Itinerary
- Day 1
Cartagena
You'll arrive in Cartagena and meet your group at a 6 pm welcome gathering at your hotel in Getsemani. After that, your local leader takes you on an orientation walk through the Old Town, where you'll see the UNESCO World Heritage streets lined with 16th-century Spanish walls, street art, monasteries and plazas. The evening wraps up with dinner where you'll try local specialties like ceviche, arepas or coconut rice while getting to know the other travelers.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cartagena Orientation walk
- Orientation walk through Old Town
Optional Activities
- Dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks Getsemani Cartagena Old Town 
- Day 2
Cartagena
You head out early on a day trip to La Boquilla, a fishing village just outside the city. Once there, you'll jump into a canoe with a local boatman and paddle through tree tunnels in the mangroves and Ciénaga de la Virgen coastal lagoon system. Watch for birds, crabs, raccoons and green parrots along the riverbanks as you glide past working fishermen. Before heading back to Cartagena, you'll have time to cool off with a fresh coconut and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- La Boquilla Mangrove Tour
Landmarks La Boquilla Ciénaga de la Virgen Juan Polo swamp - Day 3
Cartagena
You have the day to yourself in Cartagena. If you want some structure, there's an optional half-day tour visiting La Popa Monastery, San Felipe Castle (the city's largest fortress) and Las Bovedas, which used to be a military fortification and is now a craft market. Alternatively, you can take a trip out to the Islas del Rosario archipelago to snorkel around mangroves and coral reefs. Your leader's available for local food recommendations if you need them.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Half-day Old Town tour including La Popa Monastery, San Felipe Castle and Las Bovedas
- Island-hopping adventure around Islas del Rosario with snorkelling
Landmarks La Popa Monastery San Felipe de Barajas Castle Las Bovedas Islas del Rosario - Day 4
Cartagena to Taironaka
A private transfer takes you to Taironaka, an ancient Tayrona archaeological and ecotourism reserve on the Don Diego River. You'll meet a member of the Kogui Indigenous community, one of four groups living in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and hear about their beliefs and connection to the land. During the visit, you'll participate in reforestation and regeneration projects by planting trees yourself. The day ends with your group enjoying cocktails together as the sun sets.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Taironaka archaeological site visit
- Kogui Indigenous community meeting and cultural experience
- Reforestation project participation
Optional Activities
- Cocktails with fellow travellers
Landmarks Taironaka Don Diego River Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta - Day 5
Tayrona National Park
Bring your walking shoes and bug spray for a jungle trek through Tayrona National Park along the Caribbean coast. You'll hike to Cabo San Juan, a beach you can only reach on foot or by boat, moving through rainforest with views of turquoise water appearing through the trees. Look overhead for sloths and listen for howler monkeys. Once at Cabo San Juan, you can swim or relax under the palms with a fresh coconut. Back at Taironaka for the evening, you have free time, and many people book a massage to recover from the day's hiking.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Tayrona National Park hike
- Tayrona National Park - Entrance fee
- Hike to Cabo San Juan beach
Optional Activities
- Relaxing massage
Landmarks Tayrona National Park Cabo San Juan 
- Day 6
Taironaka to Santa Marta
A private transfer brings you to Santa Marta, South America's oldest European-founded town at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Your leader guides you on an orientation walk through the historic centre past Santa Marta Cathedral, Parque de los Novios and Plaza de Bolivar, sharing stories about the city's layered history. As evening approaches, you have free time to explore on your own, and your leader can point you toward good local restaurants for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Santa Marta Orientation walk
Optional Activities
- Dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks Santa Marta Cathedral Parque de los Novios Plaza de Bolivar Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta - Day 7
Santa Marta to Cartagena
You'll take a public bus back to Cartagena like a local, which gives you a real feel for how people travel here. That afternoon, a local guide leads you on a tasting tour through the streets to explore Colombian culture through food. You'll walk through market stalls, chat with vendors and try carima nolas (torpedo-shaped meat pies), chorizo sausage, corn on the cob buns and enyucado (cassava cheesecake). On your final night together, the group enjoys one last dinner and toasts the week you've had in Colombia.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Street food tasting including carimañolas, chorizo sausage, corn on the cob buns and enyucado)
Included Activities
- Cartagena Street Food Tour
Optional Activities
- Final group dinner
Landmarks Cartagena market stalls - Day 8
Cartagena
Your trip ends after breakfast with no activities scheduled. If you want to stay longer in Colombia, your leader can help arrange extra accommodation subject to availability, so just ask before you leave if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
