Cultural appreciation & ancient cities

Discover pre-Columbian beliefs, traditions and archaeological sites that still exist today on Colombia's coastal Caribbean region. Students share in the remarkable culture of the native communities through unique cross-cultural workshops, expert-led seminars and exclusive visits to some of the region's most intriguing jungle sites and ancient lost cities. 

Location: La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Cartagena
Duration: 4 days +
Number of participants: Flexible
Date: Flexible (best time to visit Feb-March, Oct-Nov)
Cost: From $499 p/p*
Language: Spanish or English
Subjects: Anthropology, Archaeology, Social Studies, Humanities, Sustainable Tourism, Spanish, History.
SDG's covered: 

Flexible bookings

Book now, pay later. Due to changing circumstances we make it easy for you to reserve your educational trip without paying a deposit upfront! This means:

• Free date changes and cancellations up to 60 days before departure on faculty-led educational trips.​ 
• Covid protection: If your trip is cancelled due to Covid choose from free date changes, account credit, or a full immediate refund.​
• No upfront deposit: Make your booking now with the deposit only required 90 days before the trip.

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Activities we offer

• Four-day jungle trek to Teyuna - the Lost City
• Two-day visit to the archeological site of Ciudad Antigua
• Weaving workshop with our partners in the native Arhuaco community
• Talks from the country's leading archaeologists
  
• Visit to an organic native-run cacao plantation
• Tayrona Park Visit
• Visit to an organic cotton plantation run by international NGOs
• Introduction to the region, its history and native communities in the Gold Museum, in Santa Marta
• Visit to a reforestation project
• Sustainable cooking class
• Visit to local university
• Tour around a coffee farm in Minca
• ​Birdwatching in Minca

Example itinerary

Day 1: Arrivals & introduction to the program
Private airport transfer. Hotel check in. Welcome dinner, tour of  Santa Marta's beautiful historical centre.

Day 2: Explore Ciudad Antigua
Travel to the region’s recently rediscovered archaeological sites - Ciudad Antigua. Expert-led tour around the ancient city that dates back to 700 CE. Dinner with the local family. Overnight stay in a reconstructed native house.

Day 3: Ciudad Antigua and organic cotton farming
Visit to a coffee farm and organic cotton plantation. After lunch, enjoy a refreshing swim in a jungle river. Travel along the coast to La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Arrive at the jungle-embedded eco lodge.

Day 4: Discover ancient native traditions
Bag weaving workshop with women of the Arhuaco community.  Visit an organic cacao farm that produces award-winning unique species and uses the very latest in agroforestry techniques. Dinner in the eco lodge.

Day 5: Tayrona Park visit & jungle walk
Trip to Tayrona National Park. Jungle walk along Pre-Columbian sone paths to Caribbean beaches. We make our way back to our eco-lodge for our final meal together.

​Day 6: Visit Cartagena & Caribbean music
Private transfer to Cartagena. Walking tour around the historical centre - a UNESO-listed heritage site. Live music show in the old town.

Day 7: Afro-Colombian social drum workshop
Trip la Boquilla for the Afro-Colombian drum workshop and dance class. Canoe trip in the mangroves. Final dinner together in Cartagena's old town.

Day 8: Departures
Private bus transfer to Cartagena's airport.

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What is included

• Free professor place for every 10 students that sign up
• ​All meals (we've chosen varied dishes to give a real taste of the Colombian Caribbean)
• Accommodation (rooms are shared but privates are available on request and at an extra cost) 
• Private transport - buses and small jeeps depending on the size of the group
• All scheduled excursions and activities
• Local guides and translators
• Safety documents - risk assessment, safety protocols, liability cover
• Health Insurance
• One Kagumu guide for every 8 students

Lost City Trek

Fancy tackling one of the continent's best treks and reaching a jungle-shrouded Lost City? This 4-day hike could be a great addition to your itinerary as it will allow students to explore relatively recently discovered trails to a magnificent archaeological site that boasts vast terraces, underground passages, and fascinating city formations that date back to 700 CE. If you are feeling up to the challenge, you can read more about the Lost City trek by clicking here.

LOST CITY TREK

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Like the look of this trip? Would you like to tailor the itinerary to your students' study focus? Get in touch with Kagumu's planning team today. 

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