Colombia Adventures - Indiana Jones Style!There is no shortage of Colombia adventures in this land of diverse geography from one extreme to the other. Probably the most fascinating of all the adventures are those that take you through the jungles to places like Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) and those along the Amazon River. Here are a few ideas of adventure trips you can take when you visit this country: Â  Ciudad Perdida is an ancient city built somewhere between the eighth and fourteenth centuries. It has circular stone terraces covered by jungle foliage. The views from this city are said to be breathtaking. But do not attempt to get their on your own. You are going to need a guide. You can arrange for treks from some of the hostels in Taganga or Santa Marta. The Turcol Travel Agency in Santa Marta also offers treks to the Ciudad Perdida. The price of the trek in 2006 was $190 U.S. for a 6-day 5-night tour.
While Ciudad Perdida tour sounds very exciting, it must be noted that this is a somewhat dangerous tour in terms of the threat of violence. The city lies in a national park known as the Sierra Nevada de Santa Maria. The U.S. is not allowed to sponsor drug crop aerial fumigations so, as you an imagine, those conducting illegal drug activities want to be in this area to avoid being tracked by anti-drug forces. There have been instances where hikers were kidnapped by rebel insurgents. At one time, trek guides would not take Americans but reportedly that has changed now. Remember that individual hiking in this region is not allowed. Mantaraya Tours (http://cultural-tours.gordonsguide.com/mantaraya/website.cfm) offers a tour on the northern or tropical part of the Amazon in Colombia. This is a fully-guided tour that takes you through an ecosystem of swamps and vegetation in the jungle where you can see pink dolphins, jaguars, otters, and manatees. In the canopy part of the jungle tour you will see all sorts of lizards, monkeys, birds, and bugs. The trip includes lodging and meals. The tour requires flying from Bogota to Leticia. And there are many more Colombia adventures but don't try to any alone as this can be a hostile environment.   |
