18 to 35s Essential Colombia

Hola! Welcome to Colombia. Your adventure begins in Bogota with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, join your leader for an orientation walk at 3 pm. Maybe browse the stalls at the Usaquen Flea Market, visit the Botero Museum or take a cable car to Monserrate for panoramic views of the city. After your meeting, enjoy a local beer or two as you play Tejo – a traditional Colombian game where you throw a metal disc at a target embedded in clay. Then maybe find a local restaurant for a group dinner of Colombian cuisine and get to know your fellow travellers. Your leader will have some great recommendations.

After breakfast, set off for Rio Claro. Today is a long travel day, so it's a great day to get stuck into your book or favourite podcasts. Along the way, stop in Honda – a town nicknamed the ‘City of Bridges’ due to the 40-plus bridges spanning its small area. Get a quick glimpse of the daily life here and grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant before continuing to Rio Claro – a nature reserve known for its clear rivers, tropical rainforest terrain and waterfalls. When you arrive, maybe settle into your accommodation and kick back to the sounds of nature. You'll have a full day to explore tomorrow.

Head out this morning on a walk along the nature reserve’s ecological trail. Walk through rainforest terrain to riverside El Marmol (Marble Beach) – perfect for a swim to cool off. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Rio Claro at your own pace. Maybe go rafting and race down tropical rainforest rapids, soar downstream along the canyon walls on a zip-line or go caving and explore the cavern sculpted by the El Bornego creek. Tonight, perhaps try a Colombian dish for dinner like sancocho (a hearty local stew) or churrasco (steak).

Travel to Guatape today – this small Andean town is known for its houses decorated with colourful bas-reliefs (sculptures). When you arrive, climb the zigzag staircase of El Penol – a 65-million-year-old granitic rock remnant that used to be worshipped by the Indigenous Tahami peoples. Take in the 360-degree bird’s-eye view of the lake and nearby towns at the top before heading back into town for a free afternoon. Maybe walk along the cobbled stone streets of Calle del Recuerdo, visit San Rafael or head out for dinner at a local restaurant.

Drive to Medellin today – the capital of Colombia’s mountainous Antioquia province is nicknamed the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ for its temperate weather and annual Flower Festival. When you arrive, join your leader on an orientation walk to get your bearings. Then, maybe wander through the Medellin Botanical Garden or take a cable car to Parque Arvi and set off on a hiking trail through the beautiful landscape. Tonight, you’re free to relax or ask your leader for the best local hangouts to try some arepas (crispy white corn cakes usually stuffed with meat and vegetables).

Get out and about in Medellin with a free day. You might want to visit the Museo de Antioquia to see some of Botero's famous works, join a historic tour downtown or explore Comuna 13 (San Javier) – one of the 16 communes of Medellin – known for its brightly coloured street art. Maybe take a guided tour of the area and learn how its hillside streets, once defined by hardship, have been transformed by local artists. Tonight, perhaps join your new friends in search of one of the city’s pumping salsa bars and toast to a trip well-travelled!

As there are no activities planned, your trip comes to an end today. If you’d like to spend more time in Medellin just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.