Colombia Undiscovered

with our.traveltreats

Three blank squares above icons and text indicating 12 days, pesos, and GMT -5, with calendar, coins, and clock symbols.

Start: Bogotá
Finish: Medellín
Trip Type: Cultural/Adventure
Physical Rating: 2/5
Group Size: 6-12 people

1980€

16 - 27 August 2025

Let’s explore some of Colombia’s hidden gems together - from vibrant Medellín to the raw Pacific coast, mountain biking between the world’s tallest palm trees in the world and spotting humpback whales right off the Colombian Pacific coast.

All of that while sipping on some delicious and freshly made Colombian coffee.

This trip visits some of Colombia’s lesser know regions, but that’s why we love it so much! A lot of the activities are not part of the usual Colombia tourist route: a more secluded palm tree forest, a small family-owned coffee farm near Salento & the raw beauty of Colombia’s pacific coast.

Map of Colombia showing a travel route connecting Buenaventura, Salento, Medellin, Guatape, Bogota, and Villa de Leyva with orange dashed lines.

Highlights

  • Watch majestic humpback whales in their natural habitat

  • 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

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

  • Explore Comuna 13 with a true local still living there

  • Today is your arrival day 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

  • Today we are starting early to make our way from Bogotá to Villa de Leyva. We will arrive in the picturesque town located within the Eastern Colombian Andes in the early afternoon. That way you have enough time to get some food, walk around and explore the cute cobblestone streets by yourself and take in the fresh mountain air.

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

  • After breakfast we will explore one of Villa de Leyva's most iconic landmarks: a house completely made out of terracotta. You’ll learn about the quirky history of how this place came into existence and be even able to walk around on its roof and enjoy some incredible views of the surrounding mountains.

    After a delicious lunch - Villa de Leyva is home to some amazing restaurants - we will leave the mountains behind and take a bus back to Bogotá.
    If you didn’t have much time on the first day, you have now some free time to explore more of Colombia’s capital. Head to Monserrate mountain for sunset, take in the vibe of the historic centre or explore the various museums, like the Museum of Gold or the Botero Museum.

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

  • Today is a travel day. So get your snacks ready and let’s hop on a bus to the famous coffee triangle.

    The bus ride takes about 7 hours from Bogotá. When arriving in Salento, we’ll have some time to freshen up and go for dinner.

    After dinner we will explore the small town and 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)

  • 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

  • In the morning, you will have some time to explore the colourful town of Salento and the surrounding nature by yourself.

    Then 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

  • We’ll have an early start on this day because we have to make our way all the way to the Pacific coast. From there we will take a boat to a remote area, located right within a natural reserve.

    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, we’ll head down to the beach to see if we can catch a glimpse of the luminous plankton.

    Included meals: Breakfast & dinner
    Included transport: Bus and boat to the Pacific coast
    Included activities: Sunset boat ride

  • Today is a day full of adventure!

    In the morning we’ll head out to spot some humpback whales. Between the months of July to September the whales come to the area to give birth to their young and can be seen and especially heard.

    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.

    Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
    Included activities: Whale watching, waterfall boat tour

  • In the morning, relax by the beach and explore the areas that are usually covered by water during high tide. You can also do some kayaking or stand up paddling.

    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 Included activities: Kayaking or stand up paddle

  • We’ll arrive quite early. So after a delicious breakfast you can relax before we explore the city together in the afternoon.

    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.

    Our guide, 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

  • After breakfast, we will head out 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. We will explore the cute little town and have some delicious Colombian coffee and treats before heading back to Medellín.

    As this is our last evening together, we will head to our favourite restaurant in Medellín. Our mouths are already watering!

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

  • 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

  • Accommodation

    10 Nights in a hostel
    1 Night bus

    Food

    11 breakfasts
    2 lunches
    4 dinners

    Activities

    • Welcome & Goodbye Dinner

    • Casa Terracotta in Villa de Leyva

    • Tejo - traditional local game

    • Mountain biking between the highest palm trees in the world

    • Local coffee farm tour

    • Sunset boat tour

    • Whale watching tour

    • Waterfall boat tour

    • Kayaking or 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

Tour Date

Sat 16 Aug 2025 Wed 27 Aug 2025 Sold Out - Waiting List 1980€ / $2150

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  • 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 a mix of hostels and hotels. Some of the locations are in remote areas and have only certain room types available. The standard option on this trip its a mix of twin share and 4 bed dorms. If you book a private room, please be aware that on nights 7 and 8 we are staying in the middle of a natural reserve and private rooms might not be available. Also on night 9 private rooms are not available as we take a night bus.
    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 hotels and 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.