Colombia & the Amazon
Colombia and the Amazon tour is an exciting journey where you’ll see and experience a lot. Beautiful activities during the day, plenty of sightseeing, and vibrant fun and dancing in the evening (especially on weekends). We start in the capital of Colombia. In Bogotá, which lies at 2,640 meters above sea level, we visit the old colonial part, hike to a viewpoint, and feel the pulse of the city. Bogotá is also known for its bike days, so we’ll bike as well (weather permitting). Next, we head to Medellín with its cultural center and evening entertainment. We take a cable car ride to the colorful favelas and see the world’s longest stairs. This area is also famous for its graffiti. Shopping is inevitable here. In the evening, we take a party Chiva bus, where we tour the city at night and dance to salsa and vallenato rhythms. Then comes a day to visit the Pablo Escobar museum (which, unfortunately, has been turned into a water park), where we will be amazed by incredible stories. Escobar’s house is also a museum where the fall of the cocaine lord is described. We spend the rest of the day in the Rio Claro national park, where we explore the incredible nature and a marble cave with exotic birds. If there’s time, we’ll also raft down the river, passing boulders and cliffs. Next are the lakes and the colorful village of Guatapé (climb up the monolith), where we’ll experience the Colombian vibrancy and joy. On the way to the Coffee Zone, we take a soak in the beautiful baths. The Santa Rosa thermal springs offer a chance to bathe under a cold waterfall and in hot water at the same time. After the springs, we head to the Eje Cafetero, known for its endless coffee plantations. We’ll stay in Salento, the so-called jewel of the Coffee Zone. We’ll tour the coffee production on the green plantations, the giant bamboo, and pineapple farms. We’ll go horse riding, a wonderful experience in beautiful nature. We’ll ride to the waterfalls and enjoy a day hike in the magnificent Cocora Valley, home to the tallest palms in the world. There, in the heart of nature, we’ll encounter the world’s fastest birds – hummingbirds. The hike lasts half a day. We’ll travel to the valley by jeeps.
Then comes a flight to the Caribbean pearl. Cartagena is the beauty of all colonial cities, where culture never runs out. The city will immediately captivate us with its colors and street performances. We’ll visit our ‘mama’ for some juice, then go on a trip to a mud volcano, where we’ll soak in the mud while being massaged by local masseurs. We will spend one unforgettable night on Playa Blanca, a true Caribbean beach. The beach, with its white sand, crystal-clear sea, and palm trees, looks like it’s straight out of a catalog. Next, we transfer to Santa Marta and continue to the charming coastal town and fishing village of Taganga, which has developed into a real travel center. We spend the last days by the sea here. To end with a bang, we visit the coastal national park Tayrona, a true Caribbean paradise! In the park, we will enjoy the beautiful nature and stunning beaches. There, we will visit the mysterious or possibly a nudist beach and play in the high waves of the Caribbean Sea. We’ll open coconuts and admire the wild animals in the park, along with the local beauties. For the more active, we go on a hike deep into Tayrona Park, to the settlement of Pueblito, where members of the Kogi tribe still live today. Afterward, we return from the park, enjoy a last great dinner, pack, and head home. Those who extend their trip will start a trek with a local agency to “Ciudad Perdida,” where we meet the last authentic tribes of the Sierra Nevada and coexist with them. The trek is an unforgettable experience for everyone, one that stays in your heart. It involves about 6 hours of hiking per day through beautiful landscapes. The locals will show us their culture, and we will see both traditional (tribal) and modern ways of processing coca leaves. If you wish, you can extend your journey to the Amazon, among anacondas, dolphins, and caimans, or to the beautiful Caribbean island of San Andres. We have good friends there who will take care of you. It’s possible to swim with stingrays, sail on catamarans, visit the island’s coral reefs, or simply enjoy the white beaches and the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea.
We recommend the program to those who want an adventurous, travel-focused, and free way of discovering the world. For the detailed daily itinerary, please contact us info@char-potovanje.com.
Colombia tour highlights
Bogota: capital city above the sea, bikes, Čiča drinks, Candelaria
Medelin: Eternal Spring, developed city full of culture, entertainment and tradition
Museum Pablo Escobar: Pablo was the king of cocaine, 7th richest in the world. Today his house is entertainment place with history and animals of notorious criminal
Rio Claro National Park: walking through the jungle, crazy trip into the cave, dropping down the river,
Guatapé: a colorful village surrounded by lakes with lively atmosphere
Visit of thermal springs: boiling pools under waterfalls
Salento: a village of coffee with traditional culture and good food surrounded by plantations
Coffee plantations: Finally we will learn about the production and preparation of delicious coffee
Horseback Riding: horseback riding through the countryside of memorable Eje Kafetero, soft or hard
Valle de Cocora: gorgeous hike through the valley with highest palm trees in the world
Cartagena: Beautiful old colonial coastal city with a lot of culture
Tropical Drinks: We will take you to the juice from fresh fruit that will remain in the memory
A trip to the volcano: mini volcano De Lodo which rises above the Caribbean is known for its healing mud
Playa Blanca: proclaimed the most beautiful beach of the Caribbean. It is obligatory trip from Cartagena
NEW: This year you can sleep in Playa Blace in a seaside cottage
Taganga: backpackers fishing village full of enjoyment and lively night life.
Santa Marta: colonial city and crazy markets where you can find everything
Tayrona National Park: beautiful Seaside Park which is breathtaking
Party “Chiva” bus: If there will be a wish…party bus. Party until the end ….
Cuidad Perdida: excellent trek to the Lost City of Tayronian civilization to the tribes, legends, crystal clear pools and animals ( extension )
Amazon: If desired you can pass deep in the Amazon forest to the border of Bra-Kol-Peru, river dolphins, caimans, nests of thousands of parrots,trans with shaman etc.
Some snapshots from Colombia tour
Where do we sleep in Colombia?
Our hotels in Colombia are verified. We choose beautiful hotels with authentic and friendly people and good service. We use double rooms with private shower and WC. Where this is not possible, we sleep in hammock (million star category). Not all our accommodations are the same categories. The point is, that we are in the center of the action. Hotels are centrally located and all the highlights are in a walking distance.
Hotels on our Colombia tour
Why with us to Colombia?
Because we have a good time in Colombia. But…Is Colombia a safe country? In short: YES. We have explored it thoroughly and selected only the best for you. Our Colombia and the Amazon tour program is designed to offer as much as possible at a fair price! Accommodations are good (double rooms) and always in the center of activities, transportation is of high quality with mostly domestic flights or our own bus. The program is set up to include adventure, tribes, and activities (Rio Claro, trek to Ciudad Perdida, and Tayrona), as well as enjoyment and culture (Caribbean and cities). For each place, we have chosen the most suitable and popular mode of transport and included what you must not miss in this incredible country. We will experience cities, culture, and nature. The country is large, so for longer distances, we always fly, as bus travel is too tiring (we will sweat enough on the trek). We eat in vetted restaurants where the food is tasty and typical (trout, meat, vegetarian). The highlight of our trip is the unforgettable trek to “Ciudad Perdida,” where we venture among the last tribes in this part of the world, considered the best experience in this rapidly developing country. This trek is said to be much more mysterious and mystical than the Inca trek in Peru. We also visit Tayrona National Park, where the jungle meets the seaside paradise. Here, we arrange a tour of the park from the sea side as well. To finish, we explore Cartagena. There is not a street in this beautiful city that we won’t explore. There is also an option to visit the Amazon and the tropical island of San Andres.
About Colombia
The Republic of Colombia is a maritime country in northwestern South America. It border on the north of the Caribbean Sea in the east to Venezuela in the southeast to Brazil in the south to Peru and Ecuador and on the west by Panama and the Pacific Ocean. It was named after explorer Christopher Columbus. The official language is Spanish and the national currency is the Colombian peso (COP $). Colombia is located on 1.141.568 km². Land is generally divided into seven regions: Bogota, Boyaca, Caribbean coast, Pacific coast, Medellin & Zona Cafetera, Cali & South East Colombia and the Amazon basin. Each region has its own character, clime and the nature completely different from each other. There are few countries that offer such diversity: from the Caribbean and Pacific beaches, deserts in the north, the snowy mountain ranges, plateaus and hills to the Amazonian lowlands and the southern tropical parks. The country is from the tourist point of view still relatively unknown but let this not make you blind. If you cannot find the country find among favorite tourist destination that does not mean that there’s no tourists and infrastructure. Quite contrary! Country is super organized for the needs of domestic tourists and they are not small (43 million Colombians)! Hotels are beautiful, decorated and clean, the streets are safe and nature is striking. Country simply offers too much that you can fully see in one trip. This is simply impossible because the distances are too big and the and there is too many sights. However, for our Colombia and the Amazon tour, we have selected only the most beautiful corners of this wonderful country.
Visa and vaccination
We arrange visas at the airport.
You can read about the necessary vaccinations for visiting Colombia here: www.zdravinapot.si
Group and the tour leader
The group is large from 11-20 travelers and is guided by slovenian tour leaders Gregor, Zoran or Iza. For the whole journey need 18-24 days.
Before the trip we have a meeting which is mandatory to avoid problems and lack of information.
When to visit Colombia?
Colombia is a year-round destination. Important is the rainy season which is lately very difficult to predict. The best time to visit Colombia is from December to March, when flights are also more affordable. During peak season (Christmas, Easter), the prices jump up to the sky. Our departures are in January and July. The exact departure date can be checked under the PRICE tab and on the right side of the page by clicking DEPARTURES. The trips are organized by the agency Huda Tura. The number of spots is limited.
Price
For the current price please visit the Slovenian page (CLICK HERE).
Price includes:
- All overnight stays in hotels 2-3*
- All breakfasts in hotels
- Half-day cycling tour with a local guide in Bogotá
- All transfers from the airports and between locations as per the program
- All excursions around Medellín (Rio Claro, Guatapé…)
- Camping in Tayrona Park
- Jeeps and hike in Valle de Cocora
Price does not include:
- Health insurance and trip cancellation insurance
- Additional luggage for domestic flights (up to 23 kg)
- Extra overnight stays for extensions (after the trek, etc.)
- Meals outside the program (approximately €100)
- Entrance fees (parks, horse riding, museums, plankton tour, tubing, caves, zipline)
- Evening entertainment
For shopping, drinks, food, evening parties, gifts we recommend fabout € 300 more.
Payment Method:
A deposit of €100 along with a registration fee of €10 per person is required upon registration. This price applies to payments made via bank transfer. Payment by card is also possible, but an additional fee is charged for. By paying the deposit, you book your spot in the group. The departure is confirmed with a minimum number of registrations. In case of fewer registrations, the trip is canceled or the price for organization and guidance increases proportionally. For 6-8 registrations, the price increases by €120, and for 9-12 registrations, it increases by €80. If you cancel the trip, the cancellation deadlines specified in the general conditions apply. 60 days before the trip or before the invoice is issued, the deposit can be used for any of our trips within one year. More details on the general conditions can be read here. If the trip is canceled due to insufficient registrations, your full payment will be refunded. However, the registration fee is non-refundable. Before departure, the costs for flight, escort and trip preparation, insurance with assistance, and transfer to the airport must be paid. Everything else is paid locally on-site.
Airline tickets are non-refundable. The price of the flight may vary slightly daily, so please contact us for the exact flight price.
The payment method during the trip is different, as many expenses are paid on-site. The cost of expenses during the trip is calculated based on the day of the calculation. Since the euro may fluctuate compared to the local currency, we want to point out that the listed prices are approximate and may vary slightly. We guarantee only the price for organization and accompaniment.
*The organization includes the guidance and accompaniment of a Slovenian tour leader, travel preparation and organization on our side, as well as any assistance from the local agency.
PHOTO MOMENTS
The route:
Difficulty:
The route:
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Impressions:
IMPRESSIONS
Vrhunec potovanja zame je bil treking v Izgubljeno mesto,najlepši dan na potovanju pa je bil dan ko smo bili na kanjoningu v jami. Škoda le da smo imeli premalo časa za čofotanje. Najbolj na izi mi je bil Salento in pa Kartagena. Amazonka je vsekakor vredna obiska, glede na to da pa nismo čisto navadni turisti, tudi deževje ni tako moteče.
Potovanje po Kolumbiji je zanimivo, varno, skratka Kolumbija je država ki jo je vredno obiskati.
lp Sandi
Živijo
Kolumbija, je bila ena taka prijetna destinacija, kjer je bil stik z naravo ves čas prisoten, razen v tistih nekaj velikih mestih, ljudje so bili prijazni niti ne pretirano vsiljivi, všeč mi je bil njihov temperament in domačnost.
Tavčar se je trudil in nam nudil za moje pojme dobre variante, se vidi da je že star maček v tem poslu. Prenočišča so bila dobra, v primerjavi s tistimi v mojih prejšnih destinacijah so bila nekatera kar luksuzna. Najboljši del Kolumbije, mi je bil definitivno trekking C. Perdida in Salento (Cocora in konjska ježa), kjer smo bili ves čas v akciji in kjer smo doživeli tisto pravo džungelsko avanturo, dež, vlaga in vročina pa seveda spadajo zraven, če ne to ni to.
Sam, osebno bi skrajšal za kakšen dan karibsko obalo, in bi vključil Amazonijo, skratka Amazonije ne bi izpustil iz programa ali bi jo pa zamenjal s San Andresom, ker osebno nisem pretiran ljubitelj morja in plaž, čeprav sem pa po drugi strani vesel, da sem vsaj enkrat v življenju videl karibsko obalo.
Torej, moj splošni vtis je dober in sem zadovoljen s potovanjem, z agencijo, vodičem in ekipo.
lp Tine
Hojla, Gregor!
• Zanima me kaj je blo naj in je zapisano v spominu, vrhunci potovanja
V spominu je zapisanega veliko! Predvsem je to barvita dežela bujne vegetacije, čudovitih naravnih danosti, sproščenih ritmov salse in nasmejanih ljudi (mimogrede – ženske se smejejo z boserno lepimi zbmi, nobenega kariesa…
Uživala sem v trekingu – prečenjih toplih brzic, spanju v mrežah,…
Izvrstni sokovi in sadje na vsakem koraku!!!
• Kje si se najbolj oddahnil/a?
Najbolj sem si oddahnila v Tayroni – čudovite dolge, skoraj neobljudene plaže, toplo morje, naobzorju samo modro nebo in kristalno čisto morje (nobenih ladij, nobenih čolnov, nobenih surfarjev,….)
• Se ti zdi smiselno da bi šli prihodnje v Amazonko kjer pogosto dežuje (tudi decembra in januarja) je pa sila lepo?
Predlagam Patagonijo!
• In kako se ti je zdela tura nasploh?
Tura je doživljajsko zelo bogata! Čestitam za odličen program – vsak dan je prinesel nekaj nepozabnega (toplice, jamski trek, blatna kopel, muzej Botera, Escobarjevo posestvo, koralno otočje, Oceanario, monolit Guadape, kava, koka,
Grega, čestitam in priporočam drugim!
Lepo se imej,
Tatjana
Živjo Gregor, kot obljubljeno, pošiljam odgovore na vprašanja:
1. Zanima me kako se ti je zdelo potovanje nasploh?Če seštejem vse skupaj, se mi je potovanje zdelo super. Zelo dinamično, všeč mi je bilo, ker je bilo veliko hoje (a bejž, no?) in drugih aktivnosti.
2.Kaj ti je ostalo v najlepšem spominu?V najlepšem spominu mi bo zagotovo ostal treking do izgubljenega mesta,Valle de Cocora, ježa konjev, Cartagena in Islas the Rosario.
3.Bi kaj spremenil/a?Ja, če bi jaz vodila, bi stvari glede organizacije in poteka dneva povedala enkrat. Tako bi se ljudje naučili, da poslušajo vodnika takrat ko govori, ne pa da se kar naprej sprašujejo iste stvari…
4.Je bilo vodenje v redu?Definitivno je tvoja osebnost dala poseben čar temu potovanju 🙂 Si ne predstavljam, kako je, ko nimaš išijasa. Na samo vodenje nimam pripomb, edino kar bi predlagala, da ljudem, ki se gredo spuščat po Riu Claru poveš, da ni tako lahko, kot zgleda na prvi pogled. Za svoja dejanja popolnoma prevzemam odgovornost, ampak vseeno pričakujem, da vodnik ne spodbuja aktivnosti, kjer se lahko udeleženci resno poškodujejo oz. še kaj hujšega. Ali pa vsaj opozori na to. Moraš vedeti, da so tvoja merila kaj je težko in kaj ni, nekoliko drugačna od navadnega smrtnika. Zaradi tega pripetljaja v Riu Claru, ko enostavno nisem mogla priti iz reke, sem bila jaz potem skoz malo živčna in na vulkan nisem šla zato, ker nisem vedela ali sem bom med lebdenjem v vulkanskem blatu utapljala ali ne.. Pač – izkušnje in malo nezaupanja.
5. Koliko denarja si porabil/a v Kolumbiji (vsota dvigov na bankomatu) – da vemo za prihodnjič.
Vse skupaj z vsemi darili, spominki itd. sem zapravila 2.400 EUR, samo jaz na potovanjih ne varčujem, ampak si privoščim, kar želim. Predlagam, da če boš imel še takšen sistem v bodoče, da poveš že na sestankih pred samim potovanjem, naj si ljudje povečajo limit za dnevni dvig. Meni niti na kraj pameti ni padlo. Tečno je potem kar naprej gledat, kje bo bankomat…pa se spraševat ali boš imel dovolj denarja…
Barbara
Oj,
1. Potovanje mi je bilo zanimivo, intenzivno in doživeto. Na potovanju mi je pomembno, da se vedno nekaj dogaja in da še me mesece po vrnitvi domov to “gor” drži. Spomini. Ter, da se me dotakne predvsem z vidika nematerialnih stvari. Da vidiš in doživiš, da so ljudje “srečni” in z nasmehom na obrazu, kljub temu, da imajo svoje težave in nimajo denarja. Po drugi strani pa doživiš tudi negativne stvari turizma, ki ljudji naučijo prosjačenja in itd. Predvsem sem to doživela na treku, ko so posamezniki iz plemena (predvsem otroci) hodili prosjačit za hrano. V glavnem to potovanje me je definitivno obogatilo… Tudi skupina je bila o.k. – vsak posameznik je obogatil skupino, le da se je tokrat postavljalo preveč “neumnih” vprašanj, ki so bila na čase kar utrudljiva in nevmesna.
2. V najlepšem spominu mi je ostal trek, ki je zahteval kondicijsko pripravljenost. Tudi Amazonka je nekaj posebnega in predvsem obisk šamana, ki je res prava individualna izkušnja. Če seveda dopustiš, se te dotakne… Pa še bi se našlo – vsak kraj je v meni pustil nek lep spomin po katerem se ga lahko spominjam.
3. Kot smo se že pogovarjali na samem potovanju, bi ti predlagala da spremeniš vrstni red treka in narodnega parka Tayrona. Pa tudi spust po brzicah v Rio Claru ni za vsakogar – primer Barbara.
4. Vodenje je bilo o.k. Brez komentarja. Sem bila že večkrat s tabo in sem tudi s takšnimi pričakovanji šla na potovanje.
5. Dvignila sem približno 6 x 400.000 pesosov.
Lepo bodi in če boš kaj na štajerskem se oglasi!
“Zanima me kaj je blo naj in je zapisano v spominu, vrhunci potovanja.”
Narava: Tairona; majhno mesto: Salento; veliko mesto: Cartagena
Kje si se najbolj oddahnil/a?”
Na konju :), pa v mrežah (proti pričakovanju) in v tolmunih toplih rek.
“Se ti zdi smiselno da bi šli prihodnje v Amazonko kjer pogosto dežuje (tudi decembra in januarja) je pa sila lepo?”
Se mi zdi smiselno. Pa tudi še kam drugam (Nevados).
“In kako se ti je zdela tura nasploh?”
Je bila kar v redu: si jo kar dobro organiziral in vodil, bilo je zanimivo, vedno se je kaj dogajalo. Če bi bilo treba kaj izpustiti, bi vsekakor Playo Blanco.
“Pa še koliko denarja je šlo v Kolumbiji (torej bankomat poraba)?”
“Izlet” naju je prišel okrog 2500 € z vsem skupaj (organizacija, letalo notranji leti, dvigi z bankomatov).
Lep pozdrav,
France
• Zanima me kaj je blo naj in je zapisano v spominu, vrhunci potovanja:
Večer v Salentu in potovanje z ladjo na Playo Blanco (za slednje res velja slogan: pomembnejše je lepo potovati kot dospeti na cilj). Zame se je v spomin zapisala tudi pot v Mompox in noč v Barranquilli.
• Kje si se najbolj oddahnil/a?
Le kje – v Tagangi! po 10ih dneh hribov in dolin, se mi je zazdelo, da sem vstopila v raj, ampak ne, bila je Taganga 😉
• Se ti zdi smiselno da bi šli prihodnje v Amazonko kjer pogosto dežuje (tudi decembra in januarja) je pa sila lepo?
Amazonka je sigurno vredna ogleda. Če se da pred turo znebit prtljage in potovati naprej v kopalkah, potem noben tropski naliv ni ovira.
• In kako se ti je zdela tura nasploh?
Ne tako avanturistična kot sem si jo predstavljala. Naslednjič bi si želela obiskati Kolumbijo v času kakšnega karnevala (se pa zavedam, da bi bili hoteli in prevozniki na polno zasedeni in posledično tudi dražji, bi se dalo kje drugje kaj prišparati, sploh pa to velja za tiste, ki gredo v Kolumbijo samo 1x).
• Pa še koliko denarja je šlo v Kolumbiji (torej bankomat poraba)
Po programu, nič več kot je bilo predvideno, manj pa tudi ne.
Hvala za organizacijo in hvala za zanimanje.
lp Cita