Having successfully shaken off its sketchy past, Colombia is slowly starting to reveal its well-kept secrets which have turned the country into one of the most sought after destinations in the Americas. It has it all; overwhelming natural beauty, friendly locals, gorgeous colonial architecture, vibrant towns and cities, and some the most tranquil, pristine beaches to be found in the Caribbean.

Bogota - Villa de Leyva. Following breakfast we take a comprehensive, guided tour of Bogota City including the Plaza de Bolivar, the church of San Francisco, the "must-see" Gold Museum, the old colonial part of town "La Candelaria", and a cable-car ride to the top of Cerro de Monserrate at 3,190m above sea level, which on a clear day offers amazing views across the entire city. We depart Bogota making our way to Villa de Leyva, but firstly we stop at Boyacá Bridge where in 1819 Simón Bolívar won the battle of Boyacá which paved the way for Colombian independence. Further on, we arrive in the historical and photogenic city of Tunja, one of the first cities to be established by the Spaniards in Latin America, yet one that time forgot. In the afternoon we arrive in Villa de Leyva, considered to be the finest colonial village in South America. After our hotel check-in we take a guided stroll along the cobblestoned streets learning the history and culture of this delightful place. Overnight in Villa de Leyva.

Tayrona National Park.  We spend a full day in Colombia’s fabulous Tayrona NP, a place of extraordinary natural beauty occupying 15,000 hectares. After trekking through the jungle there will be plenty of time to enjoy the warm waters of the Caribbean lapping onto deserted, white, sandy beaches. Overnight in Santa Marta.

El Rosario Islands. A full day in the Caribbean Sea! We transfer from the hotel to the Muelle de los Pegasos pier where we board our speedboat and head across the Bay of Cartagena, passing through Bocachica and skirting the north coast of Baru Island towards El Rosario Islands, an archipelago of 27 small, coral islands, recently declared a National Park. First stop are the idyllic crystal clear waters at Cholon beach, continuing onto Pirate Island. After a traditional lunch, the trip continues to San Martin Island where you can explore the island or visit a local aquarium (optional), followed by time to relax on the beaches, swim, or have a go at snorkelling (optional). We return to Cartagena in the late afternoon.  Overnight in Cartagena.

Cartagena.  Tour ends after breakfast.

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. It must be valid for at least six months after the end of your tour and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate.

PLEASE NOTE IF YOUR TOUR INCLUDES THE INCA TRAIL, WE MUST HAVE YOUR FULL NAME, PASSPORT DETAILS AND DATE OF BIRTH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO SECURE YOUR TREKKING PERMIT. ALL PERMITS ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY.

Compulsory Inoculations: Yellow Fever for Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru but ONLY if arriving from an infected area.

Recommended Inoculations: Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Tetanus and Polio.

We also recommend: A dental check-up prior to travelling and that you know your blood group in case of emergency.

Medical Supplies: We advise that all passengers bring along their own personal first aid kit. Below is a list of some recommended items: Band Aids/Bandages, Laxatives, Upset stomach remedy, Anti-diarrhoea remedy, Panadol/Aspirin, Rehydration remedy, Antiseptic cream/powder, Sterile dressing, Any relevant course of medication such as contraceptive pills. A complete Travellers Medical Pack can be purchased for approximately US$25 at most Vaccination Centres, Chemists and outdoor travel shops.

• We recommend that you do not take unnecessary valuables with you. Wearing jewellery and expensive watches will attract attention.
• A money belt, or something similar, worn close to your body is the best way to carry passports, airline tickets and money.
• DO NOT leave any valuables in ANY hotel room, please use SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES. Items are left at your own risk.
• Pickpockets operate everywhere, particularly in tourist areas and in crowded markets; you must always exercise care. Be aware that anything left lying around will also be liable to theft.

We suggest clients budget for between US$25-30 per day for personal expenses, souvenirs, evenings out, alcoholic drinks etc. There will be some days when you spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget.

Take your money is US dollars only. This the only foreign currency readily exchanged in Latin America

Traveller’s cheques should be AMERICAN EXPRESS. American Express is the most widely accepted. Cash is far easier to exchange than Travelers Cheques, but also more risky as once lost, is irreplaceable. However, we do recommend that you take some US dollars cash in small denominations ($10 and $20).

Credit cards are accepted frequently, particularly in the larger cities. They can also be used to get money from ATMs. VISA, MasterCard and American Express are the most widely accepted credit cards, VISA being the most useful.

For detailed information see www.timezoneconverter.com

If you wish to spend a few additional days in your starting or finishing city, then we can arrange accommodation for you.  All our accommodation is carefully chosen, conveniently located, clean and comfortable. (All rates per person per night and subject to availability).

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad. You can opt to use an International SIM Card.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers.

Blog – You can keep your friends and family updated by blogging about your adventures.

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.