GTMT-915 – COLOMBIA BOGOTA AND MEDELLIN

Seven Days/Six Nights
Minimum two persons
Departures Every Friday from USA

ITINERARY:

DAY 1: Arrival in Bogota

Upon arrival at the International Airport El Dorado, you will be met by our representative and will be taken to your hotel. Our guide will assist you at the hotel with the registration procedures (check-in) and give you a detailed itinerary of all the services included in your trip. You will also receive information about our office contact details including our 24 hour emergency phone number. Overnight in Hotel Movich Chicó 97 – Standard Room

DAY 2: Bogota (B)

City tour of Bogota
Breakfast at the hotel. The tour begins with a transfer to the famous and well preserved historical colonial neighborhood of La Candelaria. Steeped in history, this area is a must for photographers with its splendid colonial architecture. Walk through the streets permeating with the heady atmosphere of the past down to the prominent Plaza de Bolivar, the heart of Bogotá, where locals and visitors mingle amongst the magnificent structures. You will want to discover the history of this old part of the city by visiting the Cathedral, the Congress Palace, Cardinal’s Palace, the colonial churches of El Sagrario and San Agustin, the Independence House, the Palace of Justice and the City Hall which are all located in this impressive square.

The tour then continues with a visit to the “Museo del Oro”, the most important gold museum in the world and a ‘must see’ when traveling to Bogotá. This museum displays one of the largest collections of pre-Columbian gold. Galleries on three levels display exquisitely crafted pieces dating back nearly 2.500 years.

The tour ends with a visit to the “Museo de Botero”, housed in a renovated colonial mansion. The works on display are all donated by Fernando Botero, Colombia’s most famous contemporary artist. Around 120 pieces of his own work are displayed at the museum including his famous sculptures, paintings and drawings. His work is well-known for the ‘proportionally exaggerated’ fat figures. In addition to his work, his personal collection by Picasso, Renoir, Dalí, Degas, Chagall, Matisse, Monet are also exhibited.
Overnight in Hotel Movich Chicó 97 – Standard Room

DAY 3: Bogota (B/L)

Underground Salt Cathedral and Zipaquira Colonial Town
Breakfast at hotel. This visit begins with a panoramic view of the city and the vast plateau of the northern area of Bogotá. You will arrive to the small town of Zipaquirá where you will take an underground tour to discover the famous Salt Cathedral. Passengers will have the opportunity to experience the extraordinary architecture and engineer of this remarkable underground mine. This cathedral was carved inside an active salt mine formed 250 million years ago, under the Halite Mountains. Here you will find 14 small chapels that represent the Stations of the Cross and Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, a sanctuary and a main cathedral. Although this is a popular tourist destination to be visited, this is also a place of pilgrimage for the local community.

Afterwards continue to visit the town of Zipaquirá which was founded on 1600 and still conserves its colonial heritage. Stop at the main square, where you will find whitewashed houses decorated with olive-green trim and base as well as the most important municipal buildings.
Lunch is included during the tour at a local restaurant with a set menu.
Overnight in Hotel Movich Chicó 97 – Standard Room

DAY 4: Bogota (B)

Bogota to Medellin
Breakfast at hotel. Our guide will meet you at the lobby of the hotel and will take you to the Airport El Dorado and assist you there during the check-in at the airline counter to help you connect to your next destination. Upon arrival at the Medellin airport you will be greeted by our guide and transferred to hotel. Transfer will take approximately 45 minutes with normal traffic.
Overnight in Hotel Intercontinental Medellin – Superior Room

DAY 5: Medellin (B)

Medellin city Tour
Breakfast at the hotel. Our guide will meet you at your hotel’s lobby to start a tour that takes about six hours in which you’ll visit the most representative places of a dynamic, innovative and broad cultural city. Transfer from the selected hotel via Avenida del Rio to reach the city’s downtown and visit the “Parque de las Esculturas” also known as the Plaza de Botero, which has an outdoor display of 23 sculptures of Fernando Botero. Then continue to Pies Descalzos Park, which is a place for relaxation. This park is located in the middle of the city.

Then you will be transfer to the Metro Cable, the first cable car system that works as means of public transport. You will take the route to Santo Domingo Savio neighborhood in which you will visit the Spain Library, designed by Giancarlo Mazzanti, Colombian; it is one of the 5 library-parks in town. Here you will appreciate its stunning design while enjoying an interpreted tour which shows an overview of the significant socio-cultural transformation the city has had.

The tour continues through the Cerro Nutibara; Medellin’s natural viewpoint. Here you will visit the Pueblito Paisa, a replica of an ancient Paisa town constructed in 1978. Our guide will instruct you about characteristics and idiosyncrasies of the Paisa culture while you enjoy a typical local snack touring in the central square or the Pueblito’s fonda.

The tour ends in one of Medellin’s trendy zones located in the area of El Poblado, the Parque Lleras. Here you will have the opportunity to feel the festive atmosphere of Medellin and its people, and you will find the best bars and restaurants in town. Your guide will suggest the best one according to your preferences.
Overnight in Hotel Intercontinental Medellin – Superior Room

DAY 6: Medellin (B/L)

Penol and Guatape Tour
Breakfast at the hotel. Our guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel to start the tour that will take about 8. You will visit the Guatapé town and Peñol stone, located in the middle of on of the largest dams of the country, called Peñol-Guatapé, it is an hour and a half away from Medellin On the way to Guatapé, you will have the opportunity to make two stops to take pictures and admire the landscape. You will also enjoy a typical local snack. Visit the stone Peñol, a gigantic volcanic rock with about 210 meters. Climb the 700 steps leading to the top of the mountain and admire the spectacular view of the reservoir from there.
Descending we will have lunch at a local restaurant.
Later, your guide will lead you through the streets of Guatapé, a quiet picturesque colonial town that exhibits sockets that have made this town famous. Then visit the ancient town of Peñol, which was submerged under the waters of the dam, and rebuilted in 1978.
As an optional activity, we offer a boat ride along the dam, visiting the Historical Museum of Guatapé.
Overnight in Hotel Intercontinental Medellin – Superior Room

DAY 7: Depart Medellin (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Our guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel on time to transfer you to the International Airport. The transfer will take approximately 45 minutes with normal traffic. Once at the airport, the guide will assist you with the registration procedure at your airline’s counter.

PLEASE CHECK WITH US FOR INTERNATIONAL AIR FARES
FROM USA TO COLOMBIA ON OUR AIR PARTNERS:
AMERICAN AIRLINES, LATAM AND AVIANCA

INCLUDES:

All transfers between airport and hotel listed in the itinerary on private basis. Hotel accommodations and hotel service charges and taxes. Daily breakfast. Baggage handling at airports and at hotels. All tours and excursions indicated in the itinerary on private basis. English speaking guides. All entrance fees and transfers needed to operate tours and excursions. All meals indicated in the itinerary.

NOT INCLUDED:

International air between USA and Colombia. Local air between Bogota and Medellin. Meals or any other item not described in the itinerary. Early check-in, late check-out, services. Personal expenses. Tips for hotel staff & guides.