Itinerary
- Day 1
Panama City
Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Panama City airport and takes you to your hotel in the city center.
- Day 2
Panama City
Start with a hike through Metropolitano Nature Park, then move on to Causeway Amador for skyline views and the Bridge of the Americas. Walk through historic Casco Viejo's UNESCO-listed colonial buildings, stop by the fish market to try ceviche or shrimp cocktails, check out the fruit and vegetable market for tropical samples, and drive along Cinta Costera to see the city's skyscrapers.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike in Metropolitano Nature Park (232 hectares of humid tropical primary forest)
- Visit to Causeway Amador with views of Panama City skyline and Bridge of the Americas
- Walking tour of Casco Viejo historic district (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit to fish market
- Visit to fruit and vegetable market
- Drive along Cinta Costera coastal road
Optional Activities
- Ceviche or shrimp cocktail at fish market
- Tropical fruit tasting at fruit and vegetable market
Landmarks Metropolitano Nature Park Causeway Amador Bridge of the Americas (Puente de Americas) Casco Viejo (Casco Antiguo) - Day 3
Panama City - Altos de Campana - Pineapple Farm - Panama City
Head west on the Panamericana across one of the canal bridges and stop at Quesos Chela for local cheese and specialties. Visit Altos de Campana, Panama's oldest national park, for the Caja de Agua viewpoint and a short hike with mountain and Pacific Ocean views. On the way back, tour a pineapple farm where you'll have lunch, learn about growing and harvesting, see mango and pitahaya, and taste fresh pineapples.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical local lunch at pineapple farm)
Included Activities
- Stop at Quesos Chela store
- Visit to Altos de Campana National Park with Caja de Agua viewpoint visit
- Short hike in Altos de Campana
- Visit to pineapple farm with tour of cultivation, harvesting, and packaging processes
- Tasting of fresh pineapples
Landmarks Altos de Campana National Park Caja de Agua viewpoint - Day 4
Panama City - Agua Clara Locks - San Lorenzo - Panama Viejo
After breakfast, drive north about 1 hour to Colón province on the Atlantic side. See the Panama Canal Expansion Observation Center at Agua Clara to understand the new lock system, then explore 15th-century fortress and palace ruins in the jungle at San Lorenzo. Back in Panama City, walk through the 16th-century remains of Panama Viejo, the first Spanish settlement destroyed in 1671 by pirate Henry Morgan.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit to Panama Canal Expansion Observation Center at Agua Clara
- Visit to San Lorenzo port ruins
- Visit to Panama Viejo ruins
Landmarks Agua Clara Locks San Lorenzo port ruins Panama Viejo ruins - Day 5
Sobería National Park - Lake Gatún - Miraflores Locks
Drive to Soberanía National Park for a one to two-hour jungle hike where you'll spot tropical birds and monkeys. From Gamboa port, take a 2.5-hour boat trip on Lake Gatún to see monkeys, crocodiles, turtles, sloths, and birds, plus ships using the Panama Canal and a stop at Monkey Island. Return to see ships passing through the Miraflores locks and learn about the canal's role in world trade at the museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box)
Included Activities
- One to two-hour hike in Soberanía National Park
- 2½ hour boat trip on Lake Gatún
- Visit to Monkey Island
- Visit to Miraflores locks with museum access
Landmarks Soberanía National Park Lake Gatún Monkey Island Miraflores Locks 
- Day 6
Emberá Village
Travel northeast to Lake Alajuela and paddle up the Rio Chagres in small dugout canoes through jungle. Visit an authentic Emberá village to experience their culture, traditional music, and dress, watch women weave palm leaves, and eat lunch of plantains and fish wrapped in palm. You can get a traditional jagua tattoo made from plant sap before returning to Panama City in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical lunch of plantains and fish wrapped in palm leaf)
Included Activities
- Dugout canoe trip on Rio Chagres
- Visit to Emberá village
- Experience traditional Emberá culture, music, and handicrafts
Optional Activities
- Traditional jagua tattoo
Landmarks Lake Alajuela Rio Chagres - Day 7
Panama Canal Partial Crossing
Head to Causeway Amador harbor with great views of the Panama City skyline for a roughly 4-hour boat ride through the canal. Pass through Miraflores locks, Lake Miraflores, Pedro Miguel lock, the Gaillard Cut at its narrowest point, and Lake Gatún while having lunch on board. The bus returns you to Panama City from Gamboa harbor.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on board during canal crossing)
Included Activities
- Partial crossing of Panama Canal by boat (approximately 4 hours)
- Passage through Miraflores locks, Lake Miraflores, Pedro Miguel lock, Gaillard Cut, and Lake Gatún
Landmarks Panama Canal Miraflores Locks Lake Miraflores Pedro Miguel Lock Gaillard Cut Lake Gatún - Day 8
Panama City to Bogotá
Transfer to Tocumen International Airport and fly to Bogotá, Colombia's capital. A German-speaking guide meets you and takes you to your hotel in the colonial old town. Bogotá sits at about 2,650 meters above sea level on the Sabana de Bogotá, ringed by the Cordillera Oriental mountains.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Casa de Nariño - Day 9
Bogotá
Take a half-day walking tour of the colonial old town La Candelaria, visiting the international center, Bolivar Square, and local churches. Spend time at the Botero Museum and ride a cable car up Monserrate Mountain for views of the city and mountains. The rest of the day is free to explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Half-day walking tour of colonial old town La Candelaria
- Visit to Bolivar Square
- Visit to churches
- Visit to Botero Museum
- Cable car ride up Monserrate Mountain
Landmarks La Candelaria Bolivar Square Botero Museum Monserrate Mountain - Day 10
Bogotá - Villa de Leyva
After breakfast, visit the Gold Museum, then drive north to see the famous Salt Cathedral in Zipaquirá. Continue through Chiquinquirá and Raquira to reach Villa de Leyva, a beautiful colonial village with cobblestone streets. Check into a colonial hotel and spend the evening walking through the village's old houses and alleyways that feel centuries old.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Gold Museum
- Visit to Salt Cathedral in Zipaquirá
- Evening exploration of Villa de Leyva
Landmarks Gold Museum Salt Cathedral Zipaquirá Chiquinquirá Raquira 
- Day 11
Villa de Leyva to Coffee Zone
Explore Villa de Leyva's surroundings in the morning, and if time allows, stop at Boyaca Bridge where Simon Bolivar defeated Spanish forces. Drive back to Bogotá and head to the airport for a short flight to the coffee zone. A German-speaking guide greets you and drives you to a traditional coffee finca for your next 3 nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning exploration of Villa de Leyva and surroundings
- Short stop at Boyaca Bridge (if time permits)
Landmarks Boyaca Bridge - Day 12
Coffee Zone
Spend the morning at Hacienda Combia learning how coffee beans are grown, picked, and processed from plantation to cup. Enjoy lunch after the tour. The afternoon is free to relax at the hotel. A private German-speaking guide leads this half-day tour with other hotel guests.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Half-day tour to Hacienda Combia
- Coffee cultivation, harvesting, and processing educational experience
Landmarks Hacienda Combia - Day 13
Cocora Valley - Salento
Head into Cocora Valley for a short hike to the cloud forest edge with great views and chances to see wax palms, Colombia's national tree and one of the world's tallest palm species. After lunch (on your own), drive to Salento to see the typical regional architecture and visit small artisan workshops throughout the village.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Short hike in Cocora Valley to cloud forest edge
- Visit to Salento
- Exploration of artisan workshops in Salento
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Cocora Valley or Salento (not included)
Landmarks Cocora Valley Salento 
- Day 14
Coffee Zone to Santa Marta
Drive to the airport in the morning and fly via Bogotá to Santa Marta on Colombia's Caribbean coast. Your tour guide meets you and takes you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 15
Tayrona National Park
Spend the day at Tayrona National Park exploring Cañaveral, Arrecife, La Piscina, and San Juan del Cabo with their sandy beaches, palm trees, and rock formations. Swim at the best spots during this roughly 8-hour outing, which includes a 3-4 hour hike through the park's flora and fauna.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Tayrona National Park
- Access to Cañaveral beach
- Access to Arrecife beach
- Access to La Piscina beach
- Access to San Juan del Cabo beach
- 3-4 hour hike in Tayrona National Park
- Swimming at multiple beaches
Landmarks Tayrona National Park Cañaveral Beach Arrecife Beach La Piscina Beach San Juan del Cabo Beach 
- Day 16
Santa Marta to Cartagena
Leave Santa Marta after breakfast, picked up at your hotel and driven along the Caribbean coast to Cartagena in about 5 hours. This colonial city is one of South America's most beautiful destinations.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 17
Cartagena
After breakfast, take a guided tour to discover Cartagena's colonial old town ringed by 11 km of fortifications and historic buildings. Visit San Felipe fortress on a hill overlooking the old town and the Caribbean Sea, plus the Convento de la Popa convent founded in 1607 and visited by Pope John Paul II in 1986. The afternoon is free, and the evening is perfect for wandering when Caribbean breezes arrive and horse hooves echo through the alleyways.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of colonial old town
- Visit to San Felipe fortress
- Visit to Convento de la Popa convent
Landmarks Cartagena Old Town San Felipe Fortress Convento de la Popa - Day 18
Cartagena
The day is free until your airport transfer. A later flight back to Europe via Bogotá is possible but not included in the program.
- Meals
- Breakfast
