15-Day Colombia & Peru Tour: Medellín to Puno with Inca Trail

Hola and a very warm welcome to Medellín, Colombia! Your 15-day Colombia and Peru tour officially kicks off this morning in the hotel lounge, where you’ll meet your fellow travel buddies and Adventure Leader for a trip briefing – outlining travel plans and top tips on staying safe in South America.

After, it’s time to get your bearings with your first unmissable activity – a guided walk through Comuna 13. This vibrant neighbourhood is renowned for its colourful street art, striking culture, and history of resilience – transformed from a complex past into a hub of urban renewal and innovation, with outdoor escalators offering stunning city views and murals that represent hope and progress.

¿Estás listo? Good! The afternoon is yours to explore independently. We’d recommend a wander around Medellín’s most famous sites – the Plaza Botero, the Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe, and the Catedral Basílica Metropolitana. Cultural lovers, this one’s for you! After that adrenaline fix from this morning, why not keep it going with a paragliding flight for an incredible bird’s-eye view of the city below?

Come evening, optional activities await:

Depending on fixtures, you can opt to watch a local soccer game at Estadio Atanasio Girardot. If there’s no game on, try your hand at Tejo – a Colombian game where you throw clay at gunpowder with the aim of causing a small explosion (Cool, right?)

If neither takes your fancy, kick back with some drinks and salsa in El Poblado – one of Medellín’s safe party streets!

Start day two the Colombian way, with a cup of locally produced coffee. Medellín is home to some of Colombia’s best, so make the most of it!

Then we’re heading out for a day trip to Guatapé, a colourful lakeside town known for its vibrant zócalos (decorative street murals), charming streets, and lively atmosphere. We’ll kick things off by climbing the 740 steps to the top of El Peñón de Guatapé, a massive granite rock offering panoramic views of the surrounding lakes and landscapes. Take your time on the way up!

After coming back down to earth, you’ll have some free time to explore the town before enjoying a scenic boat tour on the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir.

Back in Medellín for the evening, it’s time to hit the dance floor! Join your group for a dance class and pick up some moves you can put to good use for the rest of the tour.

This morning we’re up and out early, bound for our next stop, Salento! This quaint town in the Coffee Triangle is known for its colourful colonial architecture, coffee plantations, and stunning scenery. You’ll transfer by private minivan, approximately 5.5 hours, with a lunch stop along the way. Your Adventure Leader will confirm the meeting time the day before.

Coffee lovers, this next unmissable experience is for you! We’ll spend the afternoon at the Finca el Ocaso Coffee Farm. From picking the beans and trying the coffee making process for yourself, to tasting the final product, you’ll be a connoisseur by the end!

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Why not soak up some traditional Colombian culture in the town’s picturesque central plaza?

This morning, your Adventure Leader is taking you on a walk around Salento – one of Colombia’s most charming small towns. We’re talking coffee, empanadas, colourful streets, and plenty of photo ops. Get your camera ready!

The rest of the morning is all yours. Spotted a cool shop or a street you want to revisit? Now’s your chance to explore at your own pace, get a hiking recommendation from your Adventure Leader, or head back to the hostel and see what activities they have on offer.

In the afternoon, it’s onwards and upwards – we’re Bogotá bound! Your Adventure Leader will guide you to Pereira for your internal flight to the capital. The transfer takes around an hour, with a flight of approximately two hours, so sit back and relax.

Touching down in Bogotá, the evening is all yours. Hit up your Adventure Leader for their top recommendations, and if you’re wondering where to start, the world-famous Museum of Gold is practically on your doorstep. Not a bad introduction to the city!

We’re kicking off the morning with a bike tour through some of Bogotá’s most historic districts, calling at the iconic neighbourhood of La Candelaria, the Plaza Bolívar, the Cathedral, and the Presidential Palace. Fruit sampling is on the menu too. Thank us later.

Then it’s on to Monserrate, the mountain that overlooks the entire city. Walk from the hostel and take the cable car up to this historic church area, where you’ll find cultural markets, local snacks, and some of the best views of Bogotá you’ll ever see. Trust us on this one.

Come evening, the night is yours, and what a night it could be. Theatron is one of the largest nightclubs in Colombia, spanning around 20 different areas each with its own musical vibe, electronic, latin beats, pop, and plenty more. Once known as an LGBT+ establishment, it’s now a club that throws open its doors to everyone. An epic night out if you fancy it!

Peru, here we come! This morning we’re boarding our international flight to Cusco, one of the most iconic cities in South America and your base before the big trek ahead.

On arrival, we’ll check in to the hostel and get settled before your Adventure Leader briefs you on the Peru leg of the tour. This is an important one – covering everything you’ll need for your 4-day trek, from kit and toiletries to tips and tricks for the trail ahead.

The rest of the evening is yours to explore freely. Good news – your hostel sits right in Cusco’s historic centre, meaning you’re already surrounded by incredible architecture, local stores, and small monuments waiting to be discovered. Ask your Adventure Leader for their top recommendations on the best local eateries and where to pick up some llama-fur goodies. Consider it a warm welcome to Peru!

Time to properly get to know Cusco! This morning your Adventure Leader is taking you on a walking tour of the city, giving you a brief history of one of South America’s most iconic destinations, pointing out the best spots to eat, and walking you up to the legendary Sacsayhuaman castle. Keep your eyes peeled for llamas along the way – yes, really!

Feeling up for it? The entrance to Sacsayhuaman is optional, but trust us, it’s worth it. This ancient Incan fortress sits on a hill overlooking Cusco, boasting massive stone walls, incredible masonry, and panoramic views of the surrounding valley that’ll stop you in your tracks.

A word of warning though – your next morning kicks off at 5:00am, so the evening is all about rest and recovery. Take some time to acclimatise to the altitude, sip on some complimentary coca-leaf tea back at the hostel or treat yourself to a pre-hike massage. Your legs will thank you later!

This is it, the moment you’ve been waiting for! Today marks the start of your 4-day Inca Trail adventure, and we’re wasting no time. Your Adventure Leader will pick you up from the hostel bright and early for the journey to Piskacucho, also known as Kilometer 82, the legendary starting point of the Inca Trail. But first, a well-earned breakfast stop in Ollantaytambo to fuel up for the day ahead.

Today’s hike covers around 12km (7.5 miles), taking you through some of the most breathtaking Andean scenery you’ve ever laid eyes on. The good news? You’ll only be carrying a day pack, with larger luggage taken care of for you. All meals are included throughout the trek too – there are no shops out here in the Andes, after all!

As the sun sets over the mountains, your trekking team will have camp set up and dinner ready and waiting. All that’s left to do is sit back, look up, and take in the Milky Way high in the Andean sky. Not a bad first day on the trail!

Please visit the Trekking Alternatives section below for important information about route options.

Rise and shine! Your Adventure Leader will wake you up with a hot mug of tea or coffee, delivered straight to your sleeping bag. Soak it up, because today is the biggest day on the trail.

With daypacks kept as light as possible, today’s challenge is the steep ascent to Abra de Warmihuañusca, also known as Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest point on the entire Inca Trail.

Covering 16km (10 miles) over around 9 hours, it’s a serious day of hiking, but every step is worth it. Keep your eyes peeled along the way for hummingbirds and a wonderful variety of other bird species that call this part of the trail home.

Reaching the top is a feeling like no other. Take it all in, you’ve earned it!

Good news today is a gentler affair after yesterday’s climb, and your legs will be very grateful for it.

Today’s highlight is the ascent to Phuyupatamarca, meaning Village in the Clouds, one of the most impressive archaeological sites along the entire trail. The views of the mountains, canyons, and surrounding landscape are, without doubt, some of the most spectacular you’ll see on the entire tour. Take your time up here.

Covering 10km (6.2 miles) over around 5 hours, it’s a lighter day on the trail, with the group arriving at camp in the afternoon. Plenty of time to rest those legs before the big finale tomorrow!

It’s an early start today but trust us on this one. You’ll make your way to the Sun Gate checkpoint to be among the first through the gates, arriving just as the sun rises over Machu Picchu. It’s the kind of view that stops you in your tracks.

From the Sun Gate, it’s downhill to the Citadel itself. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, this 15th century Incan citadel was abandoned during the Spanish conquest and lost to the world for over 400 years before being rediscovered in the early 20th century. Take your time here, you’ve walked a long way for this moment.

After soaking it all in, the Expedition Train takes you back through the Urubamba River canyon towards Cusco. Keep your eyes on the steep canyon walls for a glimpse of Wiñay Wayna along the way, before a private vehicle drops you back at the hostel.

The evening is yours. A massage is strongly recommended!

You’ve just completed the Inca Trail. Sleep in, you’ve earned it.

When you’re ready to rejoin the world, Cusco has plenty to keep you busy at your own pace. Ask your hostel about massage recommendations, or dive into one of the many activities they offer on site.

Fancy learning to make a pisco sour or trying your hand at a ceviche class? Now’s your chance. There are additional excursions available too, and if you haven’t picked up some cruelty-free llama-fur clothing or accessories yet, today is the perfect opportunity.

Just a heads up – if you’re keen to book any hostel activities, we’d recommend doing so on arrival to avoid missing out!

Today we’re heading to Puno, but this is far from your average travel day. En route, we’re stopping at Rainbow Mountain, one of Peru’s most extraordinary natural wonders. Its stunning multi-coloured stripes are formed by mineral-rich layers in the earth. Make sure your camera is fully charged! Breakfast and lunch stops will be made along the way.

Arriving in Puno in the evening, you’ll have some free time to get to know this fascinating town, one of the highest in Peru. Explore the town square, pop into one of the unique local restaurants, or find a small bar and soak up the atmosphere. A great introduction to your next stop!

This morning, it’s time for another truly unmissable experience – a boat ride on Lake Titicaca. The highest navigable lake in the world, surrounded by stunning Andean views and with a fascinating history. Along the way, you’ll visit three of the lake’s most incredible islands, including the floating homes of the Indigenous Uros people, created out of reeds as protection against Incan attacks centuries ago.

Enjoy your final evening in Peru at your own pace. Head to one of Puno’s street bars or restaurants, catch a traditional dance show, or ask your Adventure Leader for their top recommendations on how to spend the night!

And just like that, your Colombia and Peru adventure comes to an end. Take the morning to say your goodbyes, swap numbers, and reflect on the incredible journey you’ve shared together.