COLOMBIA
Colombia is the country that taught magical realism to the rest of the literary world, and once you arrive, the term stops feeling like a metaphor. The Cocora Valley's wax palms rise sixty meters into the morning mist like something Gabriel García Márquez invented and Mother Nature built. Medellín's cable cars carry commuters up green hills that were considered too dangerous to walk. Cartagena's old city at dusk is the kind of place where a conversation with a bartender turns into dinner with his family. The country runs on rhythm — cumbia, vallenato, the marimba and cununo drums — and hospitality so genuine it makes most other places feel slightly transactional.
A Taste of What's Possible
Attend active workshops in Medellín’s vibrant art district for an insider’s look at the city’s contemporary design scene
Immerse in the sounds of the marimba and cununo drums under the expert guidance of local Afro-Colombian musicians
Learn rural culinary heritage alongside a certified guardian of Colombia’s culinary history specializing in ancestral seed conservation
Where You'll Stay
We spend a lot of time obsessing over the perfect accommodations. Our favorites tend to be smaller, boutique properties with a unique sense of style and fantastic service.
Here are just a few of our favorites...
Three of Our Favorite Spots
MedellÍn
01
Arguably the most thrilling place in Colombia to visit right now. Cable cars climb the green hills, Comuna 13's murals tell a history the neighborhood is still living, and the design scene in El Poblado has produced some of South America's most interesting young architects, chefs, and artists. Medellín runs on the energy of a place that knows what it has overcome and is writing a new story.
BOGOTÁ
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At 2,600 meters in the Andes, the capital city's dining scene alone makes the trip worthwhile. Head over to the Paloquemao market at dawn to try fruits you've never heard of and then get lost in the Museo del Oro. Take in the street art in La Candelaria, some of the most accomplished in Latin America. Acclimate slowly. Get lost often.
COFFEE REGION
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The Eje Cafetero is what people are talking about when they describe Colombia's landscape as some of the most beautiful in the Americas. Mountains carpeted in coffee plants, sixty-meter wax palms rising from the Cocora Valley mist, haciendas that have been refining their craft for generations. Stay longer than you think you need to. The pace of the region rewards travelers who match it.
"I already mentioned that we absolutely loved Colombia. We loved, loved, loved Medellin… Quindio was our favourite place. So beautiful! We will sure be back in Colombia. The people, art and landscapes were so special."
Karin and Peter // London, England
Sample Itinerary
Highlights of Bogotá, Medellín, the Coffee Region & Cartagena
Day 1: On arrival in Bogotá, you'll be met and transferred to your stylish hotel. The capital sits at 2,600 meters in the Andes, so allow yourself time to acclimate and settle in this evening.
Day 2: A full day to explore Bogotá, beginning in La Candelaria, where your local expert guide will give you deeper insight into the city's charming old town. This afternoon, wander through La Macarena district, a colorful neighborhood filled with unique shops, galleries, and restaurants.
Day 3: Begin the morning at Paloquemao, Bogotá's central market, where flower vendors, fruit sellers, and farmers have gathered for generations. Your guide will introduce you to endemic Andean fruits and flowers found nowhere else on earth. In the evening, experience Bogotá's world-class dining over a tasting menu dinner celebrating Colombia's native ingredients.
Day 4: This morning you'll be transferred by private vehicle to the airport for your domestic flight to sunny Medellín. After settling into your hotel in the lush neighborhood of El Poblado, spend the afternoon exploring its boutique shops and hip cafes, before an evening dinner at one of the city's acclaimed restaurants.
Day 5: Spend a full day enjoying Medellín's pleasant weather and taking in the city's rich culture. With your knowledgeable guide, begin at Botero Plaza, home to Fernando Botero's famously voluptuous sculptures and canvases. Spend the afternoon strolling through the attractive Laureles district, or venture to the now-famous Comuna 13. Once among the country's most dangerous neighborhoods, present-day Comuna 13 now boasts eclectic murals, local hip-hop culture, and fascinating stories of urban and personal reinvention.
Day 6: Take a day trip to Guatapé, one of the Antioquia region's most iconic landscapes. If you're feeling active, climb the 740 steps of La Piedra del Peñol, a monumental granite rock rising from the reservoir, for panoramic views over the landscape below. Descend into the colorful village of Guatapé, where you can get a taste for the relaxed pace of small-town Colombian life. Cap off your day with a speedboat journey through the region's waters before returning to Medellín.
Day 7: Your travels through Colombia continue today with the private transfer from Medellín to the Eje Cafetero, Colombia's coffee region, where lush green mountains are carpeted in coffee plants. Check into a beautifully restored coffee hacienda and begin your café immersion with an introductory farm tour, culminating with a hearty dinner featuring local ingredients.
Day 8: After breakfast at the hacienda, head with your private guide and driver to the picturesque Cocora Valley, where you can enjoy a gentle hike and admire the beautiful landscape. This afternoon, enjoy some hammock time as well as an informative cupping session to learn more about the legendary local product.
Day 9: Continue your bespoke journey through Colombia as you travel to the Caribbean coast. You'll have a private transfer to Pereira for your domestic flight to Cartagena. On arrival in your completely new surroundings, begin settling into the sultry historical city of Cartagena de Indias. After checking into your luxurious boutique hotel, head out on an introductory private tour of its splendid cobblestone streets.
Day 10: A day to both wander and dive into Cartagena's colorful and fascinating culture. With your private guide, focus on the city's rich history, explore its eclectic street art, or perhaps take a private cooking class to learn about and savor the region's outstanding cuisine. You'll also have some time to relax and sip a coffee or cocktail in one of Cartagena's atmospheric plazas, and tonight we recommend rooftop cocktails at one of the city's excellent mixology specialists.
Day 11: A full day to do your own thing, or perhaps take a day trip by private boat to the Islas del Rosario, a protected archipelago of crystalline Caribbean water and coral reefs. Cap off your Colombian adventure with a special dinner at one of Cartagena's most innovative restaurants to celebrate your final evening in South America.
Day 12: Private transfer to the Cartagena airport for your onward journey home.
