Active Adventure in Colombia

Colombia's capital is as recognisable and enjoyable as any other in this continent. Packed with its colonial legacy, beautiful architecture, charming historical districts, museums recounting ancient to modern treasures and times, to sophisticated restaurants, shopping malls, local markets and much more. Your travel designer will advise you on how best to spend your time here and what aspects of Bogotá would suit you.

Every Sunday morning, Bogota's highways are shut off to traffic and opened for people to go biking, walking and skating. This is known as the ciclovia. Bike along some of the capital's main streets, enjoying the architecture along the way and the feeling of being part of a real local's event. Your host will recommend various routes, based on your interests and physical endurance. One of our favourites is Usaquen, which is a lively traditional neighbourhood with great restaurants, quaint cafés, street performers and a lively flea market.

Walk through the winding streets of La Candelaria and surrounding neighbourhoods with your local expert, who will offer fascinating stories behind the cobblestone streets, houses, plazas and cathedrals of this neighbourhood. Passing by government buildings, the iconic Plaza Bolivar, and the city centre's impactful street art, get insight into Colombia’s difficult past and the recent political and economic revival as told through the stories of the murals.

Head north to Zipaquirá to see its famous salt cathedral. A complete church has been built into the a salt mine. Walk along the Via Crucis until you reach the imposing central nave. On a Sunday you might even find yourself in a Catholic mass.

Villa de Leyva is one of Colombia’s best colonial treasures. Literally suspended in time, having been declared a national monument in 1954, the original whitewashed mansions and cobbled streets are marred by not one bit of modern architecture. This striking town is steeped in history from when the Muiscas people built their astronomical observatory here before the Spanish arrived, to the Dominican Santo Ecce Homo Convent built with local stones embedded with fossils. It is also home to one of the largest Plaza Mayors (main squares) in all Latin America.

Enjoy a bike tour to some of the most interesting archeological sites in Villa de Leyva. Natural and beatutiful artificial wells in the middle of the dessert, a paleontological museum and an ancient Muisca observatory are amongst the highlights you will pass during your cycle.

Spend your time in this colonial town soaking up the well-preserved churches, getting involved with some adventure activities, hiking the old Camino Reales or horseback riding in the hills. There are lots of lovely cafes and squares where you can relax and soak up the atmosphere, as well as a great hands-on paper making museum.

Explore the region while an easy downhill hike from Barichara to the quiet village of Guane. Along the way, you'll pass tobacco fields and cow paddocks, enjoy the view over the Valley of the Río Suárez and the powerful Cordillera de Cobardes. Don’t miss the little museum of fossils and relics of the indigenous Guane tribe in the small village.

Head for the slopes high above the Chicamocha Canyon, an exceptional spot for paragliding. The updrafts are so strong that you are able to land in the same spot you started, and as you glide you can enjoy spectacular views across the canyon.

Explore the countryside and villages around Barichara by mountain bike on this guided cycling tour.

Cartagena is Colombia's coastal gem and its most romantic city. The warm Caribbean breeze gathers up sounds of salsa music and the scent of the flowers that cascade down from the balconies of the rainbow-coloured houses that line its cobbled streets. Steeped in colonial and nautical history, Cartagena boasts impressive ramparts, forts and bastions as well as plenty of Spanish-style architecture. This is a city made for exploring: wind your way through the historic centre passing carts laden with juicy fruit and women selling coconut candies under the shade of the arches that ring the plazas. There are also fortifications to explore, museums to discover and lots of rooftops from which to sit and watch the world go by.

Meet your host and transfer to Cartagena’s port from where you'll take a 20 minute private speedboat ride to Tierra Bomba island. This rustic island once held the main stone quarry for Cartagena and today daily life for the some 9,000 locals is largely centred around fishing. Upon arrival you will meet a local biking expert and set out for an excursion around the island, passing the abandoned 17th-century fortresses whilst enjoying the natural environment just a stone’s throw from the busting old city. Enjoy a well-earned lunch at one of the boutique hotels on the island before heading back to town on a private speedboat.

Meet your driver and local host at the hotel for a private transfer to Cartagena’s dock where your boat will be waiting. Aboard your speedboat and depart towards the Islas del Rosario archipelago, located 50 minutes from Cartagena. These rugged islands are blessed with clear blue waters, colourful coral reefs and diverse marine life. Spend the day cruising between islands, swimming, and snorkelling in the azure waters of these coralline islands.
This excursion typically starts at approximately 9am and finishes by 3pm but this be dependent on the weather, tides and other local conditions. Quite often the exact details will be finalised the day before.
Please bring swimming costumes, sunscreen and a hat. Water and refreshments will be provided. Should you wish to make small purchases on the islands you will need cash, there are no ATMs available on the islands.

Tayrona National Park is one of the prettiest stretches of coastline in Latin America, where lush tropical rainforest meets golden sandy beaches and the blue waters of the Caribbean. It makes for a perfect combination of relaxation and exploration in an area which is home to more than 100 species of mammal, 200 species of bird and many reptiles. Time here is for relaxing and enjoying the picturesque views, scuba diving, snorkelling and exploring the nature of the park. Your travel designer will be able to guide you through the options to ensure that you make the most of your time here.

Take a private transfer to Don Diego river where after a 15-minute trek up a lush mountain, you will arrive at a river bank from where you will float down a crystalline river all the way down to the ocean. Along the way keep your eyes peeled for exotic birds, howler monkeys and small caymans which are harmless and very shy! There is the option to visit the Tayronaka ruins on the way.

High up in the cloud forest in a private house with your own chef and host, how you choose to spend your time is up to you. There are lots of hikes that start from the house, fantastic birdwatching opportunities and horse riding. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included and you can join the chef in the kitchen if you want to pick up some Colombian cooking tips. Casa Galavanta's terrace overlooks the forest, the town of Sierra Nevada and the ocean and the sunsets here are epic.