Trips

Passengers on the group flight arrive in the early hours of this morning. After a few hours to rest and have breakfast we will head out on a city tour taking in Bogota’s colonial old town including visits to the Gold Museum, the National Museum and the main square.

(We have also included your room reservation from the night before the tour starts. Land Only clients can arrive the day before and will be able to check in to the hotel)

Hotel Continental or similar

This morning we will meet the trekking crew including the horses, horsemen and local guides. The team will need to arrange all our luggage and equipment for the horses to carry so we should begin the trek after breakfast. We’ll walk for 1.5 kms passing towering Wax Palms before the path heads off from the main trail and begins to climb. The trek today passes through different ecosystems such as ‘Bosque Alto-Andino’ which is a cloud forest with a great diversity of plants and animals (including an amazing array of bird species) and at the end of the day you will be closer to the Paramo ecosystem. We will cross the river a couple of times early in the day and en route we should see humming birds. At approximately 3,000 metres we will stop for lunch and a rest. From here it is about another 2.5 hours walking to Finca Berlin, a working farm situated at 3,770m. We camp in the grounds of the finca about 100 yards from the house and have dinner in the farmhouse. There is running water and a toilet in the farmhouse.

Full-service Camping

This is the most challenging and longest day of the trek as we cross the summit of Paramillo del Quindio. We leave the finca and after 2 hours the mountain pass will come into view before the trail drops down to the valley floor. We then cross the valley, by walking on ‘cushion plants’ called ‘Cojines’ that are soft and springy to the step and emerald in colour. At an annual growth rate of as little as 0.06cm some of these plants will be 400 years old, so take care not to pierce them with your walking poles. From here it is a 90- minute climb to the pass, through an arid stark zone composed of sand, rocks and ashes. From the top (4,571m) we will be able to see Laguna Leona below and a vast area of Frailejon trees, some of which are more than 200 years old. After taking in the spectacular views of Nevado del Ruiz we’ll start our descent, meandering through groves of these majestic trees, making our own path as we go. Once at the lagoon the view back up to Paramillo del Quindio is a sight to be savoured and the mirror-like reflection of the peak in the lagoon’s still water makes for a perfect lunch spot. The remainder of the day’s trail is more moderate and follows a well defined path for 90 minutes. We arrive at Bageseca, a small farmhouse nestled amongst some meadows. We camp in front of the farmhouse at an altitude of 3,728m. It is possible to charge camera batteries here.

Full-service Camping

We begin our descent and start to leave the paramo behind and experience the change in ecosystems as we make our way down to lower elevations. Much of the trail is rocky and can be slippery. We stop at Jordan Finca for lunch, a cosy farmhouse that has great views of a huge waterfall. After lunch we descend into the cloud forest zone where we should see many different types of hummingbirds that inhabit the area. We camp in the beautiful grounds of the Refugio La Pastora located at 2,448m. There is an ablution block with toilets and cold showers. Meals are taken in the dining room at the refuge.

Full-service Camping

After breakfast we transfer (approx. 30 minutes) to the airport in Pereira to catch our flight to Cartagena de las Indias on the Caribbean coast. There’s a plane change in Bogota so we should arrive in Cartagena by lunch time. In the afternoon there will be a walking tour of the walled city with its cobbled streets and colourful houses, squares and churches. Cartagena was the jewel in the colonial crown and its popularity today is understandable. Founded in 1533, the city played a key role in the administration and expansion of the Spanish empire in the Americas. As well as being home to royalty and wealthy viceroys, it attracted pirates and merchants alike and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. We stay in the vibrant Getsemani neighbourhood, part of Cartagena’s old town.

Hostal Villa Colonial or similar, Standard Hotel

We will be picked up from our hotel at 6 am and taken to La Aguacatera from where will then take a 4WD to El Mamey (also known as Machete Pelao) village. We have lunch upon arrival before heading off on a 3hr hike towards the first night’s campsite. The first part of the trek today follows a steep track which takes us through cattle farms in areas that were once covered in coca plantations.There will be opportunities at the end of each day to go for a refreshing swim in the river and fresh fruit is provided at rest breaks. Upon arrival at the campsite we’ll be assigned a bed or a hammock. The terrain over the next few days involves a trail between 500m and 800m above sea level. There are sections of steep climbs and in the heat this can be very challenging.

Camp with bed or hammock

Today we reach the goal of our jungle trek: La Ciudad Perdida (the Lost City). Built by the Tayrona people 1,000 years ago, the city was abandoned after Spanish Conquistadors dispersed the Tayronas into the mountains. Over time the jungle reclaimed the city which became ‘lost’ to the world. In the 1970s, however, grave robbers found gold and the city was rediscovered. The Lost City is earned by climbing more than 200 steps. We explore the site and learn more about the city and its fascinating history. Returning to camp #3 we have lunch before heading back on the same route towards camp #2 where we spend the night. There is no electricity at this campsite but the location by the river is perfect and at night we sit by candlelight.

Camp with bed or hammock

Today is a free day to relax. The fishing village of Palomino is nearby and there are some short trails around the hotel grounds for those who want to stretch their legs. Alternatively the beach nearby is a nice place to rest. The sea here is very choppy and there is a very limited designated area for swimming. Please check with the hotel owner for up to date details.

Finca La Jorara, Standard Hotel