Colombia Cultural Tour Bogotá, San Agustín, Tayrona & Cartagena

Arrive at any time. We will pick you up at the airport and drive you to your hotel in Bogota. Depending on the traffic, the drive from the airport takes around 30-45 minutes.

At the hotel, we will check again your itinerary to make sure everything is clear, help you with anything you may need and give you some practical information about Bogota and Colombia. Depending on the time of your arrival, you may have some time to start exploring the city on your own or just to relax. 

Bogotá is located at an altitude of 2,600 metres, so we recommend to take it easy during the first couple of days.

Overnight: Bogota Meal Plan: None

Today, we will visit some of the most iconic places in Bogota's historic centre. We will have the chance to admire the world's most extensive collection of pre-Hispanic gold at the Gold Museum and check the artistic work of Fernando Botero, Colombia's most famous painter and sculptor, at the Museo Botero. We will glimpse the diversity of architectural styles on display in the historic neighbourhood of La Candelaria. 

To have the perfect ending to our tour in Bogotá, we will spend some time playing tejo. This traditional Colombian sport dates back to pre-Columbian times. It involves throwing a metal disc, known as a "tejo," at a target placed within a clay-covered box, aiming to hit small, gunpowder-filled packets called "mechas."  This Colombian national sport is played in a vibrant social setting that perfectly wraps up your immersion in local culture. We will also try “Chicha”, a traditional fermented beverage that originated during pre-Columbian times, where it played a vital role in the social, religious, and ceremonial life of the Indigenous groups

Note: Gold Museum is closed on Mondays, and Botero Museum is closed on Tuesdays.

Overnight: Bogota Meal Plan: Breakfast

Included activities:   Historic Tour in Bogotá and Tejo game

Today, we will explore Lake Guatavita, a natural paradise and one of the most important Muisca sacred sites from pre-Columbian times. The lake is famous for the Legend of El Dorado, which refers to the treasures held deep inside the lake's waters. The mountains surrounding this site will amaze you as you climb to view the sparkling green lake. 

Afterwards, chow down on delicious Colombian food at a traditional restaurant. Then, we will visit an actual Muisca community centre in the nearby town of Sesquile. At the Sesquile settlement, you will see how today's Muiscas are trying to maintain their old traditions despite adopting modern life and technology. 

You will also travel through the splendid landscapes, stopping at the beautiful colonial towns of Guatavita and Sesquile. At the end of the day, we will return to your hotel.

Note: Gold Museum is closed on Mondays and Botero Museum is closed on Tuesdays.

Overnight: Bogota Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

Included activities:   Tour to Guatavita Lake

Today, you will fly from Bogotá to Pitalito, a small town located just 45 minutes from San Agustín. Depending on the flight schedule, you may have some free time in the morning to explore more of Bogotá. At the appropriate time, we will transfer you to Bogotá Airport for your flight to Pitalito.

Upon arrival in Pitalito, our local team will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in San Agustín.

Overnight: San Agustin Meal Plan: Breakfast

We will spend the morning at the main Archaeological park site. The park is an open-air exhibition of about 16 reconstructed funerary mound and hundreds of megalithic sculptures. We can also see related archaeological materials at the site´s museum.

The sculptures and monuments in the park have been traced back to the mythology of pre-Hispanic people that inhabited the area hundreds of years ago, and who were forced out of the area and into the Amazon and Orinoco regions of Colombia around 1400. The group practically disappeared at this time. The dates of the statues are uncertain, but they are believed to have been carved between 5–400 AD.

At the park, we will visit various sites including: Bosque de las Estatuas (The statues forest), Mesita A, Mesita B, Mesita C, Alto de Lavapatas and Fuente de Lavapatas, a complex maze of pools and water channels hewn from bedrock and carved with figures of animals and humans. It was used for religious ceremonies and bathing. 

After visiting the park, we will have time for lunch before going to El Tablon and La Chaquira. At El Tablón, we will see other anthropomorphic statues. Then, we will hike to La Chaquira, one of the most impressive sites, with deities carved into the sheer rock above the beautiful Río Magdalena gorge. 

Overnight: San Agustin Meal Plan: Breakfast

Included activities:   Tour to San Agustin Archeological Park

The Magdalena river is the most important river of Colombia and the fifth-largest river basin in South America. It stretches from the Central and Easter Andes in the south of the country to the Caribbean Sea in the north. It runs up for nearly 949 miles (1,528 kilometres) and is home to many diverse ecosystems including forest, mountains, valleys and wetlands. As the source of the Magdalena River is not far from San Agustin, today, we will be able to visit the Magdalena Strait, where the river squeezes through a narrow canyon just under 3m (9.84 ft) in width. 

This region of Colombia, apart from being famous due to the archaeologic sites, it is also quite important for the   high-quality coffee. Therefore, after visiting the Magdalena Strait, we will go to a coffee farm to learn everything about harvesting and making coffee, from planting the coffee beans to the picking and roasting process. We will learn how to select and pick only the ripe coffee cherries and also how to taste and evaluate the coffee's quality, just like a coffee expert. 

Overnight: San Agustin Meal Plan: Breakfast

Included activities:   Tour to Visit the Magdalena River Strait and Coffee Plantation

In the morning, we will head to Pitalito Airport for your flight to Santa Marta. As South America’s oldest colonial city, Santa Marta offers a fascinating blend of history, beautifully preserved colonial architecture and a lively atmosphere filled with excellent restaurants, bars and cafés. It is also home to the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, the historic estate where national hero Simón Bolívar spent his final days in 1830.

There are no direct flights from Pitalito to Santa Marta, so you will connect in Bogotá before continuing to the Caribbean coast. Upon arrival in Santa Marta, we will meet you at the airport and transfer you comfortably to your hotel.

Overnight: Santa Marta - Hotel close to Tayrona Park Meal Plan: Breakfast

Today, we will spend the day exploring Tayrona National Natural Park, home to some of Colombia’s most spectacular beaches. Around 8:30 am, we will depart from your hotel for the short 15‑minute drive to the park’s main entrance at El Zaino. From there, we will continue by vehicle for another 10 minutes to the Cañaveral sector, where our walk begins.

We will hike for about an hour through lush forest until reaching the Arrecifes area, a viewpoint offering sweeping panoramas of Tayrona’s coastline. The trail then continues for approximately 30 minutes to the beaches of Arenillas, La Piscina and El Cabo San Juan. Here, you will have plenty of time to swim, unwind and enjoy the stunning surroundings. Several restaurants and beach bars are available throughout the park, perfect for a relaxed lunch in the shade.

Around 3:30 pm, we will begin the journey back to the main entrance.

Note: Tayrona Park is usually closed from 1–15 February, 1–15 June and 19 October–2 November.

Overnight: Santa Marta - Hotel close to Tayrona Park Meal Plan: Breakfast

Included activities:   Tour to Tayrona Park

Today, we will visit the Katanzama community, an Indigenous settlement of the wider Arhuaco, Kogi, and Wiwa peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The Kankuamo of Katanzama maintain a profound spiritual connection to their territory, which they consider sacred and essential to their cultural identity. The community is deeply committed to preserving its ancestral traditions, including language, customs and ecological practices that reflect a harmonious relationship with nature. During this visit, you will have the opportunity to learn directly from community members and gain insight into a worldview safeguarded for generations.

At the end of this cultural experience, we will return to your hotel.

Overnight: Santa Marta - Hotel close to Tayrona Park Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

Included activities:   Visit to Katanzama Community

Today, we will travel to Cartagena by car; the journey takes approximately 4.5 hours. Cartagena de Indias, set along Colombia’s Caribbean coast, is a city alive with vibrant history and a rich cultural spirit.

As you enter the heart of Cartagena, the Ciudad Amurallada, you are immediately transported to another era. Cobblestone streets, brightly coloured colonial houses and the imposing stone walls that once defended the city from pirates create an atmosphere full of charm and character. The air carries the scent of local delicacies, while music and street performers bring every corner to life, turning each stroll into an immersive experience.

Overnight: Cartagena Meal Plan: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will pick you up at the hotel for a city tour covering the Castillo de San Felipe and the old city surrounded by the impressive walls built during the Spanish rule to protect the city against enemies and looters.

The Castle of San Felipe is the greatest and strongest fortress ever built by the Spaniards in any of their colonies. It was built on top of the San Lazaro hill and defended the city from many attacks including a British siege in 1741. The old city is the historic heart and soul of Cartagena. We will walk around its cobbled streets, visiting or passing by the main historical sites. 

You will have the afternoon to relax at the hotel or carry on exploring the old city, admire its architecture and immerse yourself in its romantic atmosphere.

Overnight: Cartagena Meal Plan: Breakfast

Included activities:   City Tour in Cartagena

The tour ends today. At the time required, we will pick you up at the hotel for a transfer to the airport.

Overnight: - Meal Plan: Breakfast

Colombia is a year‑round destination thanks to its varied geography and stable climate. Bogotá can be cooler with occasional rain, while the Caribbean coast around Santa Marta and Cartagena is warm and sunny for most of the year. San Agustín, in the Andean foothills, enjoys mild temperatures year-round, though light rain is common. The driest months across much of the country generally run from December to March, making this period ideal if you prefer clearer skies. 

The itinerary can be adapted for families, depending on the children's ages and interests. When planning your trip, your travel expert can suggest suitable activities, accommodation and pacing for your family.

Yes. Only Bogotá sits at high altitude (2,600m). The itinerary is designed to ease you in, with relaxed activities during the first days to help you acclimatise.

Yes. We can cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and most other dietary requirements. Please inform us in advance so we can prepare accordingly.

You will stay in comfortable, well‑located hotels in Bogotá, San Agustín, Santa Marta (near Tayrona Park) and Cartagena. All are selected for quality, safety and convenience.

Yes. All experiences, transfers, and guided visits are fully private, allowing you to travel at your own pace.

Absolutely. This is a tailor-made tour, and we can adjust activities, accommodation, and dietary needs to suit your preferences.

No. Tayrona closes three times a year for environmental recovery: 1–15 February, 1–15 June and 19 October–2 November. If your travel dates fall within these periods, we will offer an alternative experience.

Most walks are gentle to moderate. San Agustín includes archaeological trails with uneven terrain, while Tayrona involves a forest hike of around 1.5 hours each way. Comfortable walking shoes and good mobility are recommended.

Pack light, breathable clothing for the Caribbean coast, a warm layer for Bogotá’s cooler evenings, and comfortable walking shoes for archaeological sites and Tayrona’s forest trails. Sun protection, insect repellent, a small daypack, swimwear, and a rain jacket are all useful because of the varied climates across Bogotá, San Agustín, and the coast.

All day tours and transfers included in the itinerary are insured, providing added security and peace of mind during scheduled activities. For complete protection, we strongly recommend arranging suitable international travel insurance for the full duration of your trip.

Travel insurance is strongly recommended for all travellers.

Before your trip begins, we create a dedicated chat group with our operations team so you can easily reach us before, during, and after your journey. Once in Colombia, our team is available daily to assist with anything you may need. You will also be accompanied by a bilingual local guide who provides cultural insight and on-the-ground support. 

We take special care of our guests, so you always feel supported, safe, and fully immersed in the local experience.

Colombia has changed significantly over the past decades, and many destinations are now well established for international tourism. As with any destination, travellers should take sensible precautions and follow local advice. Travelling with local guides and pre-arranged private transportation can also make your journey easier and more comfortable.