9-Nights Colombia: Jungle, Mountains and Beaches - Tailormade Journeys — CALL

1 Arrive Bogotá, Colombia

Following an overnight flight, Bogotá — one of the world's highest capital cities — welcomes you to explore barrios where historic architecture stands beside shimmering skyscrapers.

Colombia’s high-altitude capital offers a lively beginning at the Paloquemao market, where stalls brim with local delicacies and fresh flowers. The historic district of La Candelaria then invites exploration with its cobbled streets, central plaza and centuries-old cathedral. Encounter the bold works of Fernando Botero at the Botero Museum, alongside pieces by Picasso and other masters. The Gold Museum nearby displays an extraordinary array of pre-Hispanic artifacts that reflect the region’s ancient cultures. A cable car ride leads to the summit of Monserrate, home to a 17th-century church and sweeping views of Bogotá.

Just beyond Bogotá’s eastern hills lies Choachí, a haven for outdoor adventurers drawn to its closeness to Chingaza National Park. Nestled deep within the park’s lush forest, La Chorrera — Colombia’s tallest waterfall — cascades 1,935 feet down a mossy cliff, lending the landscape an almost mythical beauty.

Fly to Leticia, the meeting point of Colombia, Brazil and Peru. Deep within the Amazon rainforest, your secluded lodge offers immersion in one of the world’s richest ecosystems. Above, emerald canopies stretch without end, pierced by shafts of sunlight that reveal orchids in bloom and glimpses of elusive wildlife. Along the muddy banks of the Amazon River, daily life unfolds in rhythm with the land, where indigenous communities and nature thrive in harmony.

The morning begins with a visit to a Tikuna community, where traditions remain closely tied to the rhythms of the river and jungle. After a relaxed lunch, the journey continues with a hike through the Calanoa Reserve, leading to Matamata Creek on the edge of Amacayacu National Park. A canoe rests at the river’s edge, ready for an afternoon paddle along the vast Amazon.

Today brings a choice between two unforgettable paths. On Mocagua Island, giant water lilies — some nearly 10 feet across — spread like umbrellas over still waters. After a laid-back lunch, an Amazon River cruise offers the chance to spot pink dolphins surfacing in the afternoon light. If you prefer, the lakes of Vista Alegre near the Peruvian border promise a rich mosaic of wildlife. Back on land, the quiet Milciades garden sets the stage for a thoughtful encounter with a Cocama medicine practitioner, who shares generations of plant-based healing wisdom.

Fly back to Bogotá, where a scenic drive winds into the heart of coffee country to Cafetal de la Trinidad. Founded in 1894, this historic hacienda was one of the first to cultivate coffee in the region. After a careful restoration, the 740-acre estate now opens its doors with a warm welcome steeped in tradition.

The plantation invites deeper exploration with a private tour through the estate’s historic factory, followed by the chance to roam the grounds on horseback or foot. As evening settles in, a home-cooked dinner is followed by a coffee tasting — a chance to savor the flavors behind the craft and revisit all you’ve learned.

The journey continues with a flight to Santa Marta, the oldest European settlement in South America, and the gateway to Colombia’s northern coffee highlands. At lower elevations, golden-winged sparrows flash through the trees and black-backed antshrikes call from the undergrowth. As the path climbs higher, the landscape shifts to cloud forest, where endemic species like the Santa Marta blossomcrown and Santa Marta antbird thrive in the cool mist.

Between tastings at hillside plantations and quiet moments on the trail, the day offers an intimate look at a region where coffee and biodiversity flourish side by side.