Welcome to Cartagena. This picture-perfect port town filled with colonial architecture makes an ideal introduction to Colombia. Touching down at the airport, a private Flash Pack transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel in the buzzing downtown neighbourhood of Getsemaní, which inspired Gabriel García Márquez’s novel Love in the time of Cholera. Savour the pretty doors and well-preserved wooden balconies, overflowing with bougainvillea, as you stroll through the cobblestone streets to a local restaurant for dinner. Tonight, you’ll get to know your group as you learn how to prepare ceviche – the first of three delicious courses – and raise a toast of aguardiante (sugar cane spirit) to a week of adventure to come. 

Spend your first morning immersed in local life at the vibrant fishing village of La Boquilla. The community here earns a living from the abundant seafood that’s found in the maze of coastal mangroves, bordering the Caribbean Sea. You’ll have the option to take a scenic boat ride* with a local fisherman, who will show you how to cast a net the traditional way and catch crabs using artisanal traps. Back on dry land, join the villagers for a drumming workshop and learn how their vibrant folk music – such as cumbia, mapale and champeta – connects them with their African roots. A free afternoon in Cartagena awaits: walk the centuries-old ramparts for views of the old Spanish buildings and find a spot to watch the sunset over the bay, sundowner in hand. *Not included.  

After breakfast and some fresh Colombian coffee, soak up the tropical scenery as you road trip to Tayrona National Park. En route, you’ll stop by the bustling town of Barranquilla, famed for its spectacular carnival: a swirling four-day celebration of parades, music, dancing and street parties, second only to Rio for its colour and size. You’ll visit the interactive Carnival Museum to get a sense of this great festivity before a typical local lunch overlooking the vast Rio Magdalena delta. Your destination tonight is a secluded jungle retreat, just outside the park itself, with a trail leading down to the beach. There’s something special in store tonight, but that’s all we’ll say for now. 

Rise early for a full day exploring one of Colombia’s most beautiful national parks: a stunning slice of mountainous jungle, vast boulders and golden-white sand lapped by the Caribbean Sea. Sealed off by the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta – the world’s highest coastal mountain range – much of the park remains inaccessible by road, so you’ll hop aboard a private boat to seek out a quiet cove. Here, you’ll spend an idyllic day snorkelling in the calm, crystalline water and picnicking under palm trees on fish, fried plantain, coconut rice and salad. Be sure to spend a mindful moment taking it all in: this is what you came to Colombia for. Later, you’ll travel on to the coastal city of Santa Marta where your next hotel awaits.        

We’ve left today free for you to choose your own activities. Perhaps you’ll spend some time exploring Colombia’s oldest Hispanic city, with its well-preserved historic centre and long sweep of sandy beach. Or maybe you’ll escape the heat with an inland excursion to the pretty highland village of Minca. Surrounded by thick cloud forest and soaring mountain peaks, the area is famed for its organic coffee production and huge variety of birds and you can spend a relaxed day visiting a local finca, spotting wildlife, lazing in a giant hammock and swimming in jungle waterfalls. Whatever you choose, your Pack Leader will be on hand to help arrange a local tour.  

Colombia has over 100 indigenous groups, many of whom live in remote collectively-owned reserves. Today, you’ll have the chance to experience their unique culture and rich heritage with a visit to the Tayronaka community. Together with a local guide, you’ll take a short boat ride to a puebla indígena where you’ll see how the Kogui tribe lives in harmony with nature. Sitting around a tree, a sacred space, you’ll have the chance to speak with the spiritual leader and take part in a ritual cleansing – a life-affirming experience. Back in Santa Marta, you’ll gather for a final farewell dinner. Raise a toast with your fellow Flashpackers to the incredible adventures you’ve shared. 

All too soon, your Colombian adventure has come to an end and it’s time to make your way to the airport for your onward flight. It might have only been a week but you’ll have made memories – and friends – to last a lifetime, and been immersed in a totally new culture. If you’ve fallen in love with South America, why not check out our other Flash Pack adventures? You could find yourself making wine in Argentina, whitewater rafting in Chile or searching for jaguars in Brazil. Our Trip Experts are ready and waiting to make it happen.