Journey to El Dorado (Recce Tour): Colombia & Ecuador

15 days, Sat 29 Jan 2011 to Sat 12 Feb 2011

For intrepid travellers looking to escape the coastal crowds and discover some magical unexplored destinations, look no further then southern Colombia…  Here, in the indigenous heart of the country we explore the many facets of Colombian life, rich in history, culture and natural wonders. Beginning in the bustling capital of Bogotá, including an unmissable visit to the Gold Museum, we will head to Lake Guatavita where the legend of El Dorado was born. Journeying south we visit the Tatacoa Desert famed for its bizarre rock formations, before continuing on to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Agustin. This spectacular archaeological park is peppered with hundreds of monoliths carved with bizarre imagery of morphed animals and humans, and is one of the most important sites in South America. We’ll also take a horse ride through the steep and unspoilt countryside of the Rio Magdalena river valley nearby and explore the colonial gem of Popayán - as picturesque as Cartagena and far less well known. Whilst here we’ll visit the Purace National Park, a geothermal wonderland of hot springs and waterfalls, and the indigenous markets at Silvia. On the Pan-American Highway again we cross the border into Ecuador, stopping to visit the monument at the equator and continue to our final destination of Quito, the colourful capital.

Daily details in brief

Wild Frontiers Price Policy

At Wild Frontiers we believe our clients are savvy enough to see through heavily discounted 'first price' holiday offers and would rather know before they leave home exactly what their tour is going to cost. As such we do not charge local payments, 'optional extras' or force our clients to go through the annoying procedure of splitting every meal bill. With the odd exception our tours are provided on a predominantly full board basis, with mineral water, government passes and permits, entrance fees, and all transport outlined in the various tour itineraries included. Please see individual tour dossiers for specific information.