Colombia: Tierra Prometida
Explore the vibrant landscapes and rich culture of Colombia in our photo tour, capturing the essence of Tierra Prometida.
Overview
Join us on an extraordinary adventure into one of South America’s most beautiful and diverse countries, Colombia, where you’ll explore and photograph a land of striking visual contrasts. On this remarkable adventure you’ll discover warm-hearted locals and enchanting customs, jungles, unique wildlife and indigenous Communities. After many years of suffering caused by conflicts, the country is reborn and promises surprises at every turn and countless moments of creative inspiration. Colombia will present you with the chance to take urban and architectural photos bursting with life, stories and a kaleidoscope of colours.
- Day 1: Welcome to Colombia !
- Day 2: Medellin and Comuna 13
- Day 3: Guatapé
- Day 4: Medellin - Salento
- Day 5: Cocora Valley
- Day 6: Head to Coast : Minca
- Day 7: Mundo Nuevo
- Day 8: Los Naranjos
- Day 9: Kogui Indigenous Village
- Day 10: Cienaga Grande & New Venice
Trip Details
Country
- Colombia
Group Size
- 8 Travelers Max
Schedule
- Relax
Tour Highlights
- Savor breathtaking views from atop El Peñol.
- Discover vibrant street art in Comuna 13.
- Wander colorful streets in charming Salento.
- Experience breathtaking biodiversity in Minca's nature.
- Immerse in indigenous culture at Kogui Village.
- Explore unique floating village Nueva Venecia.
Tour Type
- Private Trip
Thematics
- Cultural Immersion
- Photography
Itinerary
Welcome to Colombia !
Meeting with Tristan at the Airport and transfer to your hotel. Group orientation and slideshow presentation will be given by Tristan. Meet in the hotel lobby at 5 pm. He will cover some key points on the itinerary that ...
Medellin and Comuna 13
This morning, we’ll explore Comuna 13, once a dangerous district in Medellín, now a showcase of the city’s transformation into a global innovation hub. We’ll ride the Metro Cable from San Javier station, a project design...
Guatapé
Departure to Guatape and visit of El Peñol located at 2h from Medellin. In the morning, explore the colorful streets of Guatapé, known for its vibrant facades and intricate zocalos. In the afternoon, hike up El Peñol, a ...
Medellin - Salento
40 min drive to Medellin JMC Airport Enjoy a hassle-free transfer from Medellin’s José María Córdova (JMC) Airport to Pereira Airport, connecting you smoothly to the next stage of our adventure. 1h private transfer from ...
Cocora Valley
Following your guide during this walk, you will discover a gorgeous valley where the wax palms give a surrealistic touch to the area. Step by step, you will enter the tropical forest of the Andes and discover an exuberan...
Head to Coast : Minca
1h private transfer from Salento to Pereira Head to a new tropical destination on a Domestic Flight: Santa Marta
Departure to Minca, the ecological capital of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Then, transfer by 4×4 to ou...
Mundo Nuevo
Known worldwide for coffee, we cannot go to Colombia without discovering the secrets of this popular beverage. We will visit this morning the charming farm next door to take beautiful authentic pictures. This afternoon w...
Los Naranjos
Appointment at 6am for a birdwatching session with a local specialized guide. We will be able to enjoy the biodiversity of Minca, with a little luck, see the Caribbean toucan, or tangaras. Transfer by 4×4 to the waterfal...
Kogui Indigenous Village
Unique experience today with one of the most important indigenous communities in the world, the Kogi. This morning we will drive along the coast before climbing into the mountains on an epic road, with some majestic phot...
Cienaga Grande & New Venice
This morning we take you to a place that few photographers have had the chance to visit. Nueva Venecia has the particularity to be the only village of the country entirely fluvial. Here, no car and no road, we move from ...
Interested in a Private Tour?
This tour is available for private booking. I can help you customize the itinerary to suit your preferences!
Hotels
Reserva El Cairo
Ecolodge | $$$ (120 / Night) | Average Rating: 9.3 / 10
Reserva El Cairo is located at 3 km from Salento on the road to the Cócora valley. The hotel is a superb traditional coffee finca surrounded by palma de cera (higer world palm tree). The names of the rooms refer to the Quimbaya culture and language, each of them named after an animal. The ideal place to recharge your batteries and let yourself be bewitched by nature. You can rent bicycles to ride.
Mundo Nuevo
Ecolodge | $ (100 / Night) | Average Rating: 8.9 / 10
Located in the heart of a lush natural environment, Mundo Nuevo Hotel offers an environmentally friendly stay, in perfect symbiosis with the ecosystem of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Offering rustic rooms with a breathtaking view of the beautiful landscapes of the region, the establishment also invites you to taste its vegetarian cuisine, from organic products grown in the garden of the property.
Maloka Barlovento
Ecolodge | $$$ (150 / Night) | Average Rating: 9.1 / 10
Maloka Barlovento is located 200 meters from the beach and 10 minutes drive from the entrance of Tayrona Park. One of our favorites on the north side of Colombia, it is a haven of peace where you can rest and listen to the birds. The hotel offers a view of the jungle on one side and the sea on the other. Note that the sea is rough, be careful if you want to swim.
Camali Hotel (Santa Marta)
Charming with Character | $$$ (80 / Night) | Average Rating: 9.9 / 10
Inspired by the architecture of Villa de Leyva, and located in a quiet area of Santa Marta, Hotel Camali features an outdoor pool, a bar, a shared lounge and a garden in Santa Marta. This 4-star hotel offers room service and concierge service. The property features a 24-hour front desk, airport transportation, a shared kitchen and free WiFi access throughout the property. The hotel has select rooms with patio and pool views, and each room comes with a private bathroom and a closet. Camali Hotel offers a continental or American breakfast.
Ananda
Resort (350 / Night) | Average Rating: 8.9 / 10
Boutique Hotel Ananda is an historical colonial house perfectly combining luxury and comfort to offer you the best experience possible. Perfectly located in the heart of the historic center, Ananda Hotel is situated close to the main tourist attractions. It offers spacious charming rooms to enjoy a relaxing stay, with its local gastronomy restaurant, its swimming pool with jacuzzi and a terrace in search of the Caribbean sun.
Gallery
Price Details
Included
- Meals indicated in the program
- Accommodation in first class hotels
- Transportation in comfortable vehicles
- Tour leader and English speaking guide
- Local guides specialized in the region
- Entrance Fees
- Domestic flights
Not Included
- Domestic flights
- International flights
- Additional drinks and meals
- Medical insurance
- Expenses not specified in the program
- Tips
Minimum Deposit
- 50% (The last payment must be completed 45 days prior to the start of the trip.)
Payment Options
- Bank Transfer: No fees within Europe. 1.5% fee for transfers from the U.S
- Credit & Debit Cards (MasterCard, Visa, Maestro): Subject to a 5% fee, processed securely via Stripe.
- PayPal: 5% fee applies.
Testimonials
Wonderful trip organized by the agency Remote Expeditions
Tristan is an exceptional guide, initially a great specialist in Colombia, and his expertise has expanded to all of South America. A skilled photographer and experienced trekker, his trips are captivating.
We had a fantastic journey in Colombia for the four of us. Great professionalism and kindness.
I highly recommend him.
A Multifaceted Adventure with Tristan
My wife and I were fortunate to have Tristan as our leader on our recent trip to Colombia. Tristan brings so much of his skills as a photographer, organizer, logistical expert, and more to enhance the participants’ experiences.
He relates to the locals in a warm, welcoming, and personal manner. He is multilingual and effortlessly switches between English, Spanish, French, and some of the indigenous languages. When locals meet him, the affection they feel for him is palpable. He can and does literally work magic with children.
It’s a joy to see their expressions when he magically extracts a coin from their ear. It makes for wonderful photos. He’s constantly in search of photo opportunities. He creates them spontaneously and we walked away with great photos so many times.
As the oldest one on the trip, Tristan was always ready to assist me with an inordinately heavy suitcase. Whether dealing with a technical camera issue or the best way to compose a shot, Tristan was there with great advice. He also provided very helpful photo editing sessions.
I would highly recommend him as a leader, no matter the destination.
A Compassionate Journey with Tristan
As the wife of a photographer, I’ve gone a half dozen photo tours. I try to make them my own and usually am successful in doing so. If I had to pinpoint anything that made the trip successful, it would be Tristan’s humanity shown so many times in the way he treated participants and native
Colombians. Visiting native tribes (not painted-face imposters) was a treat for me and my iPhone camera. Tristan planned well, explained things in detail and also found local experts who taught a great deal.
Uncovering Colombia’s Magic with Tristan
I’ve been slowly reviewing all my shots from the Viva Colombia tour. It makes me relive all the incredible experiences Tristan put together for us! His love and enthusiasm for Colombia and its people was obvious. He had a good bond with all his drivers and guides, and he shines when he’s around children with his magic tricks. His people skills were excellent.
Tristan was responsive and went out of his way to make everyone happy. He took feedback to heart. I wanted to highlight how diligent he was. I have never been on a tour where the leader had prepared such a thorough talk with slides and examples of some of the creative concepts he was trying to teach.
I am so happy I managed to pull it together last minute to get onto this tour. It was SO worth it! There are a few Luminous Journey tours that I have an interest in so I’m not out of your hair yet.
Unveiling Beauty Through the Lens with Tristan
The Luminous Journeys “VIVA Colombia” trip was fantastic for photographic opportunities in a country that is still largely unexplored by travel photographers. Tristan was an enthusiastic leader offering insights into his creative approach to photographing Colombia, including its indigenous peoples. His patient and sensitive approach dealing with locals allowed participants learn and appreciate Colombia’s many diverse customs. There was a good balance between street & culture photography, nature/tropical birds, and landscapes.
In addition, Tristan’s willingness to help participants with the technical and artistic aspects of photography was greatly appreciated. Plus he’s just great fun! The trip was well organized and the hotels and food were superb. Overall, Viva Colombia! provided diverse photographic opportunities that would have broad appeal to photography enthusiasts looking for untrammeled travel adventure in a fascinating South American country.Highly recommended!
A Photographer’s Dream Tour with Tristan
From the very first communication Tristan was responsive and helpful, receptive to tailor making a travel and photographic experience that was exactly what I was looking for. As a passionate photographer himself, I knew I was speaking with a like-minded soul who understands the specific needs and wants of a fellow photographer.
The tour itself was brilliant. As well as being a capable and professional tour organizer, Tristan is great company and an interesting travel companion.
The special relationship he has built up over the years with the Kogui people and local guides enabled a very special opportunity to visit and photograph them, both culturally and photographically interesting, and a rare, much appreciated opportunity.
Combine this with Tristan’s ability to speak several languages fluently including the local one, and you’re onto a winner!
What a wonderful Trip !
What a wonderful trip. Tristan is such a lovely person and well organised.
We had a wonderful trip around the Sierra Nevada in Colombia, up to Camarones and even Mompox. We visited so many places and met so many great people and communities.
It was FANTASTIC.
I highly recommand Remote Expeditions and Tristan for any trip you intend to plan
Fantastic trip off the beaten path
Tristan is a very knowledgeable guide and photographer, and he is also very personable. Traveling with him was a very nice experience and we had lots of laughs too!
The trip was flawlessly organized and Tristan understood our needs very well, tailoring the itinerary to ensure we had the best experience possible. Thanks to him, we discovered Colombia off the beaten path.
Last but not least, I have done a number of photography trips and Tristan is probably the most dedicated teacher I have traveled with. He is really passionate about passing on his knowledge and passion about photography.
I will certainly book another trip with Remote Expeditions in the near future.
Beautiful discovery of southern Colombia
Wonderful discovery of southern Colombia. Excellent organization, and Tristan is an outstanding guide who shares his love for the country.
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