sorry, only google translate…
It’s not too far from Cartagena to Santa Marta and that’s why we can (finally) try the Colombian long-distance bus system – which we have grown so fond of in Peru. Unfortunately, Kerstin has an upset stomach and so the somewhat bumpy taxi ride to the bus terminal is a bit exhausting for her. Luckily, the buses are very comfortable, so the medication for the stomach and a decent amount of sleep on the bus help Kerstin to get back on her feet.
Since our hostel is very pretty and Kerstin needs a little rest, we stay one night longer than planned. So we can plan our next steps, Kerstin can relax and Tobi can brush up on his diving skills with a surprisingly cheap dive.
Thus strengthened, we leave most of our luggage at the hostel the following day and drive with our day luggage for one night to the Tayrona National Park, which is known for its jungle as well as for its many beaches. We enter the park through a side entrance and first hike for about 3 hours over a small mountain and through the jungle to Playa Brava, where we have reserved accommodation for one night on the beach. Accompanied by monkeys and critically examined by a snake, we find ourselves with maybe a dozen other vacationers in a small bay. From our bungalow on stilts with hammock and rocking chair on the “terrace”, we enjoy a quiet afternoon overlooking the beach. Of course, after the hike, which is not exhausting but very sweaty due to the high humidity, we jump into the sea! đ We end the evening with dinner in the common room and a card game with three other backpackers. As it starts to rain in the evening, the meadow in front of the beach turns into a small bog and we wade barefoot back to our bungalow – past a lot of toads and accompanied by their croaking đ
The next morning After breakfast you put on your hiking boots and hike another 3 hours through the jungle to Playa San Juan, the âhighlightâ of the park. We got up a bit too late to avoid the crowds of tourists from the main entrance, but the walk is an experience in itself. First we land on a practically deserted beach and make ourselves comfortable there before we have to wade through a 70m long and partly knee-deep mud hole. With a view of the nearest beach, barefoot fun is fun, but there’s still a weird feeling when you think of the countless spiders, snakes, and worms that might be lounging at the bottom of the hole. But apart from a small splinter in Kerstin’s foot, we are spared any unwelcome surprises and enjoy cooling off at Playa San Juan.
The further way through the park is not as strenuous, but just as muddy , and so we trek from beach to beach, through one mud puddle after another towards the park’s main entrance, from where we take the bus back to the hostel. There we meet again with Ruth from England, with whom we will go in search of a lost city for the next 4 days, but that’s a new story…