Santa Marta:
We spent 2 days acclimatizing to the 32 degree heat and humidity in Santa Marta with hourly swims in the pool at the Drop Bear 
hostel – An old drug cartel mansion which has been converted (by an Aussie) into a fully functional hostel equiped with pool and bar right beside it – right up our alley on such hot days 😉
Our room was about the same size as my entire apartment in Dee Why, with a bathroom you could get lost in. You could just image the way it used to be back in the days when it was owned by the cartel, with each room have an intercom system to warn about empending police raids and such shenanigans!!
The For those traveling I can highly recommend Drop Bear hostel, as well as Dreamer Hostel. Dreamer was a bit more out of town but had a massive shopping Centre opposite it, with its own pool and seemed more like a resort than hostel. Feedback from other travelers was that it was the best hostel for price they had stayed!!
Tayrona Parque Nation
This magical national park is located about 45mins by local bus (always interesting with locals) from Santa Marta.
Tayrona is famed for Colombia’s lost city which rivals Machu Pichu however the only way to get to it is a 4 day hike which we are not exactly equipped for… Much more of the beach going travel kit with goggle, snorkel, fins, rash vest, gopro underwater dome and triggers and every surf accessory I can carry!!
From the main gate, once you have paid your entry fee ($40000 pesos) its another short bus ride up the road before you have to embark on a fairly mammoth 2 – 3 hour walk through the Rain Forest, between the palmed Jungle and across what seems like the hottest sand beach I have ever been on. I’m sure the soles of my shoes melted somewhat and accumulated some sand with the rubber. The brochure said there would be a 2 hour walk, which in normal land means it’s about an hour walk for those in SA, Aus or NZ… Not in Colombia however! It was at that point when I was seriously glad we decided not to do the 3 day trek, I recon we would have died!
The scenery, jungles and beaches are however pretty damn impressive and the walk was definitely worth it all. Cabo San Juan is at the end of the walk with the picture perfect beach cove, and hammocks strewn up under thatch roofs. We decided to spend the night and head back the following day (after a few recovery beers that afternoon), as we were able to rent a tent with mattress for the same price as 2x hammocks. In all honesty we weren’t quite at the point of ready to sleep in Hammocks with about 60 other people within centre meters of each other. It all worked out well and the tent experience was awesome with no Mozzies to be heard, seen or more importantly felt!
We were lucky enough to have some early morning entertainment with some of the locals climbing up all the palm trees and cutting all the coconuts down… meant Monday morning we woke up to a warm ocean swim followed by desayuno (breakfast) of coconut and milk!
After taking a slow walk back the next day we had a welcomed swim at the hostel and headed off for the Hotter climate of Cartegena, 5 hours along the coast… a Most Beautiful town/city
Some Tips for those traveling to Tayrona:
- Wear shoes for the walk, not thongs
- Take enough water to carry as you’ll need it through the walk
- There is a restaurant and drinks kiosk when you are there so take enough cash – $150 pesos was more than enough for 2x pax
- GO EARLY!!
- Que for the Hammocks before check-in time as it’s a slow and very sleepy process (The lady behind the counter actually fell asleep which checking us in, too funny!)
- I would advise staying for at least one night otherwise it is just a good 5 hour walk that day!
Enjoy the Pics as per below and also keep track of our whereabouts on the map of our trip!
Hasta pronto mi amigos
:Neil:
