Taganga & Parque Nacional Tayrona - Week 46

27th July to 3rd August



We took a local bus to the terminal in Cartagena and got driven directly to the bus to Santa Marta by our 'friendly' bus driver. Aaaargh!!! Why didn't we check it? It sure enough arrived at Santa Marta but only one bus broke down requiring THREE changes of bus and 7 hours. (It's meant to be direct and 4 hours).



Anyway, we didn't hang around in Santa Marta (had been warned it was a dump) but jumped straight in a collectivo to Taganga, a little fishing village around the bay. Taganga was very nice and relaxed and we checked into Casa Felipe, a nice little hostel up the hill.



Our first day was spent lounging in hammocks in the sun, working on the tans and reading books. There was a thunderstorm in the afternoon so we raced down through the village to the sea in just our cossies for a swim - it was fab! We were sharing a room with an English/Columbian couple and three irish lads so that night James went out with them to find some 'action'! (Katie couldn't be arsed). Taganga was dead and so it was into in Santa Marta, for a super dance club. We realised we had no money after the 10,000 peso entry fee and the 7,000 peso beers. It was interesting to see the Colombian women all dressed up for the night - all verging on supermodels. But after one beer and dancing to hardcore drum & bass - which always has seemed a bit shit, and now at 30 years of age has turned into disbelief that people actually get enjoyment from listening to such crap - it was time to head back after just an hour.



Early the next morning we left Taganga for Parque Nacional Tayrona. Three buses and two hours later we had arrived and we were so pleased to be there - it was spectacular! We walked from the entrance for 1 1/2 very hot but incredible beautiful hours through rainforest and accross beaches until we reached the final beach and our home for two nights - a couple of hammocks on the beach. And what a beach!





We were there in time for an afternoon of sunbathing and reading and a little explore further around the bay for the sunset:











The next morning we did a very sweaty hike for an hour up to 'Pueblito' which were some ruins dating back to 1500 AD. It was no Macchu Picchu but interesting and very pretty nevertheless!




The afternoon was spent predictably, swimming, reading and sunbathing on deserted beaches (James even got his kit off at the nudist section but luckily for you we don't have a photo) and was great!

Once we were back in Taganga we had planned to go diving but as we had met people that had said it wasn't too exciting we sacked that idea and took a boat to a beach further round the bay. The sea was very good, perfect temperature and lovely and clear for swimming but the beach was crap. Never mind, we borrowed some chairs and had a tasty fish lunch and did lots of swimming!

We couldn't resist a bottle of rum in the evening and passed a very pleasant few hours playing cards and getting steadily rat-arsed...

The next day we took the bus (direct and air conditioned!!) back to Cartagena and decided to stay in the fancy resort part of Bocagrande for a change. Ooops!! Mega-pricey and really not that nice. We did find a reasonable room though and had a very naughty McDonalds... Our final day was spent at a couple of museums in the old town and doing a bit of admin. Oh, and a spot of shopping for Columbian emeralds! Katie may be sporting the greenest engagement ring ever when she gets home!