Diverse Colombia – Safari, Amazon and Andes

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

Stroll through the aisles of the Paloquemao market, which is full of vendors selling fresh produce from the region, sample a delicious fruit juice and be impressed by the colours of the outdoor flower market. Then drive up to Chorrera Park. On the way, you will stop at Guadalupe Hill, from where you will have a marvellous view of the metropolis on a clear day. In the park, you will go on a two-and-a-half-hour hike through the high moorland area (Paramo). This ecosystem is a large water reservoir and is only found in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. In the afternoon, take a walk through the mythical La Candelaria district, built up with colourful colonial houses and located in the old town, the main square or Plaza de Bolívar. There you will find the Government Quarter, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Palace of Justice, the Parliament and the Mayor’s Office, an important place for its historical events.

Transfer from Yopal airport to Ecolodge Juan Solito. In the following days you will experience an adventure in the Llanos! Thanks to the biodiversity of the Llano, you can enjoy different activities and choose between them. Enjoy a Llanero safari where you can observe animals in the wild, such as Chigüiros, coliblancos deer, babillas, cattle, wild horses, herons, garzones, alcaravans, mochuelos, guerereses, various ibises and many bird species (bird watching). If you like horses, you won’t want to miss the truly traditional experience of horse riding! Another adventure will be fishing, an activity where lunch is freshly prepared on the banks of the river from the fish caught. This adventure allows a direct contact with the environment and it is possible to see animals in the wild, such as: chigüiros, white-tailed deer, babillas, cattle, wild horses, herons and many more, the activities depend on the weather conditions and will be adapted if necessary. There is no mobile phone reception in Hato and the wifi only works to a limited extent. The ideal place to switch off from the outside world for a few days.

Transfer from Ecolodge Juan Solito to Yopal airport. Flight from Yopal to Bogotá. Transfer from Bogotá airport to the hotel.

Today you leave the country’s capital in the direction of Villa de Leyva, a city that served as the summer residence of the Bishop of Tunja in colonial times and has spacious and beautifully preserved churches. Take a walk through the cobbled streets, familiarise yourself with the colonial architecture of the buildings and end the day in the Plaza Mayor. In Villa de Leyva, you can coordinate the programme with your guide on site.

Today your driver will pick you up from the hotel to continue your journey towards Barichara, towards warmer lands. You will 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, savour a typical guava mousse or try the cuajada con melao, a cheese cream with sugar molasses. Arrive in Barichara at an altitude of 1300 metres. Feel free to stroll through the cobbled streets and colonial architecture of this perfectly preserved village, which has been declared the most beautiful village in Colombia. Finca San Pedro is located in the countryside about 15 minutes outside the village, enjoy the view of the mountains and the lovingly prepared vegan/vegetarian food by hostess Katja and her husband Jorge.

The trail connecting Barichara and Guane is one of the most iconic hikes in the region. This historic Camino Real Barichara–Guane combines natural beauty, historical significance, and a peaceful rural setting. In the company of a guide, you will follow an ancient royal road of pre-Columbian and colonial origin, later used and adapted for regional trade in the 19th century by the German engineer Geo von Lengerke. The route covers approximately 6 km and is mostly downhill, descending from around 1,340 m in Barichara to about 1,000 m in Guane. The hike takes around 2 hours, depending on pace. The path is largely stone-paved, with uneven steps, loose rocks, and some dusty sections. Proper footwear with good grip is recommended. Due to sun exposure and limited shade, it is advisable to bring a hat, sunscreen, and sufficient water. The continuous descent can be demanding on the knees, so a good level of fitness and balance is recommended. Along the way, you will enjoy wide views over the Suárez Canyon, as well as rural landscapes with fields, stone walls, and traditional architecture. Upon arrival in Guane, you can explore the main square, visit the colonial church and the archaeological museum, and take in the surrounding scenery. The return to Barichara is by tuk-tuk or jeep and takes approximately 20 minutes.

Barichara is perfect for walking, stroll through its streets and discover unique places that fall in love with each of their details. On this tour you will visit the Church of the Immaculate Conception, the Chapel of San Antonio and the Chapel of Santa Barbara, carved in yellow stone, an opportunity to get to know the unique architecture of the town. Next to the chapel of Santa Barbará there is an open-air museum with views of the mountains and next to the gorge of the River Suárez is the Parque de las Artes Jorge Delgado Sierra. Here you can walk along a path lined with 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 gorge, the Yariguies National Park, the municipalities of Galan, La Fuente and Zapatoca, enjoy the unforgettable sunsets and the trails that tell stories that seduce each of its visitors. Visit places that work the region’s materials such as stone, mud, fique or cotton. In the foundation of mothers who are heads of families, work is done on the manufacture of paper using natural fibres. Visit the Barichara Workshop School Foundation in a beautiful house that used to be a school and now trains technologists and technicians in the following trades: Bookbinding, Guane backpack weaving, horizontal cotton looms, ceramics, baking, cooking and music. You can discuss the exact programme in Barichara with your local guide.

You continue your journey from Barichara to Bucaramanga. The route takes you through the Canyon del Chicamocha, where, if conditions permit, you can cross the canyon by cable car and enjoy a fantastic view of the deep gorge. You will have the opportunity to look back over the canyon and after a short break you will continue to the airport of Bucaramanga. Flight from Bucaramanga to Bogotá. Transfer from Bogotá airport to the hotel near the airport.

Transfer from the hotel to Bogotá airport. Flight from Bogotá to Leticia. Transfer from Leticia airport by boat to your lodge (approx. 2h drive). Get ready for a deep, magical and transforming experience in the heart of the most impressive jungle in the world. Lodge Calanoa is located in a private reserve of 50 hectares between the Amacayacu National Natural Park and Mocagua Island. This corner of the world has been internationally recognized for its harmony with nature and its authenticity. You will be welcomed by a garden of exotic flowers, palm trees and fruit trees on the banks of the Amazon River where birds, monkeys, butterflies and countless other species live. Our structures are endowed with a feeling of lightness, with ethereal walls where lying in a hammock will allow you to open your senses and fully contemplate the infinity of the jungle. Delight yourself with its exquisite gastronomy. At Calanoa each dish is prepared with fresh, organic ingredients from the lodge’s garden. The communal table becomes a meeting place for conversations and shared laughter where strangers become friends and time dissolves. Your adventure begins with a night walk into the native forests because the jungle is one thing by day and another by night. Expert indigenous guides with ancestral knowledge will lead you into a world that never rests. Listen to the song of frogs and other nocturnal creatures. Admire night blooming flowers and phosphorescent mushrooms. The next day visit the Tikuna and Cocama indigenous communities, guardians of the territory, who share their stories and their way of inhabiting the world. Enjoy a hike across the Calanoa Reserve to Matamata Creek, on the border of Amacayacu National Park, and paddle down to the Amazon. Navigating through the jungle canopy at high water is an incredible experience. On the island of Mocagua you will see beautiful inland lakes where the Victoria Amazonica lotus flourishes. A boat will take you to the Peruvian border of the Amazon River to spot dolphins and watch the sunset and its explosion of color from the shore. You will visit three lagoons with a wonderful diversity of fauna and flora in the community of Vista Alegre. You will learn the traditional way of cultivating the jungle and the healing power of plants in the garden of Milcíades, a Cocama healer. Always keep in mind plans can be adjusted according to your interests. They can change due to weather or river conditions. Wildlife sightings are not warrantied.

Boat transfer from the lodge back to Leticia. Flight from Leticia to Bogotá. Transfer from the airport to your hotel. Transfer from your hotel near the airport to the airport. End of your journey.