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The snow-capped Volcano Tolima rises above the rugged landscape and native frailejones plants in Los Nevados National Park under a clear blue sky.
Colombia

Colombia's Ecology and Natural History

Program No. 25694RJ
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
12 days
11 nights
What's Included
31 meals ( 11B, 10L, 10D )
2 expert-led lectures
19 expert-led field trips
5 hands-on experiences
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
11 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Evening:
At leisure to relax and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 25 miles, approximately 1.5 hours total riding time throughout the day. Walking up to 1.2 miles in city environment; mostly flat, paved surfaces, some steps. Sunscreen, hat, water bottle suggested. Elevation: ~3,300 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Orientation: 8:00 a.m. at the hotel. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from the Group Leader as well as local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Unless otherwise specified, transportation during your program will be provided by air-conditioned bus. Our buses do not include onboard toilets, so we have scheduled stops during drives for bathroom breaks. Meals on our program feature local cuisine. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Next, we will board our bus and head into the heart of Cali for an exploration of its historic areas. At times we will leave our bus and continue on foot as our Group Leader and a local expert reveal some of the city's cultural and architectural treasures including Calle del Sabor, Parque de los Gatos, Plaza Caicedo (or Cayzedo), and the Neo-Gothic Iglesia la Ermita.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant serving comida tipica.
Afternoon:
After lunch we will return to our bus and ride to an artisan community center to learn about macramé bracelet-making traditions and try our hand at weaving our own. More than a bohemian fad from the 1960s and 1970s, macramé is a longstanding tradition in Colombia that continues to be used as a finishing touch on garments, handcrafted jewelry, as well as tapestries and hammocks. Next, we will board the bus and make our way back to the hotel for some downtime before we meet up for an expert-led presentation on the development of ornithological studies in Colombia and its effects on local conservation efforts.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Get a good night's rest in preparation for next day's early-morning birding activities.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 50 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking up to 1/2 mile on uneven terrain. Sunscreen, hat, water bottle, binoculars suggested. Elevation range: ~3,300 to 7,000 feet.
Breakfast:
At La Florida Bosque de las Aves.
Morning:
Early at the hotel, we will grab a coffee/tea to-go, then we'll climb aboard the bus and ride to La Florida Bosque de las Aves (~6,561 feet) reserve. Our field trip will give us insights into the transformation of a privately-owned finca into a sustainable conservation project that attracts birders, photographers, and nature lovers from around the world. Once we arrive at La Florida we will disembark and head to the dining area to have breakfast while enjoying scenic views of the gardens. Then, we'll accompany our Group Leader and a member of the staff on an exploratory walk along well-maintained paths to observe vibrantly colored tanagers, hummingbirds, and more at the feeders and gardens. Just after dawn, birds begin to emerge from their roosts in search of food. This peak time in activity and birdsong makes it easier for us to locate and observe species that tend to remain hidden in the understory during the day.
Lunch:
At La Florida Bosque de las Aves, family-style. Most of the food served at La Florida is locally sourced.
Afternoon:
We will board the bus and ride back to Cali and freshen up at the hotel before heading out for our next activity. Then we will board the bus and ride to Cali’s San Antonio neighborhood in preparation for our field trip to La Linterna (The Torch) printing press. We will accompany our Group Leader on a walk through the working facility to learn about the traditional techniques used in this important graphic art tradition. La Linterna remains true to its roots, producing posters for festivals, political functions, and cultural events using traditional methods and machinery. Their poster collections on display offer a window into the city's cultural identity and evolving history. Next, we will walk about a block to a local restaurant for an introduction to marimba music. Enslaved Africans brought the marimba tradition to Colombia during the 16th century and it slowly gained popularity along the Southern Pacific region. The instruments were fashioned from easy-to-find materials such as native chonta palms and bamboo. The "marimba de chomba," as it became known, is a treasured part of Afro-Colombian culture.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for checkout and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 86 miles, approximately 3.5 hours total riding time. Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; intermittent walking and standing, some uneven terrain, paved and unpaved paths. Hat, sunscreen, repellent, water bottle suggested. Elevation range: ~3,300 to 4,900 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After check out, we will climb aboard the bus and begin our transfer to Calima. En route we will stop at the Madhu Nature Reserve to learn about Andean forests and discover some of the environmental research and conservation projects taking place at the reserve. After we disembark, we will accompany the owner on an informative walk through the gardens near the farmhouse as we learn about the Mejía family’s journey into land stewardship while viewing native plants,—including a wide variety of orchids—bees, and hummingbirds. The reserve’s ultimate goal is to create a biological corridor connecting the Andean paramo ecosystem of Las Dominguez with the Cauca Valley. Most of the lush forests seen today at Madhu Nature Reserve were once depleted farmlands and pastures. Sitting areas near the gardens provide options for those who wish to quietly observe nature.
Lunch:
At Madhu Nature Reserve, family-style.
Afternoon:
We will return to the bus and continue our transfer to Calima. Around El Cerrito we will stop at the Museo de la Caña de Azucar (Sugarcane Museum) to learn about the history of sugar cane farming and artisanal sugar production in the Valle del Cauca. After we step off the bus, we will accompany a museum representative on a walking exploration of the historic hacienda’s trapiches (sugar mills) to familiarize ourselves with traditional methods of growing and processing sugar cane before the arrival of new technology in the 20th century reshaped production into large-scale industrial models. Next, we'll board the bus and transfer to Calima. We will check in at our hotel and get room assignments.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of bus; driving about 26 miles, approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. Walking less than 1 mile on flat paved surfaces, some steps; restrooms and sitting areas at the museum. Elevation: ~4,900 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast we will board the bus and begin our scenic drive along the northeastern edges of the lake on the way to Calima town and its archaeological museum. Our field trip will focus on the indigenous people of the Cauca Valley that inhabited the region thousands of years before the arrival of the Spanish. We'll disembark at the museum gate and walk up the paved garden path to the main building in order to meet the museum representative who will lead us through the various exhibits. During our visit, we will view artifacts from the Ilama, Yotoco, Sonso, and Malagana peoples that will help us understand how altitudinal variations and environments shaped indigenous life. The small museum has an outstanding pottery collection including many pitchers and jars exhibiting human, animal, or fruit characteristics. Next, we will reboard the bus and ride to a local home in preparation for a hands-on, pottery lesson with the owner. We will use clay collected from the lakeshore to fashion traditional zoomorphic or anthropomorphic vessels similar to those we saw at the museum. Concluding our pottery activity we'll board the bus and head back to our hotel, arriving in time for lunch.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
We will have a little bit of down time after lunch to rest or freshen up before meeting again for a hands-on cooking lesson at the hotel. A hotel cook will lead us through the various steps of preparing and baking traditional Colombian pandebono. We will wrap up our culinary experience by sampling the savory treats the way the locals do--still warm from the oven! Pandebono is a cheesy bread--similar to Brazilian pão de queijo--made with yuca and corn flours, one or two types of cheese, and an egg. After blending all ingredients, the dough is broken off into small portions and rolled into balls that are baked in a hot oven until they turn golden. The bite-sized bread pairs well with coffee or hot chocolate and is often eaten at breakfast or as an afternoon snack.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 35 miles, approximately 2 hours total riding time. Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; undulating trails/paths on farmed land; city walking on mostly flat, paved terrain, some steps. Sunscreen, water bottle, sunglasses, hat, repellent recommended. Elevation range: ~3,200 to 4,900 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast we will accompany our Group Leader and a member of the hotel staff on a walking field trip through the lodge's farmed plots and nature reserve to learn about the owners' reforestation efforts and regenerative farming used to grow food for its restaurant. Next, we will board our bus and ride to Guadalajara de Buga in preparation for a walking and driving orientation of its downtown area led by our Group Leader. The charming 16th century town has an interesting history and a well-preserved colonial center with numerous churches and tree-lined squares where locals like to socialize. We will disembark near the pink-colored Basilica Señor de los Milagres (Basilica of the Lord of Miracles) and walk inside to learn about the building and, more importantly, the spiritual significance of its charred carving of a crucified Christ to Colombian Catholics. The “Black Christ” is credited with a long list of miracles, including accounts of how it was found floating in the Guadalajara River and grew overnight from a small crucifix into a 4.5-foot statue. Every September, thousands of pilgrims make their way to Buga to pay their respects to the Lord of Mysteries and celebrate the anniversary of his discovery (circa 1573).
Lunch:
At a restaurant in Buga town.
Afternoon:
We will reboard the bus and return to our hotel. When we arrive we will have some downtime to relax and enjoy hotel amenities. Later, we will regroup for a pre-dinner presentation by one of the lodge owners on the history of La Huerta and its ongoing conservation efforts.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare luggage for a morning checkout.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a bus; driving about 140 miles, approximately 4.5 hours total riding time. Walking up to 1 mile on mostly flat terrain, paved and unpaved paths. Sunscreen, water bottle, sunglasses, hat, repellent recommended. Elevation range: ~3,300 to 4,900 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Once we complete our checkout and the bus is packed, we will settle into our seats and begin our transfer to Chinchina. We will break up our journey with an en route field trip to La Uva National Park, located in the Cauca Valley. Upon disembarkation we’ll join a park representative for a short walk in the vineyard near the main building. We will walk among the vines to examine different grape varieties and learn about adaptive techniques used to effectively produce grapes in this part of Colombia. Next, we'll board a tractor-pulled tram that will shuttle us to different areas of the park so we can accompany our park expert on short exploratory walks. Then we'll hop back onboard the tram and ride to our next site. At the wine processing section we will learn about the stages of converting grape juice into wine, from pressing and fermentation to aging and blending. Our visits will include a stop at the park's agave plantation to observe the variety of hummingbirds that come to feed off the nectar-rich flowers. If we’re lucky, we might catch a glimpse of the fiery colored Ruby-topaz!
Lunch:
At la Uva National Park's restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will return to the bus and continue our transfer to Chinchina, about 15 miles outside Manizales. Once we arrive to the lodge we will check in and settle into our rooms. We'll have a bit of downtime to relax and enjoy the gardens before dinner.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 60 miles, approximately 2.5 hours total riding time. Walking up to 1.2 miles on unpaved, undulating trails, moderate inclines. Sunscreen, repellent, water bottle, binoculars, rain poncho suggested. Elevation range: ~3,937 to 4,700 feet.
Breakfast:
At the lodge.
Morning:
We will board the bus and begin our scenic ride through the hilly landscapes of the coffee region on our way to Finca La Romelia. Once we arrive to the family-owned farm, we will disembark and accompany a member of the Londoño family on a walking exploration of the main house. We'll learn about the history of the estate while we do a bit of birdwatching at the feeders and examine the incredible collection of orchids growing in and around the farm house. Next, we'll board 4x4 vehicles to view other parts of the property devoted to agriculture and enjoy a bit of birdwatching as we learn about the farm’s citrus groves and local farming practices.
Lunch:
At Finca Romelia, family style.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will return to the bus and drive back to our lodge. We'll have a bit of downtime to freshen up before we meet again at the lodge's feeders for some afternoon birding with our Group Leader. Sitting areas provide many viewing options for those who would like to take a break from being on their feet. Before dinner we'll attend an informal presentation by our Group Leader on the history of Tinamu and its transformation from farm to nature reserve.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a bus; driving about 40 miles, approximately 2 hours total riding time. Walking up to 1.5 miles throughout the day on mostly flat terrain, paved/unpaved paths, city walking. Elevation range: ~3,937 to 7,090 feet.
Breakfast:
At the lodge.
Morning:
Once we climb aboard the bus and take our seats, we'll begin our journey to Hacienda Venecia. We will disembark at the main house, then accompany a staff member on a walk through different areas of the property while learning about the many stages of growing, harvesting, and processing coffee. A cupping session will reveal the method used by industry professionals to taste and evaluate the quality of each roast.
Lunch:
At the hacienda, meal prepared with locally-sourced ingredients.
Afternoon:
We'll reboard the bus and ride to nearby Manizales, capital of Caldas department, . Our orientation to downtown Manizales will be led by our Group Leader as we intermittently walk and ride to view and learn about some of its principal sites including Calle del Tango, Plaza Bolivar, and the Catedral Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Rosario. Next, we'll board our bus and bid farewell to Manizales as we begin our ride back to the lodge.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare luggage for a morning checkout.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 90 miles, approximately 3 hours total riding time. Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; mostly flat terrain, paved and unpaved paths. Sunscreen, water bottle, sunglasses, hat, repellent recommended. Elevation range: ~3,937 to 6,000 feet.
Breakfast:
At the lodge.
Morning:
We'll complete checkout procedures then board the bus to commence our transfer to Pereira. During our journey we will stop at Risaralda and pay a visit to a local farm that converted much of its property into a "biopark," that offers interactive activities centered on natural history education including hiking, birding, and learning about butterflies at their mariposario (butterfly farm). We'll leave the bus and accompany a farm representative on a walk along garden paths to reach an enclosed butterfly garden where we will be able to see these graceful insects in their adult phase as they flit about freely between flowering plants, mate, and eventually lay eggs on specific host plants. Our walk will also take us through the breeding center where the real magic takes place. We'll get a refresher course on the four major stages of butterfly development as we look at caterpillars, chrysalis, and newborn butterflies. Colombia's famed biodiversity also extends to butterflies. More than 3,000 species have been recorded in the country, including a few hundred endemics.
Lunch:
At the butterfly farm.
Afternoon:
We'll return to the bus and continue our transfer to Pereira. Before arriving to our hotel we will make a stop at a local hacienda for a tasty introduction to chocolate. We will accompany a local expert on a brief walk through a cacao plantation to learn about the origins of cacao, the different varieties being cultivated locally, and what a pod looks like on the inside. As we follow the fermentation, drying, and roasting stages, we will find out how these steps affect the flavor of the final product. Our walk will conclude at the farmhouse with a hands-on lesson on how to create our own artisanal chocolate bar. Next, we will reboard the bus and continue our transfer to the hotel. Once we disembark and complete check-in procedures, we'll have a bit of time to settle into our rooms and freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 60 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking up to 1.5 miles throughout the day; mostly flat, paved surfaces, sidewalks, cobblestones, some steps. Elevation range: ~4,629 to 6,300 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast, we will climb aboard the bus and ride to Filandia, a charming town with well-preserved colonial architecture, eclectic shops, and farm-to-table restaurants. The community is also known for its strong basket weaving traditions, or "cestería," originally focused on making the baskets utilized by farmers during the coffee harvest. We will walk and ride around Filandia accompanied by a local expert who will provide historical context to the city’s layout and architecture as we observe residents going about their daily routines. We’ll explore the downtown area’s streets lined with vibrantly adorned buildings and second-story balconies including the main plaza and the Iglesia Maria Inmaculada. Then we will continue to an artisan workshop to learn about the cultural and economic importance of basket weaving in this community during a hands-on session where we will create simple baskets using traditional techniques. This craft was once dominated by men and the knowledge within families was passed from father to son. But as coffee growers began swapping their baskets for less expensive plastic options and farmwork became less appealing to younger generations, the centuries-old knowledge was at risk of being forgotten. Fortunately, a resurgence of interest among local artisans and international art circles is helping to preserve this important cultural tradition.
Lunch:
At a restaurant in Filandia, serving dishes prepared with locally-sourced ingredients.
Afternoon:
Next, we will return to the bus and ride to Pereira. En route to our hotel we will accompany our Group Leader on an orientation to the city. We will learn about the history and architecture of Pereira as we ride and walk to view and explore the main plaza, the cathedral and the city's iconic viaduct.
Dinner:
At the hotel, with a folkloric dance presentation. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Finish your packing and get a good night's rest for checkout and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Participants with independent travel arrangements and/or scheduled on later flights can keep their hotel rooms until check-out time on this day. Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel (dependent on flight times). This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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