Phone Friendly Itinerary (English)

Cash plan — San Carlos Servibanca ATM

Withdraw the COP 4,090,000 school balance from the Servibanca ATM in San Carlos (Cra. 20 #19-69) on Monday or Tuesday — the school collects payment in its office on Wednesday. International cards can withdraw up to COP 2,000,000 per transaction (verified Oct 28, 2026), so exactly three withdrawals cover the balance (COP 2,000,000 + 2,000,000 + 90,000); the Wealthsimple CA$3,000 daily limit is sufficient, with no withdrawal or FX fee from Wealthsimple. The Servibanca foreign-card fee is estimated at COP 22,000–27,000 per withdrawal (about CA$28–35 total for the three withdrawals). Decline CAD conversion; withdraw in pesos. MDE airport ATMs are only for small journey cash (bus ~COP 30,000 + incidentals), not the school balance.

Pre-departure checklist

Complete this close to departure and keep the proof handy.

Complete the free Check-Mig form between 72 hours and 1 hour before the Dec 5 flight at Migración Colombia’s official pre-registration page, then save the confirmation on your phone and print a copy.
Pay the Canadian reciprocity entry fee of COP 270,000 (≈CA$85–90) online in advance, or pay by card at immigration on arrival.

Day-by-day itinerary

Key details come first; open each card for transport tips.

Spanish immersion

San Carlos

Dec 6–20 · 14 nights

Confirmed

Spanish AdventurePrivate room, queen bed, private bathroom with hot water

Sat 5
Depart Montreal
Air Canada at 11:05 PM. Arrive at MDE the next day at 9:10 AM via Bogotá.
Sun 6
Arrive at MDE → San Carlos
Land at José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) in Rionegro at 09:10. No shared ride is currently confirmed around the 9:00 AM arrival. Per the school's email, it will coordinate and confirm the transfer arrangement on Friday, Dec 4, then update you directly — no decision is needed yet. If there is no shared option, choose between a private transfer (COP 400,000 solo) and the bus via Terminal del Norte (~COP 30,000, 3.5–4 hours); the school will send clear bus instructions if needed. Keep a little COP cash on hand for the journey regardless.
7–19
Classes + adventures
Intensive Spanish, rivers, tubing, and waterfalls. Guatapé & El Peñol excursion included with the school.
Sun 20
Bus to Medellín
Depart from the main square for Terminal del Norte, about 3½–4 hours.

Transport tip

For the private transfer, do not backtrack through downtown Medellín: MDE is in Rionegro, already on the way to San Carlos, and the driver goes directly to San Carlos. The bus fallback instead goes via Terminal del Norte in Medellín before continuing to San Carlos.

Lights & neighborhoods

Medellín

Dec 20–24 · 4 nights

Booked

Golden Valley HotelCalle 9 #43C-32 · El Poblado · Executive Suite · breakfast · CA$269.32 paid

Sun 20
Alumbrados Navideños
Hotel check-in, dinner, then the lights at Parques del Río.
Mon 21
Centro + Metrocable
Plaza Botero, Museo de Antioquia, and views from Santo Domingo.
Tue 22
Comuna 13 + Poblado tours · booked
9:30 AM — “Graffiti Tour Comuna 13 Magical” by Aic Tour (2.5 hrs, ending around 12:00 PM). Meet at the main exit of San Javier metro station. 4:00 PM — “The Great Poblado Free Tour: from Provenza to Manila” by Beyond Colombia (2.5–3 hrs, ending around 7:00 PM in Provenza). Meet at El Social Tienda Mixta in Provenza; look for the red umbrella. Both were booked free through GuruWalk on Oct 6, 2026. Tip guidance: COP 30,000–50,000 (CA$13–22) per tour, cash only; both guides accept tips at the end. Dinner follows in Provenza.
Wed 23
Free day
Parque Arví or Jardín Botánico + Mercado del Río.

Christmas on the coast

Cartagena

Dec 24–28 · 4 nights

Booked

Hotel Don Pedro de HerediaWalled City · city/tower view · breakfast · CA$517 payable at the hotel

Thu 24
Flight MDE → CTG · booked
Leave the Golden Valley Hotel in the morning and aim to be at MDE airport by about 7:00 AM. JetSMART JA5420, 9:03 → 10:17 AM, nonstop (schedule changed by JetSMART, notified Oct 27, 2026 — booking ref U6CV6S). Booked through Expedia · checked bag included · CA$126.76 paid. Re-issue your boarding pass with the new times before travel. Arrive in Cartagena mid-morning, drop your bags at Hotel Don Pedro de Heredia (room likely ready around 3:00 PM), and spend the day in the Walled City. Christmas Eve dinner: La Vitrola, 9:00 PM — RESERVED. Live Cuban band during the dinner seatings. Dress code: long pants, no shorts. A week before, on Dec 17, message the Golden Valley Hotel to confirm Dec 24 breakfast hours, an early takeaway breakfast before the ~06:00 departure, and booking the 06:00 airport taxi; reconfirm at the front desk on Dec 23.
Fri 25
Christmas Day in the Walled City
Slow Christmas Day in the Walled City: Cathedral, Santo Domingo church, Plaza Bolívar, Clock Tower; coffee at Ábaco bookstore-café. Afternoon: walk the city walls + Las Bóvedas artisan shops. (Several museums are closed or on reduced hours today.) Sunset drinks on the Movich Hotel rooftop. Easy dinner around Plaza Santo Domingo.
Sat 26
San Felipe Castle + museums + Getsemaní night
San Felipe Castle at opening (~8:00 AM, before the heat). Naval Museum of the Caribbean + San Pedro Claver church and museum. Lunch + siesta break. Zenú Gold Museum + Inquisition Palace (Plaza Bolívar). Evening in Getsemaní: dinner (Celele is the candidate — NOT booked, decision pending; tasting menu COP 465,000 per person if chosen) → cocktails at Alquímico → Plaza de la Trinidad.
Sun 27
Getsemaní street art + Café del Mar
Getsemaní street art in daylight: Calle de la Sierpe murals, Callejón Angosto, Plaza de la Trinidad. Lunch in Getsemaní (Demente). Emerald Museum; last pass at Las Bóvedas; pack. Sunset at Café del Mar on the wall. Early night — flight to Bogotá tomorrow at 8:29 AM.

Room note

The city view faces the street and can be noisy on lively evenings. Pack earplugs. At check-in, confirm whether the “Tower” category truly guarantees a tower view.

New Year’s in Zona T

Bogotá

Dec 28–Jan 2 · 5 nights

Paid

Hotel Saint SimonCarrera 14 #81-34 · Zona T · breakfast · CA$204 paid

Mon 28
Flight CTG → BOG · booked
Wake around 5:15–5:30 AM and leave the hotel around 6:00 AM. JetSMART JA5153, 8:29 → 10:05 AM, nonstop (1h 36m). Booked by Dany via Expedia on Oct 4, 2026 · ticket managed by Expedia · 23 kg checked bag included · CA$132 paid. Reach Hotel Saint Simon around 11:30 AM and leave your bags with its 24-hour reception and luggage storage. Take a light La Candelaria stroll and visit the Botero Museum (open Mondays 9:00 AM–7:00 PM, free), then return around 3:00 PM to check in, rest, and have an early night.
Tue 29
Gold Museum + La Candelaria + Bogotá Graffiti Tour · booked
Visit the Gold Museum, then continue to the remaining La Candelaria sights, including Plaza de Bolívar and the cathedral. The Gold Museum is closed Mondays and the Botero Museum is closed Tuesdays (verified Oct 4, 2026), which is why the museums are split across Dec 28 and Dec 29. 2:00 PM — Bogotá Graffiti Tour (the original, artist-run tour) — BOOKED, booking reference BGT-2EE664-20261023. Meets at Parque de los Periodistas, La Candelaria — look for the blue umbrella. About 2.5 hours. Nothing paid yet: suggested donation US$17 / COP 60,000 in cash to the guide on the day.
Wed 30
Zipaquirá
Trip to the Salt Cathedral, about 1½ hours north.
Thu 31
Chapinero + New Year’s Eve at Andrés D.C. — not booked yet, decision pending
Cafés during the day in Chapinero. New Year’s Eve at Andrés D.C. (Calle 82 #12-21, near the hotel): “Año Nuevo Vida Nueva 2026-2027”, announced Oct 26, 2026. Entry from 7:00 PM until dawn, music by Los 50 de Joselito, adults only. Bogotá tickets: bar COP 340,000 / table COP 390,000 per person, including two starters, a main course, a dessert, a glass of champagne and the traditional año viejo kit; drinks extra. Non-refundable, limited spots. Booking is by sending personal details to the venue for a payment link, with 12 hours to pay. Nothing is booked yet — the decision is still pending.
Fri 1
Monserrate hike
Hike to Monserrate at 3,152 m. After four days in Bogotá, you will be better acclimatized than on arrival day after a 5:15 AM wake-up.
Sat 2
Return to Montreal
Leave the hotel around 11:00 AM. Avianca AV200, 2:00 PM → 8:45 PM.

What to pack

Bogotá is cool in the evening, especially at Monserrate. Bring a warm layer and a light jacket.

Still to book

Only the reservations that remain outstanding.

Remaining reservations

Dec 31 dinner/celebration in Zona T

Connectivity — eSIM (all free via credit card, nothing to buy)

• Dec 5: activate GigSky 1 GB → valid Dec 5–19 (San Carlos)

• Dec 20: activate Flexiroam 1 GB → valid Dec 20–24 (must be used before end of 2026)

• Dec 25: activate GigSky 10 GB → valid Dec 25–Jan 8 (cities, Christmas & New Year)

• Spare: second GigSky 1 GB

Trip budget

Amounts in Canadian dollars, based on available bookings and estimates.

Total projection

CA$6,900–7,600

Includes a buffer for food, outings, and everyday expenses.

Confirmed

CA$5,327.08

International flights · both domestic flights · Spanish Adventure · Medellín, Cartagena, and Bogotá hotels

Still to budget

≈CA$98 by bus
≈CA$257 private solo

Canadian reciprocity entry fee ≈CA$85 · airport transfer: ~CA$13 by bus or ~CA$172 private solo (400,000 COP)

Confirmed CA$5,327.08Remaining ≈CA$98 bus / ≈CA$257 private

Spanish Adventure

COP 4,190,000 · ≈ CA$1,805

Adventure package: COP 3,200,000
Private room: COP 495,000/week × 2 = COP 990,000
Deposit paid: COP 100,000
Balance: COP 4,090,000 · ≈ CA$1,762

The 4% card fee is confirmed by the school (via email, Oct 2026): card total COP 4,253,600. Cash is the primary plan (see withdrawal plan above). Fallback: pay by Wealthsimple Visa credit card — 2% cash back and no foreign transaction fee bring the net cost of the 4% fee to ~COP 78,500 (~CA$34).

Colombia entry fee

COP 270,000 · ≈ CA$85–90

Canadian citizens pay the reciprocity entry fee when entering Colombia. Pay in advance online on migracioncolombia.gov.co or by card at immigration on arrival.

Daily expenses

Food + outings estimate: CA$40–60/day.

Local transport: add about CA$10–15/day depending on taxi/ride-hailing use.

Both domestic flights are booked and paid. The remaining estimate is approximately CA$98 with the bus or approximately CA$257 with the solo private transfer; both totals include the approximately CA$85 entry fee.