Bienvenidos! Welcome to Colombia. Cartagena is one of South America's most historic cities. The old city, particularly the inner walled town, is the main attraction – it's packed with beautiful churches, monasteries, plazas and mansions. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader. Your leader will take you on ...

Enjoy a free day getting to know Cartagena's Old City under your own steam. Shop for local handicrafts, head up to San Felipe de Barajas Castle (the largest of the city's fortresses), or perhaps head out of town to the Volcan de Lodo El Totumo. Instead of lava, this strange volcano emits a cream-like mud that is said to contain many healing properties. Enter for a wallow, then wash the muddy goodness off in the nearby lagoon.

Take a local bus to Tayrona National Park, a protected plot of wilderness encircled by the massive Santa Maria mountain range on one side and picture-perfect Caribbean on the other. With the majority of the park only accessible by jungle trails, on arrival you'll need to walk for approximately one hour to tonight's accommodation: a sheltered camping area with hammocks. Small lockers are available for the safe storage of your valuables. Spend some time chilling out on the pure white sands, clambering along the boulders that strew the shore and taking dips in the warm waters. It does get quite cold here at night, so be sure to wear layers and bring a blanket or sleep liner. You'll also need a towel, insect repellent, a torch and small backpack for carrying your things in (your main luggage can be left at the park entrance). ...

Spend the day exploring Tayrona National Park or chilling out beachside before making the short drive into the Guachaca region. Your accommodation for the next two nights is a small, family-run hotel in a peaceful location. A range of walking trails start out from here, though the main attraction is the nearby beach. Just a short stroll from your hotel, this is the perfect place to kick back and relax seaside.

Enjoy a nice continental breakfast at the hotel, then spend the day relaxing. With the beach just a short walk away, you can come and go from the hotel quite conveniently. If you're feeling active, perhaps try some kayaking, rafting, surfing or trekking. While the white sands and lovely clear waters of the beach are hard to beat, the hotel itself is also a nice place to spend some time, especially if the weather turns. You can take to one of the hammocks in the garden with a good book. In the afternoon transfer to Santa Marta and catch an overnight bus to San Gil.

Following an overnight bus ride, arrive in San Gil, Colombia's outdoors capital. After checking into your hotel and taking breakfast, spend a bit of time freshening up and resting before hopping on a local bus to a town called Curiti. The highlight attraction of Curiti is Pescadarito, a natural configuration of swimming holes and water slides formed from rock. It's a 45-minute walk from Curiti to the first pool, after which the pools only get nicer the further upriver you go.

Make the most of a range of adventure sport outings on offer today, from whitewater rafting and mountain biking to canyoning (activities are optional and at own expense). For those looking to spend their time in San Gil a little more leisurely, there's the option of walking along the river, seeking out the town's best bakeries and cafes, or simply taking a seat in the town's 300-year-old plaza and watching local life meander by.

With its quaint, cobbled streets, stuccoed houses and verdant backdrop of rolling hills, Barichara is widely considered the prettiest and best-preserved colonial-style village in all Colombia. After settling into your accommodation and getting your bearings, set out on a two-hour walk along the Camino Real to the village of Guane. This ancient walkway, which was declared a national monument in 1988, was built by the indigenous Guane people many centuries ago. The trail starts off with a gentle descent down the rim of a canyon before crossing a valley filled with cacti. The walking is mostly downhill, and you'll likely spot a few fossils embedded in the stones that pave the trail en route. On arrival in Guane, refresh with a cooling drink before catching the local bus back to Barichara.

Spend a free day becoming acquainted with bucolic Barichara.

In the morning, transfer to Bucaramanga for the short flight to Bogota. Resting among emerald, mist-shrouded mountains, Colombia's cosmopolitan capital is certain to delight. Go for a meander through the colourful laneways of the city's historic heart, La Candelaria. Boasting a wealth of cosy cafes and colonial churches, this is a neighbourhood full of surprises. For breathtaking views of the sprawling capital, head to the top of Montserrat where scenic mountain-top cafes offer an escape from the chilly Andean air.

Today is free for your to explore Bogota as you please. Perhaps head up Cerro de Monserrate by gondola, where a 17th-century church overlooks the city. A visit to the National Museum (Museo Nacional) is also a good option for those interested in learning about life in Colombia pre- and post the Spanish conquest.

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are free to depart the accommodation at any time.