Cultural Caribbean Tour
- Duration: 7 Days (approx.)
- Location: Santa Marta
- Product code: ctocarbn
What to Expect
Day 1:Welcome to Santa Marta, Colombia’s oldest settlement. Meet your guide in the morning and depart from Santa Marta to the Tayrona National Park via private transportation (2h).
Explore the park’s many hiking trails that bring you into the mountains, jungle and palm lined beach. Cool off from your hike while you relax on Colombia’s most iconic beach!
There is many options to hike, and our favorite is to climb up to ” El pueblito” a magnificent archeological site of the Tyarona people, and a powerful display of how advanced their civilization was before the arrival of the Spanish conquest.After your day exploring, return to Santa Marta.
In the evening stay at your boutique hotel strategically located in the historic center of Santa Marta.
Enjoy the authentic feel of the old city and discover in one of it’s restaurants the traditional dishes from the coast!
Day 2: Begin the day with a breakfast, fresh fruit and coffee!
Today, we will head into the mountains! Enjoy a 1 hour drive on board of your private 4*4 and reach the peaceful village of Minca, nestled in the buttress of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains. After a quick exploration of this village, we will follow to a traditional coffee Farm named ” la Victoria”.
The farm still uses the impressive equipment which they brought from New York in the 1890s. There we will enjoy lunch, and off course, coffee!
Depart La Victoria to begin your hike from the village of La Tagua to a rural farmhouse.
Enjoy the famous Colombian hospitality and locally sourced dinner at the finca!
Day 3: Wake up early for a fresh breakfast before beginning your hike in the mountains. Trek for 3 hours up to the mirador at Cerro Kennedy. Cross streams and witness the diverse birdlife that is most active early in the morning.
Watch the sun rise over the Caribbean sea from your panoramic viewpoint at 3100 meters. From your viewpoint you can also see the snowcapped mountains.
After relaxing at the mirador hike down to the Finca for a traditional lunch before hiking down and returning to Santa Marta in the evening!
Free Dinner and Night!
Day 4: After breakfast in Santa Marta drive for 1 hour to the Cienega Grande: the delta created by Colombia’s largest river, the Rio Magdalena and it’s arrival at the Caribbean Sea.
The confluence creates an incredibly diverse ecosystem that you will now explore via small motor boats. As you float through the delta’s mangroves in search of colourful and exotic birdlife, you will certainly encounter fishermans too. You will be amazed by their unusual fishing technique and by their traditional village on stilts is known as “Colombia’s Venice”.
Let the elders of the village immerse you in the story that created this remarkable village.
Enjoy a locally caught fresh seafood lunch in the village before returning to the road via waterways.
Depart for the 16th century spanish colonial old town of Cartagena (3h). Stay in the historic centre and get a taste of the animated streets after the sun goes down…
Day 5:
Today, it’s time to relax and take it easy! It’s your free day in Cartagena.
Enjoy breakfast, wander the colourful cobblestone streets of this UNESCO heritage site and soak in the Colombian Caribbean sunshine. There is many museum and fun little stores to visit, and perhaps it is a good time to get some present for your family and friends back home!
At night the city comes to life as cumbia musicians and dancers perform in the city squares. Practice your dance moves in one of the many salsa bars in the town!
Day 6:
In the morning take a stroll on the boardwalk and discover with your guide all the place you have not sean on your own. Let him or her show you the most hidden secrets of the old city and revive for you the incredible history of the construction of this fortified city!
In the afternoon, we have something very special planned for you!
Meet at the Marina with one of our captain, and enjoy our luxury sailboats. Sail out of the old port, and gain a rare perspective of the fortification and the old city!
Once out into the open sea, sail to circumnavigate the Island of Tierra Bomba. Enter a small secluded bay for a swim and return to the harbor, champagne in hand, watching the sunset over the water!
Enjoy your final evening of the trip, and celebrate in style!
Day 7:
Wake up and relax - this is the end of the tour!
Food and Accommodation:
- Opt to purchase bottled water or drink treated water
- Please notify us of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary options.
- Boutique hotels days 1,3,4,5,6
- Rural homestay day 2
Included:
- Accommodation as listed
- A professional driver for in-country travel
- All food as specified*
- Expert multi-lingual adventure and cultural guides (languages: Spanish, French, English)
- Boat tour
- Sailing Sunset tour
* Breakfast is included with the hotels and Lunch on days 2, 3, and 4 are included. Dinners are only included on Cerro Kennedy trips.
Our guides are happy to offer dinner recommendations based on your preference and budget.
Excluded:
- Tips
- Visas
- Travel and medical insurance
- Personal items such as sunscreen, insect repellant, first aid, etc