Aug 4 - 8, 2013 - La Ciudad Perdida Trek - Day 1, 2 and 3

La Ciudad Perdida is an ancient city of the Tairona people.  It pre-dates even Machu Picchu.  Its a 5 day trek to the city and back.  Along the way you stay in small camps equipped with hammocks or beds (with bug nets), a kitchen, restrooms, and usually a swimming hole.  There are our companies that run tours to La Ciudad Perdida and they all have agreed on a set price of $600,000 COP (Approx. $320US).  The price includes the guide and cook, the park entrance fee, all meals, lodging and transportation. 

Below is a link with more info about La Ciudad Perdida
Info!

Here is a link with info about the tours.  Just in case you wanna try it out. I went with Magic tours and it was great.  Though all the companies seem to work together. 
La Ciudad Perdida Tours

Day 1 - Santa Marta City to Mamey Village to Cabana Adan

 
I arrived at the tour office in Santa Marta around 9:15am, filled out some paperwork and paid the fee.  Then I waited.  Once everyone was gathered up and the 4x4s loaded with our food and gear we headed towards Mamey Village.  It was about a 2 hour drive on paved road then another 1 hour on a gravel/dirt/bumpy road.  However, when we turned off the paved road more people joined us in the truck.  MANY more people.  Have you see that YouTube video where a workman has to push people into the subway cars to get the doors to shut?  Well, here is a link. 

Video of similar experience

Fitting everyone into the truck felt a bit like that. And I was the one by the door. I couldnt help but laugh. 

Once we finally arrived at Mamey we had lunch and then set off on our journey.  The first days hike was approx 3 hours and 7.6kms.  We crossed over our first mountain pass and down into a valley were Cabana Adan was located. And it was HOT!

 In the village you can get beef (or some kind of meat) and billiards all together!

Once we arrived to camp we all opted to visit the swimming hole.  Im a bit sad I didnt get any pictures because this place was totally picturesque.  We swam in the river.  Right where you had to jump into the swimming hole was a waterfall.  So once you get up enough nerve to jump the 10 feet down into the water you come up, turn around and there is an amazing little waterfall, secluded in the jungle for just you (and your hiking buddies).  Beautiful!

We rested up, supped, and hit the hammocks early.


Day 2 - Cabana Adan to Cabana Gabriel

I woke around 7:30 and had a big breakfast and coffee waiting for me.  

 They even have satellite TV!

This day was a bit longer.  We tackled another mountain pass and climbed about a 3rd of the way up the next.  The trail was a bit deeper in the jungle and was more shaded.  After about 4 hours and 8.1kms we arrived at Cabana Gabriel were we lunched.  I showered and took a long nap.  I only woke for dinner and read my book for a bit.  

Side Note:  My lovely spanish class buddy from Cartagena (Jennie from England) gave me a book she had finished.  Its called "The Psychopath Test".  Its a fascinating non-fiction read about psychopaths in our world.  I recommend giving it a try! 

I have now suffered some rather unique bug bites.  There are crazy flies in this jungle.  You dont feel them bite you but when you catch them at it they actually bite enough to make you BLEED! Yes, bugs that make you BLEEEEED.  Monsters! They dont seem to care that Ive covered myself in toxic 99% DEET. Luckily, thus far, the biting has been minimal.  

 We got to sleep in beds this night!

Day 3 -Cabana Gabriel to Cabana Rumauldo


Arepas for breakfast! Then an early start on the trail. Today was more climbing! Mostly climbing actually.  At the top of the first peak we took a break and snacked on oranges.  Geeeez it was hot and HUMID.  Thats what really made the hike tough, the humidity.
 4hours and 6.6 kms after starting this morning we arrived at Cabana Rumauldo.  This was the last camp before La Ciudad Perdida! Its getting exciting now! 

We again went for a swim in the river.  This time though the water was super cold. I chilled (hah, literally) for about 20 minutes then layed out of the rocks to sun myself and dry.  A wonderful way to end the day.  

It now seems that the further into the jungle we go the more vicious the bugs are.  

Aug. 2-3, 2013 - Santa Marta Colombia.

In Cartagena I had to catch the "Metro Car" bus to the main bus terminal.  It was a 40minute $1900 Peso ride (slightly less than a dollar).  Once at the terminal I grabbed my bags and searched for a the next bus leaving for Santa Marta.  I didnt have to search far.  So for 25,000 Pesos I boarded an air conditioned mini bus headed to Santa Marta "directo".  I asked if I had to change buses in Baranquilla because typically you do but the guy said so and that made me happy.

I guess he was right, I didnt have to switch buses but we still stopped in Baranquilla for 30minutes and then made a tour around town picking up anyone that wanted to go to Santa Marta. Ok, well, note to self, "directo" doesnt mean what I was hoping it meant. Anyways, everything worked out fine and I still got to Santa Marta at a decent hour.   I checked into my hostel and chilled for the evening.  First solo bus ride in South America was a success.

This morning I had and the free breakfast as the hostel.  Toast, eggs, coffee and a bed for the night for $10.  Not too bad.

I hung around the hostel for a bit getting caught up on some things...like this blog and trimming my finger nails and semi packing for the 5 day hike to La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City).

Then I wandered through the city.  The ocean is only 2 blocks from the hostel.  I had lunch along the shore.  The portions here in Colombia are massive!  It was nice to have friends in Cartagena to share the meals.  Now, I just have to leave some behind.  I think very few people can fit a chicken thigh, rice, beans, platano, salad, a bowl of soup and a lemonade in their belly for lunch ($4US!).  It was super tasty though and the ocean breeze was a nice touch as well.

I walked to some of "attractions" in town which, of course, include the ocean avenue, some large parks and some statues.  It's hot here. Very hot.  And the heat made a nap necessary.

I leave tomorrow for a 5 day trek through the Tayrona National Park to the Lost City.  Ill have more information and the city and lots of pics from the experience up when I return.  Note to family: that means I will be out of contact for the next 5-6 days. Dont worry about me too much.

Here are some pics of town:

My hostel - Candela Y Chocolate:

What I have learned: "Directo" may or may NOT mean direct.  I think its a gamble on what you will actually get.


OOOOHHHH and I have some good news to share! My New Zealand working holiday visa was approved!  That means I can travel and work in NZ for a year.  I have until June to enter the country and a year after I first enter to stay and travel and work! I'm reallllllly excited about this.  NZ has been one of my favorite stops on this journey and I look forward to more adventures in the country! 

July 27 - Aug 2 - Cartagena, Colombia 2

July 27 - Aug 2 - Cartagena, Colombia

The last week has been bittersweet.  I have really grown to love the city of Cartagena.  I made one last trip to beach, ate one last epic street burger and drank one last beer in the Plaza del Trinidad.  This week as also been a bit of a breakthrough with my spanish.  Though I still have trouble understanding a lot of what people are saying especially if they arent talking to me directly or if they are talking really fast, I can now carry on a slow (and laughter filled) conversation. Words come to me much easier now...I think its a good time to get out and practice.  I still have a long way to go but it should be fun.

The hostel organized a lil BBQ for my last night in town.  The Mama Waldy Hostel has been a fantastic place to spend my time in Cartagena.  The family that runs the place is warm and welcoming and even the volunteers they have helping out are fantastic.  And even though I speak very little spanish and some of them very little to no english they made me feel welcomed and encouraged me to practice my spanish with them.  We all got a lot of laughs outta that. :-)  I would recommend this place to anyone visiting the area.


The hostel:

 Around the hostel: all the walls on this street are covered in awesome street art.

Yesterday was the last day of class.  It was a fun day and we ended the lesson by playing Spanish pictionary!  It was a bit sad to say bye to some of the folks that I had spent the past 4 weeks with.  I'd say they will be people that I will always remember.  Carlos (Charles from Canada), Tony (from Switzerland), and Jennie (from England) are some of the people I spent most of my time with.  Eating out, eating street food, hanging out at the plaza and practicing our newly acquired Spanish.  We joked that to a native speaker it had to be hilarious to listen to us foreigners speak horrible Spanish to each other. Big thanks to Andres for being a great teacher of all of us!

After class and lots of hugs and goodbyes I headed to the city bus stop.