MILLENNIALS IN TRAVEL INVITES YOU TO EXPERIENCE THE FLAVORS AND BEAUTY OF COLOMBIA with kartagener associates, inc, pure! travel Group, and procolombia

March 13 - 19, 2023

Join Millennials in Travel and KAI in conjunction with Pure! Travel Group, and ProColombia to explore Colombia this spring!

From charming streets and the tropical waves of the Caribbean Sea, to the creative spirit of Bogotá, and adventures in the remote coffee region, Colombia offers a dynamic cultural immersion at the northern tip of South America. 

This 6-night program will include 3 nights in Medellín and 3 nights in Bogota. Explore colonial gems, historical highlights and lush natural wonders, while enjoying the unique flavors of this captivating country!

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE:

Your trip begins at the airport in Medellín with an arrival transfer to your hotel. Settle in before joining your fellow FAM participants for our first dinner at a local restaurant.

Following breakfast at your hotel, we’ll set out on a city tour where you’ll explore the important touristic sights of the “City of Eternal Spring,” such as downtown Medellín and the historical center. Listen to local musicians and the traditional “Guasca” music as you stroll through the city. Take the Metro Cable up to Santo Domingo, which was once a notorious area of gang violence in Medellín. Get some insight on the historical dimension of the phenomenon of Pablo Escobar visiting some of the most emblematic sights of his life. You will leave with a better understanding of why Pablo Escobar is still the most controversial person in Colombia ́s recent history. Enjoy down time and dinner on your own this evening.

Today, after breakfast at the hotel, we will spend the day engaged with the local community. Prepare a dish together with fresh local ingredients and people from the neighborhood to experience an authentic cultural-culinary Medellín moment. As you digest your meal, your afternoon will walk you through the great variety of urban arts that have flourished during the city’s transformation over the last 20 years. Your guide will give you an insight on history and daily life in this area and the importance of street art for social communication and identity. Enjoy down time and dinner on your own this evening.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we set out for a taste of nature! Surrounded by green hills, Medellín is the perfect base to explore the Andean nature just a few minutes away from the city. We will spend the morning on the eco-trail to the “La Miel” waterfall through the dense Andean cloud forest (note: this hike requires good physical condition). We will keep the energy flowing into the afternoon for a private lessons with a professional dance teacher, who will introduce you to the first steps of Salsa and other Colombian dance rhythms.

Lunch will be provided before we depart Medellin for the second chapter of our journey in Bogota. As the capital of Colombia, it is a place of convergence for people from all around the world and is therefore diverse and multicultural. It’s an ideal location with history, entertainment, delicious cuisine, culture, and much more. Check-in at your hotel and relax for the evening before your group dinner.

After breakfast at your hotel, we will set out on our first full day in Bogota where you’ll find yourself immersed with locals as you visit the most important spots in the city. Visit the Candelaria District, the oldest neighborhood, where you will get to try a traditional drink, chicha, before trying your hand with Tejo, a historic drinking game. Be sure to save room, as you will next experience Colombia through 8 different foods from the 5 regions. Bogotá itself has become the scene for craft breweries with more than 100 artisanal brands. End the day with a sampling of 5 of the most-loved cold craft beers. This evening, and dinner, is yours to enjoy at leisure.

The following morning, after breakfast at your hotel, venture out of Bogotá to the small town of Zipaquirá to visit The Salt Cathedral. Built into an active salt mine, you can still admire the crystals that have formed on the walls over time. Stop back at the hotel to refresh before a hands-on afternoon with Colombia’s “green gold.” A staggering amount of the world’s emeralds originate in Colombia, and you’ll learn about their pre-colonial and colonial cultural significance. Then, under the guidance of a professional jewelry designer, create a ring of your own! You will enjoy leisure time today, as well as lunch and dinner on your own.

Following your final breakfast at your hotel, transfers will be provided to the airport, or you may continue on your onward journey of Colombia or South America.

This FAM opportunity is open to travel advisors and tour operators who are currently employed and/or actively selling travel.