Day Trips

Silvia Market

& Mizak Indigenous Community

High up in the central Andean range, the village of Silvia comes alive on Tuesdays when farmers from the indigenous communities throughout the region come together to trade produce and socialize.

​

Made up mainly by the various Misak communities with their colourful traditional dress, preserved native language and community traditions, this is a great chance to visit an authentic market town, try some of the fresh produce and soak up the atmosphere. We leave Popayan at 8am and return around 2pm allowing plenty of time to look around the market, the village itself and buy lunch if you like.

​

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to visit this fascinating cultural highlight with a local indigenous guide who will provide you with an insight into local tradition and culture.
  
2020 Prices:
1 person: $170 USD
2 people: $180 USD
3 people: $190 USD
4 people: $200 USD
5 people: $210 USD
6 people: $220 USD
6+ people: Contact us for a quote!
 
Includes
Return transport, local indigenous guide and optional translator, entrance fees insurance
 
Doesn't include
Food or drinks
 
Recommendations
Bring: warm clothes, waterproof jacket, clothes and shoes suitable for walking, sun protection, money for lunch or packed lunch

Purace National Park

Discover the beauty of the Paramo

This day trip takes in the highlights of the Puracé National Park and the Puracé Indigenous reserve. We leave Popayan at 8am and drive through the lush Andean landscape surrounding Popayan, up into the lower slopes of Puracé volcano. Here we visit the Piedra del Condor where our local guide places meat on the rock to allow us (with a bit of luck!) to see the magnificent Andean Condor close up. We then continue by car to other sites of natural beauty within the reserve such as the Bedon waterfall, The San Juan thermals with their geysers and coloured mosses and the paramo area with it´s unique vegetation and surrounding landscape. 

​

There is an optional, short hike that you can take along foot trails through the community farmlands to the administration building at Puente Tierra. There is a small, rustic restaurant here and a short walking trail with examples of the Andean orchid varieties. We return to Popayan around 4pm.
  
2020 Prices:
1 person: $190 USD
2 people: $200 USD
3 people: $220 USD
4 people: $240 USD
5 people: $260 USD
6 people: $280 USD
6+ people: Contact us for a quote!
 
Includes
Return transport, entrances fees, local guide fee, insurance.
 
Doesn't include
Food or drinks
 
Recommendations
Bring: warm clothes, waterproof jacket, clothes and shoes suitable for walking, sun protection, money for lunch or packed lunch

San Agustin Day Trip

Colombia's Archaeological Gem

With over 500 statues scattered throughout the local area left by pre-Colombian cultures dating back 5000 years, this UNESCO world heritage site draws the curiosity of visitors from around the world. 

​

Set amongst rolling, coffee planted hills just outside the farming village of San Agustin, the Parque Arqueologico is considered one Colombia's most important archaeological sites. We leave Popayan at 7am and cross the central Andean range to arrive in San Agustin at approximately 11.30am. The museum and park are well laid out and informative, with some bilingual (English/Spanish) signs and clearly marked paths. Generally it takes around 3-4 hours to visit the park after which we continue by car to one of the secondary sites, Alto de los Idolos and a view point where we can see the impressive Salto de Mortiño waterfall. After the bumpy drive back over the Central Andean range, we arrive in Popayan at around 8pm.

​

This destination is special and there are many secondary attractions to visit in the area and nice hotels to spend the night. We recommend spending at least a couple of days here as the journey is long and somewhat uncomfortable. However we also understand that vacations are never long enough! This day trip is designed for those who are short of time but don't want to miss out on this unforgettable destination.
  
2020 Day trip price 
1-4 people: $220 USD (local driver)
1-4 people: $260 USD (bilingual driver)
4+ people: Contact us for a quote!

​

2020 Next day return price
1-4 people: $285 USD (local driver)
1-4 people: $350 USD (bilingual driver)
4+ people: Contact us for a quote!

 
Includes
Return Transport, Insurance
 
Doesn't include
Food or drinks, entrance fees, local guiding
 
Recommendations
Bring: warm clothes, waterproof jacket, clothes and shoes suitable for walking, sun protection, money for entrance fees and local guiding, lunch or packed lunch

Tierradentro Day Trip

Underground Burial Chambers

The UNESCO World Heritage site of Tierradentro is one of Colombia's forgotten treasures! Access roads are in famously poor condition and this has preserved this intriguing archaeological site, the traditional farming villages and the spectacular untouched wilderness that surrounds the series of pre-Colombian burial tombs that make up Tierradentro. 

​

With dramatic canyons and spectacular mountain passes, this trip remains something of an adventure and rewards visitors with an intimate experience connecting with nature and history - without the crowds. We leave Popayan at 7am and after crossing the central Andean range; arrive at the Parque Arqueologico at around 11.30am. The museum is quite basic and the sites are spread out meaning that some hiking is involved to get between the tombs and statues. This hike takes you to the village of San Andres where you can enjoy a traditional lunch before continuing to another site and then returning to Popayan in the afternoon, generally around 8pm.

​

This destination is unique and there are many secondary attractions to visit in the area and traditional lodgings to spend the night. We recommend spending at least a couple of days here as the journey is long and somewhat uncomfortable. However we also understand that vacations are never long enough! This day trip is designed for those who are short of time but don´t want to miss out on this unforgettable destination.
  
2020 Day trip price 
1-4 people: $220 USD (local driver)
1-4 people: $260 USD (bilingual driver)
4+ people: Contact us for a quote!

2020 Next day return price
1-4 people: $285 USD (local driver)
1-4 people: $350 USD (bilingual driver)
4+ people: Contact us for a quote!
 
Includes
Return Transport, Insurance
 
Doesn't include
Food or drinks, entrance fees, local guiding
 
Recommendations
Bring: warm clothes, waterproof jacket, clothes and shoes suitable for walking, sun protection, money for entrance fees, local guiding and lunch or packed lunch

Salinas & Pozo Azul

Thermal springs & Hiking

Enjoy a short hike and a swim in the remote, natural thermal pools in the mountains of the Kokonuko indigenous reserve. Backing onto the Puracé volcano, this area has beautiful Andean scenery and offers the chance to get an insight into small scale farm life in rural Colombia.  

Part of a community project run by the local indigenous population, the pools at Salinas are rustic and peaceful thanks to their remote setting, there are basic changing rooms and toilets and a local guide will show you around. Further uphill at Pozo azul, there is little infrastructure but the naturally formed pools at the base of a series of small waterfalls fed from the thermal springs, lets you get in touch with nature and enjoy this special and natural experience. 

Leaving Popayan at 8am, it takes about an hour to reach the pools and the start of the hike. Generally we arrive back in Popayan around 4pm.

2020 Price 
2 pax: $150 USD
(+ $20 USD per extra person.)

Includes
Transport and support vehicle, entrances fees, local guide fee, insurance.

Doesn't include
Food or drinks

Recommendations
Bring: warm clothes, waterproof jacket, clothes and shoes suitable for cycling, sun protection, money for lunch or packed lunch

Fedar Coffee Experience

Coffee farm & local school

For a great example of how coffee can be used for social change, Fedar is an independent school for children with special learning needs which is partially financed through the sale of export grade coffee.  

Fedar ensures that the school has a sustainable, economic future and can continue to offer alternative education to children and young adults from families who otherwise may not have had the means to access specialized education. Based on a working coffee farm, the school welcomes visitors to see the coffee process and to share in their learning experience.
  
Price 2020
1 pax: $10 USD
(+ $10 USD per extra person. Up to 15 people)
 
Includes
Transport, guided tour of the farm and school, lunch in school canteen
  
Recommendations
Bring: waterproof jacket, clothes and shoes suitable for walking, sun protection.

La Venta Estate Coffee

Daily Specialty Coffee Tour

Guided visit to the JANEIRO farm, a family coffee farm located in the village of La Venta de Cajibio where you can experience the harvest and production of specialty coffee from the bean to a delicious beveridge. This is a great opportunity to learn about the work and care needed to produce a specialty coffee. 
  
Price 2020
2 pax: $40 USD
(+ $15 USD per extra person. Up to 15 people)
 
Includes
Guided tour of the ecological trail “La Lajita”, hike on farm land of different varieties of coffee and guide of the processes that benefit the coffee products. Snacks from the region with fresh coffee from the farm or basic coffee cupping session (+$10,000 Pesos per participant. This activity is organized according to the group size).
 
Doesn't include
private transport
 
Recommendations
Bring: waterproof jacket, clothes and shoes suitable for walking, sun protection, money for transport
 
Transport
For public transportation we recommended taking route 9 of transpubenza for 2.000 pesos or a cab/Uber for about 20.000 pesos (one way). Private transportation is 50.000 pesos for two people and 10.000 pesos for each additional person (up to 4 people per car). Additional cars are the same price.