We spent the night in Haba Eco Hostel in Santa Marta and took a walk through town the next morning – well, there was not much to see but the cathedral and the beachfront… Thus, we took a bus to Minca early in the afternoon and strolled through the small village before we watched the sunset and chillaxed in the big hammocks at our hostel Casas Colibri. In the morning, we slept in, relaxed, and then hiked to the waterfalls. Later, we went back to Santa Marta to get prepared for our jungle adventure in the Sierra Nevada…
We decided to undertake the Lost City Trek with Expotur, one of the biggest companies for this kind of thing. They picked us up in the morning and at noon we were having lunch at the starting point of the trek. So each day we hiked about 10 km through the jungle along the river, were provided with fruity snacks, three very delicious meals per day, a bed at night, and some stories about the life of the indigenous people living in these lands. We also passed by some inhabited villages.
Let’s go!
Spiders
Pineapples
In the Camp
Sunrise
Breakfast
Indigenous Village
At the River
Walking through the River
Little pigs in the Way
On the third day, we finally climbed up the 1,200 steps through the jungle to the entrance of Teyuna, the Lost City (“Ciudad Perdida”) which had been rediscovered in 1972. What an amazing view! It was just overwhelming to see some 200 terraces, piled roads and many circular plazas carved in the mountainside in the middle of the jungle. This city had been founded about 2,800 years ago and had been inhabited by the Tayronas. It is widely known as the Colombian Macchu Picchu.
On the Way
Indigenous Kids
Looking at the Lost City
On the fourth day, the others in our group left to go back to civilization but Anika and I decided to stay another night in the jungle. Thus, we got to keep our cook Diego and Samuel, one of the guides. These two more days were great: We went swimming in the river, did a detour to a waterfall, got delicious meals just for ourselves, and relaxed in the midst of all the jungle plants. After that, we were taken to our next hostel near the main entrance of Tayrona Park.
Having stayed at La Perla Tayrona (owned by Tom from Germany) for one night, we got up early in the morning in order to seize the day in Tayrona National Park. We walked from El Zaino entrance along the coast brimmed with lush green jungle, rough rock formations, and sandy beaches up to Cabo San Juan where we stayed for a swim and a sunbath before going back the same way.
Through the Jungle
At the Beach
Stunning Views
The same night, we went to the small hippie town of Palomino and were dragged to La Iquanita Guesthouse where we got a great deal for the room and were treated very sweet by the ladies there. The next morning, we strolled along the beach and the river, took a look at the small hippie village, and then hopped on a bus Northwest.
To get to the Cape and the Northern most point in South America was not that easy… First, we took a bus to Riohacha and from there a van to Uribia where we had to take a 4-wheeler in order to make it to Cabo de la Vela. Here, we stayed overnight in a place organized by Juya Tours – wood sheds and hammocks directly at the beach. The next day, we relaxed there until afternoon and then did a tour to see the unrealistic landscapes of Cerro Pilon de Azucar and Ojo de Aqua before enjoying the sunset at the lighthouse.
Our Hammocks
Sunset
The next day, we went further North to the area of Punta Gallinas, the Northern most point of South America, here we had several stops again: muddy lakes with pink and white flamingos, a lookout to unrealistic moon-like landscapes, the Taroa sand dunes where we took a swim, and the stone piles at the lighthouse. Having had a very relaxed lunchtime in a hammock, we undertook the journey back and made it just in time to our overnight bus from Riohacha to Bucaramanga, and from there, we took a smaller bus to San Gil.
Having arrived in San Gil, we were picked up on the street by some helpful guys who guided us to a hostel since we hadn’t booked any so far: La Casona de Don Juan. It was the best hostel we could have ended up in – a wonderful atmosphere, cheap prices for great rooms, and an amazing owner who took care of us and our needs from the beginning. That day, we hung out there, had a great lunch, and strolled around the city center…
After having slept in, we decided to visit the colonial villages in the hills. Thus, we took a bus to Barichara, a wonderful colonial village in the mountains where we got delicious pastries, enjoyed the stunning views, visited a botanic sculpture garden, and walked around the white painted houses. From there, we hiked all the way to Guane, another village of that kind, with a center square and a church. Not having seen enough of these houses, we went to Pinoche afterwards. 🙂
Barichara
Botanical Sculpture Garden
Guane
Breathtaking Views
Pinoche
Sunset
As San Gil is widely known for its extreme sports, I just couldn’t resist doing the highest bungee jump in South America with an altitude of 140m. The hardest part was to jump head first off the platform. After that, it was just amazing to hang there in the air viewing San Gil and its surrounding mountains from high above.
Before the Bungee Jump
I did it! 🙂
Having had that adrenaline-filled experience, we had to rush to the terminal in order to get on the bus to Bógota and from there to Cali.
Having arrived in Cali on a Sunday morning, this city was much less exciting than imagined. First, we chilled for a bit in the Pixel Hostel (great price & amazing decoration) and then took a stroll around the city center ending up at Park San Antonio where everybody was hanging out in the evening. Unfortunately, there was no Salsa Party that night… 🙁 The next day, we took part in the Free Walking Tour by Valley Adventours – Fernando did a great job showing us around and telling us about Cali’s culture and origins.
Streetart
La Ermita Cathedral
View from Park San Antonio
San Antonio Church
Hanging out with Friends
Giant Trumpet at Plaza Jairo Varela
In the early afternoon, I took the bus to Popayan. Unfortunately, this one did not arrive before dawn. Thus, I did my sightseeing at night this time – truly a very neat city with white houses and many churches. And right at that time, one of the Easter processions was taking place in the old city center. Nevertheless, I took the night bus some hours later.
Easter Procession
Streets of Popayan at Night
In Ipiales, the must-see is the Las Lajas Sanctuary – the most beautiful church in the country and one of the most outstanding architectural monuments in the world. Built inside the canyon where the Guitara river flows, it was just a stunning sight not far away from the border to Ecuador where we crossed a little later.
Having arrived at Florianopolis airport in the middle of the night, I took an Uber to my hostel Floripa Beach House. There, I just crashed on the bed awakening to a great breakfast in the morning where I got to know two great Brazilian guys with whom my friend Marc from Berlin and I went to the beach that day. We even mixed our own caipirinhas there. In the evening, we had a Brazilian BBQ called “Churrasco”. It was delicious – thanks Rodrigo! 🙂
Breakfast Time
Caipi at the beach
Brazilian BBQ
The next morning, we got up early in order to enjoy the sunrise at the beach closeby. Afterwards I finally had some time to work on my blog during breakfast and have some phone calls in the hammock before we took an Uber to Florianopolis City. Having arrived there, Daniel, Marc, and I took a stroll through the city center passing by the market, the cathedral, and finally ending up on top of the hill with a great view over the city and the island. Now it was time to hurry back down and catch the night bus instead of getting too involved in one of the street parties during carnival time …
Having arrived early in the morning, we went to Hostel California, took a shower, and had some breakfast before roaming around the city. First stop was the so called “Batman”-street where lots of great street art could be admired. Then we went around Jardines, the pretties and richest neighborhood of São Paulo, in order to get to the park where a huge carnival party was going on… Furthermore, we visited the Museum of Modern Art to see the giant cat and admire the view over the city before visiting the MIS museum where a comic exhibition was going on at the moment. Having been surprised by a thunderstorm on the way back, we stayed at the hostel that night and took the bus to Rio in the morning. All in all, a nice stopover before experiencing the world’s most famous carnival festivities…
Having arrived in Rio right at the start of a giant thunderstorm, we took an Uber to Santa Tere Hostel in Santa Teresa and later explored the neighborhood Lapa which is famous for its vibrant nightlife. The next day, we took part in a free walking tour in the city center including some historical background information. Afterwards, we explored the Olympic Boulevard and then hiked to Morro-hill in order to see the sunset from high above the city and to take the cable car up to the Sugarloaf Mountain where we had amazing views over all the lights in the city beneath.
Lapa
Street Art
Sugarloaf Mountain
Selarón Staircase
Taking a look at Christ
Amazing Views
The next morning, we switched the hostel to Aurora Hostel (Great hostel with cool people!) in order to also experience another neighborhood in Rio. From there, we went up to the Corcovado to see the Christ statue from up close before looking at it the next day from the other side of the city on one of the Two-Brother-Mountains where we met many cute monkeys on the way up from Vidigal favela. Afterwards, it was time to stroll along the amazing long, sandy beaches such as Ipanema and Copacabana. At Leme beach, a huge “bloco” (carnival street party) was taking place, making the sunset there an even more spectacular thing.
In the Jungle
Monkeys on the Way
Facing Christ 😉
Taking a Look at the Sugarloaf
Corcovado Hill
Vidigal Slum
Copacabana Beach
Carnival Street Party
Ipanema Beach
That night, it was finally time for Carnival in the Sambodrome! It was just an amazing experience and neither words nor photos can really describe it. It is a Once-in-a-lifetime-must-see! The people were dancing and singing on the stands while the six very best samba schools presented their shows in a parade that lasted until 6:30 am in the morning…
Amazing Carnival Parade in Rio
Without
sleep, we only strolled through the Botanic Garden the next morning and then
took a bus to the beaches north of Rio in order to have some time to relax
after all these carnival parties …
In Arraial du Cabo, we stayed at Casarao Beach Hostel – it was ok but not the best one we’ve had and nobody was able to understand any English… Oh well, we were there to go snorkeling and that’s what we did the next day – while Marc took amazing pics with his underwater camera. Unfortunately, he had to leave soon after in order to get back to Germany.
Arraial du Cabo
Snorkeling
Having stayed one more day in Arraial du Cabo, I took the bus to Buzios and checked-in at Bamboo Buzios Hostel right at the beach. Instantly, I got to know 3 guys with whom I hung out the evening for dinner and drinks and the whole next day. We rented a pink buggy and cruised around visiting four different beaches featuring high waves, turtles, pink sand, and a nice sunset. Another half a day at the beach later, I took the bus to the airport in Rio in order to fly to Salvador de Bahia.
