A Taste of Colombia - the Amazon to the Andes.
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The Cocora Valley - Take a hike through a cloud forest 7,500' above sea level in the Andes among the crazy 200' tall wax palm trees - Colombia's national tree. Just a short jeep ride away from where we'll be staying in Salento.
One of the brightly colored birds of the Amazon.
A typical family scene in Colombia's coffee country... sacks of coffee on the roof, mom, dad and baby in the front seat and son hanging off the back. Willy's Jeeps are a way of life out here.
Dancing in the streets of Salento.
Separating the coffee cherries is still done manually on many small family run Colombian coffee farms. We'll have plenty of opportunities to visit one.
Hunting Amazon-style!
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August 19 - 28, 2017. Meg had such a great time in Peru she asked us to create another amazing adventure! Amazon to the Andes.
$2190 including air. Includes flights within Colombia too! We will begin our adventure in the Amazon jungle where Colombia, Peru and Brazil meet, and we will visit all three countries! We'll even spend a night in the famous Zacambu Lodge in the steamy Peruvian Amazon so we can get close up to the beauty of the flora and fauna of the region. Next we'll head to Colombia's Coffee Country in the Andes Mountains where we will experience all the area has to offer. The hotels are amazing. The scenery is gorgeous. The people are some of the friendliest I've ever met... anywhere. And it's the middle of the dry season with average temperatures in the low 80's and twelve hours of sunlight every day. We'll end the trip with a little luxury hotel complete with rooftop spa in Manizales before heading home.
$2190 includes airfare from JFK on Avianca, all air taxes and fuel surcharges, flights and transfers between all destinations in Colombia, nine nights in Colombia including breakfasts every day, four lunches, four dinners, services of Manuel Fresneda our native Colombia English speaking guide and and a pre-departure orientation. Prices are based on double occupancy. Single supplement available for solo travelers is $259. For trip details please see the itinerary below. Most people don't realize that Bogota, Colombia is only a tad over 5 hours away and it's in the same time zone as NYC. The hop from there over to the the Coffee Triangle is about 40 minutes! And the hop to Leticia in the jungle is about an hour. Avianca is Colombia's national airline and their planes are clean and spacious and their staff is first rate. Reserve your space. No money due now.
Leticia is in the heart of the Amazon jungle where Colombia meets Brazil and Peru. We'll use Leticia as a jumping off point for our two day overnight adventure into the Amazon. From Leticia we can also hop in a tuk tuk and take a quick ride to Brazil for some of the best Caipirinhas you've ever tasted.
Salento is a pretty little Spanish colonial town nestled in the Andes in the heart of Colombia's coffee country. It's a "tourist" town only in good ways. It's got everything you need and it hasn't been discovered by Americans yet so it's not overpriced... far from it! There's plenty to do in and around town... coffee plantation tours (including a really good one 10 minutes walk from the center of town), horseback riding, hiking in the Cocora Valley with 200 foot tall palm trees that look like something out of a Dr. Suess book and a cafe stop half way around the walk with more hummingbirds than you can count. And don't be surprised if you see Juan Valdez walking down the street... seriously. Manizales is one of the three main cities that make up the Coffee Triangle, and it's got a cool vibe. The public transit system is a series of ultra modern cable cars that criss cross the mountain ridges to take you to the various neighborhoods... for 75 cents! Manizales is a quaint, mountainous city that has the look and feel of a European university town. Home to 6 colleges and universities, it is also the regional center of art and culture, with the Manizales International Theater and Jazz Festivals. Hotel Amazon B&B. Our base for exploring the Amazon region. It's a pretty little boutique property in the heart of Leticia. Zacambu Jungle Lodge. Overlooking the river and totally off the grid. Generators get turned off at 10pm and it's lights out! From here we'll go swimming with the pink dolphins, fishing for pirahna, hiking through the jungle in search of monkeys and more. Hotel Salento Real. A gem of a hotel in the heart of Salento. This will be our base for four days while we explore the town and surrounding countryside, including the famous Cocora Valley. La Quinta is a traditional cattle ranch that extends to the foothills of the Los Nevados Mountains National Park, located in the Colombian Coffee Region. It has it's own thermal water baths, seven amazing natural waterfalls and spectacular scenery - perfect for horseback riding, hiking, relaxation, meditation and adventure. Their chef will prepare all our meals during our two night stay here, while we relax before our trip to Manizales and all the city has to offer. Hotel Quo in Manizales, Colombia boasts a rooftop terrace with Jacuzzi, sauna, spa and stunning views. A great base to explore the city. Located in a great neighborhood with shopping and restaurants nearby, or take a ride on the cable cars that traverse the steep city hillsides. Reserve your space. No money due now.
Colombia’s Coffee Country from Salento to Manizales
Itinerary Aug 19, 2017. Saturday Day 1 Arrive in Leticia, Colombia in the early afternoon after our flight from JFK on Avianca. Transfer to the Amazon B&B where we will spend our first night. Take a tuk-tuk ride over to Brazil for the afternoon and explore Leticia in the evening. Aug 20, 2017. Sunday Day 2 Breakfast served at hotel. Then transfer to boats for our trip into the Amazon. Arrive at the Zacambu Jungle Lodge where we will participate in many activities of the next two days. Lunch and dinner served at the lodge. Overnight Zacambu Jungle Lodge. Aug 21, 2017. Monday Day 3 Breakfast served at the lodge. Awake to the sounds of the jungle and another days activities in the Amazon. Lunch served at the lodge. Transfer by boat back to Letica and our friendly Amazon B&B hotel. The evening is free to relax and hang out in Leticia. Aug 22, 2017. Tuesday Day 4 Breakfast served at hotel. Maybe an early morning excursion to Monkey Island or bird watching? After lunch head to the airport for our flight back to Bogota and on to Periera in the Andes. Transfer by private coach to the newly refurbished Hotel La Moraleja in the heart of Salento, where we will spend the next three nights. Aug 23, 2017. Wednesday Day 5 Breakfast served at hotel. Free day in to rest, relax and wander the beautiful Spanish colonial town of Salento. If you prefer you can go mountain biking, riding motorcycles, touring a local coffee plantation or trying Colombia's national pastime, Tejo, which combines beer, horseshoes and explosives.... quite a game! Overnight in La Moraleja. Aug 24, 2017. Thursday Day 6 Breakfast served at hotel. Rest of the day free at your leisure. Overnight in the La Moraleja Hotel. Suggest: Meet 8am in the main square for jeep ride to the Cocora ValleyDay for 5 hour guided hike through the cloud forest to see the 200’ tall palm trees and hummingbirds. Aug 25, 2107. Friday Day 7 Breakfast served at hotel. Meet in front of hotel to board our private coach for transfer to La Quinta ranch. Along the way we trade our bus for a chiva (open air brightly painted party bus), then horses and mules for the final leg. All meals will be provided while we stay at La Quinta. This place is beyond description with waterfalls, volcanic hot spring fed swimming pool and starry nights you’ll never forget. Not to mention the home cooked food! Aug 26, 2017. Saturday Day 8 Breakfast, lunch and dinner served at La Quinta. The day is free to enjoy at your leisure. Opportunities for hiking, horseback riding and quiet relaxation at it finest. Overnight in La Quinta ranch. Aug 27, 2017. Sunday Day 9 After lunch we will begin our journey to Manizales, and have the afternoon and evening free to explore all the city has to offer. Overnight at the luxury Quo Hotel with rooftop terrace and spa. Aug 28, 2017. Monday Day 10 Breakfast served at hotel. Meet in lobby. Our coach departs 9:30am for transfer to airport for flight home on Avianca Airlines. Reserve your space. No money due now.
This is the beautiful ranch we stay at on our Colombian trip to the Andes Coffee Country. No cell or internet service. Accessible only by horseback. Volcanic hot spring fed swimming pool and rustic luxury.
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