CARIBBEAN COLOMBIA

Touch down at Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG) and make your way to the hotel in Cartagena where our Local Insider will greet you at 7pm. They will accompany the group throughout the trip. Before dinner, explore the colorful colonial buildings and cobbled alleys of the Old Town. In the evening, get to know your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner at La Vitrola restaurant. Expect a convivial ambience and live music. Afterwards, venture out for a rum on the rocks at one of Cartagena’s vibrant array of bars.

This morning, you’ll visit the nearby fishing village of La Boquilla and explore the surrounding mangroves by canoe. Learn about the environmental importance of this ecosystem as you drift through the natural labyrinth before returning to Cartagena. In the afternoon, join a guided stroll through the historic walled city before hopping onto a street food tour. Here you’ll have the chance to sample local delicacies such as arepas (fried corn patties) and ceviche (fish marinated in lime juice), followed by a rum-tasting session.

Today, you’ll visit San Basilio de Palenque – one of the most historically important settlements in Colombia. It was here that Benkos Biohó led a rebellion of enslaved Africans against the Spanish during the 16th century, forming an army of escapees who eventually established the first free African town in the Americas. You’ll learn about the fascinating heritage of the town, including the unique local language, and enjoy a traditional lunch in the company of the residents. Later on, back in Cartagena, get your dancing shoes on and take a lesson in champeta – a style of dance integral to the city culture.

Wave goodbye to the mainland temporarily as you take a boat trip to explore the Rosario Islands – an archipelago of 27 islands within a national park about 62mi (100km) southwest of Cartagena. Here, you’ll find alluring Caribbean beaches without the crowds, and calm, clear waters teeming with marine life and coral reefs. Swim, snorkel and relax on the pristine white sands of this tropical haven (bring your own mask and fins). Return to Cartagena and spend the evening at leisure.

Ready to hit the road? After breakfast, you’ll depart from Cartagena and travel nearly 300km (186mi) up the coast towards the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta – the highest coastal mountain range in the world. Snow-capped peaks, exceeding 5,700m (18,700ft) above sea level, sit just inland from the Caribbean Sea. En route, you’ll stop for a boat ride along the Magdalena River, just outside the Vía Parque Isla de Salamanca, followed by lunch. If you’re lucky, you might spot an elusive river turtle. Continue to the hotel, near the laid-back beach town of Palomino, where you’ll spend the next three nights.

There aren’t many places where tropical rainforest and palm-fringed beaches sit against the backdrop of snowy mountains, but that’s exactly what you’ll find in Tayrona National Park – a short drive from Palomino. Keep an eye out for howler monkeys and iguanas as you hike through the jungle. A small population of jaguars also live here, although you’re unlikely to encounter one. You’ll stop halfway at Cabo San Juan for lunch – the beach is primed for a swim – before finishing back in Cañaveral. This evening is yours to do as you please - some stargazing, cocktails with your trip mates or simply taking in the ambience.

Today you'll be following in the footsteps of indigenous tribes in Tayronaka, learning about their ancient civilization and visiting several significant archaeological sites. After a guided hike, you’ll have the opportunity to try river tubing on the Río Don Diego; appreciate the rich biodiversity as you gently drift towards the sea. Return to Palomino and spend the afternoon as you please – perhaps relaxing by the beach with a cold refajo (a Colombian cocktail made with lager and soda). Come nightfall, we'll celebrate our adventure with a Farewell Dinner on our final night in paradise.

The time has come to pack your bags and bid farewell to your fellow travelers as your Colombian experience comes to an end. After breakfast you'll jump aboard the group transfer to Cartagena to catch your flight home – or choose to extend your stay.