Magdalena River Cruise: Colombia’s Hidden Gems

Day 1

Arrive in Bogotá and transfer to your hotel.

You’ll be met at the airport and escorted to your hotel in the capital.

Bogotá is a city of sparkling prosperity, oppressive poverty, and everything in between. Its centre is awash with splendid colonial churches, fascinating museums, futuristic architecture and lively universities. Its population is diverse and engaging and its cultural life vibrant and seductive.

Stay at - La Opera

Day 2

Walking tour including visit to the Gold Museum.

Step straight out of your hotel and into the heart of La Candelaria, Bogotá’s atmospheric historic quarter. Accompanied by your guide, explore cobbled streets lined with colourful colonial houses, lively plazas and striking murals, while learning about the events and characters that have shaped Colombia’s capital. At its heart lies the Plaza de Bolívar, the city’s grand main square, framed by the cathedral and some of the country’s most important government buildings.

The tour concludes at the renowned Gold Museum, widely regarded as one of the finest in Latin America. Its collection of 34,000 pre-Columbian gold artefacts offers a fascinating insight into the artistry, beliefs and traditions of Colombia’s indigenous cultures.

Stay at - La Opera

Day 3

Fly to the Coffee Region

A one-hour flight brings you to Pereira in Colombia’s Coffee Region, a beautiful landscape of rolling emerald-green hills draped in coffee plantations and scattered with traditional fincas.

You’ll spend the next couple of days immersed in the rhythms of rural Colombia, with opportunities to explore some of the region’s heritage towns, wander among the towering wax palms of the Cocora Valley and, of course, sample some of the country’s finest coffee.

Stay at - Hotel Sazagua

Day 4

Explore the Cocora Valley & the heritage towns of Salento & Filandia.

The Cocora Valley is one of Colombia’s most iconic landscapes, where thousands of towering wax palms rise above the surrounding hills and cloud forest. Found at elevations of 1,800m to 2,400m, they are Colombia’s national tree and the only palm species found at this altitude in the Andes.

Afterwards, continue to the nearby towns of Salento and Filandia, known for their colourful colonial architecture, flower-filled balconies and friendly atmosphere. Both retain a strong connection to the region’s coffee-growing heritage and are among the most attractive towns in Colombia’s Coffee Region.

Stay at - Hotel Sazagua

Day 5

Tour a traditional working coffee farm.

Today offers a chance to experience life on a working coffee farm. A scenic drive through the hills above Pereira leads to Finca La Mina, a family-run finca near the village of Palestina, where members of the family welcome you as their guests.

As you explore the plantation together, you’ll learn about the journey from seed to cup and gain a deeper understanding of the traditions that have shaped Colombia’s Coffee Region for generations. There’ll be plenty of opportunities to taste different coffees along the way, before sitting down to a typical Colombian lunch.

Stay at - Hotel Sazagua

Day 7

Continue by road to Medellin.

Five hours north of Colombia’s Coffee Region lies Medellín, the country’s second-largest city, and affectionately known as the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ for its mild year-round climate.

Once synonymous with drug cartels and violence, Medellín has reinvented itself as one of Latin America’s most innovative and forward-looking cities, celebrated for its public art, urban renewal projects and vibrant cultural scene.

Stay at - Patio del Mundo

Day 8

Medellin City Tour.

This half-day tour provides an introduction to Medellín, a city that has undergone one of the most remarkable transformations in Latin America. Strolling through the lively downtown streets to Plaza Botero, you’ll find a collection of Fernando Botero’s distinctive oversized sculptures, which the Colombian artist donated to his hometown. The bustling streets and public spaces reveal a city full of energy and confidence.

A ride on the Metrocable (cable car) takes you high above the city to Santo Domingo, a neighbourhood that has become a symbol of Medellín’s revival. With panoramic views stretching across the Aburrá Valley, you’ll gain an insight into the ambitious social and transport projects that have helped reshape the city over recent decades and improve the lives of many of its residents.

Stay at - Patio del Mundo

Day 8

Fly to Barranquilla on the Caribbean Coast and join your River Magdalena cruise.

A short flight takes you to Barranquilla on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, where you join your Magdalena River cruise.

For centuries, the Magdalena was Colombia’s principal transport artery, linking the Caribbean coast with the Andean heartland and shaping the country’s history, culture and commerce. Over the next eight days, you’ll follow this legendary river through a region rich in wildlife, tradition and riverside communities.

The afternoon is free to settle into your stateroom and explore the ship before your journey begins. As the sun sets, a special performance showcases the music, dance and colourful costumes of the Carnaval de Barranquilla. Recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, it is one of Colombia’s most important cultural celebrations and a source of immense local pride.

Stay at - AmaMagdalena

Day 9

Iraca palm weaving workshop

Before the cruise sets sail, you can choose between exploring Barranquilla or visiting Usiacurí, a small town renowned for its handicrafts made from locally grown iraca palm.

In Usiacurí, you’ll visit a workshop to see how the fibres are woven into intricate baskets, hats and decorative items, with time to meet local artisans and browse their work.

You’ll rejoin the ship in Sabanagrande, where your journey along the Magdalena River truly begins.

Stay at - AmaMagdalena

Day 10

Boca de Tacaloa; arrive in Mompox.

This morning, you’ll explore the peaceful wetlands of Boca de Tacaloa by small boat. Watch a traditional fishing demonstration and learn about techniques that have sustained communities along the Magdalena River for generations, while keeping an eye out for some of the region’s rich birdlife.

As evening falls, you’ll arrive in Mompox, a beautifully preserved colonial town whose prosperity once depended on river trade along the Magdalena. A special open-air jazz performance by local musicians provides a memorable introduction to this historic riverside settlement.

Stay at - AmaMagdalena

Day 11

Mompox walking tour and Ciénaga Pijiño wildlife.

Founded in 1540, Mompox remains one of Colombia’s most atmospheric colonial towns. Its quiet cobbled streets, colourful houses, elegant churches and riverside setting have changed little over the centuries, offering a glimpse into a bygone era.

Once an important trading post on the Magdalena River, the town became renowned for producing some of Colombia’s finest filigree jewellery, a tradition that continues today. During a guided tour, you’ll explore the historic centre and visit a local workshop to see the delicate craft still practised by Mompox’s artisans.

Beyond the town, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the wetlands of the Ciénaga Pijiño by small boat.These wetlands are home to a rich variety of birdlife and provide excellent birdwatching, particularly at sunrise and sunset.

Stay at - AmaMagdalena

Day 12

Santa Bárbara de Pinto & Cumbia performance.

Leaving Mompox behind, you’ll continue north along the Magdalena River, stopping en route at the riverside village of Santa Bárbara de Pinto. Here, you’ll discover traditions that remain an important part of daily life, from the hand-rolling of tobacco to the craft of fishing-net weaving.

Back on board, you’ll be introduced to La Cumbia, a musical tradition deeply rooted in the communities of Colombia’s Caribbean coast and the Magdalena River. Through music, dance and storytelling, local families from El Banco share a cultural heritage that has been passed down through generations and remains central to life along the river today.

Stay at - AmaMagdalena

Day 13

Calamar & Palenque.

Leaving Mompox behind, you’ll continue north along the Magdalena River, stopping en route at the riverside village of Santa Bárbara de Pinto. Here, you’ll discover traditions that remain an important part of daily life, from the hand-rolling of tobacco to the craft of fishing-net weaving.

Back on board, you’ll be introduced to La Cumbia, a musical tradition deeply rooted in the communities of Colombia’s Caribbean coast and the Magdalena River. Through music, dance and storytelling, local families from El Banco share a cultural heritage that has been passed down through generations and remains central to life along the river today.

Stay at - AmaMagdalena

Day 14

Arrive in historic Cartagena.

The ship continues through the night, so you’ll wake up in Cartagena, one of Latin America’s most captivating cities. Its walled historic centre stands as a reminder of the wealth that once flowed through this important Caribbean port. During a guided tour, you’ll explore its cobbled streets, leafy plazas and beautifully preserved colonial architecture, while learning how Cartagena’s extensive fortifications helped protect Spain’s trade routes from pirates and rival powers.

Afterwards, you’ll visit the imposing Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, built to defend the city from attack, before continuing to the colourful neighbourhood of Getsemaní. Once a working-class district beyond the city walls, it’s now known for its vibrant street art, lively atmosphere and independent bars and cafés.

Stay at - AmaMagdalena

Day 15

Disembark; day at leisure in Cartagena

After disembarking, the day is yours to further enjoy Cartagena. Relax in a shady plaza with a coffee, browse the city’s many boutiques and galleries, or sample the local cuisine at one of its excellent restaurants.

Stay at - Ananda Boutique Hotel

Day 16

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.