April 9, Santa Marta Colombia

Slow and relaxing start to the day. Lots of coffee and chatting with woman from London.
I headed off with the directions from the guy from reception to organize a tour to Punta Gallinas...the area to the far east of Colombia, bordering Venezuela. I talked to an Italian that recommended the area. I met him on the bus from Lake Titicaca, Bolivia. His pictures looked amazing!
I then just went to the beach for a bit and then back to hotel....it is a 4.30 am start tomorrow... Not nice but I am sure I will survive!


April 8, Santa Marta, Colombia

I was up very early as I went to bed very early. Very quiet place and nice to lay in the tent and hear the waves on the beach. I slept very well, even if it was an old piece of foam that was very hard!
A good breakfast and off to the beach. Great as there is a fair bit of shade and it is pretty hot.
I headed back about 3. It seems like a long walk back as it is hot and humid again. I was soaked in sweat. Made connections fine and got a nice welcome back at the hotel.


April 7, camping in Park Tayrona, Colombia

I caught the bus to the park entrance. It is not that far but took an hour. Lots of traffic in the city but good
once out of the city. At the park entrance there is a shuttle that takes you to the end of the road. There it is a 1 hour hike to the first camping site. Very interesting place as there is a bunch of hammocks under a roof but also tents to rent. I rented a tent! Not ready for a hammock.

The hike was great along a trail, with some boardwalks and some along the beach! A beautiful place. There are several little bays of beach but most are not good for swimming as the rip tides are strong. The trail did go over and around some huge granite boulders.

The camping area is on the beach, well almost, it over looks a pond which apparently has a resident caiman (small crocodile) and the beach beyond has strong rip tides.

But only had to walk 5 minutes further along the trail to a very nice beach. There were also a couple more spots further along. All very nice. A relaxing place as there is really nothing else to do. Power is from a generator and shuts off at 10 pm, wifi, but there is satellite tv that is on all the time the power is on.

There were a few people around but the places were not packed.


April 6, Santa Marta, Colombia

Today I caught the local bus to Taganga. Cheaper than a taxi at 1500 pesos, about $.75 It is a small fishing village only 20 minutes away. But the drive was over some mountains! Not mountains as we know but still a climb. Amazing how the houses are built up the side of the mountain. It is all rock, so they have had to dig out a flat spot. Seems like a lot of work!

The beach in the town is very small with mostly fishing boats on shore. Very nice but I was told there was a larger nicer beach over the next mountain! So I headed off along a rocky path along the side of the mountain. Great views of the bays! The beach was very nice, but once again a string of restaurants along the beach and many places to rent chairs and shade. Very cheap here, only 3000 pesos, about $1.50. A great way to spend the day.

Also this beach is very very laid back! I only had 2 sellers trying to sell me something......compared to 2 a minute at Cartagena...this is great. I thought Santa Marta was laid back.... this is even more so.

I ended up talking to a pharmacist that is on holidays. He wanted to practice his English. He told me I should see Tayrona Natural Park so I will go tomorrow. There is some hiking so we shall see, it will get me in shape for the hike to the Lost City.


April 5, Santa Marta, Colombia

Went for a walk along the beach expecting to walk a long way, but ended up there was a military base at the end so I did not walk that far. I did not know if there was a way around. I just spent a few hours sitting on the beach and swimming. It was very nice. The beach here is a dark colour so the water is warm and the sand is very hot!
A nice lazy day.