A place of wonder, an Encanto – The Amazon Rainforest

"Encanto" Colombia: A place of wonder, magic & endless charm
16 days

  • "Abre los ojos", open your eyes!" This is where the magic begins

    Reborn from years of conflict and its landscapes are waiting to be rediscovered
  • - Welcome to our Casita “Colombia”! Experience the most magical and warmest place in the world. Visit all the destinations where the ‘Encanto’ movie was inspired. Walk its streets, taste incredible local cuisine, and enjoy the majestic sceneries.

    - We don´t talk about Bruno, but in Bogotá and Villa de Leyva, we absolutely do! You will see “Ruanas”, Bruno’s cloth, which serves as protection against cold weather.

    - This is where the magic truly begins! The place where it all starts and ends in Encanto film: Caño Cristales, the famous and fantastical “Rainbow River”. This magical river is something you should never miss when you visit Colombia.

    - Need healing? Learn how to make an Arepa, the food that can take away your sadness and heal your heart and soul from any pain. Just like Julieta’s healing power.

    - Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Amazon jungle! Feel like you are in Antonio´s room! Reset your mind and body by connecting with nature, observing incredible species, smelling the woodsy fragrance of the rainforest, and learning more about the Colombian jungle and culture.

    - Do you remember Isabella´s room? All those flowers were inspired by Santa Elena´s town located 50 minutes from Medellín where they celebrate their flower festival in a wonderful parade of “Silleteros”.

    - Visit the City of Eternal Spring! Known for the warmth of people, the capital of the Antioquia Department will welcome you with its open arms.

    - Be prepared to know the world's most innovative city (according to Wall Street Journal). The Comuna 13 will show you how Medellin reached this distinction!

    - Do you remember when Mirabel sang the first song? Look further in detail. The Tejo game and the Silletas are there! You get to enjoy both of them in this comprehensive tour!

    - Be amused by the picturesque landscapes and colorful houses of El Peñol and Guatape. Prepare your cameras. Your last day in Medellin will be extra Instagrammable!

    - Time to use all your senses in the Coffee Region! Experience the unique smells of their food and coffee, sightings and sounds of their amazing and diverse animal species, and the beauty of their flowers.

    - Discover Encanto town's rich tapestry of historic villages, charming coffee farms, fantastic nature reserves, and grand mountain peaks.

    - Don’t forget to admire the highest Palma de Cera in the world which is also known to be the Colombian national tree.

    - Cartagena will transport you back to the 18th century. This UNESCO World Heritage Site will enchant you with colorful walking streets and inviting local people.

    - Know the food and music that cures all your ills. The delicious Arepitas and our local music will cap off the fun tour day.

    - Indulge yourself in the warm, crystal waters of the Caribbean in the Rosario Islands!
  • Day 1

    Welcome to Colombia! Our Casita, Your Casita!
    Welcome to Colombia! | Arrive in Bogotá

    Start time: Not defined

    Duration: 30 minutes - 1 hour

    Overnight: Bogotá

    It is great to have you here in Colombia! We are delighted about your visit and we’ll make sure you will enjoy your stay.

    Bogotá is Colombia’s beating heart. It is an engaging and vibrant capital cradled by chilly Andean peaks and amazing people and sceneries.

    You will be picked up with a welcome sign at El Dorado Airport by a private transportation service that follows all protocols. You will be taken safely and securely to your hotel. We ensure that your 30-60 minute drive will be comfortable and relaxing.

    On the way to your hotel, your English-speaking guide will give you all the recommendations you may like to get the most out of your stay. Feel free to let the guide know your preferences.

    Start time: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Duration: 6 hours

    Overnight: Bogotá

    Discover Bogotá and enjoy a family lunch with Ajiaco as it was at Isabela's engagement

    Love the Disney movie Encanto? It was based on real-life towns and drawn from real Colombian sceneries. We will transport you to the magical moments, picturesque towns, and truly captivating views from the Encanto movie on your visit.

    On the first day, you get to walk the Colonial Downtown of Bogotá and enjoy the great architecture in place. You’ll witness a potpourri of preciously preserved colonial buildings, house museums, restaurants, hotels, and bars peppered amid 300-year-old homes, churches, and convents.

    We will also tour and visit the Colón Theater, San Carlos Palace, San Ignacio Church, Nariño Presidential Palace, Bolívar Square, City Hall, and the Cathedral.

    Never miss the Museo de Oro or the famous Gold Museum. It is home to the most extensive collection of pre-Hispanic gold works in the world.

    After discovering the beauty of Bogota, you now get to enjoy a delish family lunch of Colombian Ajiaco just like Isabela’s engagement with Mariano at Madrigal’s casita. The best Ajiaco in town will be served.

    Ajiaco is a soup with ingredients such as guascas, chicken breast, creole potato, sabanera potato, pastusa potato, long onion, cilantro, and sweet corn. It is accompanied by white rice, capers, avocado, and of course, crema.

    This famous dish is a Colombian staple to this day.

    After tasting the luscious bowl of soup, you now get to enjoy a fantastic view of the whole city on a cable car ride to Monserrate Hill.

  • Day 2

    Bogotá to The Amazon | Arrive in Amazon, Transfer By Boat To Calanoa, & Night Walking

    Flight from Bogotá to Amazon. Private Transportation Service

    Welcome to Amazon!

    Fly south towards Colombia's slice of the Amazon rainforest. When you arrive at Leticia's airport, you'll transfer to a private boat and head down the Amazon River to reach the hotel.
    That means there will be some restrictions for guests including the use of rainwater, limited hours for electricity, and meals prepared according to standard practice and availability.

    Start time: Not defined

    Duration: 6 hours

    Overnight: Amazon

    Night walking to Antonio´s room

    During the first night, you will get to enjoy a night walk in the primary forest. The jungle at night takes on a new life and vibration.

    Many of its inhabitants are nocturnal. They sing, dance, and celebrate life under the moon and the stars. The sound of the forest will be like no other and will be nothing less than magical.

    Expert indigenous guides endowed with ancestral knowledge of the jungle will guide you and show you the nocturnal life of a world that never rests. You will be enveloped with the song of frogs, nocturnal creatures, flowers that bloom at night, and phosphorescent mushrooms.

    This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you wouldn’t want to miss!

  • Day 3

    Visit Mocagua Community | Saving The Wildlife Miracle

    Start time: 11:00 am

    Duration: 6 hours

    Overnight: Amazon

    Wake up on your third day with shatterproof enthusiasm! Today, we will start off by navigating the Amazon River for approximately 80 minutes.

    We will then arrive to visit the churuco monkey “miqueando” project in Mocagua which is led by the Maikuchiga Foundation.

    The Foundation is dedicated to the conservation and preservation of the churuco monkey and other species of primates. The visitors will then have the opportunity to interact and learn about their habitat, learn about the Amazonian flora and fauna, and live the experience of rowing a canoe through the Mata Mata ravine in the overlap zone of the Amacayacu National Natural Park.

    You’ll get to enjoy a typical yet delicious lunch in the community of Mocagua with an indigenous family. There will also be a basketry workshop.

    We will go back to the hotel based on our schedule.

  • Day 4

    Puerto Nariño and Pink Dolphins

    Start time: 9:00 am

    Duration: 8 hours

    Overnight: Amazon

    On this day, we will depart via a native boat on the river from the hotel to Tarapoto. With luck, we may get the chance to observe gray and pink dolphins on our journey.

    The presence of river dolphins is a good indicator of the water quality and ecological richness of rivers. Experience this one-of-a-kind tour and connect with the beauty and magic of nature.

    The Amazon River dolphins are a vulnerable species and of unparalleled ecological value in this ecosystem. They are present throughout the entire year in areas near Puerto Nariño.

  • Day 5

    Amazon to Bogotá | Transfer from Bogotá to Villa de Leyva

    Flight from La Macarena to Bogotá | Private Transportation Service to Villa de Leyva

    Welcome to Villa de Leyva! You will be picked up with a welcome sign at Bogotá El Dorado Airport by a private transportation service and be taken to your hotel in Villa de Leyva.

    You can relax during your approximately 3 hours of drive time to your hotel.

    On the way, your English-speaking guide can give you all the recommendations you may like to get the most out of your stay.

    Before we arrive at Villa de Leyva, we will stop at the pottery capital of Colombia - Ráquira (also known as the “Ceramics Town” - where you’ll find everything from ceramic bowls, jars, plates, and toys, to Christmas decorations. Here, you will get the chance to buy high-quality artisan handcrafts for a really great price.

    Brightly painted facades, a jumble of craft shops, and stacks of freshly fired mud and clay pots make a welcoming sight along the main street of this one-horse town.

    Start time: Under request

    Duration: 1 hour

    Overnight: Villa de Leyva

    Tour By Yourself

    On this trip, you may enjoy the place at your own pace. Doing so can be so gratifying and you get to discover the gems of the town such as small cafes, restaurants, shops, and even local “Madrigal families”.

    Don't hesitate to ask us for recommendations whether you need something specific or just some general information about the activities and places that you want to do and go to.

  • Day 6

    Bruno´s Town: A Village Straight Out Of A Fairy Tale

    Start time: 9:00am - 5:00pm

    Duration: 8 hours

    Overnight: Villa de Leyva

    Amasijos workshop | Heal with a Meal from Maribel´s mom

    Encanto means ‘charm’ and Colombia never falls short in that category. Today, you will get to experience the workshop on Ancestral Amasijos - different small pieces of baked corn flour. You will be transported to the wonderful traditional history of our ancestors from the Muisca Culture and our excellent merchants that walked the trails of the Cundiboyacense plateau.

    Travel 20 minutes by car from Villa de Leyva to Santa Sofía to find a local farm that hosts a ‘charming’ house.

    Here, we will evoke the traditional farmers who crossed these paths, using small rustic shops, their traditions, charisma, and people skills. During the Amasijos workshop, you will practice the preparation of Amasijos in a wood oven while you are surrounded by beautiful landscapes and nature and enjoy a healthy and ancestral diet.

    Of course, don’t forget to eat your delicious dishes as well! This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in a village straight out of a fairy tale.

    Continue visiting the beautiful town of Villa de Leyva. This town is one of the places of inspiration for the Encanto movie.

    You will get to visit the main park and be charmed by the colonial architecture, the roads made of rock, the white houses, and the marvelous mountains that surrounded the place.

    After that, we will stop for different workshops where you will learn about our traditional “Ruana”, which is Bruno's clothes in the Encanto movie.

    We will then go to a chocolate market where you can taste a delicious, warm cup accompanied by bread and cheese. A perfect way to cap off the day.

  • Day 7

    Villa de Leyva to Barichara | The Never-Ending Charm

    Private Transportation Service to your hotel

    Thank you for visiting our beautiful Department of Boyacá!

    This town makes every Colombian proud. Thanks to our hard-working farmers.

    You can relax during your approximately 4-5 hours drive to another wonderful town - Barichara.

    Start time: Under request

    Duration: 3 hours

    Overnight: Barichara

    Real Remedies: The Healing Love Of An Arepa

    The best way to know a country is through its food.

    During this 3-hour activity, you will get to know all the techniques and ingredients from the Santander's cuisine, especially how to make arepitas, the ones to heal wounds and sadness.

    The Arepitas is made by soaking and pounding dried corn in a pilon - a large mortar and pestle. They are a staple in Central and South America, especially in Venezuela and Colombia.

    For a moment, you will be in Julieta´s shoes as you create your own arepitas with so much love, passion, and dedication.

    Start time: Under request

    Duration: 4 hours

    Overnight: Barichara

    Tour By Yourself

    On this trip, you may enjoy the place at your own pace. Doing so can be so gratifying and you get to discover the hidden gems of the town such as small cafes, restaurants, shops, and even local “Madrigal families”.

    Don't hesitate to ask us for recommendations whether you need something specific or just some general information about the activities and places that you want to do and go to.

  • Day 8

    Encanto Town and Camino Real

    Start time: Under request

    Duration: 1 hour

    Overnight: Barichara

    After breakfast, we will hike up to the edge of town where you'll find the start of the Camino Real (or "royal path"). You'll walk along this path for two hours until you reach the small colonial village of Guane.

    Along the way, you'll be pampered with some picturesque views of the canyons as well as a bit of solitude in the peaceful countryside.

    Once in Guane, you will get to visit the archaeological and paleontological museum that displays ceramics and jewelry made by the Guane indigenous people. It also houses fossils that are millions of years old.

    Finally, you will be visiting the Chapel of Santa Lucia which is located in the iconic main square.

    You'll then return to Barichara on a moto-taxi that may take approximately about 35 minutes. This means of transport is a perfect way to relax and enjoy the views of the Río Suarez Canyon whizzing by.

    You'll have the late afternoon and evening to enjoy the area on your own and as you see fit.

  • Day 9

    Barichara to Medellin | Welcome to the Eternal Spring City & Clear Skies! (Rest Day)

    Start time: Under request

    Duration: 1 hour

    Overnight: Medellin

    Flight from Barichara to Medellin. Private Transportation Service to your hotel

    Welcome to Medellín! You will be picked up with a welcome sign at Medellín Jose Maria Cordova Airport by a private transportation service and taken to your hotel.

    The drive will be approximately 40-60 minutes to your hotel. On the way, your English-speaking guide can give you all the recommendations you may like to get the most out of your stay.

    Cortesía del Bureau de Medellín y Medellin.travel

    Time To Enjoy The Beautiful Surroundings By Yourself!

    Walk the streets, taste local cuisine, buy crafts and souvenirs, visit local stores and shops, eat at restaurants and visit small cafes, or talk to the neighbors. On this day, you are free to wander around and tour the area on your own and at your pace. You may also choose to take this day off to rest in your hotel room.

    If you need some information, don’t hesitate to ask us for recommendations.

    Take photos and videos as much as you like. This day is yours alone!

  • Day 10

    The City of Eternal Spring: Where all the people are fantastical | Its Story of Transformation & The 'Tejo’ game

    Start time: 9:00 am

    Duration: 8 hours

    Overnight: Medellín

    Explore downtown Medellín and its historical center. Stroll through the hustle and bustle of downtown Medellin to the famous Botero Plaza with an exhibition of the Colombian artist Fernando Botero.

    You will see 23 outdoor bronze sculptures that have become city landmarks.

    Take the Metro Cable up to Santo Domingo.

    The cable car was constructed to make the inner city more accessible to people from the outskirts and allows visitors a glimpse into the lives of the marginalized population.

    While enjoying the spectacular view, you will learn more about Medellín, a melting pot of cultures with possibly the warmest and friendliest people.

    Discover one of the most transformative communities in Colombia: The Comuna 13. The beauty and the brawn do not go wrong. You will enjoy a historical, aesthetic, and political experience designed and executed by some street artists of the hip-hop movement in that area. Through graffiti, stories that move and inspire hope and the search for better living conditions for the community are shown.

    Finish your day playing the Colombian local-sport, Tejo. Although Colombia may not be particularly well known for its beer, every local could tell that there is a big culture around it. Tejo, one of the activities in the country that involve the greatest amount of beer is both a game and a sports event. It involves clay, rock-throwing, and small gunpowder envelopes.

    Tejo has been played for over 500 years dating back to Colombian native indigenous populations.

    This popular tradition has become a national sport in the country. Become a Tejo player on your visit! Try out your aiming as you calm your thirst down with some national beer. The game is accompanied by a full crate of beer, so be very well-prepared for it! This unique experience is something you won’t forget when you travel back home.

    Cortesía del Bureau de Medellín y Medellin.travel

  • Day 11

    Colorful Colombia: Flowers, Nature & Villages: Silletas, Guatapé & El Peñol

    Start time: 8:00 am

    Duration: 10 hours

    Overnight: Medellín

    You will start the day in the small village of Santa Elena which is located only an hour outside of Medellín. It is home to a great variety of traditional flower farmers.

    The flower arrangements of the Flower Festival (“Feria de Flores”), called “silletas” have an impressive history and are now regarded as a cultural symbol of Medellín.

    On this tour, we will be visiting an organic flower farm and experiencing the traditional peasant culture of Santa Elena.

    After that, we are going to drive to Guatapé which offers a peaceful break from the city while also featuring a stunning panoramic view of nature and the surrounding scenery from the top of its hill.

    Upon arrival, we will start off with the Rock of Guatapé in Antioquia. This is among the main attractions of Medellín. This gigantic granitic monolith is pretty much visible wherever you are in the city. This massive stone has been formed millions of years ago. The ancient Tahamies Indians, former inhabitants of the region, used to worship the Guatapé Rock.

    Climbing the rock will take 740 steps and is approximately 220 meters high, but will be very rewarding. As you reach the top, you can get a panoramic view of the beautiful Peñol Reservoir. The magical and breathtaking views of the region will surely render you speechless.

    The fingers of the lake sprawling amid the vast expanse of the green mountains, this 360-degree magical view is a must-see in Colombia.

    After that awe-inspiring experience, you will be transported to Guatapé proper. It is famous for its church and colorful village. Whether you love photography or not, you surely won’t get enough of this place. It is renowned as one of the most colorful towns in the whole world.

    Truth be told, it will be pretty hard to find a street in Guatapé that is not worthy of being admired and photographed. Ready your lens and take as many pictures and videos as you like.

    Guatapé is known for the fresco-like adornment of its traditional houses with brightly painted bas-relief depictions of people, animals, and shapes. Walk through the streets, where your specialized guide will inform you about the history of typical houses, ¨zocalos¨, and this unique culture.

    Enjoy a delicious typical Colombian lunch at the waterfront of the Guatapé reservoir. You may also explore the lake on a boat ride and take time to stroll and relax at your own pace.

    Cortesía del Bureau de Medellín y Medellin.travel

  • Day 12

    Medellin to Pereira | Welcome to the “Pearl of the Otun”

    Flight from Medellin to Pereira | Private Transportation Service

    Welcome to Pereira! You will be picked up with a welcome sign at Pereira Matecana International Airport by a private transportation service and taken to your hotel.

    You can relax during your approximately 30 minutes drive to your hotel. On the way to your hotel, your English-speaking guide can give you all the recommendations you may like to get the most out of your stay.

    Start time: 9:00 am

    Duration: 8 hours

    Overnight: Pereira

    Coffee Lovers’ Day | Coffee the drink for Growns UP

    Learn about the history of the origin of the best mild coffee in the world!

    Today will get the chance to taste the best coffee In Pereira, one of the main cities in the Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia. Here, you will learn about the production process from the seed to the cup.

    A family of authentic coffee growers will welcome you and tour you through the coffee plantations. It will lead you to understand the best-kept secrets of coffee growers to be told by a family that has been producing the grain for three generations already and sharing the soul of coffee in a true, inspiring story.

    From the village of Altagracia and its new lookout tower, you will see landscapes that look like postcards.

    We will travel along the roads built by the coffee growers.

    Via a Willys jeep, we will be going to another coffee farm where you will learn about the delicate and elaborate processes of preparing the drink.

    In this activity, your senses will be stimulated and you will learn to perceive those flavors that differentiate and highlight the quality of Colombian coffee. The sensations are achieved through the work of master roasters, tasters, and baristas!

  • Day 13

    Salento, Filandia, & the Valley of Wax Palms | Encanto’s landscape and Miracles on every village

    Start time: 9:00 am

    Duration: 7 hours

    Overnight: Pereira

    Salento is an Andean town in Colombia located west of Bogota. It is popular for its coffee estates and verdant scenery. On the east side of Salento is Cocora Valley where lofty wax palm trees are home to rare parrots and other birds.

    In 1985, Ceroxylon Quindiuense, a distinct species of a palm tree, was declared the country’s national tree.

    We will begin the tour by visiting the Cocora Valley.

    First, you'll have a welcome cocktail called "Canelazo." With the assistance of a specialist eco guide, we'll be ready to start the introduction to the natural reserve of Cocora.

    You will then be transferred to the fog's forest to witness the biodiversity of fauna and flora. There you’ll find the highest wax palm in the world and the tour won’t be complete without connecting with the earth. We will do a special ritual planting of some palms to pay our respect and appreciation to the wonderful gifts of Mother Nature.

    After the planting, we'll go to the typical village of Salento, a heritage town characterized by its stunning and colorful traditional architecture. We will stop for lunch and continue visiting Filandia, a little town where you can walk through and adore its colonial streets and beautiful crafts.

    You will also have the opportunity to visit the "La Colina Iluminada" lookout point. It offers a panoramic view of the mountains of the coffee region and you have to get your cameras ready.

    Finally, we will visit a traditional basketry workshop where you will learn the art of making baskets using vegetable fibers.

    *Note: The Quindio viewpoint is closed every Monday and every Tuesday when Monday is a holiday in Colombia. Also, the order or the activities can vary depending of the availability and restrictions of the activities during the day*

  • Day 14

    Pereria to Cartagena, Welcome to the city of Enchantment

    Private Transportation Service from Cartagena Airport (CTG) to your Hotel in Cartagena

    Welcome to Cartagena! You will be picked up with a welcome sign at Rafael Núñez Airport by a private transportation service and be transported safely to your hotel.

    You can relax during your approximately 15-20 minutes drive. On the way to your hotel, your English-speaking guide can give you all the recommendations you may like to get the most out of your stay.

    Start time: 4:00 pm

    Duration: 2 hours

    Overnight: Cartagena

    Colombia mi encanto, Street Food tour

    Cartagena de Indias has become one of the best-kept secrets by celebrities. Cartagena combines centuries of history, culture, and flavors behind its walls.

    This fascinating legacy is lived and eaten on every street in the old city, where small stalls abound and culinary artisans proclaim the pride of that heritage.

    Explore seven paradises of street food. They are mostly unnoticed by outsiders but relevant to locals. Let yourself be seduced at each stop with the original versions of the recipes that have inspired the new Colombian cuisine. Take leisure in a tête-à-tête with Caribbean cuisine made in Cartagena.

    To cap the day off, we want you to enjoy good music. A musical group of Vallenato will entertain you so don’t just stay glued to your chair. Dance and sing Colombia mi Encanto!

  • Day 15

    Barú Town & Beach at the Rosario Islands, Happy in a beach paradise

    Start time: 8:00 am

    Duration: 9 hours

    Overnight: Cartagena

    Indulge yourself in the warm, crystal waters of the Caribbean. You will be picked up from your hotel and transported to Barú for about an hour of travel.

    Barú is a peninsula often called an island, bounded by the Bay of Cartagena, the Dique Canal, and the Caribbean Sea.

    Upon arrival, you will enjoy a typical breakfast in a local family house of one of the native people.

    After that, we will take a boat to Isla Grande in the archipelago of the Rosario Islands.

    The Rosario Islands are an integral part of one of Colombia’s most important national parks. The only park in the country that is primarily underwater. As such, the islands and surrounding waters are well preserved and protected which means you can enjoy their wonders as nature intended.

    The fun tour doesn’t end there. We will stop at one or two spectacular spots for snorkeling. Then, you will finally be able to enjoy and rest at the beach.

    A luscious lunch with fresh fish prepared by locals will then be served. It is an experience you wouldn’t want to miss when visiting Cartagena.

  • Day 16

    Adiós Colombia! Departure. Transfer out Cartagena

    Today is your last day in Cartagena. Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, and based on the time of your departure flight, you will be taken from the city of Cartagena to the Rafael Núñez International Airport by a private transportation service.

    Thank you so much for visiting Colombia. It is a great honor to tour you in our country. We hope you had a great time and we hope to see you again.

    Have a safe flight back home!

Information & Documents

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