmoniously.
We will first visit the modern and vibrant Bocagrande area, with its skyscrapers, hotels and coastal zone, which constitutes the modern face of the city.
Cartagena was built in 1533 by the Spanish. So great was its position in the Caribbean Sea that all conquerors dreamed of bringing it under their control. In the most important siege – by the English – the defense was undertaken by the one-armed, one-eyed and… one-legged Blas de Lezo, who lined up 2,500 slaves and Indians against the 25,000 experienced sailors, 186 ships and 2,000 cannons of the English! The latter were so sure of victory that they issued a commemorative coin in advance, showing Blas de Lezo kneeling, surrendering the city. And indeed, because they considered it demeaning to defeat a… disabled person, they depicted him with… two arms and two legs. However, Blas de Lezo won this time too, though losing his other leg! His statue stands at the entrance of the San Felipe Castle, which is the continuation of our tour.
The tour continues with a walk in the historic center of the city with its cobblestone narrow streets, colorful colonial houses, churches with impressive facades and historical squares. The historic center, along with the San Felipe Castle and the city’s fortifications, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, due to its great historical and architectural value.
For the end of the tour, we will visit the Emerald Museum, where we will learn about the history, mining and processing of this precious stone. There we will discover why Colombian emeralds are considered the rarest, most valuable and sought-after in the world.
In the evening, enjoy a walk in the old city with its small bars full of rhythm and sweet rum, or take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the labyrinthine narrow streets. Overnight stay.

Day 9: Cartagena – Rosario Islands National Park

Our day today is dedicated to the Rosario Natural National Park, which includes 31 islands 45 km from Cartagena, where we can choose one of the two islands we suggest, which are San Pedro de Majagua and Isla del Encanto. We will have the opportunity to enjoy the beaches with coral sand and rich marine life in the reefs — ideal conditions for relaxation or for optional activities, such as diving, snorkeling, nature walks, tours of the mangrove forests, or simply relaxing on the beach.
On both islands, we will have a meal. Return by speedboat to Cartagena for overnight stay.

Day 10: Cartagena – Return flight

Breakfast, free time until the designated transfer time to the airport for our return flight, arriving the following day.

Travel notes