31 Oct 2026
Twin share
£870pp
Single from £1,085
Escorted tour
Colombia in a Week: Cartagena, Minca & Santa Marta for 18–35s – 8 Days
Cartagena, Barranquilla, the stilt villages of the Ciénaga Grande, Minca's waterfalls and Santa Marta, for travellers aged 18 to 35.
8 days
From £870
Tour overview
This 8-day small-group trip is designed for travellers aged 18 to 35 and explores Colombia's Caribbean coast, from colonial Cartagena to the jungle-clad hills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Groups have no more than 16 travellers, with a local leader throughout. You travel by private vehicle, public bus and taxi, and stay in hotels and, for two nights in the hills, a hostel. Breakfast is included daily, with one lunch. The trip is land-only, starting and ending in Cartagena, with plenty of free time for your own adventures.
Cartagena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the Americas. After the welcome meeting, an orientation walk introduces its walled old town of balconied houses, plazas and churches. Next you travel along the coast to Barranquilla, a port on the Magdalena River. There you visit a factory that builds bicycles for rural communities and explore the city on two wheels.
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From Pueblo Viejo you board a traditional fisherman's boat to explore the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and wetland of international importance. You visit the palafitos, villages of brightly painted houses built on stilts over the water, with lunch included. Then you climb into the cool hills around Minca for two nights. A local guide leads you through the village and along the river to the Marinka Waterfalls for a swim, with time to visit a coffee or cacao farm.
Two nights in Santa Marta, Colombia's oldest city, begin with an orientation walk along the seafront promenade and to the market. A free day leaves time for a trip to Tayrona National Park, with its jungle trails and palm-fringed beaches, or a visit to the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, where Simón Bolívar died. The trip ends back in Cartagena, with time for San Felipe Castle, the Gold Museum, a street food tour or island hopping.
The physical rating is low, with easy walks and a waterfall hike. It suits young travellers who want a short, sociable introduction to Colombia, with the logistics handled and plenty of freedom.
Trip highlights
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An orientation walk through Cartagena's walled old town (Day 1)
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A bike tour of Barranquilla with a community bicycle project (Day 2)
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A fisherman's boat to the stilt villages of the Ciénaga Grande (Day 3)
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A hike to the Marinka Waterfalls near Minca (Day 4)
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Free time in Santa Marta for Tayrona National Park (Day 6)
Your route
5 stops from Cartagena to Santa Marta
- Cartagena Days 1 & 7
- Barranquilla Day 2
- Pueblo Viejo Day 3
- Minca Days 3–4
- Santa Marta Days 5–6
Why choose this tour
A short trip that combines colonial cities, wetlands and mountain jungle on Colombia's Caribbean coast. Groups are aged 18 to 35, and free days leave room for Tayrona, coffee farms and island hopping.
Best suited to
- Travellers aged 18 to 35 who want a sociable group trip
- First-time visitors to Colombia
- Budget-conscious travellers happy with a hostel stay
- Anyone who wants a short trip with plenty of free time
Day-by-day itinerary
8 days from Cartagena, Colombia to Cartagena, Colombia
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Day 1 · Cartagena Arrive in Cartagena
Welcome to Colombia. The trip starts with a welcome meeting at 6pm in Cartagena, followed by an orientation walk through the walled old town. If you arrive early, you could visit the Sanctuary of Saint Peter Claver or relax on the beach.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 2 · Barranquilla Barranquilla by bike
Travel along the coast to Barranquilla, a port on the Magdalena River. Visit the World Bicycle Relief factory, which builds sturdy bicycles for rural communities, and explore the city by bike.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 3 · Pueblo Viejo, Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Minca Ciénaga Grande stilt villages
From Pueblo Viejo, board a traditional fisherman's boat to explore the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and the palafitos, villages built on stilts over the water. After lunch, travel up into the hills to Minca.
- Hotel
- Hostel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 4 · Minca, Marinka Waterfalls Minca and the Marinka Waterfalls
A local guide shows you Minca, then you hike along the river to the Marinka Waterfalls, looking for birds on the way, and swim in the clear pools. The afternoon is free, perhaps for a coffee or cacao farm tour.
- Hotel
- Hostel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 5 · Santa Marta Santa Marta
Travel down to Santa Marta, Colombia's oldest city, for an orientation walk. The rest of the day is free to visit the public market or stroll the seafront promenade.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 6 · Santa Marta, Tayrona National Park Free day in Santa Marta
A free day. You could take a day trip to Tayrona National Park for jungle trails and beaches, or visit the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, where Simón Bolívar spent his last days. Watch the sunset from a nearby beach in the evening.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 7 · Cartagena Back to Cartagena
Take a bus back to Cartagena, a long travel day. In the afternoon you could tour San Felipe de Barajas Castle, visit the Zenú Gold Museum or join a street food or rum tasting tour.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 8 · Cartagena Trip ends in Cartagena
The trip ends after breakfast. Optional trips include San Basilio de Palenque or the Rosario Islands, and extra nights in Cartagena can be arranged when you book.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Cartagena (1 night) Hotel
- Barranquilla (1 night) Hotel
- Minca (2 nights) Hostel
- Santa Marta (2 nights) Hotel
- Cartagena (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation — 7 nights 5 in hotels and 2 in a hostel
- Meals 7 breakfasts and 1 lunch
- Transport private vehicles, public buses and taxis
- Activities Cartagena orientation walk, Barranquilla bike tour, the Ciénaga Grande stilt villages by boat, the Marinka Waterfalls hike and a Santa Marta orientation walk
- Local leader throughout
Not included
- International flights to and from Cartagena
- Airport transfers, available at extra cost
- Meals not listed
- Optional activities, such as Tayrona National Park, coffee farm tours and museum entries
- Travel insurance, tips and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You are under 18 or over 35 — the trip is for 18 to 35-year-olds
- You want flights included — they are not
- You want dinners included — breakfast daily and one lunch only
- You need a private room every night — the Minca hostel has no single option
Good to know
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Colombia
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £870 per person, twin share, tour only. 15 upcoming departures.
28 Nov 2026
Twin share
£895pp
Single from £1,110
12 Dec 2026
Twin share
£895pp
Single from £1,110
30 Jan 2027
Twin share
£885pp
Single from £1,100
27 Feb 2027
Twin share
£885pp
Single from £1,100
27 Mar 2027
Twin share
£885pp
Single from £1,100
24 Apr 2027
Twin share
£885pp
Single from £1,100
29 May 2027
Twin share
£885pp
Single from £1,100
26 Jun 2027
Twin share
£885pp
Single from £1,100
31 Jul 2027
Twin share
£895pp
Single from £1,110
25 Sep 2027
Twin share
£885pp
Single from £1,100
30 Oct 2027
Twin share
£895pp
Single from £1,110
27 Nov 2027
Twin share
£930pp
Single from £1,145
11 Dec 2027
Twin share
£930pp
Single from £1,145
25 Dec 2027
Twin share
£885pp
Single from £1,100
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Who is this trip for?
Travellers aged 18 to 35. Groups have up to 16 people, with a local leader.
Are flights included?
No. You fly to and from Cartagena. Airport transfers are not included but can be booked; a taxi to the airport takes about 20 minutes.
What is the accommodation like?
Five nights in hotels and two in a hostel in Minca. A single supplement is available on request, except at the hostel.
What meals are included?
7 breakfasts and 1 lunch, during the stilt village tour. Dinners are at your own cost and good value.
How active is the trip?
The physical rating is low. There are easy walks and a hike to the Marinka Waterfalls, where you can swim.
Can dietary needs be catered for?
Tell the team before departure. Vegetarian and other diets can generally be accommodated, though choice is more limited in smaller places.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary