Walking
​Those who visit Colombia discover a country of rich cultural and artistic treasures, valleys and mountains, diverse climates and unique landscapes. Colombia is the only country in South America with coastlines on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. From the Amazon to the city of Cartagena, declared Historic and Cultural Heritage, through its capital Bogotá, not to mention the beautiful scenery in the Coffee Triangle; travelers with the Walking Connection will be closer to understanding why Colombia is the country of magical realism.​
Connection
With its pre-Colonial, Colonial and Republican history, Colombia has a wealth of cultural attractions. Nature and wildlife abound in its diverse landscapes and the spirit and warmth of the Colombian people will ensure your Colombian experience will be one that lingers on long after you arrive back home.
Itinerary
Please note that the details of this itinerary are subject to change. Many of the planned activities are organized according to availability, events or seasonal dates, appropriate weather conditions or the discretion of our guides. We make every effort to provide the experience described in the itinerary with the understanding that some things may change.
Day 1
Bogotá
A friendly city with a vibrant and diverse cultural energy; Bogota has an intriguing balance between its historical past and its movement into the future. Colombia’s capital and commercial backbone, sits high on a mountain-rimmed plateau in the Cordillera Oriental of the Andes Mountains.
People from all corners of this country work, live and fill the bustling streets with vibrant hues and colors reaching into every corner of this cosmopolitan city.
Welcome to the beautiful Casa Medina! ​
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With its stone columns and handsome brick facade, this Four Seasons boutique property has been declared a monument of cultural interest by the Colombian ministry of culture. Step through the doors and be enveloped in residential comfort, with Spanish colonial accents of beamed ceilings set off by an eclectic blend of the artesianal and the contemporary.
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Accommodation: Casa Medina - 1st of 2 nights
Day 2
Bogotá
We’ll begin our adventure on a city walking tour with our local English speaking guide, learning about the history of Bogotá founded in 1538. A visit to the Montserrate sanctuary, a symbol of the Colombian capital located high above the city, will give us a unique panoramic view overlooking the city.
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After visiting the Gold Museum, that houses up to 34,000 pieces of gold from 13 pre-Hispanic civilizations, we will walk along the streets of La Candelaria. A traditional neighborhood, La Candelaria, is a centuries-old quarter of restored one and two story pastel-painted houses and cobblestone streets, at the center of Bogotá’s — and Colombia’s — revival.
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Admire the works of the greatest Colombian contemporary artist at the Botero Museum as we make our way to Plaza de Bolívar the heart of Bogota. In the center we wil find a statue of Simón Bolívar sculpted in 1846 by the Italian Pietro Tenerani, which was the first ever public monument in the city.
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The evening is free with many restaurants to choose from within walking distance. Your hotel sits in the middle of the “Zona G!” where G stands for gastronomic!​
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Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Casa Medina - 2nd of 2 nights
Day 3
Hacienda Bambusa
After breakfast, start the day with a visit to the Usaquén Flea Market. Walking around the area will give a snapshot of Colombia’s history, along with its past and present values. It is a window into the intimacy of the collective mind of a city’s inhabitants.
The Usaquén’s flea market was born in 1991 and now each week the streets close on Sunday to make room for the varied and colorful stalls with music filling the air.
In the early afternoon depart the city life and take a flight to the coffee region of Armenia. As we arrive at the Hacienda Bambusa, located in the southern part of the coffee region, you will have a sense of privilege being in such a beautiful environment with a labyrinth of plantain, manioc, orange and pineapple plantations. Landscapes are stunning and the diversity of its flora and fauna make it a small paradise.
Our introduction to the hacienda will be a nature walk on the property with an English-speaking biologist guide. Learn all the secrets this wonderful ecosystem hides as we walk in the Bamboo “guadual” forest home to some 160 species of birdlife.
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Within this large working hacienda is the 8-bedroom house, built of bamboo guadua and clay tiles, in the typical style of the houses of the coffee region. Surrounded by bamboo forests Bambusa will be your oasis of tranquility and natural beauty.
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Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hacienda Bambusa - 1st of 3 nights
Day 4
Salento and Cocora Valley
The day will take us into the culture of the region along with the stunning natural beauty of the Cocora Valley. We’ll visit Salento a bustling colonial market town at the center of the Coffee Zone. Set amid gorgeous mountains it has a lively buzz with quaint streets lined with typical paisa architecture. Its juxtaposition with the Valle del Cocora makes it an extremely popular small town. Founded in 1850, it is one of the oldest towns in Quindío.
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We’ll drive to the Valle Cocora, part of the wider Parque Nacional Los Nevados and right on Salento’s doorstep. A majestic valley it is home to the wax palm, the national tree of Colombia and the worlds tallest variety of palm tree, measuring up to 60m. Regarded as a sanctuary by locals it is a spectacular place to walk. And if the skies are clear, we’ll be able to spot the snowcapped tops of the volcanoes on the horizon.
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Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hacienda Bambusa - 2nd of 3 nights
Day 5
Coffee Region
The coffee region is proud to be one of the greatest legacies in Colombia, its cultural epicenter. With every turn, a spectacular panorama changes your perspective, from the rolling hillsides of fertile coffee plantations to plunging valleys and bold elevations. As we meet some of the most passionate Colombian coffee experts, they will share their experience and knowledge and we will learn the process from planting the seed, until we try one of the world’s finest coffees. Coffee cupping will show us why a cup of coffee can be even more sophisticated than a glass of wine.
In the afternoon we will visit one of the region’s most valued projects for conservation. With over 110 bird species, 3000 butterflies from 40 different species, an extensive bamboo “guadua” forest, and a unique native forest that hosts many plants in danger of extinction, we will experience the botanical garden with our biologist guide.
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Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hacienda Bambusa - 3rd of 3 nights
Day 6
Fly to Cartagena de Indias
The magic of Cartagena is hidden inside the walled city in its colonial architecture, its streets filled with history and the warmth of its people. Their secrets will be revealed so you too can fall in love with this colonial city.
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Today’s walk is specially designed so that you will not only see and visit the city but live it. You will have the opportunity to try the local street food, maybe have a coffee like locals on a square, pass by an art gallery to learn about Cartagena art scene and of course see the highlights of the city and learn about its history.
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Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Bastion Luxury Hotel - 1st of 3 nights
Day 7
Cartagena
Today we will venture outside the old city starting with a traditional market, barely visited by tourists. The Bazurto is a traditional open air market offering vegetable, fish, meat, fruit, clothing and handicrafts. Let this “underground” of Cartagena enchant you. Ideal for an adventure, we will walk through a maze of alleys, where our guide will introduce us to the local tastes of Colombia.
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After lunch, we will drive to La Popa the highest point in Cartagena for a panoramic view of the city and the San Felipe Castel . Then we will wander the streets of Getsemani, an up and coming neighborhood.
Getsemani shares the Old Walled City of Cartagena’s bright Caribbean colors, narrow streets, and friendly locals. The blocks are lined with beautiful graffiti by a slew of artists, cats soaking in windowsill sunshine, and friendly domino and chess games.
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Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Bastion Luxury Hotel - 2nd of 3 nights
Day 8
Cartagena
Today we will have the opportunity to visit a program sponsored by the foundation ProBoquilla. The purpose of the foundation is to improve the living conditions of the people from the very poor fishing village of La Boquilla.
In 2008 the project Madres-Cabeza de Familia y sus Cocos (Mothers – family patriarch and their coconuts) was formed as an association sponsoring 7 women that took part in a crafts class. The life of those Damartes (Damas de Arte = Women of Art) is very impressive. All of them are mothers shaped by their life stories.
The association continues as a working group of women that manufacture great things out of simple means — coconuts. We will meet the women as they produce jewellery, silverware, containers, vases, belts and accessories.
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As our Colombian adventure comes to a close we’ll bid farewell with a private sunset catamaran cruise. Seeing the old town and the skyline of the city from the water at night is a magical experience that will be a lasting memory of this welcoming city.
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Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Bastion Luxury Hotel - 3rd of 3 nights​
Day 9
Adios Colombia
Transfer to airport or points beyond.
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Meals Included: Breakfast
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