Sorry! There are no remaining departures for "Medellin to Quito Adventure" (SMMQ), but here are some similar trips.
This tour has been cancelled in 2020. For a similar trip please consider here.
Medellin to Quito Adventure
12 days, Medellín to Quito
Itinerary Notes
Please be aware there are long travel days on this itinerary. See the "Full Itinerary" tab for more details.
Itinerary
Day 1Medellín
Arrive at any time. Tonight, head out to one of the many bars around Parque Lleras in the hopping neighbourhood of El Poblado to get to know your fellow travellers. Cheers to new friends and new adventures!
Please note, the 2 night hostel stay in Medellín is multi-share accommodation. if you have booked the "My Own Room" option for this tour, you will receive your own single room for these nights.
Arrival Day
Begin your adventure today. There are no planned activities so feel free to explore or rest up for the excitement ahead.
Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.
Optional Activities - Day 1 HideShow
Explora Park
24500-37500COP per personA symbol of transformation in the northern part of Medellín, the park is a large piece of modern architecture housing a variety of scientific exhibits. Learn about the flora, fauna, and astronomy of Colombia while exploring the vivarium specializing in the Amazon River, the planetarium, or one of the many interactive exhibits on display.
Modern Art Museum
10000COP per personWander around the Museum of Modern Art and enjoy the work of Colombian artists in a variety of medias. Make sure to check out the Débra Arango permanent collection.
Nutibara Hill (Cerro Nutibara) Visit
For a breath of fresh air 80m (263 ft) above the city, visit Nutibara Hill. Ride a colourful bus, take a taxi, or climb winding paths through the greenery to get to the top of the hill and enjoy great views of the city. Pueblito Paisa waits at the summit: stroll through this replica of a traditional Antioquian town and enjoy the charm of whitewashed buildings, bright-coloured doors and tiled roofs. Try some local food here or shop for souvenirs.
Paragliding
45USD per personGet ready for a thrilling ride! Take off from one of the surrounding hills and enjoy spectacular views of this sprawling city and the picturesque green mountains that encircle it as you glide through the air.
Day 2Medellín
Choose what to explore today on a free day. Opt to visit the nearby town of Guatapé, with its colourful houses and famous rock. Or, ride the metrocable, a cable car part of Medellín’s public transportation, for sweeping views of the city and surrounding mountains.
Free Time
Explore one of Colombia's most popular cities.
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
El Peñol Stone (La Piedra Del Peñol) Visit
Formed approximately 70 million years ago, El Peñón de Guatapé, also known as El Peñol, is a giant monolith rising 2,135m (7,005 ft) above sea level. Climb the 649 steps that have been built into one side of this famous rock and enjoy breathtaking views of the Guatapé Dam and surrounding area from the peak.
Explora Park
24500-37500COP per personA symbol of transformation in the northern part of Medellín, the park is a large piece of modern architecture housing a variety of scientific exhibits. Learn about the flora, fauna, and astronomy of Colombia while exploring the vivarium specializing in the Amazon River, the planetarium, or one of the many interactive exhibits on display.
Modern Art Museum
10000COP per personWander around the Museum of Modern Art and enjoy the work of Colombian artists in a variety of medias. Make sure to check out the Débra Arango permanent collection.
Nutibara Hill (Cerro Nutibara) Visit
For a breath of fresh air 80m (263 ft) above the city, visit Nutibara Hill. Ride a colourful bus, take a taxi, or climb winding paths through the greenery to get to the top of the hill and enjoy great views of the city. Pueblito Paisa waits at the summit: stroll through this replica of a traditional Antioquian town and enjoy the charm of whitewashed buildings, bright-coloured doors and tiled roofs. Try some local food here or shop for souvenirs.
Paragliding
45USD per personGet ready for a thrilling ride! Take off from one of the surrounding hills and enjoy spectacular views of this sprawling city and the picturesque green mountains that encircle it as you glide through the air.
Day 3Medellín/Salento
Drive through beautiful landscapes to Salento.
Enjoy exploring Salento and getting a feel for the town.
Please note, this is a long travel day.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Day 4Salento
Opt to take a morning hike through the towering palms of the Cocora Valley, or choose from a variety of other optional activities in the coffee region of Quindío.
Free Time
Enjoy this beautiful area, get out and explore!
Optional Activities - Day 4 HideShow
Entrance Fee Cocora Valley
Head into the Cocora Valley and take in magnificent views and the towering wax palms for which it is known. Get active with a hike through the area and learn more about this fertile region.
Day 5Salento/Bogotá
Enjoy the ride to Colombia's capital, Bogotá.
Please note, this is a long travel day.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Bogotá
Enjoy a free day to explore the capital of Colombia. Opt to ride the funicular up for a stunning view, visit the impressive gold museum, or check out the street art.
Free Time
Get out and explore!
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Gold Museum Visit
4000COP per personExplore this veritable treasure trove! Be amazed by the Bogotá Gold Museum’s collection of over 30,000 gold pieces in addition to thousands of bone, stone, ceramic, and textile artifacts from 13 different pre-Hispanic societies.
Monserrate Hill Cable Car
20000COP per personRide the cable car up the hill for spectacular views of the city.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Bogotá/Tatacoa Desert
Enjoy the ride to the Tatacoa Desert to spend the night under the stars.
Please note, this is a long travel day.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Day 8Tatacoa Desert/Popayán
Head out into the impressive Tatacoa desert and explore the rocky canyons. The morning is free to choose how you wish to explore, opt to go for a hike or go horseback riding. After, travel to Popayán.
Please note, this is a long travel day.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Free Time
Pasto is cool (literally). Make sure to bring a sweater and try a "helado de paíla" the local ice cream made outside in copper tubs.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 9Popayán/Pasto
Head further south to Pasto, wander around and keep an eye out for local ice cream makers out in the streets.
Please note, this is a long travel day.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 10Pasto/San Clemente
Visit the striking Lajas Sanctuary, built on a bridge in a lush gorge, this neo-Gothic church is sure to impress. After, cross the border into Ecuador and continue on to the indigenous community of San Clemente for the night.
Your Local Living Moment: Indigenous Community Homestay
Make new friends and memories on this homestay. Interact with the locals in this indigenous community and learn about their traditional ways of living. Opt to enjoy a cultural evening and show, and enjoy regional food.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 11San Clemente/Quito
Enjoy the morning in the indigenous community of San Clemente. Interact with the locals and learn about their traditional ways. Later, travel to Otavalo market before heading on to Quito for the night.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Otavalo Handicrafts Market Visit
Discover some amazing local art, tapestries, and textiles at Otavalo’s famous artisan market, the largest handicraft market in South America. Wander the stalls to meet local artists, and find one-of-a-kind souvenirs. Try to arrive early for the best bargains (it starts at dawn), and try your hand at haggling – it’s expected for every purchase. A good negotiator could get at least 20 per cent off the starting price.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 12Quito
Depart at any time.
Please note the activities below require additional time in Quito. We recommend booking additional hotel nights post tour to explore.
Opt to pre-book the "Quito City Tour & Equator Line" activity on the checkout page ahead of time to include this optional on your tour.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Optional Activities - Day 12 HideShow
Teleférico
9USD per personEnjoy spectacular views of Quito from this sky tram up Volcán Pichincha. Choose to go for a hike at the top, or just come along for the ride.
Cotopaxi Volcano - Full Day
Enjoy a spectacular 2 hour drive to Cotopaxi Volcano National Park to see the highest active volcano in the world (5,897m/ 19,347 ft). Visit a museum in the park and hike around a lagoon at the bottom of the volcano to learn about the flora and fauna found at this altitude. Continue by car up the volcano to the parking lot, at over 4,500m/14,763 ft. Walk for an hour and a half to the refuge and after a short break, continue to the glacier (if the weather holds out). Return to Quito in the early evening. **Park entrance fee is not included and is split among the number of travellers in the group**
Mindo Cloud Forest - Full Day Trip
70-100USD per personDrive northwest for 2 hours, enjoy the dramatic change of vegetation heading down from the Andes into the cloud forest. Mindo is a tiny town set amidst some of the most beautiful and peaceful countryside in the entire country. It is a centre for both nature and adventure activities. Go walking through the cloud forest and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the different waterfalls, take time to ride up the cable car with amazing views. Visit a butterfly farm and see an array of colourful hummingbirds for which Mindo is renowned. In the afternoon, opt for an organic chocolate tour and tasting.
This trip takes roughly 9 hours departing at 7 am, and includes a guide, transport and lunch. Any activities upon arrival will be additional. **Check availability at destination because this tour does not have daily departures.
Quito City Tour & Equator Line
Enjoy a city tour of Quito. Visit the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with stops at the Basilica del Voto Nacional, La Compañia Church, San Francisco Square, Plaza Grande and the Panecillo, a towering statue of the virgin of Quito who looks out over a stunning view of the city. Drive 25km (16 mi) north of Quito to the Middle of the World, latitude 0º. Stand with one foot in each hemisphere.
Please note that this tour starts at 8 a.m. and ends around 5 p.m.