The Trip To Colombia

Chilling In Taganga

The trip to Colombia was not a solo trip in the sense that I didn’t go on my own , but with 2 other bold, brave and beautiful women. I went on this trip with one of my best friends from high school and my 65 year-old aunt. My friend Flora was born in Colombia and is fluent in Spanish which was helpful as my Spanish is very broken and my aunt’s is non-existent.

The Trip to Taganga

So we headed to Colombia Labor Day weekend (USA),the trip lasted 11 days. We flew into Barranquilla, rented a car and drove to Taganga which is about a 15 minute drive from Santa Marta. The drive was beautiful along the Caribbean sea even the few rough spots where you can see the poverty and hardship of life in certain places. The drive was a little over 2 hours. I will say, if you plan and doing this drive be sure to get cash at the Airport for tolls. There are 2 toll booths on the way from Barranquilla to Taganga and they will not take any other currency but Colombian pesos. We learned this the hard way. We got to the toll booth and the woman was very indifferent to the fact that we just arrived to the country and only had US currency. We ended up exchanging with one of the peddlers at the toll booth who sieged the opportunity to take advantage of the fact that we were desperate and gave us a very bad rate on our exchange. one other quick note: if you plan on adventuring and you would be foolish to go to that region and not explore, do get a 4 wheel drive. Although the main roads are pretty good the roads in the villages can be very bad and there are many hills to maneuver. Of course you can always fly into Santa Marta Airport and skip the drive, but what fun would that be? Also, it is a good idea to get cash as many places in the small villages do not accept credit cards.

Taganga

I absolutely love this place! This is one of my favorite places I have visited. It is lively, the people are incredibly nice and there is never a dull moment. We rented a house via Airbnb (La Deseada), this place was amazing and the host was fantastic. The house is located on top of a hill overlooking the village with a perfect view of the mountains and the bay. Being in this village reminded me of my childhood back home in the Caribbean all the sounds of music, children playing, dogs barking, birds singing, goats bleating and the activities of the people somehow made me feel at home.

First thing you notice is the abundance of motorbikes and the daredevils who rides these things, males and females alike. Secondly, during the day and evening the village is buzzing with sounds and people going about life. There are a number of stray dogs around but for the most part they are friendly. The village has a few little shops and restaurants north of the beachfront. On the beachfront there are many restaurants and shops to buy souvenirs. One of my favorite restaurants was Resturante El Trasmallo the food was amazing and the owners where very nice and friendly. We had dinner there 3 times and it was always great. They also take credit cards, so not having cash is not an issue. You can also book a fishing trip with them as we did (video on youTube) and they will cook your catch when you return. If you are looking for a more upscale dining and club atmosphere about a 3 minute drive up the hill right outside the village overlooking the bay is TNT Mirador De Taganga. They also have an attached hostel and is great for anyone wanting to stay somewhere they can enjoy the nightlife where they stay.

Buritaca

During our stay we went to the village of Buritaca several times as Flora has family in the village.

So when you first enter the village of Buritaca there is a gate where a small fee is collected to enter. The village has many small shops and eateries to chose from. We had some of the most delicious fish soup and arepas de heuvos. You must take a boat from the river side to get to the beach, and I can’t stress this enough take the boat pay the fee and take the boat. I witness an almost drowning when a lady thought she could swim across. The current is very strong and it is dangerous. The boat includes a ride down the river where you can swim and enjoy the scenery. If you are lucky you will get to see some monkeys on the ride. Ask for Grodo he operates a boat and is an excellent tour guide as well.

Quebrada Valencia

To get to this beautiful water fall you must do a 30 minute (may be more, depends on you) trek through the rainforest along the river. When I first came up on the waterfall the only words out of my mouth was “wow”. You can climb up to the second water fall where there is a pool as shown in the photos below. Do get there early to beat the crowd. We got there at about 7:30AM and had the place to ourselves for about an hour before a mass of people showed up.

Santa Marta

Most of the time spent in Santa Marta was shopping for groceries and other needs. This city has a lot to offer in terms of hotels, clubs and shopping. We didn’t explore very much as most of our time was spent going to the beaches and exploring smaller villages. We did get lovely hot stone massages and got some very reasonably priced souvenirs in the market. This place is rich in history and does deserve a visit. So, if you plan on going to Taganga and renting where you would need to prepare your own meals or need water etc. You would be best served to head to Santa Marta and going to Exito supermarket. Not only will you find everything you need but there are street vendors everywhere with all sorts of fresh fruits and street foods.

The search for Playa cristal

So, we started out the day with intentions to get a boat from Buritaca to Playa Christal but when we got there the boat operator wanted to charge an unreasonable amount for a boat packed with people. Flora’s sister and cousin suggested that we drive to Neguanje and get a boat from there. This was an adventure, it was one of the bumpiest drive I had ever taken, but I would do it again in a heart beat.

After about an hour or so drive and having to show our passports and pay to enter the village there was another 30 minutes of driving up and down the mountain terrain. There is a lookout area and ,Oh my God! it is one of the most spectacular views I have ever seen.

We finally got to Neguanje and was told we needed to take a boat to the other side of the mountain to get to Playa Cristal and we all made a concerted decision to stay put because it was just as beautiful with less people. The water was crystal clear, we could see fish swimming and my toes even got nibbled. We rented a tent and chairs and just chilled for a while. You can also order food and drink to be brought to you if you so desire.

We went exploring while at the beach and came upon a few house and secluded beach. It was in fact some guys front yard with a swing. The man was chilled swinging in his hammock and was very welcoming as we invaded his yard.

After exploring we returned to the beach and swam for about another half hour. There looked to be a thunder storm approaching so we decided that was a good time to head home. In all the chaos I put the keys to the car on the rim of the trunk where the door meets the trunk on top and someone closed the door to the trunk. This caused the doors to all lock automatically and although we had one door open we could not get the keys because the push button to open the trunk was not responding because the pressure from the door of the truck was causing it to stay lock. So, we borrowed a phone(to make a local call) to call the rental company and was told that the nearest place to get a locksmith was in Santa Marta about over an hour away but also it would take about 2 days for them to get us the keys because they would have to go to Barranquilla to the airport where we rented the car to get the spare (they had only given us 1 set). After about 30 minutes of this and rain fast approaching I had had enough. I got a stick and started working it along the edge just enough to dislodge the key so there would be no pressure and it would open. After about 10 minutes of poking and with the help of a few men in the village it worked. we were very lucky because as soon as it opened the rain came down.

Playa Grande

Playa Grande is about a 20 minute walk through the village in Taganga from the house we rented. This was a beautiful hike along the way we got views of the bay and got to see where the fishermen repaired their boats. You can also take a boat from down by the beach in Taganga to get to the Playa Grande but I suggest you do the hike. The beach gets very packed with people especially on the weekend. We went on a Friday at about 10AM and there were a lot of people there. There are restaurants and bars and many peddlers. There is something for everyone. I recommend getting the toasted coconut treats if you want something delicious while there. The water is very clear and you can snorkel or ride one of the rafts that are being pulled by boats. You can rent a chair for a small fee and relax or people watch as well. If you rent the chairs you also get to use the restrooms that are owned by one of the restaurants. This was our last day before returning home and it was very chilled to just sit back on the beach and listen to music and people watch.

You know I am all about Food

I love to eat and try new food where ever I go and Colombia was no different. As a Caribbean gyal I was at home. The food is very similar to my native land and I was not shy in stuffing my face. I’m pretty sure I ate fish, coconut rice and fried plantains, 9 of the 11 days we were in the country. There is an abundance of fresh fish, fruits and fruit juices (passion fruit is my favorite). I say try everything and let your belly sort the rest out.

If you are in this Santa Marta region of Colombia do try the coconut Limonade and eat as much freshly caught fish as you possible can. You will not regret it, but you will if you don’t at least try it once. Do make daily trips to the bakeries and try all they have to offer, eat arepas, buy fruits and veggies from the roadside vendors and enjoy the coffee. Just keep an open mind and be adventurous and you may discover your next new favorite food.

Final Thoughts

I have always wanted to visit Colombia as a teen growing up in South Florida when my friend Flora introduced me to Colombian foods. I am very lucky that so many years later we are still friends and I was able to experience her homeland with her. This was one of the best group trips I have taken, as you know I am a solo traveler at heart and enjoy the freedom of travelling on my own time. However, this trip was very special and I am glad I got to experience my dear friend’s home land with her.

With all that being said, Am I done with Colombia? Hello no! There is so much more to see in that amazing Country and I am counting the days until we go back.

Until next time. Thank you for reading and if you visit Colombia and I hope you do, drop me a line and let me know how it went.