Colombia: From the Andes to the Sea

Set more than 8,500ft above sea level, Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, is a modern metropolis that benefits from a year-round spring-like climate. Stroll the lively Paloquemao market and sample local delicacies at its food stalls. Explore La Candelaria, the oldest part of Bogotá, with its colonial-era architecture. Visit the Botero Museum to view works by acclaimed Colombian artist Fernando Botero, alongside pieces by Picasso, Renoir and Monet. The fascinating Gold Museum, which boasts 34,000 pre-Hispanic artefacts, is also not to be missed.  

Colombia’s mountainous coffee region has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status, and it’s easy to see why. From your hotel, set within an estate planted with coffee, bananas and sugarcane, explore life on a working coffee farm, learn to discern the qualities of different beans, and conclude your visit with a coffee tasting guided by a local expert. Later, enjoy a delicious dinner with a curated selection of the region’s finest cuisine while immersed in the serenity of nature.  

Set among the green hills of Colombia’s Antioquia region, Medellín lives up to its nickname: the City of Eternal Spring. After some difficult years, it has blossomed into a shining example of social transformation and urban regeneration. Explore Medellín’s parks, museums and cultural treasures with an expert A&K guide, who will help you gain a deeper understanding of this fascinating city. Highlights include a trip to the Comuna 13 neighborhood where you will see how regeneration projects have improved the quality of life of inhabitants and visit a local business to hear from the owner about the positive impact this has had on their family

Exuberant, colorful, tropical and beautiful, Cartagena is widely regarded as Colombia's crowning destination. Visit its colonial walled city and walk its picturesque streets and plazas. Not to be missed are the imposing Castle San Felipe Barajas, a masterpiece of Spanish colonial military engineering built to defend the city from pirate attacks, and the imposing church of San Pedro Claver with its fine collection of stained-glass windows.  

Departing by private vessel from the city, travel though the Bay of Cartagena, past the twin forts of the San Jose and San Fernando, out into the Caribbean Sea to the stunning Rosario Islands. Surrounded by crystal-clear waters and some of the best coral reefs in Colombia, the islands are now a designated national park. Soak up the sun on glorious white-sand beaches, swim or snorkel, and then retire to your luxurious accommodation on Isla Barú.