If you are looking for something beyond the normal touristics options in Cartagena, that’s what you gonna find with Taroa Adventures. While I was in the city, I had the chance to do two day trips with them and both were such an off the beaten path experience!!!

In the first one, South of Baru’s Island, we started the day at 8h and during the first stop we had some arepas and empanadas made by locals. Soooo delicious! Then Olinto (the main guide) presented us to the local guide, Elio, with whom we walked around the small Baru’s village. They both walked with us showing the interesting details of the place: the old corals at the floor (it was sea before!), the artisans painting towels, the two lovely parrots that we learned how to hold on and some beautiful houses around the main square. After that we were surprised by a group of kids who played typical percussion to us and then it was our turn to play too - or try it haha! We had to say goodbye to everyone to go to another part of the day: taking a boat through the mangrove, stopping to eat a delicious ceviche at the beach and to get into the river. And if it wasn’t enough, we finally arrived in “our” beach (there wasn’t almost no one) to have lunch and enjoy the rest of the time exploring the place - I took a nap too =P

After this great experience, I decided to book the Jaguar’s Footprint day trip with them too. This time we went to a distant and hidden place in Montes de Maria, around 2h from Cartagena. We got to this farm and walked through the dry forest with another local guide, Jaime. Them both were always trying to find some animal and making us pay attention to every sound we hear. Olinto is passionate by the nature and makes us feel the same! The hiking wasn’t difficult at all, and the best part was to pass through a small river - getting into it! We could feel the curious fishes kissing our hands and discover the footprints on the rocks. Even if the explanation for each draw isn’t very clear for the researchers, we can feel the energy of the place and the importance of it. I would have being there for more time, but our lunch was waiting for us! On the way we learned more about the history and cultural rituals of the indigenas and stopped in a beautiful house to eat the most amazing meal I’ve had in Colombia (I already miss the cheese soup)!!! After that we watched to an experienced group of percussionist that showed us about the typical rhythms and allowed us to try a bit with them too.

In our way back to Cartagena from this second day trip I was convinced that it was way more than a normal touristic tour, it was a very human tour! It allowed us to experiment the culture by people, food and music and to feel the nature by hiking at a hidden and magical forest or relaxing at an empty beach. In both trips Olinto was not only guiding us, but taking care of us, offering water, asking what type of food we would prefer, trying to give us the best experience ever! And he made it! I’m gonna recommend Taroa Adventures to all my friends who come to Cartagena and if you are coming too, don’t hesitate to book one of their tours!!

My friend and me booked a tour with Taroa Adventures without really knowing what we are gonna see. As we got picked up (which was very comfortable) we had a traditional colombian desayuno (breakfast) after a 30min drive. Listening to nice music in the car we had a nice chat with some arepas and eggs. Mhhh so yummy!! Loved it - after that we went hiking , which an but amazing nature experience. Olinto knew every question to answer and made this very special. 

we saw no other tourists. very “off the path”. 

So we started walking and it felt like we were just going with friends - chatting about colombia -politics, economy, culture. Learned so much from Olinto. 

Spending the complete day was a success and the best start of our Colombia Trip!

Taroa Adventures gave us a great learning experience. We had an incredible tour. Wonderful guides who were very friendly!. I will never forget this trip.