Self-drive Colombia: Exploring the coffee region and beyond
12 days from £2,700
Explore the tour day by day, from the highlights to the quieter moments in between. Here’s how each day unfolds and what to expect along the way.
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.
If you’re keen to stay in La Candelaria, the atmospheric and vibrant colonial heart of Bogotá, then Hotel de la Opera is your best option. Set on a pedestrianised street next to the Teatro Colón and just one block from the Plaza Bolívar, its location is unrivalled. Several museums sit right on your doorstep, and the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) is only a 15‑minute walk away.
The hotel’s 42 guestrooms are divided between two buildings – one dating back to colonial times and the other from the Republican era – and connected by an internal staircase. The high‑ceilinged rooms are spacious, decorated in warm yellow tones, and furnished with elegant Italian pieces, including large wooden armoires. The hotel prides itself on its wellness offering, featuring a spa with sauna, Jacuzzi, swimming pool (closed on Mondays), and a small gym.
Dining options include La Scala, located on the ground floor where breakfast is served, and El Mirador (open Friday to Sunday), which occupies a privileged rooftop spot with wonderful views over the domes of nearby cathedrals and churches. La Candelaria itself has a good selection of restaurants, but after 7pm the neighbourhood can feel quite quiet, especially on weekdays, so we always recommend taking a taxi.
Today you’ll have a guided exploration of the city with a walking tour of the historic core, the colonial Candelaria district.
Set off from the Plaza de Bolívar, where the Cathedral and Congress buildings are located, continue on foot through the steep colonial streets towards the Gold Museum for a visit to this extraordinary, well-displayed collection of pre-Columbian artefacts housing more than 34,000 gold pieces. It’s arguably the most impressive museum of its kind in the world.
If you’re keen to stay in La Candelaria, the atmospheric and vibrant colonial heart of Bogotá, then Hotel de la Opera is your best option. Set on a pedestrianised street next to the Teatro Colón and just one block from the Plaza Bolívar, its location is unrivalled. Several museums sit right on your doorstep, and the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) is only a 15‑minute walk away.
The hotel’s 42 guestrooms are divided between two buildings – one dating back to colonial times and the other from the Republican era – and connected by an internal staircase. The high‑ceilinged rooms are spacious, decorated in warm yellow tones, and furnished with elegant Italian pieces, including large wooden armoires. The hotel prides itself on its wellness offering, featuring a spa with sauna, Jacuzzi, swimming pool (closed on Mondays), and a small gym.
Dining options include La Scala, located on the ground floor where breakfast is served, and El Mirador (open Friday to Sunday), which occupies a privileged rooftop spot with wonderful views over the domes of nearby cathedrals and churches. La Candelaria itself has a good selection of restaurants, but after 7pm the neighbourhood can feel quite quiet, especially on weekdays, so we always recommend taking a taxi.
Fly to Pereira in the heart of the coffee country. You’ll be met by our local representative who will be on hand to help you as you pick up your car (a Renault Duster or similar). You’ll be given a good briefing on driving in the area, shown how the GPS works, and provided with a Colombian mobile phone so you can stay in contact.
Pereira is a pleasant city in the shadow of the ice-mantled peaks of the Andean cordillera. It has some fine buildings, sculptures and a museum featuring gold and ceramics.
Set off on your drive to Salento: it’s a good road, and introduces you to the rugged yet softly green mountains of the coffee region. Sunlit slopes are blanketed in coffee bushes, sprinkled with lofty palms and speckled with farms, or fincas, some dating back to colonial Spanish times.
The drive takes about an hour but, as with all the driving you do, this will depend on whether or not you take a detour, stop to look around a village or have a snack or drink. There’s always something to see, if you are curious you’ll have to be disciplined or you’ll never arrive…
Offering sweeping vistas over the Cocora Valley, this hotel has a fantastic location just a short walk uphill from the town of Salento.
El Mirador del Cocora has 16 rooms which are bright and pleasantly decorated. The most spacious rooms have balcony or terrace with views over the valley, while some also add hot tubs.
There is a small sitting area with fireplace and a communal terrace for enjoying the spectacular views. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.
Salento (1,985m) is a delightful little town of paint-box-bright colonial houses with wooden balconies overhanging narrow lanes. A popular weekend spot, it has a bunch of craft shops and restaurants for visitors. You can climb 250 steps lined by the Stations of the Cross for sweeping river valley views.
The Cocora valley is undeniably one of the most picturesque landscapes in a country endowed with so much beautiful countryside. You go 12km up a rough track from the centre of Salento.
If you wish to have a guided tour, an English-speaking guide will meet you at your hotel at a pre-arranged time and accompany you on the short drive. There is a range of hikes to choose from in the valley. Hike through mist-shrouded forest packed with hundreds of wax palms – the national tree of Colombia – whose spindly trunks tower as high as 60m. If you prefer, you can set off on your own without a guide, but he/she is on call.
Offering sweeping vistas over the Cocora Valley, this hotel has a fantastic location just a short walk uphill from the town of Salento.
El Mirador del Cocora has 16 rooms which are bright and pleasantly decorated. The most spacious rooms have balcony or terrace with views over the valley, while some also add hot tubs.
There is a small sitting area with fireplace and a communal terrace for enjoying the spectacular views. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.
Once again, if you wish for a guide’s experience and assistance, he/she will accompany you on the 90-minute drive to the Santuario de Fauna y Flora Otún Quimbaya, a compact reserve with bubbly rivers, waterfalls and cliffs groaning with tightly packed foliage.
There, you can hike along one (or more) of the three short trails in this protected forest and spot numerous species of orchids, birds, and maybe even monkeys.
There is a restaurant on site and you may decide to have lunch there before setting off (without a guide) driving to your next overnight stop, about 2 hours away if you drive direct.
Hacienda Venecia is a traditional, family‑run coffee finca set amid rolling green hills and working plantations just outside Manizales, in the northern part of Colombia’s Coffee Region. Pereira Airport, the main gateway to the region, is a 1½‑hour drive away.
Accommodation is offered in two distinct buildings. The main house – built in bahareque, a traditional adobe‑like construction, and painted in striking shades of red and white – has a warm and homely charm. The five guest rooms, furnished with antiques and family keepsakes, are full of character. The wraparound veranda, with hammocks and old‑fashioned rocking chairs, is the perfect place to relax and take in views of the gardens and surrounding countryside.
On a nearby hillside, the Coffee Lodge makes the most of its panoramic views. This single‑storey, whitewashed building, inspired by rural haciendas, houses eleven cheerful country‑style rooms, each with a private balcony. Wherever you stay, meal times are always sociable, showcasing Colombian hospitality at its finest, with guests gathering around one long table to enjoy hearty, home‑cooked dishes.
The hacienda is surrounded by beautiful gardens and includes a swimming pool and many tranquil corners ideal for reading or birdwatching. More than 260 species of birds have been recorded here, and the hacienda has designed a self‑guided birdwatching tour, also available with an expert naturalist guide at an additional cost. With eight, well marked trails of varying difficulty, it’s also an excellent place for hiking, and maps are available at reception.
A stay at Hacienda Venecia wouldn’t be complete without exploring the craft behind your morning brew. Guided coffee tours provide an insightful look at every stage of production, from bean to cup. Chocolate and rum tasting workshops complete the experience.
This morning you may choose to stroll along any of the six marked paths in the large gardens or take in the sunshine around the outdoor pool. It’s a great spot for bird watching, and there is a field guide at your disposal.
In the afternoon, there’s a guided tour of the coffee production process. You’ll learn about the intricacies of the coffee production process, including the picking, de-pulping, washing, drying and roasting of the beans.
Finish off, of course, by tasting some of the local brew.
Hacienda Venecia is a traditional, family‑run coffee finca set amid rolling green hills and working plantations just outside Manizales, in the northern part of Colombia’s Coffee Region. Pereira Airport, the main gateway to the region, is a 1½‑hour drive away.
Accommodation is offered in two distinct buildings. The main house – built in bahareque, a traditional adobe‑like construction, and painted in striking shades of red and white – has a warm and homely charm. The five guest rooms, furnished with antiques and family keepsakes, are full of character. The wraparound veranda, with hammocks and old‑fashioned rocking chairs, is the perfect place to relax and take in views of the gardens and surrounding countryside.
On a nearby hillside, the Coffee Lodge makes the most of its panoramic views. This single‑storey, whitewashed building, inspired by rural haciendas, houses eleven cheerful country‑style rooms, each with a private balcony. Wherever you stay, meal times are always sociable, showcasing Colombian hospitality at its finest, with guests gathering around one long table to enjoy hearty, home‑cooked dishes.
The hacienda is surrounded by beautiful gardens and includes a swimming pool and many tranquil corners ideal for reading or birdwatching. More than 260 species of birds have been recorded here, and the hacienda has designed a self‑guided birdwatching tour, also available with an expert naturalist guide at an additional cost. With eight, well marked trails of varying difficulty, it’s also an excellent place for hiking, and maps are available at reception.
A stay at Hacienda Venecia wouldn’t be complete without exploring the craft behind your morning brew. Guided coffee tours provide an insightful look at every stage of production, from bean to cup. Chocolate and rum tasting workshops complete the experience.
It’s about a 3-hour drive to Salamina. Passing through Manizales the road begins to wind its way north, via the towns of Neira and Aranzazu, before reaching Salamina. This narrow road is full of twists and turns but it’s a particularly scenic drive with dense foliage giving way to stunning vistas.
Clambering up a thickly wooded hill, Salamina is a dainty whitewashed village where Spanish-style one storey houses have uniform red-tiled roofs and flowery Juliet balconies. Wander the steep streets of the village independently or accompanied by your English-speaking guide to discover the lanes and hidden corners. Range after range of chunky mountains decorates the horizon.
In the heart of the coffee region, La Casa de Lola Garcia is a restored Spanish colonial property dating back to the early 1800s: its namesake acquired it shortly after that. She lived there until the 1940s, when the house was sold. It was then bought back by a member of the 5th generation of the Garcia family in 2010 and restored to its former status with very few changes.
The property has a bit of a ’boutique guesthouse’ flavour, well imbued with the colonial style of dark wooden furniture and shuttered windows. The courtyard is surrounded by a terrace with guest rooms, kitchen and sitting room opening out into it. At the back there is a small back garden with a Jacuzzi and some tables and chairs. Upstairs there are more rooms and another former sitting area now used as a massage room. Staff are really friendly and English is spoken.
They offer some excursions, including a guided tour of Salamina which gives guests the chance to savour local delicacies, a coffee experience, an excursion to the Samaria Wax Palm Forest (either a trek or horse ride) and paragliding.
For this adventure it might be better to ride with your English-speaking guide in a four-wheel drive vehicle, as the road to San Felix is lumpy and bumpy. This little town with its rather grand baroque church sits at the foot of a range of steep hills, and it’s a popular place for paragliding.
Have a look round the town and maybe stop for a coffee before driving on up to La Samaría Wax Palm Forest at the cool altitude of 3,000m. There you are presented with a surreal sight: hundreds of tall, skinny wax palm trees stand like pins in a cushion on the golden-green hillsides.
Once again there is a range of hikes to choose from, wending your way through the silent standing army of trees.
If you prefer a longer hike you can walk for around three hours from the hotel, without taking the jeep tour. Once again, the choice is yours.
Return to Salamina for lunch, or if you wish, you can arrange a picnic (with a view).
In the heart of the coffee region, La Casa de Lola Garcia is a restored Spanish colonial property dating back to the early 1800s: its namesake acquired it shortly after that. She lived there until the 1940s, when the house was sold. It was then bought back by a member of the 5th generation of the Garcia family in 2010 and restored to its former status with very few changes.
The property has a bit of a ’boutique guesthouse’ flavour, well imbued with the colonial style of dark wooden furniture and shuttered windows. The courtyard is surrounded by a terrace with guest rooms, kitchen and sitting room opening out into it. At the back there is a small back garden with a Jacuzzi and some tables and chairs. Upstairs there are more rooms and another former sitting area now used as a massage room. Staff are really friendly and English is spoken.
They offer some excursions, including a guided tour of Salamina which gives guests the chance to savour local delicacies, a coffee experience, an excursion to the Samaria Wax Palm Forest (either a trek or horse ride) and paragliding.
It’s a long but beautiful drive from Salamina to Honda (5-6 hours), with a choice of two recommended routes, one of which involves negotiating an unpaved road where you’ll be rewarded with stunning views.
Either way, you’ll be on the road which leads to the Páramo de Letras, a mountain pass at 3,690m, with horizon-bending vistas. This altitude presents a very different landscape: the harsher conditions, exposure to the elements and rarified air means that the surrounding landscape is of rough, wind-strafed grasslands, not dissimilar to familiar moorland.
From there you descend to more tropical climes, passing through a couple of towns to Honda.
Nicknamed the ‘City of Bridges’ Honda, squatting sweltering on the banks of the Magdalena River, was formerly an important port on the trade route between the Caribbean coast and Bogotá. Honda is a hot and steamy place, surrounded by forest-stifled hills. Although parts of the town’s outskirts are less than attractive, as you approach the historic core the prosperous past is reflected in the grandeur of the architecture, and in the colonial houses which line the cobbled streets.
Crouching in the hot and steamy Magdalena valley four hours downhill from Bogotá, Honda was an important river port in the epoch of Spanish colonisation.
The small (10 guest rooms) and friendly mid-range Casa Belle Epoque dates from the later Republican era, the elegance of which is reflected in its décor and furnishings. The hotel has two floors, a further terrace upstairs and a small terrace higher up with loungers from which you can view the river. There is also a lounge area to relax in with rocking chairs, hammocks and a library.
To keep you cool there’s the welcome of a shady garden and pool, tropical plants dotted around the house, and the en guest rooms have air conditioning and ceiling fan. Your hosts are usually on hand with a refreshing fruit juice.
Today you have a guided walking tour of the town which visits the market, the impressive Navarro Bridge and the Museo del Rio, where you’ll learn about the river’s importance in forming the region’s history and culture.
Crouching in the hot and steamy Magdalena valley four hours downhill from Bogotá, Honda was an important river port in the epoch of Spanish colonisation.
The small (10 guest rooms) and friendly mid-range Casa Belle Epoque dates from the later Republican era, the elegance of which is reflected in its décor and furnishings. The hotel has two floors, a further terrace upstairs and a small terrace higher up with loungers from which you can view the river. There is also a lounge area to relax in with rocking chairs, hammocks and a library.
To keep you cool there’s the welcome of a shady garden and pool, tropical plants dotted around the house, and the en guest rooms have air conditioning and ceiling fan. Your hosts are usually on hand with a refreshing fruit juice.
It will take about 4 hours to reach the Colombian capital Bogotá from Honda. Our local representative will liaise with you throughout the day and will be waiting for you at the car hire office at Bogota’s El Dorado Airport to help you drop off your car.
Transfer to your hotel in the city.
The smart and contemporary EK Hotel is excellently placed within walking distance of the upscale restaurants and bars of Bogotá’s Zona Rosa making it a perfect choice for those who want to make the most of the city’s nightlife.
There are 90 guest rooms all decorated in a sleek, minimalist style and feature black and white photographs of Colombia’s diverse destinations.
There is a rooftop terrace offering views over the city and you can enjoy the hotel’s gym and sauna when you’re not out exploring. A delicious breakfast is also served daily in the spacious restaurant.
UK clients arrive home the following day.
The places you’ll stay and explore on this tour. Here’s a closer look at each one and what makes it worth the trip.
Colombia - Bogota
Colonial history, world-class museums and modern urban energy combine beneath the dramatic peaks of the Andes in Bogotá, Colombia, the country’s vibrant capital. Sitting at over 2,600m above sea level, Bogotá blends cobbled colonial streets with sophisticated cultural institutions, lively cafés and some of the country’s best nightlife.
Colombia - Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera)
Coffee Region holidays showcase Colombia’s coffee country, where rolling hills, traditional haciendas and colourful rural towns sit between Pereira, Armenia and Manizales in the western Andes. Terraced fincas, bamboo forests and giant banana plants produce the world’s finest coffee, while the spring-like climate makes it ideal for finca stays, cloud forest walks and thermal springs.
Colombia - Villa de Leyva & Barichara
Discover colonial Popayán, a historic university town filled with music and character, and nearby Silvia, known for its Guambiano community. Continue to Cali, a vibrant tropical city and the salsa capital of Colombia. Its infectious energy offers a striking contrast to the archaeological and colonial heritage of southern Colombia.
A few years ago, you wouldn’t have thought about driving your own car in Colombia, but now this politically stable and utterly enchanting country’s roads welcome overseas drivers. This is the ideal way to explore Colombia on a flexible itinerary at your own pace. Drive through the sun-splashed, emerald hills of the peaceful coffee-growing region, where you’ll stay in hospitable restored colonial coffee farms.
Flexibility is the keyword here. Driving in Colombia can be challenging: you need to be a confident driver, but we offer you plenty of information and support on the ground. How much you drive on your own and how much with an English-speaking driver to accompany you on excursions is mostly up to you; whether you take the main roads or intriguing little detours off the beaten track is your choice. However you do it, you’ll have an exhilarating, adventurous and rewarding time, with glorious views throughout.
The coffee-producing area on the western slopes of the Cordillera Central has a pleasant, warm climate, and a hilly landscape of shiny coffee bushes interspersed with enormous bamboo jungles and banana plants.
Lina Fuller
All of our experts have lived or travelled extensively in Latin America, so you will receive unrivalled advice based on unique personal experiences.
The practical detail for this tour, all in one place. Transport, accommodation, what’s included and what to pack, so you know exactly what to expect before you go.
- Transport
1 domestic flight (1 hour) from Bogotá to Pereira; self-drive car hire – manual Renault Duster or similar.
- Accommodation
In the coffee region you will be staying in small, independent mid-range hotels as well as a traditional coffee farm (finca). Your two hotels in Bogotá are bigger and more modern in style but are well located to explore La Candelaria, the colonial district, and La Zona Rosa, a neighbourhood with a vibrant dining and nightlife scene.
- Meals
Breakfast daily; lunch days 4,8.
- Summary Of Nights
12 days, 11 nights: Bogotá 2, Salento 2; coffee finca near Manizales 2; Salamina 2; Honda 2, Bogotá 1.
- Trip Suitability
This is a self-drive holiday and will suit independent-minded clients seeking the freedom to explore on and off the beaten track parts of Colombia. You should be confident driving a manual 4WD on the right.
Main roads are generally in good condition but some rural roads can be unpaved and bumpy. A smattering of Spanish as well as some mechanical knowledge – the ability to change a tyre, for example – will be very useful. Your hire car will include a satellite navigation system in English, pre-loaded with all of your hotels and destinations, as well as petrol stations, and we will also send you our Rules of the Road document with helpful tips specific to driving in Colombia
- Climate
The dry season in Colombia is from December until March and then June to September. Temperatures during this period average around 30°C, although are reasonably consistent throughout the year. Bogotá, and towns in the coffee growing region, because of their altitude, have a spring-like climate and can be chilly at night. Honda, on the other hand, is hot and humid all year round with an average temperature of 33 °C.
- Altitude
Several days are spent at high altitude (over 2,500m). You may notice the effect of high altitude; symptoms vary: most common are mild headaches and breathlessness. If you drink plenty of water and allow your body to acclimatise (don’t exert yourself or drink alcohol) in the first couple of days after arrival, you will minimise your chances of being adversely affected.
- Clothing And Special Equipment
Bring plenty of light cotton clothing as well as some warm items and a good waterproof jacket. We suggest that you plan to ‘layer’ your clothing; it is easier and more efficient to put on a couple of light layers than one thick jumper. You may want to bring swimwear too.
Good, comfortable walking shoes are very important and you may wish to bring walking poles with you when hiking in the Cocora Valley and La Samaria Wax Palm Forest. Protection against the sun (sun cream and sun hat) and mosquito repellent are also essential.
If you plan to go to good restaurants or out on evening entertainment trips (most likely in Bogotá) you might bring something a bit smarter (although formal attire will not be required).
Please get in touch with the office before departure if you have any doubts. Good equipment is very important and can be hard to come by in Latin America.
- Guides
We carefully select our local partners, most of whom we have worked with for many years. Their English-speaking guides understand the expectations of our clients very well, and are consistently singled out for praise by the latter on their return.
- How To Take It
The unit of currency in Colombia is the Colombian peso.
- Currency
Cash machines are available in all major cities and towns, and so taking a debit or credit card with a PIN number is the most convenient way of withdrawing money while on your trip, and in most shops and restaurants you can also pay by card. However, since cards can get lost, damaged, withheld or blocked, you should not rely exclusively on a card to access funds. We recommend that additionally you take a reasonable quantity of US dollars cash (no more than is covered by your insurance), which you can exchange into local currency. Dollar bills should be in good condition, soiled or torn bills may be refused. You can take sterling, but the exchange rate is not always competitive or even available, restricting the number of places where you can change money. Never change money on the street.
- Daily Spend
It is very difficult to give a guideline for essential expenses but a budget of around US$45 per day should cover the cost of meals not included in the holiday itinerary, drinks and the odd souvenir. Eat at the best restaurants and you will pay considerably more.
- Tipping
Tips are welcomed and local guides often rely on their tip as a significant proportion of their income.
Most service industry workers will expect a tip of some kind and so it is useful to have spare change for hotel porters, taxi drivers and the like. We recommend approximately $10 per person for a half day and $20 for a full day for guides and half that for drivers. It is common to leave 10 – 12% in restaurants.
- Insurance
Travel insurance is essential.
Details of our recommended policy can be found on our Travel Insurance page.
- Airport Taxes
If you have purchased your flights through Journey Latin America, the international departure tax is usually included in the ticket.
- Vaccinations
Preventative vaccinations are recommended against the following: typhoid; polio; tetanus; hepatitis A. You should consult your GP for specific requirements, including advice on yellow fever and malaria tablets.
You can also find helpful information on the Masta Travel Health website.
- Visas
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.
- When is the best time to visit Colombia?
The country is an all-year destination. The highlands have a permanent spring-like climate. The Caribbean coast is mostly dry and hot with plenty of sun, at its driest Dec-Mar. The Amazon jungle is hot and humid all year. Beach resorts can be very crowded at weekends, national holidays and Dec-Feb.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What is the official language in Colombia?
The official language in Colombia is Spanish.
- What is the official currency in Colombia?
The official currency of Colombia is the Peso. Notes can be withdrawn from ATMs in larger towns and cities using a UK credit or debit card, though you may have to advise your bank first and amounts that can be withdrawn may be lower than in the UK. Banks will offer advances on a credit card. Money exchanges (casas de cambio) change US dollars cash (very few accept euros or sterling and the rate will be poor).
- What is the time difference between Colombia and UK?
The time difference between the UK and Colombia is GMT -5 hours.
- Do I need a visa for Colombia?
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application. - What vaccinations do I need for Colombia?
Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.
- What places combine well with Colombia?
A trip to Colombia combines brilliantly with many destinations in Central and South America, due to great flight connections from Bogota. Some of the most popular combinations include Peru, Ecuador and Panama.
- What are the festivals, cultural and sport events in Colombia?
Hay Festival take place in January in Cartagena. An offshoot of the famous literary festival in Hay-on-Wye, it attracts Latin American and international writers and intellectuals of international renown.
Carnival takes place countrywide in Feb-Mar. The most famous and extravagant carnival takes place in the Caribbean city of Barranquilla, with frenetic dancing and parades of revellers wearing extravagant costumes.
Easter (Holy Week) is also celebrated countrywide in Mar-Apr: Many Colombians spend this week away at beaches and other popular destinations.
The Flower Fair takes place on Medellin in August. This is a sumptuous floral celebration with displays of artistic creativity.
International Jazz Festival happens in Bogota in September. World renowned artists will perform in front of thousands of jazz enthusiasts.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.
Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.
Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.
Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Wander around the impressive displays of pre-Columbian metalwork at this world-class museum celebrating a substance with great significance to South American culture and history.
Wander the cobbled streets of any one of Colombia’s unspoilt colonial towns of the interior. Mompós, for example, is a sleepy riverside town, once a thriving trade post, which retains the impressive colonial architecture of a more prosperous era.
See Colombia’s national tree, the majestic wax palm, swathing the scenic slopes of the Zona Cafetera.
Visit a traditional finca in the heart of Coffee Country to see first-hand how Colombia’s renowned coffee beans are picked, roasted and brewed.
Accommodation
Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation. Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you will relax in utter comfort
Small, homely guesthouse on the edge of Salento with magnificent views of the Cocora Valley.
A working coffee plantation with comfortable accommodation and excellent opportunities for hiking and birdwatching.
La Casa de Lola Garcia is a longstanding family guest house in Colombia’s coffee country.
Papagaio
Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
Featured Articles
To round the corner of a mountain and see the lost citadel of Machu Picchu unfold beneath you remains one of the most awe-inspiring experiences in Latin America, one of those dreamlike experiences that makes travelling here truly extraordinary.
The Pantanal wetlands cover an area almost the size of the British Isles and offers better wildlife opportunities than the Amazon. Writer and photographer Alex Bellos discovers them.
Small, breathtakingly beautiful Costa Rica is a treasure trove for the nature lover. Trees laden with orchids are home to quetzals and hummingbirds, while the Caribbean shore hosts volcanic beaches and palm-sheltered coves.
