This action-packed Colombia family adventure tour takes you from the capital city of Colombia, Bogota to the beautiful town of Cartagena on the Caribbean Coast. Our Bogota City Tour includes the Plaza de Bolivar and Gold Museum, and a ride on the funicular railway to the top of Monserrate Hill. We drive to Panacar Park to learn about the agriculture of the area and life in the countryside, and then stay in the beautiful colonial village of Villa de Leyva, where we visit an Ostrich farm, Fossil Museum and take a horse ride in the desert. From Santa Marta we take a day tip to Tayrona National Park to explore the beaches and tropical forest, and we snorkel with certified instructors learning about the fish of the Caribbean. Next stop the UNESCO listed city of Cartagena – with its beautiful colonial architecture set within the old city walls and where we will also discover the castle of San Felipe. From Cartagena we explore the Rosario Islands, to swim off the islands beaches, visit the aquarium to see its performing dolphins and sharks, and explore Pirate Island. We also visit the Mud Volcano for a volcanic mud bath, before offering you free time in Cartagena to enjoy this amazing city at your own pace.

Please note that bookings may incur a supplement for the included flight to Santa Marta depending on flight availability at time of booking.

Bogota.  After breakfast we have a guided visit to the Colombian capital. The City Tour includes the Plaza de Bolívar (the city’s main square) and government buildings situated around it, La Candelaria (the old colonial part of town), the Church of San Francisco, and the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum). Then we take a trip in the funicular railway to the top of Monserrate, the best-known of the mountains that forms the eastern boundary of this city. Monserrate is at 3190m, and on a clear day, offers amazing views across the entire city. 

After the City Tour, we leave Bogotá via the Northern Expressway to get to the Panaca Park, to learn all about life in the countryside in Colombia. There are many varieties of horses, cattle and many other animals.

We return to our hotel in Bogotá for the night. (B) 

Villa de Leyva - Santa Marta.  The morning is entirely your own to stroll around and enjoy the town at your leisure or enjoy time at the hotel.

In the afternoon we begin the return trip, first through La Ráquira, a village of quaint and colourful small houses, famous for its pottery and ceramics; and then through the pilgrimage location of Chiquinquirá on route to Bogota´s Airport to take the flight to Santa Marta.

On arrival in Santa Marta we transfer to our hotel.  (B) 

Santa Marta.   After breakfast, we transfer to the pier to take a boat to one of the best beaches to snorkel with certificated instructors. This is the perfect time to learn about fish, snorkel and enjoy the Caribbean sea on a boat!. 

The afternoon is free for you to enjoy the city or the beach. (B)

Cartagena - El Rosario Islands. A full day in the Caribbean Sea! After breakfast, 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.

Our first stop is the idyllic crystal clear waters at Cholon Beach, continuing on to Pirate Island. On arrival, a welcome coffee break and then time to swim or relax on the small island. After a traditional lunch (included), our trip continues to San Martín Island, and a visit to the aquarium with a chance to see performing dolphins and sharks. After this we begin the return trip to Pirate Island where once again, there will be time to relax or swim.

We return to Cartagena, and on arrival at the pier end, transfer to hotel. (Please note that trip will be conducted in the company of an international group of tourists, under the supervision of a bilingual guide).  (B,L)

Cartagena.  The tour ends after breakfast.

Please be aware that arrival times and the itinerary may change due to unforeseen delays or events such as festivals and public holidays. However, we shall endeavour to ensure all sites are visited and that your tour runs as smoothly as possible but please note that Latin America does not run like clockwork, therefore do not expect the streamlined travel arrangements associated with some other continents. Things do not always go to plan; there will be times when you will need to be patient and philosophical about your travels. Conditions in South America can change rapidly and changes to the itinerary may be necessary.

Be flexible, you will enjoy your tour much more. We make a point of visiting the indigenous populations of each country you visit, in order to give a true reflection of the country; please treat the local people and their customs with respect.

Lastly, your tour leader is always conscious of everybody's views, but sometimes he/she will have to make an unpopular decision and your understanding will be appreciated in these circumstances.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours. All clients MUST be insured to cover personal accident, medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment, repatriation, etc. Also, be aware that many activities such as trekking, bungy jumping or white water rafting may not be covered on your insurance policy. If you plan on doing any of these activities please purchase additional insurance. We recommend that you have a photocopy of this document, which you keep separate from the original. If you have not already arranged your own travel insurance then please visit our Travel Insurance page for more information.

Please Note: You will not be permitted to join a Tour without travel insurance.

It is important that you obtain the appropriate visas before you embark on your South America trip. Please consult your Travel Agent or relevant embassy for all details such as opening hours or costs.

EACH CLIENT IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ALL NECESSARY VISAS BEFORE JOINING A TOUR.

We for changes in regulations or requirements for visas. The information provided is given in good faith.

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.

Travel Tip: Always bring a lightweight, waterproof jacket and/or an umbrella - this should prepare you for anything!

You might like to read up on the destinations that you are about to visit as these cities all have interesting sites and histories. We recommend a variety of guidebooks such as Lonely Planet, The Rough Guide and Footprint Guides. All these publications have good general information as well as more specific country information that will help orientate you in the countries you visit.

Please use your discretion and be sensitive to cultural differences in the countries that you visit, in particular when visiting religious buildings and when taking photographs.

Spanish is the language most widely spoken in the countries we visit in Latin America but English is spoken a little bit in the larger cities. You might like to take the time before your trip to read up on the country you will be visiting and perhaps learn a few words of the language. Your effort will always be welcomed and will make your trip all the more enjoyable. 

For better or for worse, tipping is an accepted part of everyday life and although it is always at your discretion, you will be expected to tip to reward service.  As a general guideline, in South America it is customary to tip 10% at restaurants and bars, USD5 to guides, and to leave approximately USD2 tip for the chambermaid and bellboy.

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!