Meet with the locals

OVERVIEW

DAY 1: Arrival in Colombia.

DAY 2: Meet with the inhabitants of Ciudad Bolivar, a marginal neighborhood of Bogota that has been transformed by refugees from the violence of the country in the years 90-2000.

DAY 3: Visit the historical center of Bogota and transfer to Raquira, to Ubaldina’s house. Tejo workshop.

DAY 4: Terracotta workshop with Ubaldina. Transfer to Barichara.

DAY 5: Stay with a farmer family. You will learn and help with the coffee plantations, as well as the farm animals.

DAY 6 : Return to Barichara.

DAY 7 : Visit the village and hike to the village of Guane.

DAY 8: Drive through the imposing Chicamocha Canyon. Transfer to the Caribbean coast.

DAY 9 : Day at leisure in Santa Marta.

DAY 10 : Departure to the village of Cherua to meet the Kogi people.

DAY 1: DEPART FOR COLOMBIA

DAY 2 : CIUDAD BOLIVAR

Thousands of refugees from the Colombian internal war of the 90’s-2000’s came to settle in the capital, in the neighborhood of Ciudad Bolivar, in search for better life opportunities. Today, the neighborhood has been transformed.

• Meet Ciudad Bolivar’s residents to hear incredible life stories and share with the locals.
• You will understand the situation of thousands of people in the country who had to leave their homes to go on an adventure. It is a moving experience.
• Taste the typical Bogotá dish, a delicious ajiaco Santafereño! It is a soup made with 3 types of potatoes, chicken, corn on the cob, capers, white rice and avocado.
• Return to your hotel in the afternoon.
• Overnight in Bogota.

DAY 3: TEJO SPORT

• In the morning, transfer to Raquira.
• On the road, enjoy the emerald green landscape of the Boyacá region on the Cundiboyacense altiplano .
• Arrival at Ubaldina with a local family in the region to have lunch.
• Installation in your homestay, then in the afternoon enjoy a workshop to learn the sport Tejo. It is a traditional Colombian sport and is played by throwing a metal puck at a distance of approximately 20 meters at a square target. The target is composed of clay then close to the center of the mechas with powder. The goal is to throw the metal puck as close as possible to the center in order to explode the mechs !
• Dinner on site.
• Overnight in Raquira.

DAY 4 : RAQUIRA

Raquira is nationally recognized for its artesanal products in terracotta Raquira was already recognized by the quality of its products since the time of Muiscas, before the arrival of the Spaniards. In the Muisca language, the name of the village means “Village of Pots” and the potters work there with black, yellow, white and red clay.

• In the morning, participate in a workshop for making terracotta pottery with Ubaldina’s family, her father will teach you how to use clay! You can then create your own products !
• After lunch, visit at your leisure of Raquira then transfer to Barichara.
• Overnight in Barichara.

DAY 5 : SANTANDER

An association of 7 local families will welcome you. You will go to one of them for an authentic experience.

• In the morning, departure to Vereda Santa Helena to settle in with a new family of farmers, this time in the Santander region.
• They welcome you and then take you for a short walk on their property . You will be able to familiarize yourself with the different crops of the region.
• After a delicious homemade lunch, in the afternoon you will participate in the daily tasks of the family : picking oranges, bananas, sorting the millo, etc.
• Dinner on site.
• Homestay.

DAY 6 : SANTA HELENA

• In the morning you will still spend time with the family with their daily tasks. These change depending on the time of year.
• You will also visit the community school where the children of the vereda take their lessons.
• After lunch, you will return to Barichara .
• Spend your afternoon at leisure.
• Overnight in Barichara.
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DAY 7: THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE IN COLOMBIA?

Is it Barichara the most beautiful village in Colombia? Its stone turns orange under the declining rays of the sun. The cobbled streets, the white houses and the peaceful atmosphere of the place give Barichara an undeniable charm . 

• Visit the village with your guide.
• Take a walk along the Royal or Lengerke.
• Road to the village of Guane (about 2.5 hours one way).
• Guane is known in the region for its important collection of marine fossils (more than 10,000) more than 60 million years old. It is also the cradle of the Guane culture, the indigenous people who populated this area before the arrival of the Spaniards.
• Enjoy a typical lunch in a local restaurant.
• Return to Barichara by tuk tuk.
• Overnight in Barichara.

DAY 8: CHICAMOCHA CANYON

The Chicamocha Canyon is a geographical accident 227km long and 2km deep. It is deeper than the Grand Canyon!

• Drive the mountain road to Chicamocha National Park.
• Take the cable car from one cliff to the other to fully appreciate this natural beauty.
• Continue on to Bucaramanga.
• Board a comfortable overnight bus to the Caribbean coast.
• Night on board.

DAY 9 : SANTA MARTA

Santa Marta is the first city built by the Spaniards in South America. Founded on July 29, 1525, it is located between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (the highest coastal massif in the world, with 5,775 m of altitude at only 42 km from the sea) and the Caribbean Sea.

• Arrival in Santa Marta.
• Transfer to your hotel.
• Free day to discover the city at your leisure.
• Night in Santa Marta.

DAY 10: CHERUA INDIGENOUS VILLAGE

• Early departure from the hotel.
• Ascension by vehicle for 1 hour and 50 minutes to Palmor, a coffee producing village considered the coffee capital of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
• Continue by vehicle for about 2 hours to Cherua, an indigenous Kogi village located at an altitude of 1,320 meters.
• Short 30 minute walk to the indigenous Kogi community.
• Reception by the Mamo, an elderly man who embodies the ancestral knowledge. He is the main authority of the community.
• Lunch with the community.
• Then the Mamo will introduce you to the village and their lifestyle, as well as their relationship with Mother Earth.
• Return to the Kogi community for dinner.
• At nightfall and around a campfire, share with the community and observe their traditional dances.
• Overnight in Cherua in a hammock.

DAY 11: THE KOGI COMMUNITY

• Wake up early to watch the sunrise while enjoying a delicious cup of organic coffee offered by the natives.
• Traditional breakfast.
• Hike for 3 hours along the indigenous trails of the mountain, among the rainforest and hearing many sounds of the wildlife of the region. On the way, taste exotic fruits.
• Arrival at a coffee producing farm.
• Coffee workshop to learn all about the history of Colombian coffee preparation, the planting of this exquisite bean, the cultivation of coffee and finish with a delicious cup of coffee.
• Visit to a honey farm.
• At the end of the visit to the apiary, enjoy a traditional lunch.
• Return by vehicle to Palmor to return to Santa Marta.
• Overnight in Santa Marta.

DAY 12: THE PEARL OF THE CARIBBEAN

Cartagena de Indias has important fortifications and one of the most complete systems of military fortifications in South America. The city of Cartagena de Indias and its fortress are classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Transfer to the Pearl of the Caribbean: Cartagena de Indias.
• Check-in at your hotel, a magnificent colonial house, located in the fortified city.
• Spend your afternoon at leisure.
• Overnight in Cartagena.

DAY 13: LA BOQUILLA, THE FISHERMEN’S VILLAGE

The mangroves are a very rich marine ecosystem, very important for the environmental balance, especially after hurricanes or others.

• Early morning departure to Boquilla to discover the Caribbean birds in the swamp.
• Meet the local population, they will teach you to fish with a line and to catch crabs with a cage.
• Return to the village, to the fishermen.
• You will prepare your lunch with your local hosts. This is a fascinating cultural exchange.
• Spend your afternoon at leisure.
• Overnight in Cartagena.

DAY 14: GOODBYE COLOMBIA

THIS PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

TOURS NOT TO BE MISSED

Voyage à Cartagena : 6 visites originales