In Search of Juan Valdez
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Highlights:
For many years Colombian Coffee has been a favorite for North American consumers aided by the fictitious TV character of Juan Valdez who picked each bean by hand. In many ways that was the image of Colombia, but in the 1980’s a new crop became synonymous and towns like Cali, Barranquilla and most notably, Medellin took on a more ominous tone.
In Medellin, Pablo Escobar ruled supreme until his death. It was then that the government committed resources to reclaim Medellin’s title as the “City of Eternal Spring." In this they were successful, so today “El Patron’ is no more; Juan Valdez is still with us, at least in spirit. Let us show you the best or Armenia and Medellin. You are in for a delightful surprise.
For many years Colombian Coffee has been a favorite for North American consumers aided by the fictitious TV character of Juan Valdez who picked each bean by hand. In many ways that was the image of Colombia, but in the 1980’s a new crop became synonymous and towns like Cali, Barranquilla and most notably, Medellin took on a more ominous tone.
In Medellin, Pablo Escobar ruled supreme until his death. It was then that the government committed resources to reclaim Medellin’s title as the “City of Eternal Spring." In this they were successful, so today “El Patron’ is no more; Juan Valdez is still with us, at least in spirit. Let us show you the best or Armenia and Medellin. You are in for a delightful surprise.
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Explore: Medellin, colombia
Customizable Itinerary - 10 Days (from $3,647 per person)
Day 1: USA-Colombia
Board your aircraft for the flight to Colombia where you land in Bogota its capital city. You are met and escorted to your elegant hotel located in one of Bogota’s best neighborhoods.
Day 2: Highlights of Bogota
After breakfast you meet your guide for a private half-day tour of the city highlights with a focus on the historic centre known as La Candelaria. Visit the main square, Plaza de Bolivar where a statue of Simon Bolivar dominates. In the past the plaza has served many proposes including a marketplace, a bullring and a place where executions were held. Your next visit will be the Cathedral which houses important religious artifacts. You will also pass by many government buildings as you make your way to Botero Museum exhibiting some of the works of Fernando Botero along with pieces from his personal collection including works by Picasso, Renoir, Dali, Matisse, Monet and Giacometti. From there you visit the Gold Museum which is considered to be one of the most important museums of its type with a vast display of Gold jewelry dating back prior to the conquistadors. Finish your tour by riding a cable car or funicular to the 1,500 feet summit where you find the Santuario de Monserrate plus incredible views of the city and the surrounding Andes. Return to the hotel where you can relax before dinner.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 3: Bogota to Armenia
Armenia is a major agricultural area in Colombia especially noted for its coffee. You will be exploring this area and its bounty for the next few days. After a brief flight you are met and taken to your hotel where you can relax before dinner.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 4: Valle del Cocora and Finlandia
After breakfast you leave with your guide for the Valle de Cocora which is located in the central mountains of the Parque Nacional de los Nevados. Here you will find the “Quidian Wax Palm”, the national tree of Colombia which reaches a height of over 180 feet. Birds inhabit the trees including several types of hummingbirds and the palm parrot. Upon arrival you head into the cloud forest either on foot or on horseback to enjoy the biodiversity of flora and fauna. On the return journey you cross the River Quindío while walking along an ecological pathway. Stop for lunch and then drive to the town of Salento with its colorful balconies, the Calle Real, the handicraft shops and the Cocora Valley viewpoint. Finish up the day with a visit to Filandia to enjoy some time soaking up the regional atmosphere and perhaps some local spirits before returning to the hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: The Colombian Way with Coffee
After breakfast your guide will take you to Hacienda San Alberto one of the coffee estates typical of the region and located in the steep hills typical of this area. View the green carpet of coffee plants that spread out as far as the horizon. The tour begins with an introductory talk about coffee, its preparation, toasting, the characteristics of quality and the properties that allow for such a variety of coffees in the world. The route continues through the plantations, appreciating the work of the coffee pickers as well as understanding the famous humid coffee that is characteristic of Colombian coffee. Learn about the harvest, the drying in the sun and the roasting at the end enjoy a coffee tasting session with an expert “taster."
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Jardin Botanica del Quindío
The soil and the elevation around Armenia is not only good for coffee but also for flora. Your guide will take you to Jardin Botanica del Quindío which is located in the town of Calarca. This natural forest of close to 30 acres has a vast diversity of flora on display including more than 600 species of plants, more than 70 species of birds and more than 2,000 species of butterflied. The garden includes a butterfly house with more than 50 species available to view up close. A climb up a seven storey viewpoint allows for a dramatic overview of the different levels of vegetation.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: The Medellin Comeback
Today you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to the City of Medellin. In the 1980’s, this city was one of the most dangerous in the world. Back in the early ‘90’s, when the hunt for Pablo Escobar, the head of Medellin’s drug cartel took place the city dominated the news even in North America. Even when the reign of El Patron came to an end there was still violence as others fought to succeed him. In 2002 Medellin began to change. Intelligent local politicians started to invest heavily in infrastructure and public education. Today the “City of Eternal Spring” is one of the most innovative cities in the world. On this special tour you will visit Barrio San Javier which used to be one of the most unsafe in the city. Located four miles from the city centre but technology changed all that. You will ride on the metrocable car that joins the north-east area with the city centre which has been life-changing for many inhabitants. You will also explore Medellin’s newest invention, the electric stairways of district Comuna 13. Here it is possible to have a beautiful view over the city from the balconies of San Javier. After your tour you check into your hotel where you have a free evening to enjoy a selection of fine restaurants close to your hotel.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 8: Santa Fe De Antioquia
After breakfast you leave Medellin and head west crossing The River Cauca by the Puente de Occidente, one of the first suspension bridges in South America. After a journey of little more than an hour you arrive in Santa Fe de Antioquia where it seems that time has stood still since colonial times. Founded in 1541 by Jorge Robledo this was the capital of Antioquia until 1826 when the government was moved to Medellin. The narrow streets that run alongside the whitewashed buildings are still here for all to see. It is worth visiting the Santa Barbara church, the Museum of Liturgical Art, the Cathedral and the Juan del Carroll Museum. After lunch, you return to Medellin with a stop on the way to visit the quaint town of San Jerónimo with its beautiful church and fine examples of architecture from both the Colonial and Republican eras. You will also pass vendors selling pineapples, oranges, tamarind and mango before arriving back in the city.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 9: Bolero and Barcal
Today you have free time and we highly recommend spending part of your day at La Plazoleta which houses 23 sculptures by Fernando Botero donated by the artist as part of the “re-branding’ of Medellin. Bolero’s works offer highly oversized people and animals (cats for one) and are exhibited worldwide so it is rare to find so many in one park. Medellin also offers plenty of chic stores to browse. In the evening you will be taken to Restaurant Barcal, a highly acclaimed restaurant located in a remodeled house and offering an eclectic mix of foods all created to order.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10: Return to USA
Your driver will be waiting to take you to the airport for a return flight to the USA.
Breakfast
Board your aircraft for the flight to Colombia where you land in Bogota its capital city. You are met and escorted to your elegant hotel located in one of Bogota’s best neighborhoods.
Day 2: Highlights of Bogota
After breakfast you meet your guide for a private half-day tour of the city highlights with a focus on the historic centre known as La Candelaria. Visit the main square, Plaza de Bolivar where a statue of Simon Bolivar dominates. In the past the plaza has served many proposes including a marketplace, a bullring and a place where executions were held. Your next visit will be the Cathedral which houses important religious artifacts. You will also pass by many government buildings as you make your way to Botero Museum exhibiting some of the works of Fernando Botero along with pieces from his personal collection including works by Picasso, Renoir, Dali, Matisse, Monet and Giacometti. From there you visit the Gold Museum which is considered to be one of the most important museums of its type with a vast display of Gold jewelry dating back prior to the conquistadors. Finish your tour by riding a cable car or funicular to the 1,500 feet summit where you find the Santuario de Monserrate plus incredible views of the city and the surrounding Andes. Return to the hotel where you can relax before dinner.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 3: Bogota to Armenia
Armenia is a major agricultural area in Colombia especially noted for its coffee. You will be exploring this area and its bounty for the next few days. After a brief flight you are met and taken to your hotel where you can relax before dinner.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 4: Valle del Cocora and Finlandia
After breakfast you leave with your guide for the Valle de Cocora which is located in the central mountains of the Parque Nacional de los Nevados. Here you will find the “Quidian Wax Palm”, the national tree of Colombia which reaches a height of over 180 feet. Birds inhabit the trees including several types of hummingbirds and the palm parrot. Upon arrival you head into the cloud forest either on foot or on horseback to enjoy the biodiversity of flora and fauna. On the return journey you cross the River Quindío while walking along an ecological pathway. Stop for lunch and then drive to the town of Salento with its colorful balconies, the Calle Real, the handicraft shops and the Cocora Valley viewpoint. Finish up the day with a visit to Filandia to enjoy some time soaking up the regional atmosphere and perhaps some local spirits before returning to the hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: The Colombian Way with Coffee
After breakfast your guide will take you to Hacienda San Alberto one of the coffee estates typical of the region and located in the steep hills typical of this area. View the green carpet of coffee plants that spread out as far as the horizon. The tour begins with an introductory talk about coffee, its preparation, toasting, the characteristics of quality and the properties that allow for such a variety of coffees in the world. The route continues through the plantations, appreciating the work of the coffee pickers as well as understanding the famous humid coffee that is characteristic of Colombian coffee. Learn about the harvest, the drying in the sun and the roasting at the end enjoy a coffee tasting session with an expert “taster."
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Jardin Botanica del Quindío
The soil and the elevation around Armenia is not only good for coffee but also for flora. Your guide will take you to Jardin Botanica del Quindío which is located in the town of Calarca. This natural forest of close to 30 acres has a vast diversity of flora on display including more than 600 species of plants, more than 70 species of birds and more than 2,000 species of butterflied. The garden includes a butterfly house with more than 50 species available to view up close. A climb up a seven storey viewpoint allows for a dramatic overview of the different levels of vegetation.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: The Medellin Comeback
Today you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to the City of Medellin. In the 1980’s, this city was one of the most dangerous in the world. Back in the early ‘90’s, when the hunt for Pablo Escobar, the head of Medellin’s drug cartel took place the city dominated the news even in North America. Even when the reign of El Patron came to an end there was still violence as others fought to succeed him. In 2002 Medellin began to change. Intelligent local politicians started to invest heavily in infrastructure and public education. Today the “City of Eternal Spring” is one of the most innovative cities in the world. On this special tour you will visit Barrio San Javier which used to be one of the most unsafe in the city. Located four miles from the city centre but technology changed all that. You will ride on the metrocable car that joins the north-east area with the city centre which has been life-changing for many inhabitants. You will also explore Medellin’s newest invention, the electric stairways of district Comuna 13. Here it is possible to have a beautiful view over the city from the balconies of San Javier. After your tour you check into your hotel where you have a free evening to enjoy a selection of fine restaurants close to your hotel.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 8: Santa Fe De Antioquia
After breakfast you leave Medellin and head west crossing The River Cauca by the Puente de Occidente, one of the first suspension bridges in South America. After a journey of little more than an hour you arrive in Santa Fe de Antioquia where it seems that time has stood still since colonial times. Founded in 1541 by Jorge Robledo this was the capital of Antioquia until 1826 when the government was moved to Medellin. The narrow streets that run alongside the whitewashed buildings are still here for all to see. It is worth visiting the Santa Barbara church, the Museum of Liturgical Art, the Cathedral and the Juan del Carroll Museum. After lunch, you return to Medellin with a stop on the way to visit the quaint town of San Jerónimo with its beautiful church and fine examples of architecture from both the Colonial and Republican eras. You will also pass vendors selling pineapples, oranges, tamarind and mango before arriving back in the city.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 9: Bolero and Barcal
Today you have free time and we highly recommend spending part of your day at La Plazoleta which houses 23 sculptures by Fernando Botero donated by the artist as part of the “re-branding’ of Medellin. Bolero’s works offer highly oversized people and animals (cats for one) and are exhibited worldwide so it is rare to find so many in one park. Medellin also offers plenty of chic stores to browse. In the evening you will be taken to Restaurant Barcal, a highly acclaimed restaurant located in a remodeled house and offering an eclectic mix of foods all created to order.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10: Return to USA
Your driver will be waiting to take you to the airport for a return flight to the USA.
Breakfast
