Colonial Towns of Colombia

Travel Just 4U's representative in Colombia will meet you at the airport upon arrival. They will be holding a sign with your name after you leave the secure area with your bags. 

They will escort you to your private transfer, assist you on check-in at your hotel and present you with a detailed itinerary for your experiences in Colombia. This is your chance to run through specific pick up times and logistics for your tours in the country. 

If you have any questions regarding your itinerary, ask them now.

This modern hotel provides free WiFi and free parking in the exclusive Chico area of north Bogotá, 100 m from Virrey Park and 700 m from El Retiro Shopping Center and Zona T. A daily buffet breakfast is included.

Rooms at Hotel B3 Virrey are fitted with a flat-screen TV, a work desk and a private bathroom with hairdryer.

Guests can work out at the 24-hour fitness centre. The 24-hour front desk can arrange dry cleaning services. Chapinero is a great choice for travellers interested in nightlife, food and friendly locals.

After breakfast, you will begin a half day visit to the historic centre known as La Candelaria. This antiquated barrio is of great architectural and cultural heritage and is made up of old “stately homes” or large Spanish colonial buildings with iron windows, thick and sturdy wooden doors, balconies and internal patios with beautiful yet hidden gardens. Visit the Plaza de Bolivar, where a statue of the great liberator Simon Bolivar is located. The Cathedral, on the eastern side of the plaza houses an important collection of religious artifacts such as textiles and artwork that has been collected over four centuries. 

The central area of Bogota, known as the Salon Eliptico, is where congress meets and is the actual chamber for politicians and the Senate. Around the Plaza de Bolivar are the Palacio de Justicia, the Mayor of Bogotá’s offices called the Edificio Liévano, the oldest school in the county called San Bartolome and the Casa de los Comuneros, thus named to remember those who participated in one of the first independence movements towards the end of the XVII Century

The visit continues with the Museo Botero, a colonial house filled with works of art done by and donated by Fernando Botero in addition to artwork from his own personal collection that includes pieces by Picasso, Renoir, Dalí Matisse, Monet and Giacometti. 

Next is the Museo del Oro (Gold museum) which has a permanent exhibition of some 32,000 pieces of gold, 20,000 stones, ceramics and textiles all precious to the Quimbaya, Calima, Tayrona, Sinu, Muisca, Tolima, Tumaco and Magdalena cultures. The Museo del Oro is considered as one of the most important museums of its type internationally and it has been functioning since 1939. Afterwards you will be returned to your hotel to spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure. 

Bogotá is the sprawling, chaotic and captivating capital city of Colombia. Long regarded as unsafe for tourists, Bogota is developing a new reputation as one of the most exciting and culturally diverse cities in Latin America. Bogotá is today a modern city with a bubbling cultural scene and vibrant social aspect. Picturesque, with an important architectural heritage, the most impressive collection of Pre-Columbian art in the world, unrivaled urban graffiti and fantastic museums; it is also a city of futuristic architecture with enormous and modern buildings. The poverty that lives alongside such wealth forms contrasts that make this both a fascinating and aggressive city. here are just some of the things to do whilst in this intriguing city:

Museo del Oro: or Gold Museum, is perhaps the most famous museum in Bogotá and Colombia. It is one of the most spectacular exhibits of pre-Hispanic art, culture and tradition ever displayed. 

Museo de Botero: Fernando Botero is one of Colombia’s most famous artists, known for his unique style that depicts people and animals with large, exaggerated or fat features. Even if you aren’t too interested in art, you’ll find Botero’s work lighthearted and unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Cerro Monserrate: or Monserrate Mountain, rises 3,152 meters (10,341 feet) above the sea level, and overlooks the entire city, providing spectacular views, day or night.

Bogotá Graffiti Tour: You might be wondering why you’d need a tour to see graffiti that is ultimately found all over the city. But this tour is well worth it. You’ll be visiting the murals of some of Bogotá’s most celebrated street artists

Laguna de Guatavita:If you’ve been to the Gold Museum, you have to follow it up with a visit to the Lake of Guatavita. It’s the site of the legend of El Dorado and holds significant importance in Colombia’s history

Optional: Not included in starting price

Duration: 5-6 hours.
Schedule: Thursday to Saturday at 20:00
Note: This tour can be modified by Latin rhythms such as reggaeton, vallenato, merengue, champeta and more.

This Salsa Night is perfect to meet the best salsa dancers in Bogota. Start your evening learning the basics of salsa with a professional dancer. Discover the highlights of salsa history while you taste typical liqueurs from the region. Practice the steps learned with locals in three of the best salsa clubs in the city and end the night with an impressing live music or dance performance by renown artists from Bogota.

For the duration of your private tour within Colombia you will have a private vehicle and a driver guide to accompany you for the duration of your Colombian adventure. While your driver guide does speak English, the level may be slightly more basic than city based guides you will encounter on other guided tours. 

This is an amazing opportunity to interact with a local Colombian who will be incredibly proud to show you their country on this unique road trip

 Bogota - Villa de Leyva with visit to Salt Cathedral 

This morning you will meet your driver for the next 6 days and you will depart from Bogotá and head north, towards Zipaquirá. After a journey of roughly 1.5 hours you will reach the impressive Salt Cathedral, a true achievement of engineering. 

The name Zipaquirá refers to Zipa, the leader of the Muisca tribe and the chief of these rich salt mines. The excursion will begin by visiting the cathedral in a tunnel that passes the fourteen Stations of the Cross and continues on to the dome. The dome is lit in such a way that it allows one to contemplate the universe and the relationship between man and nature. Continuing on you will reach the enormous cross carved into the saline rock and finally the three naves of the Cathedral that represent the birth, life and death of Christ. In the central nave is the main altar, above which is the cross that measures 16m in height and 10m in breadth, made by the Colombian artist Carlos Enrique Rodriguez. This is the largest cross made from salt in the world. Next, we visit the mine where there is an excellent auditorium that can seat up to two hundred people, host film screenings and events such as fashion shows. The trip ends at a mirror of water where it is possible to experience the amazing visual effects of water on carved saline rock. 

After the tour of the Salt Cathedral you will head back to the car and head towards Villa de Leyv which will  take 2 hours arriving in the afternoon. Villa de Leyva, one of the area’s most beautiful towns, was founded in 1572 by Hernàn Suàrez de Villalobos who named it after Andrès Dìas Venero de Leyva, the first president of Nueva Granada. 

In colonial times, Villa de Leyva played a central role in independence developments and the Viceroy and his entourage spent much time here. Today, the city is a colonial jewel with a main square measuring 14.000 m2 surrounded by Spanish style houses, small alleys, cobblestone streets and the XVII century parochial church. You will have the afternoon and evening at leisure.

Set in a charming colonial-style house only 100m from Villa de Leyva historical quarter, this hotel offers rooms with stylish decor and free Wi-Fi. It features a restaurant and breakfast is served daily.

Decorated with tiled floors and gabled roofs, rooms at La Posada de San Antonio feature private balconies and cable TV. All of them have private bathrooms with toiletries. International dishes can be ordered at the property’s restaurant, and guests are welcomed with complimentary cocktails. There is also a coffee shop.

Guests can relax on the sun loungers by the pool, or request a massage session. Horseback riding activities are available and vintage cars can be rented. 

Villa de Leyva 

Today you will have the chance to enjoy this colonial jewel and visit its cultural and ecological attractions such as the Colonial Art Museum; the Monastery and Convent del Carmen and the Museum of Maestro Acuña. The Museum of Maestro Acuña exhibits works of this important painter, sculptor and writer, who along with other artists, created the Bachue movement, which sought to recover the roots of our Chibcha ancestors. 

Then visit The Fossil Museum, founded in 1977 and located 5.5km away from Villa de Leyva. The museum was built exactly at the place where a kronosaurus, a marine reptile of more than 120 million years and 20 metres in length, was discovered. On the outskirts of the town, there is also "El Infiernito", a pre-Hispanic Muisca site, where around 30 stone columns known as megaliths are located. It is believed that these columns are about 2,200 years old, and that this space was reserved for the cult of fertility by the phallic shape of the stones, others, on the other hand, affirm that it was used as an astronomical observatory. 

A few kilometres from Villa de Leyva, not to be missed is the Convento del Santo Ecce Homo founded by the Dominicans in 1620 and considered a most outstanding Spanish legacy. The pavement is made of local stone full of fossils and ammonites, and the chapel has a magnificent golden altarpiece with a small Ecce homo image. Afterwards you will return to your hotel.

Villa De Leyva – Barichara

This morning after breakfast, your driver will pick you up and start the approximately 5 hour journey to Barichara. Barichara which was declared a National Architectural Monument in 1975. It is located on a plateau alongside the River Suarez at 1336m. This used to be the twelfth village that belonged to the Guane indigenous people in the pre-Columbian era. Presently it is the only Colombian town that can boast as having totally preserved all of the colonial Spanish stonework and architecture. On arrival to Barichara you will check in to your hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure. 

Featuring a garden and a terrace, Casa Oniri Hotel Boutique offers free WiFi and breakfast in Barichara and the local market is 200 m from the property.

Providing a tranquil environment, the rooms in Casa Oniri Hotel Boutique features private bathrooms and outdoor furniture and beach chairs, to help make your stay more enjoyable. The property also boasts free breakfast and massage sessions can be arranged for an extra fee.

If you’re looking for a cafe, consider a visit to Panaderia Central, Raspaderia Barbara - Cafe Bar, or Terranato Cafe Restaurante, which are all conveniently located a short distance from Casa Oniri Hotel Boutique.

Barichara - Guane- Barichara 

Today you will get to visit this unique town with a city tour then head towards Guane. Barichara was declared a National Architectural Monument in 1975 for the well-preserved urban structure and colonial Spanish-style architecture. The houses are expansive and encompass a cloister style design around internal gardens, intricate stonework and clay tiles on the rooftops. The cobblestone streets speak volumes for the culture and the population of this Santanderean town that is known for its cuisine, stonemasonry, weaving, tobacco growing and gathering “hormigas culonas”, large ants (fried up and eaten and considered an aphrodisiac).

Afterwards you will begin the journey to Guane, a small town located on a tiny plateau beside the hills and alongside the majestic Suarez River. You have the choice to either go via car or by walking (approximately 2 hours) You will head along the old Camino Real which extends 5km connecting the Guane with the town of Barichara. This ancient pathway was made by the pre-Columbian indigenous and it was paved in stones by the German Geo Von Lengerke in 1867. While treading the footsteps of an ancestral culture, you will be able to appreciate beautiful landscapes, valleys and fossils, as well as seeing the way of life of the peasants and their crops. 

If you prefer to go via car, it will take 20 minutes before arriving in Guane. This perfectly preserved colonial village, with a pre-Columbian past, dating to the XVII century is at an altitude of 1100m. Visit Isaias Duarte Cancino Paleontological and Archaeological Museum to see fossils from the region, various pieces from the Guanes indigenous people, where a mummy of a girl stands out, religious antiquities and objects from different eras. Also visit the Santa Lucia Church made in stone, the fossil and sabajón stores (typical drink of the region) and the Central Plaza.

The tour continues by car back to Barichara for a tour on foot or by car in the town centre. The Plaza Principal is elegantly ringed by tall palm trees and leafy foliage, and on the western edge of the park is the Alcaldia, a truly colonial edifice with large balconies, internal stone columns and the monument to the Hormiga Culona in its central patio. The churches of note are La Inmaculada Concepción and San Lorenzo Mártie which have altars bathed in gold. At the top of the town is the Capilla de Santa Barbara built at the end of the XVIII century and on one side is a huge ceiba tree. This tree was scared to the indigenous Guane people that inhabited these lands prior to the arrival of the Spanish. The Parque para Las Artes Jorge Delgado Sierra is littered with interesting stone sculptures contributed by both local artists and international ones. Afterwards you will rerun to your hotel to have the evening at leisure. 

Note: The walk from Barichara to Guane has a moderate difficulty level. The path is mostly descent with short climbs. It starts at 1,300m to 1,020m. It is recommended for anyone with good physical and health conditions.

Barichara to Bucaramanaga

This morning you will leave Barichara behind and head towards Bucaramanga making a stopover at the theme park which is part of the Chicamocha National Park approximately 1 hour from Barichara. This is home of the majestic Chicamocha Cayon and in the background runs the river with the same name that created the second largest cayon in the world. 

The park extends for approximately 342 hectares. The heat of this region tempered only by a refreshing breeze which is ideal for hiking the pathways and trails which lead to various attractions in this rugged and unique terrain. A cable car runs for 6.3km of the canyon over a period of 30 minutes. This is one of the largest and longest cable car rides in the world. Within the park it’s worth taking the time to visit the replica Santander town, the Guane Museum, the Monument to Santaderean culture, the Viewpoint and the Goat and Ostrich park amongst other things.

After enjoying this Park you will continue the journey to Bucaramanga the capital city of Santander, with an approximate travel time of 1 hour. Upon arrival you will check in and enjoy the rest of the day. 

The 5-star Hotel Dann Carlton is located in the exclusive Bucaramanga district, central Santander. It offers luxurious accommodations and panoramic city views from the rooftop pool and sun terrace. Its modern architecture and design invite you to enjoy an exclusive hotel with the best location in the city. 

The spacious rooms at the Hotel Dann Carlton Bucaramanga maintain the hotel´s classical décor, all featuring air conditioning and French-style windows. Suites offer scenic city views, separate lounge areas and a king-size bed. Free WiFi is available.

Guests at the Hotel Dann Carlton can enjoy a steak at the Brazzas Steak House, or have a casual meal at the rooftop City View Restaurant. The hotel also features a lobby bar and a daily breakfast buffet.

Today after breakfast, you will bid farewell to your driver after they transfer you to the airport. 

Alfiz is a boutique hotel in Cartagena de Indias´s Old Town. Its restored colonial building offers rooms with modern amenities and décor from different historical periods. Free WiFi is provided.

The 4-star accomodation at Alfiz Hotel includes air conditioning and satellite flat-screen TV. It also offers a safe, a telephone and a minibar. Guests enjoy à la carte breakfast in the room or in the eating area.

Facilites comprise a reading room, a sun terrace and a swimming pool in an internal patio. Guests can schedule several tours organized by the hotel, such as a cultural walk by the Old Town.

This morning you will meet your driver for the next 3 days and leave Cartagena in the early morning to go on a 6-7 hour journey towards Mompox. 

Santa Cruz de Mompox is a remote and hidden town where time has stood still and your senses race. This town has inspired tales of romance and nostalgia and is situated on an island of the same name on the western bank of the Magdalena River, roughly 200km southeast from Cartagena. A tradition in Mompox, that is passed down from generation to generation and is world famous, is filigree workshops. Local craftsmen make from threads of silver and gold very intricate and delicate jewellery.

Along the journey to Mompox you will pass the towns of San Juan Nepomuceno; the imposing and majestic Montes de Maria that rise up from the savannah and San Jacinto, a famous town for its wicker artistry as the well-known “Vueltiao” hat. Continuing to Carmen de Bolivar, Plato, Nueva Granada, Santa Ana and finally arriving to Mompox. You will have the evening to enjoy this hidden town. 

Hotel Doña Manuela has a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, a bar and garden in Mompox. Boasting room service, this property also provides guests with a sun terrace. The air-conditioned rooms provide a garden view and come with a wardrobe and free WiFi.

The rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV. Certain units feature a seating area where you can relax. Every room includes a private bathroom.An American breakfast is available each morning at Hotel Doña Manuela.

Today you have a private full day Mompox tour which starts with a moto-taxi, a local transportation of a motorcycle and cart hybrid that fits 4 to 5 people. You will be amongst these antiquated streets and see the main sights of this town, where it is possible to appreciate and study the unique colonial architecture with its blend of mudéjar and baroque styles.

The Calle Real del Medio stands out with its whitewashed walls and stately homes behind imposing wooden doors with latches and knockers all of varying styles and the finely carved wooden balconies that spill over with the flowering bougainvillea. The scenic Calle de la Albarrada runs alongside the river. 

It is recommended to visit the six colonial churches in town, the most striking of which is the Iglesia Santa Barbara in front of a plaza by the same name and beside the river. Constructed in 1630 and contrasting with its yellow and white paintwork and that has an octagonal Moorish and baroque bell-tower with balconies at the top. The Iglesia San Agustin houses the ornate golden Santo Sepulcro which is carried through the streets on the shoulders of the Nazarene Pilgrims during the Semana Santa processions. The other churches are the San Francisco, the Santo Domingo, the San Juan del Dios and La Concepcion.

Continuing with your tour there is a visit to the Cementerio Central, perhaps the most interesting and atmospheric place to visit. Here it becomes clear that the old tales from Mompox are still very much alive. The white tombs are lined up one above the other and form walls of memories around a central chapel. Strolling here in the hours of dusk you will pass locals seated calmly in front of their homes enjoying the breeze in their rocking chairs.

Then, experience of such beauty frozen in time, visit the filigree workshops and observe how craftsmen make such intricate jewellery from threads of silver and gold, a tradition in Mompox that is passed down from generation to generation and is world famous.

Finally go on a five minutes transfer by moto taxi to the boat launch. Embark on a wooden boat with an outboard motor and head off to the Ciénega de Pijino located about 20 minutes away from Mompox. Upon arriving at the Cienega the trip continues on through these wetlands to truly appreciate the wide array of flora and fauna as well as having the opportunity to take a dip in the Magdalena River. 

Enjoy this encounter in a land so rich in bird life and on the small motorboat you get up close to exotic species such as howler monkeys, birds and iguanas all the while taking in spectacular scenery then return to the hotel.

After an early breakfast transfer back to Cartagena (330Km approximately). After the 6-7 hours journey, you wikll check into your hotel in Cartagena and have the evening at leisure.

This morning you will enjoy a half day visit to Cartagena starting with a panoramic view of the city from the Monasterio and Iglesia de La Popa. Formerly known as the “Popa del Galeon” and famous for resembling the stern of a galleon. Constructed in 1606 this church and monastery are located at a height of 140masl from where you can enjoy 360º views of the city, the sea as well as the port zone, one of the most important in the Caribbean. 

Continuing onto the San Felipe fortress, erected in honor of the poet from Cartagena, Don Luis Carlos López, made famous for his sonnet “A mi ciudad nativa”. It was built on the San Lázaro hill to defend the city from pirate attacks. You can walk around the fortress and learn how the castle was constructed, the engineering feats, the tunnels, underground galleries and passageways. Then, head to the Ciudad Vieja (old city) to visit the Convert and Church of the San Pedro Claver compound which was built in the middle of the XVII century and owes its name to the “apóstol de los esclavos”.

Lastly, follow to the handicrafts zone of the Bovedas, a collection of archways built into the city wall of Cartagena and that were used until the end of the 1700s to house armaments and then later as a prison in the XIX century. Nowadays it’s an artisan center to appreciate local handcraft. Afterwards you will be returned to your hotel to enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure. 

Optional: Not included in starting price

This tour gives you deeper insight towards Cartagena focused on the alternative and cultural quarter and coolest barrio: Getsemani. The stories are told with present graffiti paintings with images of tropical scenes, palenqueras, and local flora and fauna.

This neighborhood has shaken off the gritty reputation, and turned to street-art as a way of incorporating the voice of local residents and artists into the fabric and the narrative of the city streets. Graffitis transformed the neighborhood in recent years, after the first Graffiti Festival in Getsemani that took place in December 2013.

Have a complete knowledge of the impressive history of Getsemani starting at the clock tower, from there, go to the street of La Sierpe (where all the murals are) and Trinidad Plaza, which has an historical, cultural and national value. Also walk on top of the city wall. The tour ends at Puerto Duro with a cultural explanation of the bus stop and the motorbike-taxis in front of the statue India Catalina and flower park.

Founded in 1533 on an original indigenous Caribe settlement, the Spanish conquistador Don Pedro de Heredia founded the city of “Cartagena de Poniente” to distinguish it from “Cartagena de Levante” in Spain. Later the city became known as “Cartagena de Indias” Just walking through its narrow yet remarkable streets there is enough to understand why Cartagena is in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This colonial area is split into three zones, the Centro, San Diego (both inside the wall city) and Getsemaní. Here are some interestings things to do while you are vistiting this very unquie city:

Ciudad Amurallada: Located in the heart of Cartagena, this ‘walled city‘, protected by a fortress, was once used to shelter the city from pirates and storms. Within this small sector you will find an incredible array of bars, restaurants, shops and some beautiful (and rather expensive) hotels.

Playa Blanca: Playa Blanca is undoubtedly one of Colombia’s most beautiful beaches. Located on Baru island, it is 45 minutes by boat from Cartagena port, or around a two-hour car journey from the main city. Crystal-clear waters lap the perfectly white sand and visitors have the option to spend a day relaxing on this incredible beach

Museo de Oro: Almost every large Colombia city has a gold museum, and Cartagena is no exception. Although it is small, the Museo de Oro hosts a fantastic collection of the gold and pottery of the Zenú (also known as Sinú) people.

Mercado de Bazurto: It’s loud, busy and pretty overwhelming, but for those travelers looking to experience the real Cartagena, a visit to Mercado de Bazurto is a must. This food market sells everything from fresh fruit to cooked turtle (which is discouraged by authorities but considered a traditional meal in many indigenous communities) 

Eat some incredible ceviche at La Cevichería: Regarded as one of the best ceviche and fish restaurants in the whole city, head to La Cevichería for a break from all the fritos (fried food) you’ve been eating and experience some incredible Peruvian-Colombian fusion food.

Optional: Not included in starting price

Today you will explore the islands of the Archipiélago del Rosario. The Rosario island is one of 46 national parks in Colombia and it was created to protect one of the most important coral reefs bordering the Colombian Caribbean coastline. The park covers 120,000 hectares and comprises the underwater shelf and the coral reefs to the west of the island of Barú, the reef that shields the Nuestra Señora del Rosario archipelago as well as the islands of Tesoro, Rosario, Múcura and Maravilla.

You will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the pier to board the shared boat transfer for approximately one hour (45km.) During the transfer, you will be able to observe the impressive and beautiful landscapes of the islands with its clear waters and gentle breezes. 

Upon arrival to these islands, you will have free time to enjoy the beach, snorkel and relax. Lunch is served on the island and in the afternoon you will return via boat back to your hotel in Cartagena.