Overland von Kolumbien nach Ecuador

1. Tag: Cartagena

There will be an important group meeting at 6:00pm at the joining hotel - please look out at the hotel reception for a note from your leader with more details about this important meeting.

Please note that many of the options listed below will only be possible for those with extra time in Cartagena before the start of your trip with us - please contact us if you would like to book pre-tour accommodation with us to have extra time exploring Cartagena.

In Cartagena we stay in a comfortable hotel just outside the historical centre.

About Cartagena:
Cartagena is one of the most historic cities in South America - legendary for both for its history and beauty, Cartagena is often one of the favorite destinations of most travelers who visit it.
The area has been inhabited by various native civilizations for thousands of years before the city was founded in 1533 CE by Spanish conquistador Pedro De Heredia - the settlement was named after the city of Cartagena in Spain, where most of Heredia's sailors were from. Having suffered a tumultuous past full of battles, raids, invasions, destructions and reconstructions, the city became heavily fortified and huge defensive walls surround its narrow cobbled streets and colonial buildings.
The city is made up of various districts - the new town with its high rise hotels, apartments and nightspots, and the older colonial parts of the city. The old city is the main attraction for visitors, particularly the inner walled town which is packed with churches, monasteries, plazas and mansions.

Optional Activities:
- Days diving or snorkelling trip out to Islas del Rosario, Cartagena - COP 60000
- Head out for a day of scuba diving amongst the reefs surrounding the Islas del Rosario in the Caribbean Sea - USD 60
- Discover the brutal history of the Spanish Inquisition at their former headquarters in Cartagena, the Palace of the Inquistion - COP 15000
- Learn all about Cartagena's naval tradition and history at the Naval Museum of the Caribbean - COP 15000

2. Tag: Cartagena

Today we will have a full day in the beautiful coastal colonial city of Cartagena.

In the morning we will have an included walking tour of the city, and then the afternoon will be free to explore the city further, enjoy the many optional activities on offer, or simply relax on the beach.

Optional Activities:
- Visit the mudbaths at the Totumo Volcano - USD 25
- Visit the historic coastal Spanish fortress of Castillo San Felipe - COP 17000

Enthaltene Aktivitäten:
Explore Cartagena on a guided walking tour

3-4. Tag: Tayrona Nationalpark

Today we have a short drive to the stunning Tayrona National Park.

The following day we have an included walk in the National Park.

In Tayrona we will sleep in Hammocks, no food is provided, but there are restaurants and cafes nearby by. There is an hour walk from where we park our truck to our campsite.

There is also an option to bring tents if you prefer to stay in a tent rather than a hammock, but please note that mules will have to ber hired to carry your tent, at an extra cost.

About Tayrona National Park:
Tayrona National Park is a wonderful protected area on the northern coast of Colombia, which contains a huge diversity of animal and plant species including 2,000 species of animals and 800 types of plants.This is in part due to the variation in geology of the area - at sea level the climate is arid and the rugged coastline has some excellent beachesand coves, but the terrain quickly rises as you travel inland, where we find a sub-tropical climate and cloud forests on the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The National Parkc an be thoroughly explored on foot as there are many winding trails through the incredible scenery. Further biodiversity is present offshore in the warm water of the coral reefs, which offer an excellent opportunity for snorkeling and swimming.

Optional Activities:
- Relax and unwind on the unspoilt beaches in Tayrona National Park - Free
- Time to explore the Cloud Forests of the Sierra Nevada foothills - Free

5-6. Tag: Lorica

This morning we will walk back to our truck and leave Tayrona National park. We will head south for the pretty colonial town of Santa Cruz de Lorica on the Sinu River.

We will have a free day to relax and discover the historic centre, learn about the traditional Vueltiao hat or head to the coast and soak up the sun in San Bernardo del Viento.

7-9. Tag: Medellín

Today we have a full days drive to vibrant city of Medellin. The following morning we will have a guided walking tour of the city. We then have plenty of time to relax or take park in some of activities available here.

In Medellín we will stay in dormitory accommodation in a centrally-located hostel, allowing you to enjoy the exciting nightlife of the city.

About Medellín:
The rapid transformation that has taken place in Colombia's second largest city is one like no other. Having spent the 1980s and 90s with international reputation of one of the world's most dangerous cities, Medellín has certainly turned itself around. Once synonymous with the infamous Pablo Escobar and the Medellín Cartel, the city suffered a seriously damaged reputation amongst international travellers and has only recently become a popular destination amongst backpackers. The Paisas (as people from Medellín are known) have strived to change the city's reputation, and almost nothing of those former days can be seen in the character of the city today - visitors can comfortably enjoy the beautiful architecture, excellent facilities and all round well-developed city!
Set amid the rolling green hills of the Aburrá valley and with a warm climate and comfortable altitude of 1538 metres, Medellín has seen more and more travellers flocking to the city in the past few years. With some of the country's finest museums, parks and most impressive architecture as well as a much safer and comfortable atmosphere, it’s easy to see why. Medellín is also one of Colombia's easiest cities to get around with the immaculate and convenient metro system passing all the main points of interest. If you use the metro then make sure you head up on El Teléferico, the city’s cable car, as this is included on your metro ticket and gives you a great view of the city.

Optional Activities:
- Day trip to Santa Fe de Antioquia - COP 3000
- Take the pioneering Metroline cable car up to Santo Domingo, to see a very different area of the city and the revitalising effect the Metroline has had on the communities there - COP 1750
- Visit the colossal Catedral Metropolitana in the city centre, built using over a million bricks between 1875 and 1931 - Free
- Head out and discover some of Medellín's vibrant and unusual nightlife at the Dulce Jesus Mio club - COP 10000
- See some of Colombia's finest contemporary art at the Museo de Arte Moderno (NAMM), including the complete work of the local painter Débora Arango - COP 5000

Enthaltene Aktivitäten:
Head out on a fascinating walking tour of Medellín and learn all about it's tumultuous past

10. Tag: Medellín - Manizales

Today we will head into the heart of the coffee region for a night at a beautiful Hacienda near the town of Manizales. Tomorrow we can relax in the grounds, take a bird watching walk to spot some of the many hummingbirds that frequent the area.

We will stay in twin share accommodation in a lovely hacienda in the countryside.

About Manizales:
Manizales is a friendly city right in the heart of Colombia's coffee region with a comfortable climate and plenty to see and do. Although still opening up to international tourism, Manizales has a lot to offer the visitor in the way of outdoor activities and ecological attractions. The town itself is a relaxed and friendly place centred around the magnificent cathedral with attractions such as the botanical gardens, thermal springs and eco-parks all easily access able from the centre of town.
Venturing a little further, you will find coffee haciendas and plantations in the surrounding area as well as some beautiful country landscapes perfect for trekking or just taking a relaxing break in the great outdoors. In Manizales we stay on one of these working coffeeplantations covering approximately 480 acres which provides people from around the world a taste of the finest Manizales fair trade coffee. The plantation employs around 100 people all throughout the year and about 400 people during the peak picking season.

11-13. Tag: Salento

Today we will continue our journey south to the small town of Salento, the gateway to the spectacular Valle de Cocora.

Salento will be our base to take a guided trek through the Cocora Valley to see the Quindio wax palm trees, the largest palms in the world and the national tree of Colombia and also to do a coffee plantation tour.

In Salento we will stay in a local guesthouse within a working coffee farm, in dorm room accommodation.

About Salento:
Salento is a small town on the edge of the Los Nevados mountain range between the cities of Calí and Medellín, in the heart of Colombia's coffee-growing region. There is a very pleasant cool climate in the hills, and we are able to visit some of Colombia's famous fair-trade coffee plantations in the area.
Salento is also the gateway to the Cocora Valley, which as well as its incredible scenery and walking opportunities contains the world's largest palm trees - the Quindío wax palm commonly grows 45m high, and sometimes stretches as high as 60m! We will fully explore the area of Salento and the Cocora Valley during our journey through southern Colombia.

Enthaltene Aktivitäten:
- Head out on a half-day guided trek through the spectacular Cocora Valley, and see the incredible 50m-tall Quindio wax palms, the tallest Palm trees in the world!
- Learn all about the cultivation and production of Colombian Coffee on a guided tour

14-15. Tag: Popayán

Today we will drive to the beautiful town and former colonial capital of Popayán.

On the following day we will have a free day to explore Popayán or take part in some excellent treks or other optional activities in the surrounding area.

In Popayán we stay in dormitory accommodation in a local hostel.

About Popayán:
Nicknamed the White City, Popayán is a beautiful colonial town full of white-washed houses and grand churches encircled by rolling green hills. Although the capital of the Cauca region of southern Colombia, Popayán somehow retains its relaxed small-town feel. The cool and sunny climate of the lower Andes makes Popayán a very comfortable place to stay and as the main university town of the region, there's a young, sociable feel to the city. The leafy parks marked with elegant church towers provide a sociable and relaxed location where you could easily spend an afternoon, while an evenings entertainment could be chatting with the friendly locals in a classy cafe bar or salsa club.
Whilst staying in the town there are some lovely walks offering excellent views of the historic centre, several worthwhile museums and galleries and many good cafes, bars and restaurants to make the most of. There are some excellent treks in the surrounding mountains, including an option to trek to the summit of the nearby Puracé volcano.

Optional Activities:
- Trek to the 4,650m summit of the towering Puracé volcano near Popayán - COP 130000
- Relax in the volcanic thermal springs near the village of Coconuco, dramatically set in a steep sided valley - COP 60000

16. Tag: Popayán - Ipiales

Today we will have a full day drive to the border town of Ipiales.

In Ipiales we will stay in a local hotel.

About Ipiales:
Ipiales is the border town on the Colombian side of the Colombia/Ecuador frontier. The town has some pleasant plazas and the sight of locals using a horse and cart gives it a quaint, countryside feel. The star attraction of Ipiales is the nearby Santuario de las Lajas, the site of many supposed miracles and apparitions over the years. Set amid breath-taking scenery, the Santuario is a spectacular Gothic-style church straddling a dramatic gorge with rushing river below. It is one of the most impressive churches on the continent, and its fantastic setting and quirky museum make it a highlight of any visit to Colombia.

17. Tag: Ipiales - Otavalo

We will leave Colombia behind today and cross the border into Ecuador, we will have time for an included visit to the beautiful Santurio de las Lajas, before heading to Otavalo.

Tonight we will camp in the grounds of a pretty Guesthouse in Otavalo.

About Otavalo:
Otavalo is a small town in northern Ecuador nestled in beautiful surroundings a short distance from Quito. Many of the local indigenous communities in this area still wear their traditional clothing made from intricately woven and decorated fabrics, and the men tend to wear their hair in long ponytails. The Otovalan weaving skills are quite renowned and they are rightly famous for their textiles - so rugs, wallhangings and knitwear are all well worth buying here!

Optional Activities:
- Take a short walk to the beautiful Peguche Waterfalls near Otavalo (if time allows) - Free
- Village Tour Of Otavalo - Free

Enthaltene Aktivitäten:
Visit the jaw dropping Santuario Las Lajas on the outskirts of Ipiales

18. Tag: Otavalo - Quito

We will head south for the final leg of our journey to the bustling captial, Quito. En route into the city we will have an included visit to Mitad del Mundo, the monument that marks the Equator.

In Quito we will stay in a friendly local hotel in the 'New Town'.

About Quito:
Quito is the capital of Ecuador, nestled in a hollow in the mountains in between the volcanos Cayambe, Pichincha and Cotopaxi -at 2,850m above sea level, it is the world's highest official capital city. Founded in 1534 by a group of settlers led by Sebastian de Benalcázar, the town slowly grew throughout the Spanish colonial era and after the region's independence from Spain in 1822.
The colonial old town is a maze of steep, cobbled streets with intricately carved, overhanging balconies, and some of the best examples of Spanish colonial art and churches anywhere in the Americas - along with Kraków, Quito was the first ever World Cultural Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO in 1978. The modern area of the town is lively and has some fantastic restaurants and bars. Quito's mix of European and Indian cultures make this a really fascinating city, and you will come across stalls displaying Indian textiles, colourful wall hangings, jewellery, pottery and woodcarvings. Quito has some incredible museums, galleries and parks in the city, and some excellent adventure activities and mountain treks nearby for those with extra time in the area.

Enthaltene Aktivitäten:
Visit the equator at Mitad del Mundo

19. Tag: Quito

Today is the end day for passengers finishing their trip in Quito. Please note there is no accommodation included on the trip tonight - please contact us if you are interested in booking extra nights of accommodation in order to fully explore and take part in some of the optional activities listed below.

Optional Activities:
- Visit one of the countless art galleries in Quito, such as the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana or the Museo Guayasamín - USD 6
- Take a trip on El Telerifiqo, the world's second highest cable car - USD 8.5
- Visit the Museo Nacional del Banco Central, showcasing the country’s largest collection of Ecuadorian art and housing an impressive gold collection - USD 2