- Tour code
COLADV01
- Start
Bogotá
- End
Cartagena
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Explorer
- Trip pace
Active
- Language
English
Three cities, three very different sides of Colombia, and a group of 6 to 16 travelers to share them with.
It starts in Bogotá with a night of live music and Colombian food, then a guided walk through the old town's street art and colonial buildings. Afterwards, try tejo, the national game where you hurl a metal puck at gunpowder targets, with a local craft beer in hand.
In Medellín, the story is transformation. Climb the huge rock above Guatapé for the view over the reservoir, walk a hillside neighborhood whose murals tell a story of recovery, share a meal with a grassroots community project, and spend an evening on a multi-course tasting menu. A day in the coffee mountains shows you how beans go from bush to cup.
Then it's the Caribbean. In Cartagena you'll taste tropical fruit, watch the sun go down from a rooftop, explore the walled city at your own pace, learn about Colombian rum and dance salsa. The finale is a private boat day out to the Rosario Islands, with swimming, snorkeling and beach time.
Why This Journey
Colombia's recent history is one of the great turnarounds in the Americas, and this trip lets you hear it from the people who lived it: in Medellín's hillside neighborhoods, at a community-hosted meal and on a family coffee farm. Alongside those conversations come the things Colombians are proudest of, from tejo and craft beer in Bogotá to rum, salsa and Caribbean light in Cartagena.
Moving between the capital, the Andes and the coast takes planning, and your Soca Islands Host handles it, so you can focus on the music, the food and the company. It suits curious, sociable travelers who want energy and culture in equal measure, with enough free time to explore on their own.
Where You'll Stay
Bogotá (2 nights): Sofitel Bogota Victoria Regia, near the Zona Rosa. Medellín (3 nights): Diez Hotel Categoría Colombia, in Provenza, El Poblado. Cartagena (3 nights): Movich Hotel Cartagena de Indias, in the old city. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Prices are based on sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. The trip starts in Bogotá, with El Dorado International Airport (BOG) the arrival airport; see the FAQ below for the departure airport. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Hop between the Rosario Islands on a private boat
Sit down to a multi-course tasting menu at one of Colombia's top restaurants
Learn how coffee is grown and made at a hacienda in the hills
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Touch down in Bogotá, where a private transfer takes care of the drive. Your hotel sits in one of the city's liveliest districts, close to the restaurants and bars of the Zona Rosa.
Tonight, meet the group for live music, Colombian dishes and performances, a high-energy welcome to the capital.
With a guide, explore the historic center of La Candelaria on foot, taking in its colonial streets and some of the best street art in South America.
Afterwards, sample local craft beer and play tejo, the traditional game of tossing a heavy puck at small gunpowder charges. Yes, they go bang.
Your flight today lands in Medellín, a city that has reinvented itself over the past few decades. Head out to climb El Peñol, the massive granite rock above Guatapé, for views across a maze of lakes and islands.
Next, wander the brightly painted town of Guatapé, then take a boat across the reservoir to see sites linked to a darker chapter of Colombia's history.
Explore a hillside neighborhood whose street art tells a powerful story of resilience and renewal.
Sit down for a meal hosted by a grassroots community project and hear how residents are shaping their own future.
Tonight, settle in for a creative tasting menu that turns Colombian ingredients into a multi-course dinner.
Drive into the mountains to a traditional coffee farm. Follow the journey from bean to cup and enjoy the family's hospitality.
After a freshly cooked meal, return to the city. The evening is yours for parks, restaurants or a night out in El Poblado.
Fly to Cartagena on the Caribbean coast and get your bearings in an artsy neighborhood of colorful streets and murals.
Try exotic local fruit, soak up the street life, then head up to a rooftop bar as the sun sets over the old city.
Take the day to explore Cartagena's beautifully preserved colonial center, inside its stone walls, at your own pace.
In the late afternoon, join a rum tasting and learn the history behind the spirit. Finish with a salsa class and let the rhythm carry you into the night.
Board a private boat and head out to the Rosario Islands. Snorkel in clear water and relax on quiet beaches.
Enjoy the buzz of the coast's beach spots, then return for a farewell dinner with your group.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Sofitel Bogota Victoria Regia
A hotel on Carrera 13 in north Bogotá, about 100 metres from the restaurants and nightlife of the Zona Rosa and 500 metres from the Andino shopping centre, with Parque de la 93 and Zona G a short ride away.
It has the Basilic restaurant and a bar, serves breakfast and afternoon tea, and has a fitness centre and car park. Rooms are 29 m² (312 ft²).
Hotel websiteDiez Hotel Categoría Colombia
A hotel in Provenza, the leafy, restaurant-lined corner of El Poblado in Medellín, with Parque Lleras and the area's cafés and bars within walking distance.
Its interiors celebrate Colombia's regions, and it has a 360° rooftop terrace, the BOGÁ restaurant, a spa with hydrotherapy circuit and a gym, with a full buffet breakfast.
Hotel websiteMovich Hotel Cartagena de Indias
A 32-room hotel on Calle Vélez Danies in the heart of Cartagena's old city, within walking distance of the cathedral, the plazas and the colorful streets of Getsemaní.
Its rooftop has a pool, jacuzzi and bar looking over the old city's domes and bell towers, a fine place to watch the sunset. Rooms are 20 m² (215 ft²), with two queen-size beds.
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$1,254 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Apr 17, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá (BOG), and out of Rafael Núñez International Airport, Cartagena (CTG).
Proposed accommodation is Sofitel Bogota Victoria Regia in Bogotá, Diez Hotel Categoría Colombia in Medellín and Movich Hotel Cartagena de Indias in Cartagena (or similar hotels), subject to confirmation.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
8 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 3 dinners, including the welcome evening in Bogotá, the tasting-menu dinner in Medellín and the farewell dinner in Cartagena. Other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Vibrant Colombia trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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