The most epic adventure is waiting for you!
July 1-9, 2023
¡VAMOS A Colombia!
Colombia is freaking magical and incredibly diverse…
If you’re a nature lover, Colombia needs to be on your list - there’s so much adventure waiting to happen!
You’ll experience the urban and hip vibes of Medellín, home of reggaeton and Comuna 13, and learn about the rich history of Pablo Escobar and the 1980’s drug trade depicted in Narcos. Then you’ll get dirty riding ATVs through the muddy mountain backroads and paraglide like birds over the landscapes of Cocorná. You’ll see the beautiful landscapes of Guatapé, visiting a coffee plantation and hiking piedra de peñol, a giant rock formation with over 700 steps that overlooks one of the most amazing views you’ll have in your life. And finally, you’ll visit the Andean town of Jardín and ride horses overlooking the fincas and coffee plantations, hike through the Andres mountains to a hidden waterfall in a cave, and immerse yourself in one of the most beautiful coffee regions in the world.
Colombia literally has it all, and I cannot wait to share this beautiful country with you!
Why Travel to Colombia With Me:
I am absolutely in love with Colombia, and I want you to experience this magical place for yourself.
It stole my heart for a reason when I first traveled there in 2020. Something always drew me to this hidden-gem of a country, but people thought I was insane for wanting to go there. Once I went, I understood why my intuition was pulling me there. Colombia is full of color, music, food and art at every turn. The Colombian people are some of the kindest you’ll ever meet in your life, and they are incredibly proud to share their country with travelers. And the diversity—from the Andes Mountains to the Amazon to the Caribbean coast, there’s so much adventure waiting to happen.
But besides all that…
You get to just show up.
That’s the whole point of doing this, right? You buy your flight and pack your own bags (don’t worry, I’ll give you a list!), but I handle almost everything else! My goal is to make travel as easy and seamless as possible so you can just enjoy your vacation!
I will prepare you for travel.
That means preparing you every step of the way and providing information on everything from purchasing flights, Covid requirements, visas, currency, weather and safety, to the more exciting things like what to wear and fun things to do in your free time.
You get built-in travel buddies.
No more waiting on other people for travel plans that never come to fruition. The dates are set, the itinerary is made, and I am ready to show you around!
I document everything for you.
Say goodbye to the days of crappy vacation pictures! I LOVE making people feel confident through photos, and you're guaranteed to go home with Insta-worthy photos of yourself that you’ll actually love because I am documenting your trip every step of the way. Check out some sample photos of past trip participants
I keep my groups small.
I prefer traveling with a small group (think 10-15 people max) who have time to really bond and get to know each other instead of getting lost in the crowd. I promise you’ll leave this trip with new friends you’ll have for life!
I believe in transformative and sustainable travel.
Travel truly changes you for the better. By immersing yourself in a culture, you’re likely going to leave a better person than when you arrived. You’ll meet locals, have authentic experiences, and give back to those in need so your tourism has a positive impact on this beautiful country.
We will come together as a group of strangers but leave as lifelong friends.
Nervous about coming alone? Don’t be! Most people who come on my trips are solo travelers just like you. You might show up alone, but we all leave with so many new friends!
ITINERARY
July 1-9, 2023
DAY 1: Medellín, Colombia
¡Bienvenidos a Colombia! You're gonna love it here!
After airport pickup, settle into your hotel room in Medellín
We'll walk as a group to our welcome dinner at a local restaurant (included)
DAY 2: Explore Comuna 13 in Medellín
Today we're going to explore Medellín and the amazing history of Comuna 13. Be camera ready, because there are TONS of photo ops on this graffiti tour! After our tour, you’ll have time to wander around Comuna 13 to shop and explore. The rest of afternoon and evening is yours, with the option of meeting up for dinner and going out in the nearby Poblado neighborhood.
Breakfast at hotel (included)
Guided Comuna 13 tour and cable car ride
Lunch on your own in Comuna 13
Free time in evening
DAY 3: Cocoa Farm Tour Outside Medellín
Today is all about CHOCOLATE! We're going to observe first-hand all the steps required to produce high-quality artisanal chocolate on a traditional Colombian family farm. After we return (late afternoon), the rest of the evening is yours to explore.
Breakfast at hotel (included)
Cocoa farm tour outside Medellín (lunch included)
Free time in evening
DAY 4: ATV and Paragliding in Medellín
Today is all about adventure! We're heading out of the city to go ATVing in the mountains and paragliding over the town of Cocorná. This one is gonna be EPIC! After we return, you have free time in the evening.
Breakfast at hotel (included)
ATV and paragliding tour (lunch included)
Free time in evening
DAY 5: Guatapé, Colombia
Guatapé is probably my favorite place in Colombia, and with good reason! It's absolutely gorgeous! This day is going to be jam-packed with adventure and sightseeing with beautiful views from the top of Peñol and visiting a coffee farm to see how coffee is produced by a local farmer. We’ll then check into our hotel on the lake, which has gorgeous views overlooking Guatapé.
Head to Guatapé (included breakfast stop on the way)
Coffee farm tour
Hike Peñol rock
Local Colombian lunch (included)
Guatapé city tour
Free time in evening
DAY 6: Jardín, Colombia
Today we're road-trippin' to Jardín, which is often nicknamed the most beautiful colonial town in Colombia. We'll spend the last moments of the morning in Guatapé, taking advantage of lounging around and stand up paddle boarding and kayaking on the lake. Upon checking into our hotel in Jardín (with the most AMAZING views, BTW), we'll have a private dinner party at our hotel.
Breakfast at hotel (included)
Free time in morning (Kayaks and SUPs available at hotel)
Travel to Jardín (approx 5 hours by car, lunch included)
Dinner at hotel (included)
Free time after dinner
DAY 7: Jardín, Colombia
Get ready for another adventure day! After breakfast, we'll go hiking through the Andes Mountains to a waterfall and swim in a cave. We’ll then head over to a local farm and have lunch with a farmer and his family, followed by riding horseback through the mountains overlooking the coffee region below. You'll have the evening to explore the quaint town of Jardín on your own.
Breakfast at hotel (included)
Waterfall excursion
Lunch at a local farm (included)
Horseback riding
Free time in evening
DAY 8: Return to Medellín
We're packing up early and heading back to Medellín for our last day. Once we check in to the hotel, you'll have the remainder of the day to explore. An optional tattoo session will be coordinated if you want to get a travel tattoo to commemorate the trip. Finally, we’ll meet for one last dinner to share our favorite trip moments and say our goodbyes.
Breakfast at hotel (included)
Return to Medellín (lunch on the way included)
Check into hotel (early afternoon arrival)
Optional group tattoo session
Group dinner in evening (included)
DAY 9: Adios Colombia!
Say goodbye to your new travel BFFs, cause it's time to head out! Catch your shuttle to the Medellín airport, and we'll see you on the next trip!
Breakfast on your own
Transfer to Medellín airport
“I can honestly say it was the best time of my life. The most memorable of any trip I’ve taken.
The itinerary was packed with adventure! Every single person in the group was awesome. I still keep in touch with some.
Thank you Laura! Can’t wait for the next one. I 100% recommend Laura’s group travels!”
- Ubaldo F.
What’s Included:
✓ Airport pickup and drop-off at Medellín Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (MDE) on official trip dates
✓ All activities and tours listed in the itinerary
✓ Local ground transportation to all listed activities with private driver in Mercedes Sprinter van
✓ 15 meals (7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 2 dinners)
✓ All accommodations
✓ Spanish/English guide on all tours
✓ Trip travel guide with everything you need to know regarding safety, currency, packing, and preparing for your trip
✓ Group orientation call via Zoom 1-2 weeks prior to trip
✓ On-site support from Laura before and during trip
✓ Recommendations for restaurants and activities during free exploration time
✓ Professional photos and videos of the entire trip (provided upon return)
NOT INCLUDED:
X International flight to Medellín airport. Details will be provided after you register.
X Travel insurance (optional, but highly encouraged)
X Meals not specified above (mainly during your free time to allow you to explore)
X Most alcohol
X Covid testing (As of September 2022, you must be vaccinated or have a negative covid test to enter Colombia, but you can check here for the most up to date information.)
X Gratuities for guide and driver (optional, but highly encouraged)
X Personal shopping
X Any extras not listed above
“I was blown away with the experience Laura meticulously crafted with her travel planning experience! Every detail was well communicated and there were no surprises, except the biggest surprise of all which was absolutely falling in love with group travel!
With Laura along the way documenting every moment I was able to enjoy myself.”
-Heather, Michigan
Ready to reserve your spot?
PAYMENT PLAN PRICE: $3,150
I offer a free payment plan, so you can spread the payment across 4 consecutive months. $500 deposit due at time of booking.
PAY IN FULL PRICE: $2,850
I offer a special $300 discount for anyone who pays in full, with a $500 deposit due at time of booking.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ADD-ON: +$400
Limited single rooms are available for an extra $400. If not selected, you’ll be paired with someone of the same gender based on compatibility.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need a different payment arrangement.
Want to check out flight prices?
You will be flying in and out of Medellin Airport (MDE).
Laura Ericson Group Trips is not responsible for any costs related to flights. You can use this tool to gauge flight prices, but please wait until you get an email from us approximately 3-4 months prior to your trip to book your flights to ensure you have all of the information needed for booking. We recommend always booking with the airline directly and not from an online travel agency (OTA) like Kayak, etc.