Parque Nacional Utría on the Pacific coast of Colombia. Photo © Andrew Dier.
Colombia’s Pacific Coast
This town at the fringe of the jungle is a great base for any activity. Go diving or sport-fishing, or hike in the jungle or along the beach to crystal-clear swimming holes and waterfalls like the Cascada Chocolatal. Or hang out in orderly and walkable Bahía Solano and experience city life, Pacific style.
Spend a few nights at one of Bahía Solano’s hotels, like Posada Turística Rocas de Cabo Marzo or Posada Turística Hostal del Mar. The flight to Bahía Solano from Medellín takes one hour. You can even walk from the airport to your hotel.
El Valle boasts broad beaches and the fantastic Estación Septiembre Sea Turtle Hatchery, where newborn sea turtles are born and released into the turbulent waters of the Pacific Ocean, as well as unforgettable sunsets over Playa Almejal.
Stay the night at one of the several fantastic beachside lodges and hostels of El Valle, or get to know the cultural life of the people of the Pacific by staying at one of the posadas nativas (guesthouses owned and operated by locals) here, such as Villa Maga or El Nativo.
Get to El Valle by flying into the Bahía Solano airport. El Valle is home to one of the few roads in this area, so you can hop on a colectivo to reach your lodge.
Five-star eco-lodges, as well as a few economical options, abound on the coastline near Nuquí. If you stay at one of the eco-lodges, like El Cantíl, Morromico, or Luna de Miel, you’ll quickly become accustomed to being pampered. Their all-inclusive packages include great seafood dinners, access to remote beaches, guided nature hikes (in search of poisonous frogs!), and day trips to Afro-Colombian villages.
The flight into Nuquí from Medellín takes 45 minutes.
This beautiful national park between Nuquí and Bahía Solano is the perfect option for those who want to be surrounded by nature. Take a hike, discover a remote beach, or go swimming. At night, you can hunt for glow-in-the-dark mushrooms, then fall asleep to the sounds of the rainforest.
You can reach PNN Utría from either the Bahía Solano or Nuquí airport. Park staff will pick you up.
Excerpted from the First Edition of Moon Colombia.
