Creative Colombia Family Trip

Set at a heady 8,600 feet above sea level, the capital city of Bogota is the first stop on your family trip to Colombia. Upon landing, a private driver ferries you through the winding streets to the resplendent Four Seasons Casa Medina. The remainder of the day is left up to you, whether it’s relaxing at the hotel to adjust to the altitude or heading to one of the district’s many cafes for a pick-me-up tinto coffee. 

In the morning, fly to even greater heights aboard the Monserrate cable car, ascending to the city’s famous sky-high lookout. At the summit, fortify yourself with a hot chocolate (try it with queso) as you soak up the vista. Back at street level, set off on an immersive guided tour through the indie La Candelaria neighborhood, followed by a visit to the Gold Museum for a look at the kind of goldwork that fueled El Dorado legends. 

A street food tour presents you with a city-wide sampler of classic Colombian food, introducing you to the country’s appetite-inducing cuisine. Roam from stall to stall, trying empanadas, arepas, seasonal fruits, and other regional delicacies. Afterward, join a local artist for an introduction to Bogota street art that requires some audience participation; during the workshop, teens and adults alike design custom stencils to create their own artistic masterpieces. Just let your creativity run wild.

After flying to the city of Armenia, one of the gateways to the Coffee Region, drive along country roads to Hacienda Bambusa. As a working farm, staying here is a true cultural immersion. Dive right in with a cocoa workshop. Learn the art of roasting beans, grinding nibs, and creating your own impossibly creamy cup of hot chocolate. During the class, your hosts shares more about Colombia’s cocoa heritage, showing how chocolate sweetens life for everyone. 

Rise with the sun and rise to the treetops to start the day traversing a canopy zipline circuit above verdant coffee fields and banana groves. Spend a thrilling few hours zip lining between treetop towers, listening to morning birdsong and adding your own yells and whoops to the chorus. Then, feet planted firmly back on the ground, hike through the fields and forests of the La Maria Nature Reserve in search of buffalo herds and postcard-worthy vistas. 

Climb in the saddle for a morning horseback riding through the streams, forest trails, and farmlands of this idyllic region. The route is easy and enjoyable for amateur and expert equestrians like. After a cool-down session at the outdoor pool, head into the kitchen for a hands-on, family-style cooking class with the hacienda’s chef. Learn and prepare a whole meal of Colombian dishes before sitting down to share and savor it together.  

Next, it’s off to Medellín, Colombia’s City of Eternal Spring where the weather is always fair and cable cars soar above jumbled neighborhoods of hill-hugging houses. Check in at the El Cielo Hotel and take the rest of the day to kick back and rest or head out and explore. At night, dinner is just steps away in the hotel’s restaurant, which is hailed as one of the best in the city. 

Rimmed with art and cultural institutions and home to a famous series of massive bronze statues, Plaza Botero is a great place to begin your day. While exploring, you’re joined by Jon, a local tour guide whose story highlights parts of Medellin’s past as a cartel stronghold. After working as a motorcycle washer for the notorious gang, Jon escaped and became a teacher. It’s an encounter that’s bound to leave a lasting impression.

After hearing Jon’s story the day before, pay a visit to the Memorial Museum for a more in-depth look at Medellin’s narco past. A challenging but essential experience, the museum documents survivor stories and presents a raw, unflinching look at the cartel’s impact. Spend some time exploring downtown before retreating to the peace and quiet of the Botanical Gardens an oasis in the midst of the urban bustle. 

Your family trip to Colombia reaches its final stop in the seaside city of Cartagena, where tropical breezes blow down colonial streets and the sound of salsa and smells of fried fish fills the air. With its stucco roofs and greenery-filled courtyards, the Casa San Agustin is a living piece of Cartagena history. Another free afternoon beckons; head out together as a family or let independent teens set off while adults lounge by the pool. 

As a wealthy port, Cartagena’s past brims with stories of pirate raids and epic battles, which come to life as your private guide takes you around the UNESCO-certified Old Town. Come evening, get an age-appropriate taste of the city’s renowned nightlife at the lively Cafe del Mar on the ramparts. ‘Cheers’ the day with zippy mojitos all around (virgin for the teens, of course) and a delectable dinner as the sun sets over the skyline.

A sun-splashed archipelago off the coast of Cartagena, the Rosario Islands are your destination for a day of paradisical living. Grab a snorkel mask and seek out underwater coral reefs, kick back with your toes in the sand, or paddleboard through the aquamarine waters. Refuel with grilled fish and coconut rice for lunch before more of the same in the afternoon.

It’s time to bid Colombia adios and return home, but not without some new recipes to take home, a photobook’s worth of new memories, and maybe a bit of a tan from that island getaway.