After breakfast, half day visit to the historic centre known as La Candelaria. This antiquated barrio is of great architectural and cultural heritage and is made up of old “stately homes” or large Spanish colonial buildings with iron windows, thick and sturdy wooden doors, balconies and internal patios with beautiful yet hidden gardens. Visit the Plaza de Bolivar, where a statue of the great liberator Simon Bolivar is located. This Plaza, originally called the Plaza Mayor, was used for civil and military purposes, as a marketplace, at one time a bullring and a gallows. The Cathedral, on the eastern side of the plaza, is constructed on the remains of the first church built in Bogotá in 1539 and houses an important collection of religious artefacts such as textiles and artwork that has collected over four centuries. The Capitol, built between 1847 and 1926, shows its renaissance and neoclassical influences with its carved stonework and tall columns and, it is the first republican piece of civil architecture.

Around the Plaza de Bolivar are the Palacio de Justicia, the Mayor of Bogotá’s offices called the Edificio Liévano, the oldest school in the county called San Bartolome and the Casa de los Comuneros, so called to honour one of the earliest movements for independence from Spain towards the end of the XVII Century. The visit continues with the Museo Botero, a colonial house filled with works of art done by and donated by Fernando Botero in addition to artwork from his own personal collection that includes pieces by Picasso, Renoir, Dalí Matisse, Monet and Giacometti. Next is the Museo Del Oro which has a permanent exhibition of some 32,000 pieces of gold, 20,000 stones, ceramics and textiles all precious to the Quimbaya, Calima, Tayrona, Sinu, Muisca, Tolima, Tumaco and Magdalena cultures. The Museo Del Oro is considered as one of the most important museums of its type internationally and it has been functioning since 1939. In 2007 it underwent a complete overhaul to make this an interactive museum that would awake senses to the objects on display. Free afternoon for individual activities (we recommend visiting the city’s various museums).

NOTE: The Gold Museum is closed on Mondays & the Botero Museum is closed on Tuesday.

Depart from Bogotá and head north, towards Zipaquirá. Travel through the Bogota Savannah. After a journey of roughly 1.15 hours reach the impressive Salt Cathedral, a true achievement of engineering. The name Zipaquirá refers to Zipa, the leader of the Muisca tribe and the chief of these rich salt mines. The excursion will begin by visiting the cathedral in a tunnel that passes the fourteen Stations of the Cross and continues to the dome. The dome is lit in such a way that it allows one to contemplate the universe and the relationship between man and nature. Later, reach the enormous cross carved into the saline rock and finally the three naves of the Cathedral that represent the birth, life, and death of Christ. In the central nave is the main altar, above which is the cross that measures 16m in height and 10m in breadth, made by the Colombian artist Carlos Enrique Rodriguez. This is the largest cross made from salt in the world. Next, we visit the mine where there is an excellent auditorium that can seat up to two hundred people, host film screenings and events such as fashion shows. The trip ends at a mirror of water where it is possible to experience the amazing visual effects of water on carved saline rock.

Continue a 2-hour trip to Villa de Leyva in the afternoon. Upon arrival to Villa de Leyva check in at the hotel.

Villa de Leyva, one of the area’s most beautiful towns, was founded in 1572 by Hernan Suarez de Villalobos who named it after Andrés Dias Venero de Leyva, the first president of Nueva Granada. In colonial times, Villa de Leyva played a significant role in independence developments and the Viceroy, and his entourage spent much time here. Today, the city is a colonial jewel with a main square measuring 14.000 m2 surrounded by Spanish style houses, small alleys, cobblestone streets and the XVII century parochial church.

After breakfast, on the outskirts of the city is also Archaeological Museum Park of Monquirá "El Infiernito", a pre-Hispanic Muisca site, where some 30 stone columns known as megaliths are located. It is believed that these columns are about 2,200 years old and that this space was reserved for the cult of fertility because of the phallic shape of the stones, while others claim that it was used as an astronomical observatory. Then head to The Fossil Museum, founded in 1977 and located 5, 5 km away from Villa de Leyva. The museum was built exactly at the place where a kronosaurus, a marine reptile of more than 120 million years and 20 meters in length, was discovered. On the way back, break at the Convento Del Santo Ecce Homo founded by the Dominicans in 1620 and considered a most outstanding Spanish legacy. The pavement is made of local stone full of fossils and ammonites, and the chapel has a magnificent golden altarpiece with a small Ecce homo image. This was an important point of evangelization in a region populated by Indigenous communities. Return to Bogotá. The tour ends at Bogotá Airport for a departure flight in the evening or at the selected Bogotá hotel.

After breakfast, enjoy a half day visiting the city’s colonial district, starting in Bolivar Park, shaded by large trees and with four fountains the park has a statue of the great Liberator at the centre. Around the square is the Inquisition Palace, recognized for its large baroque style door. The Inquisition held its meetings here and it was also the prison and torture chambers of presumed heretics, opponents of the Catholic Church. The visit continues to the Santo Domingo Church and ends at the Terraplenes and the City’s Fortifications.

Day at leisure for individual activities. We recommend a full day tour in Rosario’s archipelago.

Day at leisure for individual activities. We recommend a full day tour in Rosario’s archipelago.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure flight.