Top Colombia Day Trips

What a great and thorough experience we had with our tour guide, Juan Carlos! The drive there included a lot of history and facts about Columbia, that we did not know. We stopped for some yummy typical Colombian treats on the way and got early to El Peñon, which allowed us ample time to explore without the crowds. Guatapé was a charming town with beautiful art work all over the buildings and great food. Once again, we beat the crowds and enjoyed ourselves very much. We ended the trip stopping for lunch at some sort of petting zoo. That was unique and fun for the kids! We highly recommend this tour, especially if you have children!

Esteban and Alfonso were excellent guides for this tour. They were very knowledgeable and ensured that everything was well-executed. The visits to Guatavita and Guatavita Lagoon were beautiful, providing great cultural context for the region. We had visited the Museo del Oro the day prior, so everything tied in well. Lunch in Zipaquirá was at a nice restaurant and consisted of a tasty traditional Colombian plate. The subsequent visit to Catedral de Sal was incredible. We had plenty of time to explore the beautiful chambers and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

The pickup process was very well organized. They communicated both the day before and the day of the tour to confirm details and provide the arrival time. Once on the bus, expect up to about an hour of additional pickups around Cartagena before the group officially heads out. Our first stop was the bird aviary, which was truly a treat. The exhibits are beautiful, well maintained, and very professionally done. The full walkthrough takes about 2–2½ hours, which was perfectly timed for the bus to pick us up afterward and continue on to the beach. When we arrived at the beach, we went to Mambo for lunch. They offer great grilled food options along with drinks. The area also has restrooms, outdoor showers, and lockers to rent available for guests. While there are cabanas available to rent, they really aren’t necessary since Mambo provides plenty of shaded lounge space to relax and cool off from the sun. The water was mildly warm and very refreshing. Throughout the day, the tour guides were meticulous in answering questions and making sure everyone knew exactly where and when to meet for departure. If you’re looking for a great combination of nature and relaxing beach time, this experience is definitely worth it.