Fly from London Heathrow by Air France via Paris (1 hour) to Caracas (9 hours 30 minutes). On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Embassy Suites Hotel.

You will have a morning tour of Caracas. Starting in the historic centre of Plaza Bolívar, originally called Plaza de Armas, it adopted its current name in 1883 on the hundredth’s birthday of Simón Bolívar, whose statue overlooks the square. His birthplace is next, a colonial house enriched by precious period pieces and paintings by famous artists such as Tito Salas who captured the most important highlights of El Libertador’s life. Also visit the Capitolio, the Legislative Palace and the Federal Palace where the golden keys to Simón Bolívar’s mausoleum are kept.

Morning flight from Caracas via Puerto Ordaz to Canaima (3 hours 10 minutes). Stay at Tapuy Lodge on the shores of the Canaima Lagoon. In the afternoon, take a boat ride on Canaima Lagoon which is surrounded by seven cascades, the jungle and the tepuys in the background

Free. You can relax in the beautiful gardens of the lodge and view the Canaima Lagoon Falls, or take an optional excursion by air to Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfall, (subject to local weather conditions).

Enjoy some free time to explore the area.

Return by air via Puerto Ordaz to Caracas. From Caracas, continue by air to Bogota (1 hour 50 minutes). On arrival, you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Morrison. Stay here for 3 nights.

Today is spent exploring Bogota and Monserrate. La Candelaria is the city’s historic area with many typically Spanish colonial buildings and we will visit some of these including the cathedral, which holds a collection of important liturgical, textile and ornamental objects spanning four centuries. Nearby is the Capilla del Sagrario, the religious architectural jewel of the city. Also visit two highly contrasting museums; the Botero Museum that houses works donated by the artist Fernando Botero and others by Picasso, Renoir, Dali, Matisse and Monet; and also the world famous Gold Museum. This ‘Museo del Oro’ houses nearly 34,000 gold objects and 20,000 in stone, ceramic, textiles and precious stones from many cultures and is regarded as the most important collection of its kind worldwide. Later, travel by cable car to the sanctuary of Monserrate (3,210 metres above sea-level), from where there are magnificent views of Bogota and where you will have lunch.

At Zipaquira, we visit the remarkable underground Salt Cathedral, a magnificent work of engineering.

Fly to Cartagena (1 hour 20 minutes). On arrival, transfer to the historic and beautiful Sofitel Santa Clara Hotel, located in the heart of the old town. Cartagena de Indias on the north Colombian coast is without doubt the country’s most captivating city. This UNESCO World Heritage site has the most extensive series of fortifications in South America and has a wealth of colonial gems. Your afternoon sightseeing in Cartagena concentrates on the delightful historic centre as well as the church of La Popa and the fort of San Felipe.

Free. An optional tour to the Islas del Rosario (an archipelago about 40kms away from Cartagena) can be booked locally.

The morning is free. Late afternoon flight to Panama City (1 hour). On arrival, transfer to the Holiday Inn Panama Canal. Stay here for 3 nights.

Morning tour of Panama City including the delightful old colonial districts, and a visit to the excellent Museum of the Panama Canal.

In the morning, you will have a partial transit of the Panama Canal. The actual duration and distance navigated on the canal is always controlled by the Panama Canal Authority. However, your boat should negotiate the two sets of locks – Miraflores and Pedro Miguel at the Pacific side of the canal – with the boat being raised by a total of some 26 metres. A commentary is given during the cruise.

The morning is free. Evening departure from Panama City by KLM flight to Amsterdam (10 ½ hours).

Early afternoon arrival at Amsterdam, continuing by KLM to London Heathrow.