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Published: April 13th 2018
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Start of The Trek
I love you, Colombia Santa Marta (05/04/18-07/04/18) We flew from cloudy Bogota up to Santa Marta: a city on Colombia′s gorgeous Caribbean coast. The palm tree studded coastline and warm sea breeze was the most amazing welcome! Although not much in Santa Marta itself, most backpackers use it as a base for nearby adventures. We taxied (this time we were not getting ripped off!) from Santa Marta airport to the nearby The Dreamer Hostel - exactly as it sounds. We spent 2 days sipping coconut lemonades and sunbathing (it is around 30° celsius here) by the beautiful pool (Santa Marta's best pool according to the Lonely Planet) and organised and prepared for the challenging 4 day trek I was keen to go on called The Lost City - dragging poor Sal along with me.
Deep in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, the Lost City is only reachable by foot: through incredibly diverse and treacherous terrain. With origins going back to 7th century, the city was abandoned at the time of Spanish conquest and re-discovered in the 70′s by grave robbers. Interestingly the vast majority is unexcavated, at request of the nearby indigenous tribes. I could not wait to complete this incredible
sounding trek!
For those who want to more information on the trek, click this link:
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20120720-trekking-to-colombias-lost-city Ciudad Perdida: The Lost City (07/04/18-10/04/18) Sunburn, heat rash, wet sock rash, blisters on blisters, and bites from mosquitos and other unidentifiable bugs (my body hates anywhere bar England), we survived the exhausting Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) trek: one of Colombia's most exciting and breath taking hikes. But of course, in true travelling style, not before the jeep broke down on the way.
Due to good feedback from previous travel poems from 2016 (thanks mum), here is a poem to portray the trekking experience:
We are on the Lost City trek, just me and some friends, have been preparing for this so lets no longer pretend. We picked the friendly Expotur, Lets hope their guides are not a bore, Packed our bags, and ready to go, .. don't forget about the dreaded mosquito! Sierra Nevada mountains with clouds of mystery, Hide this abandoned city rich in history. A unique opportunity to interact with an indigenous community. So have no hesitation, Come explore the lush, tropical vegetation. The sun is strong and the treks are long,
Rolling hills of shades of green, Mattresses of questionable hygiene. Plenty of fresh fruta during the stops, But be sure to shoo off the wasps. Leave your phone as there's no reception, Don't be silly, you're no exception. Scrambling along slippery river banks, And crossing precaurious wooden planks. Carved lines in a rock provide a map, Oh look there's the fast group.. we've been overtaken on another lap! Spiders, scorpions, crickets and frogs, Flea bitten cats and hungry dogs, Passing hills and passing cows, Then Sal made a friend with Senor Meows. Daily 5am wake up and the rooster calls cock-a-doodle-doo, It's time to wake up, and smell the mule poo. Be generous with the deet, And Compeed on your feet. Incredible sights of the indigenous tribes, Little boys carrying machete knives! Watch out for the tropical downpour, Rain and rain and rain galore. A giant sleepover of endless bunk beds, Remember to pack the essential MEDS. Clothes are damp: is it rain, is it sweat? Beds are outside but do not fret, There is the trusty mosquito net! For this you'll need the jab of yellow fever, You can't One of The Pit Stops
Fresh watermelon, covered in wasps be a princess, and you can't be a diva.
Countless rock steps up to the Lost City, Don't fall or slip, it would be a pity! Almost at our final destination, My legs are a burning hot sensation, At the top the scenery is impeccable, And this feeling we have is so incredible! Stones mark where straw huts once were, This trek is tough we all concur. Full of wonderful jungle delights, Apart from the dreaded mosquito bites. We're almost at the end of the tour, And these blisters are painfully sore. We're limping the endless last half mile, Don't remember this path, I must be senile. Passing the village where it all started, Joy and appreciation fills me whole hearted, My soul, mind, and body was tested, Human versus nature has been contested. The four days are up and we've learnt our lessons, We shouldn't have missed all those gym sessions. But the scenery was epic and well worth the trek, I was bitten alive, but what the heck! The Drop Bear Hostel (10/04/18-12/04/18) Housed in an ex drug cartel mansion, our new hostel, Drop Bear, provided the ultimate post
trek rest and relaxation we so desperately needed. This quirky hostel's large, breezy rooms have barely changed since the 80's and apparently there is still money hidden somewhere in the walls! Here we enjoyed their delicious fresh fruit juices, yummy food, a gorgeous pool, and countless hammocks while my blisters and rashes healed.
Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona (12/04/18-13/04/18) Tayrona National Park is located on the Caribbean coast, 35km from Santa Marta, and is one of Colombia’s most famous National Parks. Not only is the park home to some of Colombia’s most stunning beaches, it is also rich in Colombian culture, wildlife and tropical rainforest. We got the bus from Santa Marta (7,000COP = £1.81, not bad for an hours journey!) and a shuttle bus to the start of the hike. We then walked through the jungle and beaches to the furthest away, and allegedy most beatuiful, campsite (Cabo San Juan) and opted for the tent, as opposed to the hammock,sleeping option. Here, we chilled on the stunning beaches and did a short hike for the next 24 hours. Then it was back to our favourite ex drug cartel mansion to plan our next adventure: the moutainous Minca; a
small village nestled in the Colombian hills.
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