Trafalgar has announced a new “Colombia Rediscovered” trip with the latest release of its 2020 Latin America trips, now featuring 13 itineraries across 8 countries. The Colombia itinerary offers travellers an insider look of Colombia, one of the world’s hottest emerging destinations, where guests will see the iconic attractions of the country, and learn about its indigenous people through a unique “Be My Guest” opportunity to meet one of Colombia’s leading anthropologist, Dr. Santiago Giraldo and some members from one of the country’s local indigenous mountain tribes.
Trafalgar, the global leader in guided holidays, has made a name for itself through its innovative and immersive trips and experiences that let guests truly connect to the people and places in the destinations they visit. The latest trip is an example of how the brand continues to innovate with this immersive itinerary of Colombia.
Julian Guerrero, Minister of Tourism for Colombia shares, “The benefit of booking with Trafalgar is that there has been extensive work done to really understand our country and show the very best of it. The best local suppliers have been selected, the ideal itinerary, top hotels and immersive experiences. Visitors can rely on great service while they experience the destination with components that are very unique and local. If someone were to do this trip on their own it would probably take longer, it would cost more, and they would miss out on the extraordinary.”
For travellers concerned about their safety in Colombia, Minister Gurrero said, “Colombia is a mega diverse destination where one will fall in love with the warmth of its people. The food, the culture, the landscapes vary so much from place to place, from the Andes Mountains, to the Caribbean and into the Coffee Region. The negative perception of Colombia is mostly regarding what happened three decades ago. Colombia has changed dramatically, and the continuous growth in tourism for the past 15 years in double digits will hopefully reassure anyone considering to visit that Colombia is now a top destination.”
On this 13-day trip around Colombia, guests will start from the colourful capital city of Bogota where they are offered a choice of included sightseeing with a ‘Local Specialist’ to visit an emerald workshop located off the tourist track, a visit to the Botero Museum, or a guided visit to Montserrate, ascending over 10,000 feet above sea level via funicular. In the evening, guests will be able to ‘Dive into Culture’ for a Regional Dinner at a favourite haunt of the Bogotá locals. A trip highlight that will impress is a visit to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaguirá, a stunning cathedral built inside the depths of a salt mine.
Gain insights about Colombia’s famed Coffee Triangle, a UNESCO World Heritage site recognized for its “centennial tradition of coffee growing” producing the best coffee in the world. Enjoy a scenic jeep drive into the lush countryside to a coffee plantation, joining the owner’s family for lunch. There will be an opportunity to savour the complex flavours of with Juan Pablo Echeverry at his hacienda and historic farm for a memorable Colombian “coffee baptism” experience against the backdrop of the area’s vast coffee fields. Equally impressive is the opportunity to stay at Casa San Carlos Lodge, a unique ‘Stays with Story’ lodge that is primarily built with bamboo, providing views across well-kept gardens and open farmland.
Spend 2 nights in Medellin, and with guided tours accompanied by a Local Specialist, learn about the urban and cultural transformation of the city. Guests will discover Colombia’s Caribbean coast in the scenic town Santa Marta and the stunning Tayrona National Park where they will meet with Santa Marta’s most influential family, the Davilas, champions of sustainable farming and the largest producer of organic crops in South America.
Trafalgar will offer guests a unique ‘Be My Guest’ lunch with both the Davila family and the opportunity to meet and chat with Colombia’s leading anthropologist, Dr. Santiago Giraldo. They will also have a rare cultural encounter as they meet members of one of the local indigenous mountain tribes, an exchange only possible because Dr. Giraldo has been working with these tribes for many years, building a relationship of mutual trust and respect. These tribes rarely interact with outsiders, so Trafalgar guests get a simply unrivalled look into Colombian indigenous life.
This experience is not only enriching for the guests, but it is also rewarding for the local indigenous population. As part of the brand’s JoinTrafalgar sustainability initiative, this experience helps support the preservation of the traditions of these ancient tribes. In addition, Trafalgar’s parent company’s not-for-profit foundation TreadRight is offering direct support to Dr. Giraldo’s work with the ProSierra Nevada Santa Marta Foundation.
Sizzling Cartagena takes centrestage for the final 3 nights in Colombia where guests stay in the heart of Cartagena’s Old Town. Guests will enjoy a choice of included sightseeing from guided visits to the fortress of Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, La Popa Monastery and ‘The Vaults’, the final fortifications built by the Spanish in the city. Or, a tour to the fishing village of La Boquilla for first-hand insights into the locals’ seafaring traditions where an active adventure by canoe through the mangroves to watch the local fishermen awaits.
With three departures to Colombia for 2020 already fully sold out, Trafalgar’s ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ Real Travel Deals on worldwide trips helps ensure travellers enjoy the best deals and choice selection of trips when they book early.
Prices for “Colombia Rediscovered” start from US $4,1071 after 10% early payment discounts, based on twin share, and includes two internal flights within Colombia. Young travellers (5 to 18 years) can save up to 10% more, and guests who have travelled 5 or more times with Trafalgar can enjoy another 5% savings. Other popular trips to South America include: the 8-days “Highlights of Peru” (Prices after discount from US 2,041) and the 14 day “South America Landscapes” visiting Argentina, Brazil and Chile (Prices after discount from US 4,368).
