This program represents an opportunity to see several diverse facets of Colombian culture and society. We were pleased with the warm welcome we got from locals in every location we visited.

Overall, the program was well-designed. Food and lodging were generally high-caliber. The local guides and guest lecturers each added value to the program, although some were better than others. Field trips and excursions added greatly to the quality of the experience. However, a couple of the people in our group found the amount of walking, as well as the 8000-foot altitude in Bogotá, challenging.

Our group leader (Alex) was excellent. He communicated well, he was very knowledgeable about every location we visited, and he handled problems effectively and smoothly.

The hotels in Bogotá, Manizales and Cartagena were all in very good locations, and the staff at each of these properties was helpful and friendly. The hotel in Medellin was in a somewhat noisy part of town, so it was less appealing than the other properties.

To us, one very important aspect of this program was that in addition to visiting some of the country's major tourist attractions, it also showed us how real people live in Colombia. We visited a children's feeding program in Manizales, a school in a poor section of Cartagena, and a huge food market in Bogotá. All of these "off-the-beaten-path" excursions were very valuable.

We've posted a full report on our experience at http://tomandmarcia.blogspot.com/2012/02/january-2012-colombia.html.