Visiting Chocó in Colombia

Visiting Chocó in Colombia is an experience like no other!

We spent a week in the secluded department of Colombia, a region called Chocó.  The area is situated on the pacific coast of Colombia and hugs half the shoreline all the way up to Panama.  The place is so remote that the only way you can get there is by boat or plane.

This was my favorite part of Colombia due to its uniqueness and remoteness, which gives it a feel that you would not experience in the rest of the country.  Previously called the ”Zona Roja’ (Red Zone) due to the danger posed by the Farc and Paramilitaries, the country has had troubled experiences so has only just started to open up to tourists.  Now is the right time to visit Colombia before it becomes another Cartagena, over-developed and swamped by tourists.

Chocó is extremely bio-diverse, full of beaches and jungles.  The tourism is fresh and people are starting to come back for more.

If you are looking for a traditionally beautiful place, then perhaps Santa Marta is more suitable for you.  The area is raw, and home to everything from volcanic sands to villages which seem to be built into the jungle.

Getting in:

If you are visiting  Chocó in Colombia, there are multiple ways of getting into the region.  We entered from the south, getting a bus from Cali to Buenaventura.  This city is well known for being dangerous, so be careful with any valuables (although we didn’t have any issues while we were there.)

The area of Chocó is so remote because there aren’t any roads that connect it with the rest of Colombia.  We decided to take the cargo boat which took 24 hours.  It’s not too comfortable, but you do get three meals while on board, and costs 150,000 pesos ($45 US.)  We had a mat on the ground and it’s advisable to always have somebody watching your belongings.

Eventually we arrived at Bahia Solano where there were plenty of hotels to choose from, but we booked ahead just to be sure.

History:

The people who reside here are all descendants from slaves who came to live here in the last two hundred years.  This has given the area a unique feel compared with other parts of Colombia.  The African influence is very apparent to see.

Local vibe:

If you could mix Latin culture with African culture then that is Chocó.  The extremely laid back vibe compared with a vivacious sense of rhythm, give it the best of both worlds.  If you make your way down to the beach in the evening, no doubt you will come across a bonfire, where locals and tourists gather around drinking aguardiente (strong alcohol) and singing.

The town we stayed in:

The village we stayed in was called El Valle.  It was set along a river with small cabanas lining a dirt track.  The river seemed like the main hang out spot for the children of the village, with well worn rope swings dangling down from multiple branches.  This is definitely the quieter option compared with staying in Bahia Solano.

As we made our way through the village, locals sat outside their houses chatting, with the occasional smile being offered in our direction.

Activities to do in El Valle:

• Walk in the jungle
• Visit waterfalls
• Participate in the the releasing of turtles (July to October)

Coming home:

Bahia Solano has an airport, so we opted for the more comfortable option to make our way back to Medellin.