Samana Jungle Trip - 8 Days

Trek through an untouched tropical rainforest and raft one of the world’s last truly wild rivers.

What to Expect

Day 1: Arrival

Drive through the lush Medellin valley and into one of Latin America’s most exciting cities. Explore the friendly, green spaces of the Manila district, then after a team briefing to prepare you for the expedition ahead, spend the night in a boutique hotel ln the heart of Medellin’s hippest neighbourhood, El Poblado.

Day 2: 7hrs · 22km · 200m up · 800m down

Head into the Samana Watershed, a tropical paradise that few foreign eyes have ever seen. Push through the humid, jungle-covered mountains as you hike into the valley of the Rio Verde of Los Henados. Spend the night in a remote finca where you’ll enjoy a home cooked meal alongside a local family and hear fascinating stories about this hidden area of Colombia – (it was once a stronghold of FARC, but is now entirely safe, so everyone has a story to share.)

Day 3: 7hrs · 23km · 700m up · 300m down

Greet the day with some strong, local coffee or a hot chocolate and then return to the jungle. From now on your group will be totally self-sufficient and see very few people. Follow the trail (or make one) and learn from your guide about the abundance of plants traditionally used in local culture and medicine. Keep an eye out for clouds of butterflies and families of otters along the water’s edge. After lunch, cross the river on a suspension bridge, set up camp and learn how to sling the perfect hammock between the trees.

Day 4: 6hrs · 18km · 600m up · 600m down

Rafting: 3hrs · 5km

Navigate through a chunk of pristine rainforest. If you’re lucky you might even see a tigrillo, tapir or monkey. Push on to the Rio Verde where your raft will be waiting. Then, after a refreshing swim in the cool emerald waters, set off along the wild Samana River. In the evening, set up your hammock on the riverbank and fall asleep to the sound of the jungle orchestra.

Day 5: 7hrs · 32km

Wake yourself up with a morning dip in the river and then take a short hike through the jungle to a dramatic canyon. Return to the Rio Samana - a power-house of a river cloaked in dense jungle and constricted between low granite walls, stopping to explore the secluded beaches and swim in hidden waterfalls. Brace yourself for whitewater as you tackle some class 4 rapids, passing prospectors panning for gold on the calmer stretches. Rest and resupply in Puente Samana and set up camp on a jungle-flanked beach.

Day 6: 7hrs · 22km

Descend some more class 4+ rapids as you cross through a rainforest teeming with life and into a beautiful silver-blue rock canyon. Witness the rare birds, butterflies, and exotic plants that live in this lowland forest and camp close to a secluded lagoon and natural pool. Finish the day with a swim as you watch the sun set through the canopy.

Day 7: 4hrs · 16km

Continue along the grey-blue canyon and watch as cascading waterfalls drop from high mountain peaks into blue swimming pools only accessible from the river. Leave your raft in the little village of Narices and enjoy a final walk to a secret waterfall whilst lunch is being prepared. Say goodbye to the jungle and head back to Medellin for a final evening with your team.

Day 8: Departure

Free day today to explore some more of Medellin. Or just relax, you've earned it! The transfer will leave late afternoon to arrive at the airport at 17:00.

Highlights:

- Be one of the first explorers to set foot in a totally remote and untouched corner of Colombia

- Start in the tropical mountains and blaze a trail through the wilderness as you descend into the mysterious Magdalena Basin

- Pass through one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet with no less than five different ecosystems all teeming with life - if you’re lucky you might see a tigrillo, tapir or monkey