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COLOMBIA

February 21 - 27, 2024

COLOMBIA 2024 is the most exclusive & imMersive educational exposure to cOLOMBIA culture & beauty you will find

THE 7 DAY, 6-NIGHT IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE FUSES CUBAN CULTURE & HISTORY WITH ITS ENERGY & EXCITEMENT THROUGH A UNIQUE EDUCATION EXCURSION.  COLOMBIA 2024 FEATURES 5 STAR ACCOMMODATIONS, EXCLUSIVE TRANSPORTATION, CULTURAL TOURS OF CARTAGENA & MEDELLIN, MOST MEALS INCLUDED, VISITS TO THE WALLED CITY AND COMUNA 13, A PRIVATE TRIP TO GUATAPE, AND EXPLORATION OF TWO HISTORIC COLOMBIA CITIES.  THIS WILL BE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE BEYOND ANY VACATION YOUR HAVE DONE BEFORE WITH THE SUPPORT OF U.S. BASED FACILITATORS AND PROFESSIONAL GUIDES YOUR UNFORGETTABLE CUBAN EXPERIENCE AWAITS.  

Itinerary

ITINERARY

Day 1 - February 21, 2024

  • Time TBD - Arrival at Rafael Núñez International Airport, Cartagena​

    • Panoramic trip through Cartagena en route to Hotel

    • Private Climate Controlled Airport Transfers

    • Arrival & Private Check in (Hotel Sofitel Legend Santa Clara)

  • ​5:00pm - Sunset & Cocktails @ Café del Mar

    • ​Enjoy an amazing sunset, music, great social vibe, and cocktails at an iconic patio venue on the top of the historic Cartagena wall.  
  • ​7:00pm - Salsa & Local Rhythms Dance Class @ La Caponera Bar

    • Enjoy salsa lessons with local instructors in a festive atmosphere at La Caponera Bar.  

  • 8:30pm - Dinner at Montesacro

    • ​Wonderful dining experience within the walled city.  

  • ​

Cafe Del Mar

Cartagena Walled City

Day 2 - February 22, 2024

  • 8:00am - Breakfast at the Hotel

  • ​9:00am - Half-Day Panoramic Walking Tour of the Walled City

    • Carved from a colorful history rife with piracy, sultry Caribbean heat, with fusions of African, indigenous and European Culture.  Cartagena is a living breahting and pulsating museum. 
    • The historic centre is absurdly photogenic with some of the most impressive and stunning colonial architecture in all of the Americas.
    • From the famous lock tower entrance to splashes of color around every corner, it is a walk through the pages of history.  
    • Time to Shop
  •  12:30pm - Lunch at Restaurant Don Juan
    • Enjoy another local meal
  • AFTERNOON AT LEISURE TO EXPLORE
  • 7:00pm - Dinner at Restaurante Candé & Nightlife
    • Dinner experience in the walled city with time for fun afterwards​

Day 3 - February 23, 2024

  • 8:30am - Breakfast at the Hotel

  • 9:00am - Graffiti & Urban Street Walking Tour in Historic Getsemani Neighbourhood​

    • ​Cartagena is a multi-faceted destination with hidden secrets to reveal.

    • Just outside the walled city you will find a bit of bohemian hotspot known as Getsemani.  A centre for urban artistic expression.

    • Historically a working class neighbourhood; it is rapidly becoming one of the hip and trendy areas of Cartagena.  

    • A blend of the city's cool elite, artists, bohemians, restauraneurs, and poets in this eclectic little community.  

    • Plaza Santisima Trinidad is the heart of the neighbourhood with stunning yellow washed 17th-century church; filled with spontaneous street entertainment, children playing futbol, and a variety of cafes and bars.  

    • See a variety of poltical and social messages via the graffiti culture; amazing street art; tropical bird murals; Afro-Colombian art; and more.  

  • ​12:00pm - Colombian Cooking Class & Rum Tasting @ Cafe Lunatico

    • Join us as Maria takes us on an amazing colombian cooking experience.  

    • Café Lunático provides an amazing world class cooking studio experience.  

    • Using fresh authentic ingredients from the region we will learn culinary techniques and dine on our wonderfully prepared meal.

    • While we socialize and cook, we will also partake in a variety of local rums.  

  • 7:00pm - Dinner at Restaurante Alma

    • Close out our time in Cartagena with a wonderful dinner experience​

Getsemani

Day 4 - February 24, 2024

  • 7:00am - Breakfast at the Hotel

  • 7:30am - Depart for Airport (inter-country flight to Medellin)

  • 9:30am - Travel from Cartagena to José María Córdova Airport, Medellin

  • 11:30am - Private transfer to the Hotel

  • 12:30pm - Check in at the Hotel Marriott Medellin

  • 1:00pm - Half-Day Social Transformation Tour of Comuna 13

    • See the transformation of Medellin over the past few decades as it has becoming dynamic urban center with parks, pedestrian zones, and experience the only Cable Car public transportation system in Colombia.  The first in the world to focus on urban mobility.  

    • The Comuna 13 Neighbourhood takes us through the once-crime filled district that was the most violent communities in Medellin and how it has transformed into a prosperous community of social regeneration.  It is a collection of barrios that tightly hug the hilside of Medellins eastern flanks.​

    • See a integrated transportation system, open-air escalators, and a spectacular panoramic view across the city.  

    • Comuna 13 is now synonymous with cultural expression, artistic social initiatives, music, dance, and commerce.  

    • You will experience street art, street dancers and performers, DJs, and more.  

  • 7:00pm - Dinner at Carmen Medellin

    • Experience a wonderful dinner experience in a beautiful setting

Comuna 13 - Medellin

Day 5 - February 25, 2024

  • 7:00am - Breakfast at Hotel

  • 8:00am - Full-Day Tour to Guatapé

    • Take in the geological majesty of the El Peñol monolith rock, the beautiful lakeside town of Guatapé, all amidst the rolling Andean mountains of rural Antioquia.​

    • On the drive see stunning rural landscapes en route to El Peñol (reminiscent of Rio's Sugar Loaf Mountain).  Sitting at over 200M high, this granite rock is over 65 million years old.  A historically sacred place for the indigenous Tahami people.  Climb its face using cliff-hanging zig-zag staircases with over 700 individual steps.  

    • Afterwards we visit the close-by El Peñol village with its famous Temple of the Rock Church and the lakeside town of Guatapé.  The town is full of beautifully decorated houses and shops along the waterfront, beautiful murals in Zocolo park, and brightly festooned facades along the Calle del Recuerdo (Memory Lane).​

  • 7:00pm - Dinner at Andrés Carne de Res Medellin

    • An entertainment filled dinner with music, dancing, and afterparty.  ​

​

Guatape

Flowers, Coffee, Conflict

Day 6 - February 26, 2024

A Day of Leisure and Options.  Participants can select from three options on the day: 

  • Option 1 - A Half-Day Tour to Envigado

    • Colombia is known world-wide for its coffee.  This tour takes you to an active coffee plantation.  The fertile soil of Antioquia and ideal climate make it a perfect location for coffee.  You will experience the coffee production and process from an active coffee farm with a family that has been creating coffee for generations.  You will have time to explore the plantation; see the cultural heritage of this proud people; and learn about the complexities of coffee and taste.  ​

  • Option 2 - A Half-Day Visit to Santa Helena

    • The Santa Helena region boasts some of the most amazing floral farms and takes you on a colorful floral journey through the Andean countryside.  This is an important part of the Colombia economy and exports.  You will walk flower fields, nurseries, and cultivation areas while appreciating the colors and scents of the blossoms.  You get to meet and interact with the various plantation owners and learn about their lives.  Many of their blooms are sold commercially world-wide with some being kept in Medellin for the annual Flower festival, Feria de las Flores.  This is one of the largest festivals in the country.  ​

  • Option 3 - Half Day Memory Tour of the Colombia Conflict

    • Comuna 13 is not the only space in Medellin with history around the conflicts and social transformation of Medellin.  Infelxión Memorial Park was formerly occupied by the Monaco building, one of the many homes of the late drug trafficer Pablo Escobar.  it is now a monument to the many lives lost during the armed conflict.  Here you will hear from the guide about this history and the impact it has had on the Colombian people.  They work to counteract the narrative driven by TV and media which distort Medellin and retell, accurately, the story of the drug trafficking that occurred in the late 80s and early 90s.  ​The Memory Museum was build in 20056 and a visit here will give you an i depth view of the many atrocities that occurred and how the city and country has moved past this period in history.  Lastly, you will visit an important plaza with various Botero works of art that were a part of this period and conflict.  

    • 7:00pm - Dinner at Restaurante Alambique

Day 7 - February 27, 2024

  • TBD - Breakfast at the Hotel

  • TBD - Airport Transfers to José María Córdova Airport, Medellin

  • TBD - Flight Check Ins

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-The Pick Up will be made 2-3 hours prior to flight departure

-Trip Extensions are optional

-Itinerary is Tentative & Subject to Change

Adios

Hotel Info

lodging information

Sofitel Santa Clara Legend Cartagena

Built in 1621, our property was originally a convent that housed the Poor Clares before they were evicted in 1861. For over a century, this place witnessed history and served successively as a charity hospital, prison and medical school therefore generating a series of Republican style changes. In 1995, it became the iconic Santa Clara hotel.

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In 2012, the Sofitel Santa Clara became Sofitel Legend, thus joining a collection of landmark properties located in cities with a rich cultural heritage all around the world. Travel back in time and discover the legendary story of this iconic hotel infused with French art de vivre, the perfect combination of age-old tradition and local hospitality.

 

Enjoy your first three days in the lap of luxury in the Walled City of Cartagena.

Five Star Luxury in the Walled City

Medellin Marriott

Transform any trip into a relaxing getaway at Medellin Marriott Hotel, our luxury El Poblado, Medellin, hotel where you'll find a seamless blend of high-tech and high-touch service. Situated in the heart of El Poblado, we are mere steps from Parque Lleras and provide access to other notable locales, such as the Plaza Mayor Convention Center and El Castillo Museo & Jardines.

 

Our modern hotel features pillowtop mattresses and 24-hour room service, making a perfect retreat after a busy day. When hunger arises, satisfy your cravings with build-your-own meals at The Market or fresh sushi from Nau. If you're planning an event in Medellin, productive meetings and elegant celebrations can be easily arranged in one of our five versatile venues. Continue your workout regime at our 24-hour fitness center. Indulge in relaxation at our luxury spa or outdoor pool, boasting spectacular city views. Whatever the reason for your travels, Medellin Marriott Hotel provides an upscale Colombian experience.

Heart of El Poblado

Pricing

TRIP PRICING

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COLOMBIA2024 (Feb 21-27)

$2,650.00
 (per person, double occupancy)

*$500 Deposit Required by 10/1/24 to confirm     *Price Not Inclusive of Airfare & Airport Tax.   *$1,300.o0 Additional for Single Occupancy

RSVP Now

To Sign up for COLOMBIA 2024:

  1. Click the Link above to be transfered to the Isenhour International Store and remit your deposit payment today.

  2. Email us if you wish to mail a check or remit deposit payment via CashApp, Zelle, Venmo, or Paypal​​​​

       -Checks can be mailed payable to "Isenhour International", 5543 Edmonson Pike, #124, Nashville, TN 37211

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT

​

WARREN ISENHOUR

615-394-7407

WARREN@ISENHOURINTERNATIONAL.COM

​

LISA MCGOWAN

847-899-9611

LISA@AWAMEETINGS.COM

FAQs

FAQs

This section is provided to assist you in common questions or concerns we receive related to Colombia 2024 and related travel.  If you do not see an answer to your questions here please reach out to us for assistance.   

  • What is Colombia 2024?

    • Isenhour International and AWA Meetings both have worked actively with our partners in Colombia to offer this exciting Cultural and Experiential opportunity.  Colombia 2024 will be an exceptional educational and cultural trip for attendees to an amazing South American and South Caribbean destination.​

  • Who is eligible to attend?

    • Colombia 2024 is open to anyone.  The only requirements are a valid passport from your country of citizenship and that you meet the requirements to travel to Colombia set forth by your home government and the Colombian government.  

  • Is it Safe?

    • Absolutely!  I.I. representatives and A.W.A. representatives have made multiple trips to Colombia to evaluate the country and prepare for trips such as Colombia2024.  Additionally, Colombia 57, our local DMC provider, is well versed in the Colombian experience and will ensure all aspects of your wellbeing and safety are taken into consideration.  Colombia is a beautiful and safe destination with a wealth of history and culture.  The Colombian people are very welcoming to visitors and show exceptional hospitality.  

  • Who are our Hosts?

    • In the Meet the Host's section below you will find background information on all three of your host partners:​​​​​

      • Isenhour International​

      • AWA Meetings & Events

      • Colombia 57 DMC

  • Is the technology and infrastructure up to par?

    • Yes!  There is abundant wifi located in the host hotels and many host venues.  Your cellular carries should have coverage there with an add on international plan.  

  • How do I get my U.S. Travel Visa?

    • No visa is required to travel to Colombia for citizens of the United States.

  • Who will be our Points of Contacts while in Colombia?

    • You will have a representative from Isenhour International, AWA Meetings & Events, and Colombia 57 DMC all on site with you each day and at every activity and outing.  You will continually have access to us to handle any needs and concerns you have during your trip.  

  • What do I do about money and payments in Colombia?

    • The U.S Dollar is accepted in Cuba in many venues; but we do recommend exchanging some cash into Colombian Peso (COP) to help avoid conversion issues when shopping with local shops or street vendors.  There are many places to exchange as you tour around and in your hotels.  Your Credit cards are also widely accepted in Colombia (Visa, AMEX, Mastercard, etc.) 

  • Is Colombia safe from Covid?

    • Like the rest of the world, Colombia was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.  The Colombian Government continues to deal with the Pandemic and ensure that the country and its citizens are safe and receive vaccinations.  Comparatively, Colombia has constantly maintained a relatively strict protocol on masks, vaccination, etc. during Covid.  You are required to show proof of vaccination to enter the country.  If you are not vaccination, you must show a negative covid test taken within 24 hours of departure to Colombia.  

  • Is my international airfare included in the package price?

    • NO!  Your airfare will be a separate responsibility from the package pricing.  Given the wide range of attendees, their points of origin, and other factors we are not able to set a flat rate for air travel for Colombia 2024.  However, we will work hand-in-hand with you to ensure you book the appropriate airfare and find you the best pricing available.

  • Is my Inter-Country Airfare between CTG and MDE Included? 

    • NO!  This also is not included; however after you pay your deposit we will send you information to book the appropriate airline and flight to ensure we have everyone traveling together to Medellin.​

  • Can I stay longer than the 6 nights/7 days?

    • Yes, this is an option a case-by-case basis and would be at an additional cost.  If you wish to extend your stay pre/post the February 21-27 dates, please reach out to us and discuss your options.  We are offering an option to travel to and experience Bogota for 2-3 nights.  

Meet Your Hosts

Meet your hosts

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Isenhour International, AWA Meetings & Events, & Colombia57 DMC bring over 100 years of experience in the industry.  With two companies based in the United States and a third based in Latin America you are getting an immeasurable amount of experience, service and resources to ensure your Colombia2024 trip is amazing.  Click any logo above to see the company profile and visit their websites.  

Trip LEADERS

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WARREN D. ISENHOUR

PRESIDENT

ISENHOUR INTERNATIONAL

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Warren has multiple experiences in Colombia under his belt in addition to managing groups in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Curacaó, Jamaica, Antigua, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil; to name a few.  He will be one of your two Trip Leaders who will be on site with you throughout the duration of Colombia2024 to ensure your experience is outstanding.  

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LISA MCGOWAN

PRESIDENT

AWA MEETINGS & EVENTS

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Lisa had her first experience in Colombia in 2023 and has been eager to return.  Fluent in Spanish, she understands the local culture and language and will be a valuable asset to ensure everyone is able to engage fully in the Colombian experience.  She has various experiences managing groups across the globe and will be on the ground for the duration of Colombia2024.

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