South America’s hidden gem (That Wild Idea)

Colombia Photo Tour America’s hidden gem

This photo tour has been designed with That Wild Idea

days

Travellers

All

Skill Level

5728

USD

Apr 2021

Departure

AT GLANCE

Why this photo tour ?

Colombia has shaken off it’s infamous past and is doing very well. It is South America’s best kept secret, and now is the time to take the opportunity to visit with our Colombia photo tour! After many years of suffering caused by conflicts, the country is reborn.
Past the Escobar-years, Colombia can be visited in safety and its valuable treasures can be appreciated fully. To dare to adventure into Colombia, is to face the risk of falling in love with it.
From the beauty of Tayrona Park to historic Cartagena, on this Colombia photo tour you’ll experience one of South America’s hidden gems. This is a country full of history that is off the tourist path. By the time you return you too will have fallen in love with Colombia.

The Itinerary

Day 1 Bogotá

Day 2 Bogotá

Day 3 Zipaquira + Villa de Leyva

Day 4 Villa de Leyva + Raquira

Day 5 Barichara

Day 6 Barichara + Guane

Day 11 Nueva Venecia + Cartagena

Day 12 Cartagena

Day 13 Departure

Hightlights of The Tour

Shooting with a Palenquera

Palenqueras are the icons of Colombia. We will have a privileged moment with one of them, Cartagena will be our scenery

The Charm of Barichara

Barichara is a work of art in itself. Every stone has been hand-carved. It has been declared one of the most charming village in Colombia.

Nueva Venecia the Floating village

Nueva Venecia is a hidden treasure in Colombia. A village on stilts, it is home to a fishing village. Incredible photo opportunities to be taken

Shooting with an Indigenous Family

The Sierra Nevada is home to one of the last great pre-Columbian civilizations. We will have the chance to share a moment with an indigenous family, for unforgettable shots.

The Nature of Tayrona Park

Tayrona Park is home to an incredible biodiversity and the most beautiful beaches of Colombia. Ideal scenery to perfect our landscape techniques as well as wildlife.

The Colors of Cartagena

Nicknamed “the Pearl of the Caribbean”, Cartagena is an open-air museum, which will offer us magnificent architecture photos and street scenes.

Challenge Level

Physical Conditioning

Easy to moderate

There will be some walking involved during this tour including a hike through a forest in Tayrona NP. If you are in good health and fitness level, you will be fine. This tour is NOT recommended for people with mobility issues.

Technical Ability

Easy

Beginners will be pueshed to the next level and experts won’t be held back

Schedule

Busy Schedule

This a discovery trip of Colombia. We’ll be chasing light and sunrises.

The Journey

DAY 1

Bogotá

Pick up at the airport and transfer to your hotel. (40min – 14.8km)
Arrival at your hotel and installation.

DAY 2

Bogotá

Discover the center of Bogota in an original and atypical way. The walking tour of the capital will take you through the most authentic places in the city.
In the morning: Walking city tour in the center. You will discover the colonial district of la Candelaria, Bogota historical center and its squares and markets. It is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and to understand their way of life.
In the afternoon: you will visit the famous Gold Museum and Botero Museum where you will be able to admire the masterpieces of the renowned Colombian painter and sculptor.

DAY 3

Zipaquira + Villa de Leyva

Departure from your hotel to the town of Villa de Leyva with a stop at Zipaquira Salt Cathedral. Arrival at the the town of Zipaquira, a town that was declared a national Colombian heritage site and is well-known for its Salt Cathedral that was built inside of a salt mine.
In the afternoon, Walking tour of Villa De Leyva, classified as a National Historic Heritage Site, one of the oldest colonial sites in Colombia, remarkable example of this architecture.

DAY 4

Villa de Leyva + Raquira

After visiting Villa de Leyva’s typical market (Tuesday only), departure for the visit of the surroundings of Villa de Leyva, the monastery of Saint Ecce Homo, and the fabulous house of Casa Terra Cota. Picada lunch at Sutamarchan.
Afterwards, arrival at the village of Raquira a very artisanal and specialized in pottery, an ancestral tradition that comes from the pre-Columbian civilizations. Possible ceramic workshop in Raquira (subject to availability).
Back to Villa de Leyva for a photo session until blue hour

DAY 5

Barichara

Departure for Barichara, a traditional town located in the Andes, also called the red town due to the color of its bricks. Get settled in your hotel and then take an artistic and cultural walking tour.
Considered the “most charming” village in Colombia, we visit Barichara quietly this afternoon, strolling through its alleys. We pass by its church of Santa Barbara, the viewpoint of the Suarez Canyon, the Central Park and the Sculpture Park. We also discover workshops of artisans & artists of the region (painting, sculpture, paper, tobacco) Photo session at blue hour. Dinner in town

DAY 6

Barichara + Guane

By an old path, “el Camino Real”, we walk to the village of Guane where life seems to be cradled by a ancestral rhythm. Its whitewashed mud houses, its stone streets and its small archaeological museum.
Return by Tuc Tuc from Guane to Barichara to enjoy it’s atmosphere for a street photo session. Blue hour photo shoot with a nice view over Suarez Canyon.

DAY 7

Barlovento

Leave Barichara in the morning by private transport, heading to Panachi – Chicamocha National Park. On the road, admire the impressive Chicamocha Canyon that crosses the department of Boyacá and Santander. This 227-kilometer long natural marvel will without no doubt leave you breathless. In order to optimize your experience of the Chicamocha Natural Park, we will take the “teleférico” (cable car) until Mesa de los Santos.
Upon arrival at the airport you will take a private transport to get to your hotel in the Tayrona Park area. Installation at the hotel and photo session at sunset

DAY 8

Tayrona Park

Transfer from your hotel to the entrance of Tayrona National Park. This hike in the Tayrona Park will take you to a magical place located between mountains, tropical forest and the sea. You will discover the most beautiful white sand beaches of the country and ancestral volcanic rocks in the crystal clear Caribbean Sea. You start with a hike in the tropical jungle from Cañaveral. You spend a quality time with your guide taking photographies of the birds, forest and wildlife.

DAY 9

Tayrona Park

This will be the relax day of the Trip !
We will start with a photo session at sunrise, so let’s get ready at 05:00am. Installation at the view point and explanation of our secret techniques to capture amazing sunshines. Then head to a breakfast. Now time for Relaxation & Swimming Moment. Photo session around Cabo San Juan to enjoy the Cristal Waters.
Lunch at Cabo San Juan’s restaurant.
Free time for Swimming. Then let’s have a walk in the forest to see if we can capture some monkeys ! Get back to the beach and photo session at sunset.

DAY 10

Minca

Heading at sunrise to Cabo San Juan del Guia and try a different viewpoint. Afterwards breakfast before we will get back to the Park Entrance to take your private transport to the village of Minca located higher in the Sierra Nevada. Installation at the hotel & lunch.
In the afternoon, visit of a Cacao Farm (if we are on time). Then let’s meet an indigenous family living here and let’s try to get some amazing portraits.
Aperitive and photo session at sunset from the hotel’s viewpoint.

DAY 11

Nueva Venecia + Cartagena

Do you want to discover unknown places in Colombia? We are proud to share with you this place located in Cienaga Grande, a small village of fisherman living on the water at Nueva Venecia, which is still preserved from tourism and keeps all its authenticity. The fishermen community live from Cienaga Grande in picturesque pilots villages.
Departure from Minca at 6am, you will take a private boat to reach the small village of Buena. We will visit the school
Lunch at the Lagoon side, Then we will leave to the city of Cartagena. Arrival in the late afternoon. Discovery walk in the city centre

DAY 12

Cartagena

We will get up early to witness the beautiful historical centre of Cartagena without the tourist. We will meet a Palenquera (fruit Seller) for 1 hour and get maybe the most iconic shots of our trip.
We will then have an historical tour of Cartagena, oriented to Photography
Head over a Getsemani district, which has as well a remarkable architecture and a more authentic life. Let’s take time together and come back to see the street dancers on the main square. or a free afternoon, at your choice
Already the last night ! Let’s gather early for a sunset Cocktail closing the end of the stay.

DAY 13

Departure

Free morning for memories
Airport Transfer CTG -> BOG -> INTERNATIONAL

Our Selected Lodges

Accommodations are mainly 4 to 5 stars hotels, personally selected for their location or good level of comfort, on the basis of double occupancy

Hotel Ananda

Boutique Hotel Ananda is an historical colonial house perfectly combining luxury and comfort to offer you the best experience possible. Perfectly located in the heart of the historic center, Ananda Hotel is situated close to the main tourist attractions. It offers spacious charming rooms to enjoy a relaxing stay, with its local gastronomy restaurant, its swimming pool with jacuzzi and a terrace in search of the Caribbean sun.

Maloka Barlovento

Maloka Barlovento is located just 100m away from the beach and only 10min by car from Tayrona Park. This is a truly peaceful haven where you will be able to relax while listening to the wide range of birds living there. The hotel offers a splendid view of both the sea and the jungle. It is important for you to know it might be impossible to swim if the sea is rough.

Hotel Hicasua

Located 8 minutes from Barichara’s Cathedral, Hicasua Hotel Boutique will make your stay a pleasant one in the most beautiful village of Colombia. With its typical architecture, the hotel has comfortable rooms with rustic decoration, to better respect the magic of Barichara. In addition to the swimming pool, a restaurant offers recipes combining traditional and international cuisine, as well as a charming garden to stroll in.

Campanario de la Villa

Campanario De La Villa is a magnificent establishment of superior category, located near the main square of Villa de Leyva. It combines colonial architecture and Mediterranean style to allow you to enjoy a relaxing and pleasant stay. The Hotel also has a restaurant, a magnificent outdoor patio, a swimming pool and a massage room.

La Opera

Hotel De La Opera is a luxurious colonial house located in a prestigious place in Bogotá’s downtown. Facilities include a SPA, with a great variety of health and beauty treatment, an indoor pool, a luminous and spacious public areas and a great mirador with a panoramic view. The rooms are either decorated in a colonial way or in a more modern art deco style, and all of them have a great view over Bogotà’s historic center or the Monserrate mountains.

Mundo Nuevo

Located in the heart of a lush natural environment, Hotel Mundo Nuevo offers you an environmentally friendly stay, in perfect harmony with the ecosystem of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Offering rustic rooms with a breathtaking view of the magnificent landscapes of the region, the establishment also invites you to taste its vegetarian cuisine, made from organic products grown in the property's garden.

Photo Opportunities

All Bogotá Villa de Leyva Barichara Barlovento Tayrona Minca Nueva Venecia Cartagena

What's Included ?

Included

2 Professional Photographers & Instructors 1 Internal flight All breakfasts, lunches and dinners Transportation in confortable vehicles Modeling Fees English speaking guide

Not Included

International Flight Additional meals and drinks Medical Insurances Expenses not specified in the program Tips

Additional Information

Travel Insurance

Toggle Content

Sales Conditions

Toggle Content

Photoshop & Lightroom classes

I offer private online Lightroom and Photoshop photo editing tutorials for individuals who would like to improve their post-processing skills. Each is customized to meet your individual needs, schedule, budget and interests. We provide you with one-on-one discussions using online connectivity. Many of our Photo Adventure guests select our online post-processing as an extension to their trip. Click here for more information.

Gift Cards

You know who would live this photo tour ?
When the Gift Spiration strikes, grab it !
Offer this class to a friend who’d love it. For their birthday or just because. (Or just because you missed their birthday)