8-DAY COLOMBIA MULTISPORT
8-DAY COLOMBIA MULTISPORT
8 DAYS
Trip type
Activity Level
Service Level
Small Group Departure
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
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
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.
ITINERARY
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
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.