We are beyond excited about our inaugural trip to Colombia in 2023. Our Founder, Chelsea, and Director of Operations, Pamela Aguilar, had the most incredible and inspiring trip to Antioquia in May 2022 to receive an award at the 2022 Latin America TVAs. During their week in Colombia, they met with street artists, dancers, and musicians in Comuna 13, dined al fresco in the heart of Medellín, learned how to make ceramics, tuk-tucked around the colorful streets of Guatapé, and spent an incredible day visiting one of the largest orchid collections in the world. 

During our trip we will learn about Colombian history and the struggles and triumphs in the past twenty years as Colombia recovers from decades of political and economic instability and crime. We were blown away by the creativity, passion, and general spirit during our time in Colombia and we can't wait to share it with you! 

Keep scrolling to view the complete itinerary, including an extra day added in Cartagena!

Upon arriving at the airport, one of our Program Directors will be waiting to greet you. They will then accompany you to the El Poblado neighborhood to get settled into your hotel. From there, we will give you a brief orientation and introduction to the neighborhood. 

This evening we will all enjoy a welcome dinner during which travelers can get to know one another and the guides better as we discuss the itinerary for the following days. For this special evening, we will enjoy a multi-course dining experience with wine pairing at one of El Poblado's most up and coming restaurants. Be sure to come hungry!

After a delicious breakfast at our hotel, we will begin our first full day in Colombia by jumping into a city tour with our local guide in Medellín. During the tour we'll visit the city center where we'll take in over 23 iconic brass sculptures crafted by Fernando Botero Angulo, a Colombian figurative artist and sculptor, born in Medellín. 

On our tour, we will also discuss Colombian history at a macro level, but our primary focus will be on the city of Medellín and its remarkable renaissance. While we will discuss Pablo Escobar, we will not be participating in any "Pablo Escobar" tours, rather our focus will be on the inspiring stories of individuals and communities in Medellín in the present. Additionally, to honor the lives lost during the decades of violence and organized crime, we will visit the Museo de la Memoria. 

We'll then grab a light lunch before returning to El Poblado to enjoy some free time in the late afternoon before gathering in the evening for a cooking class where we will learn to make classic Colombian street food dishes such as empanadas, arepas, and patacones along with a Colombian mojito! 

After a day full of history and interaction, we will head back to our hotel to rest up for another adventure filled day. 

Having discussed Colombian history the day before, on this day we will jump back into the present while hearing from various Colombians about their struggles, triumphs, and hopes for the future. Our local guide will immerse us into unique neighborhoods, Moravia & Comuna 13., to hear inspiring stories of transformation through art and gardening. 

In the 1970s-80s, Moravia was an underdeveloped area that essentially became a massive dump, forming a literal hill of trash on the northern edge of Medellín. Due to the armed conflict that destabilized many rural areas at the time, families fled to the city to seek relative safety and began to construct informal homes on the 

outskirts of the city, including on top of the dump. This created a public health and safety hazard, and so began efforts to relocate (most) families into a higher quality housing situation while recuperating the land through agriculture. What was once 7 hectares of trash piled over 30 meters high, is now green space with over 70 species of plants and home to critters and important species such as bees. During our tour, we will hear the story, and learn about the obstacles faced along the way and both the pros and cons of this transformational movement. 

From there we will head to another inspiring community, the well-known Comuna 13. Once considered to be one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Medellín, Comuna 13 is now known for its incredible urban art movement and innovation. On our tour we will hear the story of transformation that took place in this neighborhood while enjoying the vibrant murals, playing traditional music with a group of young musicians, and learning more about how hip hop culture and dance are providing inspiring outlets for the neighborhood's youth. We will also have lunch in Comuna 13 to enjoy local flavors and contribute to the local economy. 

In the afternoon we will return to El Poblado to enjoy a free late afternoon and evening. 

Today we will begin our journey into Antioquia's countryside, a stark contrast to the urban metropolis of Medellín. We will make our way to the small town of Fredonia where we will be staying at a boutique hacienda and coffee farm. Here you can relax amongst  the sounds of nature and unwind after our last few days in the city.

First, however, we will explore the La Ceja area where we can learn about hydrangea production and enjoy a delicious home cooked meal, visit one of the world's largest private orchid collections and get our hands dirty in a ceramic workshop! Be sure to come photo ready as there are plenty of photo ops!

Later that evening we will arrive at our countryside abode for the next two nights and get settled in for a relaxing stay at this enchanting inn where we will enjoy dinner with fresh ingredients sourced from the hacienda's own garden. 

Today we will soak in the beauty and calm that our hacienda offers us. We will enjoy a variety of activities both on-site and in the nearby town of Fredonia today and tomorrow. This portion of our trip is all about connecting with nature and the vibes of a small town in Antioquia, therefore we will take things at a more relaxed pace. 

All of our meals will be prepared at the hacienda with homegrown ingredients and throughout our time here we will enjoy a tour of the coffee farm, a coffee cupping (tasting) session, birdwatching, hiking, and horseback riding. Activities are optional and the order in which we do them will be determined close to the start date of our trip and will depend on factors such as weather and the farm's schedule during that season. 

If you prefer to relax and enjoy the hacienda or would like to coordinate an alternative activity just let us know! 

After breakfast at our hacienda, we will complete any remaining activities before departing for Guatapé. Upon arriving at Guatápe we will settle into our cabins over the lake for a restful night before another full day of exploration! 

For dinner, we will enjoy a community barbeque and bonfire. 

Wake up slowly and enjoy breakfast in your room peering out over the lake. Or, for our early birds, you can enjoy a morning kayak or paddle boarding session. 

We will then begin our day exploring the area of Guatapé via moto-Chiva, foot, and by boat! 

Taking advantage of the morning weather, we will tour the Guatapé area by boat, making stops along the way to learn about history and culture. Upon finishing our boat tour, we will enjoy a delicious meal of sancocho Colombiano, a local take on a stew. Our local guide will then give us a guided tour of this picturesque town full of colorful and ornate architecture and charming plazas, parks, and waterside walkways. 

After a full day of activities, we will return to our lakeside cabins for a restful evening. 

Today we will head to the Caribbean coast via a short 1-hour domestic flight to Cartagena de Indias. But before heading out, we will enjoy a few more hours in the idyllic town of Guatapé. 

You can choose to spend your morning walking up to the top of the famous Piedra del Peñol or taking in the aerial views via an 8-minute helicopter ride! We will then enjoy a homecooked meal at one of our moto-chiva driver's homes. If we are lucky, we may even see Joaquín from our Guatemalan cooking classes, since we will be visiting his wife's family in her hometown! 

After lunch, we will head to the José María Córdova airport to take a short flight to Cartagena de Indias, with an estimated arrival time of 6:30 pm. From there we'll travel to our hotel to check in before grabbing dinner! 

On our first full day in Cartagena, we will enjoy the city's historic neighborhoods, soaking up the history, culture, food, and arts! Our local guide will show us around Cartagena's colorful streets, incorporating visits to historical sites, markets, small businesses, and the nearby Getsemani neighborhood. This bustling hipster neighborhood of Getsemaní was once a hotspot for crime and prostitution but is now giving way to a bustling art, music, and dance scene.  

After lunch, you will have some free time to rest or explore independently. In the evening we will attend a salsa class before dinner and an optional night out on the town! 

After a light breakfast, we will spend our morning learning how to fish with locals en En La Ciénaga while floating through the mangroves in traditional wooden canoes. After finishing up with our morning catch of fish and crabs we will continue our cultural immersion activities in the community of La Boquilla. 

Here we will learn about the community and the impact that African culture has had on music, dance, and flavors in the area. We will then cook up lunch with our own morning catch and enjoy a day of cross-cultural exchange, connection, and learning. 

In the late afternoon, we will round out an interesting day of history and culture, with a unique tour guided by two sisters from Cartagena, Yulisa, and Laura. Their tour focuses on powerful females in Cartagena's history with a particular emphasis on the persecution of women accused of practicing witchcraft during the colonial period. Self-proclaimed feminists, Laura and Yulisa will share their city with us from a local and feminist viewpoint during this intriguing tour. 

You will then have the evening free to enjoy the city's vibrant streets, restaurants, cafés, shops, and nightlife! 

Today, we will soak up those final rays of the Caribbean sun with a visit to the nearby Playa Blanca on Isla Barú. We will take a short (40-minute) motor boat ride from Cartagena's port in order to reach this beautiful tropical island that makes up part of the Islas de Rosario archipelago. Here we will relax on the beach, grab lunch swim in the ocean and just unwind after an epic 10 days of venturing throughout Antioquia and Cartagena. 

Upon return to the historic center, we will have some downtime to rest and freshen up before a special farewell dinner. 

We will assist you in coordinating a shuttle for your flight out of Cartagena back home. It's time to say goodbye to Colombia for now!