10 Day Medellin, Pacific Coast and Cartagena

The hottest tourist locations in Colombia… Medellín, The Pacific Coast and Cartagena!

You’ll start your Colombian journey in Medellín, where you’ll enjoy the culture of the Paisa (the name given to those born here). You’ll love this city tour, filled with famous artwork, amazing graffiti in Comuna 13, cable cars, and a journey to the massive Guatape Rock. Here you’ll climb to the top for an amazing view, and have the opportunity for a boat cruise, a coffee tour, or even a helicopter flight overlooking this magnificent area.

Next, you’ll discover the untouched beauty of the Colombian Pacific Coast; with whale watching, beautiful beaches, and thermal pools.

Finally, Cartagena will be waiting to show you the beauty of this ancient city, along with a day on a Tropical Island and the unbelievable experience of a mud bath in a Volcano!

Itinerary

Day 1: Medellín, Colombia

Stop At: Medellin, Medellin, Antioquia Department
Welcome to Colombia!

Arrive at any time, your driver will be waiting to collect you from the airport and take you to your hotel.

There are no activities planned for this day, so just relax and maybe check out your neighborhood.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Obo Hotel or similar

Day 2: Comuna 13 and City Tour

Stop At: Comuna 13 Tour (Pazifistas), Medellin Colombia
The city of Medellin offers a great variety of urban art due to the city’s transformation during the last 20 years. Nowadays, the city is full of countless artistic expressions of street art and the local authorities declared urban art a cultural landmark of Medellin.

Admiring the graffitis of the Comuna 13 guided by the local artists themselves, our tour will give you an insight into the history and daily life in this area and the importance of street art for society. On this tour, you’ll also enjoy a cable car ride, fruit tasting, and ride on the outside escalators which helped transform this neighborhood into what it is today.

Next, you’ll continue onto a magnificent Medellín city tour starting in the Plaza Botero with our local expert who will explain every part of the good, bad, and the sometimes-ugly history of this fantastic city.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Obo Hotel or similar

Day 3: What a Rock & Lake

Stop At: Guatape, Guatape, Antioquia Department
Today, you’ll be driven through some of the most beautiful scenery toward the replica town of Old Peñol, a town flooded that now lies at bottom of Lake Guatape. The only part of this town that is still visible is the church spiral that sticks out of the water, marking the spot for everyone to see.

After you have walked through the replica overlooking Guatape Lake, you will carry on to the big rock known as La Piedra, Guatape Rock, and El Peñol. Once there you will have the opportunity to climb the 740 steps to the very top with absolutely breathtaking views every step of the way.

After you have returned to the ground you will be collected and driven to the nearby Guatape Town, where you’ll enjoy a walking tour of the cobblestone streets lined with colorful buildings.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Obo Hotel or similar

Day 4: The Pacifico!

Stop At: Bahia Solano, Bahia Solano, Choco Department
On arrival to Nuquí you’ll be collected from the airport and taken directly to the marina for your boat ride to your home for the next 2 nights. Set in an amazing scene and just a short stroll to the water’s edge, this is an idyllic location to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Following lunch, you’ll be going out in search of some of the many humpback whales that visit every year between the months of May and November (best months July to October).

On your return, you’ll enjoy an easy 30 min walk to the Cascada del Amor (The waterfall of Love) where you can enjoy a refreshing swim in this peaceful location.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Pacific Coast
La Bayka

Day 5: Whale Watching and Thermal Pools

Stop At: Bahia Solano, Bahia Solano, Choco Department
You’ll wake to the wonderful relaxing sounds of the ocean and the native birds singing at the start of another beautiful Pacific Coast day!

After breakfast, you’ll be off in search of some of those amazingly wonderful humpback whales and their baby that will be swimming nearby. You’ll be enjoying 2 hours out on the ocean before heading back to the eco-lodge for another fresh lunch.

Following lunch, it’ll be time to visit some wonderful thermal hot springs. Once here you’ll soak in the pools and relax in this amazing dream-like setting. You’ll then venture back to the eco-lodge in time for a beautiful sunset and another wonderful dinner.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Pacific Coast
La Bayka

Day 6: Pacific / Medellín

Stop At: Medellin, Medellin, Antioquia Department
You’ll be waking once again to the soothing sounds of the waves and the singing birds searching for their morning meal.

You’ll have time for a quick swim or a short hike, and another wonderful breakfast before taking a boat back to Nuquí and on to the airport for your flight back to Medellín.

On arrival, you’ll be collected and taken directly to your hotel to check-in and relax in the City of the Eternal Spring.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Obo Hotel or similar

Day 7: !¡! CARTAGENA !¡!

Stop At: Cartagena, Cartagena, Cartagena District, Bolivar Department
Today, you’ll embark on a mid-morning flight to Cartagena where on arrival, you’ll be collected and taken to your hotel to drop off your bags and relax with a bit of “me time” before being collected for a magnificent city tour in the afternoon.

Travel with us through this amazing city, going to the most interesting locations of the city in an air-conditioned vehicle. With our bilingual guide explaining the history behind every important site you visit.

You’ll discover panoramic views of the city from La Candelaria, a convent builtin 1606. Explore the fort of Castle San Felipe before traveling through Manga, Getsemani, and the modern city of Bocagrande, before enjoying a walk in the historic center.

This is simply a wonderful way to get to know this ancient city, seeing it by both day and night!
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel Patio de Getsemani or similar

Day 8: Rosario Islands

Stop At: Islas de Rosario, Islas de Rosario, Cartagena District, Bolivar Department
You’ll be starting your day with a 7:30 am pickup from your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. From there we’ll take you to pier de la bodeguita (Wharf of the Bodeguita) where a speedboat will be waiting to take you on a breathtaking ocean cruise touring the Rosario Islands to arrive at a beautiful picturesque beach. Once here you’ll also be assigned your personal beach space, which will be exclusive for yourself and members of your group.

You’ll receive full beach service, a fantastic typical lunch; use of deckchairs and umbrellas; a cocktail on arrival, and English speaking hosts. You will not receive any annoying beach vendors trying to sell you souvenirs or anything you do not wish. You will have the full day to relax and enjoy your space, along with the ability to hire gear for snorkeling, paddleboarding or kayaking.

This will be one of the highlights of your Caribbean adventure!
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel Patio de Getsemani or similar

Day 9: Immerse Yourself in the Natural Beauty of Totumo

Stop At: Volcan de Lodo El Totumo (Mud Volcano), Santa Catalina, Caribe Colombiano, Cartagena Colombia
We hope that after a comfortable sleep and a delectable breakfast that you are ready for one final adventure in Colombia.

Enjoy a mud bath in the mineral-rich, world-famous El Volcán de Lodo El Totumo. Here, locals will help you massage the mud onto your body. After your relaxing mud bath, a group of local women will be cleaning your whole body. At the end of this process, you’ll head to the beautiful beaches of Manzanillo del Mar where you’ll enjoy a swim in the tropical waters.

Next, you’ll enjoy a fabulous typical Caribbean lunch including Coconut rice, fried fish, green salad, and patacones before exploring the Cartagena Mangroves in a canoe skippered by an expert local fisherman. Enjoy a walk through their community to see how the locals truly live.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Hotel Patio de Getsemani or similar

Day 10: Say Farewell to Colombia!

Stop At: Cartagena, Cartagena, Cartagena District, Bolivar Department
We’ll have transport waiting to take you to the airport at your desired time.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel Patio de Getsemani or similar