Your tour package includes:

• Your World Awaits Cultural Tours Travel Coach & Concierge on the ground with you supporting your travel and accompanying you on the itinerary tour
• Free or no additional fee experiences curated by your Travel Concierge
• Travel and destination expertise
• Bookings and reservations (free time activities)
• Issue-handling before, during, and after your trip
• Risk-management
• Quality control
• Country cultural education resources
• Pre-departure virtual meeting to prepare for the best experience
• Airport transfer from/to Medellín Airport (MDE – Aeropuerto Internacional de Medellín)
• Hotel 3-star superior based on double occupancy (as noted in the itinerary). We value and seek to first partner with accommodations owned by local natives and local families to support the local economy and to have more authentic local, cultural encounters.
• Ground transportation during tour itinerary
• Private group excursions (as noted in the itinerary)
• Meals – 7 breakfasts, 4 lunch, 1 dinner (select meals as noted in the itinerary; vegetarian and other dietary options available)
• Entrance fees (as noted in the itinerary)
• Activity Insurance only for select activities of: horseback riding, E-biking, ziplining, paragliding. Total trip and tour itinerary insurance is not included.
• Certified Local Tour Guide
• English-speaking Tour Guide

Your tour package does not include the following and for all activities in your free time that you decide to do on your own, or activities not booked with World Awaits:

• Airfare to/from Medellín, Colombia (MDE)
• Admission fees (unless listed in World Awaits experiences and tours)
• Meals, Snacks, Water and Beverages (unless listed in World Awaits experiences and tours)
• Tips & Gratuities (optional)
• Transfers (to/from other locations to designated pick-up or meeting points or drop-off points)
• Travel Insurance – Highly recommended to get travel insurance based on your needs with our partner here
• Anything not listed in the tour itinerary and inclusions

Day 1: Arrival and Welcome Dinner Experience

Arrive Transfer: Please arrive in Medellín before 18:00 local time. Hotel check-in time is 15:00 local time.

Guided tour start time: 20:00 local time

20:00 Welcome Dinner Experience

Lights, theatrical performances, flavor, and fiesta! That’s Colombia! Welcome to Medellín with a dinner experience like no other. We will dine and be entertained at one of Colombia’s exquisite restaurants with typical Colombian dishes and an exotic nightclub that lives, breathes and serves the Colombian bohemian spirit.

Time of transport: 1 hour

Included: Private transfer arrival, Transfer from and to hotel, bilingual guide, dinner experience

Not Included: Drinks at Dinner experience

Day 2: City Tours of the Transformational Spirit of Medellín

8:00 – 12:30 Medellín City & Graffiti Tour

Travel through the city on its different transportation systems, and explore Comuna 13, one of the most iconic districts in Medellín, to discover the importance of the local graffiti culture. Discover the many faces of Medellín and its ability to transform its history of violence into a thriving, creative community. Visit the landmarks downtown, learn about the metro culture, and ride the cable car to Comuna 13, a neighborhood that finds inspiration in entrepreneurship and urban art, especially graffiti, hip-hop, and rap. Meet our local guides and listen to their perspectives on social change, vulnerability, and how the collective effort of the community has brought them to where they are today.

Time of activity/visits: 4.5 hours

Dress/Attire: Casual, rain jacket

Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, bilingual guide, tickets for the public transportation systems, food tasting (empanadas, popsicles) and traditional beverages, water, beer and snacks

12:30 – 2:00 Lunch (included)

14:00-16:30 Drug War Victims’ Tour

Learn the victims’ perspective on the drug war in Medellín from the 1990s and early 2000s. What does it mean to talk about Pablo Escobar in Medellín? Discover the importance of collective memory in the light of the victims left by the drug war in the region. Visit a public park, a gallery, and a cemetery museum dedicated to reflecting on how the acts of terror forged a new perspective on peace, conflict, history, and non-repetition, and how, in the eyes of the victims, historic memory is something that is both collective and necessary for the advancement of Colombian society.

Time of activity/visits: 4.5 hours

Dress/Attire: Casual

Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, bilingual guide, experiences with regional hosts, lunch, snacks

Day 3: The Flavors and Beauty of the City of Eternal Spring

8:00 – 12:30 Family-owned Coffee Farm

Unveil the secrets behind our world-renowned cup of coffee. Visit a traditional, family-owned coffee farm just a short ride from the hotel, where you’ll learn everything you need to know about the most famous Colombian drink, from the seed and harvest to the preparation process. Experience a privileged tasting of special strains, and hear more about the role of coffee in the national economy and the history of the family that owns the farm and preserves their knowledge and techniques.

Time of activity/visits: 4.5 hours

Dress/Attire: Casual, comfortable closed toe shoes, long pants, rain jacket. Bring bug spray.

Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, bilingual guide, coffee expert, various tastings of authentic, farm fresh coffee, drinks and snacks

12:30 – 2:00 Lunch (included)

14:00 – 16:30 City of Eternal Spring’s World-Renowned Flowers for the World

Flowers from Medellín are shipped all over the world as it naturally provides the perfect environment for the most exotic and beautiful flowers. Indigenous cultures celebrated flowers for their embodiment of beauty, happiness, women, fertility and life. We will visit a local, traditional flower farm, learn about the national flower, orchids, endemic to Colombia that grow naturally in Medellín and its emblematic annual flower festival celebration in August. 

Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, bilingual guide, experiences with regional hosts, lunch, snacks

Day 4: A Day Escape to Guatapé Archipelago and Piedra del Peñol

8:00 – 18:00 A Day in Guatapé

Experience the best of Guatapé by climbing its iconic rock, visiting the town, having a traditional lunch, and sailing through the reservoir.
Enjoy an exclusive circuit around the magical town of Guatapé. Start by climbing El Peñol rock, a natural wonder with a panoramic view, and then, go down to the main town and walk through its colorful streets and colonial architecture. After having a gourmet lunch at a typical restaurant, hop on our private barge and sail through the Peñol-Guatapé reservoir, one of the biggest lakes in the country, while tasting local drinks and listening to great music.

Time of activity/visits: 10 hours

Dress/Attire: Casual

Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, bilingual guide, entrance fee to El Peñol rock, typical gourmet lunch, private barge, alcoholic beverages on the barge ride

Day 5: A Day of Mellow to Extreme and Coffee In Between

Choose your high today with two choices of activities from the high skies paragliding or mountain high horseback riding, and a caffeine high coffee tasting (optional add-on).

In the morning, you may choose option A: Paragliding (included in tour package) or option B: Horseback Riding (included in tour package). No other substitutions may be made for these activities, no alterations to these set schedules, and no credits or refunds for choosing not to participate.

Choose Option A: 8:00-12:30 Paragliding over the Aburrá Valley

The perfect view for the perfect flight. Leap and fly at your own pace over one of the most beautiful natural basins in Colombia, the Medellín river. As the conditions have to be perfect before you take off, you’ll have time to prepare and enjoy the incredible view of the city, take some pictures of the stunning landscape, and meet the pilot that will join you in this adventure. An ideal combination of adrenaline, serenity, and clouds, this flight will give you the memory of a lifetime.

Time of activity/visits: 4.5 hours

Dress/Attire: Sport clothing, comfortable, long pants, closed toe shoes, jacket

Rating: Extreme activity

Flight time: 15 minutes with a certified professional pilot

Minimum participants required to offer the activity: 5

Note: This activity is not recommended for people that have: a fear of heights, panic attacks, heart conditions, level 2 obesity, weight more than 120 kg (264 lbs), tachycardia, pregnancy, hyperthyroidism, vertigo, hip replacement, diabetes, and fractures or dislocations on lower extremities (as these are used upon landing). This activity depends entirely on adequate weather conditions. This activity is available for up to 20 people at a time.

Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, flight with certified professional pilot and instructor, bilingual tour guide, paragliding activity fee, safety equipment, extreme activity insurance, snacks

Or Choose Option B: 8:00 – 12:30 Horseback Riding in the Mountains of Medellín

An authentic paisa adventure to fall in love with the landscapes of the region. For generations, horses have represented the pride and character of the people from the Antioquia region. In this adventure, you’ll have the unique chance to ride on a gentle, carefully bred horse through a natural pathway near Medellín, which will take you to exclusive sightseeing spots that let you appreciate the evergreen landscapes that frame the city. Take your time to take in the sights alongside your trusty companion, and enjoy some energizing empanadas and drinks to end the ride.

Time of activity/visits: 4.5 hours

Dress/Attire: Casual, closed toe shoes. Bring sunscreen and bug spray.

Minimum participants required to offer the activity: 5

Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, bilingual guide, horse, horse ride guide, medical and liability insurance, traditional snack

In the afternoon, you may choose Option C: free time on your own or Option D: City Coffee Tasting for an optional add-on price of $65 USD per person (10 minimum participants required)

15:00 – 18:00 Coffee Tasting (optional add-on)

For the curious travelers and coffee lovers that want to learn more about Colombian coffee. In the heart of Medellín, visit a coffee roaster that works with special blends from different parts of the country, where you’ll get advice on how to identify the flavors, textures, and scents of a locally-brewed coffee. Learn about the roasting process and its influence on how coffee is perceived, and choose the particular techniques you want to observe and subsequently taste.

Optional Add-on Fee: $65 USD per person

Time of activity/visits: 3 hours

Dress/Attire: Casual

Minimum participants required to offer the activity: 10

Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, bilingual guide, coffee expert, three (3) types of coffee tastings and snacks

Day 6: A Ride Above or Through the City

Choose your ride today with two choices of activities included in your tour package of a Downtown E-bike tour or Horseback Riding in the Mountains of Medellín.

In the morning, you may choose Option D: Downtown E-Bike Tour (included in tour package) or Option E: Horseback Riding (included in tour package). No other substitutions may be made for these activities, no alterations to these set schedules, and no credits or refunds for choosing not to participate.

8:00 -12:30 Choose Option D: Downtown E-Bike Tour

A heart-to-heart with the City of Eternal Spring. Witness the ongoing transformation of Medellín through its iconic museums, sustainable buildings, artistic manifestations, and historic areas downtown. Learn more about how the local communities have overcome a period of violence and social struggle to build what is now known as one of the most innovative, artistic, and creative cities in the world. You’ll move smoothly from one spot to another on an e-bike, and as a refreshment, you’ll taste some export-quality coffee and a delicious juice with fruits from the region.

Time of activity/visits: 4.5 hours

Dress/Attire: Comfortable clothing, closed-toe shoes

Minimum participants required to offer the activity: 5

Note: This activity is not recommended for people who don’t know how to ride a bike or weigh more than 110 kg (242 lbs).

Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, bilingual guide, electric bike, helmet and raincoat for the ride, medical and liability insurance, hydration and snack

Or 8:00 – 12:30 Choose Option E: Horseback Riding in the Mountains of Medellín

An authentic paisa adventure to fall in love with the landscapes of the region. For generations, horses have represented the pride and character of the people from the Antioquia region. In this adventure, you’ll have the unique chance to ride on a gentle, carefully bred horse through a natural pathway near Medellín, which will take you to exclusive sightseeing spots that let you appreciate the evergreen landscapes that frame the city. Take your time to take in the sights alongside your trusty companion, and enjoy some energizing empanadas and drinks to end the ride.

Time of activity/visits: 4.5 hours

Dress/Attire: Casual, closed-toe shoes

Minimum participants required to offer the activity: 5

Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, bilingual guide, horse ride guide, medical and liability insurance, traditional snack

Afternoon free time for the remainder of the day

Day 7: A Day with Nature in Los Saltos Nature Reserve and Ecopark

7:30 – 18:30 Ecopark & Zipline at Salto del Buey

Los Saltos has something for everyone whether you are seeking to relax and be with nature or an adventure full of adrenaline and beautiful landscapes. We will enjoy hiking, waterfalls and amazing views! Choose to take on the tallest zip-line in Colombia at Ox Falls waterfall (Salto del Buey) Admire the most spectacular view of a surrounding natural park while trekking approximately 6 kilometers (4 miles) to the zipline point, where you’ll cross more than 1350 meters (4,400 ft) and discover 10 different waterfalls. Finally, after returning to the launch point, walk down to the Ox Falls, the most imposing waterfall in the Antioquia region.

Time of activity/visits: 11 hours

Dress/Attire: Sport clothing, comfortable, closed toe shoes

Trek: Moderate

Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, adventure-expert bilingual guide, admission to Los Saltos natural park, ziplining activity, medical and liability insurance, lunch, energetic box snacks

Note: This activity is not recommended for people who are not used to walking or outdoor activities, or people that are not in good physical condition. The ziplining activity has a weight limit and is also not recommended for people that weigh more than 100 kg (220 lbs), or have fractures or dislocations.

Day 8: Medellín Departure

Time of transport: 1 hour

Included: Private transfer departure, hotel breakfast

This tour itinerary is available with our bilingual and multilingual tour guides and local hosts in the following languages:

• English
• Spanish

• Ages 12 and over
• If you desire cultural immersion to learn and interact more with the local culture and people. And you want a more slow to moderate pace itinerary and more free time
• Participants should have a moderate physical fitness level – requires moderate to heavy walking on historical streets, paved and not well-paved streets, with stairs, inclines and declines, and trekking (easy to moderate level of difficulty)
• Please inform us prior to booking if you require accommodations with limited mobility or other special assistance. We will seek to meet your accommodation and explain which itinerary activities could be suitable or adapted for limited mobility.

Our Cultural Tours are immersive and enriched with opportunities to travel like a local and with locals when our local friends and partners are able to join us for casual meet ups. We embrace slower tourism and more local experiences beyond the typical touristic sites and scenes. As experts in intercultural relations, we will guide deeper conversations, learn the full, inclusive history, and have mutual learning opportunities with our local hosts. We build maximum free time and flexibility into your itinerary for your travel style and preferences. During your free time in the itinerary, you can choose to add tours, activities, experiences, or more rest and relaxation, or go with the flow, wonder and explore.

• Climate: In the valley region of Medellín, the tropical climate is tempered by the altitude with pleasantly warm, overcast spring-like weather year-round with intermittent rain showers particularly April, May, October, November.
• Tour Itineraries: We give all diligence to adhere to the stated itinerary. If local constraints, government closures, safety and security issues, or inclement weather require rearrangement of the tour itinerary, we ask for your patience and understanding.

Important considerations:

• Luggage: It is recommended to bring 1 carry-on size luggage and 1 personal item or backpack per person. Due to transfers, vehicle size/space, and the terrain, it is not recommended to bring more or larger sized luggage. If you bring or accumulate more luggage or larger luggage, you may be required to book private transfers to accommodate your luggage at your own expense or pay luggage storage fees (if available).
• Museums and Archeological Sites Closings: most museums and sites are closed on Mondays with a few exceptions or a different closing day
• Photography and Video: Some Colombian museums and sites will not allow or charge a fee for video cameras, drone photography or it may not be permitted to enter these sites with tripods or professional equipment.
• Group size minimum participants to offer the tour: 10 participants
• Group size maximum: 20 participants

Recommended airport for your international arrival and departure:

Aeropuerto Internacional de Medellín (Medellín International Airport)

Airport Code: MDE

Transfer from/to Medellín Airport to your hotel:

Private transfer included; Private transfer may include other tour members in our private tour arriving at the same time as your flight

• Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and shoes
• Sun protection – hat and sunscreen
• Necessary clothing or gear for your planned activities, experiences and excursions

• Please do not wear or bring expensive or showy jewelry, clothing, handbags or items
• Travel messenger bag / Crossbody bag recommended
• Undergarment travel fanny pack recommended
• External battery charger for your mobile devices recommended

• Single room supplement $265 USD per single room requested. Please contact us directly for these options and availability.
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• For U.S. citizens, tourism visits less than ninety (90) days do not require a visa. However, please always check with your country’s embassy and the visiting country’s embassy for any other entry requirements and if you are not a U.S. citizen.
• Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six (6) months to enter the country.
• Vaccinations up-to-date with vaccination card as proof. Check with your country’s center for disease control. Recommended vaccines include but are not limited to: Routine vaccinations, COVID-19, Tetanus, Hepatitis A&B, Typhoid
• Your World Awaits Cultural Tours travel concierge will accompany you on this tour operated by our certified local partner tour operators and guides

The vision of World Awaits Cultural Tours is to be a global community of global citizens sharing, caring, growing and contributing together through enriching travel experiences and relationships.

We seek out opportunities to make intentional, direct contributions of time, talent, and treasure to local people, communities and organizations in destinations we visit through planned and unplanned encounters. Our Medellin cultural tour presents and opportunity with our local partner and the Drug War Victim’s Tour including in your itinerary. A percentage of the funds collected from this activity will be reinvested in the community. Thank you for giving and your impact.

Here are some half-day experiences and tours curated by World Awaits that you can choose to add to your itinerary during free time Day 6 in the afternoon. This list is not complete—your concierge will work with you to find and build your itinerary with the experiences you desire:

Coffee Tasting ($65 USD per person; minimum 10 participants required to offer the activity)

For the curious travelers and coffee lovers that want to learn more about Colombian coffee. In the heart of Medellín, visit a coffee roaster that works with special blends from different parts of the country, where you’ll get advice on how to identify the flavors, textures, and scents of a locally-brewed coffee. Learn about the roasting process and its influence on how coffee is perceived, and choose the particular techniques you want to observe and subsequently taste.

Time of activity/visits: 3 hours

Dress/Attire: Casual

Included: Transfer from and to the hotel, bilingual guide, coffee expert, three (3) types of coffee tastings and snacks

By day, walk the beautiful streets and plazas with historical architecture, street vendors, local events, and good vibes.

• Botanical Garden of Medellin
• Parque de los Deseos
• Parque Boston
• Placita de Flórez (Flower and Farmers Market)
• Parque de Berrio
• Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria
• Carabobo & El Hueco Pedestrian Streets
• Avendia Junin Pedestrian Street
• Parque de Bolivar
  Metropolitan Church
• Teatro Metropolitano de Medellin José Gutierrez Gómez
• La Playa & Casa Barrientos
• Coltejer Building
• Parque de los Pies Descalzos (Barefoot Park) wáter fountains
• Museo Del Agua
• Palacio Egipcio Cultural Center Musuem
• Teatro Pablo Tobon Uribe
  Jardín Circunvalar
• Parque Arvi
• Pueblito Paisa – Cerro Nutibara
• Parque de las Luces (The Lights Park)
• Plaza San Antonio and the Botero Pájaros de Paz
• Museo Casa de la Memoria
• Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Cultural Center
• Centro Comercial Palacio Nacional (National Palace Mall)
• Parroquia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús
• La Alpujarra Administrative Center government buildings and monuments
• Ferrocarril de Antioquia (Antioquia Train Station)
• Cerro El Volador
• Iglesia de la Veracruz
• Plaza Botero
• Historical Hotel Nutibara
• Pedro Nel Gomez Murals
• Feria de las Flores (Flower Fair) during August only
• …And more…

• Restaurant reservations for Medellin’s top culinary restaurants
• Private tour package or free-time tours for your family or group upon request
• In-country domestic airfare transfers
• 4-star, 5-star, boutique and luxury accommodations
• Two-day or more overnight add-on experiences
• Experiences and activities are endless from exotic experiences, gastronomy and cooking, art, entertainment and performances, sports, eco-tourism, adventure, wellness classes, to language classes or other learning experiences
• Romantic or special getaways
• Special occasions celebrations
• Extend your trip in the same destination

• Connect your immersive journey with us to a little-known remote jungle beach town Capurganá on the border of Panama and save $150 off your Medellín tour! Departure dates before and after our Medellín tour!

• All pricing is in USD – US Dollars
• Please read and agree to our full terms and conditions here and Section: “Land Only Tour Package Participants”
• Worry-Free, No Obligation Reservations for 7 days on Land Tour Packages World Awaits Cultural Tours offers a worry-free, no obligation reservation request for 7 days after the Tour Booking is received, during which time you can cancel your tour package’s reservation request for any reason. Credit card payment processing fees are not refundable.
• Minimum Non-Refundable Deposit and Final Payment If you are making your tour reservation within 90 days of your tour date, the 7 days grace period is waived. There is a non-refundable deposit of USD 250 per person. Your final payment is due 90 days prior to your tour’s departure date or by the payment deadline dates specified for your specific tour. If the reservation is made within 90 days of the tour departure date, full payment is due within 7 days of reservation.
• Tour Price All tour prices are listed in US dollars and are based on tariffs and rates of currency exchange in effect at the time of printing or publishing online. These rates are subject to change as deemed necessary and fair by World Awaits Cultural Tours.
• Price Guarantee World Awaits guarantees your tour price once World Awaits has received full payment for your Tour. Only amendment fees, currency surcharges, optional hotel or accommodation swaps, optional hotel or accommodation extensions, optional day-trips or excursion tours, or flight changes may have additional costs. These costs must be added to the tour package and will result in a price reassessment for each passenger.
• Tour Departure Guarantee World Awaits guarantees departure day for all of our listed tour packages. However, should the total number of tour members fall below 10 persons, World Awaits reserves the right to change or cancel the tour.
• Payment Plans directly with World Awaits Cultural Tours Considering your tour must be paid in full 90 days prior to the tour start date, you must select a payment plan that will allow completion of all payments prior to this 90 day prior payment deadline. This does not apply to Buy Now, Pay Later service providers because your financing is directly with the third-party provider.
• Cancellation You can cancel 91 days or more in advance of the tour, but your deposit is non-refundable, and any credit card processing fees, charges/penalties by an accommodation supplier, land operators and travel suppliers. Please read our full terms and conditions for cancellation policies and charges timetable after this 91 day period. Cancellation must be in writing.
• This tour requires a minimum number of travelers of 10 persons. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date or different tour or a full refund.