11-Nights Tailor Made Colombia: From the Mountains to the Sea - Luxury Tailor Made Travel from $13,450

Itinerary Details

Abercrombie & Kent: Tailor Made Colombia: From the Mountains to the Sea

Day 1 Bogotá, Colombia

Arrive in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia — a modern metropolis set more than 8,500 feet above sea level that boasts a year-round spring-like climate — where you are met and privately transferred to your hotel.

Stroll vibrant Paloquemao market and sample local delicacies at its popular food stalls. Explore La Candelaria, the oldest part of Bogotá, distinguished by its colonial-era buildings. Visit the Plaza de Bolivar, and then proceed to the Botero Museum to view works by the iconic Colombian figural artist Fernando Botero along with pieces by other artists such as Picasso, Renoir and Monet. Also visit the celebrated Gold Museum to behold its vast trove of 34,000 pre-Hispanic artifacts. Afterward, ascend 10,000-foot Monserrate by funicular railway or cable car to take in expansive vistas over the city.

Fly to Colombia’s mountainous coffee region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival, transfer to your accommodations on an estate planted with coffee, bananas, sugarcane. Settle in, and then head out to experience a working coffee farm, starting with a walk through the coffee fields and operations, including the germinator and drying area. Return to the estate’s terrace for a cupping guided by an expert and learn to discern the qualities of different beans. Conclude your visit with a coffee tasting of the estate’s best. Tonight, enjoy an exclusive private dining experience at Hacienda Bambusa. Indulge in a curated selection of the finest dishes from the gastronomy of the coffee region while basking in the serenity of nature and admiring the breathtaking view of the Cordillera, the highest-soaring branch of the Colombian Andes.

Set out to visit one of the most emblematic sites of the coffee region, the majestic Cocora Valley. Upon arrival, walk through the verdant surroundings that are home to the Quindío wax palm, Colombia’s national tree. Later, proceed to the village of Salento to walk through its colorful streets, and visit the Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint and peruse local handicrafts. Then, proceed to Filandia, another example of architectural conservation of the coffee region, to stroll past its colorful façades and sip a refreshing drink in the town square.?

This morning, board a flight to Medellin, which, set among the fertile green hills of Colombia’s Antioquia region, lives up to its nickname: the City of Eternal Spring. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and settle in with the rest of your day at leisure.

Following a number of troubled years, once-notorious Medellín has blossomed into a shining example of social transformation and urban regeneration. Begin your exploration of the city with a visit to the Parque San Antonio, site of 23 sculptures by Fernando Botero, who was born here in 1932. Continue to the Museum of Antioquia, to peruse artworks dating from pre-Columbian times. Next, explore one of the oldest parts of the city, including the Plazuela de San Ignacio where you view the baroque San Ignacio church. Visit a number of Medellín's beautiful public parks, such as the modern Parque de las Luces, and pass by the Metropolitan Theatre in the Alpujarra area. Next, ride the Metrocable gondola, which links the city to previously difficult-to-access outlying districts, taking in views over the neighborhood of Santo Domingo Savio, once one of the most unsafe suburbs of Medellín. Proceed to the neighborhood of Comuna 13 to learn how the inhabitants’ quality of life has improved and visit public renovation projects as well as the local business of a project participant, who explains the positive impact it has had on their family. Ride on the tram and cable car that have greatly improved the accessibility of the community, before taking in some of the street art local authorities have declared a cultural landmark. Discover how Medellín’s colorful graffiti acts as both artistic and political expression when you meet with some of the local artists themselves. Tonight, dine at renowned El Cielo Restaurant for a unique culinary experience that stimulates all the senses, as you sample tasting menus inspired by ancestral Colombian and Latin American roots — a gastronomic celebration prepared with ingredients drawn from around the world.

Journey east of Medellín to the picturesque resort town of Guatape, admiring the breathtaking landscape of Antioquia along the way. Stroll Guatape’s cobblestoned streets past colorful pastel-painted buildings and view massive Peñol rock — believed to be a meteorite — situated in the middle of the city’s scenic reservoir. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Afterward, explore the area further on a boat trip around the reservoir. In the afternoon, return to Medellín.

Fly to Cartagena, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Exuberant, colorful, tropical and beautiful, Cartagena is widely regarded as Colombia's crowning destination. Visit Cartagena's colonial walled city and walk its picturesque streets and plazas. Sample the brilliant dishes — served from small stalls in every corner of the old city — that are the heritage of the Spanish, African, Arab and Chinese immigrants who shaped Cartagena’s culinary culture. Learn how these disparate peoples contributed cherished recipes that merged into an eclectic local gastronomy, which you experience firsthand when you visit street food havens that have gone unnoticed by outsiders yet enjoy veritable cult status with local foodies.

Start today at the imposing Castle San Felipe Barajas, a masterpiece of Spanish colonial military engineering built to defend the city from pirate attacks. Walk around the fortress to learn about its construction and explore the underground galleries, tunnels and passageways. Visit the imposing church of San Pedro Claver, with its fine collection of stained-glass windows. Next, view the city walls, which are nearly 50 feet thick in some places, as well as Bolivar Park, home to four fountains and a statue of Simon Bolívar, the Venezuelan-born soldier and statesman who spearheaded Latin America’s liberation from Spanish rule. Stop at the Inquisition Palace to see its magnificent Baroque entrance hall as well as the chambers where torture took place. Conclude your day at the 16th-century Cathedral of Cartagena de Indias, admiring the architecture of its high-arched tower dome. Tonight, delve into the rich history of Colombian Caribbean cuisine with a visit to a restaurant where every dish celebrates the unique and vibrant flavors of the region. Savor the elegant and exclusive setting as unforgettable as the food itself.

Departing by speedboat from the city, travel though the Bay of Cartagena and past the twin forts of the San Jose and San Fernando forts out into the Caribbean Sea to the sun-splashed Rosario Islands. Surrounded by clear waters and some of the best coral reefs in Colombia, the islands now form a national park. Enjoy an opportunity to relax on white-sand beaches, swim or snorkel before proceeding to your luxurious accommodations on colorful Baru Island (Isla Barú).

Revel in a full day at your leisure, free to enjoy activities available at your hotel, explore Baru Island on your own or simply relax.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departing flight.