Flavour of Colombia

A Gastronomic Journey Through Colombia

Undiscovered by international tourists for decades, Colombia has only recently begun to gain the recognition it deserves as a fantastic holiday destination. Forget everything you think you know and get ready to experience stunning landscapes, lost cities, romantic Caribbean islands, vibrant festivals and, of course, the best coffee in the world!

On this 14-day Flavour of Colombia itinerary, you will explore some of Colombia's key cities and spectacular highlights, plus you will get an insight into the superb gastronomy of this fascinating country with a variety of foodie experiences. Start in Colombia's revitalised, high-altitude capital, Bogota, where you will enjoy a tour of the city, plus a local guide will take you to a neighbourhood famous for its gastronomic magic. You'll then fly to Pereira and visit Colombia's world-renowned coffee region, learning more about the production and culture behind the country's world-class coffee. Next, enjoy a three-night stay in Medellin, where you will immerse yourself in the local community with a social project cooking class. You'll then fly to Cartagena and enjoy a three-night stay in this colourful and charming corner of Colombia's Caribbean coast, where you will experience a Gabriel Garcia Marquez literary menu tour.

Highlights

• Discover Bogota, Colombia's historic capital and learn about its local food scene

• Visit the stunning coffee region and learn about its production, plus enjoy tastings of the local produce

• Explore fascinating Medellin

• Enjoy a community project cooking class

• Enjoy a Gabriel Garcia Marquez Literary Menu Tour

Quick Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart the UK

Days 2 - 4 - Bogota

Day 5 & 6 - The Coffee Region

Days 7 - 9 - Medellin

Days 10 - 12 - Cartagena

Day 13 -  Depart Cartagena

Day 14 - Arrive back in the UK

Truly Individual Holiday

Any element of this holiday can be made truly individual to your requirements, including the places you want to see and the things that are important to you. Just contact one of our Travel Specialists today.

Day 1 - Depart the UK

Today you will depart the UK on your international flight to Bogota, Colombia

Days 2 - 4 - Bogota

Arrive in Bogota, Colombia's historic capital, where you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. 

The next day, you will be taken on a half-day city tour to La Candelaria, Bogata’s historic centre. As well as visiting Plaza de Bolivar, which is surrounded by some of Bogota’s most important buildings. You will also visit the Botero Museum, which exhibits some of Fernando Botero’s works of art alongside his own personal collection of paintings from Dali,  Matisse, Monet and Picasso. Your last stop will be the internationally renowned Gold Museum, which houses gold pieces, stones, ceramics and textiles from the Quimbaya, Calima, Tayrona, Sinu, Muisca, Tolima, Tumaco and Magdalena cultures.

On your last day in Bogota, you will visit Chapinero Alto, a neighbourhood in Bogota where chefs are reinventing famous recipes from the different regions of Colombia. You will have a guided walking tour of the area which will also include three stops where you will be able to savour some of the gastronomic magic.

Days 5 & 6 - The Coffee Region

Today you will fly to Pereira in the coffee region. You will visit the Finca del Café, where you will be immersed in the life and work of a regional coffee farm while enjoying stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Your expert guide will begin by taking you around the coffee plantations, demonstrating the planting, picking and pulping process. Throughout this route are several stations constructed from bamboo, with viewpoints from which you can fully appreciate the beautiful coffee-growing terrain. After this, you will toast specially-picked coffee beans on a wood stove, located in the traditional kitchen of the country house. This is followed by the innovative drying process of the coffee bean before it is taken to the processing centre. As part of your tour, you will, of course, sample cups of the delicious, freshly-roasted coffee for yourself.

Enjoy a day at leisure here, with your chance to explore at your own pace.

Days 7 - 9 - Medellin

Today you will fly to Medellin, check in to your hotel and settle in.

On your second day in Medellin, enjoy a half-day private visit to the “City of eternal spring”, Colombia’s second most important city and a standout commercial and cultural destination. You will take a guided tour of the city’s most important and iconic sites and will learn why Medellin has become such an important centre for Colombia’s future.

On your final day in Medellin, you will visit the community social transformation project located in the Comuna 9, where they are training low-income residents in cooking, and entrepreneurship skills, applying techniques and recipes from all over the world with local affordable ingredients and products. Not only will you be introduced to the social transformation of the neighbourhood and visit public renovation projects but you will also have the opportunity to partake in a cooking class, preparing a Colombian or gourmet dish with the social project.

All funds generated on this tour are reinvested in the community project, subsidizing training, materials and equipment for low-income participants, and maintenance of the training centre.

Days 10 - 12 - Cartagena

Today you will fly from Medellin to Cartagena, on the country's Caribbean coast.

On your second day in Cartagena, you will enjoy a half-day Gabriel Garcia Marquez Literary Menu Tour today. Behind the walls of Cartagena, discover centuries of history, culture and flavours stirred by the fusion of Spanish, African slaves and migrants of the 19th century. Typical food inspired one of the most important writers in Colombia and literature Nobel winner prize, Gabriel García Márquez, mostly known for his book One Hundred Years of Solitude.

During this three-hour walking tour, visit 9 favourite places of this beloved writer. At 6 different stops, taste a variety of snacks of traditional Caribbean food referenced in literary works by “Gabo” and discover the mestizo history behind the traditional cuisine of the Colombian Caribbean. Enjoy this tour in the middle of a city of almost 500 years, with the "guardians" who preserve its gastronomic treasure and take home their stories and recipes.

The next day, enjoy a day at leisure in Cartagena, or, ask one of our travel specialists about a full-day tour to the Rosario Islands.

Day 13 - Depart Cartagena

Transfer to Cartagena airport for your onward flight.

Day 14 - Arrive back in the UK

Today you will land back in the UK from Colombia.

Price from £3,899 per person

(2024 departures, based on 2 people sharing a room)

Includes:

• International flights

• 11 nights’ accommodation as detailed

• 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches

• Half-day city tours of Bogota and Medellin

• Half-day Local Flavours in Chapinero Alto tour

• Half-day tour of a coffee plantation

• Half-day visit to a community project in Medellin

• Half-day Gabriel Garcia Marquez Literary Menu Tour

• Transfers and domestic flights as per itinerary

Excludes:

• Local departure taxes payable locally

• Where applicable locally payable car hire related charges

• Items of a personal nature such as laundry and drinks etc

• Tips for guides and drivers (discretionary)

• Camera or video fees at any sites