Colombian Caribbean Highlights 14D/13N

Airport TransferWelcome to Cartagena! One of our representatives will be waiting for you at the airport to drive you to your accommodation. You’ll have the rest of the day at leisure.

Cartagena City Tour (B)

Visit Cartagena, Colombia’s walled city. Within its fortifications you will find a unique culture and history that seem to blend reality and fantasy. Stroll the cobblestone streets and admire the colonial buildings. Visit the city’s plazas, galleries, churches and vaulted walkways where crafts and antiquities are sold. Visit the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built during the colonial era to protect Spanish interests from invasions by the English and French. Explore Cerro de la Popa, where you will find a church and colonial convent constructed in the 17th century.

Duration 04:00hrs.

Totumo Volcano Tour (B)

At 9 am, Go to the Volcano of Totumo (the journey takes 1-1,5 hours). The cone shaped volcano is located on the coast, close to the fresh water lagoon El Totumo. We will have this once in a lifetime opportunity, to bath in the warm mud pool which is 500 meters deep. But don’t worry, the mud is so thick that it is impossible to sink. Afterwards, we will be rinsed by local women in the lagoon nearby (for a little tip). They also offer massages in the mud pool (not included).

Once you are rinsed off, we will go to the beach, where we will have lunch: fish with plantain, coconut rice, salad and a beverage. Afterwards, we can take a walk on the beach, relax or go swimming. Around 2:30 pm, we will take you back to Cartagena.

Duration 05:00hrs.

Transfer to Santa Marta (B)

Today after your check-out at your accommodation you will take a bus to Santa Marta. Make your own way to your accommodation and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure!

Santa Marta - Lost City (B/L/D)

After breakfast, pick-up from your hotel and private transfer to Machete Pelao (approx. 1.5 hour), where your small group Lost City adventure will begin. After lunch in Machete Pelao, we start our walk, the first part of the route will be rather steep and will take 4 hours to complete, until reach the native cabin 1. In the evening, we will have a delicious dinner at the local settler’s farm. Here we will sleep in hammocks, mosquito nets are provided.

Lost City (B/L/D)

At 07h00 breakfast will be served, before our 7-hour trek to native cabin 3. The trail is very beautiful with abundant vegetation and memorable views. After lunch we continue our journey, reaching the valley of the Buritaca River, where there will be an opportunity to enjoy some swimming. On our way we will pass by indigenous dwellings such as those of the small settlement of Mutant where the Kogui people live. You will meet up with Mamo Romualdo, the main religious authority for the local people. Mamo’s dwelling is one hour away from the Lost City, in order to get there you need to cross a few creeks, please remember to bring a pair of sandals with you. After dinner, stay overnight in hammocks with mosquito nets.

Visit to the Lost City (B/L/D)

You guessed it – another early breakfast. Then, we’ll walk for an hour to the archaeological area. Here, you’ll have to climb the 1200 stone steps to reach Teyuna, the Lost City of the Taironas, a sacred site for indigenous communities living in the mountains. You can explore the remains of this ancient city, look at the archaeological excavations and experience its architecture. There will be spare time to enjoy the landscape and take photos. Then, we’ll have our meal and trek back to the native cabin 2.

Lost City (B/L/D)

Free morning. After lunch at the camp, walk for 4 hours until native cabin 1 – Adan, where you’ll spend the night in hammocks with mosquito nets. Admire the lush vegetation and wildlife of the Sierra. Free evening.

Transfer to Santa Marta (B/L)

After breakfast, walk for 4 hours approx. to Machete Pelao. After lunch in Machete Pelao, transfer to your hotel.

Transfer to Riohacha (B)

Today after your check-out at your accommodation you will take a bus to Riohacha. Make your own way to your accommodation and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure!

Riohacha - Uribia - Salinas de Manaure - Cabo de La Vela (B/D)

At around 5:00am, you will be picked-up from your accommodation in Riohacha to begin your trip towards Cabo de la Vela. Along the way, you will visit Uribia, the indigenous capital of La Guajira, where upon arrival after a 1-hour ride, you will embark on a city tour, getting to know this important cultural center: Wayúu. After enjoying breakfast, you will start your trip to one of the most famous places of La Guajira: Salinas de Manaure. It will be a journey of about 20 minutes by car. In Salinas de Manaure you will visit the ponds where, in an artisanal way, they extract and process salt; during this tour, you will enjoy the company of a community leader. La Guajira is also famous for its indigenous market of Wayuu handicrafts and clothing, that is why, you will also visit a backpack and chinchorros (traditional Wayúu hammock) weaving enterprise. You will have time to share with the community in the Wualapuinje rancheria, where you will discover their rituals, customs, traditional dance, besides tasting a sample of typical food of the Wayuú community. Afterwards, you will continue your journey in a 2-hour drive to Cabo de La Vela. Upon arrival, you will have lunch at the Utta ethno tourism lodge before continuing with your visit to Pilón de Azúcar, sacred place of the Wayuú community. You will have time to rest on the beaches of Dorada and Ojo de Agua while you admire the fantastic sunset before going back to the rancheria.

Taroa Dunes and Punta Gallina (B/L/D)

After having an early breakfast, it is time to start your 2-hour trip to the Taroa Dunes where you will picture orange sand dunes, cactuses and other desert-like vegetation right in front of beautiful, turquoise, typical Caribbean water. Then you will visit the Punta Gallinas' lighthouse, where you will hear local stories about this place while enjoying a great landscape, since you are in the northernmost point of South America. You will continue your journey to La Boquita Bay, famous for its pristine beaches. There you will be accommodated in a native inn, basic but pleasant, considering the isolation and conditions of the area. At the inn you will have lunch and then you will visit the islets of La Boquita and Bahía Hondita, to culminate in Punta Aguja Silver enjoying the majestic guajiro sunset. Back to the inn, you will participate in a Wayúu weaving activity to later enjoy dinner and rest before your last day of the tour.

Transfer back to Riohacha (B)

Around 07:00hrs you will be transferred to Riohacha. You will have the day at your leisure and spend the night there.

Transfer to Santa Marta and Airport Transfer (B)

After your check-out, you’ll take a public bus to Santa Marta, once there you’ll be picked up by one of our representatives who will drive you to the airport.