What to Expect
- Physical requirements:
This trip is not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids. You must be able to walk approximately 3 miles unassisted and participate in 6-8 hours of physical activities each day. Agility and balance are required for boarding carriages and boats. Be prepared for 4 full days at an elevation of 8,600 to 10,000 feet. Health limitations influence how well you can adapt to high altitudes. We reserve the right for our Trip Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home if their limitations are impacting the group's experience.
- Climate & terrain:
In the Andes Mountains, where Bogotá is located, average temperatures range from the mid-60s to the low 40s, and the wet seasons are April-June and October-November. Temperatures in Cartagena and Santa Marta are tropical and average in the mid 80s with high humidity and a fair amount of rainfall year-round. We’ll travel over city streets, rugged paths and trails, cobblestone roads, and uneven ruins.
- Pacing:
3 locations in 11 days with one 2-night stay. Early mornings. There is one 4-hour drive and one 1.5-hour internal flight.
- Transportation:
We travel by minibus (no toilet on board), horse-drawn carriage, and boat.
- Accommodations:
All our accommodations are hotel-standard, with private baths with hot showers and Western-style toilets.
- Cultural insight:
In this region, modest dress shows respect for the local traditions and offers the potential to better interact with people in villages and towns.
- Group size & leadership:
16 maximum with 1 Trip Leader.
Visa Information
U.S. citizens will need a visa (or visas) for this trip. In addition, there may be other entry requirements that also need to be met. For your convenience, we’ve included a quick reference list, organized by country:
- Colombia: No visa required.
- Bolivia (optional pre-trip extension only): Visa required.
- Panama (optional post-trip extension only): No visa required.
Travelers who are booked on this adventure will be sent a complete Visa Packet— with instructions, applications, and a list of visa fees—approximately 100 days prior to their departure. (Because many countries limit the validity of their visa from the date it is issued, or have a specific time window for when you can apply, we do not recommend applying too early.)
If you are not a U.S. citizen, do not travel with a U.S. passport, or will be traveling independently before/after this trip, then your entry requirements may be different. Please check with the appropriate embassy or a visa servicing company. To contact our recommended visa servicing company, PVS International, call toll-free at 1-800-556-9990.
Vaccinations Information
Proof of a yellow fever vaccination is required for the optional pre-trip extension to Bolivia. It is a legal entry requirement for Bolivia, and cannot be waived.
For a detailed and up-to-date list of vaccinations that are recommended for this trip, please visit the CDC’s “Traveler’s Health” website.