While Cartagena is best associated with wild parties, beaches and its stunning colonial walled city, there are actually some really great hiking trails located nearby to help you get back in touch with nature. This is especially helpful for long term travelers who may be feeling a bit disenchanted with the Colombian party scene. For people on short trips, this is a great way to explore Colombia’s biodiversity and get to know more about this fascinating country.
Below are just some of the popular hiking trails in northern Colombia.
Ciudad Perdida, otherwise known as the Lost City hike is one of the most famous hikes in Colombia. This 29-mile trail takes you through thick jungle and up and down the mountains of Sierra Nevada de Madre. Due to the difficulty of it, the hike normally takes 4-5 days and at the end, you can see Colombia’s version of Macchu Picchu. Make sure to take plenty of bug spray and be prepared to get pretty sweaty.
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Although this park is on the other side of Santa Marta, it is well worth the trip. Part of the park hugs the coastline and you can spend days hiking and the night camping on beaches. It is possible to do visit Tayrona National Park but you will have to spend at least 2 nights in Santa Marta because it is around 4-5 hours to drive between the two cities. Don’t worry though, you can get shuttle buses that are comfortable and offer enough legroom to accommodate tall travelers.
The Montes de Maria are a small group of mountains near Cartagena. The starting point of the trail is actually on private property so you will have to do it as part of the tour. Most Montes de Maria tours leave Cartagena early morning and return in the late afternoon and include a few hours of hiking and a trip to the local village to learn more about the area. The tour allows you to experience Colombia’s flora and fauna without having to travel too far from Cartagena.
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