Charming Peru and Colombia

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to the airport for your domestic flight to Cusco. Prepare for a short but spectacular flight over the snow-capped Andes Mountains to Cusco, the oldest inhabited city in the hemisphere, at an elevation of 11,440 feet. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Urubamba in the Sacred Valley. Drive through the fertile countryside of the Urubamba Valley to the colonial village of Pisac where an Indian Market takes place every day. During your visit to the marketplace, you will get the opportunity to bargain with the natives for many different types of Peruvian handicrafts and jewelry. Continue to the Ollantaytambo Archaeological Complex, built by the Incas as a fort that included a temple, agricultural terraces, and an urban area. There are two distinct sectors: The religious and worship zone, and the residential area. Ollantaytambo was an important administrative center with probable military functions if one considers the walls and towers. There are also traces of ancient roads and aqueducts. The town of Ollantaytambo is called a "Living Inca Town" since the inhabitants maintain very old practices and customs. You will enjoy lunch at the “Tunupa Valle” Restaurant, a beautiful country estate on the shores of the Urubamba River. 

Overnight in Urubamba

In the morning you will travel on the Premium Economy train of the “Inca Rail” company through the sacred Urubamba Valley to the "Lost City of the Incas" — Machu Picchu. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, the site was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungles for 400 years until it was discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911. Archaeologists believe that the Inca "Virgins of the Sun" took refuge from the Spanish Conquistadors here. Upon arrival at Aguas Calientes, you will transfer to shuttle service for a drive up the switchback road to the ruins. A knowledgeable tour guide will share the history of this mystical place of the Inca. You will enjoy a buffet lunch in a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes. In the afternoon, take the train back to Ollantaytambo Rail Station, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. 

Overnight in the Urubamba

The price for this upgrade includes the separate transfer and a driver to the train station.

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Cusco. Head on a walking tour of Cusco, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere and its nearby ruins. You will get the chance to see how the Andean and Spanish cultures co-existed and influenced this city. The tour will start at the Santo Domingo Convent, built on the site of Koricancha, which was an important ancient Inca palace and center of worship of the Sun God. The tour will continue to the Main Square and the Cathedral from the early 17th century and is a fine example of colonial baroque art. Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure. 

Overnight in Cusco

An escort will guide you to the restaurant where you will enjoy your evening (no vehicle included — this is a walking escort). Renowned for its variety of dishes and regarded as a gastronomic destination in Cusco, the Tunupa Cusco Restaurant is situated three blocks from the Plaza de Armas with breathtaking views of the city and the Andes. Delight your senses with a mouth-watering buffet, the exotic fusion of flavours, and experience a truly unique Peruvian dining experience. Make your own way back to the hotel (no escort or vehicle included).

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and a full day at leisure or consider the optional tour below. 

Overnight in Cusco

Just outside the city lies Sacsayhuaman ("speckled falcon"), the fortress above Cusco whose precise zigzags of massive stone remain unmoved by the centuries. This is the center of the ceremonies for the famous Inti Raymi Festival. Heading away from the city, we will visit the labyrinthine ruins of Qenqo ("zigzag"), Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay ("cavern lodge") where fountains built by the Incas capture the waters of a natural spring. 

Today you will be transferred to the Cusco Airport for your flight back to Lima. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Then, start your half-day tour of Lima. The tour will visit the colonial and modern sections of the city. Colonial sites include the lovely Plaza Mayor (Main Square), the Government Palace and City Hall (outside views), and entry to the Cathedral of Lima and the convent of Santo Domingo. The Santo Domingo Convent is a religious and architectural gem that houses holy paintings, images, and relics of Peruvian saints, as well as written accounts of the endeavors of the Dominican Order across the country. Visit modern-day Lima and drive along the exclusive residential areas of Miraflores and San Isidro. 

Overnight in Lima

The Huaca Pucllana Restaurant is situated within the ancient ruins of Huaca Pucllana, an archaeological site constructed 1500 years ago. Overlooking the illuminated ruins at Huaca Pucllana, this restaurant serves an array of contemporary Peruvian dishes.  Huaca Pucllana offers a mouth-watering selection of Peruvian Criollo cuisine, cleverly put together by the head chef Marilú Madueño (Cordon Blue Paris), using her skills to mix local ingredients and flavors with modern cooking techniques. The menu includes Ceviches, soups, pasta, meats, and traditional Peruvian dishes such as Creole-style Chupe.

At the arranged time, you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight to Bogota. Upon arrival, you will be met by one of our representatives and transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure to explore the city at your own pace. The Colombian capital is situated in the very center of the country at approx. 2650 meters above sea level in an area known as the Savanna of Bogotá (Sabana de Bogotá). The east side of the city is bordered by the Cordillera Oriental, foothills of the Andes Mountains. In terms of area, Bogotá is the largest city in Colombia. It extends more than 40 km from north to south and 20km from east to west. It is not only the main economic and industrial center but also the political heart of the country. The National Legislature, the Supreme Court of Justice, and the Residence of the President of the Republic (Casa de Nariño) reside here. With its 8 million inhabitants, Bogota is Colombia’s most populous, and the huge cultural offer is among the best and largest in the country. Bogotá is home to many museums including the famous Gold Museum and the Botero Museum, along with several theaters and libraries.

Overnight in Bogota

Today you will be picked up from your hotel and head on a guided tour of the city. Your tour will start in the Plaza de Bolívar (the city’s main square), surrounded by federal government buildings. It will continue into the old colonial part of the city better known as “La Candelaria”, the San Francisco Church, and the Gold Museum. The tour will end with a trip in a cable car to the top of Monserrate Hill, which offers spectacular views of the city.

Overnight in Bogota

Colombia is the land of Magical Realism and its sights alone do justice to the claim. On our tour into the high plains north of Bogota we visit a true masterpiece: the unique salt cathedral of Zipaquirá. The impressive piece of ecclesiastical "architecture" was carved out of a salt mine 120 meters below the ground in the fifties. We round off our visit with a stent to the village of Zipaquirá itself. Located about 50 km north of Bogotá it offers enchanting sights as we walk across its main square.

This morning, at the arranged time, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Pereira. Upon arrival in Pereira, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in  the Coffee Triangle. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Colombia is famous for its coffee, but nowhere is the prized bean more important than in the departments of Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío, which together make up the heart of the Zona Cafetera, also called the Eje Cafetero (Coffee Axis). Here you'll find jeeps packed with mustachioed coffee pickers; poncho-wearing senior citizens gossiping in cafes; and, of course, endless cups of piping hot arabica. Many working fincas (coffee farms) have embraced tourism and welcome visitors onto their plantations to learn all about the coffee-growing process. It is particularly interesting to visit during the harvests (April to May, October to December) when the farms are a hive of activity. The “Coffee Cultural Landscape”, inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 2011.

Overnight in the Coffee Triangle

Get ready for a full-day tour around the Cocora Valley and Salento. This mystical valley is considered one of Colombia's most stunning valleys and often listed among the country's must-sees. Certainly unique are the up to 60 metre-tall wax palms of the region, which are towering into the eerie cloud forest. We can explore the valley on foot before our trip to nearby Salento, one of the coffee region's most picturesque villages. Browsing its cafés and boutiques we find ourselves among merry colours, textures and artesanal crafts. Just outside of Salento and nestled into fertile hillsides we reach Finca El Ocaso, a traditonal coffee finca. Here we learn all about the coffee production process from seed to cup.​

Note: Lunch (payable locally) is taken at a typical comedor in the Salento area.

Overnight in the Coffee Triangle

At the arranged time you will be transferred to the Armenia Airport for your flight to Cartagena via Bogotá. Upon arrival in Cartagena, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. From there you will head on a city tour. This fascinating half-day tour will start with the significant monuments of Cartagena. Begin your journey at the Convent of La Popa* (the highest point in the city) and continue to the Castillo de San Felipe, an immense fort filled with history and mysteries hidden in its stonewalled tunnels. Leaving the castle, visit the monument of Zapatos Viejos — the “Old Shoes”. The most impressive monument is the gigantic defensive wall surrounding the old city and overlooking the sea with its well-preserved colonial architecture. Spend the rest of your visit discovering the churches, museums, plazas, restaurants, shops, and jewelry stores in this city. This combination of treasures makes Cartagena deserving of the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will never forget this wonderful destination.

*Note: If La Popa is closed, this visit will be replaced with the San Pedro Claver Convent.

Overnight in Cartagena

Today you may enjoy a full day at leisure to explore the city at your own pace or relax on the beach. Cartagena de Indias was founded in 1533 and is perhaps the most attractive city in South America today. The old part of the city is also called “The Walled City”, where Cartagena conserves the beauty of its' colonial past. Narrow streets flanked by heavy oak doors, beautiful, flowered balconies, and friendly and welcoming people make Cartagena the perfect destination to learn about colonial history and immerse yourself in the culture of Argentina. The breathtaking beaches close by, such as the Rosario Islands, invite visitors to explore with their crystal-clear waters and the wide variety of tours and excursions to choose from.

Overnight in Cartagena

You depart from the peer "Muelle de la Bodeguita" by speedboat and head over to the Rosario Islands. Your destination: The picture-perfect Caribbean island Isla Grande complete with clear waters, white sandy beaches and palm trees. Upon arrival at the island you are greeted with a delicious fruit cocktail. Today's program is to relax, soak in that Caribbean sun and enjoy the activities offered on the island (not included) like e.g. snorkeling. Your stay on the island includes a typical lunch featuring coconut rice and fish and a dessert. In the afternoon we return to Cartagena.

Notes: Port taxes will not be included (USD 12 pp to be paid locally); This tour does not include hotel pick up or drop off (unless you buy the tour including private transfers) and you will have to meet the group/tour guide in Muelle de la Bodeguita; The trip will be conducted in the company of an international group of tourists, under the supervision of a bilingual guide; The entrance to the aquarium costs 13 USD per person and will not be included. Please note that there’s no individual tour guide on board — just a general one for the whole group.

Tour duration: 7 hours approx.

Depart at approx. 8:30 AM in a speed boat from the “Muelle de Los Pegasos” crossing Cartagena Bay, passing through Bocachica and skirting the north coast of the island of Barú and “El Rosario Islands”, towards Pirate Island. Upon arrival, a welcome coffee and fresh fruits will be served. Enjoy the free time to swim or unwind on the small island. The trip will take you to San Martín Island with a visit to the aquarium and a chance to see performing dolphins and sharks. After that, start your return trip to the Pirate Island. After lunch, you will have more time to relax, swim, or snorkel before you return to Cartagena.

IMPORTANT information regarding the boat transfer: The boat trip will take approx. 1 hour one way. Especially on the way back in the afternoon the sea can rough, causing movements in the boat. The boat trip is not allowed for pregnant women. Also, you might get wet during the boat trip. If you have any health conditions which may be affected by this movement, do not take this tour.

Notes: Port taxes will not be included (USD 8 pp to be paid locally); This tour does not include hotel pick up or drop off (unless you buy the tour including private transfers) and you will have to meet the group/tour guide in Muelle de Los Pegasos; The trip will be conducted in the company of an international group of tourists, under the supervision of a bilingual guide. The entrance to the aquarium costs 13 USD per person and will not be included. Please note that there will be no individual tour guide on board, just a general one for the whole group.

Tour duration: 1 hour approx.

The Spaniards transformed America by bringing new goods and customs to the continent. On the other hand, we Americans took many of them and transformed them, to create an identity and product of our own. This is the case of sugar cane, which was taken to another level, and today is the base of one of the most exquisite drinks in the world. Venture into a fun world learning about the Caribbean's most famous drink, RUM. We pick you up from your hotel and start our tour walking to the picturesque neighborhood of Getsemani. In the Bar El Arsenal we meet with Abraham Dau, who owns the most complete collection of Colombian rums in the country, and is considered one of the best 5 mixologists in Colombia. On this journey of flavors we will try 8 different Colombian rums, cataloged as the best in the world - some as shots, others we sip, and others in cocktails. This whole explosion of flavors is accompanied by the best Colombian chocolate; a combination that you will surely never forget.

Includes: walking transfer hotel-bar-hotel (hotels located in the Historical Center or Getsemaní), welcome cocktail, 8 Colombian rum drinks, ES/EN mixologist and full availability of the place, water, taxes.

Duration: approximately 4 hours

The Volcano of Totumo is a real natural spa! Outside of Cartagena on the way to Barranquilla near the fresh water lagoon El Totumo we have the opportunity to hop into the warm mud pool of the cone shaped volcano - a muddy pleasure! Although the crater is 500 meters deep, you won't sink into the thick mud but instead will enjoy the impact of the rich mud on your skin and well-being. Opt for a massage in the mud pool by the local women and a good rinse afterwards (not included)! 

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Today you will be transferred to Cartagena Airport for your departure flight.