Magdalena River Cruise: Colombia’s Hidden Gems

Overview & Highlights

Rising in the Colombian Massif and flowing for more than 1,500km to the Caribbean coast, the Magdalena River has long been Colombia's most important waterway. For centuries, it served as the country's main commercial artery, carrying gold, tobacco, coffee and countless other goods from the interior to ports on the Caribbean coast. Passenger steamers once travelled its waters too, and journeys along the river left a lasting impression on a young Gabriel García Márquez, later inspiring many of his novels.

This itinerary combines many of Colombia's highlights with a seven-night cruise along this storied waterway. You'll begin in Bogotá, Colombia's capital, with its colonial architecture, vibrant street art and renowned Gold Museum before travelling to the Coffee Region, a landscape of rolling emerald-green hills, traditional fincas and coffee plantations. Here you'll explore the spectacular Cocora Valley, home to thousands of wax palms, before spending time in the picturesque villages of Salento and Filandia. From here, you'll travel north to Medellín and uncover its transformation from one of the world's most troubled cities to a centre of creativity and entrepreneurship.

A short flight then brings you to Barranquilla for the start of your seven-night cruise on the Magdalena River. Travelling through a region still largely overlooked by international visitors, you'll visit proud riverside communities, wildlife-rich wetlands and the beautifully preserved colonial town of Mompox, one of the river's most important trading ports. Along the way, discover traditions that have endured for generations and experience the music that defines life along the Magdalena, from jazz performances and Carnaval celebrations to the infectious rhythms of cumbia.

The trip concludes in Cartagena, one of Latin America's most captivating colonial cities, where the cobbled streets and colourful façades of the walled historic centre provide a memorable finale to your journey through Colombia.

• Exploring the River Magdalena on a 7-night cruise.
• Arriving by river in the beautifully preserved colonial town of Mompox
• Meeting the communities that have shaped life along the Magdalena for generations