# Colombia arts, food and the coast · More time in the middle and at the far end

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/south-america/open-jaw/colombia-arts-food-and-the-coast-z0747/>)

More time in the middle and at the far end

- Region: South America
- Trip format: Open jaw
- Nights: 13
- Interests: Food & Drink, Design, Society, Nature, Arts & Theatre

## Route and nights

- Bogotá · 3 night(s)
- Medellín · 5 night(s)
- Cartagena · 5 night(s)

Tradeoff: The middle base gets time of its own. Book the last gateway separately and compare the total transport cost.

Compare: Domestic flights to compare

## Day-by-day agenda

Suggested schedule. Times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

### Day 1 · Bogotá

- 15:30 to 16:15 · Check in and drop your bags · Hotel de la Opera
- 16:35 to 17:35 · Take a short orientation walk near the hotel · Plaza de Bolívar, Bogotá. Skip this block if you arrive later.
- 17:50 to 19:15 · Have dinner near the hotel · La Candelaria, Bogotá
Overnight: [Hotel de la Opera](<https://www.hotels.com/ho240824/hotel-de-la-opera-bogota-colombia/>) · Bogotá

### Day 2 · Bogotá

- 08:30 to 09:10 · Breakfast near the hotel · La Candelaria, Bogotá
- 09:20 to 10:05 · Travel to Paloquemao Market · Plaza de Mercado de Paloquemao, Bogotá. Allow for cross-town traffic and verify opening hours.
- 10:10 to 11:50 · Explore open produce and flower aisles · Plaza de Mercado de Paloquemao, Bogotá
- 12:00 to 13:20 · Choose a market or neighborhood lunch · Paloquemao, Bogotá
- 13:35 to 14:30 · Return toward the center · Centro, Bogotá
- 15:00 to 16:35 · Choose a short plaza or museum stop near your hotel · La Candelaria, Bogotá
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner in La Candelaria · La Candelaria, Bogotá
Overnight: [Hotel de la Opera](<https://www.hotels.com/ho240824/hotel-de-la-opera-bogota-colombia/>) · Bogotá

### Day 3 · Bogotá

- 08:45 to 09:30 · Breakfast near the hotel · La Candelaria, Bogotá
- 09:45 to 11:10 · See the civic buildings and older commercial facades · Carrera Séptima, Bogotá. Walk a comfortable distance and use transit for longer stretches.
- 11:25 to 12:30 · Visit the public area around Parque Santander · Parque Santander, Bogotá
- 12:40 to 13:50 · Lunch near the center · Centro, Bogotá
- 14:05 to 15:45 · See the area around Biblioteca Nacional and Museo de Arte Moderno · Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá. Check opening days for any interior.
- 16:00 to 17:00 · Return to La Candelaria · La Candelaria, Bogotá
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · La Candelaria, Bogotá
Overnight: [Hotel de la Opera](<https://www.hotels.com/ho240824/hotel-de-la-opera-bogota-colombia/>) · Bogotá

### Day 4 · Medellín

- 06:25 to 07:10 · Have breakfast before checking out · La Candelaria, Bogotá
- 07:10 to 08:00 · Check out and allow time to reach your departure point · Hotel de la Opera
- 08:00 to 17:30 · Travel from Bogotá to Medellín · Bogotá. Use the confirmed transport and route. If traveling by road, leave a meal and delay buffer and keep dinner flexible. Use the departure and arrival times from your booking.
- 17:40 to 18:30 · Check in after reaching the new base · Four Points by Sheraton Medellin. Keep dinner flexible if the transfer runs late.
- 18:50 to 20:05 · Have dinner near your new hotel if time allows · El Poblado, Medellín
Overnight: [Four Points by Sheraton Medellin](<https://www.hotels.com/ho138872/four-points-by-sheraton-medellin-medellin-colombia/>) · Medellín

### Day 5 · Medellín

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast near the hotel · El Poblado, Medellín
- 09:25 to 10:35 · Travel to the meeting point for a local guide · San Javier, Medellín. Use the exact meeting place and start time from your booking.
- 10:45 to 12:50 · Join a locally led history and public-art walk · Comuna 13, Medellín. Choose a community-based guide. Ask about stairs, accessibility, group size, and neighborhood photography etiquette.
- 13:00 to 14:05 · Lunch near the tour end or a Metro stop · San Javier, Medellín
- 14:20 to 15:40 · Return toward El Poblado · El Poblado, Medellín
- 15:55 to 17:00 · Take a coffee break or walk near the hotel · El Poblado, Medellín
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · El Poblado, Medellín
Overnight: [Four Points by Sheraton Medellin](<https://www.hotels.com/ho138872/four-points-by-sheraton-medellin-medellin-colombia/>) · Medellín

### Day 6 · Medellín

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast near the hotel · El Poblado, Medellín
- 09:25 to 10:25 · Take Metro toward Universidad station · Universidad Station, Medellín
- 10:35 to 12:45 · Explore the open paths of Jardín Botánico · Jardín Botánico de Medellín. Check event closures and choose shaded paths in warm weather.
- 13:00 to 14:05 · Lunch near Universidad station · Universidad Station, Medellín
- 14:20 to 15:45 · Explore an open science exhibit or a second short garden route · Parque Explora, Medellín. Confirm Parque Explora's days and admission before choosing the indoor visit.
- 16:00 to 17:10 · Return to El Poblado · El Poblado, Medellín
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · El Poblado, Medellín
Overnight: [Four Points by Sheraton Medellin](<https://www.hotels.com/ho138872/four-points-by-sheraton-medellin-medellin-colombia/>) · Medellín

### Day 7 · Medellín

- 08:20 to 09:10 · Breakfast near the hotel · El Poblado, Medellín
- 09:20 to 10:20 · Travel toward Acevedo using the current Metro map · Acevedo Station, Medellín. Confirm station access and current line service.
- 10:30 to 12:15 · Take a Metrocable round trip on a confirmed line · Acevedo Station, Medellín. Use the journey to look at hillside routes and connections. Verify transfers and fare rules.
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch near a route-friendly Metro stop · Medellín, Colombia
- 13:55 to 15:25 · Explore the public plazas around Universidad station · Universidad Station, Medellín. Choose a short signed route and check access for any indoor stop.
- 15:40 to 17:00 · Return to El Poblado · El Poblado, Medellín
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · El Poblado, Medellín
Overnight: [Four Points by Sheraton Medellin](<https://www.hotels.com/ho138872/four-points-by-sheraton-medellin-medellin-colombia/>) · Medellín

### Day 8 · Medellín

- 08:35 to 09:20 · Breakfast near the hotel · El Poblado, Medellín
- 09:30 to 10:30 · Travel toward Parque Berrío · Parque Berrío, Medellín. Use the current Metro or road route.
- 10:40 to 12:50 · Visit Museo de Antioquia · Museo de Antioquia, Medellín. Check opening days and select a few galleries.
- 13:00 to 14:00 · Lunch near the center · Centro, Medellín
- 14:10 to 15:25 · See the sculptures and civic facades around Plaza Botero · Plaza Botero, Medellín. Stick to public paths and adjust for crowding or events.
- 15:40 to 17:00 · Return to El Poblado · El Poblado, Medellín
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · El Poblado, Medellín
Overnight: [Four Points by Sheraton Medellin](<https://www.hotels.com/ho138872/four-points-by-sheraton-medellin-medellin-colombia/>) · Medellín

### Day 9 · Cartagena

- 06:25 to 07:10 · Have breakfast before checking out · El Poblado, Medellín
- 07:10 to 08:00 · Check out and allow time to reach your departure point · Four Points by Sheraton Medellin
- 08:00 to 17:45 · Travel from Medellín to Cartagena · Medellín. Choose a connection that fits the day. A slower ground-only route may require an overnight change. Use the departure and arrival times from your booking.
- 17:55 to 18:45 · Check in after reaching the new base · Bantu Hotel by Faranda Boutique. Keep dinner flexible if the transfer runs late.
- 19:05 to 20:20 · Have dinner near your new hotel if time allows · Walled City, Cartagena
Overnight: [Bantu Hotel by Faranda Boutique](<https://www.hotels.com/ho340672/bantu-hotel-by-faranda-boutique-cartagena-colombia/>) · Cartagena

### Day 10 · Cartagena

- 08:20 to 09:05 · Breakfast in the walled city · San Diego, Cartagena
- 09:20 to 10:35 · See harbor views near the public pier area · Muelle de la Bodeguita, Cartagena. Use marked public areas and check access near departures.
- 10:50 to 11:35 · Travel toward Bocagrande · Bocagrande, Cartagena
- 11:45 to 13:00 · Lunch near the coast · Bocagrande, Cartagena
- 13:15 to 15:00 · Choose an open beachfront walk or a sheltered break · Bocagrande Beach, Cartagena. Check weather, water conditions, and local notices before swimming.
- 15:20 to 16:25 · Return to San Diego · San Diego, Cartagena
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · Centro Histórico, Cartagena
Overnight: [Bantu Hotel by Faranda Boutique](<https://www.hotels.com/ho340672/bantu-hotel-by-faranda-boutique-cartagena-colombia/>) · Cartagena

### Day 11 · La Boquilla

- 07:45 to 08:30 · Breakfast near the hotel · San Diego, Cartagena
- 08:40 to 09:35 · Travel to the operator's confirmed meeting point · La Boquilla, Cartagena. Check transport and return arrangements before leaving.
- 09:45 to 12:00 · Take a mangrove outing with a local operator · La Boquilla, Cartagena. Confirm the actual departure, water conditions, life jackets, and accessibility. Use the walled city fallback if the outing is canceled.
- 12:10 to 13:25 · Lunch near the village or after the return · La Boquilla, Cartagena. Confirm food availability in advance.
- 13:40 to 14:45 · Return to Cartagena's walled city · San Diego, Cartagena
- 15:15 to 17:00 · Take a short plaza walk or hotel break · Plaza de San Diego, Cartagena
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · San Diego, Cartagena
Overnight: [Bantu Hotel by Faranda Boutique](<https://www.hotels.com/ho340672/bantu-hotel-by-faranda-boutique-cartagena-colombia/>) · Cartagena

### Day 12 · Cartagena

- 08:25 to 09:10 · Breakfast near the hotel · San Diego, Cartagena
- 09:25 to 10:20 · Travel to Mercado de Bazurto if a visit suits your group · Mercado de Bazurto, Cartagena. Use a confirmed local guide or choose a simpler snack route near the walled city.
- 10:30 to 12:00 · Browse open produce and snack stalls · Mercado de Bazurto, Cartagena. Check opening hours and ask before photographing.
- 12:10 to 13:35 · Choose a Caribbean Colombian lunch · Cartagena, Colombia. Look for a seafood or rice dish from an open establishment that fits your route.
- 13:50 to 15:15 · Return to San Diego and take a midday break · San Diego, Cartagena
- 15:30 to 16:55 · Walk public plazas and choose a late snack · Centro Histórico, Cartagena
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · San Diego, Cartagena
Overnight: [Bantu Hotel by Faranda Boutique](<https://www.hotels.com/ho340672/bantu-hotel-by-faranda-boutique-cartagena-colombia/>) · Cartagena

### Day 13 · Cartagena

- 08:30 to 09:20 · Breakfast near Plaza de San Diego · Plaza de San Diego, Cartagena
- 09:35 to 11:10 · Walk from San Diego through the old commercial streets · Centro Histórico, Cartagena. Use public sidewalks and view private courtyards only when explicitly open to visitors.
- 11:20 to 12:40 · Choose an open museum or public courtyard · Plaza de Bolívar, Cartagena. Check current museum openings and admission.
- 12:50 to 14:00 · Lunch in the walled city · Centro Histórico, Cartagena
- 14:15 to 15:35 · Take a shaded café break or walk the plaza arcades · Centro Histórico, Cartagena
- 16:00 to 17:10 · See public streets around Plaza de Santo Domingo · Plaza de Santo Domingo, Cartagena
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · San Diego, Cartagena
Overnight: [Bantu Hotel by Faranda Boutique](<https://www.hotels.com/ho340672/bantu-hotel-by-faranda-boutique-cartagena-colombia/>) · Cartagena

### Day 14 · Cartagena

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Have breakfast near the hotel · Walled City, Cartagena
- 09:00 to 09:45 · Take an optional last walk · Plaza de Bolívar, Cartagena. Skip the walk if you have an early departure.
- 10:00 to 10:30 · Check out and collect luggage · Bantu Hotel by Faranda Boutique
- 10:30 to 11:30 · Allow time for onward travel · Walled City, Cartagena. Use the confirmed departure and pickup times from your booking.