Private Tour Highlights
- Lapping up the extraordinary atmosphere of Cartagena, the picturesque walled city awash with cobbled streets and pretty plazas.
- Hopping over to the beautiful Rosario Islands, a National Park brimming with vibrant marine life, for an exciting day of swimming and snorkeling.
- Picking up locally made souvenirs at the bazaars of Las Bóvedas (The Dungeons), formerly an underground prison during the 19th century civil wars.
- Delving into the jungle at Tayrona National Park to glimpse the pre-Columbian civilization of the Tayrona at the archaeological site of Pueblito, before finishing up at heavenly beaches.
Tour Overview
Explore two of Colombia’s gems: beautiful, architecturally rich Cartagena and the lush, bio-diverse jungles of Tayrona National Park with Yampu’s Colonial Cartagena and Tropical Tayrona National Park Tour. Four reasons why you should take a look at this Colombia tour: white Caribbean beaches, the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, a wide variety of wildlife, and a colonial city filled with historic streets, alley ways and stories.
This Colombia tour begins in Cartagena, a UNESCO World Heritage site (and for good reason). Known for its stunning (and well-preserved) architecture and its Caribbean coast, Cartagena is replete with historic streets, alley ways and stories. Take in the old, walled city’s tiled roofs, balconies and courtyard gardens, and be sure to pack your camera; words don’t seem to do Cartagena justice.
Next up: Tayrona (a national park with a notably high concentration of biodiversity). There, you’ll see 37,000 acres of unspoiled, white Caribbean beaches; the foothills of the Sierra Nevada; solitary bays; coral reefs and mangroves. On top of that, you’ll have the chance to check out Pueblito. The Tayrona, descendants of the Chibcha, were one of the most advanced pre-Columbian cultures. Pueblito showcases their masterful engineering and rich culture.
You’ll spend 3 days in Cartagena (where you’ll tour the old, walled city center), take a trip to the Rosario Islands, and then spend another Tayrona National Park. You may want to consider adding a few nights on in San Andrés Island or in Bogota.
Inclusions
*A Yellow Fever vaccine is recommended to enter Tayrona National Park.
Package Price: From £$ 2762
Prices shown above are per person. Hotel categories do not adhere strictly to international ratings; Yampu has evaluated the hotels according to destination and availability. Prices include local airfare (where applicable), hotel accommodation including daily breakfast; all transfers with baggage handling, all guided tours in English and all entrance fees.
Please note that prices are subject to change based on availability and seasonality, especially during the holiday season from December 20th through January 5th each year. Please contact a Yampu Travel Specialist for more information on best times to travel.
Trip Type:
All our trips are operated on a private basis unless specified otherwise. This is only a sample itinerary; your Yampu Tour Consultant will personalize this trip for you according to your available dates, interests and type of hotels. This is your trip and we will work on making it perfect!
Tour Itinerary
Cartagena
Take the flight to Cartagena. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Cartagena is the fifth largest city in Colombia and a pivotal, Caribbean port city. After numerous pirate attacks in the colonial era, a wall was built to surround the historic city center and protect its inhabitants. Cartagena is now a popular tourist destination that retains its colonial architecture and charm.
Take the flight to Cartagena. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Cartagena is the fifth largest city in Colombia and a pivotal, Caribbean port city. After numerous pirate attacks in the colonial era, a wall was built to surround the historic city center and protect its inhabitants. Cartagena is now a popular tourist destination that retains its colonial architecture and charm.
Cartagena Old Town Walk
Guided walk along the walled old town. (The walled, colonial city center of Cartagena was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.) See churches; colonial houses (their balconies and other architectural nuances); the Museum that was the residence of the five-time president of the Republic, Rafael Nuńez; the Santa Catalina bastion; and Las Bóvedas (The Dungeons), where one can find hand-crafted souvenirs. Afternoon at leisure.
Guided walk along the walled old town. (The walled, colonial city center of Cartagena was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.) See churches; colonial houses (their balconies and other architectural nuances); the Museum that was the residence of the five-time president of the Republic, Rafael Nuńez; the Santa Catalina bastion; and Las Bóvedas (The Dungeons), where one can find hand-crafted souvenirs. Afternoon at leisure.
Islas del Rosario
Cruise to Rosario Islands (to the south of the Bay of Cartagena). These Islands constitute a National Natural Park on account of their 23 coral islands and marine fauna. The coral islands were formed by volcano activity that raised the seabed and created ideal conditions for the development of coral reefs. There will be a chance to swim and snorkel. Lunch Included. Return to Cartagena.
Cruise to Rosario Islands (to the south of the Bay of Cartagena). These Islands constitute a National Natural Park on account of their 23 coral islands and marine fauna. The coral islands were formed by volcano activity that raised the seabed and created ideal conditions for the development of coral reefs. There will be a chance to swim and snorkel. Lunch Included. Return to Cartagena.
Cartagena – Tayrona National Park
4-5 hour transfer to Tayrona National Park. Upon arrival check-in at the Ecohabs. Dinner Included. Day at leisure.
Located on Colombia’s northern Atlantic coast near Santa Marta, Tayrona National Park is well-known for its wide variety of wildlife and expansive grounds.
4-5 hour transfer to Tayrona National Park. Upon arrival check-in at the Ecohabs. Dinner Included. Day at leisure.
Located on Colombia’s northern Atlantic coast near Santa Marta, Tayrona National Park is well-known for its wide variety of wildlife and expansive grounds.
Tayrona National Park
Free day. Check out Pueblito's bridges, canals, terraces and ceramics; lie out on the beach; try snorkeling; go horseback riding; rent a bike; or just kick back.
Free day. Check out Pueblito's bridges, canals, terraces and ceramics; lie out on the beach; try snorkeling; go horseback riding; rent a bike; or just kick back.
Tayrona National Park – Santa Marta – Bogota
Morning transfer to Santa Marta airport to take the flight back to Bogota, to connect with the international flight back home (driver only).
Morning transfer to Santa Marta airport to take the flight back to Bogota, to connect with the international flight back home (driver only).
Cartagena - Bolivar, Colombia
Tayrona National Park, Magdalena, Colombia
Places You'll See
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Tayrona National Park
Tayrona National Park is a protected area in northern Colombia, encompassing over 50 square miles of land and some of the loveliest coastlines of Columbia. With its two ecosystems between the sea and the mountains one may see some of the local wildlife including the elusive Titi Monkeys.
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Cartagena
The walled city of Cartagena, with its cobblestone streets and gorgeous colonial architecture, is full of exciting and engaging sites and activities. Visit the Palacio de la Inquisicion, where the Spanish Inquisition condemned men accused of crimes against religion. Or spend the day at the Playa Blanca beach, enjoying the surf and the sand.
Media Gallery
Hotel Options
3 Star Properties
Hotel Bantu
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
The Bantú by Faranda Boutique invites guests to discover one of the most amazing accommodations in the Caribbean, full of warmth and authenticity. A charming boutique hotel in the historic center of Cartagena de Indias, the Colombian colonial city par excellence. Bantú By Faranda Boutique offers an avant garde interior design, eighteenth-century colonial architecture and unique services such as a colonial courtyard, a chill-out terrace, solarium area and swimming pool, spa, sauna, Jacuzzi, and a bar and lounge area. The Cabildo restaurant offers Caribbean and Colombian cuisine.
Alfiz
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
The Alfiz Hotel is located in a XVII century colonial house in Cartagena’s historical quarter. The restoration and decorative design of the eight rooms take in to account the most important periods of Cartagena’s history in order to provide a stylish getaway and encounter with Colombia’s historic city. The hotel offers 8 rooms featuring modern comforts such as air conditioning, Satellite TV, Wi-Fi, and a private bathroom. The hotel also features a beautiful garden, a library, a rooftop terrace, and an outdoor pool. Guests can also enjoy a complimentary breakfast, served daily, a coffee shop, and a bar and lounge area.
Tayrona National Park : Playa Koralia
Playa Koralia
Tayrona National Park , COLOMBIA
Playa Koralia is a unique nature hotel on the Caribbean coast near Santa Marta, Colombia. Nestled among protective palms, the dominant architectural element is nature herself. Particular attention has been given to the interior design, including the murals and the mosaics that decorate each individual habitation individually. The hotel offers 17 cabins, each one equipped with a fan, a hammock, and a private bathroom. The hotel also features a beach front bar, an outdoor dining area, free Wi-Fi, and the renowned Spa Koralia offering a variety of treatments with a special focus on healing and beauty.
4 Star Properties
Cartagena : Sofitel Santa Clara (Classic)
Sofitel Santa Clara (Classic)
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
A perfect blend of vintage and contemporary, striking a balance between art and beauty to accommodate modernity and technology in unique surroundings. Each detail tells a story. The Sofitel Santa Clara hotel offers the perfect combination of age-old tradition, local hospitality and French luxury. The hotel offers 122 rooms, including 19 suites. With its blend of colonial architecture and modern comforts, the hotel offers comfortable rooms, personalized service, gourmet cuisine, a first-class spa, meeting rooms and cutting-edge technology for events, conventions and weddings.
Cartagena : Hotel Casa Pestagua
Hotel Casa Pestagua
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
Casa Pestagua Hotel Boutique Spa, known as “the most beautiful house in Cartagena”, belonged to the 18th Century Count of Pestagua. Distinguished by its exquisite architectural and artistic harmony, today the Casa Pestagua Hotel Boutique Spa offers luxury hotel services, with the comfort and technology expected by the most demanding hotel standards. Casa Pestagua Hotel Boutique Spa is a boutique hotel with its exclusive offer of 11 rooms housed in spacious grounds, worthy of a first rate luxury hotel. Enjoy the privilege of being attended to in the Casa Pestagua Hotel Boutique Spa and receiving a totally personalized service in an oasis of peace and tranquility.
Tayrona National Park : Cabanas Arecife
Cabanas Arecife
Tayrona National Park , COLOMBIA
Ecohabs Arrecifes, located within the Tayrona National Park, just a short distance from the beautiful beach of Arrecifes. The hotel consists of 6 cabins, and each one is equipped with comfortable beds, hammocks, hot water, and private bathrooms. The Ecohab also has a beautiful and lush garden, lots of hammocks to relax in with mosquito netting areas, beach access, nearby natural pools, and a restaurant serving delicious cuisine.
5 Star Properties
Cartagena : Ananda Hotel Boutique
Ananda Hotel Boutique
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
Ananda Hotel Boutique is located in the heart of the walled city of Cartagena de Indias. The hotel offers 23 spacious rooms, each one individually furnished and equipped with free Wi-Fi, Cable TV, minibars, and private bathrooms. The hotel also features a beautiful outdoor pool, an outdoor Jacuzzi with a comfortable lounge area, a massage room for total relaxation, and a gorgeous rooftop terrace. Carmen Cartagena offers contemporary cuisine with a fusion of ingredients and preparations from all over the world.
Cartagena : Sofitel Santa Clara (Superior)
Sofitel Santa Clara (Superior)
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
A perfect blend of vintage and contemporary, striking a balance between art and beauty to accommodate modernity and technology in unique surroundings. Each detail tells a story. The Sofitel Santa Clara hotel offers the perfect combination of age-old tradition, local hospitality and French luxury. The hotel offers 122 rooms, including 19 suites. With its blend of colonial architecture and modern comforts, the hotel offers comfortable rooms, personalized service, gourmet cuisine, a first-class spa, meeting rooms and cutting-edge technology for events, conventions and weddings.
Cartagena : Casa del Arzobispado
Casa del Arzobispado
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
Located in the center of the walled city of Cartagena de Indias, Casa del Arzobispado is the perfect retreat to relax, and soak up the charm of the city. At Casa del Arzobispado, guests can experience the magic and style of colonial times within the original architecture of the beautiful house. The 10 comfortable and attractive rooms feature antique pieces and modern amenities needed to provide the perfect combination of rest and relaxation in a luxurious atmosphere. The hotel also offers an outdoor pool with Jacuzzi, a steam room, and a solarium. There is also a complimentary breakfast served daily, as well as an onsite restaurant serving regional cuisine.
Tayrona National Park : Ecohabs Tayrona
Ecohabs Tayrona
Tayrona National Park , COLOMBIA
Ecohabs Tayrona provides the most comfortable accommodations in the Tayrona National Park. Located on the beautiful Cañaveral Beach, travelers can enjoy peace and privacy in the cozy bungalows, built with native wood. Each bungalow provides a great view of the Caribbean Sea and the green landscape. The ecohabs offer 18 individually named huts, each with a terrace, a seating area, hammocks, and private shower. From Ecohabs Tayrona guests may easily explore the rest of Tayrona National Park, choosing from a variety of activities such as bird watching, trekking to the ancient ruins of the Tayrona tribes, or simply taking long walks along the different beaches of the park.
Luxury Properties
Cartagena : Hotel Casa San Agustin
Hotel Casa San Agustin
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
A luxurious small hotel lovingly restored and reimagined for a new generation of travelers, exquisite Casa San Agustín echoes Cartagena’s fresh contemporary style and colorful Caribbean sensibility. From original frescoes in the library to centuries-old wood-beamed ceilings in the guest rooms, Casa San Agustín’s art and architecture evoke the city’s rich history as 17th century Spanish stronghold. The hotel’s 30 beautifully decorated guest rooms and spacious suites showcase an authentic Colombian style while seamlessly incorporating the modern services and amenities that contemporary travelers seek. Guests can also enjoy the swimming pool with poolside bar, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Cartagena : Charleston Santa Teresa
Charleston Santa Teresa
Cartagena , COLOMBIA
Charleston Santa Teresa, in Colombia’s Caribbean coast, is where a regal mix of historical grace and contemporary cool, meets the warmth of Colombian hospitality. After exploring the sites of the city, relax in the sumptuous and chic guest rooms, unwind in Cartagena’s most luxurious hotel spa offering number of therapies and body treatments, and then experience the magic of a Caribbean sunset over dinner in La Terrazza, one of the best restaurants in Cartagena serving a daily buffet breakfast as well as a broad menu with unique flavors.
Tayrona National Park : Hotel Merecumbe
Hotel Merecumbe
Tayrona National Park , COLOMBIA
For travelers who want a quiet vacation on the beach, Merecume Hotel is the perfect place to “unplug” from daily life. The rooms of this luxury hotel are ecohab style, with minimalist architecture and design. They are built bioclimatically with palm roofs and wood, ensuring cool nights, lulled by songs of crickets, frogs and cicadas. Merecumbre features Wi-Fi in public areas, a luxurious massage room on the beach offering therapeutic and restorative treatments, a daily breakfast, and a restaurant serving cuisine made with natural, fresh ingredients.
Testimonials
Caroline T.
Traveled January, 2016
Our trip was excellent!
Highlights from our trip: Bogota museums and the Sunday bike ride (absolutely fabulous guide for that), Hotel in Villa de Leyva (the best!), Medellin (wonderful Aquarium, also visit to Level 1 neighborhood, also great restaurant), Botero sculptures and museum, walking around in Cartegena, hotel in Cartegena, great restaurants in Cartegena, snorkeling.
Traveled To
Barbara
Traveled February 2016
First and foremost, we had a fabulous trip!
Thank you and the whole local team so much!! We truly appreciate the immediate attention and swift action due to the missed flight connection. It was handled very professionally with lots of communication, so we had no anxiety, and while we missed some sleep since we arrived in San Agustin quite late, we were very pleased not to have to sacrifice any of the planned tour as a result of it.
Traveled To
Edoardo
Traveled February 2016
It was a most memorable trip and we enjoyed every minute of it
It was a most memorable trip and we enjoyed every minute of it, thanks to the impeccable Yampu’s organization and the great support offered by your local agents.
Claudia is feeling much better and thinks it was thoughtful of you to send her some teas.
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