Colombian Art, Culture and Cuisine
Embark on a spellbinding cultural journey that takes you from Fernando Botero's Bogotá to the fascinating museums of Medellin and the freshest ceviche in Cartagena. You'll gain a special insight into the diverse heritages of these three enchanting Colombian destinations while also learning about their art scenes and the relationship of graffiti to local identity. Plus, there's plenty of opportunity to taste traditional cuisine along the way, including authentic delights from pulsating markets.
Trip highlights
- Dive into Bogotá's local lifestyle at Paloquemao market
- Discover the works of Fernando Botero
- Savour the flavours of Colombian coffee with a tasting session
- Explore Medellín’s history and its inspiring transformation
- Get hands-on with Caribbean cuisine in an immersive cooking class
- Sample Cartagena's finest ceviche
Bespoke trips with Jacada
We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:
- Luxury accommodation throughout
- Privately guided tours
- Private transfers
- Meticulously selected experiences
- Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
Itinerary in detail
Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.
Days 1-3
Bogotá, the heartbeat of Colombia
Colombia is staggeringly diverse, with every corner owning a distinct personality.
Bogotá, a thriving metropolis, is the perfect place to start your journey. Head out to the multi-coloured market of Paloquemao, where residents shop from mountains of local produce. Here, sample juicy lulo fruit, avocados as smooth as butter and freshly made arepas. Colombia is famous for its coffee, too, and you’ll learn how caffeine gets its kick with a molecular coffee tasting.
The capital is also home to a great collection of museums and galleries. Discover the compelling works of Colombian artist Fernando Botero and go behind the scenes on a guided tour of the city’s independent art galleries with a local expert.
Where you could stay
Delve into Bogotá's allure
City tradition
Botero's masterpieces
Behind the art
Coffee culture
An authentic experience in Paloquemao market
In the early hours of the morning, experience the excitement of the largest market in Bogotá. Discover Paloquemao and its vast and colourful array of fruits, vegetables and flowers. This is where chefs and locals come to shop for some of the best ingredients in the city. As you wander the maze of stalls, meet friendly vendors, learn about traditional cuisine and enjoy tasting exotic fruits from Colombia’s most remote regions.
See the voluminous characters of Botero
Visit maestro Fernando Botero’s impressive personal art collection where you will see the many masterpieces of his iconic voluptuous figures, alongside works from renowned artists such as Dalí, Monet, Picasso and Matisse.
Discover Bogotá’s art scene
Explore the independent art galleries in the Macarena and San Felipe neighbourhoods with a local art expert who will share stories about the exhibitions, artists and Bogotá’s art scene. Many of these galleries are hidden down quiet streets behind unassuming façades, and often, the artist will be there to describe their work to you.
Sample Colombian coffee
Enjoy a private coffee-tasting session in which you’ll be guided through distinct flavours and aromas by a coffee specialist. Understand how the quality of coffee is affected by the cultivation process, and learn how to create the perfect cup using award-winning beans.
Days 3-5
Two nights in Medellin
Your next stop is Medellin, a city that hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Yet, its transformation in the last 25 years has been miraculous; today, Medellin is one of Colombia’s most exciting cities.
Throughout your time in Colombia, you’ll notice that this is not somewhere that wishes to forget. The Museo Casa de la Memoria is a wonderful example of sensitively recognising and honouring the past, as is a social innovation tour of one of its notorious districts, Comuna 13.
Where you could stay
Medellin's Past and Present
Vibrant streets
Past
Present
This is Medellin
Uncover the inspiring transformation of Medellin on a full-day journey through its vibrant streets and significant historical sites, including Comuna 13, where you’ll connect with local artists and community leaders working together to shape a brighter future. You’ll visit the main escalators of Comuna 13, which helped transform this neighbourhood into a captivating place with vibrant street art, break dancers and friendly neighbours. You’ll stop at Museo Casa de La Memoria in the heart of the city, where curated exhibitions share events from the troubled past.
After a lunch break, you will visit some of the locations that have played an important part in Medellin’s history and healing, including the more recent Parque de la Inflexión, a monument to the memory of the victims of the city’s darkest years.
Visit Museo Casa de la Memoria
Learn about the city’s history at El Museo Casa de la Memoria. This museum is dedicated to Colombia’s years of war with the motto ‘remember to not repeat’. It features works of local artists who have used art as an expression to communicate Medellin’s violent past. It will help you place events into perspective and understand how Medellin is now Latin America’s most innovative city.
Discover the transformative story behind Medellín
This tour focuses on Medellin’s social and cultural transformation in recent years as it moves towards peace. You will visit the neighbourhood that has undergone the most dramatic transformation: Comuna 13.
By riding the escalators and metro cable, you can appreciate the magnitude and significance of this barrio, now inventively connected to the heart of the city. Your local guide will provide historical background on the neighbourhood’s complicated past as you take in its clusters of colourful graffiti, emblematic of progression and change.
Days 5-9
The culture and colours of Cartagena
Your final five days will be spent in the colourful city of Cartagena.
Soak up its dynamic atmosphere and indulge in some delicious Caribbean cuisine. Learn how to whip up local dishes during a cooking class, hop from one ceviche restaurant to another and enjoy a tutored tasting of the most tropical of all spirits – rum.
There are also fortifications to explore, museums to discover and plenty of rooftops from where to sit and watch the world go by.
Where you could stay
Make it mine
Eat
Drink
Create
Tantalise your taste buds with a ceviche tour
Alongside a local foodie, discover the very best ceviche in town in this unique safari supper-style experience. As one of the most famed dishes on the Caribbean coast, you will encounter the freshest seafood and top-quality ingredients by sampling three different dishes in three different restaurants.
Taste the rums of Cartagena
Enjoy a tasting experience in which your local rum expert will guide you through how rum is processed and aged, in order to recognise its unique characteristics.
Master Caribbean recipes
Within the old walled city, a local chef will teach you how to make some of Cartagena’s most beloved dishes, such as fresh ceviche, seafood soup infused with coconut milk and white wine, fragrant coconut rice, plantain chips and a couple of other Colombian secrets.
Why book with Jacada
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your personal interests, tastes and preferences, providing honest advice based on first-hand knowledge.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant Concierges are hand-picked for their ability to bring your destination to life with care and passion.
Positive Impact
We seek out unforgettable experiences that benefit both local communities and the environment.
I spent 9 days traveling solo in Colombia, specifically Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena. The trip was planned so thoughtfully and thoroughly, and they took into consideration all of my feedback and interests. From hotels to restaurants, to tours, everything exceeded my expectations. Lily and Berni were great to work with, and always available to discuss the details of the trip,…
