Colombia Undiscovered

coffee hills, city lights and untouched coastlines

This is Colombia beyond the postcards.
From vibrant Medellín to misty palm forests, remote Pacific beaches, and hidden natural pools where locals go to cool off. You’ll drink fresh coffee where it’s grown, hike through cloud forests, and discover the wild, lesser-seen side of the country we’ve totally fallen for — without missing the highlights.

Travel itinerary details including a 15-day cultural adventure trip, with a physical rating of 3 out of 4, group size of 4 to 10 people, and a price of £1830.
Graphics showing five green boxes with white stars overlapping a dark background.

  • Slide into natural jacuzzis

  • Enjoy lunch surrounded by the world's highest palm trees

  • Learn about organically grown coffee on a family-owned farm

  • Discover the raw beaches of the Pacific coast

  • Take a boat ride to breathtaking hidden waterfalls

  • See whales in their natural habitat (only between July and September)

  • Climb to the top of a rock allegedly brought by aliens

  • Explore Comuna 13 with a true local still living there

Highlights

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - Bogotá

Today you arrive in Bogotá. You'll receive more information on the airport transfer in our WhatsApp group the week before the trip starts. In the evening, we will head out for a Welcome Dinner and get to know the rest of the group.

Included meals: Dinner
Included transport: Airport transfer
Included activities: Welcome dinner

Day 1

Day 2 – Bogotá

Get to know the bustling high-altitude capital of Colombia. You are free to explore the city, but be back in time. In the late afternoon, we will take the cable car up to Monserrate mountain, and if the usually cloudy weather opens up a bit, you can watch an incredible sunset overlooking the metropolis.

Included meals: Breakfast
Included activities: Sunset at Monserrate

Day 2

Day 3 – Santander

After breakfast, we will get going and make our way up, around 6 hours north of Bogotá. The bus ride leads us through scenic green valleys to a small town in the region of Santander. Located within a valley and not easy to reach, this village is inhabited only by locals and occasionally some Colombian tourists that find their way here.

Included meals: Breakfast
Included transport: Transport to Santander

Day 3

Day 4 – Santander

This morning you can sleep in, relax and take in the tranquillity and small-town vibe of Guadalupe. After this chill morning, we will head out and hike through incredible landscapes to a river with natural pools. You can slide on the riverbed into the pools - make sure to pack an old pair of socks for that!

Included meals: Breakfast
Included activities: Hike & natural pools

Day 4

Day 5 – Villa de Leyva

Today we are starting early to make our way from Guadalupe to Villa de Leyva. We will arrive in the cute cobblestone town in the early afternoon. So you have enough time to get some food, walk around and explore by yourself.

Included meals: Breakfast
Included transport: Bus to Villa de Leyva

Day 5

Day 6 – Villa de Leyva

In the morning we will go and explore one of Villa de Leyva's most iconic landmarks: a house completely made out of terracotta. Not only is the history of how this place came into existence something else, but you can also walk around on top of it and enjoy some really cool views of the surrounding mountains. We will leave Villa de Leyva after lunch and take a bus back to Bogotá. Here you have the afternoon and evening for yourself to explore the exciting capital further.

Included meals: Breakfast
Included transport: Bus to Bogotá
Included activities: Casa Terracota

Day 6

Day 7 – Salento

This is a bit of a travel day. We will make our way to Salento, about 7 hours by bus from Bogotá. When arriving in Salento, you will have some time to relax and go for dinner. After that, we will venture out together for a local game of Tejo. Be prepared - it can get loud!

Included meals: Breakfast
Included transport: Bus to Salento
Included activities: Tejo (traditional local game)

Day 7

Day 8 – Salento

Today is going to be full of adventures! We are going to venture outside of the tourist path and see a place without tourists, but full of palm trees. But not any palm trees, the highest palm trees in the world! And on top of that, we will explore this incredible place by biking through the palm tree valley with a picnic-style lunch right at the bottom.

Included meals: Breakfast & lunch
Included activities: Bike tour to the highest palm trees in the world

Day 8

Day 9 – Salento

In the morning, you will have some time to explore the colourful town of Salento and the surrounding nature by yourself. Somewhere in the afternoon, we will then catch a jeep and head to a small locally-owned coffee farm. Everything on the farm is organically grown and you will learn how coffee in this region is produced, from the planting to the roasting and of course, you will try a cup in the end.

Included meals: Breakfast
Included activity: Organic coffee farm tour

Day 9

Day 10 – Pacific Coast

We’ll have an early start on this day and go on a bus journey to Buenaventura from where we are going to take a boat to a remote part of Colombia, right on the Pacific coast. We will arrive in time to enjoy the sunset and relax while taking in some pretty breathtaking scenery - a majestic coastline with jungly beaches and gigantic rocks with lush green vegetation. At night, when the tide is low, we will go down to the beach, where you can find luminous plankton inside the caves that form under the rock formations.

Included meals: Breakfast & dinner
Included transport: Bus and boat to the Pacific coast
Included activities: Luminous plankton experience

Day 10

Day 11 – Pacific Coast

Relax by the beach and explore the areas that are usually covered by water during high tide before we head out for some kayaking. After that, we will have lunch and time for a siesta. For the afternoon, get ready for some breathtaking waterfalls and adventurous opportunities to take a swim. Note: Tours that take part during the months of July to September also include a whale-watching experience. During those months whales come to the area to give birth to their young and can be seen and especially heard from this area.

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Included transport: Boat & night bus to Medellín
Included activity: Waterfall boat tour & kayaking/stand up paddle board, in season: whale watching

Day 11

Day 12 – Pacific Coast

Around lunchtime, we take the boat back to Buenaventura, where you can have some food before we leave the majestic Pacific coast. With full stomachs, we are then ready to head to Medellín on a night bus.

Included meals: Breakfast
Included transport: Boat & night bus to Medellín

Day 12

Day 13 – Medellín

We arrive in Medellín quite early, so you can take a little nap before we head out to explore the city. This afternoon we will visit the famous Comuna 13: an area of various neighbourhoods that used to be considered some of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in Colombia but have transformed massively over the last decades. Laura, born and still living in Comuna 13, will show us around and tell us everything about the transformation this neighbourhood went through.

Included meals: Breakfast
Included transport: Metro to and back from Comuna 13
Included activity: Comuna 13 tour

Day 13

Day 14 – Guatapé

After breakfast, we will head out again: This time to the small town of Guatapé, two hours away from Medellín. Here, we will first go up to El Peñol, a rock formation with around 700 steps to the top and an incredible view of the surrounding lake. After that, we will head over to the town of Guatapé by TukTuk and enjoy the afternoon there before going back to Medellín by bus. As this is our last evening together, we will head to our favourite restaurant in Medellín. You can look forward to some boozy starters!

Included meals: Breakfast & dinner
Included transport: Bus to and back from Guatapé
Included activity: "El Peñol" rock formation & Goodbye dinner

Day 14

Day 15 – Medellín

Today we say goodbye. You can leave at any time, but we hope you can still have breakfast with us before heading back home.

Included meals: Breakfast
Included transport: Airport transfer

Day 15
Map of Colombia showing a travel route from Buenaventura through Salento, Medellin, Guatape, Guadalupe, Villa de Leyva, and Bogota.

  • Accommodation

    14 Nights in hostel
    1 Night bus

    Food

    14 breakfasts
    3 lunches
    4 dinners

    Activities

    Welcome & Goodbye Dinner
    Sunset at Monserratte
    Las Gachas natural pools
    Casa Terracotta
    Tejo (traditional local game)
    Tour to the highest palm trees in the world
    Local coffee farm tour
    Sunset boat tour
    Luminous plankton experience
    Waterfall boat tour
    Kayaking & Stand up paddle board
    El Peñol (entrance fee)
    Comuna 13 guided tour

    Transport

    Airport transfers
    All transport between cities and to and from activities.

  • International Flights
    Visa fees (If you require a visa for Colombia)
    Any meals not mentioned in the included section
    Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary
    Personal expenses
    Travel Insurance

Next Dates

TBC Aug 2027
12 Spots Available
Book Trip

  • Can I sign up as a solo traveller?
    Of course! You can sign up for our trips whether you are solo or with a group of friends. Our groups are a mix of open-minded people, who usually become friends within a second.

    Does the tour include flights?
    As people will join our tour from different parts of the world, we decided it is easier to not include the flights in the tour. We are happy to help you find the best flight deal for your trip. Just let us know in the notes section, when booking the tour and we will get in touch with you to help you find your flights. In general, we usually use Skyscanner to find the best deals.

    If my flight has a layover in the USA or Canada, do I need a visa?
    US: Even when transiting through the US, you still need ESTA. Make sure to apply in advance as it may take up to 72 hours for the application to be processed. Check the official ESTA website for more information: https://esta-center.com/en/transit/index.html

    Canada: For Canada you don’t need to apply for the normal visa, but will need a certain kind of transit visa depending on your country of origin. Check for more information here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/transit.html

    Do I need to purchase travel insurance before the trip?
    Yes, it is obligatory for everyone who joins us to have travel insurance before departing. We can help you find the right travel insurance for you. Just contact us via Email or WhatsApp.

    Airport transfers: how does it work?
    When you book your flight, let us know your flight number and the time you arrive as soon as possible. That way we can stay on track for any delays of your flight. When you arrive at the destination airport, one of us will be there to welcome you and bring you to the car that will take you to the hostel. At the hostel, there will also be one of us to help you with the check-in.

    What type of luggage should I bring?
    To make the trip easier for you, a backpack or duffle bag is a must. We are heading to some quite remote locations, where access with rolling suitcases is quite hard. Think of minivans with little space, 4x4s, motos or even boats. Ideally, this bag shouldn't be bigger than 40l, which is also hand luggage size and will save you some money on your flight to the destinations.

    Is it a tiring trip?
    We guess you know you are not signing up for a two-week spa holiday with us. This trip in Colombia's central region and the Pacific coast, has a couple of longer bus journeys, for example between Salento and Buenaventura or between Buenaventura and Medellín. But we promise: every long bus is totally worth the journey! Apart from that, you'll be calmly enjoying every second of this little hidden piece of paradise on earth.

    How is the accommodation throughout the trip?
    We are going to stay at hostels because of the more social atmosphere. Unless you book private accommodation, you will be in a 6-bed dorm with mainly private bathrooms and only with people from our group. (The room capacity may differ depending of the place we're staying at). If you want to know more about the accommodation, just contact us via Email or WhatsApp.

    Can you provide me with a list of the hostels we will be staying at?
    Sure, just get in touch via Email or WhatsApp and we can send you a list of the hostels. In very rare cases it might happen though that we will stay in another hostel. If you wish, we can also inform you about any changes, if they come up.

    Is Colombia a safe country?
    Colombia is a safe country to travel. As everywhere in the world it is important that you take the usual safety precautions. Especially in bigger cities, as there is always the risk of pickpocketing.

    Can I drink the tap water?
    In big cities like Medellín and Bogotá tap water is perfectly safe and drinkable. In smaller towns it depends and you are best to ask the local staff in the hostel. Around the Pacific coast it is advisable not to drink the tap water at all.

    What should I pack?
    To make it easier for you to know what to bring, we have put together a packing list for this trip here.

    In case you have further questions don’t hesitate to contact us via Email or WhatsApp.

Colorful umbrellas hanging above a vibrant, multi-colored street with buildings painted in bright colors, cobblestone pavement, and people walking.
Night scene with starry sky and silhouette of palm trees and a building illuminated with warm light.
A pod of whales swimming in the ocean, with sunlight filtering down from above.
A sandy beach with rocky cliffs and lush greenery on either side, calm water in the distance, and a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
A woman with red hair tied in a bun, wearing a black top, stands on a lookout tower viewing a landscape of lakes and green land under a blue sky with clouds.
A man sitting on a tree branch over water, facing a waterfall in a lush forest.
An elderly man with a white hat and a plaid shirt is picking coffee cherries from a coffee plant.
Tall palm trees growing on a grassy hillside against a clear blue sky.