Expeditions andes and eastern plains exploration

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 your itinerary again 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 your arrival time, 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 taking it easy during the first couple of days.

Note: Check in after 3pm

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. We will capture spectacular panoramic city views from the top of Cerro de Monserrate.

To have the perfect ending to our tour in Bogota, we will spend some time playing tejo. This is a traditional Colombian sport with roots dating 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."  Colombia’s national sport.  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, Lunch

Around 6 am, we will begin our adventure by heading to a small town called Tibacuy, located 2 hours outside Bogota. Near Tibacuy, we will visit a local community of farmers who produce their own coffee. 

You will get the chance to visit four different farms and learn one specific part of the coffee-making process at each farm. You won't only learn about the coffee-making process but also why the production of coffee is essential in this specific region of Colombia.  

At one of the farms, we will also go back in time to learn about the indigenous Panche people who inhabited the area before the Spanish conquest. We will see some petroglyphs found by the local families. These petroglyphs haven't been thoroughly studied by the experts yet, but it would be fascinating to hear how locals found them and what these symbols could mean.

You spend time with the families, learn about their day to day life, have lunch at their house and try some delicious homemade snacks.  We are sure you won't look at your daily cup of coffee the same after this experience!

Overnight: Bogota
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

Early in the morning, we will pick you up at the hotel to transfer you to the airport in Bogota for your flight to Yopal in the Eastern Region of Colombia, also called Los LLanos. On arrival in Yopal, we will go to San Luis de Palenque. It will take approximately 2 hours on paved roads.  We will spend the next two days at Hato Matepalma and Hato Altamira, two large haciendas that are part of the Nature Reserve El Encanto de Guanapalo. 

Upon arrival at the natural reserve, we will have lunch and relax for a while. Then, we'll get an introduction to the farm and some lasso practice before gearing up our horses for a ride into the savannah. By horse, we'll cross small rivers, waterholes, lush savannas, palm and gallery forests, keeping our eyes peeled for diverse birdlife and wildlife, including different species of anteaters, monkeys, tortoises, caimans and exotic birds.

At the nature reserve, you will have the chance to see hundreds of capybaras, white-tailed deer, spectacled caimans, tortoises and exciting birdlife, including Orinoco geese and the great horned owl – Colombia's largest owl.

At the end of the day, we will go to one of the haciendas where you will spend the night.
 

Overnight: Los Llanos - Nature Reserve El Encanto de Guanapalo
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning, we will go for a walk and a canoe tour to observe families of capybaras, hoatzins, and various species of kingfishers. We will come back to the hacienda for lunch and relax a little bit before the safari in the afternoon. 

In the afternoon, we will do a safari in a 4x4 vehicle to get close to an astonishing amount of wildlife. With some luck, we may see anteaters, pumas, armadillos or anacondas. The probability of seeing anacondas is higher during the dry season, which is in February and March. We will see hundreds of capybaras, deer, spectacled caimans, tortoises and exciting birdlife. 

At the end of the afternoon safari, we will sit down to relax and have a drink while enjoying the spectacular sunset of this region of Colombia. After, recharging batteries we will continue our expedition to see nocturnal wildlife.
 

Overnight: Los Llanos - Nature Reserve El Encanto de Guanapalo
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early in the morning will go to the airport for your flight to Bucaramanga (connection in Bogotá)

Upon arrival in Bucarmanga, we will meet you at the airport to transfer you to Zapatoca, locate 2hrs from Bucaramanga. Zapatoca was built in the 17th century and is located in the middle of an impressive canyons landscape. 

As a completely off the beaten track destination, Zapatoca is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the tranquillity of its streets surrounded by a spectacular natural landscape. Upon arrival in Zapatoca, we will do a tour around the town before going to the hotel.

Overnight: Zapatoca
Meal Plan: Breakfast

Today is to relax and recharge your mind and body. Hotel Sindamanoy, where you are staying, is a Spa focus on wellness. You will be able to take some wellness sessions available to promote self-care, relaxation and overall health and wellbeing. These sessions are already included in the tour.

The hotel is surrounded by a beautiful garden and natural areas for a nice walk. You can also enjoy some time walking around the town, which is very calm and charming.

Overnight: Zapatoca
Meal Plan: Breakfast

Today, we will go to Barichara, one of the most beautiful colonial towns in Colombia. Barichara is a charming little town with stunning colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, historic churches, and beautiful natural surroundings. On the way to Barichara, we will pass through other charming little towns like Galán and Fuente that seem to be literally stopped in time. 

Upon arrival in Barichara, we will go to the hotel and then do a walking tour around the town
 

Overnight: Barichara
Meal Plan: Breakfast

Today, we will go to a local house to learn about building colonial houses. We will learn about the local technique used to construct colonial houses in this area of Colombia. This workshop will also be an excellent opportunity to interact with the local community and learn more about their daily lives.

We will also visit some of the main colonial buildings in the town, including Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción, Casa de la Cultura and other historical constructions. Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción is an impressive construction made of sandstone that dominates the town's architecture. It is the main church in Barichara and is particularly lovely at sunset when the stone turns a rich orange.

You will have time to explore this lovely town with small cafés, boutique craft shops, and photogenic street scenes.

Overnight: Barichara
Meal Plan: Breakfast

Today, we will be hiking for about 2 hours along The Camino Real, an ancient trail that connects Barichara and the small town of Guane. 

The Camino Real trail was originally built by the Guane indigenous people and then used later by the Spanish. The old paved path was last restored in 1864 by the German George von Lenguerke. The hike is mostly downhill and will take you through a beautiful landscape of the canyon and valley surrounding the town. The trail offers some great views and a peaceful environment.

Guane is an even smaller version of Barichara, although less elaborate. We will have lunch there before coming back to Barichara. In Barichara, we will spend some time visiting the main highlights of the town. You will have the rest of the day at leisure for your exploration.

Overnight: Barichara
Meal Plan: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will start our journey towards Villa de Leyva, located 4 hours driving from Barichara. Villa de Leyva is the most visited and famous town in Boyaca. This colonial village frozen in time will make you feel like you have been transported back to colonial times. Its central plaza is surrounded by magnificent colonial structures and a beautiful parish church. The area of the plaza is about 14000 square meters and is considered the largest plaza in Colombia.

Upon arrival in Villa de Leyva, we go to the hotel. After checking in, we will go for a walking tour around the town.

Overnight: Villa de Leyva
Meal Plan: Breakfast

Early in the morning, we will go to a farm located one hour from Villa de Leyva. At the farm, we will have a traditional Colombian breakfast, followed by a cooking experience to learn how to make "almohabana", a traditional Colombian corn pastry. During this experience, you will have the opportunity to interact with the family at the farm and learn from them a bit of history on how the ancient indigenous used to process and cook food made of corn.

After this enjoyable gastronomic activity, we will go to another farm to learn everything about panela production, a product derived from sugar cane. At this farm, you will learn about the sugar cane process from harvesting to the production of panela. 

After lunch, we will go to Convento Santo Ecce Homo, founded by the Dominican fathers in 1620. The convent is a spectacular stone-and-adobe construction with a lovely courtyard and floors paved with stones quarried in the region, containing ammonites and fossils, including petrified corn and flowers. At the end of the visit, we will go back to Villa de Leyva. You will have the rest of the afternoon at leisure for your exploration.

Overnight: Villa de Leyva
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

You will have the morning to explore more of Villa de Leyva.  Around midday, we will start our journey back to Bogota. 

On the way to Bogota, we will stop at Boyaca Bridge, a very important historical place where the most important battle of the Colombian War of Independence took place.

Overnight: Bogota
Meal Plan: Breakfast

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

Overnight:
Meal Plan: Breakfast