New Year in Colombia — Cali, the Coffee Region & the Pacific Coast

Introduction

8 Days / 7 Nights

Salsa city to cloud forest, and back again for midnight.

Your journey begins in Cali, a city where music spills into the streets, conversations last longer than expected, and life moves to its own rhythm. After settling in, you'll feel the "Brisa caleña" roll down from the mountains, wander the alumbrado lights along the Cali River Boulevard, and dive into Delirio — more than a show, a full celebration of everything that makes Cali unique. From there the group heads into the mountains of the Coffee Region: thermal springs hidden in the forest, the colorful, unhurried streets of Salento, and a hike beneath the tallest wax palms on Earth in Cocora Valley. Then it's back to Cali, where the year turns over in the city streets — dinner, verbenas, Viche, and salsa until midnight. The final days leave room to choose your own adventure — San Cipriano's rainforest rivers or paragliding above the valley — before an optional extension to Juanchaco on the Pacific Coast, where the only plan is to have none at all.

Optional 5-day Pacific Coast add on January 3-7

Journey Highlights

At a glance

Salsa city to cloud forest, and back again for midnight.

Juanchaco, Pacific Coast

Map

Day 1 - Cali Arrival, Alumbrado & Delirio Night

Experience Cali's Lights and Delirio Show

Arrival in Cali

Your journey begins in Cali, a city where music spills into the streets, conversations last longer than expected, and life seems to move to its own rhythm. After arriving and settling in, we'll step into the energy of the city as the afternoon arrives with the renowned 'Brisa caleña,' a fresh breeze rolling down from the surrounding mountains.

Wander Cali River Boulevard Alumbrado

You'll get a first glimpse of local life wandering through vibrant neighborhoods and experiencing the 'alumbrado,' a beautiful array of lights displayed along the Cali River Boulevard.

Cali River, Cali, Colombia

Delirio Show

At night, we dive straight into one of Colombia's most iconic cultural experiences: Delirio — more than a show, a celebration of everything that makes Cali unique. This is where the immersive journey begins.

Day 2 - Santa Rosa de Cabal, Coffee Region & Thermal Springs

Journey to Coffee Region and Thermal Springs

Leave Cali for Coffee Region

This morning we leave the city behind and head into the mountains of Colombia's Coffee Region. As the landscape changes and the weather cools, busy streets give way to green valleys, cloud-covered peaks, and small towns shaped by generations of coffee growers.

Bandeja Paisa Lunch

We'll stop for the typical 'Bandeja Paisa,' the dish created by the 'arrieros' to help them withstand hard labor days with just one meal.

Arrive at Santa Rosa de Cabal Thermal Springs

By afternoon we arrive at the thermal springs of Santa Rosa de Cabal. Hidden within the mountains and surrounded by lush forest, these natural pools offer the perfect opportunity to slow down and settle into the pace of the region — warm mineral waters, fresh mountain air, and the sound of nearby waterfalls creating an environment built for rest, reflection, and connection.

Day 3 - Salento, Coffee Region & Free Afternoon

Explore Salento's Colorful Streets and Cafés

Arrive in Salento, Coffee Region

Today we continue deeper into the Coffee Region and arrive in Salento, one of Colombia's most beloved mountain towns. Colorful facades, cobblestone streets, local cafés, and sweeping views of the surrounding valleys create a place that feels both vibrant and unhurried — the kind of town where plans naturally give way to wandering.

Free Afternoon in Salento

The afternoon is yours to explore: sit in the main square and watch daily life unfold, discover local artisan workshops, climb to a viewpoint overlooking the mountains, or simply enjoy a coffee grown on the hillsides surrounding you. Tonight, we settle into the rhythm of mountain life.

Wander Calle Real, Salento

Enjoy the colorful street of Calle Real in Salento, exploring its vibrant facades and local atmosphere.

Colorful street in Salento, Quindío

Day 4 - Cocora Valley & Filandia

Hike Among Wax Palms and Explore Filandia

Cocora Valley & Filandia

This morning we set out for the Cocora Valley, home to Colombia's national tree and one of the most extraordinary landscapes in South America. Towering wax palms rise hundreds of feet above the valley floor, creating a landscape that feels almost impossible. As we hike through forests, rivers, and open meadows, we experience one of the country's most iconic natural environments from the inside. Later we travel to Filandia, a town that has preserved much of the character and charm that first defined the Coffee Region — colorful streets, local traditions, and a slower pace. This is a day about perspective: standing beneath the tallest palms on Earth, and experiencing communities that remain deeply connected to the land around them.

Hiking in Cocora Valley

Hike through forests, rivers, and open meadows in Cocora Valley, experiencing Colombia's national tree and extraordinary landscapes.

Explore Filandia

Visit Filandia, a town that has preserved much of the character and charm that first defined the Coffee Region — colorful streets, local traditions, and a slower pace.

Day 5 - Back to Cali

Celebrate New Year's Eve with Verbenas in Cali

Back to Cali

After days in the mountains, we return to Cali carrying a different understanding of the landscapes and traditions that shape this part of Colombia. The afternoon is intentionally open — rest, explore, or simply enjoy the city at your own pace before the evening's celebration.

New Year's Eve · Verbenas

Tonight, we gather for a special New Year's Eve dinner and street parties called "verbenas." Whole blocks throw a party, sharing Viche (a Pacific-region sugarcane liquor) and homemade food while dancing to salsa and local rhythms. As midnight approaches, we welcome the year ahead surrounded by new local friends and memories already becoming stories.

Day 6 - New Year's Day, Cali

Unscheduled Day to Explore Cali

New Year's Day, Cali

The first day of the year arrives without an agenda. Sleep in, explore, slow down, or join a salsa experience that offers a deeper connection to the city that helped make this dance a global phenomenon. Some of the most memorable moments of travel happen when nothing is scheduled — a conversation, a hidden café, an unexpected invitation, a street performance that wasn't part of the plan. Today leaves space for exactly that.

Day 7 - Choose Your Adventure: San Cipriano or Paragliding

Rainforest Adventure or Paragliding Above Cali

Choose Your Adventure: San Cipriano or Paragliding

Today offers two very different ways to experience the natural beauty surrounding Cali. We'll venture into San Cipriano, a rainforest paradise known for crystal-clear rivers, dense jungle, hidden waterfalls, and one of the most unique transportation experiences in Colombia — the 'brujita,' a motorbike-powered rail cart that is the only way in or out of town. Or, for those seeking a different perspective, paragliding above the valley offers sweeping views of the mountains, countryside, and landscapes that have accompanied us throughout the journey. Whichever path you choose, today is about stepping beyond the familiar and experiencing the region from a new angle.

San Cipriano Rainforest Adventure

Venture into San Cipriano, a rainforest paradise known for crystal-clear rivers, dense jungle, hidden waterfalls, and the unique 'brujita' motorbike-powered rail cart.

Paragliding Above the Valley

Experience paragliding above the valley for sweeping views of the mountains, countryside, and landscapes surrounding Cali.

Day 8 - Departure from Cali

Farewell to Colombia and Departure

Departure from Cali

Every Outsiders journey eventually comes to an end, but the places that stay with us are rarely defined by landmarks alone. They're remembered through conversations shared around a table, unexpected encounters, landscapes that felt larger than ourselves, and the people who experienced them alongside us. We hope you leave with a connection to this place, its people, and the stories that make it unlike anywhere else.

Juanchaco, Pacific Coast

OPTIONAL ADD ON

OPTIONAL ADD ON EXPERIENCE

January 3rd - 7th

Juanchaco, Pacific Coast

There are places that ask you to move faster. Juanchaco asks you to slow down.

Hidden on Colombia's Pacific Coast, deep within Bahía Málaga, this remote fishing village is where rainforest and ocean exist in perfect balance. Life here follows the rhythm of the tides, the songs of birds at sunrise, and the endless sound of waves breaking along wild beaches.

Juanchaco isn't about rushing from one activity to the next. It's about waking up slowly, sipping coffee while looking out at the Pacific, sharing stories over fresh seafood, walking deserted beaches, and letting nature set the pace. For many travelers, this becomes one of the most memorable stops in Colombia — a place to disconnect from the noise and reconnect with yourself, with nature, and with a simpler way of living.

January is an especially beautiful time to visit — warm days, lush rainforest, calm waters, and a peaceful atmosphere create the perfect setting to begin the year with intention and presence. Or simply do nothing at all: sometimes the most meaningful experience is sitting quietly on a wooden terrace, watching the Pacific stretch endlessly before you, and realizing there is nowhere else you need to be.

Kayak through the mangroves of Bahía Málaga

Explore the hidden waterfalls of Cascadas Las Sierpes

Visit the natural pools of Piscinas Tres Marías

Relax on the secluded beaches of Chucheros, Colombia

Snorkel and swim in the crystal-clear waters of Negritos

Experience bioluminescent plankton on a nighttime excursion

Important Notice

Rain is often part of the experience, especially on Colombia's Pacific Coast, where sunshine and tropical showers naturally alternate throughout the day. Rather than interrupting your plans, the rain adds to the atmosphere — misty jungle landscapes, dramatic ocean views, and peaceful moments to slow down and take it all in. Pack light rain gear and quick-dry clothing, and embrace the rhythm of this extraordinary ecosystem.

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Map

1. Cali

Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

2. Santa Rosa de Cabal Thermal Springs

Termales de Santa Rosa de Cabal, Santa Rosa de Cabal, Risaralda, Colombia

3. Salento

Salento, Quindío, Colombia

4. Cocora Valley

Valle de Cocora, Quindío, Colombia

5. Filandia

Filandia, Quindío, Colombia

6. San Cipriano

San Cipriano, Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

7. Juanchaco (Pacific Coast Add-On)

Juanchaco, Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, Colombia