Colombia Tours & Vacations
Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Vacations
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Overview
Having languished in the tourist wilderness for almost two decades, Colombia has come back with a vengeance, rapidly earning a reputation as one of the most exciting new travel destinations in South America. Discover the countries palm-fringed Caribbean beaches, snow-capped Andean peaks, national parks and rainforests that beggars belief, with one of our Colombia tours. From the cosmopolitan streets of Bogotá, to the cobbled alleys of its colonial outposts, you can indulge in everything ...
Having languished in the tourist wilderness for almost two decades, Colombia has come back with a vengeance, rapidly earning a reputation as one of the most exciting new travel destinations in South America. Discover the countries palm-fringed Caribbean beaches, snow-capped Andean peaks, national parks and rainforests that beggars belief, with one of our Colombia tours. From the cosmopolitan streets of Bogotá, to the cobbled alleys of its colonial outposts, you can indulge in everything on your Colombia holidays, from mud bathing in volcanoes, trekking on glaciers or sipping Cuba Libras in the bars of Cartagena. The only South American country with a coastline on both the Pacific and the Caribbean, Colombia lies just to the south of Panama, providing the gateway between South and Central America. Hemmed in on three sides by Venezuela, Brazil and Ecuador, it was named in honour of Christopher Columbus, despite the fact that Columbus never actually visited the country. Infused with an almost dream-like quality that obviously inspired the author, Gabriel García Márquez, Colombia offers up a vast array of activities from jungle walks and archaeological ruins, to mountain treks, whale watching and coffee plantations. After so long in the wilderness, a trip to Colombia is a must for any traveller.
Start your journey
Group tours
Travel to Colombia with like-minded people on one of our small group tours (usually max size 12), featuring knowledgeable local guides and an expert tour leader.
TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS
Whether you want to travel on one of our award-winning itineraries or build your own journey from scratch, our expert consultants will help create the perfect tour for your tastes and budget. Below are a few suggestions of the kind of trips we can offer, all of which can be tailored to you.
EXAMPLE ITINERARIES
HIGHLIGHTS OF COLOMBIA
BEST EXPERIENCES
DAYTRIP TO CHINGAZA NATIONAL PARK
Take a private guided visit to Parque Nacional Natural Chingaza, one of the most important national parks within reach of the capital that preserves the unique paramo ecosystem. During the hike look out for hummingbirds, deer, the Andean Condor.
ENJOY A HISTORIC TOUR OF BOGOTÁ
Take a walking tour around the city’s histoic centre, La Candelaria, admiring its Spanish colonial buildings admiring the architecture the churches and cathedral. You can also stop for a visit at the excellent Gold Museum for a lesson in pre-colonial history.
Island hop in Rosario
The Rosario Archipelago is a far cry from the uninspiring beaches of Cartagena. Hop between the islands’ secret white sand beaches and snorkel in the turquoise surrounding this national park.
ATTEMPT THE LOST CITY TREK
This five-day trek isn’t for the faint of heart as the heat and humidity make it quite a challenging journey through the tropics in search of Colombia’s “Machu Picchu”, known as La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City).
GET MERRY DURING A RUM TASTING
Enjoy a rum tasting at a local bar whilst learning about the history of the drink in the Americas and Colombia. Whilst witnessing part of the distillation process, you will also become familiar with the differences in flavour and strength.
EXPERIENCE A COFFEE FARM TOUR
Witness and learn each step required to grow and process coffee beans. Walk around the plantation at one of the area’s long-standing coffee fincas (farm) and round off the experience with tasting of different coffee preparations, grinds and roasts.
TRY YOUR HAND AT A POTTERY CLASS
Visit a local workshop in quaint Raquira village, famous for its ceramics by the Muisca culture established well before the arrival of the Spanish. Learn the techniques of this centuries-old tradition in an optional pottery class.
WALK AROUND A RURAL COLONIAL TOWN
Take in the hidden corners of this quaint colonial town with its white-washed buildings and cobbled streets via a walking tour. As well as offering a glimpse into a traditional rural town, this is also one of Colombia's best-preserved historic villages.
ENJOY TAYRONA’S PROTECTED BEACHES
With rainforest meeting Caribbean beaches and the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background it's no surprise that Tayrona National Park is Colombia’s most visited national park. Hike through the forest to reach its protected beaches.
TOP PLACES TO VISIT
Bogota
Founded on 6 August 1538, the capital city is situated on fertile highland plains in the central region of the country. Bogotá preserves its historical and institutional centres (La Candelaria) ...
Cartagena de Indias
A fairy-tale walled city of romance and beauty (and a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Cartagena is studded with spectacular architecture, cobbled streets and leafy plazas, making it ...
Tayrona National Park
Forming part of the Caribbean coast, where the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (at 5,770m the highest coastal tropical mountain in the world) sinks into the sea and forms bays of indescribable beauty,...
Villa De Leyva
Declared a national monument in 1945, this magical town has been preserved in its entirety and virtually no modern architecture exists, making it one of the finest examples of a traditional colonial ...
Coffee Region
Colombian coffee is one of the finest in the world and is grown on the fertile lands of the Central Cordillera where the coffee bushes are interspersed with a wide variety of native species creating ...
OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY
Anandá Hotel, Cartagena de Indias
This beautifully restored, five-star boutique hotel is located in the historic centre of Cartagena de Indias, just a few blocks from Santo Domingo Square. Newly renovated, Anandá is an intimate…
Casa San Agustin, Cartagena de Indias
Casa San Agustin is a beautiful boutique hotel restored from three colonial buildings in Cartagena’s colonial quarter. Consistently being featured as one of the city’s top hotels, its 30 wood-beamed…
Casa Terra, Villa De Leyva
This boutique property houses just nine rooms, allowing for spacious living quarters and an attentive service. The décor mixes colonial features such as tiled flooring, whitewashed walls and terracotta…
Cayena Beach Villa, Tayrona National Park
The Cayena Beach Villa is a newer hotel in the town of Magdalena, around a 15-minute drive from the entrance to the national park. The hotel maintains local character with a touch of luxury overlooking…
Four Seasons Casa Medina, Bogota
Located in vibrant Chapinero area, known for its restaurants and bars, the Four Seasons Casa Medina hotel offers luxury accommodation within a protected, brick mansion building. Refined rooms feature…
Hacienda Bambusa, Armenia
The working coffee farm and plantation sits in the countryside around Armenia in Colombia’s coffee zone, surrounded by the Central Andes Mountain Range. The hacienda, built from bamboo and clay, is…
Hotel & Spa Getsemani, Villa De Leyva
The three-star Getsemaní hotel lies just a few blocks away from Villa de Leyva's main square allowing for easy independent exploration of this cobbled colonial town whilst being away from the noise of…
Hotel De La Opera, Bogota
Located in the historic centre, La Candelaria, most of the city’s major sites, museums and architectural highlights are within walking distance. Housed in a colonial building, the hotel and surrounding…
Villa Playa Tayrona, Tayrona National Park
With a lack of luxury accommodation options in the protected national park, Villa Playa Tayrona offers one of the most high-end ways to experience the surrounding natural beauty. The boutique property…Discover more
WHEN TO GO
The dry seasons (November to March and July to August) are the most comfortable times to visit (especially if trekking) although travel is possible at any time of the year. The country enjoys an equatorial climate and can get hot and humid, but thanks to the Andean Mountain range there are many areas at an elevated altitude, which experience a more temperate climate. (It can be very cold in the mountain tops on the Los Nevados day trip). The coastal regions are also cooled by the sea breezes.
Meet the expert, Richard
Richard is our Latin America expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
Speak to Richard by calling
1(833) 200-4640
LGBTQIA+ Guidance
When planning to travel as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, there may be additional things you wish to consider doing, such as:
- Speaking to one of our travel experts for information about travelling in your chosen destination and local attitudes towards members of the LGBTQIA+ community
- Checking the Human Dignity Trust map which highlights regions and countries which are potentially dangerous to LGBTQIA+ people, or Equaldex, which tracks the progress of LGBTQIA+ rights around the world.
- Checking the ‘Local laws and customs’ section of your country's official foreign travel advice page
- Looking for any updates for your desired destination on the Human Rights Watch LGBTQIA+ rights page
- Buying a recommended guidebook, as many include an LGBTQIA+ section and advice for LGBTQIA+ travellers
USEFUL INFORMATION
Health and Vaccinations
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Colombia though you should be up to date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. For some regions you require a Yellow Fever Certificate. There are mosquito borne diseases presently in Colombia such as Malaria and Zika is present in some parts of Colombia so we recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and/or preventative treatments.
Officially visitors to the Tayrona National park only need to show a Yellow Fever certificate if they have visited Brazil or certain West African countries in the previous 6 months. However, on occasions overzealous park wardens can request this documentation from all visitors. As a precaution we suggest that guests are up to date with their YF vaccination and must present their certificate if requested. Although unlikely to happen, there is a small risk that failure to have your certificate may hold up the entrance process to the National park or entry could be denied.
Currency
In Colombia the official unit of currency is the Colombian Peso (COP).
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com.
Cultural Sensitivity
On our tours you will frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your tour-leaders and guides will always be able to advise you accordingly.
In the churches and cathedrals women should cover their heads with a scarf or hat, while men should take their hats off.
Language & Religion
Colombia’s official language is Spanish although those dialects and languages spoken by other ethnic groups are also considered official in their territories. The dominant faith in the country is Catholicism and although the country has a very colourful history they are often very devout in their beliefs.
Time
Colombia is 5 hours behind GMT.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com.
Food and drink
Food and drink play a big part in Colombian culture – please do not expect to lose any weight on this trip! But do just be prepared as breakfast can be a bit repetitive usually eggs, bread and coffee. The diet is also quite meat orientated, so vegetarians may struggle. In Colombia, hot chocolate is still a staple in almost every Colombian home, accompanied by Colombian pastries, bread, cheese and even eggs.