Eco Escape to Colombia: Stretch, Sightsee & Surf with Peter Martin

Your Colombian eco retreat starts here! You'll arrive in Santa Marta, where a VAOVA representative will meet you and your group at the airport and ensure you get to your luxury eco-resort safely! You’ll be staying in the coastal paradise of Palomino. Palomino is one of the most delightful destinations on the Colombian Caribbean Coast, with a perfect mix of exclusive beaches, extraordinary biodiversity, and authentic infrastructure that suits the needs of all types of travelers. Due to its location in the south of the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, it has a landscape that combines the richness of mountains with the Caribbean Sea. Palomino is also a unique ecotourism point, thanks to the rivers Palomino, San Salvador, and Don Diego.

Arriving at your beachfront hideaway, enjoy some time to unpack, unwind, and take advantage of the hotel amenities before a late afternoon/evening yoga session with your group. As the sun sets and the night eases in, it's time for your first dinner at the hotel. Dine on some healthy local fare before setting off for a good night's sleep—you'll need it after a busy day of travel!

Buenos Días! Start your first day right with a morning yoga session, and if that doesn't wake you up, a healthy breakfast at the hotel will help fuel you for a day of snacking and sightseeing. Today's excursion will be into Santa Marta, and after a delicious lunch at Agua de Mar, an unmissable gastronomic experience, it'll be time to discover the history of South America’s second-oldest city in this three-hour tour. Visit iconic sites like the San Pedro Alejandrino country house, the historic center—a National Monument and home to the first church-ordained cathedral built in South America—as well as the Gold Museum, an exclusive place to learn about the Tayrona culture, and el Pibe monument—a sculpture created in honor of famed soccer player Carlos ‘El Pibe’ Valderrama. After your tour, we'll head back to the hotel for some evening stretches and another tasty dinner. A chill way to end an exciting day.

Tour includes group transfers, a bilingual guide, entrance fees, soft drinks and snacks, and a coffee stop.

Rise and shine! Stretch into a day of exploration with an early morning yoga session, and make sure to limber up for your trek today! You'll be traversing Tayrona National Park, an ecotourism haven complete with spectacular hiking trails, rare species of plants and animals, crystal-clear waters, unique mangroves, and beautiful sandy beaches. Your full-day tour will walk you through this Colombian natural treasure, immersing you in a diverse biosphere and introducing you to some more of heavenly Colombia. Don't forget your swimming costumes—you'll have a chance to take a dive and float around the tranquil deep-blue Caribbean sea. Returning to the hotel, you'll unwind with some evening yoga and a fabulous meal, and don't forget to take in a perfect Colombian sunset on the beach!

Tour includes group transfers, a bilingual guide, entrance fees, lunch, soft drinks and snacks, and health insurance.

Wake up and seize the day with a morning yoga session, setting you up for another exciting adventure! Today's excursion is one of the most unmissable activities in Palomino—tubing along the winding Don Diego river! Warm up with a 40-minute trek through nature, joined by native birds and amazing views. Then, board an inflatable tube raft and sail down the course of the Don Diego with your group and a party boat in tow! You'll be able to hop on board for flowing beers, cocktails, and music, and a stop along the route for a traditional lunch with keep you energized during your voyage. Finally, you'll reach the Caribbean Sea where your journey will end and it'll be time to head back to the hotel for some chill-out yoga and a delightful dinner.

Excursion includes group transfers, a local bilingual guide, 4-hour tubing experience, a traditional lunch, and unlimited alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, aguardiente, and rum) on the boat.

Another day of wellness awaits, and today you’ll make the most out of the most stunning beaches in Palomino. After wake-up yoga and breakfast, start the day off with a surf class with help from a local guru who’ll help you conquer the Caribbean waves, whether you’re a surfing novice or an expert. After you’ve made a splash, you’ll have some time afterwards to relax on the white sand beaches, indulge in a healthy lunch at a local beach club, and spend some time in the sea. You’ll conclude your beach day with a yoga session on the sand, helping you to recharge your batteries and renew your energy with the laidback vibes emanating from this charming coastal town. Not had enough of the beach today? You’ve got a private beach at your hotel to make the most of, too.

Excursion includes group transfers, bilingual surfing instructor and yoga instructor, surf board and shirt, yoga class, beach access, and beach club lunch.

Your final full day in Palomino will take you on a spiritual journey around several magical spots hidden throughout the area. After an early start and breakfast, you’ll head out on a unique tour to discover ancient hiking trails and serene landscapes perfect for practicing your yoga, as well as partake in breathing and meditative exercises, restorative hot baths, and impressive waterfalls! With some tasty traditional snacks thrown in, bonfires, and unequalled tranquility, this will be the perfect healing experience to help you get closer to nature, yourself, and wrap up your eco escape. After lunch, head back to the hotel for some free time—enjoy a beachfront massage, a dip in one of the pools, and get yourself packed up for your trip home tomorrow. A farewell dinner at the 7 Mares restaurant will be the best way to say goodbye to Colombia and your new friends. Celebrate in style—Salud!

Excursion includes group transfers, a bilingual guide, a holistic therapist, and traditional snacks.

It’s time to say goodbye to Colombia—we hope you’ve had a magical and restorative time in the country’s diverse biosphere, splashing in its soothing waves, and spending time focusing on yourself. After breakfast, we’ll get you and your group to the airport for your next adventure. See you again soon for more Colombian magic!