Colombia Itinerary

Day 01

Arrive Bogota

Arrive in Bogota. On arrival, you will be met and assisted to your hotel by our office representative (Rooms will be available from 1400 Hrs).

Optional (time permitting):
Drive out at sunset towards the mountains and the secluded village of “La Calera” just on the outskirts of the city. From selected lookout points called “miradores”, you will be able to photograph Bogota’s spectacular sea of lights.

Evening; we will have an orientation with the photographer followed by a welcome dinner in a local Colombian restaurant.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 02

Bogota

This guided visit to the Colombian capital starts with a photo shoot in a typical market place called “Paloquemao”. We’ll see typical fruits, vegetables and the many other food products of the region. You will be able to shoot the authentic sights of everyday life of Colombians.

Afterwards we will go to La Plaza de Bolivar (the city’s main square), which is surrounded by federal government buildings and full of kids playing with pigeons, food sellers and maybe some peaceful protests on the most important issues of the day. We continue into the old colonial part of the city better known as “La Candelaria”, which includes “El Chorro de Quevedo” an alternative place where many students get together to sing, play music and drink Chicha. Each stop will be interesting culturally and photographically.

Our city tour finishes with a trip in a cable car to the top of the Monserrate Hill, which offers shots of a spectacular view of the city and a sunset shoot.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 03

Bogota – Santa Marta

(By flight)

We are driven to the airport for an early flight to Santa Marta, where a representative will meet us at the airport and drive us to our accommodations.

Santa Marta, founded on July 29, 1525, by the Spanish conquistador Rodrigo de Bastidas, is the capital of Magdalena. It was the first Spanish settlement in Colombia along with being the oldest surviving city in that country and second oldest in all of South America. It’s far northern coastline, Santa Marta Bay, has beautiful white sand beaches along the Caribbean Sea.

In the afternoon, there are plenty of chances to shoot on our panoramic tour to Rodadero´s and Santa Marta`s /bay. We visit Taganga viewpoint, Casa de la aduana, El Pibe Valderrama monument and Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 04

Santa Marta – Tayronaka- Santa Marta

Early morning sunrise shoot of the bay. After breakfast, we depart for Tayronaka. Photo options include paths, terraces, stairs and a ceremonial house. Here you can see how the Tayronas lived a thousand years ago and how their descendants, the Koguis, do now. Includes a boat ride down the river to get those unique shots from the water.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 05

Santa Marta – Tayrona National Park – Santa Marta

Early departure to the Tayrona National Park (Neguaje and Crystal Beach). Enjoy shooting in one of the most beautiful Nature reserves in the world with its pristine waters, white sand beaches and beautiful coral reefs. Get those beautiful landscape shots of tropical forests and the Beach of Seven Waves. Sunset shoot.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 06

Santa Marta – Cartagena
(By surface 4 hours)

Morning shoot before we drive to Cartagena. We stop en route to shoot in Cienaga.

Late in the afternoon, we walk the old district where there are plenty of photo tours of people and architecture.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 07

Cartagena

Sunrise photo shoot.

After breakfast, we embark on a fascinating half-day photo and cultural tour that starts with the visit of the most important monuments of Cartagena starting at the Convent of La Popa (the highest point of the city) and San Felipe Castle. The most impressive and perhaps photogenic is the huge defensive wall that surrounds the old city and overlooks the sea with its well-preserved colonial architecture. During the rest of our visit you will have the chance to photograph the plazas full of people and enjoy the charm of the city. We will meet the Palenqueras in their typical colorful dresses and hear about their story and their everyday life. This unforgettable combination makes Cartagena deserving the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will end our day at a special dance school were young people will show you the typical dances of the Colombian Caribbean in costume. You will find many opportunities here to get special shots.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 08

Cartagena – Medellin

(By flight)

We are driven to the airport for our flight to Medellin and upon arrival we are met and driven to our hotel.

This afternoon we wander the streets of Medellin capturing images of the people and their environment as they go about their daily life.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 9

Medellin

Today we photograph this unique, beautiful and modern city. Our day starts in the heart of Medellin’s city center exploring the San Antonio Park, Plaza de San Ignacio, the traditional Avenida la playa and the sculpture Park, which a contains more than 20 sculptures donated by Maestro Fernando Botero, a son of Colombia´s best-known artist. We will walk through Carabobo Street, the street where it seems it is possible to buy and sell just about anything. Wonderful photographs of the animated interaction between buyer and seler await you.

Our tour continues to the “Pueblito Paisa” a scale-replica of a typical Antioqueño village. From this vantage point it will be possible to enjoy and shoot a wonderful view of Medellin and its surroundings. Next we will go to Metrocable to the “Comunas” the neighborhoods, which were very dangerous during the time of the violence in Medellin; there we will witness and understand how much times have changed – an important photographic opportunity.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 10

Medellin – Coffee Region
(By surface 350 Km/7 Hrs)

This morning we shoot the city as it wakes up taking advantage of the magical early morning light.

After breakfast and checkout we drive onward to the Coffee Region. There are plenty of opportunities for shoots along the way.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 11

Coffee Region

Enjoy a full day of outdoor shooting.

Private excursion to the Cocora Valley, one of the most beautiful region of the country, where the tallest palms on the planet, create an amazing forest. Charming small towns such as Salento and Filandia, bring colorful images of gentle settlers, framed by the typical architecture of ancient houses, street business, excellent climate, surround by the privileged landscape of mountain ranges and a delightful fauna and flora. Salento is known as the municipality cradle of the national tree “The Palm of Wax”. In the afternoon we’ll visit a typical coffee farm in Genova. This farm has over 120 years of coffee tradition.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 12

Coffee Region

Enjoy another full day of shooting in this fantastic coffee region.

Private tour in Willys Jeeps, practical vehicles for the coffee farmers, they take full advantage of their usefulness by loading the open trunks with more cargo than you would think is possible. Great opportunity to be a passenger an enjoy the real life around the coffee routes. We go towards “Rio Verde”, Green River a meeting point where many farmers stop to drink a Jacket, coffee done in sugar cane, or typical Aguapanela. Then we’ll go towards Córdoba, another classical municipality up in the chain of green mountains to observe the cultures of coffee and banana, visiting the coffee growers’s cooperative. The panoramic of the Quindio Department and part of the valley is spectacular. We’ll continue to Pijao, to enjoy the old colorful architecture then we visit Buenavista, where we can drink an International gourmet coffee at la Terraza San Alberto. Typical lunch is between Córdoba and Pijao, or in Rio. We then return to Pereira for our farewell dinner.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 13

Depart Pereira

Early morning shoot (time permitting)

On time transfer to the International airport to connect with flight to International destinations.