Enter the Heart of the World

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. 

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Where: 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
SDG's covered: 

Activities

• Exclusive overnight stay in archaeological site: Ciudad Antigua
• Social drum workshop
• Walking tour around UNESCO-listed historical center of Cartagena
• Bag weaving workshop with native community
• Spiritual cleansing ritual
• Organic cotton cultivation visit
• Gold Museum visit
• Canoe trip in mangroves
• Cooking class
• Visit to Tayrona National Park

8-day 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 teacher 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 8-10 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