Guatape to Cartagena
It’s hard to let go of something you’ve just discovered. It’s a bit like taking the first candy from a box only to be told you can’t have any more.
Leaving Guatape today gives us the same feeling. 5 days ago we came around a bend in the road, saw this beautiful lake and La Piedra deal Penol, a huge monolithic rock and quaint little town. It’s left us yearning for more and like the box of chocolates has left a very sweet taste on our mouth.
This is the real Colombia that we came to see, it’s vibrance isn’t just in the colourful village painted with beautiful murals adorning the buildings, but it’s in its people. The genuine welcome feeling you get from the locals is like nothing we’ve experienced in our travels through South America.
If we spoke the language we’d seriously consider the move. The international investments are opening up and it’s going to be exciting times ahead for Guatape.
Our check out was midday from Lake View Hostel. So we had a couple of hours to take in the last sights before leaving. One more round of BBQ glazed ribs and stroll through the square before ambling onto the lake shore….. I really don’t want to leave.
Thoughts turned toward transport and the instructions for taking the bus left us a little bewildered knowing that our Spanish wasn’t up to scratch and changing buses midway along the highway in the hope of catching a ride with an airport bus left us a little anxious.
We asked the guys at the hostel (an Irish guy who spoke Spanish) to set up a taxi for us. Sure the cost was higher than the bus but at least we would make it to the airport with minimal hassle.
It turned out for the cost of 80.000COP ($40AUD) we got a great deal. Our taxi driver spoke fluent English. We chatted with Ivan all the way to the airport, he’s an incredible guy. Turns out Ivan is from Medellin and came to the lake with his new boat 4 years ago and never returned. He lives with his wife and operates both his taxi and boat as a guide. Not only that, but he has rooms available in his house to stay. Ivan was suppressed that we hadn’t been to Medellin and mentions that should we return he’d take us to the city. Ivan loves the lake as we do. He has an island that us uninhabited and has a flat camping area…. The more Ivan reveals his paradise the more we know we have to come back.
But as with all good things our journey to the airport is over and with firm handshakes and the swapping of contact details we agree to keep in touch.
So, if you’re going to Guatape and want to experience the true Colombia hospitality. Contact us with IVAN IN GUATAPE in the subject line and we’ll put you in touch.
Once again we’re flying with an Airline that’s not a favourite with us, but we hope that Viva Colombia can redeem it’s tarnished reputation. Our check in is fine, although we do have to pay 46000COP for one of our bags as its marginal too big. The up side was we got to board and disembark first. Departing at 5.30pm it’s a quick 1 hour flight to Cartanga and its dark on arrival. We’re so close to the equator now that the sun drops from the sky quickly.
As the door opens the warm tropical air races throughout he plane like a gas. We’re certainly no longer going to experience cool conditions for the balance of our journey.
We drive past the coast nd wee the wave rolling in on the beach, past walled city of the. original town and onto our hostel I one of the little laneways. This will be our home base for the next 4 nights, that is, unless Elena changes the plans. Santa Marta is only 5 hours by bus and she’s considering a couple of days there.
As for now we don’t really need to explore the city tonight. We’re still full from lunch so we skip dinner and settle into our new room and rune out to the TV. On an English movie Chanel.
