Be amazed by one of the most especial places in Colombia while get acquainted with the magic of the whales, the sea, the extensive beaches and the exuberant jungle with its clear rivers.
El Chocó is located in the Colombian Pacific coast is a wild territory of important biodiversity. Its strategic location in a transition area between Central and South America, gathers an immense number of animal and vegetation species of both subcontinents. Its diverse geography ranges from paramo ecosystems in the Andean high mountains, to the large extension of lush jungle where many rivers and streams, that run east – west and go to the sea in the form of streams or beaches, stand out. Besides the immense number of species of fauna and flora, in El Chocó converge indigenous, Afro descendants and settlers communities that bring an important cultural diversity to the territory.
This is a journey to enjoy the Pacific Ocean with the whales that come in their annual journey from the Antarctic. A journey where we can bathe in crystal clear rivers, go around the virgin beaches, walk along the jungle and enjoy the biological, ethnic and cultural diversity of a wild territory that over the years has manage to remain isolated.
Early in the morning we will meet at the Airport Olaya Herrera in the city of Medellín, to take the fly to Bahía Solano in the department of Chocó. Once we land, we will take a vehicle for about 18 Km to El Valle Township, next to the beautiful beach El Almejal where our hotel is located. After checking in we will have lunch to later on walk along the beach El Almejal. In the evening, we will enjoy of the Pacific gastronomy to then go to rest and get ready to the next day.
Note: To people that do not come from Medellín, the meeting point will be Bahía Solano.
We will visit the beautiful Utría National Park that is located approximately half an hour by boat from El Valle. During this trip we will be searching for the whales that come from the Antarctic in their annual migration of more tan 8.000 kilometers and that arrive to the Colombian coast between the months of July and October.
Once we arrive to the National Park we will register and receive an informative talk from the Park officials to then walk along the Los Mangles (The Mangroves) path where we will be able to watch the different kinds of mangroves and learn about its importance in the ecosystem. At the end of our walk, we will be back to the boat to keep searching for the whales and to visit Playa Blanca Island where we will enjoy lunch and have the chance to snorkel over the coral reef. The rest of the afternoon we will spend it in Playa Blanca, resting, bathing in the sea and going around the island to later on, go back to El Valle by boat, but not before stopping again to watch the whales.
In the evening we will have dinner in our hotel and rest to enjoy the next day.
We will go again searching for the whales and visit the virgin beaches of Chadó and El Tigre; there, we will be able to enjoy the rivers, beaches, jungle and waterfalls. Our lunch will be a typical dish from the region raped in viao leaf; we will have it on the beach while enjoying its magnificent landscapes and take pleasure in the warm sea. In the afternoon we will be back to El Valle and in our way back we will have the opportunity to watch whales once more time.
In the evening we will have dinner at the hotel and rest, to the next day go back to our city of departure.
In our last day, we will go back to our city of departure. Early in the morning we will be able to enjoy the beach and bathe for the last time. Later on we will have breakfast and then, we will take a vehicle to the Bahía Solano Airport to take a plane back to our cities of origin.
A small backpack.
Cloths suitable for fresh weather that includes a pair of pants and a long sleeve shirt.
A light sweater or jacket
A raincoat poncho like
Bathing suit
Small towel
A pair of shoes and a pair of sandals or two pair of shoes.
Sun glasses
Photographic camera
Non plastic water bottle (thermo)
Sunscreen
A small personal hygiene kit
A bag to pack your cloths and protect them from the water and another one to dispose your personal garbage.
ID Card
+ Guide during the whole trip.
+ Medical Assistance Insurance.
+ Two trips to whale watching.
+ Visit to Utría National Park.
+ A trip to Chadó and El Tigre river and beaches.
+ A tour around the jungle in Utría National Park.
+ Air, water and ground transport to all places mentioned in the itinerary.
+ Accommodation: 3 nights in a hotel.
+ Full meals: breakfast, lunch and dinners.
+ All activities described in the itinerary.
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+ Entrance to Utría National Park. Colombian Nationals: $17,000 COP; foreigners: $44,500 COP. Children between 5 and 12 y/o of any nationality: $9,000 COP.
+ Snacks.
+ Expenses not specified in the plan.
This Colombian region is fascinating. The lush of the jungle joining with the Pacific Ocean produces a great biological diversity. Visiting this kind of places brings peace to the soul.
I enjoy each river, the sea, the hikes in the jungle and of course, the amazing whales.
No doubt one of the most beautiful places in Colombia.
Ricardo
Chocó is a charming place. The sea, the beaches, the rivers, the jungle, the whales, the tide, their culture; I enjoyed every single thing…an isolated region from Colombia to which very little people can reach.
I hope the place can be preserved.
Thank you SAWA for showing us this Colombian Paradise!
Claudia Ospina
The whales are amazing, we watch them jump and also have the fortune to hear them sing.
The Pacific Coast is beautiful and the Utría Park is spectacular. I hope to be able to visit this place again.
Laura Arroyave
