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Private Journeys

Self-drive Colombia: Exploring the coffee region and beyond

12 days from £1,800pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Colombia

  • Mary Anne Nelson ©

Overview & Highlights

Take to the road in Colombia on this supported self-drive holiday, driving through the gorgeous landscapes of the coffee cultivation country.

A few years ago, you wouldn’t have thought about driving your own car in Colombia. But now this politically stabilised and utterly enchanting country’s roads welcome overseas drivers. Put your hands on the wheel on this flexible holiday 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.

Read More
  • Walking tour of colonial Bogota
  • Visit the Bogota Gold Museum
  • Full day guided hike in the Cocora valley
  • Guided tour of the coffee production process
  • La Samaria wax palm forest tour
  • Guided walking tour of Honda
  • 9 days of self-drive around the Colombian heartland

THE UK’S NO. 1 SPECIALIST IN TRAVEL TO LATIN AMERICA

Sophie Barber

Sophie Barber

Travel Expert

Talk to our experts

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.

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What our clients say

  • This tour brings Mexico's cultural and historical diversity vividly to life, and is an excellent introduction to this important Latin American country.

    JF, Cambridge
    Mar 2020
  • The first view of Machu Picchu from the watchman's tower, the view from El Alto overlooking La Paz and surrounding mountains and the Iguazu Falls will remain with me always. Also very pleased with the standard of accommodation.

    Overall this was the most interesting and varied holiday I have ever been on and was a superb introduction to what was, for me, a new area of the world.

    PM, Motherwell
    Feb 2013
  • This was a holiday I have wanted to do for many years and it did not fail to deliver. Our tour leader was professional,knowledgeable, understanding and integrated with the local guides to ensure received the best service and information.The recommendations we were given for restaurants, optional tours, tango evenings,sorting money etc were spot on. And finally, the visits to various ice cream parlours for dessert after group meals was most welcome!

    GM, Fairford
    Apr 2018
  • The variety of places that we visited. I enjoyed every place we visited. Food was good. Colourful towns. Friendly people. Beautiful scenery.

    JLK, Kenley
    Jan 2018
  • An excellent trip covering many of the key historical, geographical  and political sites, and providing insight into a rapidly changing country. Go before it changes irrevocably.

    DW, London
    Feb 2017
  • So many things - wonderful birds, Leon was very interesting, Copan was fascinating. This is our 4th trip with JLA and we have never been disappointed.

    LP, Honiton
    Jan 2018
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Our expert's view

Sophie Barber
Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

Inspired by this trip

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.

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Your edit for Latin American inspiration

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.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Sally Dodge
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

  • Heloise Buxton
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

  • Hannah Waterhouse
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

  • Paul Winrow Giffen
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Hannah Donaldson
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • CarrieGallagher2
    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

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