Colombia Fitness & Adventure Retreat: Cartagena, Santa Marta & Tayrona

Days 1 to 3 are based in Cartagena. You meet at the hotel, do an opening session and a stretch class, then eat dinner together as a group. Day two starts with a workout and breakfast before a private walking tour of the city, followed by a salsa dancing lesson in the evening. Day three is the boat day: a private charter out to the Rosario Islands with a workout on the beach, swimming stops, a group lunch and a slow afternoon in the sun. Both of those evenings are free, so you can find your own dinner in Getsemani.

On day four the group moves north to Santa Marta, with a lunch stop in the town on the way. You check into Cayena Beach Villa in the afternoon, do an evening stretch class and eat dinner on site with the Sierra Nevada mountains in the background. Day five is the Tayrona National Natural Park hike — flora, fauna and a walk out to the beaches, lunch in the park, and the option to do it on horseback instead. Day six is deliberately blank: a morning workout and breakfast, then a free day where you can book the lazy river tubing trip (extra cost) or simply stay put. There's an afternoon stretch class and a group dinner to close it out.

Day seven is breakfast and a closing session before transfers to Santa Marta or Barranquilla airport.

The workouts are led by Coach Beth and change shape through the week — bodyweight strength training, a "Butts & Guts" session, and mindful stretching on the lighter days. The point is variety rather than a fixed programme, and the classes are pitched so that people at different levels can work side by side. Nobody is going to be left behind on the hike either; it's a walk at group pace with plenty of stops for photos.

What separates this from a standard beach retreat is the geography. Most Colombia fitness weeks plant you in one place. This one gives you the colonial city and the Caribbean coast in the same trip, plus two genuinely different accommodation styles — a boutique hotel in a busy neighbourhood and a beachfront villa with its own fitness area. The two included nights out at group dinners are balanced against two free evenings in Cartagena and a full free day in Santa Marta, so it doesn't feel like a coach tour.

Getting there: fly into Cartagena (CTG) and home from Santa Marta (SMR) or Barranquilla (BAQ). Flights aren't included, and you'll want to book the multi-city route early, since it isn't the cheapest ticket to put together.

What's included

- 7 days / 6 nights accommodation at boutique hotels in Cartagena and Santa Marta - Daily workouts led by Coach Beth - Island hopping tour through the Rosario Islands with private boat charter, beach workout and lunch - Salsa dancing lesson - Private walking tour of Cartagena's Getsemani area - Hiking excursion in Tayrona National Natural Park with beach time - Visit to the town of Santa Marta - Breakfast every morning - Dinner every night except two free nights in Cartagena - Select lunches on group tours - Transportation from Cartagena to Santa Marta - Transportation from the Santa Marta hotel to Santa Marta or Barranquilla airport on the final day - Free time for relaxing or additional excursions at extra cost (bike tour, surfing, spa and more)

What's not included

- Flights to Cartagena (CTG) and from Santa Marta (SMR) or Barranquilla (BAQ) - Travel insurance - Two free dinners in Cartagena - Most lunches on non-tour days - Optional activities such as lazy river tubing, surfing, horseback riding, bike tours and spa treatments - Personal expenses - $500 deposit is non-refundable