August 13th to September 5th
Back to Bogotá after my summer break, I stayed 2 days to see some friends. I also took advantage of the jetlag that woke me up at 4am on the first day, and went to climb Monserrate, this church overlooking the city. I had been told to to it early in the morning. The 1600 steps and 500m up were worth it.
Bogotá seen from Monserrate
Bogotá seen from Monserrate
Bogotá seen from Monserrate
I left on tuesday the 15th with a night bus to Santa Marta, in the north of the country. I went back there for something I didn’t want to miss in Colombia: the trek to the Ciudad Perdida. A 4-days trek in the jungle to get to the Ciudad Perdida, the lost city. The trek is in indigenous territory, so it’s not possible to do it without a guide. I left on the morning of the 17th, we were a group of 7 people, with 2 guides. 5 to 7 hours of hiking per day, in the jungle, with the backpacks. The afternoon of the second day, we arrived at the accomodation, 1km away from the Ciudad Perdida, and the third day starts with the visit of the city, before starting to hike the way back. In total, almost 50km of hiking, with some pretty tough uphill parts. A lot of vegetation, birds and butterflies, and some natural pools where we sere able to have well deserved swims after all the efforts.
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
The beds
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida – Natural pool
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida – The team
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida – The final steps
Ciudad Perdida
Ciudad Perdida
Ciudad Perdida
Ciudad Perdida
Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida – Cacao
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to la Ciudad Perdida
On the way to Ciudad Perdida
The trek ended on sunday the 21st, and I went to Minca, half an hour away from Santa Marta by bus. Robin, a friend of my brother, has a bakery there. I stayed 2 days, and could walk and bike around, and keep exploring the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region.
Minca
Minca
Minca – giant hammock
Minca – 1h later
Minca – Coffee
Minca
Minca
Minca – Bakery
Minca – Bakery
Minca – Bakery
I left on wednesday the 23rd to another place I absolutely wanted to see in Colombia: The Guajira desert, the northernmost region of the country and the continent. I got in the afternoon to Cabo de La Vela, a village of 850 people, with kitesurfers and beautiful beaches. On the next day I was able to visit the surroundings.
Desierto de la Guajira
Desierto de la Guajira
Desierto de la Guajira
Desierto de la Guajira
Desierto de la Guajira
Desierto de la Guajira
Desierto de la Guajira – Choices in the menu
Desierto de la Guajira
Desierto de la Guajira
Desierto de la Guajira
Desierto de la Guajira
Desierto de la Guajira
Desierto de la Guajira – Lighthouse of Cabo de la Vela
Desierto de la Guajira – Lobster
On friday the 25th, I left for Punta Gallinas, the northernmost point of South America. This region is not very populated so the only way to get there is with an organised tour from Cabo de la Vela. It was worth it, the region is completely desertic and beautiful.
Sunrise on the way to Punta Gallinas
Flamingos on the way to Punta Gallinas
Flamingos on the way to Punta Gallinas
Lighthouse of Punta Gallinas
Punta Gallinas
Punta Gallinas
Punta Gallinas – The jeeps
Punta Gallinas – A calf passing by
Punta Gallinas
Punta Gallinas
Punta Gallinas
Punta Gallinas
Punta Gallinas
Punta Gallinas
Punta Gallinas – Mangrove
I left on saturday the 26th to my next destination: I went back to Capurganá, close to the border with Panama, to see my friends and relax before continuing the trip. It took me several buses and the entire day, to get to Necocli, from where the daily boat leaves at 8am to Capurganá. I made it and was in Capurganá on sunday the 27th around 10am. I stayed until the next friday.
The boat to Capurganá
Capurganá
Capurganá
Capurganá
Capurganá
Capurganá
Capurganá
Capurganá – Natural pool
Capurganá – Natural pool
Capurganá
Capurganá
Capurganá – Football game with Colombia playing
Capurganá
I then left for Medellin on friday, it took 2 hours of boat and 10 hours of bus. I stayed the weekend, with Raphaël, a friend from France that was not there in june went I went to Medellin (but I didn’t take pictures).
I left Medellin on sunday night, going south to Ecuador. I stopped to spend the monday night in Ipiales, a border city, close to which I was able to visit the impressive sanctuary de las Lajas, tuesday september the 5th in the morning, before crossing the border.
Santuario de las Lajas
Santuario de las Lajas
Santuario de las Lajas
Santuario de las Lajas
Santuario de las Lajas
Santuario de las Lajas
Santuario de las Lajas
I then made it to Ecuador! I’m looking forward to what I’ll discover in this country and in the ones that will follow, since Costa Rica I had not entered a country that was new to me. See you soon!