Colonial Colombia

Bogota, Colombia's capital city has an impressive historic centre, known as La Candelaria, full of spectacular architecture steeped in Spanish influence. Your journey will start here amongst the iron windows, heavy wooden doors, balconies, and patios surrounded by beautiful gardens.  The Plaza Bolivar is the focus of this historic area, where you will visit the Gold Museum which houses a fabulous collection of Pre Hispanic goldwork. Following Bogota you will travel north to Zipaquira through the famous flower regions of the savanna, with a stop at the impressive salt cathedral before moving onwards to Guatavita to visit the legendary mountain-top lagoon, reached by a short climb through cloud forest.

Villa de Levya, a beautiful colonial town founded in 1572, is a three hour journey north by private car and it is a wonderful experience to explore the town by foot through cobblestone streets. A short flight to Pereira will take you straight to the coffee growing regions for visits to the mountain village of Filandia with its delightful colonial streets and a fascinating tour of the green, lush coffee plantations of the region. You will fly via Bogota to Cartagena where you will stay at the boutique Hotel Ananda. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, Cartagena was the first province to gain independance from Spain in 1811 and remains a real architectural treasure of civil, religious, military and governmental buildings. You will have a chance to take  a walking tour around this alluring city, taking in the archeological artefacts of the Cartagena Gold Museum.

The tour will end with two days in Mompox; a remote, hidden town on the largest freshwater island in South America. There is a wonderful sense here that time has stood still.  Rich in romance and nostalgia, you can wander the streets soaking up the atmosphere, or take an afternoon motoroboat trip to the wetlands for sightings of howler monkeys, birds and iguanas. Your journey will end with a transfer back to Cartagena for one night and a panoramic tour of the city, before flying back to London Heathrow via Bogota and Madrid.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Depart London Heathrow for connecting flight to Madrid. Arrive in Bogota at 2000 hour. Overnight at Hotel de la Opera. Day 2: Bogota City tour. Overnight at Hotel de la Opera. Day 3: Full day excursion to Zipaquira and visit to legendary lagoon of Guatavita. Overnight at Hotel de la Opera. Day 4-5: Private transfer to Villa de Leyva.  Overnights at Posada de San Antonio. Days 6-8: Transfer back to Bogota for flight to Pereira. Met on arrival and transferred to Hacienda San Jose. Overnights at Hacienda San Jose.  Day 7: Full day visit to village of Filandia within the central mountain range. Overnight at Hacienda San Jose. Day 8: Full day excursion  to the coffee plantations. Overnight at Hacienda San Jose. Day 9: Transferred to the airport at Pereira for flight to Cartagena. Transfer to Hotel Ananda. Day 10: Walking tour of Colonial Cartagena. Half day visit to city's colonial district. Overnight Ananda Hotel. Days 11-12: Private transfer to Mompox.  Afternoon excursion by motorboat can be taken.  Overnights at Casa de Amarilla. Days 13-14: Journey back to Cartagena for panoramic tour of the city and visit to convent in old town.  Overnights at Hotel Ananda. Day 15: Transfer to the airport and depart Cartagena. Day 16: Arrive London Heathrow.