The Colonial Route
11 Days / 10 Nights
Day 1: Bogota
Reception and transfer from International Airport El Dorado to the hotel
Overnight in Bogota: Casa Dann Carlton
Day 2: Bogota City Tour
Breakfast at the Hotel. A staff member from the company will meet you at the hotel to take you on a tour around the historic center of the city. The first stop will be at Plaza de Bolivar to walk along the streets and take a close look of the most important buildings of the city, such as the National Capitol, which is the center of the country’s legislative life; Casa de los Comuneros; Casa de Nariño, which is the Presidential house; and the Santa Clara Church Museum. The tour includes a visit to the Gold Museum, which exhibits about 34,000 pieces of metalwork from various Hispanic cultures and a visit to the House Museum Quinta de Bolivar, the house belonged to Simon Bolivar.
The tour continues to the iconic symbol of Bogota, the Monserrate Hill rising up to 3,152 meters above sea level, to visit the sanctuary where you will find the statue of the Lord of Miracles. From there it is possible to enjoy the best view of Bogota.
At the end, time for lunch (Included) in “Casa Vieja” Restaurant Accommodation.
*Notes: Gold museum and Quinta de Bolivar closed on Mondays; instead, we visit “Museo de Botero and Museo Casa de la Moneda”.
Duration: Approximately 06 Hours.
Overnight in Bogota: Casa Dann Carlton
Day 3: Zipaquira Tour
Breakfast at the hotel. One of our representatives will pick you up in the hotel to start a trip to Villa de Leyva, one of the most romantic and well preserved colonial towns of Colombia. In Route we will have a first stop in Zipaquira where you will have the opportunity to visit the Underground Salt Cathedral, built 180 meters below the surface in Zipaquira. Then Time for lunch (Included) and continue the trip to Villa de Leyva.
Note: Entrance of Underground Salt Cathedral is not recommended for persons with mobility restrictions.
Overnight in Villa de Leyva: Posada San Antonio
Day 4: Villa de Leyva
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will have a guided tour around Villa de Leyva, it will take us across the churches, colonial buildings, The Paleontological Museum and the Santo Ecce Homo Convent. Free time in the afternoon
Note: Santo Ecce Homo Convent is closed Saturdays and Sundays.
Overnight in Villa de Leyva: Posada San Antonio
Day 5: Villa de Leyva – Barichara
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Barichara as scheduled. First we will visit Raquira well known as a colony of artisans and Chiquinquira where you will know the Rosario´s Church one of the principals of Colombia. Time for lunch (included) and continue to Barichara located in the department of Santander, this town is considered one of the most beautiful villages of Colombia for its colonial architecture.
Overnight in Barichara: La Nube Posada
Day 6: Barichara Tour
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will take a walk around the cobbled streets of Barichara to admire the beauty of its colonial architecture, traditional soil and stone construction and the pristine stone temples from the eighteen century. Then we will visit Guane, an indigenous settlement where you will find the Archeological and Paleontological Museum. Time for lunch (Included) and we will finish the day in San Gil. There, we will visit Gallineral Park where you could enjoy an incredible view of the landscape. Return to Barichara
Overnight in Barichara: La Nube Posada
Day 7: Barichara – Bucaramanga
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning departure to Bucaramanga. First we will visit the Chicamocha Canyon with spectacular landscapes and an aerial tramway that crosses along the canyon. Not advised for the non-adventurous. Once on the other side of the Canyon we will have time for lunch (Included) and continue to San Juan de Giron where we´ll have a short visit and finally we will arrive at Bucaramanga.
Note: Activities in Chicamocha Canyon Park are closed every Mondays and Tuesdays of the year, also Tuesdays and Wednesdays when Monday is a Holiday.
Overnight in Bucaramanga: Dann Bucaramanga
Day 8: Bucaramanga – Cartagena
Breakfast at the Hotel. Pick-up and transfer to the airport as scheduled, to take flight to Cartagena. Reception and transfer from International Airport Rafael Nuñez to the hotel
Overnight in Cartagena: Americas Casa de Playa
Day 9: Cartagena City Tour
Breakfast at the Hotel. At the agree time, one of our representatives will pick you up at the hotel to take you on a tour around Cartagena de Indias. The tour starts at the modern neighborhoods of Bocagrande and Manga, where you will be able to see the contrast between modern architecture and the beauty of the old houses from the twentieth century. Then, we will visit the Castle where the Spaniards sought to protect the city from the attacks of the English in the seventeenth century, “El Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas” .At the end, we will walk around the historic downtown, visiting the San Pedro Claver Church and then the Emerald museum. Return to the hotel.
*Notes: It includes entry to Castillo de San Felipe, San Pedro Claver Church and Emerald Museum.
Duration: about 3.5 Hours.
Departures from Monday to Friday at 14:00 Hours, Saturday, Sundays and national holidays at 09:00 Hours.
Overnight in Cartagena: Americas Casa de Playa
Day 10: San Pedro de Majagua Island
Breakfast at the Hotel. A full day tour to San Pedro de Majagua Island, one of the Rosario Islands located south of the Bay of Cartagena. Enjoy coral beaches and variety of fauna of the reef, ideal for relaxing and swimming. Return to Cartagena and transfer to the hotel.
*Notes: Includes typical lunch (fried fishes), departure taxes and transfers hotel / dock / hotel *Does not include: Ticket for the Aquarium, snorkeling and additional aquatic activities. *This tour does not include assistance of bilingual guide Duration: 7 Hours
Overnight in Cartagena: Americas Casa de Playa
Day 11: Transfer out
Breakfast at the Hotel. Pick-up and transfer to the airport as scheduled
Price per person based on double occupancy room: USD$ 3115
Included:
• All private transfers
• 2 Nights in Bogota
• Tours in Bogota as described above
• 2 Nights in Villa de Leyva
• Tours in Villa de Leyva as described above
• 2 Nights Barichara
• Tours in Barichara as described above
• 1 Night Bucaramanga
• 3 Nights in Cartagena
• Tours in Cartagena as described above
Not Included:
• Airline tickets
• Optional tours
• Tips
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• At the time of booking, IF the originally quoted hotels are not available, similarly rated hotel will be booked. Price is subject to change due to availability.
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Telephone: 305 428 2753
Fax: 305 517 3640
renzo@biscaynetravel.com