28 September 2011
Finally they picked me up at my hostel Kayros in Santa Marta on 8:30AM though being promised to be picked up at 7:30AM. The lady took me to Magic Tour office in Santa Marta, just in front of the Cathedral.
Friendly Dutch, Wilco introduced himself, and later the pretty Australian Cathlyn and funny young French fellow Pierre. Two Irish guys Eamon and Nicky joined us, then with the old Land Cruiser, we picked up Australian Darryl and English Lisa from remote Dream Hostel (thought the two were couple!:).
the natural pool
on the summit where he had orange time
a cabana we passed but didn't stay here
our first dinner and first beer in the jungle
Finally they picked me up at my hostel Kayros in Santa Marta on 8:30AM though being promised to be picked up at 7:30AM. The lady took me to Magic Tour office in Santa Marta, just in front of the Cathedral.
Friendly Dutch, Wilco introduced himself, and later the pretty Australian Cathlyn and funny young French fellow Pierre. Two Irish guys Eamon and Nicky joined us, then with the old Land Cruiser, we picked up Australian Darryl and English Lisa from remote Dream Hostel (thought the two were couple!:).
The Dutch boy spoke Spanish very fluently and officially was appointed as our translator :) lucky I had this smart and charming but a bit fat fellow in the group.
It took about 2.5 hours, including non-asphalt road to the starting point village called Mamey. Packed with 8 trekkers at the back of the Land Cruiser, the ride was not that comfortable, but we didn't feel it that much with the nice conversation with the new fellows (on the way back, the ride on the non-asphalt part was felt almost unbearably uncomfortable, with exhausted smelly body and rain).
We took lunch in a place where we met other groups that would start the trek like us, and groups that just returned from the trek.
Our guide in the first day was Magali, a mid 20 years old girl, the sister of Ali, our main guide who joined us from the next day.
After paused at a military check, we started our journey about 2PM.
The first 1 hour was an easy flat walking with few river crossing.
I gave up, letting my shoes wet after failing stone hopping in the first river crossing.
After 2 river crossings, we saw other groups walked before us swimming in a natural pool, jumping into the water from top of the rock. We then joined them.
It was quite refreshing, the water was clear, and many fish were there.The next one hour was like hell with up up up and up.
I trained by jogging 3km everyday 1 month before the trekking, but I felt like in the limit of my endurance.
It appeared that in my group, I was the second slowest walker after Lisa.
While the crazy French boy was fast like Captain America. No wonder he wanted to do the trek in 4 days, one day less than us.There were 2 stops, one in front of a house where we got oranges, and the other one on the height with good view where we got watermelon (I remember we fed the chickens and ducks with the seed and the remain of the watermelon).
After a muddy a bit long downhill, a little less than 4 hours from the start, finall y we arrived at our first night accommodation.
We chose our hammock then took a shower, cleaning all the sweat from the walk.
The water was cold but refreshing.
There were many people in the camp (or cabana), including the people who were on the return way.
Our first dinner was really nice, and chatting with the new fellows was qu ite fun.
But the mosquitos bit cruelly my leg.
My only trouser (Gap) was torn, possibly for frequent big steps I took on the walk while wet.
Magali kindly sewed my trouser... so sweet of her...
This camp was the only camp during the trek that had electricity from the generator.
I slept, but not so well, on the hammock with the background of singing of many creatures from the jungle surround.
It took about 2.5 hours, including non-asphalt road to the starting point village called Mamey. Packed with 8 trekkers at the back of the Land Cruiser, the ride was not that comfortable, but we didn't feel it that much with the nice conversation with the new fellows (on the way back, the ride on the non-asphalt part was felt almost unbearably uncomfortable, with exhausted smelly body and rain).
We took lunch in a place where we met other groups that would start the trek like us, and groups that just returned from the trek.
Our guide in the first day was Magali, a mid 20 years old girl, the sister of Ali, our main guide who joined us from the next day.
After paused at a military check, we started our journey about 2PM.
The first 1 hour was an easy flat walking with few river crossing.
I gave up, letting my shoes wet after failing stone hopping in the first river crossing.
After 2 river crossings, we saw other groups walked before us swimming in a natural pool, jumping into the water from top of the rock. We then joined them.
It was quite refreshing, the water was clear, and many fish were there.The next one hour was like hell with up up up and up.
I trained by jogging 3km everyday 1 month before the trekking, but I felt like in the limit of my endurance.
It appeared that in my group, I was the second slowest walker after Lisa.
While the crazy French boy was fast like Captain America. No wonder he wanted to do the trek in 4 days, one day less than us.There were 2 stops, one in front of a house where we got oranges, and the other one on the height with good view where we got watermelon (I remember we fed the chickens and ducks with the seed and the remain of the watermelon).
After a muddy a bit long downhill, a little less than 4 hours from the start, finall y we arrived at our first night accommodation.
We chose our hammock then took a shower, cleaning all the sweat from the walk.
The water was cold but refreshing.
There were many people in the camp (or cabana), including the people who were on the return way.
But the mosquitos bit cruelly my leg.
My only trouser (Gap) was torn, possibly for frequent big steps I took on the walk while wet.
Magali kindly sewed my trouser... so sweet of her...
This camp was the only camp during the trek that had electricity from the generator.
I slept, but not so well, on the hammock with the background of singing of many creatures from the jungle surround.
the car that took us to the jungle
mule brings the supply
at military check point
first river crossing
the trek
the natural pool
on the summit where he had orange time
a cabana we passed but didn't stay here
our first dinner and first beer in the jungle
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