School Trips to ColombiaBogotá, Medellín & Cartagena
School trips to Colombia are educational group tours that introduce students to the country's colonial history, its cities' urban change, and the river communities of the Amazon.
Programs are priced between $1,995 and $2,800 per student, excluding international airfare, on itineraries of 7 to 10 days.
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Colombia School Travel Itineraries
The three Colombia school travel itineraries are History, Cities and the Caribbean, Resources, Art and Urban Change, and River, Forest and Community. History, Cities and the Caribbean starts at $2,800 for 10 days, Resources, Art and Urban Change starts at $1,995 for 7 days, and River, Forest and Community starts at $2,500 for 8 days.
Compare the three itineraries side by side
| Itinerary | Colombia: History, Cities and the Caribbean | Bogotá and Medellín: Resources, Art and Urban Change | Colombia's Amazon: River, Forest and Community |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 10 days | 7 days | 8 days |
| Starting price | From $2,800 | From $1,995 | From $2,500 |
| Learning focus | History · Geography · Urban studies | Geography · History · Economics | Biology · Geography · Cultural studies |
| Route | Bogotá · La Candelaria · Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral · Medellín · Comuna 13 · Cartagena · San Felipe Castle · Getsemaní | Bogotá · La Candelaria · Coffee farm · Medellín · Casa de la Memoria · Comuna 13 · Guatapé | Bogotá · Leticia · Puerto Nariño · Natutama |
| Overnight bases | Hotel in Bogotá (3) · Hotel in Medellín (3) · Hotel in Cartagena (3) · In transit (1) | Hotel in Bogotá (3) · Hotel in Medellín (3) · In transit (1) | Airport-area hotel, Bogotá (1) · Hotel in Leticia (1) · Hotel in Puerto Nariño (3) · Hotel in Leticia (1) · Hotel in Bogotá (1) · In transit (1) |
| Physical profile | 4 low · 6 moderate | 3 low · 4 moderate | 4 low · 4 moderate |
| On-program flights | Domestic flights connect Bogotá to Medellín and Medellín to Cartagena; routing is confirmed for the travel dates. | One domestic flight connects Bogotá to Medellín; routing is confirmed for the travel dates. | Domestic flights connect Bogotá to Leticia and Leticia back to Bogotá; routing is confirmed for the travel dates. |
| What the route covers | A first Colombia trip with substantial cultural breadth | Schools with one week and a tighter budget | Biology and environmental-science groups comfortable with heat, humidity, boats and simpler accommodation |
| Best for | Best for a department that wants a first Colombia trip with real breadth: Bogotá's history, Medellín's changing neighborhoods, and Cartagena's Caribbean port, three full nights in each city. | Best for a school with one week and a tighter budget: Colombia's resource economy traced from a coffee farm outside Bogotá to the history, art and infrastructure of two major cities. | Best for a biology or environmental-science department comfortable with heat, humidity, boats and simpler accommodation: seasonal water, forest habitat and community knowledge along the Colombian Amazon. |
- Bogotá and Zipaquirá · Nights one to three in Bogotá; La Candelaria, the Gold Museum and a day trip to the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral, about 50 km north
- Medellín · Nights four to six; the Metro and Metrocable, Comuna 13, Casa de la Memoria
- Cartagena · Nights seven to nine; San Felipe Castle, the Walled City and Getsemaní
- Bogotá · Nights one to three; La Candelaria, the Gold Museum and a coffee-farm day trip
- Medellín and Guatapé · Nights four to six in Medellín; Casa de la Memoria, Comuna 13, and a day trip to Guatapé, about 60 km east, for the reservoir landscape and the town
- Bogotá · Arrival and departure nights; no city sightseeing on this route
- Leticia and Puerto Nariño · One night each way in Leticia, the river's transport and trade hub; three nights about 75 km upriver in Puerto Nariño for Natutama, the forest trail and river or lake observation.
Colombia · Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena
10 days · From $2,800
Colombia: History, Cities and the Caribbean
Ten days and nine nights on the ground, with international flights outside the day count. Students spend three nights each in Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena, reading how Colombia's history appears in the capital, in Medellín's changing neighborhoods, and in Cartagena's fortified Caribbean port.
Choose this programThe route connects Bogotá, La Candelaria, Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral, Medellín, Comuna 13, Cartagena, San Felipe Castle, and Getsemaní.
- Hotel in Bogotá3 nights
- Hotel in Medellín3 nights
- Hotel in Cartagena3 nights
- Flight home1 night
Your ten-day itinerary
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Day 1
Settle into Bogotá
The group lands in Bogotá, meets the Program Leader and transfers to the hotel to settle in, with a short neighborhood orientation if the arrival timing allows before a welcome dinner introduces the route.
MorningArrive and meet the Program Leader.AfternoonHotel transfer, rest, and a short neighborhood orientation if timing permits.EveningWelcome dinner and an introduction to the ten days ahead.- Route
- Bogotá Airport to the hotel, then a short walk nearby if timing allows.
- Travel
- Private vehicle and light walking.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Bogotá; the base for the first three nights.
- Meals
- Dinner. Earlier meals depend on the arrival flight.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; the arrival day stays gentle at Bogotá's elevation.
- Learning outcome
- Students locate the three cities on the route and identify questions about their different roles.
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Day 2
Read the capital
A guided walk through La Candelaria takes in the public squares and government buildings that read the capital's history, then the Gold Museum sets a focused object-study exercise before dinner turns to how museums interpret pre-Hispanic societies.
MorningGuided La Candelaria walk, concentrating on public squares, government buildings and historical interpretation.AfternoonGold Museum visit with a focused object-study exercise.EveningDinner and a discussion of how museums interpret pre-Hispanic societies.- Route
- La Candelaria on foot, then the Gold Museum by local transfer.
- Travel
- Local transfers and moderate walking.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Bogotá, the same rooms as the night before.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; a full day on foot and in museums.
- Learning outcome
- Students distinguish an object's physical evidence from its interpretation.
- Customization
- The Gold Museum closes Mondays; days 2 and 3 exchange when a group's dates land on one.
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Day 3
Salt and land use
The coach travels north to Zipaquirá for the Salt Cathedral carved into the mine, then lunch and a short town walk before returning to Bogotá, where dinner sets an exercise tracing how a mineral resource becomes a religious and tourism destination.
MorningTravel to Zipaquirá and visit the Salt Cathedral.AfternoonLunch, a short town walk, and the return to Bogotá with time to rest.EveningDinner and an exercise tracing how a mineral resource becomes a religious and tourism destination.- Route
- Bogotá to Zipaquirá and back.
- Travel
- Coach both ways; a full excursion day.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Bogotá, the last night before flying to Medellín.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; underground walking on gradual, well-lit paths.
- Learning outcome
- Students explain how one site can acquire different economic and cultural uses.
- Customization
- No additional Guatavita or Monserrate excursion is added to this day.
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Day 4
Arrive in Medellín
An airport transfer and a short flight carry the group from the capital into the valley city, where a brief orientation and dinner introduce how Medellín's setting shaped its growth.
MorningAirport transfer and the flight to Medellín.AfternoonTransfer into the city, check in, and a short orientation.EveningDinner and an introduction to Medellín's geography.- Route
- Bogotá to Medellín by domestic flight, then the hotel.
- Travel
- Flight and private transfers, confirmed for the travel dates.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Medellín; the base for the next three nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; a travel day.
- Learning outcome
- Students describe how the valley setting influences urban development.
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Day 5
Transport and neighborhood change
A guided Metro and Metrocable journey examines how the cable-car system changed access across the valley, and a separately arranged, locally led Comuna 13 visit leaves room for questions about tourism and neighborhood change, before dinner compares different explanations of the improvement.
MorningA guided Metro and Metrocable journey examining access and movement through the city.AfternoonA separately arranged, locally led Comuna 13 visit, with time for questions about tourism and neighborhood change.EveningDinner and a comparison of different explanations of urban improvement.- Route
- The Metro and Metrocable system, then a separate Comuna 13 visit with a local guide.
- Travel
- Private transfers, public transport and walking.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Medellín, the same rooms as the night before.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; slopes and steps in Comuna 13.
- Learning outcome
- Students assess urban change using residents' accounts alongside the visible infrastructure.
- Customization
- These run as two separate, sequential visits: the cable car ride, then a locally led walk through Comuna 13 itself.
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Day 6
Whose history is told
A prebooked visit to Museo Casa de la Memoria is followed by a guided art-and-public-space walk and time to process what the museum raised, before a facilitated evening discussion appropriate to the students' ages.
MorningPrebooked visit to Museo Casa de la Memoria.AfternoonA guided art-and-public-space walk, followed by time to process the museum visit.EveningDinner and a facilitated discussion appropriate to the students' ages, framed by one question from today: whose account of the conflict felt most present, and what would change if you sat alongside that person rather than reading about them? Program Leaders hold the space and do not grade or correct.- Route
- Museo Casa de la Memoria, then a public-art walk nearby.
- Travel
- Local transfers and light to moderate walking.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Medellín, the last night before flying to Cartagena.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Light to moderate effort.
- Learning outcome
- Students compare their first reaction to a moment today with their later thought about it, and identify which account moved them from one to the other.
- Customization
- Group visits are booked against the museum's own availability.
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Day 7
Reach the Caribbean
A flight carries the group from the valley to the coast, and after a hotel transfer and rest, dinner introduces the port setting the next two days will examine.
MorningFly to Cartagena.AfternoonHotel transfer and rest, with a brief orientation later once conditions are comfortable.EveningDinner and an introduction to the city's port setting.- Route
- Medellín to Cartagena by domestic flight, then the hotel.
- Travel
- Flight and private transfers, confirmed for the travel dates.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Cartagena; the base for the last three nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; a travel day.
- Learning outcome
- Students identify questions about how coastal and inland cities differ.
- Customization
- No ticketed visit is scheduled that depends on flight timing.
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Day 8
The fortified port
An early guided visit to San Felipe Castle is followed, after lunch and a substantial break, by a compact section of the Walled City, where trade, slavery and colonial power are part of the interpretation; dinner compares the port city with the capital.
MorningEarly guided visit to San Felipe Castle.AfternoonAfter lunch and a substantial break, a compact section of the Walled City, with trade, slavery and colonial power part of the interpretation.EveningDinner and a comparison of the port city with the Andean capital three days behind them.- Route
- San Felipe Castle, then a walk through the Walled City.
- Travel
- Local transfers and moderate walking on slopes and uneven surfaces.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Cartagena, the same rooms as the night before.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; outdoor touring is scheduled away from the hottest hours.
- Learning outcome
- Students connect fortifications and urban wealth to wider historical systems.
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Day 9
Heritage and contemporary life
A guided Getsemaní walk looks at changing neighborhood uses and tourism, a prebooked cooking workshop with a local provider fills the afternoon, and a farewell dinner closes with student presentations.
MorningGuided Getsemaní walk focused on changing neighborhood uses and tourism.AfternoonA prebooked cooking workshop with a local provider, followed by presentation preparation.EveningFarewell dinner and student presentations.- Route
- Getsemaní on foot, then the cooking workshop.
- Travel
- Local transfers and light to moderate walking.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Cartagena, the last night on the ground.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Light to moderate effort.
- Learning outcome
- Students explain how heritage can create both opportunities and pressures for residents.
- Customization
- The workshop supplier and group capacity are confirmed for the group's dates.
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Day 10
Complete the comparison
A final breakfast and reflection lead into the airport transfer, with departure timed to the group's flight.
MorningBreakfast and final reflection.AfternoonAirport transfer and departure, adjusted to flight timing.EveningOnward travel.- Route
- Hotel to Cartagena Airport.
- Travel
- Private transfer; light effort.
- Overnight
- None; the group flies home.
- Meals
- Breakfast. Later meals depend on the departure flight.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; a travel day.
- Learning outcome
- Students support a comparison of the three cities with specific observations.
Colombia · Two cities, resources and urban change
7 days · From $1,995
Bogotá and Medellín: Resources, Art and Urban Change
Seven days and six nights on the ground, with international flights outside the day count. Students spend three nights each in Bogotá and Medellín, connecting Colombia's resource economy with the history, art and infrastructure of both cities.
Choose this programThe route connects Bogotá, La Candelaria, Coffee farm, Medellín, Casa de la Memoria, Comuna 13, and Guatapé.
- Hotel in Bogotá3 nights
- Hotel in Medellín3 nights
- Flight home1 night
Your seven-day itinerary
-
Day 1
Begin in Bogotá
The group meets the Program Leader, transfers to the hotel and settles in, with a welcome dinner introducing the week's questions.
MorningArrive and meet the Program Leader.AfternoonTransfer, settle in and rest.EveningWelcome dinner and an introduction to the week's questions.- Route
- Bogotá Airport to the hotel.
- Travel
- Private vehicle; light effort.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Bogotá; the base for the first three nights.
- Meals
- Dinner. Earlier meals depend on the arrival flight.
- Physical demand
- Low effort.
- Learning outcome
- Students establish a question about resources or city life to carry through the week.
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Day 2
The capital at a manageable pace
A guided walk through La Candelaria and Plaza Bolívar sets up a Gold Museum visit built around a small-group object exercise, with dinner and discussion to close the day.
MorningGuided La Candelaria and Plaza Bolívar walk.AfternoonGold Museum visit, with time for a small-group object exercise.EveningDinner and discussion.- Route
- La Candelaria and Plaza Bolívar on foot, then the Gold Museum.
- Travel
- Local transport and moderate walking.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Bogotá, the same rooms as the night before.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort.
- Learning outcome
- Students relate material objects and public spaces to different historical narratives.
- Customization
- Day 2 and day 3 exchange if the Gold Museum's Monday closure falls on the group's dates.
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Day 3
Coffee from farm to market
A private excursion reaches a prebooked coffee farm within day-trip reach of Bogotá for a guided production visit and lunch, and the evening turns the day into a map of where labor, processing and value enter the supply chain.
MorningTravel to a prebooked coffee farm within practical day-trip reach of Bogotá.AfternoonGuided production visit, lunch and the return to the city.EveningStudents map the steps between growing coffee and its final sale.- Route
- Bogotá to a coffee farm and back, a private road excursion.
- Travel
- Private road transport; light to moderate walking on farm paths.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Bogotá, the last night before flying to Medellín.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Light to moderate effort.
- Learning outcome
- Students identify where labor, processing and value enter a supply chain.
- Customization
- Harvest participation depends on the season and is never promised year-round.
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Day 4
Understand Medellín's setting
A flight carries the group into the valley city, with a hotel transfer, a brief orientation and a dinner that compares the two cities' physical settings.
MorningFly to Medellín.AfternoonHotel transfer and a brief orientation.EveningDinner and a comparison of the two cities' physical settings.- Route
- Bogotá to Medellín by domestic flight, then the hotel.
- Travel
- Flight and private transfers, confirmed for the travel dates.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Medellín; the base for the remaining three nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; a travel day.
- Learning outcome
- Students suggest how topography affects access and settlement.
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Day 5
Different accounts of change
A guided Casa de la Memoria visit and a locally led Comuna 13 walk, with a break between them, set up an evening that reflects on how memory, art and tourism relate to one another.
MorningGuided Casa de la Memoria visit.AfternoonLocally led Comuna 13 walk, with a break between activities.EveningDinner and reflection on the relationship between memory, art and tourism, opened by a question the group carries from Comuna 13: how do its artists want the neighborhood to be seen, and how does that shape what a mural shows or leaves out? Program Leaders hold the space and do not grade or correct.- Route
- Casa de la Memoria, then Comuna 13 with a local guide.
- Travel
- Private transfers and moderate walking, including slopes and steps.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Medellín, the same rooms as the night before.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; slopes and steps in Comuna 13.
- Learning outcome
- Students trace one thing a Comuna 13 guide said back to what they believed before hearing it, and name how that belief changed.
- Customization
- Museum timing sets the final order of the two visits.
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Day 6
The Guatapé landscape
An early departure reaches the Guatapé area for the reservoir landscape and its settlement changes, then lunch and a guided town walk, with the Peñol rock ascent offered to students who choose it and a supervised alternative for those who do not, before the group returns to Medellín for a farewell dinner.
MorningEarly departure for the Guatapé area, interpreting the reservoir landscape and settlement changes.AfternoonLunch and a guided town walk, with the Peñol rock ascent offered to students who choose it and a supervised alternative for the rest, then the return to Medellín.EveningFarewell dinner.- Route
- Medellín to the Guatapé area and back, a full-day private road excursion.
- Travel
- Private road transport, about 2 to 3 hours each way depending on traffic and stops.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Medellín, the last night on the ground.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort in the town; the optional Peñol ascent is strenuous, and a supervised alternative is offered.
- Learning outcome
- Students explain a benefit and a cost of reshaping a landscape for infrastructure.
- Customization
- The Peñol rock ascent ticket is included in the program budget rather than left as an add-on.
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Day 7
Bring the themes together
Breakfast and a final discussion lead into the transfer to the airport, timed to the group's departure flight.
MorningBreakfast and final discussion.AfternoonTransfer to Medellín Airport and departure.EveningOnward travel.- Route
- Hotel to Medellín Airport.
- Travel
- Private transfer; light effort.
- Overnight
- None; the group flies home.
- Meals
- Breakfast. Later meals depend on the departure flight.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; a travel day.
- Learning outcome
- Students connect one resource issue with one urban issue explored during the week.
Colombia · River, forest and Amazon community
8 days · From $2,500
Colombia's Amazon: River, Forest and Community
Eight days and seven nights on the ground, with international flights outside the day count.
This is a Colombia program with a Bogotá arrival night and a Bogotá departure night bracketing five nights in the Amazon; it is not eight days deep in the rainforest. Students trace how the river, the forest and community knowledge shape life around Leticia and Puerto Nariño.
Choose this programThe route connects Bogotá, Leticia, Puerto Nariño, and Natutama.
- Airport-area hotel, Bogotá1 night
- Hotel in Leticia1 night
- Hotel in Puerto Nariño3 nights
- Hotel in Leticia1 night
- Hotel in Bogotá1 night
- Flight home1 night
Your eight-day itinerary
-
Day 1
Prepare in Bogotá
The group arrives in Colombia and transfers to an airport-area hotel, with dinner given over to an equipment check and an introduction to the Amazon itinerary ahead.
MorningArrive in Colombia.AfternoonAirport-area hotel transfer and rest.EveningDinner, an equipment check, and an introduction to the Amazon itinerary.- Route
- Bogotá Airport to an airport-area hotel.
- Travel
- Short private transfer; light effort.
- Overnight
- Airport-area hotel in Bogotá. No city sightseeing is scheduled this day.
- Meals
- Dinner. Earlier meals depend on the arrival flight.
- Physical demand
- Low effort.
- Learning outcome
- Students identify how river travel changes the organization of a journey.
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Day 2
Enter the Amazon region
A flight carries the group south to Leticia, where a hotel transfer and a short guided orientation introduce the river's role in transport and trade before dinner turns to preparing observation notebooks.
MorningFly to Leticia.AfternoonHotel transfer and a short guided orientation introducing the river's role in transport and trade.EveningDinner and preparation of observation notebooks.- Route
- Bogotá to Leticia by domestic flight, then the hotel.
- Travel
- Flight and road transfers; light walking.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Leticia.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Low effort.
- Learning outcome
- Students explain why a river can function as a principal transport corridor.
- Customization
- Local tourism charges are included in the program budget.
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Day 3
Reach Puerto Nariño
A daylight motorboat carries the group upriver to Puerto Nariño for check-in and a guided town orientation, and dinner closes the day by mapping the journey.
MorningDaylight boat transfer to Puerto Nariño.AfternoonCheck in and a guided town orientation.EveningDinner and mapping of the journey.- Route
- Leticia to Puerto Nariño by motorboat on the river.
- Travel
- Motorboat; about 2 to 3 hours, confirmed against conditions and the chosen service.
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in Puerto Nariño; the base for the next three nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Low to moderate effort.
- Learning outcome
- Students describe how rivers influence the location and connections of settlements.
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Day 4
Learn from local educators
A prearranged interpretation visit to Natutama sets up a guided river or lake observation outing that applies the morning's learning, and dinner compares what students observed with the educators' own explanations.
MorningPrearranged Natutama interpretation visit.AfternoonGuided river or lake observation outing, applying the morning's learning.EveningDinner and a comparison of observations with the educators' explanations.- Route
- Natutama, then a river or lake outing near Puerto Nariño.
- Travel
- Walking and boat travel; light to moderate effort.
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in Puerto Nariño, the same rooms as the night before.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Light to moderate effort.
- Learning outcome
- Students explain a conservation issue using both ecological and community perspectives.
- Customization
- Natutama participation is confirmed for the group's dates; wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
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Day 5
Observe forest relationships
A locally guided forest walk on an established trail is followed by rest and a paid, prearranged community-hosted discussion or demonstration chosen by the hosts, and dinner sets a food-web or habitat exercise.
MorningLocally guided forest walk on a suitable established trail.AfternoonRest, then a paid, prearranged community-hosted discussion or demonstration selected by the hosts.EveningDinner and a food-web or habitat exercise, then tonight's hosts leave the group with a question: what does the forest mean to the people who live alongside it, and how does that differ from what a visiting student notices first? Program Leaders hold the space and do not grade or correct.- Route
- An established forest trail near Puerto Nariño, and any required local boat transfer.
- Travel
- Walking and local boat transfer; moderate effort in humid conditions.
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in Puerto Nariño, the last night before returning to Leticia.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort in humid conditions.
- Learning outcome
- Students notice what a host chose to show them today and what that choice reveals about the host's own priorities, then describe what shifted in their sense of the forest.
- Customization
- An alternative route or activity is used if flooding changes trail access.
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Day 6
River return before the flight
A daylight boat carries the group back down the river to Leticia, where a hotel check-in and rest lead into preparing group presentations, capped with dinner and the presentations themselves.
MorningReturn to Leticia by boat.AfternoonHotel check-in, rest and preparation of group presentations.EveningDinner and presentations.- Route
- Puerto Nariño to Leticia by motorboat.
- Travel
- Daylight motorboat transfer.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Leticia. No airport connection follows the boat journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Low to moderate effort.
- Learning outcome
- Students distinguish a supported finding from an unanswered question.
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Day 7
Return to Bogotá
An airport transfer and a domestic flight carry the group back to the capital, where a hotel check-in and rest lead into a farewell dinner and a final reflection on the trip.
MorningAirport transfer and domestic flight.AfternoonBogotá hotel check-in and rest.EveningFarewell dinner and final reflection.- Route
- Leticia to Bogotá by domestic flight, then the hotel.
- Travel
- Flight and transfers; light effort.
- Overnight
- Program-approved hotel in Bogotá. The international departure is planned for the following day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; a travel day.
- Learning outcome
- Students explain how the journey changed an initial assumption about the Amazon.
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Day 8
Complete the program
Breakfast and a final equipment check lead into the airport transfer and departure.
MorningBreakfast and equipment check.AfternoonAirport transfer and departure.EveningOnward travel.- Route
- Hotel to Bogotá Airport.
- Travel
- Private transfer; light effort.
- Overnight
- None; the group flies home.
- Meals
- Breakfast. Later meals depend on the departure flight.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; a travel day.
- Learning outcome
- Students identify a realistic next question for further study.
What applies across every itinerary
- Groups and teachers
- Groups start at ten students; we consider smaller groups individually. One teacher's Program Tuition is free for every eight paying students.
- Rooming
- Students share rooms, separated by gender, each with their own bed. Teachers get private rooms.
- Price
- The price doesn't cover flights to and from the program, travel insurance, medical insurance, or pocket money.
- Flights and documents
- Book the international flights yourselves, or ask us to arrange them. Passports and visas are on the families, and we'll guide them through it.
- Supervision
- Program Leaders lead scheduled activities, stay on site and are available overnight. The approved itinerary specifies any free time, and Program Leaders are present during it.
- Effort
- Low means limited walking, mostly transfers. Moderate is a full day on foot in a city, on farm paths, or on a forest trail.
- Getting around
- Domestic flights connect the cities on all three itineraries: Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena on the first two, and Bogotá and Leticia on the Amazon route. The Amazon itinerary also moves by motorboat between Leticia and Puerto Nariño.
- Flexibility
- Museum and farm days can shuffle around opening hours and harvest timing. The Peñol ascent and the Amazon's forest and river outings move with weather, water levels and the operator.
What does Bogotá's altitude mean for a school group?
Bogotá sits at 2,640 meters, where students arriving from lower elevations may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, or headaches while adjusting to the altitude.
Rustic Pathways accounts for this by keeping the first day intentionally light, with hotel transfer, rest, and only a short neighborhood orientation when timing allows. Museum, market, and city activities begin on day two after the group has had a night to adjust.
On the Amazon itinerary, students then travel to Leticia and Puerto Nariño, where near-sea-level heat and humidity create different conditions. Packing and trip pacing account for both environments.
How much does a school trip to Colombia cost?
A school trip to Colombia costs $1,995 to $2,800 per student for program tuition, or approximately $280 to $312 per day. Tuition covers lodging, meals, airport transfers, in-country transport, scheduled activities, guides, and entrance fees.
Schools receive one complimentary program tuition place for every eight paying students. Airfare is not included.
Program Tuition covers accommodation, meals, in-country transport including domestic flights, scheduled activities, guides and entrance fees. Schools receive one complimentary Program Tuition place per eight paying students and a group-specific quote.
$1,995 to $2,800
per student across the sample itineraries, excluding international airfare.
7 to 10 days
program length across Colombia's three sample itineraries.
Group quote
every school receives its own, built on dates, group size and route.
| Included | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Travel | Accommodation for every program night, meals and drinking water, airport transfers, domestic flights between cities, in-country ground transport, scheduled activities, guides, and entrance fees. |
| Activities | Guided museum, market and neighborhood visits on the Andean and Caribbean itineraries, and the river boat transfers, the Natutama visit and the guided forest walk on the Amazon itinerary. |
| Staff and support | At least two trained Program Leaders, including both a male and a female leader, pre-departure planning, and school documentation. |
| Community donations | Required by a service project, paid by Rustic Pathways and never collected from students. |
| Chaperones | One complimentary Program Tuition place per eight paying students. Chaperone airfare and insurance are separate. |
Not included: International airfare, travel insurance, medical insurance, personal spending, passport or visa fees, and vaccinations.
| Effect | Factor |
|---|---|
| raises | Peak and holiday weeks carry the higher cost. |
| raises | A shorter itinerary raises the per-day price. The same fixed costs cover fewer days. |
| raises | Domestic flights and simpler lodging on the Amazon itinerary, priced for the route rather than for length alone |
| raises | Additional chaperone seats split the difference across the group. |
| raises | Lodging tier, from a standard hotel to an upgraded hotel in Bogotá |
| lowers | Group size has no cap. Starting at 10 students, the per-student price drops as more students join. |
| lowers | Shoulder-season dates fall outside the peak and holiday weeks. |
Payment and cancellation
Installment plans are available. Review the current enrollment terms.
What do students learn on a Colombia school trip?
Students on a Colombia school trip learn about Colombian history, geography, economics, biology, and environmental science through experiences in Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, and the Amazon.
History
La Candelaria and the Gold Museum in Bogotá, the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral, and San Felipe Castle and the Walled City of Cartagena, read for trade, slavery and colonial power.
What does a fortress protect, and from whom?
Colombia: History, Cities and the Caribbean
Geography and Economics
A coffee farm outside Bogotá, Medellín's Metro and Metrocable, Casa de la Memoria and Comuna 13, and the reshaped reservoir landscape at Guatapé.
Where does value enter a supply chain between a coffee farm and a cup?
Bogotá and Medellín: Resources, Art and Urban Change
Environmental Science
A river transfer from Leticia to Puerto Nariño, a Natutama conservation visit, a guided forest trail, and river or lake observation with local educators.
How does a river's seasonal rise and fall shape the forest and the community beside it?
Colombia's Amazon: River, Forest and Community
What makes Rustic Pathways educational trips different?
A Rustic Pathways school trip is one private group on your school's own dates, one bed per student, and an itinerary built to your curriculum.
- 01No mixed groups. Just your school
- 02One student, one bed
- 03Your school picks the dates
- 04Monthly payment plans available
- 05No tipping; Rustic Pathways Program Tuition includes community donations
- 06Aligned to your curriculum
Who supervises and manages the trip to Colombia?
School chaperones and Rustic Pathways Program Leaders supervise and manage the school trip to Colombia together.
Rustic Pathways manages the itinerary, accommodation, ground transport, activities and emergency procedures; your school manages its own student conduct and communication policies.
Your school can book international flights directly or ask Rustic Pathways to arrange them. Families receive trip logistics and itinerary information through the MyRustic web app.
How safety is managed on a school trip to Colombia
Program Leaders manage local operations and safety procedures alongside school chaperones. Across 13 years of published incident data from every Rustic Pathways program worldwide, 87% of reports were GREEN, the minor tier where the group stays intact.
What the team plans for
Bogotá's altitude
Elevation above 2,640 meters, and a deliberately gentle first day while the group adjusts
Medellín and Cartagena
City walking on hills, steps and colonial streets, and coastal heat inside Cartagena's Walled City
Leticia and Puerto Nariño
Amazon heat and humidity, river travel by motorboat, and forest-trail conditions that shift with the water level
Domestic flights
Every itinerary connects cities or the Amazon by air, with routing confirmed for the travel dates
Controls built into every trip
Written risk plan. A score above 5 requires new controls, reassessment or cancellation.
Two-Deep Leadership. A single staff member is never alone with students, and at least two trained Program Leaders, including both a male and a female leader, support each School Group Travel trip.
Assessed activity vendors. Coach, domestic air, river boat and Metrocable operators are reviewed before use, every one to two years, and on site when high risk.
Medical readiness. WFR coverage for remote programs and Dr. William R. Smith, dedicated Medical Director since 2015.
Is Rustic Pathways the right partner for your school trip to Colombia?
Yes, Rustic Pathways is the right partner for private, curriculum-focused school trips to Colombia. Your school chooses the travel dates, and Rustic Pathways builds the itinerary around your curriculum.
Students travel only with their teachers and classmates and never join another school's group. Individual students can join open enrollment teen travel programs to Colombia instead.
- You want one private group with your dates and your teachers.
- You can give the trip 7 to 10 days.
- You have 10 or more students.
- You want cities, the Caribbean coast, or the Amazon.
- A student has significant mobility, medical or mental-health support needs, or a specialized dietary or religious accommodation
- You have fewer than 10 students
- A student needs a slower pace at altitude. Bogotá sits at 2,640 meters, and day one is built to stay gentle for every group.
- You want the Amazon itinerary. Heat, humidity, boats and simpler lodging near Puerto Nariño need a comfort baseline every traveler can meet.
- You are an individual student or parent looking for open enrollment teen travel programs to Colombia.
- You want your group merged with another school.
- You need a confirmed departure date before a proposal and planning cycle.
Support planning starts early
Raise individual needs before booking so Rustic Pathways can assess them and adapt the route and support plan where feasible.
Questions about school trips to Colombia
The questions schools ask most before requesting a Colombia proposal, answered from the itineraries and prices on this page.
How much does a school trip to Colombia cost?
A Rustic Pathways school trip to Colombia costs $1,995–$2,800 per student in 2026 for a 7- to 10-day itinerary, excluding international airfare.
Final pricing varies by season, trip length, and group size. Groups start at 10 students, with one free teacher place for every eight paying students.
When is the best time to take a school trip to Colombia?
The best time for a school trip to Colombia is December through March, during the main dry season.
Rustic Pathways operates trips throughout the year and adapts activities to seasonal conditions, including coffee harvests near Bogotá and Medellín and changing river levels in the Amazon.
Have a question before you ask for a proposal?
Patrick Ziemnik answers Colombia school-trip questions with the school travel team.
Rustic Pathways Program Leader David Pueyo puts it this way: “It took me ten trips to Colombia to learn to leave slack in the schedule. Bogotá is two hours from Bogotá, as they say there.” (2026)
Send your group size, dates, trip length, and what you want students to learn. I’ll reply within 1 business day and send you options within 48 hours, and no sales call unless you ask for one.
Start with your travel window
Start your Colombia trip proposal with your travel dates, group size, and learning goals. Receive a reply within 1 business day and customized trip options within 48 hours.
Or reach a person directly: +1 440-975-9691 or groups@rusticpathways.com
Have a school expeditions or tour operator quote?
Send it over. Rustic Pathways will show you what’s possible for the same budget.
Destinations related to Colombia
Browse all school trip destinations- Rustic Pathways has operated student travel since 1983. Recent industry recognition:
- 2026 GoAbroad Innovation AwardsInnovation in Adventure-Based Programming · Global Adventure Learning Model
- 2025 International Travel AwardsBest Group Tour Operator
- 2024 Skift IDEA AwardsIndustry Innovators – Tour Operators
- 4x WYSETC Best Youth Tour Operator2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
- BBB A+ RatingBetter Business Bureau profile
- NESA Affiliate OrganizationNear East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools
- 2025 World Travel AwardsUnited States’ Leading Tour Operator