Adventure Colombia - 11 Days – Colombia – FlashpackerConnect Adventure Travel

This northern Colombian adventure hits many of the highlights. Enjoy blissful tropical beaches, rainforest, Sierra Nevada mountains reaching 5,77m of altitude, coral islands, colonial city of Cartagena, Indigenous people – Wiwas and Koguis from the Lost City.

OVERVIEW:

Start/End: Cartagena (or Bogota - additional cost)

Duration: 11 days/ 10 nights

Accommodation: Hotel (7 nights)/ Camping (3 nights)

Group pricing available, please inquire

‍

BRIEF ITINERARY:

DAY 1: Cartagena walking tour + fortress

DAY 2: San Pedro de Majagua or La Boquilla

DAY 3: Explore Minca

DAY 4: Tayrona National Park hike

DAY 5: Santa Marta

DAY 6: Passion fruit farm or Gairaca Bay

DAY 7: Lost City trek

DAY 8: Lost City trek

DAY 9: Lost City trek

DAY 10: Lost City trek

DAY 11: Return Cartagena

TAILOR MADE TRAVEL:

See something you dont like or want to change? You can choose the duration and type of trip that best suites you: summit hikes, cultural communities, charming hotels, rafting, beach, diving... Let us design the perfect trip for you.

Trip Itinerary

DAY 1: Cartagena walking tour + fortress

In the morning take part in a private tour in the streets of the walled city. This tour meanders through the beautiful city of Cartagena and will bring you back to colonial times, amidst colorful houses and lively squares. Enjoy walking through the colonial neighborhoods of San Diego as well as Santo Domingo. In the afternoon, our guide will bring you to the San Felipe Castle that represents the main work of Spanish military engineering during colonization. Here you will embark on a historical and cultural visit of the site and a panoramic view of the Manga quarter.

Local guide (English-speaking)
Accommodation: Casa Pizarro

‍

DAY 2: San Pedro de Majagua or La Boquilla

> Option 1 – San Pedro Majagua: Relax on the Rosario islands

Spend the day on a Caribbean Island. The Rosario Islands are an archipelago located within a national park on the Colombian Caribbean coast, only about an hour from Cartagena. The tour leaves from the Marina Santa Cruz harbor (Manga) at 8:30am. Once you arrive to the island, you will be welcomed with a cocktail and have free time to enjoy the beach and common areas of the hotel. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy other activities such as eco- walks, kayaking in the mangroves, biking, diving, massages, and a visit to the “Laguna Encantada”. You will be back to Cartagena around 4pm.

> Option 2 - La Boquilla: fishing tour with local community

Departure at 7:30am from your hotel with transportation to La Boquilla. Arrival to the fishing village where an Afro-Cartageans community lives. Here you will learn how to fish first hand from the local people: how to catch crabs and how to throw nets. Then you will discover the secrets of coastal cuisine and learn how to cook fish and crabs with coconut rice. Free time to relax and enjoy the beach. Return to Cartagena at 1:30pm.

Local guide (English-speaking) only for the La Boquilla tour
Meals: B
Accommodation: Casa Pizarro

‍

DAY 3: Minca

Transport in the morning from Cartagena to Minca. Upon arrival to Minca you will enjoy lunch and then tour the surrounding area. A guide will invite you to visit the waterfall of Marinka and the farm of La Candelaria for a cocoa or coffee tour. The same family has managed this place for several generations and will share their passion for the local treasure with us.

Transport: 5h – Meals: B,L
Local guide (English-speaking)
Accommodation: Minca Ecohabs

‍

DAY 4: Tayrona Park

You will be transported for a day of hiking in the Tayrona National Park. Enter the tropical forest and hike to the archaeological site of Pueblito on the footsteps of the ancient Tayrona civilization. Walk and swim on the magnificent beaches of Cabo San Juan, la Piscina and Arrecifes. Here we will enjoy lunch on the beach. On the way, observe the local fauna and flora of this beautiful park. Transfer to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Transport: 1.5 hr
Meals: B,D
Walk: 6h
Local guide (English- speaking)
Accommodation: Maloka Barlovento

‍

DAY 5: Santa Marta

In the morning you will have time to enjoy the hotel and its surroundings and then transfer to the city of Santa Marta with free time to discover the city center.

Transport: 1h
Meals: B
Accommodation: Casa del Farol

‍

DAY 6: Passion fruit farm or Gairaca Bay

> Option 1 – Passion fruit farm and snorkeling (trekking)

Departure in the morning at 6am from your hotel to discover the amazing sites of the Sierra Nevada. We will drive via Cienaga for about 30 minutes before arriving to the passion fruit farm located at 850m. Here our guide will show you the different existing varieties of passionfruit and he will explain about their culture. An early departure has the advantage to allow us better bird watching (eagle, parrots and several colorful-bird species) and the observation of other animals like monkeys living in the area.

Furthermore, the few inhabitants of this land are living off the local products. You will find along the way cocoa, mango, lemon, mamón, mandarin, banana etc. All these fruits are possible thanks to the two rivers coming from the mountain that you will cross several times. Arriving to our destination you will be offered a full breakfast, and have time to rest and enjoy this quiet and relaxing place. Later on, the guide will accompany you to the big waterfall Jolonura where you can cool off and swim. A small climbing session is also possible if you want to get closer to the water. Continue on to discover a second waterfall, smaller but just as beautiful as the first on. Here will will relax again and enjoy lunch. Around 2:30pm we begin to make our way back. Taking time to enjoy a break at the natural pool called “Pozo del Bautizo” where in the past locals baptized the indigenous children. Remember to keep your eyes open! The fauna and flora are everywhere to surprise you and amaze you. This tour is unique, as you are among the first to discover this area.

Transport: 1.5 hrs
Meals: B/L
Walk: 6h
Accommodation: Casa del Farol

> Option 2 – Gairaca Bay (relax and snorkeling)

Depart Santa Marta around 8am to join Taganga and then Bahia Gairaca in the National Park Tayrona. Here you can enjoy snorkeling (or diving) and walk around to observe the beauty of the nature around you. Soak in the tranquility, as this area is rarely visited by tourists. Transport from/to Taganga by boat.

Transport: 1h per way (taxi + boat)
Meals: B/L
Accommodation: Casa del Farol

DAY 7: Lost City trek

Our morning begins around 9am in Santa Marta where a 4×4 will take us to the Mamey’s sector (Machete Pelao) where we will enjoy lunch and a break.

Afterwards, we will start our trek of 7.6 km to the first camp (Adam’s hut, rural community), where we will spend the night. Along the way we will make a stop at a crystal clear river to enjoy a refreshing dip. At night, the guide explain the history and customs of this community and teach us some phrases in Dumana (the local language).

Transport: 2.5 hrs
Hike: 4 hrs
Meals: B/L/D
Spanish speaking local guide with an English translator
Accommodation: in bed or hammock depending the availability

DAY 8: Lost City trek

Today, we have a full 8 hours of hiking. Along the way you will visit the Mutanzhi indigenous community and you will be able to interact with its settlers. You will see a variety of the flora and fauna and many local plants that can only be found in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta. In the afternoon, we will take a break and enjoy a swim in the river and relax.

Continuing on, you will arrive to the third hut (Paraíso Teyuna hut, indigenous community). It is located at 830 meters and at the foot of Teizhuna (teyuna), Tayronas sacred city. In the evening, our guide explain more about the Lost City and its sacred meaning for the indigenous people of the Sierra.

Hike: 7/8 hrs
Meals: B/L/D
Spanish speaking local guide with an English translator
Accommodation: in bed or hammock

DAY 9: Lost City trek

After filling up on breakfast, we will leave at 7am headed towards the Lost City. To get to the sacred city we will climb over 1200 steps, built by the ancient Tayronas. After approximately an hour, we will arrive to the city and enjoy a tour through the several sacred places in that area. Here, el Mamo (spiritual indigenous leader) will narrate sacred stories and offer up wise advice. At 11am we will return to the third hut to have lunch. Afterwards, we will begin a 5 to 6 hike down to the second camp (Mumake hut, indigenous community), where we will spend the night.

Hike: 7/8 hrs
Meals: B/L/D
Spanish speaking local guide with an English translator
Accommodation: in bed or hammock

‍

DAY 10: Lost City trek

In the morning, we make our way to El Mamey (Machete Pelao), visiting a small natural waterfall for a refreshing swim along the way. Arriving to el Mamey, where the tour concludes, we will have lunch and organize your transport back to Santa Marta or another point on the coast.

Transport: 2.5 hrs
Hike: 7/8 hrs
Meals: B/L
Spanish speaking local guide with an English translator
Accommodation: Casa del Farol

‍

DAY 11: Return Cartagena

Transportation back to Cartagena.

Transport: 5 hrs
Meals: B

Note: This itinerary is subject to change without prior notice according to weather conditions, strikes, roadblocks, or other events which are beyond our control. We will always do our best to follow the itinerary as closely as possible.

Additional Trip Info

Transportation to the places indicated on the program
Accommodation - 3 star (upgrades available)
Meals where indicated (B: breakfast – L: lunch – D: dinner)
Activities and entrance fees as per itinerary
Entrance fee to Tayrona Park
Entrance to the Rosario Islands
Entrance to the Marinka waterfall
Entrance to the San Felipe Castle
Local professional guides, specialists of each region
Our assistance 24/7

Additional expenses not indicated in the itinerary
International flights
Meals when not indicated (between $5 and $15 USD per person per meal)
Personal expenses
Additional entrances not specified in the itinerary
Travel Insurance - We recommend World Nomads, or Global Rescue
Tips

info@flashpackerconnect.com

+1 206-892-8877

Colombia

Adventure Colombia - 11 Days

Blissful tropical beaches to the Serra Nevada mountains

Adventure Colombia - 11 Days

Blissful tropical beaches to the Serra Nevada mountains

OVERVIEW:

BRIEF ITINERARY:

TAILOR MADE TRAVEL:

Trip Itinerary

DAY 1: Cartagena walking tour + fortress

DAY 2: San Pedro de Majagua or La Boquilla

> Option 1 – San Pedro Majagua: Relax on the Rosario islands

DAY 3: Minca

DAY 4: Tayrona Park

DAY 5: Santa Marta

DAY 6: Passion fruit farm or Gairaca Bay

DAY 7: Lost City trek

DAY 8: Lost City trek

DAY 9: Lost City trek

DAY 10: Lost City trek

DAY 11: Return Cartagena

Additional Trip Info

Have Questions?

Interested in building a custom trip? We want to help you travel to places you have dreamt about.

info@flashpackerconnect.com

+1 206-892-8877

Colombia

Adventure Colombia - 11 Days

Blissful tropical beaches to the Serra Nevada mountains

Adventure Colombia - 11 Days

Blissful tropical beaches to the Serra Nevada mountains

OVERVIEW:

BRIEF ITINERARY:​

TAILOR MADE TRAVEL:

Trip Itinerary

DAY 1: Cartagena walking tour + fortress

DAY 2: San Pedro de Majagua or La Boquilla

> Option 1 – San Pedro Majagua: Relax on the Rosario islands

DAY 3: Minca

DAY 4: Tayrona Park

DAY 5: Santa Marta

DAY 6: Passion fruit farm or Gairaca Bay

DAY 7: Lost City trek

DAY 8: Lost City trek

DAY 9: Lost City trek

DAY 10: Lost City trek

DAY 11: Return Cartagena

Additional Trip Info

Have Questions?

Related Trips

Caño Cristales River Trip - 3 Days

Caño Cristales River Trip - 4 Days

Serranía de la Macarena, Jungle Tour - 4 Days

Adventure Colombia - 8 Days

Related Blog Posts

Interested in building a custom trip? We want to help you travel to places you have dreamt about.

BRIEF ITINERARY: