8-DAY COLOMBIA MULTISPORT

8-DAY COLOMBIA MULTISPORT

8 DAYS

FROM $1.987

Trip type

Moderate adventure expeditionns in treeking, biking, rafting, hiking, snorkeling, kayaking and diving in the Ecuatorian Andes, Amazon and the Galapagos Islands.
Active Adventure

Activity Level

Daily activities may include short hikes and drives on bumpy roads. Voyagers should be in good health and wear comfortable walking shoes to endure standing for prolonged periods of time.
Moderate

Service Level

Comfortable and appropriate accommodations, mostly local-won and with big personality, and mix of public and private transport especially with sea, train and flights.
Standard

Small Group Departure

Max. 16 / Av. 10
Or call +001 305 2805599

TRIP OVERVIEW

Capture the true spirit of Colombia with an adventurous and active trip that combines the best nature and cultural highlights of this country. Immerse yourself in the astonishing beauty of the Caribbean region of Santa Marta and Tayrona National Park, snorkeling with lots of small tropical fish and colorful coral reef by Taganga bay, relaxing on white-sand beaches and exploring the surrounding towns “Minca” hidden in the tropical forest on two wheels. Hike through lush jungles and cross-rivers in Tayrona national park to reach the mysterious «Pueblito» ruins of Tayrona culture. Finally, visit the fairy-tale town of Cartagena, whose beautifully preserved colonial old town of cobblestone streets and plazas is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

TRIP ACTIVITIES

Biking
Culture
Snorkeling
Trekking
Wildlife

Capture the true spirit of Colombia with an adventurous and active trip that combines the best nature and cultural highlights of this country. Immerse yourself in the astonishing beauty of the Caribbean region of Santa Marta and Tayrona National Park, snorkeling with lots of small tropical fish and colorful coral reef by Taganga bay, relaxing on white-sand beaches and exploring the surrounding towns “Minca” hidden in the tropical forest on two wheels. Hike through lush jungles and cross-rivers in Tayrona national park to reach the mysterious «Pueblito» ruins of Tayrona culture. Finally, visit the fairy-tale town of Cartagena, whose beautifully preserved colonial old town of cobblestone streets and plazas is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Biking
Culture
Snorkeling
Trekking
Wildlife
Meet your AJ trip leader and group at 7:00pm.

Welcome to Colombia and Cartagena! Officially named Cartagena de Indias, and once known as Calamari, this romantic city of Colombia is home to more than one million inhabitants. The city is located on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean coast region. Cartagena offers residents and visitors a wide variety of activities and amenities, combined with the picturesque beauty of its cultural and architectural past. Enjoy colonial churches and pre-Colombian art in contrast with the futuristic high-rise buildings of a busy metropolis. There are no planned activities on your arrival day, so check into our hotel and enjoy the city. Your trip expert leader will hold a general briefing in the evening, normally between 7pm and 8pm (a note will be posted in the arrival hotel with details).

Accommodation: Hotel Don Pedro de Heredia or similar.

Meals included: none.

Travel in the morning to Santa Marta for around 5 hours by the coastal shore of the Caribbean Sea. You’ll pass by important cities like Barranquilla, among the biggest in Colombia, and also see large sea ports located in the delta of Magdalena River, the largest in the country. Take the afternoon at leisure to enjoy the sunset by the beach at Taganga village.

Accommodation: Hotel Bahia Taganga or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Today after breakfast, enjoy the first exploration of the Caribbean Sea by joining a half day snorkeling activity near Taganga bay, where you will see lots of tropical small fish and beautiful colorful coral formations in shallow waters. Spot at king lionfish, barracuda, moray, eels, even turtles sometimes.

One of the fantastic things over here is the temperature of the water is always pleasant no wetsuit needs it.

In the afternoon explore the local town and enjoy some time at Playa Grande, the closest beach.

Accommodation: Hotel Bahia Taganga or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Today we will travel for one hour in the direction to the mountains of Santa Marta range to Minca village, where we will start our adventure at 700mt altitude, biking down through the cloud forest for about 2-3 hrs, surrounded by an incredible nature. On the way, we will make multiple stops to visit a local coffee farm and a hummingbird’s sanctuary, jump into the fresh waters of a little river and watch a chocolate making demonstration.

We will stop for our lunch break in Minca village, enjoying the amazing panoramic views, before hopping on our bike again to reach Minca town Return to Taganga.

Accommodation: Hotel Bahia Taganga or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

Early In the morning, we will head north along the Carribean coast. We will arrive at one of the most beautiful national park of the Caribbean, the divers’ paradise of Tayrona Park. Here, the white sandy beaches of the coral reefs contrast with the tropical forests of the Santa Marta mountain range, a paradise and home for more than 350 species of birds and 100 types of mammals living among flower gardens situated along the different trails in the park.

Our hike will start at Calabazo entry, one of the gates into the national park; we will hike for around 3.5 to 4 hours across the park from the tropical forest to end by the beach, on the way we will pass by Pueblito

At this pre-Hispanic archeological site, we can find more than 200 terraces, which are the remains of a small village belonging to the Tayrona culture, which dates back to between 800 ac to 1500 Ac. We will admire the volcanic rocks of Santa Marta Range, carved by the people of this ancient culture to build their temples, and the trails that connect with the Lost City. There will also be some local Kogui people who consider the close descendents from the Tayrona.

The trail is also a challenging path with a lot of ups and downs in the head of the tropical forest. Good shoes are recommended to walk on rocky trails.

Lunch will be provided by the beach at Cabo San Juan guia the first Camp site in the park.

We will continue walking for one more hour by the beach exploring beautiful bays with turquoise color waters before arriving at Arrecifes, our campsite for the night.

We will spend a magical night sleeping in a hammock.

Accommodation: Arrecifes Camp

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

 

After breakfast, we will have the morning at leisure to enjoy some free time exploring the different bays such as la piscine well known for good snorkeling or simply enjoying the beach. Just after midday, we will take our backpacks to hike for one hour by the sea short to the parking site of Zahino entry to take our transportation back to Santa Marta city.

Accommodation: Hotel Santa Marta Real or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast.

 

In the morning, we will have a transfer for 4 ½ hours on the main highway to Cartagena De Indias old city. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena is Colombia’s most famous and visited city. The main attractions are the remarkably intact historic walled colonial city (“ciudad amurallada”) and the beachfront area of Bocagrande.

After checking into the hotel, enjoy a guided walking city tour to learn about the impressive history that the city holds, visiting key sites throughout the historical center of the city that were the inspiration for Colombia’s most famous author, journalist and Nobel Prize winner; Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Also, discover colorful squares, and monuments with incredible conservation of Spanish architecture.

Accommodation: Hotel Don Pedro de Heredia or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

International departures, end of services. Take with you memories and photos and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Colombia soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a “buen viaje”!

Meals included: Breakfast.

What’s Included?

  • Transportation: Comfortable land transportation, Jeep 4×4.
  • Accommodation (based on double occupancy): Comfortable 3 to 4 star Hotels (6 nights) and 1 nights at basic camp at tayrona national park).
  • Meals: 7 Breakfasts, 3 lunches & 1 dinner Allow USD 150-200 for meals not included.
  • Staff & Trip Leader: Certified AJ expert English-speaking adventure leader and local guides.

What is not included?

  • Single supplement $562.
  • Entrance fee to Tayrona national park $20.
  • Entrance fees not listed.
  • International air (also applied to trans-border flights).
  • International airport transfers.
  • Applicable tourist visas.
  • Incidentals.
  • Mandatory Travel Insurance.
  • Airport taxes.
  • Tips or gratuities (recommended $8 per trip leader $5 per local guides, $2 for drivers NOTE: keep in mind that this is all per day per traveler).
  • Beverages.
  • Meals not mentioned above.
  • Optional tours or optional admissions not listed above.
Please select listing to show.

ITINERARY

Meet your AJ trip leader and group at 7:00pm.

Welcome to Colombia and Cartagena! Officially named Cartagena de Indias, and once known as Calamari, this romantic city of Colombia is home to more than one million inhabitants. The city is located on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean coast region. Cartagena offers residents and visitors a wide variety of activities and amenities, combined with the picturesque beauty of its cultural and architectural past. Enjoy colonial churches and pre-Colombian art in contrast with the futuristic high-rise buildings of a busy metropolis. There are no planned activities on your arrival day, so check into our hotel and enjoy the city. Your trip expert leader will hold a general briefing in the evening, normally between 7pm and 8pm (a note will be posted in the arrival hotel with details).

Accommodation: Hotel Don Pedro de Heredia or similar.

Meals included: none.

Travel in the morning to Santa Marta for around 5 hours by the coastal shore of the Caribbean Sea. You’ll pass by important cities like Barranquilla, among the biggest in Colombia, and also see large sea ports located in the delta of Magdalena River, the largest in the country. Take the afternoon at leisure to enjoy the sunset by the beach at Taganga village.

Accommodation: Hotel Bahia Taganga or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Today after breakfast, enjoy the first exploration of the Caribbean Sea by joining a half day snorkeling activity near Taganga bay, where you will see lots of tropical small fish and beautiful colorful coral formations in shallow waters. Spot at king lionfish, barracuda, moray, eels, even turtles sometimes.

One of the fantastic things over here is the temperature of the water is always pleasant no wetsuit needs it.

In the afternoon explore the local town and enjoy some time at Playa Grande, the closest beach.

Accommodation: Hotel Bahia Taganga or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Today we will travel for one hour in the direction to the mountains of Santa Marta range to Minca village, where we will start our adventure at 700mt altitude, biking down through the cloud forest for about 2-3 hrs, surrounded by an incredible nature. On the way, we will make multiple stops to visit a local coffee farm and a hummingbird’s sanctuary, jump into the fresh waters of a little river and watch a chocolate making demonstration.

We will stop for our lunch break in Minca village, enjoying the amazing panoramic views, before hopping on our bike again to reach Minca town Return to Taganga.

Accommodation: Hotel Bahia Taganga or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

Early In the morning, we will head north along the Carribean coast. We will arrive at one of the most beautiful national park of the Caribbean, the divers’ paradise of Tayrona Park. Here, the white sandy beaches of the coral reefs contrast with the tropical forests of the Santa Marta mountain range, a paradise and home for more than 350 species of birds and 100 types of mammals living among flower gardens situated along the different trails in the park.

Our hike will start at Calabazo entry, one of the gates into the national park; we will hike for around 3.5 to 4 hours across the park from the tropical forest to end by the beach, on the way we will pass by Pueblito

At this pre-Hispanic archeological site, we can find more than 200 terraces, which are the remains of a small village belonging to the Tayrona culture, which dates back to between 800 ac to 1500 Ac. We will admire the volcanic rocks of Santa Marta Range, carved by the people of this ancient culture to build their temples, and the trails that connect with the Lost City. There will also be some local Kogui people who consider the close descendents from the Tayrona.

The trail is also a challenging path with a lot of ups and downs in the head of the tropical forest. Good shoes are recommended to walk on rocky trails.

Lunch will be provided by the beach at Cabo San Juan guia the first Camp site in the park.

We will continue walking for one more hour by the beach exploring beautiful bays with turquoise color waters before arriving at Arrecifes, our campsite for the night.

We will spend a magical night sleeping in a hammock.

Accommodation: Arrecifes Camp

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

 

After breakfast, we will have the morning at leisure to enjoy some free time exploring the different bays such as la piscine well known for good snorkeling or simply enjoying the beach. Just after midday, we will take our backpacks to hike for one hour by the sea short to the parking site of Zahino entry to take our transportation back to Santa Marta city.

Accommodation: Hotel Santa Marta Real or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast.

 

In the morning, we will have a transfer for 4 ½ hours on the main highway to Cartagena De Indias old city. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena is Colombia’s most famous and visited city. The main attractions are the remarkably intact historic walled colonial city (“ciudad amurallada”) and the beachfront area of Bocagrande.

After checking into the hotel, enjoy a guided walking city tour to learn about the impressive history that the city holds, visiting key sites throughout the historical center of the city that were the inspiration for Colombia’s most famous author, journalist and Nobel Prize winner; Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Also, discover colorful squares, and monuments with incredible conservation of Spanish architecture.

Accommodation: Hotel Don Pedro de Heredia or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

International departures, end of services. Take with you memories and photos and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Colombia soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a “buen viaje”!

Meals included: Breakfast.

PHOTOS FROM OUR GALLERY

What’s Included?

  • Transportation: Comfortable land transportation, Jeep 4×4.
  • Accommodation (based on double occupancy): Comfortable 3 to 4 star Hotels (6 nights) and 1 nights at basic camp at tayrona national park).
  • Meals: 7 Breakfasts, 3 lunches & 1 dinner Allow USD 150-200 for meals not included.
  • Staff & Trip Leader: Certified AJ expert English-speaking adventure leader and local guides.

What is not included?

  • Single supplement $562.
  • Entrance fee to Tayrona national park $20.
  • Entrance fees not listed.
  • International air (also applied to trans-border flights).
  • International airport transfers.
  • Applicable tourist visas.
  • Incidentals.
  • Mandatory Travel Insurance.
  • Airport taxes.
  • Tips or gratuities (recommended $8 per trip leader $5 per local guides, $2 for drivers NOTE: keep in mind that this is all per day per traveler).
  • Beverages.
  • Meals not mentioned above.
  • Optional tours or optional admissions not listed above.

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About YOUR ADVENTURE

TRIP DETAILS

Colombia is a wonderful, colorful and friendly country to visit. It is, however, a very different culture. So to ensure that you are fully prepared for the trip and enjoy your stay here we provide the following travel tips:

GENERAL (TRAVEL IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY):Colombia is a developing country and many regions still live in poverty. Although the tourism infrastructure is reasonably good considering that this is very new industry. Though it is growing and improving each year, it can still be difficult at times to travel.

You will often be needing a little patience as things tend to run on “latino time” – buses often depart late, people often arrive late to meetings, and things generally happen more slowly and with less urgency than in other countries.

The best way to deal with these differences is to look on the bright side and take each challenge as part of your travel experience. Relax and enjoy these sides to Latin culture.

ETIQUETTE & BEHAVIOR: Colombia is one of South America´s most hospitable nations. Even in the overburdened metropolis of Bogota, people are happy to give directions, chat, and ask a question. You´ll often hear “De donde vienes?” (“Where are you from?”). Colombians can be extremely knowledgeable and proud of the history of their country.

In the cities, women who know each other often greet each other with a single kiss on the cheek, while men shake hands.

SHOPPING & BARGAINING: Colombia has many colorful markets – both for handicrafts and local products. Before buying you should always, bargain in price as this is the custom and the locals often try to charge extra to the tourists. There is no general guideline as to how much you should pay for any individual item – you should decide how much you are willing to pay, start your offers lower than that amount and compromise little by little trying to get the seller’s price down to your ideal price. Bargaining can be fun, and a great chance to improve your Spanish while interacting with the locals!

When in regular shops/malls you should pay the quoted price as, it is considered rude to bargain.

CAMERAS & PHOTOGRAPHY: Colombia, with its majestic landscapes and varied cityscapes, is the dream of every photographer. However, you should respect the locals and follow these simple rules when photographing them:

Always ask permission before taking someone´s picture. People in remote villages often do not like being photographed.

TIPPING: It is recommended to Tip our Drivers and Guides as this is not included in the price of the trip, for drivers we recommend $3 USD per person per day and for the guides $10 USD per person per day.

Tipping is also standard practice in most cafes and restaurants – 10% is normal.

FOOD & DRINK: Another health risk in Colombia is traveler´s diarrhea caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. It is therefore very important to watch what you eat - do not eat anything from street vendors, avoid ice unless you are sure it is made from purified water, avoid uncooked or under-cooked food and unpasteurized milk, drink bottled and boiled water, even when brushing your teeth. In the case of illness always, inform your guide or hotel staff who will help you deal with it and ensure that you drink enough water to maintain hydration.

HYGIENE: Hygiene standards are generally lower than those you are used to in North America or Europe. One very important difference is that the sewage system cannot cope with toilet paper being flushed into the toilet. There is usually a basket next to the toilet, which should be used to deposit used toilet paper, and although unpleasant, this method is more pleasant than the toilet overflow that will occur if paper is flushed!

SAFETY AND SECURITY: Safety and security is an important issue as pick pocketing and robbery of tourists can and does occur. It is important not to be paranoid when traveling as most Colombians you meet will be very honest and friendly people, but there are some basic precautions that you should take: Unless necessary never carry anything valuable with you (i.e. expensive watches / jewelry) or large amounts of money. Guard your cell phone and keep zippers zipped and pockets closed when out and about.

EXTRA IMPORTANT DETAILS

ITINERARY DISCLAIMER: It is our intention to adhere to the itinerary described; however, due to our travel style, on occasions, it may be necessary or desirable to make small changes. Weather conditions and unpredictable local circumstances may lead us to make alterations to the route and/or travel times. Hotels and flight schedules might change according to availability. Any mention of specific wildlife in the itinerary or trip details is not a guarantee that it will be seen during the trip.

SEASON: All year.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Easy to Moderate - We consider this expedition as a soft adventure, so children and adults can do it with no problem and for people that want to take a break or just avoid any of these adventures can always hang out with the driver doing something else. For people that may want to do a bit more challenging, our guides will be happy to coordinate something to help them.

NOTE - For specific details of activities, please view the Full Itinerary.

ACCOMMODATION: All prices are based on double-occupancy. If you are traveling solo, you will be matched with another participant of your same sex. If you prefer to have a single room, please contact AJ prior to your departure to arrange your accommodation at an extra cost, it is very important to notice that the hotels listed on the Itinerary description may change according to availability so we do not guarantee you stay there, but we will make sure you will stay in a similar one of the same category.

MEALS: Traveling with ADVENTURE Journeys you will have the possibility to experience and taste local food and snacks. Your guide will help you identify typical food and suggest the best places to enjoy it. Some meals are not included in order to give you some flexibility about where, what and with whom to eat. You have the option to share these meals with the group; however there is no obligation to do this. If you have any allergies or food restrictions, please inform AJ prior to your departure.

Vegetarians, Vegans and Gluten Free people are very welcome in our trip; our guides are always ready to coordinate with chefs and restaurants fantastic meals for them, as Ecuador is very well known for its great diversity of gastronomy.

YOUR TRIP LEADERS AND GUIDES: All AJ guides and trip leaders are highly experienced, licensed with a tourism degree and certified as Wilderness Adventure First Aid respondents. They all have approved several extra training courses for kayaking, rafting, biking and horse riding, besides these they all are amazing and have a fantastic personality. We always carry a complete first aid kit in our trips.

In some locations and for some activities, local guides join the trip leaders to provide an added service and make sure we practice sustainable tourism involving local indigenous people in our operation.

SUSTAINABLE ECO AND CULTURAL TOURISM: Clients receive interpretation and education about the ecology and conservation of the Caribbean tropical forest and learn about the factors that threaten it. We aim to promote long-term conservation of both local people cultural identity and the environment. We transport out and recycle all non-organic garbage and we prefer to work with local suppliers. Your visit will encourage the local communities to support responsible eco-tourism as a sustainable alternative for their living.

HEALTH INFORMATION: Please inform AJ of any existing medical conditions (i.e. pregnancy, diabetes, etc). Yellow fever, Hepatitis B vaccination and Malaria Medication are mandatory for this trip. We strongly recommend to ensure that routine immunizations such as tetanus and diphtheria are up to date and to consider Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations. Please ask your doctor for advice.

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