CMS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE COLOMBIA OPTIONAL TOURS

Tejo is one of Colombia’s most traditional games or pastimes. It’s essentially bowls or Pétanque on steroids! Tejo is a high-octane activity, perfect for those who love to combine cultural understanding with high explosives! A typical Tejo area is set up with a main social area, predominantly for drinking, eating, and armchair commentators, then a series of long narrow lanes separated by wire fencing. At the end of each lane is a wooden box filled with damp clay, into this are placed a number of explosive triangular firecrackers filled with gunpowder. The idea is from a set distance (approximately 18m) to throw a hand-size oval metal puck (the Tejo) into the clay pit and try and detonate the firecrackers. Points are gained for the number of explosions triggered in a round of Tejo or distance to the centre of the target. Despite often being seen as a rural, or workingman’s activity, in Bogota, several “High-end” Tejo joints have opened where it’s possible to play Tejo while sipping a fancy cocktail and listening to trendy music. There is no better way to get to know the locals in Colombia than sharing Tejo lanes, drinking a beer, and putting the world to rights!

Minimum registrations required to operate this excursion: 10

What is included: Private transportation, bilingual guide, entry fees, casual dinner, 1 x soft drink, 3 beers per person

Price per person: $120.00 USD / $493.200 COP

Enjoy a panoramic view of Monserrate hilltop by taking the cable car ride to reach the base of the hill that leads up to the hill top view point and monastery of Monserrate. The summit can be reached by either funicular railway or cable car. From the highest point the view across the city will enable you to see the different sectors of Bogota. From La Candelaria and its terracotta tiled roofs to the high rise business sector and then on across the sabana (flat plains) and off in to the distance. The new convent is a pilgrimage site for many Colombians whom make their way past the fourteen Stations of the Cross until reaching the convent. There are a few artisan shops, with others selling snacks and refreshments. Dinner is included at Casa San Isidro restaurant. Atop the beautiful Monserrate Mountain, the citizens of Bogota have been able to enjoy the best French Cuisine in the city for the past 31 years. Since then, the restaurant has become famous for its gastronomic seasons, present throughout the year. Fish in time of lent, a French menu in May and June, lobster in September, wine and champagne in December: always generating new and delicious options for its guests. This colonial building, whose decoration evokes the tranquil and romantic mood of the city in the XIX century, is today the ideal place to taste delicate meats, poultry, rabbit and fish, with the soft whisper of the piano in the background, or if you prefer, on our panoramic balcony with the beautiful sights of Bogota at your feet 

Minimum registrations required to operate this excursion: 10

What is included: Private transportation, bilingual guide, entry fees, cable-car/funicular ride, canelazo drink on arrival, VIP Dinner at San Isidro restaurant (3-course meal + 1 non alcoholic drink + 2 glasses of wine per person)

Price per person: $233.00 USD / $957.630 COP

The Medellin cable car network was the first in the world to focus on urban mobility. It provides not only a spectacular panoramic view across the city but was also key in dramatically improving residents’ mobility and access to the city below . There is much more to experience in the Medellin region than just the dynamic city itself. This half-day trip into the surrounding Andean Mountain countryside yields a wealth of natural and cultural attractions. The development of an integrated urban transport system has been instrumental in the transformation of Medellin. The cable car network now extends from the city up to the Arvi Nature Park, gliding over the treetops, and providing a panoramic view of the Andean Forest below. After a scenic ride by cable car you will reach a local flower farm in Santa Elena municipality, a colourful floral journey through the blossoming industry of flower cultivation and the fascinating culture that surrounds it. Santa Elena village is located less than an hour from Medellin, just 20KM east of the city, and sits in the rolling Andean countryside. The sub-tropical climate, fertile soils, and sheltered hills and valleys are the perfect location for the cultivation of a stunning variety of flowers. The husbandry of cut flowers for export forms an important part of the economy in Colombia, and the mountains surrounding Medellin have become a centre for this colourful industry. There will be time to walk through the flower fields, nurseries and cultivation areas appreciating the colour and scent of the blossoms while interacting with the owners and workers of the plantation, and learning about their lives. While many of the blooms are for commercial sale, both locally and internationally, every year a significant number are dedicated to the yearly Flower Festival, or Feria de las Flores. This festival sees the local “silleteros” or “Saddlemen” wear a harness mounted with a huge round wooden board decorated with ornate designs of flowers and parade through the streets of Medellin. The unique tapestry of woven floral designs is stunning and often represents animals, people, local history or culture. During the festival, Santa Helena is abuzz with activity. One of the local farm workers will demonstrate how the decorated silleteros are made with an array of flowers and colours, then show how the decorated display is mounted and carried. The people of the region are full of tales, stories, and anecdotes, learning about their local culture and traditions is fascinating. Many of today’s silleteros are part of a lineage that for generations has proudly displayed their floral culture with pride, both in the fields and through the streets of the city 

Minimum registrations required to operate this excursion: 10

What is included: Private transportation, bilingual guide, entry fees, cable-car ride, Silletero experience & visit to flower farm, coffee break

Price per person: $137.00 USD / $563.070 COP