life on pine

Colombia

minca, colombia

Kate ParrishComment
Minca+Colombia+Life+On+Pine+Kate+Parrish_DSC_1334.jpg

minca, colombia

not long ago minca was a pretty dangerous place because of a strong guerrilla presence, but throughout the past years this region has developed into an ideal destination to relax and enjoy fantastic views & sunsets, the friendliness of the locals, natural beauty, numerous waterfalls, a sunny climate (infamous for growing marijuana) and plenty of outdoor adventure to be had. minca is a small village in the middle of the sierra nevada mountains at 600m altitude, but what makes it unique is that you can be at the ocean in under 1 hour by car. it is known for having the highest elevation mountain range this close to the sea and the result is the beautiful flora and fauna that define this part of colombia.

oscar's place

no frills ecological hostel with breathtaking views of the santa marta mountains and access to all of the adventure around minca. we loved waking up here and enjoying our coffee on the deck as we gazed into the endless beauty of the lush green mountains. 

gitana del mar [colombia]

Kate ParrishComment
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T A Y R O N A

only 4 hours by car from cartagena is tayrona national park, where a coastal jungle meets some of the most raw and beautiful coastline i've seen. the park is diverse and feels alive [and sounds like jurassic park with all the howler monkeys]. one of our favorite days here was hiking to one of the many beaches [although it was quite hot]. 

in a 26 mile stretch towards the coast, the terrain goes from 19,000 foot lush jungle mountains to the tropical carribean sea. it is a very special place and the energy here is captivating. we built our visit to this region around staying at a resort that a friend highly recommended, gitana del mar. 

G I T A N A 

gitana del mar almost feels like it's own private island when you arrive. away from the bustling streets and small town, it is quiet, serene and calming. this is a place i know i will dream of going back to, and i could not recommend it more. scroll for our photo journal of some favorite memories. 

 

hiking the valle de cocora: salento, colombia

Kate ParrishComment
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this place is like nothing i've ever seen

for a quick adventure after relaxing at hacienda bambusa, we found ourselves on a bus to salento, a tiny town that is part of the los nevados national park. it is the principal location of the national tree,  the quindío wax palm –– and when we saw photos of the palm forest i knew it was not to be missed. the town itself is pretty tiny and filled with small hostels/restaurants to support the heavy tourism that rolls through for adventure like the valle de cocora hike. we stayed at the coffee tree boutique hostel and had our own little private room that was pretty perfect for us. it was walking distance to the town square and had a cozy communal feel to it. 

interested in doing this hike? here are a few things to know:

  1. catch a shared jeep (or a "willy" as they call them) to the valle de cocora from the main square in salento.
  2. the cost is 4,000 COP ($1.50 USD) / person. the jeeps leave six times per day: 6:10am, 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am, 2:00pm and 4:00pm. they then return to salento an hour later.
  3. bring a lunch! the hike takes most of the day 
  4. we stopped and ate our sandwiches at the acaime hummingbird sanctuary where they also serve coffee/hot chocolate * stopping here adds about an hour to the hike, but it's fun to see if you have time
  5. bring a rain jacket –– the weather changes quickly when you get to higher elevations 
  6. do the counterclockwise loop, it is a great work out and ends at the palm forest which is the perfect reward. your hostel/hotel can give you more details on the different ways to do the trail (or you can check out this blog –– they have a lot of great information about the trail)
     


S C E N E S  F R O M  S A L E N T O 

 

Y O U  M I G H T  A L S O  L I K E:

Stories
minca, colombia
minca, colombia
bear paw high sierra camp | sequoia national park
bear paw high sierra camp | sequoia national park
routeburn track: fiordland national park
routeburn track: fiordland national park
new zealand! the tongariro alpine crossing
new zealand! the tongariro alpine crossing
hiking the valle de cocora: salento, colombia
trekking to the sun gate at machu picchu
trekking to the sun gate at machu picchu
hiking in peru, the laguna 69 trek
hiking in peru, the laguna 69 trek
hiking in chile's lake district: volcano osorno
hiking in chile's lake district: volcano osorno
7 day trekking guide: how to get off the tourist track of annapurna basecamp
7 day trekking guide: how to get off the tourist track of annapurna basecamp
annapurna photo journal: planning for a trek in nepal
annapurna photo journal: planning for a trek in nepal

day trip from cartagena: isla baru photo journal

Kate ParrishComment
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cartagena is really hot in the summer

and walking the streets was really fun, but also really difficult to do for the entire day because we would get exhausted by the sun. we kept hearing that there were islands nearby that many people take day trips to (and saw TONS of men trying to sell us a boat ride) and we finally decided that it might actually be really fun and refreshing. 

we ended up pricing out a few of the offered tours before we realized they all actually work together and it really didn't matter. we boarded a cute little boat and rode for about an hour before arriving to isla baru –– here, we got off and spent the entire day lounging/swimming/drinking coconuts. you can also take separate snorkeling trips/etc. –– but we were more interested in relaxing and catching up on our books. 

the beach bars were adorable, the water was refreshing, and there was plenty of shade to hide under when it got too hot. if you're heading to cartagena for a few days, i'd definitely recommend this day-trip! we were back in the city by 4pm, just in time for sunset happy hour. some favorite photos below...
 

 

O T H E R  P O S T S  Y O U  M I G H T  L I K E:

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my favorite town in the philippines: el nido
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eco adventure in el nido: apulit island
eco adventure in el nido: apulit island

northern colombia: 4 nights in cartagena

Kate ParrishComment
cartagena colombia_DSC_1295.jpg

 

a quick flight from medellin and we were in this colorful little city

people told us cartagena would be way more touristy than other cities in colombia which is definitely true, but i loved it all the same. the cobblestoned streets, seaside restaurants and incredibly kind locals made for a romantic and welcomed escape (albeit a HOT escape -- it is frickin hot and humid in colombia in june). 

this walled city is famous for its colonial architecture, street art, colorful buildings, castles, culture, and rich history (dating back to 1533) being colombia's largest port city (as it still is today). cartagena has played a major part in the country's history,  not only protecting them from a number of invasions, but also in battling pirates who desired the city’s treasure and riches.
 

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if you're visiting cartagena, here are a few things we loved:

  1. our airbnb in getsemani (bunch of cute hotels near here too) –– we loved staying in this neighborhood because of it's proximity to the center park and nightly hangout
  2. burgers in the square (from the food carts ... also loved the "patacon con todo")
  3. cocktails on the rooftop at alquimico 
  4. a night at the cafe havana club (touristy, but honesly a must do)
  5. bazurto social club (arrive around 11pm or it will be dead!)
  6. popsicles from la paletteria
  7. breakfast bites from la esquina del pan de bono
  8. some of the city's best ceviche at la laguna azul (literally in a strip mall, but trust us)
  9. gathering at cafe del mar with tourists and locals for sunset at the wall (i'd recommend BYOBing)
  10. grab lunch at la mulata, delicious food and great vibes. many people recommended la cevicheria, which is definitely *good*, but we found it a little over priced and too touristy. 
     
 

Y O U  M I G H T  A L S O  L I K E

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hip & bohemian canggu: a mini guide
hip & bohemian canggu: a mini guide
9 things to see when you're in ubud, bali
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where to stay in ubud: bambu indah
where to stay in ubud: bambu indah
the best vegan restaurant in ubud [or ever]
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why bingin should be your first stop in bali
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