The Secret Heart of Colombia is a 16 day small group journey through some of Colombia's most authentic and lesser visited regions.
View dates & pricesAs Featured In
Colombia is rapidly emerging from its reputation as the bad boy of Latin America to show its true colours as one of the most exciting corners of the continent. Put aside what you’ve read about Colombia’s murky past: for those willing to step beyond the stereotypes, the country offers a breathtaking array of world class attractions that are sure to leave an enduring imprint on the souls of all who visit. Curious about what makes this country so remarkable? Our guide to the Colombia culture and heritage goes deeper into what sets it apart.
On this overland journey of discovery we take a trip back into the past, exploring both the magnificent colonial heritage of the capital Bogota, Villa de Leyva and Filandia, as well as unearthing pre-Columbian culture at the extraordinary site at San Agustin. We spend time in the famed coffee zone, experiencing rural life set amidst a dazzling array of spectacular scenery and jaw-dropping natural beauty. One of the most bio-diverse nations on the planet, the entire trip offers sights, sounds, smells and tastes that will overwhelm even your highest expectations and leave you bemused as to why this is such an unfrequented corner of the Americas. Join us to explore Colombia and become a convert to the joys of this welcoming and enigmatic nation.
The Secret Heart of Colombia
Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.
The tour opens in Bogotá with a full day across the historic La Candelaria district, taking in the Emerald Museum, the 16th-century San Francisco Church, the Paloquemao market, and the Monserrate monastery above the city. From Bogotá the route heads north to the underground Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá — carved within a working salt mine — before the pottery village of Raquira and the beautifully preserved colonial city of Villa de Leyva, where the vast central plaza, the 1620 Santo Ecce Homo Dominican convent, the Kronosaurus remains at Museo el Fósil, and the remarkable Casa de Terra Cotta fill two days of exploration. The historic Boyacá Bridge and a visit to the Hogar de Paz foundation close this opening chapter before the tour turns south.
A long drive south crosses the Tatacoa Desert — an inland landscape of eroded red and grey gullies and canyons — before reaching San Agustín, home to one of South America's most extraordinary pre-Hispanic archaeological complexes. Over two days, the tour visits Las Mesitas, Fuente de Lavapatas, and Bosque de Las Estatuas within the Archaeological Park, alongside the site's Archaeological Museum, before a morning at the Rio Magdalena Strait and a traditional trapiche sugar factory bring Colombian rural life into focus. The tomb complexes of Alto de Los Idolos near Isnos — where a seven-metre statue stands above the burial mounds — and a crossing through the cloud forests of Puracé National Park complete this south-western chapter.
Known as the White City for its whitewashed colonial architecture, Popayán serves as the base for one of the most culturally distinctive stops on the tour. The nearby Silvia market — held by the indigenous Guambiano community — is one of Colombia's most authentic indigenous gatherings, whilst the Timbío silk production facility, run by a women's cooperative, reveals a living artisan tradition maintained and developed by local women in the surrounding countryside. Together these two days offer a view of south-west Colombia's cultural fabric that reaches well beyond the colonial streetscape.
The Coffee Region forms the longest and most varied chapter of the tour. The Basilica del Señor de los Milagros in Buga marks the entry before visits to a traditional trapiche sugar cane factory and the Hacienda Evelyza cocoa plantation, where fermentation and chocolate tasting take place on site. The El Silencio cloud forest hike leads through Quindío wax palms to an oak forest picnic near Durango Waterfall, followed by a three-method coffee tasting in the village of Pijao and an optional stop in the colourful village of Filandia. Two nights at Hacienda Venecia allow the full coffee cycle — cultivation, harvesting, selection, processing, roasting, and grinding — to be experienced at first hand on the estate, before the 1643 colonial river port of Honda, with its Puente Navarro Bridge, riverside market, and Museo del Rio, closes the tour on the banks of the Magdalena.
Key moments for The Secret Heart of Colombia
Full itinerary · 16 days
Reserve your place with a 10% deposit. Final balance due 70 days before departure. Single-room supplements optional — most travellers happily share.
| Departs | Returns | Status | Price pp | Single supp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 2026 | 2 Sept 2026 | Available | £3,595 | +£535 | Book now |
| 5 Oct 2026 | 21 Oct 2026 | Guaranteed | £3,595 | +£535 | Book now |
| 8 Feb 2027 | 24 Feb 2027 | Guaranteed | £3,595 | +£535 | Book now |
| 31 May 2027 | 16 Jun 2027 | Guaranteed | £3,595 | +£535 | Book now |
| 16 Aug 2027 | 1 Sept 2027 | Guaranteed | £3,595 | +£535 | Book now |
| 4 Oct 2027 | 20 Oct 2027 | Guaranteed | £3,595 | +£535 | Book now |
Every one of our Colombia journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.
Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.
Before travelling, consult the latest UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/colombia. The FCDO advises against travel to certain border regions and rural departments; our itineraries are designed to avoid these areas. US travellers should check travel.state.gov for current guidance.
Independently verified reviews from travellers who joined The Secret Heart of Colombia. Rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ reviewers.
“This was an imaginative itinerary that began and ended in Bogota. The stand-out was San Agustin, with its incredible archaeology. Their great strength lies in their imaginative and well-planned itineraries.”
Cantab
Colombia
“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”
Anna
“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”
Grete
“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”
Frank
“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”
Cathy
“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”
Lynn
“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”
Andy
“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”
Jennie
“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”
Debbie
“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”
Alexis
“This was an imaginative itinerary that began and ended in Bogota. The stand-out was San Agustin, with its incredible archaeology. Their great strength lies in their imaginative and well-planned itineraries.”
Cantab
Colombia
“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”
Anna
“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”
Grete
“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”
Frank
“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”
Cathy
“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”
Lynn
“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”
Andy
“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”
Jennie
“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”
Debbie
“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”
Alexis
Make The Secret Heart of Colombia your own — adjust the route, dates, pace or who travels, or start from a blank page with a specialist. We'll bring the details of this trip straight into your enquiry.
Join a small-group departure, or let our Colombia specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.
Common questions
Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.
Yes — there's no compulsory single supplement on our small-group tours. You get your own room at no extra cost. About 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you'll be in good company.
Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.
The next available departures are 17 August 2026; 5 October 2026; 8 February 2027. See the "Pick your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.
Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; Overland transport throughout with professional driver; All accommodation; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.
This tour visits Colombia. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.
Trusted partners & accreditations
