Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and rich history of Colombia on this unforgettable journey. Enjoy unique historic and cultural sites, from the bustling streets of Bogotá to tranquil coffee towns and the colonial charm of Cartagena.
Fly from the UK to Bogota.
Breakfast & Dinner
Arrive in Bogotá and transfer to your hotel. After taking some time to unwind, meet your knowledgeable guide who will accompany you on an exciting exploration of Bogotá and enjoy a welcome dinner.
Breakfast
Begin your adventure with a half-day walking tour, taking you through the historic La Candelaria District, the heart of Bogotá. This charming neighbourhood is known for its well-preserved colonial architecture, colourful buildings, and narrow cobblestone streets, offering a glimpse into the city's rich cultural heritage. Visit the renowned Botero Museum, a treasure trove of art that showcases an extensive collection of works by Colombian artist Fernando Botero, along with pieces by famous international artists such as Picasso, Monet, and Dalí. The museum’s eclectic mix of sculptures, paintings, and drawings provides a unique perspective on the world through Botero's signature style, characterized by exaggerated proportions and playful forms.
Breakfast
Following a delicious breakfast at your hotel, you'll embark on a fascinating journey to the Gold Museum (Museo del Oro), home to one of the most impressive collections of pre-Columbian gold artifacts in the world. This extraordinary museum houses over 55,000 pieces of gold, showcasing the skill and artistry of ancient indigenous cultures such as the Muisca, Tairona, and Zenú.
After immersing yourself in Colombia’s ancient history, the tour continues with a visit to Monserrate, one of Bogotá’s most iconic landmarks. You’ll ascend the mountain either by aerial tramway or funicular, enjoying the stunning views of the city as you make your way to the summit. At the top, you'll be greeted by breathtaking panoramic vistas of Bogotá, nestled within the Andean Mountain range. On a clear day, the view stretches for miles, offering a perfect opportunity to capture some memorable photos. The summit is also home to a beautiful sanctuary, where you can take a moment to appreciate the serene atmosphere. Travel to Villa de Leyva via the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral.
Breakfast & Lunch
Enjoy a full day tour of Villa de Leyva, one of the most beautifully preserved colonial cities in Colombia. See the unique Casa de Terracota, a cottage renowned as the world’s largest piece of artisanal pottery. Visit the Centro Paleontologico and Fossil Community Museum to view the most intact collection of dinosaur fossils in the country, and the Pozos Azules, artificial lakes of mineral water known for their striking turquoise hues.
Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Pereira. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in the picturesque town of Salento. Settle in and prepare for your adventure in the heart of Colombia’s coffee region. In the afternoon, enjoy a visit to a coffee farm to learn about the production process.
Breakfast & Lunch
Embark on a tour of Salento, Cocora Valley, and Filandia Village. Salento, the oldest municipality in Quindío, is known for its vibrant colonial houses and artisan workshops. Explore the colourful streets and enjoy the local hospitality. Continue to the Cocora Valley for a hike among the towering Wax Palms, Colombia’s national tree. The two-hour hike offers stunning landscapes and a chance to connect with nature. After a delicious lunch, visit Filandia, a charming coffee town known for its beautifully decorated houses and colourful streets.
Breakfast & Lunch
Depart Salento and journey north to Medellín, Colombia’s vibrant second city. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. The evening is yours to enjoy at leisure - perhaps take a stroll through the lively El Poblado district, sample local cuisine, or simply relax and soak in the city’s welcoming atmosphere.
Breakfast
Explore Medellín on a full-day city tour, discovering its most important sights. Visit the bustling downtown area, listen to traditional music at Parque Berrío, and stroll through Botero Plaza, home to sculptures by Fernando Botero. Ride the Metro Cable to Santo Domingo, a neighbourhood transformed from a notorious area to a symbol of Medellín’s remarkable progress.
Breakfast & Lunch
Set out on a day trip to Guatapé and the Peñol Boulder. Climb the 200-meter-high monolith via a 740-step staircase for breathtaking views of the stunning landscape - a patchwork of emerald lakes and forested mountains that stretch as far as the eye can see.
Explore the colourful village of Guatapé, known for its beautifully decorated houses, and enjoy a boat ride on the lake. As you glide across the calm waters, take in the stunning views and the towering silhouette of the Penol Boulder in the distance.
Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cartagena. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and settle in for your stay in this historic coastal city.
Breakfast & Dinner
Discover Cartagena on a half-day city tour, starting with a visit to the La Popa Convent, located on the highest hill of the city, offering panoramic views. As you stand atop the hill, enjoy breathtaking vistas of the entire city, the Caribbean Sea, and the surrounding landscape. Explore the San Felipe de Barajas Fortress, the largest Spanish fort in South America, renowned for its impressive architecture and strategic position, designed to protect the city from pirate attacks. Your guide will explain the fascinating history of the fortress, from its construction in the 16th century to its crucial role in the defence of Cartagena.
Continue to the historic city centre, visiting beautiful streets, churches, and squares, and learn about Cartagena’s rich history and legends from your guide. Stroll through the walled city, soaking in its colonial charm, with vibrant bougainvillea draping over colourful buildings and cobblestone streets. Along the way, pass by iconic landmarks such as the Cathedral of Cartagena and Plaza de los Coches. The tour will offer plenty of opportunities to stop and capture the striking beauty of Cartagena, making it a perfect blend of history, culture, and unforgettable sights. Return to your hotel this afternoon for some time at leisure.
Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for your flight home bringing your Colombian adventure to a memorable close, or continue to your chosen extension.
Your flight lands back in the UK today.
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If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
To enter Colombia, the Colombian immigration authorities recommend your passport has an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you plan to leave.
You can visit Colombia for up to 90 days without a visa for business or tourism. You must be able to show an onward or return ticket valid within the 90-day period.
Please ensure when you enter Colombia, the immigration authorities stamp your passport. If it is not stamped you could receive a fine when you leave.
Please note that final flight details, including terminal, airline and baggage allowance, will be confirmed on your final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org. uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness is a fairly common condition that can occur when you ascend to a high altitude (generally higher than 2,500 metres above sea level) quickly. The decrease in atmospheric pressure can make breathing more difficult as the body is not able to take in as much oxygen. Most cases are mild with symptoms that can include: a headache, nausea, dizziness and exhaustion. Several places in Colombia that are located at high altitudes (over 2,500 metres above sea level). Therefore, you may find you experience some symptoms at this altitude. It is advised that at these high altitudes, you keep hydrated and avoid alcohol. If you begin to experience symptoms of altitude sickness during your tour, ensure you tell your guide immediately who will be able to advise the best thing for you to do. You can contact your GP before you travel for advice on medication for altitude sickness.
This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves full days of sightseeing, often on foot, and includes some climbing of stairs and getting on and off coaches. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
The currency in Columbia is the Columbian Peso. We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK. Major credit and debit cards are accepted are widely accepted in hotels and larger shops/restaurants. ATMs and exchange bureaus in larger cities will offer the best exchange rate. Try to carry smaller denominations of pesos with you when heading to rural areas because you may struggle to find vendors with enough change.
You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. Approximately £500- £600 per person will be sufficient for the duration of the tour. It is a good idea to try and maintain a supply of small notes and change in the local currency for tipping or small purchases.
Tipping
It is at your discretion to tip both your driver and guide. We would recommend to tip approximately $5-$8 per person per day for your guide and $3-$5 per person per day for your driver.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 8, and the maximum will be 25. If in the unlikely event there are less than minimum numbers booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date, then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
This is an escorted tour, where we use local expert guides in each city. At times you will also be guided by a local specialist in some of the areas you visit
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Colombia. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
Breakfast (when included) is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.
Lunch and dinner when included will be a local restaurants or at your hotel, giving the opportunity to experience a variety of dishes and local flavours. For those days when dinner is not included your guide will be able to offer recommendations if you wish.
Vegetarian and Vegan meals can be catered for. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way.
If you are travelling within the below Columbian Public Holidays please note that celebrations can last a couple of days and during these times some businesses will be closed and coach and air travel may be affected. Tourist attractions will be open but may be crowded.
Shops are generally open from 08:30 to 18:30 (closed on Sundays). Museums are closed on Mondays.
On your arrival in Colombia you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Pure Columbia holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/ Pure Columbia representative will show you to your transfer vehicle.
Your local guide will be on hand 24 hours a day should you have any queries, however if you need to contact your representative during your stay the details are:
Telephone No: (+57) 314 832 5090 Email: Santiago@pure-colombia.com
Please find below the emergency contact details for Pure Columbia
Telephone number 24 hr: (+57) 314 8322620
