Colombia’s Caribbean Coast

Howdy folks!

Well, no moss grows under their feet! Kim and John moved on from Medellín to spend a few days in the northern part of Colombia along the Caribbean coast. They flew in to the city of Santa Marta, and spent one night there, enjoying dinner at a seafood restaurant and wandering the historic center.

The next morning they were picked up by a driver and headed to Minca, where they spent two nights at a cool spot, Minca Ecohabs. These were 2 storey “huts”. They enjoyed this spot…it had a beautiful view of Santa Marta, along with a forest view. They loved the outdoor hammocks in the second floor, and spent a relaxing time watching the birds.

Here’s a bit about Minca….

Minca is 600m up in the Sierra Nevada above Santa Marta, Minca is a small mountain village famous for its organic coffee, incredibly varied birdlife and a bit cooler temperatures than on the scorching coast below. Minca has been recognized as a biosphere reserve – It is surrounded by thick cloud forest and mountain peaks.

The next morning they were picked up by their tour guide in their off roading vehicle. They spent the day exploring the countryside, looking for birds. Boy, was the road bumpy! Kim said the holy sh*t handle came in handy! They saw a lot of birds that day….but Kim said it was really hard to take pictures of them. She still loved taking photos of the scenery….she and John think Colombia is very beautiful! They did see a Caribbean Toucan 🙂 – Yellow, red and blue….also a lot of hummingbirds, hawks, and birds that are endemic to Santa Marta. Colombia has over 2000 different birds, the second most, only behind Brazil….and folks, Brazil is much bigger….so maybe Colombia wins? 😉👍

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They also heard some ghost sounds…..howler monkeys! They didn’t see them though…..you can hear their sounds up to 5 Kms away.

After Minca, Kim and John moved on to a Finca very close to Tayrona National Park….along the Caribbean Coast. They both agree that the Finca Barlovento is their favourite stay so far…..they have beautiful views of both a river, and the sea. The people here are amazing! Very friendly….Kim and John said the coffee is awesome, and the food is delicious. Their first day here was a free day…they walked along the beach and might have had a massage….tough life they lead! They also met the pets there…..Roberto and a baby parrot….they said they were pretty awesome.

The next day they met up with their guide to explore Tayrona National Park. They walked 16 kms, and visited 5 beaches. It was very hot for these Canadians! 31 degrees….yikes! Kim is looking pretty red😉. They enjoyed the day….they saw fire ants, bats, a woodpecker…..and howler monkeys! That’s the first time John has seen 🐒 and he was pretty excited.

A bit about the park….

Tayrona National Park, in northern Colombia, is a large protected area covering the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta as they meet the Caribbean coast. It’s known for its palm-shaded coves, coastal lagoons, rainforest and rich biodiversity. At its heart, the Pueblito ruins are an archaeological site accessed via forest trails, with terraces and structures built by the Tayrona civilization.

That’s it for now everyone! Kim and John move on to the city of Cartagena tomorrow. It’s a 5 hour car ride! They have some pretty cool things planned…stay tuned!

Teddy 💗💕🐶🐶🐶