On Saturday we headed back to Cartagena via boat, it was a lot more choppy on the return journey and we were thrown all over the place and soaked by the end, we all found it hilarious until a local informed us boats were routinely smashed apart in that crossing when the weather is bad, I’m glad we didn’t know that while we were crossing!
We had planned to have a night out in Cartagena but unfortunately due to a vote happening there was an alcohol ban the whole weekend which put a stop to our plans, until we met some German guys in our hostel who knew about a pool party, we went along and it was actually about 6 people in a tiny pool, but they were serving alcohol and we had nothing better to do so we stayed. Grace also bet £50 that none of us would jump into the pool in our undies shouting ‘save me!’ and start a conga. I am now £50 richer so I count that as a successful evening.
On Sunday we headed to Santa Marta and we spent the night in a party hostel there, we had a fun evening playing volleyball in the pool and watching boys we met play football with some local kids.
Early Monday morning we headed to Minca to stay in a beautiful hostel up in the mountains, we got a collectivo to Minca and then had the option of a motorbike taxi or a jeep to get up the steep hill to the hostel. It was an hour ride and as there are four of us the cost of the jeep only worked out slightly more expensive so we went for comfort and took the jeep. Thank God we did, 20 minutes into the journey the heavens opened and we were struggling to get up the hill, at one point the jeep started sliding backwards and the engine smoking, I don’t think the squeel I made was entirely human. We eventually made it up to the hostel and a few hours later when the skies cleared it was worth it, the views were beautiful. The hostel had these huge net hammocks over the jungle, some of which also were swings, I’m quite afraid of heights so I was feeling pleased with myself that I’d made it on the swing, that was until a local guy saw how scared I was and decided to jump on and swing us really high. I would like to say I overcame my fear, but I actually layed down and hung on for dear life! We met a really nice Dutch fraternity and spent the evening playing cards and drinking with them (and forgetting their very Dutch names which they didn’t appreciate).
The next morning we had to check out at 11am but as it was raining the previous day we didn’t get to do many hikes so we decided to check out and hike to some nearby waterfalls and then just walk the rest of the way down. The waterfall was really pretty and the cool water was a welcome break from the heat after the hour it took to get there.
We’ve now just arrived in Taganga. I’ll keep you updated on what we get up to next!
Lots of love,
Alice x