Wax Palms, Tropical Glaciers & the Caribbean:
Colombia on Foot
Medellín - Salento - Tayrona – Sierra Nevada - Cartagena
15 days
From 3900 to 4900 USD per person
From the Paramillo del Quindío — cradled by its so-called “flying rivers” — to the forests of towering wax palms, this itinerary follows a Colombia best explored by foot. Further north, the Sierra Nevada draws a different horizon: tropical glaciers on one side, the Caribbean Sea on the other.
Designed for travelers who love long days in the outdoors and trails that transform as you climb, this journey moves from the open Andean highlands to the lush forests of Tayrona — with monkeys in the trees, birds filling the canopy overhead, and a night by the sea waiting at the end of the trail.
YOU’LL LOVE :
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The ascent of Paramillo del Quindío — three days of hiking from the wax palm forests up into páramo country: shifting mist, low grasses, and open ridgelines. At nearly 15,400 feet, the silence settles in, punctuated only by wind and the sheer scale of the Andes.
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The climb to Cerro Kennedy — several hours of hiking to 10,200 feet on the heights of the Sierra Nevada. At the top, the contrast is striking: tropical glaciers on the Bolívar and Colón peaks on one side, the Caribbean Sea far below on the other, with clouds drifting slowly across the mountains between them.
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The trek to Playa Brava — two days and nearly 19 miles through Tayrona’s tropical forest, with birds singing overhead and tiny tití monkeys swinging through the branches. In the canopy, the yellow-and-green bill of the Keel-billed toucan appears between the leaves. Then comes Playa Brava — and a night by the sea in an intimate cabaña, where the jungle meets the waves.
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The tropical energy of Medellín and Cartagena — Medellín with its hillside murals and reinvented streets, Cartagena with its painted walls and bougainvillea-draped balconies. Two atmospheres and two different rhythms — where music and city life extend the journey in a different key.
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Our dedicated concierge service — itinerary adjustments on the go, boarding pass delivery, curated local recommendations, last-minute table reservations. We stay with you every step of the way.
DAY 1
Arrival in Medellín
On arrival in Medellín, a driver meets us at the airport.
The city spreads across a valley between mountains — vibrant, layered, and full of contrast. Long defined by a difficult past, it has been quietly remaking itself. Cable cars, public spaces, social programs, and cultural initiatives have reshaped the fabric of everyday life here.
A dedicated concierge service travels with us throughout the trip — discreet but attentive, adapting to whatever the moment calls for: boarding passes, dinner reservations, a last-minute transfer, or a neighborhood worth wandering through.
DAY 2
Medellín: city and hillside
The day takes us through the many faces of the city.
In the city center, Fernando Botero’s sculptures punctuate the plazas and streets. Just a short walk away, an unexpected corner comes alive with tangos and milongas — a quiet echo of a musical tradition deeply woven into Medellín’s history.
From there, the cable car rises above the valley. Far below, neighborhoods cascading down the steep hillsides gradually give way to the lush greenery of Parque Arví.
Later, the energy of Comuna 13 takes over, spilling across its colorful stairways and murals. Here, music, street art, and the voices of local residents reveal yet another side of Medellín — one shaped by creativity, resilience, and a strong sense of community.
DAY 3
Toward Salento
The journey continues into the heart of Colombia’s coffee country, toward Salento.
The village comes into view high in the hills, surrounded by a landscape of deep green valleys. Painted façades and carved wooden balconies reflect the region’s traditional architecture, giving the town its distinctive character.
DAY 4
Into the Wild Andes
At dawn, the trail begins in the Cocora Valley.
The path winds through Andean forest, open meadows, and clear streams crossed by simple suspension bridges. As the trail climbs, the altitude gradually makes itself felt, and the vegetation begins to change.
By late afternoon, a farmhouse offers shelter for the night. Darkness settles quickly at this elevation, bringing with it a stillness that seems to belong entirely to the mountains.
DAY 5
The Heights of Paramillo del Quindío
At first light, the ascent resumes.
The trail climbs into the open landscape of the páramo, one of the Andes’ most distinctive ecosystems. Low grasses, saturated earth, and shifting mist create an otherworldly atmosphere, where the landscape seems to dissolve into sky.
Higher up, the rocky ridgelines of Paramillo del Quindío come into view. On clear days, the snow-capped volcanoes of Los Nevados National Park rise in the distance.
The wind is stronger here. After reaching the heights, the trail turns gradually downhill, leading back toward the farmhouse.
DAY 6
Back to the Valley
The final day of hiking follows a long descent into the green landscapes of Quindío.
Open meadows gradually give way to softer, greener terrain as the bare ridgelines of the páramo recede behind us. With each passing hour, the valleys draw closer, and the mountains begin to soften.
By late afternoon, Salento comes back into view.
DAY 7
Toward the Caribbean Coast
The journey continues north toward the Caribbean.
Gradually, the air grows warmer, and the landscape begins to change. The ridgelines of the Sierra Nevada emerge on the horizon as the coast draws closer.
Ahead lies a remarkable meeting of tropical jungle and open sea.
DAY 8
Jungle and Sea in Tayrona
From the park entrance, the trail leads deep into the jungle.
The path follows the contours of the Sierra Nevada, winding through dense vegetation. At intervals, the calls of monkeys echo through the canopy. Now and then, the foliage opens to reveal the sea — deep, expansive, and constantly in motion.
After several hours of walking, the jungle gives way to an isolated bay, where the sea meets the shore in a steady, unhurried rhythm.
We settle in for the night, facing this wild stretch of Caribbean coast.
DAY 9
Between Tropical Jungle and Caribbean Shores
In the morning, the trail picks up again through the jungle.
Further along, the sea reappears in shades of turquoise. A beach sheltered by coral reefs offers a natural pause, with clear, calm waters inviting a moment to slow down.
By late afternoon, we leave the park behind and make our way toward the green slopes of the Sierra Nevada.
DAY 10
Into the Heights of the Sierra Nevada
From the slopes above Minca, a vehicle takes us higher into the Sierra Nevada, where the vegetation begins to change with the altitude.
The walk begins through dense forest.
Gradually, the trail climbs and the air grows cooler. From the natural viewpoint of Cerro Kennedy, the landscape opens in both directions: the Caribbean on one side, the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada on the other.
The night is spent high in the mountains, surrounded by the quiet of the heights.
DAY 11
Back to Minca
In the morning, the mountain is quiet.
Those who wish can follow a short trail to a waterfall tucked into the jungle, where water slips in clear threads between the rocks.
Later, the path descends through tropical vegetation toward Minca. The day winds down at its own pace, in the easy, unhurried atmosphere of the mountains.
DAY 12
The Road to Cartagena
Cartagena de Indias, the jewel of Colombia’s Caribbean coast, gradually comes into view.
The road follows the coastline before entering the walled city. Inside its walls, cobbled lanes, colorful houses, and balconies draped in bougainvillea reflect the Caribbean’s many layers of history and influence.
After checking in at the hotel, there is time for a first walk through a city that seems to exist slightly outside of time.
DAY 13
Cartagena at Its Own Pace
The day unfolds freely through the city.
We follow colorful façades, shaded courtyards, and plazas where local life begins to gather from mid-afternoon onward.
Time stretches easily between the tropical light and music drifting through half-open doors.
DAY 14
A Day at Sea
Off the coast of Cartagena, the Caribbean shifts through shades of pale and deep blue.
The day unfolds by the water — white sand, mangroves, and calm sea stretching into the distance.
The pace slows naturally. We rest, carried by the light and the gentle movement of the water.
