Antioquia 8-Day Adventure: Medellin City Tour, Guatape Cycling and Rio Verde Rafting

Enjoy Medellin as your home base for a week and explore the fascinating region of Antioquia.

Day 1: Welcome to Medellin  

Arrive at Medellin's José María Córdoba International Airport and start your hour-long drive to the impressive Medellin Valley. The rest of the day will be at your leisure and spend the night at a boutique hotel located in the heart of Medellinʼs hippest, cosmopolitan neighborhood: El Poblado.

Day 2: Coffee Hacienda

Go for a scenic drive through the Andean mountains and arrive at a traditional coffee farm. With a coffee grower, explore the plantation and partake in a hands-on learning experience following the coffee processing art, from the seed to the cup. Learn how coffee is linked to every Colombian family and how its history is a  source of pride for Antioqueños. Enjoy an authentic Colombian lunch prepared by an in-house chef and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing by the pool, exploring the hills, and/or following the old-train tracks of Antioquiaʼs first railway!

Day 3: Paramo Trek

Venture to Belmira, a Spanish-style town located at an altitude of 2,500 masl. Start your hike and encounter rare endemic plants that can only be found in one of Colombiaʼs rarest ecosystem: the Páramo. Páramo deserts exist in high alpine zones just above the tree line and below the permanent snow-line. According to scientists, they are “evolutionary hot spots” with some of the fastest evolving plant and bird species in the world. There are mountainsides of cacti circling alpine lakes, coral-like plants growing from marshes, and blossoming flowers on succulent plants. Reach the mountaintop and satisfy your senses with a delicious picnic lunch while soaking in the pristine beauty of the mountain range. Your trek ends with a drive back to your hotel.

Day 4: Medellin City Tour

Today, explore the innovative city of Medellin starting with the illustrious Jardin Botanico. Stroll through the iconic collection of bronze sculptures at Plaza Botero, board the city's ultramodern Metro system which includes a gondola ride over the mountainous terrain. Disembark at San Javier and visit Comuna 13, a neighborhood which was once one of the most dangerous in Medellin, but has since been transformed into an art-centered community with lovely murals in every corner. Return to El Poblado in the late afternoon.

Day 5: Biking in Guatape

Meet your bilingual guide and drive through the countryside as you learn about Guatapé's history and the armed conflict surrounding the building of the dam that created the Guatapé Lake. Then, cycle for three hours along scenic Laguna de Guatape. Continue to downtown Guatape, the most colorful town in Colombia, and admire its beautiful artwork along the lower half of its buildings. After lunch of freshwater fish and other local delicacies, relax by the lake and finish the day with a 700-step ascent to La Piedra or El Peñol, a ten-million-ton granite monolith that has an elevation of 2135 meters above sea level. From the top, you'll be rewarded with the sweeping views of the man-made Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir. In the afternoon, head to San Francisco and spend the evening in a hacienda by the river. 

Day 6: Rio Verde Expedition

Today, hop on a 4x4 and dive into the maze of rainforest-covered mountains in San Francisco. Get your hiking shoes ready and start your trek down the valley as the pack mules carry your gear. Upon arrival, learn about the river safety protocols with your professional raft guide. Raft through the jungle-hugged river for about 1.5 hrs and jump off high boulders and narrow canyon. Make a riverside camp and enjoy a delicious and hearty dinner. Sleep under the stars in your sheltered hammocks and fall asleep with the sound of nature as your lullaby.

Day 7: Rio Verde Expedition

After breakfast, enjoy a hike up a canyon and begin rafting through Rio Samana. Explore secluded beaches and swim in hidden waterfalls. Keep your eyes peeled for tropical animals and exotic birds in one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Along the way, you will also witness traditional gold mining practices in the area. At the end of the day, arrive at Puente Samaná and then head back to Medellin where you'll spend the night.

Day 8: Medellin

Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. You will then be transferred back to the airport at the end of the tour. 

Includes

• Accommodation for 7 nights
• Meals: 7 breakfast, 7 lunch, 2 dinner
• Airport pick up and drop off
• Multi-day rafting and trekking
• Private transport
• Professional local guides
• Travel insurance

Excludes

• Visa and visa application fees
• Immunizations
• Personal expenses
  
• Tips and gratuities
• Medical and repatriation insurance
• Meals and activities not specified