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Bogota, Pereira and Cartagena March 7 – March 15, 2015
Despite its past notoriety, Colombia has re-emerged as a hot destination for sophisticated travelers and those seeking culture and sun. This program will introduce you to the country through its capital, Bogota, the heart of the coffee region and the charming Caribbean character of historical Cartagena. Once you have sampled them you will be sure to be back for more.
9 Days: $2,587 inclusive of accommodations in deluxe hotels, 13 Meals; 8 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 2 Dinners, Professional Local Tour Guides throughout your tour, comprehensive sightseeing, cooking class. International airfare is additional and estimated at $589. We can assist with reservations. An optional single supplement of $890 is available for those not wishing to participate in our roommate matchup guarantee
- A privately guided tour of the Museum del Oro highlighting the gold artwork of the Incas
- A tour of the home of Fernando Botero the sculptor famous for his oversized men, women and animals
- Learning the secrets of coffee production at a working plantation in the Colombian highlands
- Cruising the Bay of Cartagena while enjoying wine and cheese
- A farewell dinner featuring seafood fresh from the ocean
GUARANTEED DEPARTURE
Day 1: Saturday, March 7, 2015 Miami - Bogota
Your flight today will leave Miami in the late afternoon arriving in Bogota in the early evening. Those connecting from other cities will meet your tour leader in a pre-arranged area about two hours prior to boarding. This will give you the chance to meet your fellow group members before you begin your adventure. Upon arrival in Bogota you will meet your Tour Manager who will escort you to your coach which will take you to your hotel. Get to know more about your companions at a welcome dinner. Dinner
Day 2: Sunday, March 8, 2015 Artistic Treasures of Bogotá
After breakfast you will meet up with your guide for a private tour of many of the key sights in the city. You will start in the historic centre of the city known as La Candelaria made up of stately homes and Spanish colonial buildings with iron windows thick and sturdy wooden doors and internal patios hidden from sight but with beautiful gardens solely for the pleasure of the owner. Moving to more contemporary times you visit Museo Botero a colonial home filled with the works of art by Fernando Botero and also works from his private collection including Picasso, Renoir, Dali, Matisse, Monet and Giacometti. Moving back in time you next visit the Museo Del Oro which has an exhibit of over 32,000 pieces of gold and is considered one of the most important museums of its type in the world. You complete your tour with a funicular ride to Santuario de Monserrate which stands 1,500 feet above the city offering spectacular views. After lunch the rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Breakfast and Lunch
Day 3: Monday, March 9, 2015 Pereira… Juan Valdez Country
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Pereira. For many years the face of Columbia was Juan Valdez that dedicated grower who represented all the coffee growers in Colombia. With his trusted burro he would pick each berry one by one as they ripened to make the perfect blend of coffee. Pereira is the spiritual home of Juan Valdez. After arrival you will head to a working coffee plantation stopping along the way for a lookout view of the coffee plants that has made this region a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your visit to the plantation begins in the house with an introductory chat about coffee, its preparation, toasting, the characteristics of quality and the properties that allows for such a variety of coffees in the world. The tour then continues through the grounds appreciating the work of the coffee pickers and learning to understand the famous humid coffee that is characteristic of Colombian coffee. Breakfast
Day 4: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 Valle de Cocora, Salento and Filandia
Today your guide will take you to the Valle de Cocora which is located in the central mountains that make up part of the Parque Nacional de los Navados. This is the ideal place to view the “Quindian wax palm”, the national tree of Colombia and reaching heights of 180 feet. Living in this area are numerous birds including a variety of hummingbirds and the palm parrot which is an endangered species. You will have a chance to walk in the cloud forest and on the return journey cross the River Quindío while walking an ecological pathway past the tallest wax palms in the world. You will then stop at a trout farm and enjoy a traditional meal of smoked trout. In the afternoon you visit the town of Salento with its colorful balconies, the Calle real, and the Cocora viewpoint. Your last stop is the town of Filandia with its colonial homes and coffee shops. You have some time to soak up the local atmosphere before returning to the hotel. Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5: Wednesday, March 11, 2015 Cartagena, the Treasure City
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Cartagena. At one time Cartagena was fought over by the Spanish, French and English for the treasure that sailed from its port to the old world from the new. Today, the treasures are found in its walled city with its colonial buildings, bougainvillea in bloom, horse-drawn carriages and people watching from charming courtyard cafes. Upon arrival in Cartagena you will be driven to your hotel which is located at the end of a peninsula and offers ocean on three sides and spectacular city views in the other. Today you can relax at the pool or on the beach. We will have many suggestions for dining this evening. Breakfast
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Day 6: Thursday, March 12, 2015 Old Town and a Cruise on the Bay
After breakfast your guide will be waiting to take you on a walking tour of Ciudad Amurallada as the old walled city is known. The walls were built as part of a defensive establishment anchored by a series of forts. While the city has many interesting sights, just walking through the cobblestone alleys in the shadows of the flower-laden balconies is an experience in itself. During your exploration you will visit the Palacio de la Inquisicion which, besides being an excellent example of colonial architecture was also a place of historical if sinister importance since it was here that the tortures of the inquisition took place. There is a museum for you to visit. After that you visit Cartagena Cathedral which was hit by Sir Francis Drake's cannons in the 16th Century and Iglesia de Santo Domingo, the oldest church in the city. After time to grab a light lunch you board a boat for a cruise on the Bay of Cartagena enjoying wine cheese and fruit as you imagine what it must have been like to be Sir Walter Raleigh laying siege to the city in search of Spanish gold. Breakfast
Day 7: Friday, March 13, 2015 Cooking with a View
Today you will follow in the footsteps of Anthony Bourdain as you meet Chef Jorge Escadon at your hotel and head to La Plaza de Mercado which the city’s largest market is offering a wide variety of fresh seafood, meat and vegetables. As he did on the show "No Reservations", the chef will take you around the market and introduce you to his best suppliers. You will also purchase the ingredients necessary for a seafood lunch and then head to the chef's beach house at Manzanilla del Mar. In a large open kitchen with stunning sea views you work with the chef in creating the lunch which you then enjoy with some nicely chilled wine. After a leisurely lunch you have the opportunity to walk the beach or take a swim before returning to the old city where your evening is at leisure. Breakfast and Lunch
Day 8: Saturday, March 14, 2015 Free Day and a Farewell Evening
The day is left open for you to relax on the beach or spend time exploring the old town. Tucked beneath the ramparts of the city are areas that have been transformed into shops offering designer clothes and other items. Another alternative would be to find a nice outdoor restaurant for a long lunch and people watching. In the evening you will be taken to Club de Pesca for a farewell dinner. Breakfast and Dinner
Day 9: Sunday, March 15, 2015 Return to USA
In the morning your guide will escort you to the airport and assist you with check-in for your flight back home where you arrive in the afternoon. Breakfast
ACCOMMODATIONS
Bogota: Radisson Hotel
Treat yourself to a relaxing stay at the Radisson Royal Bogotá, an upscale hotel located within minutes of Hacienda Santa Bárbara and Usaquen, which offers a variety of dining and leisure options for travelers. Designed for discerning business and vacation travelers, this property boasts world-class amenities that include free Wi-Fi and a heated swimming pool. After a busy day, feel free to unwind in the on-site Radisson Club & Spa or indulge in delicious dishes at the hotel's El Bodegón Restaurant
Pereira: Movich Hotel De Pereira
Situated in the breathtaking coffee region, the hotel is the perfect starting point for any excursion. Located in the west-central region of the country within the triangle formed by Bogota, Medellin and Cali, the location is connected by the Coffee Highway (autopiste de Café) to the other coffee-producing departments of Quindío and Caldas.
Cartagena: Hilton Cartagena
Welcome to the Hilton Cartagena Hotel, idyllically located on El Laguito Peninsula. This Colombia beach hotel is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea on three sides, offering picturesque views and a tranquil atmosphere. Enjoy an oceanfront position just ten minutes from the ancient walled city. Gaze across the ocean from one of 341 guest rooms and suites at this Cartagena hotel. Dine at Las Chivas Restaurant where you can enjoy wood-baked pizza and gourmet cuisine. The hotel offers a variety of fitness options including a fully equipped fitness center, three pools and a Well Being Center. The hotel also boasts resort facilities such as a swimming pool complex with toboggan, tennis courts and sun loungers on the secluded beach.
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