Colombia: Medellín to Cartagena Multi-Day Tour with Coffee, Islands & Culture

Summary

Street murals, coffee aromas, Caribbean waves and mountain air from Medellín to Cartagena

You’ll taste Medellín’s street life with a local guide, climb Guatapé Rock for wild views, swim beneath waterfalls near Minca, and drift through mangroves outside Cartagena. Expect real conversations over coffee and laughter as you float down jungle rivers or sink into volcanic mud—this tour pulls you deep into Colombia’s color and warmth.

What’s the experience like?

The first sound I remember is the hum of the cable car gliding over Comuna 13 in Medellín—kids laughing below, music bouncing off painted walls. Our guide, Juan, grew up nearby and pointed out his favorite mural (a huge jaguar with wild eyes). He handed us slices of guanábana at a fruit stand—sticky sweet juice running down my wrist. I tried to say “gracias” like a local but totally flubbed it; Juan just grinned. The city felt alive in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’re right there.

Climbing the 740 steps up Guatapé Rock was… well, my legs are still mad at me. But the view at the top? Water everywhere, blue-green and dotted with tiny islands. The breeze smelled like wet stone and distant coffee fields. Later that afternoon we wandered Guatapé town—every house painted brighter than the last—and stopped for coffee so fresh it almost tasted green. The farmer who showed us around his finca let us try roasting beans ourselves (I burned mine a little; he said that’s “extra flavor”).

Santa Marta hit different—hotter air, slower pace. We rode motorbikes into the hills toward Minca, passing dogs napping in dust and women selling cacao by the roadside. There was this moment under the waterfall where everything went quiet except for water on rock and birds calling somewhere above. That night I could still smell cocoa on my hands from making facemasks with our host family.

I didn’t expect to float down the Palomino River with Kogi kids waving from the banks or to get covered head-to-toe in warm volcanic mud near Cartagena (the rinse-off in the lagoon is colder than you’d think). On Isla Grande in the Rosario Islands, time slowed down completely—just salt on my skin, fried fish for lunch, nowhere else to be. Even now when I close my eyes I can hear Cartagena’s old city waking up at dusk—music drifting from balconies and someone always calling out “amigo!” from across the square.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and transfer to hotel

• Arrive in Colombia
• Driver collects from airport
• Transfer to hotel

Day 2 — Comuna 13 and Medellín city tour

• Visit Comuna 13 murals
• Ride cable car and escalators
• Fruit tasting
• Medellín City Tour at Plaza Botero
• Tram ride with local guide

Day 3 — Guatape and coffee farm visit

• Drive to coffee farm
• Learn coffee process and tasting
• Visit Old Peñol church spiral
• Climb Guatape Rock steps
• Walking tour of Guatape Town

Day 4 — Santa Fe de Antioquia and cable cars

• Ride four cable cars with stops
• Guided tour of Santa Fe de Antioquia
• Visit Western Bridge

Day 5 — Free day and evening food tour

• Free day in Medellín
• Evening food tour at 6:30 pm
• Try street food and local delicacies
• Enjoy exotic fruit juices and meals

Day 6 — Flight to Santa Marta and relax

• Morning flight to Santa Marta
• Driver transfers to hotel
• Relax and explore nearby beach

Day 7 — Minca mountain and cocoa tour

• Travel to Minca town
• Tour cafes and artisan shops
• Coffee production tour
• Discover cocoa and chocolate making
• Visit hidden waterfalls and swim
• Watch for exotic birds

Day 8 — Kogi Indigenous Village visit

• Transfer to Palomino
• Motorbike ride to Kogi Village
• Visit and interact with Kogi culture
• Swim in nearby river

Day 9 — Free day or Tayrona Park tour

• Free day or guided Tayrona tour
• Ecological walk to four beaches
• Beach time at Cabo San Juan
• Optional watersports and exploration
• Return walk through jungle

Day 10 — Transfer to Cartagena and city tour

• Drive to Cartagena
• Check into hotel
• Free time before city tour
• Afternoon and night city tour

Day 11 — Rosario Islands beach day

• Pickup at 7:30 am
• Speedboat cruise to Rosario Islands
• Assigned private beach space
• Enjoy lunch and beach service
• Optional snorkeling and paddleboarding

Day 12 — Mud volcano and mangrove tour

• Mud bath at Totumo Volcano
• Local cleaning after mud bath
• Swim at Manzanillo del Mar beach
• Typical Caribbean lunch
• Canoe tour of Cartagena mangroves
• Walk through local community

Day 13 — Departure from Cartagena

• Transport to airport

Top questions

How many days is this Colombia tour?

This multi-day tour lasts 13 days from Medellín to Cartagena.

Is hotel pickup included at each destination?

Yes, private transportation with hotel pickup is included throughout the itinerary.

What activities are included in Santa Marta?

You’ll visit Minca for coffee and chocolate tours plus waterfalls; also an indigenous village visit and optional tubing on Palomino River.

Are meals provided during the tour?

The tour includes 12 breakfasts and 2 lunches; other meals are on your own or during food tours.

Do I need to be very fit for this trip?

The tour suits all physical fitness levels but some walks (like Guatapé Rock) require moderate effort.

Is entrance to attractions like Rosario Islands covered?

Yes, entrance fees for included attractions such as Rosario Islands are part of your package.

Can I join tubing down Palomino River?

Tubing is optional during your indigenous village day; just let your guide know if you want to join (no extra cost).

What kind of accommodation is provided?

You’ll stay in comfortable hotels such as Obo Hotel in Medellín and Hotel Sierra Nevada near Santa Marta or Tayrona Park.

What’s included

Your journey includes private transportation between cities and activities, entry fees for all scheduled sites like Guatapé Rock and Rosario Islands, twelve breakfasts plus two typical lunches along the way—with plenty of chances to sample local flavors during food tours—and guidance from locals who know every shortcut worth taking before each night’s rest at handpicked hotels.