Roca Del Peñol, Guatapé, Antioquia, Colombia
Cultural Encounters | Nature & Wildlife

Bogotá to Cartagena via Coffee Region: Culture & Landscapes

Travel through Bogotá, the coffee region, Jardín, Medellín, Guatapé, Cartagena, and Isla Múcura in a carefully paced 14-day Colombian journey.

Colombia Country
14 days Duration
Moderate Walking grade
Relax Schedule

Suitability & conditions

A practical overview of the pace, comfort, and conditions to expect on this journey.

Journey at a Glance

Follow the route and discover the defining experiences of the expedition.

Full Journey

Complete route

See the full expedition route before focusing on each chapter.

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1

Bogotá Arrival

  • Transfer from Bogotá Airport to Casa Deco

    Travel from Bogotá airport to Casa Deco in the city. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes and brings you close to the capital's historic centre.

    Duration: 45min
  • Hotel Check-In

    Upon arrival, check in and get settled in your rooms. Take a short break to relax before we move on to the next activity.
  • Dinner

  • Casa Deco

    Hotel Boutique | $$$

    Casa Deco is a charming hotel in Bogota, offering art deco-inspired rooms, personalized service, and a prime location near the city's vibrant cultural attractions.

DAY 2

Bogotá: Markets, Museums, and La Candelaria

  • Breakfast

  • Guided Bogotá Market and La Candelaria Walk

    Spend a guided day in Bogotá's markets and La Candelaria. Taste local products, then follow colourful houses, colonial architecture, Plaza Bolívar, and the civic landmarks surrounding it, including the Capitol, City Hall, Palace of Justice, Catedral Primada, and Casa Nariño.

    Easy
  • Fundación Botero Cultural Visit

    Visit Fundación Botero in Bogotá to see Fernando Botero's paintings and rounded sculptures alongside works from his private collection, including pieces by Picasso and Braque. It is a thoughtful introduction to Colombia through one of its best-known artists.

    Easy
  • Museo del Oro Visit

    Explore the Museo del Oro, whose collection of pre-Columbian gold objects offers a direct encounter with the artistry and symbolism of Colombia's earlier cultures. The museum houses the world's largest collection of its kind.

  • Lunch

  • Optional Monserrate Ascent

    Ascend Monserrate by funicular or cable car to 3,152 metres above Bogotá. The summit combines wide views over the capital and its surroundings with an important place of pilgrimage for residents and visitors.

    Moderate
  • Dinner

  • Casa Deco

    Hotel Boutique | $$$

    Casa Deco is a charming hotel in Bogota, offering art deco-inspired rooms, personalized service, and a prime location near the city's vibrant cultural attractions.

DAY 3

Pereira and a Family Coffee Finca

  • Breakfast

  • Transfer from Casa Deco to Bogotá Airport

    Transfer from Casa Deco to Bogotá airport, allowing time for the domestic flight to Pereira. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes.

    Duration: 45min
  • Flight from Bogotá to Pereira

    Take the domestic flight from Bogotá to Pereira, the gateway to Colombia's coffee region. The flight takes approximately one hour.

    Duration: 1h
  • Transfer Pereira –> Hacienda Combia

    Continue from Pereira airport by road into the coffee region. The drive takes approximately 40 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on the final route.

    Duration: 50min
    Distance: 16 km (9.9 mi)
  • Family Coffee Finca Visit and Personal Tree Planting

    Travel into the coffee region to a traditional family-run finca set in a scenic landscape. Hear about the family's history and the cultivation and production of coffee, plant your own coffee tree, and share lunch with your hosts.

  • Hosted Lunch with the Coffee-Finca Family

    Share lunch with the family who welcomes you to the coffee finca. This hosted meal extends the conversation beyond the coffee fields and production process.
  • Transfer to Hacienda Combia

    Travel by road into the coffee region and continue to Hacienda Combia after the family finca visit. This transfer brings the day from coffee production into its rural hotel setting.

  • Lunch

  • Dinner

  • Hacienda Combia

    Hacienda Combia is a rural-style hotel complex in the coffee region, with a swimming pool and garden. It provides a comfortable base after the family finca visit and before exploring Valle de Cocora, Salento, and Filandia.

DAY 4

Valle de Cocora, Salento, and Filandia

  • Breakfast

  • Transfer to Valle de Cocora

    Drive from Hacienda Combia toward Valle de Cocora. The day's transport to and around the valley and nearby villages takes approximately three hours in total.

    Duration: 3h
  • Río Quindío and Valle de Cocora Cloud-Forest Walk

    Walk beside the Río Quindío through the tropical, cloud-forest landscape of Valle de Cocora. Look up to the wax palms, which can reach 70 metres and are Colombia's national tree, while keeping the pace open for the landscape.

    Moderate
  • Optional Willys Jeep Approach to Valle de Cocora

    Take the optional approach to Valle de Cocora in a Willys Jeep, a vehicle introduced to Colombia to help farmers move through the mountainous countryside. The ride adds a local transport story to the day's cloud-forest and palm landscape.

    Easy
  • Salento Village Visit

    Explore Salento's colonial architecture and colourful balconies, taking time to absorb the character of this mountain town before continuing through the coffee region.

    Easy
  • Lunch

  • Filandia Village Visit

    Visit Filandia, a small mountain village known for brightly painted houses and a square lined with café terraces. It is a gentle cultural stop within the coffee-region landscape, with time to walk, look, and pause.

    Easy
  • Transfer Valle de Cocora –> Hacienda Combia

    Return by road from Valle de Cocora to Hacienda Combia after the walks through the valley, Salento, and Filandia.

    Duration: 2h20min
    Distance: 66 km (41 mi)
    Vehicle: Car
  • Dinner

  • Hacienda Combia

    Hacienda Combia is a rural-style hotel complex in the coffee region, with a swimming pool and garden. It provides a comfortable base after the family finca visit and before exploring Valle de Cocora, Salento, and Filandia.

DAY 5

Jardín and Jardín Rocas

Possible Sightings:
Variegated Bristle-Tyrant, Andean Motmot, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, White-capped Dipper, Bronze-winged Parrot, Tawny-bellied Hermit, Green Jay, Blackburnian Warbler, White-collared Swift, Black Vulture
  • Breakfast

  • Transfer Hacienda Combia –> Jardin

    Leave the coffee region by road for Jardín, with approximately five hours of travel through the changing landscapes of Antioquia.

    Duration: 5h40min
    Distance: 244 km (151.6 mi)
    Vehicle: Car
  • Jardín Town Exploration

    Walk through Jardín, one of Colombia's most picturesque villages, where colourful houses and balconies sit among roses, guaiac trees, birds, sunsets, and the welcoming presence of its residents.

    Easy
  • Optional Jardín Rocas Nature Reserve Cock-of-the-Rock Viewing

    If the timing is right, visit Jardín Rocas Nature Reserve between 15:00 and 18:00, when it opens to the public. A short walk from the main square, it offers the chance to observe Andean cock-of-the-rock; entry is stated as 15,000 COP per person, and sightings are never guaranteed.

  • Lunch

  • Dinner

  • Casa Passiflora

    Casa Passiflora is the Jardín base for two nights, placing the journey close to the town's colourful streets and the rural landscapes around Cueva del Esplendor and Jardín Rocas.

DAY 6

Cueva del Esplendor

  • Breakfast

  • Collective Willys Jeep from Jardín to the Cueva del Esplendor Area

    Take a collective Willys Jeep from Jardín toward the Cueva del Esplendor area. The outward route includes about 45 minutes of track through Antioquia's green countryside before the finca welcome and rural hike.

    Duration: 45min
  • Arepa and Aguapanela Welcome at a Traditional Finca

    Pause at a traditional finca for an arepa and aguapanela welcome before the rural hike to Cueva del Esplendor. It is a simple local moment in the countryside and part of the collective outing.
  • Rural Hike to Cueva del Esplendor

    Follow a rural trail to Cueva del Esplendor through dirt paths, meadows, and wetter sections, with a moderate elevation gain of approximately 250–300 metres. A waterfall passes through the rock into a natural pool, creating a changing play of water and light in the green Antioquian landscape.

    Moderate
  • Optional Swim in the Cueva del Esplendor Natural Pool

    At the end of the Cueva del Esplendor outing, take an optional swim in the cool water of the natural pool beneath the waterfall. It is a simple way to linger in the landscape before returning to the finca and Jardín.

  • Lunch

  • Return Transfer to Jardín

    Return by collective transport from the Cueva del Esplendor area to Jardín after the rural hike and optional swim.

  • Dinner

  • Casa Passiflora

    Casa Passiflora is the Jardín base for two nights, placing the journey close to the town's colourful streets and the rural landscapes around Cueva del Esplendor and Jardín Rocas.

DAY 7

Santa Fe de Antioquia and Medellín

  • Breakfast

  • Transfer from Jardín to Santa Fe de Antioquia

    Travel by road from Jardín to Santa Fe de Antioquia, approximately three hours through Antioquia's mountain landscapes.

    Duration: 3h
  • Santa Fe de Antioquia Historic Centre and Filigree Workshop

    Explore Santa Fe de Antioquia's historic centre, founded in 1541 and recognised as a national monument in 1959. Walk paved streets, admire coloured wooden shutters, and visit a workshop to see the filigree tradition used in local goldsmithing.

    Easy
  • Puente de Occidente Crossing

    Cross Puente de Occidente above the Río Cauca, a 291-metre engineering landmark designed by José María Villa. The bridge's story, including the engineer's involvement in New York's Brooklyn Bridge, adds a human dimension to the crossing.

    Easy
  • Lunch

  • Transfer from Santa Fe de Antioquia to Medellín

    Continue by car from Santa Fe de Antioquia to Medellín, with approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to reach the El Poblado district.

    Duration: 1h30min
  • Dinner

  • Lettera

    Lettera is the Medellín base in the lively El Poblado district, reached after the colonial streets of Santa Fe de Antioquia. Its location sets up guided time in Medellín and the hillside neighbourhood of Comuna 3 / Manrique.

DAY 8

Medellín: History, Art, and Manrique

  • Breakfast

  • Guided Historic and Contemporary Medellín Visit

    Take a guided introduction to modern Medellín, considering the city's distinct identity alongside its difficult past. The route includes Plaza Botero, Parque de las Luces, Palacio Nacional, and Junín, linking public art with the historic centre.

    Easy
  • Comuna 3 / Manrique Cultural Neighbourhood Visit

    Visit Comuna 3, also known as Manrique, a lively hillside neighbourhood with city views, colourful murals, active streets, and busy markets. The neighbourhood's cultural heritage and everyday creativity give another perspective on Medellín.

    Easy
  • Lunch

  • Dinner

  • Lettera

    Lettera is the Medellín base in the lively El Poblado district, reached after the colonial streets of Santa Fe de Antioquia. Its location sets up guided time in Medellín and the hillside neighbourhood of Comuna 3 / Manrique.

DAY 9

El Peñol, Guatapé, and Cartagena

  • Breakfast

  • Road Transfer from Medellín to El Peñol and Guatapé

    Travel by road from Medellín to El Peñol and Guatapé. The full hotel–El Peñol–Guatapé route takes approximately four hours before the transfer onward to the airport.

  • Optional El Peñol 649-Step Climb

    Climb the 649 steps of El Peñol rock for views across the reservoir and surrounding landscape. This is optional, with the time and effort left to each traveller.

  • Guided Guatapé Village and Zócalos Visit

    Explore Guatapé with a guide, reading the village through its colourful façades and zócalos, the raised reliefs that depict local history, traditions, and daily life. Afterwards, take free time for craft shops, a regional speciality, or the atmosphere of the streets.

    Easy
  • Lunch

  • Optional Embalse de Guatapé Boat Cruise

    Cruise for about 45 minutes on Embalse de Guatapé, reading the reservoir landscape with El Peñol rock as a backdrop. The optional outing offers a quieter counterpoint to the village walk.

  • Dinner

  • Transfer to Medellín Airport

    Transfer from the Guatapé area to Medellín airport, estimated at approximately 50 minutes from the hotel.

    Duration: 50min
  • Flight from Medellín to Cartagena

    Fly from Medellín to Cartagena, with a flight time of approximately one hour.

    Duration: 1h
  • Transfer from Cartagena Airport to Casa Cytia

    Transfer from Cartagena airport to Casa Cytia, estimated at around 20 minutes.

    Duration: 20min
  • Casa Cytia

    Casa Cytia is the Cartagena base before and after Isla Múcura, giving the route a practical pause between historic-centre visits, the Caribbean boat crossing, and the final airport transfer.

DAY 10

Cartagena's Historic Centre and Optional Coastal Encounters

  • Breakfast

  • Guided Cartagena Historic-Centre Walk

    Walk Cartagena's historic centre with a guide, following the city's layered history through its churches, the monastery of San Pedro Claver, the cathedral, and colonial houses. The afternoon remains free to continue exploring at your own pace.

    Easy
  • Optional La Boquilla Community and Mangrove Boat

    Travel to La Boquilla, an Afro-Colombian fishing community on the coast, and take a local boat through the mangroves. The outing creates space to observe resident and migratory birds while learning about local traditions.

  • Optional Convento de La Popa and Fort of San Felipe Visit

    With a French-speaking guide, visit the Convento de La Popa for its panoramic view over Cartagena, then continue to the Fort of San Felipe, built in 1536 to defend the city from pirates and corsairs. The visit is optional.

  • Lunch

  • Dinner

  • Casa Cytia

    Casa Cytia is the Cartagena base before and after Isla Múcura, giving the route a practical pause between historic-centre visits, the Caribbean boat crossing, and the final airport transfer.

DAY 11

Boat to Isla Múcura

Overnight Altitude: 3m (10 ft)
  • Breakfast

  • Transfer from Casa Cytia to Cartagena Port

    Transfer from Casa Cytia to Cartagena port, estimated at around 20 minutes, for the boat to Isla Múcura.

    Duration: 20min
  • Collective Boat from Cartagena to Isla Múcura

    Take the collective boat from Cartagena port to Isla Múcura, with the crossing estimated at approximately two hours.

    Duration: 2h
  • Punta Faro Beach and Island Orientation

    Settle into Punta Faro on Isla Múcura and take time to orient yourself on the beach and around the island. The days here are deliberately slower, with clear water, pale sand, and the possibility of simply staying close to the sea.

  • Optional Isla Múcura Water and Ecological Activities

    Choose from the activities available on Isla Múcura, including snorkelling, sea kayaking, diving, nearby-island visits, and ecological walks. The day can follow the weather, energy, and interests of the group.

  • Lunch

  • Dinner

  • Punta Faro

    Hotel Boutique | Altitude: 3m (10 ft)

    Punta Faro (Mucura) is a tranquil island escape in Colombia, offering pristine beaches, lush landscapes, and a serene setting perfect for a rejuvenating getaway.

DAY 12

Isla Múcura at Leisure

Overnight Altitude: 3m (10 ft)
  • Breakfast

  • Isla Múcura Beach, Sand Walks, and Short Swims

    Spend a second day on Isla Múcura with time for the beach, gentle sand walks, and short swims in the surrounding sea. The pace is intentionally unhurried, with optional activities available locally if you want more movement.

    Easy
  • Optional Locally Available Isla Múcura Activity

    Use free time on Isla Múcura to choose an activity available locally, or let the day remain unstructured around the beach and sea. The exact choice follows local availability and the mood of the day.

  • Lunch

  • Dinner

  • Punta Faro

    Hotel Boutique | Altitude: 3m (10 ft)

    Punta Faro (Mucura) is a tranquil island escape in Colombia, offering pristine beaches, lush landscapes, and a serene setting perfect for a rejuvenating getaway.

DAY 13

Return to Cartagena

  • Breakfast

  • Collective Boat from Isla Múcura to Cartagena

    Return by collective boat from Isla Múcura to Cartagena port, with a crossing estimated at approximately two hours.

    Duration: 2h
  • Transfer from Cartagena Port to Casa Cytia

    Transfer from Cartagena port back to Casa Cytia, estimated at around 20 minutes.

    Duration: 20min
  • Optional One-Hour Cartagena Salsa Lesson

    Take an optional one-hour salsa lesson in Cartagena, privately or in a small group. It offers a playful way to spend part of the free afternoon while getting closer to one of the city's living cultural traditions.

    1h
  • Lunch

  • Optional Cartagena Bay Sunset Yacht Cruise

    Return to Cartagena and, if you wish, watch the sun set across the bay from a semi-public yacht with an open bar. The optional cruise can be a relaxed shared ending to the day.

  • Dinner

  • Casa Cytia

    Casa Cytia is the Cartagena base before and after Isla Múcura, giving the route a practical pause between historic-centre visits, the Caribbean boat crossing, and the final airport transfer.

DAY 14

Departure

  • Breakfast

  • Optional Guided Breakfast in Getsemaní

    For the optional morning experience in Getsemaní, meet your guide for breakfast at a local restaurant before exploring the neighbourhood and Bazurto Market.
  • Optional Bazurto Market Visit

    Visit Bazurto Market before departure, walking its colourful and lively aisles with time to discover Cartagena's food traditions. The city's cuisine reflects Indigenous, Spanish, and African influences; the market is open Monday to Saturday.

  • Transfer from Casa Cytia to Cartagena Airport

    Transfer from Casa Cytia to Cartagena airport, estimated at around 20 minutes.

    Duration: 20min

Accommodation

Where you’ll stay

Price Details

Our tour prices are based on a tiered pricing model. more guests = lower price, per person. That means the prices go down on a per-person basis as more people book onto a specific tour departure.


Price Base

  • Price for 2 people: 9.295 USD (664 USD / day)
  • Price for 3 to 4 people: 8.095 USD (578 USD / day)
  • Price for 5 to 6 people: 6.495 USD (464 USD / day)
  • Price for 7 to 8 people: 5.595 USD (400 USD / day)
* Price is indicated per person
** Prices are based on double occupancy / twin share basis.

Included

  • Hotels mentioned in the program
    i
    Hotels mentioned in the program
    • Casa Deco — 2 nights · Hotel Boutique
    • Hacienda Combia — 2 nights · Uncategorized Hotel
    • Casa Passiflora — 2 nights · Uncategorized Hotel
    • Lettera — 2 nights · Uncategorized Hotel
    • Casa Cytia — 3 nights · Uncategorized Hotel
    • Punta Faro — 2 nights · Hotel Boutique
  • Transportation in comfortable vehicles (Car / Van, 4x4), as well as Boat / Ferry
  • Domestic flights
  • Meals indicated in the program: 13 breakfasts, 12 lunchs, 13 dinners
  • 1 cocktail before dinner
  • Water is included
  • Professional photographic guidance & instruction by Tristan Quevilly
  • 1h skype session of photo editing in Lightroom or Photoshop
  • Restaurant gratuities / tips
  • Pre-trip planning assistance
  • Detailed trip notes with practical information and cultural insights
  • Access to Remote Expeditions custom travel app

Not Included

  • Lunch on Arrival day and Departure day
  • Tips
  • International flights
  • Travel, Medical & Cancellation insurance
  • Additional drinks and meals
  • Expenses not specified in the program
  • Camera Equipment

Deposit

  • 30% (1.949 USD approx)

Payment Options

  • Bank Transfer (Recommended): Free
  • Credit / Debit Card: Secure payment via Revolut. A 3% processing fee applies.

Booking Conditions

  • Deposit: 30% to secure your booking
  • Final payment: Due 90 days before departure
  • Cancellation more than 90 days before departure: Deposit retained as a 4-year travel credit
  • Read the full Terms & Conditions ↗
Travel at a human pace

The difference is in the details

Journeys shaped by experience

Every route is built from time spent in the field: knowing when to linger, when to move on, and which small details are worth noticing.

Room for the unexpected

The best moments are not always on the itinerary. We leave enough flexibility to follow a good conversation, an unusual sighting, or a changing landscape.

Local relationships that open doors

Our journeys are grounded in long-term relationships with people who know their home intimately and are proud to share it in their own way.

A small group, properly looked after

With only a few travellers, decisions remain personal. We can adapt the pace, answer questions, and make sure everyone feels part of the journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most Remote Expeditions journeys are arranged privately, so the pace and rhythm can be shaped around the people travelling together. When a scheduled group departure is offered, it is typically limited to four or five travellers.

No. Photography is one of the ways we observe and connect with a place, but it is not a requirement. Our journeys also welcome travellers drawn to slow travel, wildlife, culture, trekking, landscapes, and genuine encounters. You can join with professional equipment, a simple camera, or just your curiosity.

Every itinerary has its own rhythm. Some journeys are gently paced, while others include long walks, trekking, uneven terrain, altitude, or substantial travel days. The practical details on each tour page explain the expected walking, terrain, altitude, distances, and overall physical level so you can decide whether the journey suits you.

Tristan designs the itineraries and personally leads many Remote Expeditions journeys. Depending on the destination and the character of the trip, trusted local guides, drivers, cultural hosts, or specialist leaders may also join part of the route. This combination gives you direct personal support alongside local knowledge.

Often, yes. Private journeys can usually be shaped around your interests, pace, and available time. Fixed group departures have a defined route and dates, but it may still be possible to arrange additional nights, private extensions, or other travel before or after the main journey. Tell us what you have in mind and we will explain what is practical.

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