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Private tours in Colombia’s Andes

Private Emerald Mine Tours in Colombia

Private Andean tours focused on Colombia’s emerald tourism and mining heritage, from Muzo and Coscuez to Chivor and Gachalá.

  • Max 10 travelers
  • Hosted by locals
  • Flexible dates
  • Secure online payment
  • English & Spanish
Find your experienceAsk on WhatsApp

More emerald tours

Browse all experiences
  • Photo 1 of 4
    Chivor

    2-Day Emerald Mine Tour & Hacienda Stay

    2D / 1NStarts in Chivor
    Next availability: November 14
    FromCOP 475,000/ person
    View details
  • Photo 1 of 4
    Chivor

    Emerald Mines Day Trip: Breakfast & Fiambre Lunch

    1 dayStarts in Chivor
    Next availability: November 14
    FromCOP 370,000/ person
    View details
  • Photo 1 of 4
    Chivor
    Private tour

    2-Day Emerald Mine Tour with 2 Mines, Horseback & Hacienda

    2D / 1NStarts in Chivor
    Next availability: November 14
    FromCOP 850,000/ person
    View details

Emerald tours and Boyacá experiences

Hosted by the families who live here

We are a network of local hosts, not a tour operator. They share what they actually know.

Andean Scapes local hosts in mining helmets in Chivor, Boyacá
Local hosts · Chivor, Boyacá

  • Families and guides from the region

    You travel with the families and guides who have built their lives in these places, not a company rep.

  • Groups capped at 10

    Small enough that your host remembers your name. Big enough to share the moment.

  • Access you can't buy elsewhere

    Some of what we show you, like the mine, the hacienda kitchen and the family farm, exists because of trust built over years.

  • Simple, secure booking

    Reserve your spot with a 25% deposit. Pay the rest on the day. WhatsApp support the whole way.

How we keep things safe

Every host, route and payment method is vetted before it becomes part of the network.

Risk-free booking

  • 25% deposit, rest due on the day
  • Free rescheduling up to 48 hours before
  • End-to-end encrypted payments

Verified on the ground

  • Local guides familiar with each route
  • Fixed, verified meeting points
View our Safety & Logistics Protocol

What travelers say

Reviews from verified Airbnb guests, translated from Spanish.

5.0Verified guest reviews on Airbnb

  • “Heinner is an excellent host.”

    Our stay at Hacienda El Recuerdo was wonderful. A very welcoming and peaceful place. You can truly connect with nature. Yesid and Marlen are very attentive and kind people who made us feel at home. Heinner is an excellent host. It was an excellent experience. The only thing to consider is how you get to the property, since it sits in the middle of the mountains. Overall, it is an unforgettable experience for those of us who love adventure and nature. We hope to return!

  • “It was an incredible experience!”

    I cannot say enough good things about this stay. Heinner was of great help even before we arrived, offering to guide us to the property from the city or arrange transport. His family lives here and they are all so kind and welcoming that we felt like we were visiting friends right away. Heinner is deeply involved in the local community and organised a tour so we could visit the local emerald mines! It was an incredible experience! We enjoyed walking the property, watching birds and even milking cows. All our meals were homemade by Heinner's mother and they were perfect. The wifi was fast and reliable and they have a great coworking space with desks.

  • “We felt at home.”

    Our stay at Hacienda El Recuerdo was very pleasant. Our hosts Marlen, Yesid, Heinner, Kyra and Luna were very attentive, always looking after whatever we needed. The room was very comfortable and we slept wonderfully. The food was delicious and prepared with great love. We felt at home. Staying at El Recuerdo is a great option — it is not only about resting, but about getting to know the surroundings, doing ecotourism activities, meeting the locals, our roots, and appreciating the wonders of our country. We recommend it and we will return!

More reviews and bookings on

Trust statistics

Average rating
5.0
Travelers hosted
500+
Would recommend
98%

From idea to experience in 4 steps

  1. Browse

    Filter by destination, type and duration to find what fits your trip.

  2. Pick your dates

    Choose an open date and tell us how many are coming.

  3. Reserve with 25%

    Secure your spot with a small deposit. We'll confirm by WhatsApp within the hour.

  4. Show up

    Your host meets you at the starting point. Everything else is taken care of.

Emerald Tourism in Colombia

We specialize in private tours in the Colombian Andes, with a special focus on emerald destinations, local mining heritage and community-led experiences.

Andean Scapes creates private tours in Colombia’s Andes for local and international travelers, with a special focus on emerald tourism, mining heritage and local communities.
Our departures currently run in Chivor, Boyacá, in Colombia's eastern emerald belt. You enter real, working emerald mines with a local guide, helmet and boots, alongside local miners: they are not coal mines or mock-ups built for tourists. Choose a day trip (1 mine and a hike), a 2-day/1-night tour (1 mine and a hike) or a 2-day/1-night tour with 2 mines and horseback riding. Finding an emerald is possible but never guaranteed.
Chivor is about 5–6 hours by car from Bogotá: take the road towards Tunja, turn down into the Tenza Valley at El Sisga and continue to Chivor; the last stretch is an unpaved mountain road. You can reach Chivor town by bus, car or motorbike, and from there our local 4x4 takes you to the mine, included in every tour. We also offer a private round-trip 4x4 transfer from Bogotá at extra cost; the price is per vehicle and covers up to 4 people.
You do spend the day alongside miners, with safety gear and a guide, but it is a visitor experience, not mining work. Finding an emerald is not guaranteed: it can happen, and if a stone turns up it is agreed on the spot with the miners and the guide. The real value is the emerald culture, nature and food of the region.
You always enter with a local guide and safety gear (helmet and boots), in mines with controlled access. Every tour includes medical assistance cover during the experience, and the team checks local and mine conditions before each departure. Inside the mine there is water, mud and uneven ground, so moderate to high physical effort is needed; if you have a heart condition, a severe phobia or reduced mobility, ask us before booking.
Colombia has two main emerald zones in the Eastern Andes: western Boyacá (Muzo, Coscuez and San Pablo de Borbur) and the east (Chivor, Gachalá and the Guavio region). They are separate destinations, several hours apart by road. Check the experiences page to see which destinations have dates available.
First the team confirms availability for your date; then you pay a deposit of 25% to 30% of the total, depending on the tour (the exact percentage is shown when you book), to secure the booking. The balance is paid according to the tour conditions. We never ask for full payment before confirming your booking.
Yes. You can cancel or reschedule up to 7 days before the tour, a maximum of 2 times. After that deadline the deposit is non-refundable and any change is subject to costs already incurred, such as insurance or booked meals.
Yes, from age 5. Expect hiking, mud and humidity, so they suit families who enjoy adventure; groups with young children need to check with the team first. Every participant, adult or child, counts as one place: there is no child rate.
Yes, we are pet-friendly. In Chivor, on every tour, dogs can enter the mine with the group and stay at the hacienda. They must be vaccinated and under control; arrange it with the team when you book.
Chivor sits at about 2,000 m, with a cool climate and cold nights. The dry season runs from December to February and the rainy season from May to August. The mine always has wet areas, so bring waterproof clothing in the rainy season.
Shoes that can get wet and muddy, a full change of clothes, a small towel, a light or waterproof jacket, a water bottle, sunscreen, a cap, your personal medication and cash for local expenses. We provide the helmet and safety boots for the mine.
Yes. In Chivor, the 2-day/1-night tours include 4 meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 traditional packed lunch (fiambre) and 1 dinner; the day trip includes breakfast and a packed lunch. The menu is local, and we accommodate dietary restrictions if you tell us when booking.
Tours are guided in Spanish. If you need support in another language, we can arrange a translator at extra cost; ask us before booking.
Private, locally guided tours are our focus. We tailor the itinerary to your group, interests and dates, with a special focus on emerald tourism and the Andes’ cultural and natural heritage.
We focus on private tours tailored to your group. Availability, itinerary and inclusions depend on the destination and selected plan.
After reserving, the team confirms availability and shares the detailed itinerary, meeting point, preparation notes and any required coordination before the trip.
Yes. Travelers can contact Andean Scapes before booking to confirm details, dates, transportation options, group size or special needs.
In many cases, yes. The team can help adjust timing, transportation, lodging, meals or activities depending on availability and the type of experience.
No. Andean Scapes welcomes both Colombian and international travelers looking for authentic, local and well-organized experiences.
Traveler with a camera and mining helmet in a green valley in Chivor

Plan Your Private Andes Tour

Tell us your dates, group size and interests. Ask about destinations, guide languages and itinerary options before choosing your tour.

Reserve your experienceWhatsApp us

Who comes on our trips

Two travelers examining a raw emerald at a table

For couples who want time to themselves

  • Private hosts
  • Quiet landscapes
  • Stays with space to truly disconnect
Find your experience

Colombia’s Emerald Regions

Map showing Bogotá and Chivor, Boyacá, Colombia

  • Emerald country: Muzo, Coscuez, Chivor and Gachalá

  • Chivor and San Pablo de Borbur are east of Bogotá

  • Local transport depends on the trip; Bogotá transfers are optional and listed on each page

  • Itineraries built around your dates and group

  • Language support varies by experience; check each trip page

  • See each experience page for trip length and inclusions

Plan your route

Your private Colombian Andes tour starts with one date.

Reserve with 25% today. Your local host confirms details by WhatsApp.

Reserve your experienceAsk us on WhatsApp first