NEW! Colombia's Colonial Jewels & Caribbean Coast (2012)

Depart the United States today, arriving in Bogotá in the evening, where an OAT representative will meet you at the airport and assist with the transfer to our hotel. Dinner is included tonight.

This morning after breakfast, we begin our discovery of Bogotá. Originally a settlement known as Bacatá by the indigenous people who dwelled there on the high plains of the Andes, the site was taken by the Spanish conquistadores in 1538, and became a full-fledged colonial outpost by 1550. Bogotá remained under the control of the Viceroyalty of Peru until 1717, when it became the capital of the Viceroyalty of New Granada, a vast stretch of land encompassing the modern countries of Colombia, Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela. Since then, the city has served continuously as a political and social center; today Colombia’s bustling capital city has a population of more than eight million people.

We set out this morning on a stroll through Colombia’s colonial past as we explore La Candelaria, the Old City of Bogotá. With its Baroque and Spanish Colonial architecture, La Candelaria exudes a timeless elegance, made contemporary by the presence of artists and university students (due to the large number of universities located there, Bogotá is sometimes called the “Athens of South America”). As we walk the hilly streets of La Candelaria, we’ll follow in the footsteps of the many revolutionaries who plotted the independence of Colombia, including Simón Bolívar, who dwelled here during his decade of service as the country's first president. We’ll explore the square named in his honor, Plaza de Bolívar, which is lined with significant buildings, including the Palace of Justice, the National Capitol, and the ornate 18th-century cathedral that houses the Archbishop of Bogotá.

We also visit Bogotá’s Gold Museum, which is home to the world’s biggest collection of pre-Hispanic gold artifacts. These pieces—more than 6,000 are on display out of the museum’s 55,000-piece collection—are not only beautiful in their own right, but also give us an introduction to the indigenous cultures of Colombia.

You’ll have a break for lunch on your own and some time for independent exploration before we regroup this afternoon to gain a richer understanding of Colombia’s recent history during a lively discussion with a local expert on some of the modern challenges that this complex nation faces. This evening, enjoy an included Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.

We set out this morning toward Monserrate Hill, a 10,000-foot peak that offers a commanding view of the city of Bogotá below. The summit of the hill is home to a 17th-century Catholic church that is a popular site for pilgrims—many of whom ascend the winding path to the top of the hill on their knees—and other travelers, who have the option of riding the funicular railroad to the top.

Returning to the city below, we then visit the Botero Museum, a mansion-turned-museum which features the expressive figurative paintings and sculptures of the colorful Colombian artist Fernando Botero, alongside works by 80 of his compatriots. The gallery also houses gems by European masters like Matisse, Renoir, and Picasso. We’ll spend some time admiring the works of this quintessential Colombian creative master before heading to a local restaurant for an included lunch.

Next, we’ll discover one of Colombia’s most popular crops: coffee. We’ll learn about the different varieties of this famous bean—Colombia’s are reputed to be among the best—and have a chance to sample some of it ourselves during a tasting at a local hacienda before returning to our hotel. Dinner is on your own tonight.

After breakfast, we set out into the mountains north of Bogotá to our next discovery, stopping en route for a lively cooking lesson in which we’ll learn how to prepare a staple of local cuisine, arepas con queso (fried corn meal cakes filled with cheese). We continue on to explore a fascinating religious site, the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá. This unique cathedral is built into the tunnels of a salt mine, stretching more than 600 feet underground, with statues and ornaments carved out of the mine’s rock walls. The complex features three main sections, including an entryway lined with 14 small chapels that depict the Stations of the Cross, and is considered a highlight of Colombian architecture. More than just a monument, this site is an active Roman Catholic church, drawing up to 3,000 visitors to its Sunday services, and the park in which the mine is located also contains a museum dedicated to mining and mineralogy.

Following our tour of the cathedral, we’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant that features dishes cooked using salt from the Zipaquirá mine, as well as ajiaco, a traditional Colombian soup of chicken, potatoes, and corn. Afterward, we return to our hotel and enjoy some time to make our own discoveries before regrouping for an included dinner at a local restaurant.

We transfer to the airport after breakfast this morning for our flight to the city of Santa Marta on Colombia’s sparkling Caribbean Coast. Founded in 1525, Santa Marta is the country’s oldest city, and the first site in Colombia discovered by Spanish explorers. These conquistadores were dazzled by the handiwork of the Tayrona people, skilled goldsmiths whose creations inspired the legend of El Dorado.

Upon arrival in Santa Marta, we transfer to our hotel, after which you’ll have time for lunch on your own. This afternoon, our discoveries of Santa Marta begin in Santa Marta’s Old City, starting with the 16th-century Customs House, which was constructed in 1530—making it the oldest house remaining in use in the Americas—and is currently the site of the Tayrona Gold Museum. We’ll also discover the elegant 18th-century Santa Marta Cathedral, where Bolívar was originally laid to rest (until 1842, when his body was returned to his birthplace, Caracas, to rest in the National Pantheon of Venezuela).

Our next stop is Taganga, a fishing village on the Caribbean coast. We’ll meet the local fishermen that reside there, learning about their trade and what village life is like in Colombia. This evening, relax on the village beach and watch the sun go down behind the waves of the Caribbean before heading to a local restaurant for an included dinner, where we’ll savor the flavors of regional cuisine.

After breakfast, we enjoy an immersion into the tropical beauty of Colombia in a visit to Tayrona National Park, whose virgin forests slope from the edges of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range to the shores of the Caribbean. Though just under 60 square miles in size, Tayrona is nonetheless remarkably diverse.

Our guided nature walk along the park's trails will take us through verdant foliage and end at the beach, where you can take a dip in the Caribbean Sea, if you’d like. Or, you can unwind from your hike by simply relaxing on the beach and taking in the tropical ambiance, before heading to a local restaurant for an included lunch.

This evening, we return to our hotel in Santa Marta for dinner together at a local restaurant.

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for the unique Totumo Volcano, stopping for lunch along the way. Contrary to its name, this “volcano” is actually a 50-foot-tall mud hill named for its resemblance to totumos, hollowed-out gourds used as decorative containers and instruments. The bubbling pool of mud at the volcano’s crater is renowned for its healing properties, and we’ll experience them firsthand as we climb the wooden steps to the top and enjoy a therapeutic mud bath. The volcano’s silvery, mineral-rich mud is so buoyant that you can float on it, and we’ll take our time to relax, before climbing down for a rinse in a neighboring cienaga (lagoon).

Then, we continue overland to Cartagena, where we’ll discover this charming city on an orientation walk with our Trip Leader. Afterward, we catch the rhythm of local life during a salsa dance lesson. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Officially known as Cartagena de Indias—so named because Spanish explorers believed the port would become part of a spice trade route to India—Cartegena is one of South America’s loveliest cities. Presiding over sandy beaches and azure ocean views, Cartagena still exudes both a colonial elegance and a tropical Caribbean flavor. We begin our day in Cartagena’s oldest section, the Ciudad Amarullada, or Walled City, which is encircled by twelve-foot stone walls and considered to be one of the best-preserved walled cities in the world. Our walk takes us into the Getsemani neighborhood, the oldest part of the city. Then we'll contrast the old with the new as we meet some of Colombia's youngest citizens during a visit to the Los Coches School. Associated with a children's home for economically disadvantaged two- to five-year olds, the school's mission is to improve the children's health, family, and community circumstances as well as to educate them.

After some free time and lunch on your own, we continue on to experience the serene beauty of the La Popa Convent. Located on a hilltop with sweeping vistas of the city, this convent honors La Virgin de Candelaria, Cartagena's patron saint. Next we move on to Bocagrande, a modern hub of activity situated between Cartagena Bay and the Caribbean. Bocagrande is known for its restaurants, shops, beaches, and sophisticated flair. One of its quieter neighborhoods is the residential Castillo Grande, which boasts of some of the most stunning water views, as we’ll discover during our tour.

We return to the hotel with some time to relax. Then we regroup in the late afternoon for a ride on a traditional chiva, a rustic, but vibrantly painted bus. We’ll be joined by some live musical entertainment, which will make our ride all the more memorable. This evening, we'll soak up the timeless atmosphere of Cartagena after dark, as we enjoy dinner together in one of the city’s charming neighborhood restaurants.

Today, enjoy a full day at leisure to uncover the charms of Cartagena on your own. Perhaps you’ll bask in the relaxing spell of Playa Blanca, a sugar-sand beach that is one of the finest beaches of all of Colombia. Or seek out one of Cartagena's countless open-air cafés, taking in the steady parade of life—from well-heeled locals going about their daily business to horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping along as they have for two centuries. You might also step back into history on Plaza Bolívar, with a visit to the Palace of the Inquisition, where instruments of torture from the Spanish Inquisition, as well as artistic masterpieces, are displayed. Or visit the Naval Museum of the Caribbean to learn about Cartagena's seafaring history. Lunch and dinner are on your own today, and your Trip Leader will be happy to provide plenty of suggestions for restaurants and activities for your day of independent discovery.

Or, you can choose to join an optional excursion to the coral reef archipelago known as the Rosario Islands. A Colombian National Park boasting 1,300 different species of flora and fauna across 27 islands, the Rosario Islands evolved over generations from a sparsely populated outpost into a center for fishing and coconut cultivation, and have now become a pristine haven for elite Colombians. We begin our explorations by embarking a boat for an hour-long cruise through turquoise waters to Pirate Island, where you can stretch out on the beach, or, for an additional fee, opt to snorkel among the coral reefs. Savor a typical local lunch on the island before we return to Cartagena by speedboat, arriving late in the afternoon.

Tonight, we’ll experience the warmth of Colombian hospitality when we join a local family for a Home-Hosted Dinner, savoring traditional Colombian cuisine and spirited conversation.

This morning, we’ll visit one of Cartagena’s most conspicuous and commanding structures, the 17th-century San Felipe Castle. From its inception, Cartagena’s riches were desired by coastal pirates and defended by Spaniards, who eventually built the fortress to protect their prized city. Explore the labyrinthine tunnels that run beneath ground, or enjoy panoramic views of the city from atop the castle walls.

After our time in the castle, we head to a nearby pier to embark on a boat ride around Cartagena Bay. Enjoy a view of Cartagena’s walls from the outside as we sail through the port. We’ll also stop at the mangrove swamps outside the city to catch a glimpse of the area’s unique environment.

Then return to Cartagena to spend your final afternoon making your own discoveries. Perhaps you’ll visit the massive cathedral on Plaza Bolívar, completed in 1602 after being partially destroyed in 1575 by Sir Francis Drake. Or examine the treasure trove of gold and ceramics found at the Museo de Oro y Arqueloguía.

Tonight, a traditional carriage ride through the historic neighborhoods of Cartagena will bring us to a local restaurant where we enjoy a Farewell Dinner. There, we’ll dine on local specialties and toast the memories we’ve made during our adventure in Colombia.

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our flight home. Or, begin your optional post-trip extension to Panama: Passageway to the World.