Self-drive through Andean villages

Welcome to Colombia! Over the next few days, let yourself be inspired by the hospitality and the small everyday treasures of Colombia, try typical delicacies and the fresh fruit!

Transfer from Bogotá airport to the hotel.

Take a walk to get to know the contrast between the modern and historical part of the city of Bogotá. Walk through the passages of the Paloquemao market, full of merchants offering fresh products from the countryside that gives this region, taste a delicious fruit juice that calls your attention and be impressed with the colors of the outdoor flower market. Walk through the mythical district of La Candelaria, decorated with its colorful colonial houses, located in the old center of the city, in its main square or Plaza de Bolívar. There you will find the government district, the Primate Cathedral of Colombia, the Palace of Justice, the Parliament and the Mayor’s Office, an important place for its historical events. Visit the famous museum of the Colombian artist Fernando Botero, where you will find from his sculptures in different materials, to the paintings that have made him a recognized artist, additional know an exceptional collection of contemporary art, with artists like Van Gogh, Picasso, among others. Walk through the halls of the Gold Museum, to see a unique collection of pre-Columbian gold jewelry, made by the indigenous communities that inhabited Colombia. If the weather is good, a short cable car ride will take you to the hill of Monserrate. From the top, you will be amazed by the impressive size of the city, which is home to more than eight million inhabitants.

Rental car handover after arrangement at the hotel.

Today you will visit the old colonial town of Zipaquirá which can be reached after 1.5 hours. The nice colonial old town of Zipaquirá gathers numerous buildings of the 18th century. You visit its impressive underground church, entirely carved in salt stone, learn more about the religious significance of the place, and the importance of the salt for the region and its history. The cathedral is an important religious place and at the same time a unique architectural work. The next stop is in an ancient sacred place of the pre-Columbian Muisca civilization: the Guatavita lagoon, located in the heart of a crater. Accompanied by a guide, you will walk around the lagoon for approximately 2 hours (easy access, but you can feel the altitude). This is an opportunity to learn more about El Dorado: a ceremony during which a man covered himself in gold and threw emeralds and gold objects into the lake. The typical flora of the region, and especially the famous frailejones, a very important tree for the region’s water reserves. Then you continue the main road towards Tunja. Passing by the Sisga reservoir, and drive to the Puente de Boyacá. Here Simón Bolívar won the last and decisive battle in 1819 against the Spanish colonial rulers. After arriving at Villa de Leyva, the former summer residence of the bishops of Tunja, you can stroll through the cobbled streets and head to the Plaza Mayor to end the day with a delicious meal.

Day at leisure.

OPTIONAL:

(A) Explore the surroundings of Villa de Leyva on a beautiful walk in the surrounding hills (2 hours, easy level). The view of the old colonial town is magnificent. During the tour you will be able to visit different historical attractions, starting with a visit to the Santo Ecce-Homo monastery, declared one of the 7 wonders of Colombia in 2007. Walk through the charming and colourful garden of the monastery. Then, if you are interested in fossils, you can visit the paleontological research centre. Your next stop could be the Monastery of La Candelaria, also known as the “Monumento Nacional del Silencio”, an Augustinian monastery built in 1604 and considered by some as the oldest in South America.

(B) Today you will enjoy a hike in the beautiful Iguaque Natural Park. Accompanied by your guide you will discover the typical Páramo of Colombia, a landscape impressive and unique, also important for a natural water reservoir that supplies the closers villages. Your guide will take you to the Iguaque lagoon where he will share with you the myths of the region. After this long day’s walk, you will go to Villa de Leyva.

Today continue your journey towards warmer lands in the direction of Barichara. You cross lush pastures and then follow a gorge that stretches towards the Suárez river. You can make a few stops to visit a traditional refinery, taste a typical guava mousse, or taste the Cuajada con Melao, a cheese cream with sugar molasses. Arrive at Barichara located at 1300 m above sea level, Feel free to stroll through the cobbled streets and the colonial architecture this perfectly preserved village, declared the most beautiful village in Colombia.

Day at leisure.

OPTIONAL:

(A) Today enjoy an easy walk accompanied by your guide, begins from Barichara to the small village of Guane (about 2 hours). You will pass through tobacco fields and pastures along this road called the Camino Real. Appreciate the fabulous view of the Suarez River valley and the surrounding mountains. Take advantage of a stop at the Guane Fossil Museum to discover the relics of the indigenous tribe of the same name. If you want to refresh yourself after the effort, try the local specialty: Sabajon. A liquor made from milk, jam, and brandy. Surprising but unavoidable once you arrive in Guane! To return to Barichara, you will take the bus or a tuk-tuk, typical transport in the area.

(B) Barichara is perfect to explore on foot, walk through its streets to discover unique places that with each of its details fall in love. On this tour visit the Church of the Immaculate Conception, the chapel of San Antonio and the chapel of Santa Barbara, where you can see their carved stone and yellow, a possibility to enjoy its unique architecture. Next to the chapel of Santa Barbará there is an open air museum with a view of the mountains and the canyon of the river Suárez is the Parque de las Artes Jorge Delgado Sierra. Here you can walk along a path lined by twenty-two sculptures carved in stone by artists from the region and eleven countries. From the viewpoint at the top of the town, you can see the Suarez River Canyon, Yariguies National Park, the municipalities of Galan, La Fuente and Zapatoca, enjoy its unforgettable sunsets and trails that tell stories that seduce each of its visitors. Visit places that transform the materials of the region such as stone, mud, fique or cotton. In this foundation of mothers who are heads of families, they work in the production of paper through the use of natural fibers. Visit the Barichara Workshop School Foundation in a beautiful house that used to be a school and now trains technologists and technicians in trades such as: bookbinding, Guane backpack weaving, horizontal cotton loom weaving, ceramics, baking, cooking and music.

Day at leisure.

OPTIONAL:

Early in the morning you will set off for a short 1.5 hour walk around Barichara to reach the Alfanía farm. On arrival you will be welcomed by the coffee farmers, who will take you on a walk through the coffee plantations and share with you their knowledge of the cultivation and processing of this black gold. The experience ends with a delicious cup of coffee and a brunch of typical tamales, chorizos and arepas in the main house.

Early in the morning, you leave Barichara to San Vicente de Chucurí leads through the Canyon del Chicamocha. You will have the opportunity to look back across the canyon and after a short break, you will drive to San Vicente de Chucurí. Its route is characterized by the Topocoro reservoir, created in 2014. The lake is part of the Hidrosogamoso Project, a large hydroelectric power plant that generates energy from the Sogamoso River. A newly built road runs along the eastern shore of the reservoir and offers an impressive view of imposing bridges. The journey time has been shortened considerably by the new road, so that San Vicente, the center of Colombian cocoa cultivation, is now easily accessible.

Today’s program is a gourmet tour to the cocoa plantations. Accompanied by a local producer, you will discover the different colors of the cocoa fruits, from yellow to purple and green, and learn all about the transformation of a precious bean into delicious chocolate. You will be able to grind your own chocolate and take a sample home with you. After this great experience, you return to your hotel.

The route between San Vicente del Chucurí and Bucaramanga offers a newly built road that runs along the eastern bank of the Topocoro reservoir and has an impressive view of the imposing bridges. The new road has considerably reduced travel time so that Bucaramanga is closer.

Rental car return at the airport Bucaramanga.