Minca - Jungle experience on the Caribbean coast

The date our ship will arrive in Cartagena is now (more or less) set. What was supposed to be early January has become mid-January. We have one more destination on our agenda before heading to the port – Minca. A small town in the middle of the jungle, yet only an hour's drive from the coast. It's not just the natural beauty that's appealing, but also the somewhat more pleasant nighttime temperatures of just over 20 degrees Celsius. A welcome change :-)

Micha is motivated to go birdwatching. Here in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, there are many endemic species and several bird sanctuaries. For the first two days, he's ready at dusk with his telephoto lens – accompanied by a guide, of course. The results are impressive.

Toucan in the morning.....

This funny little monkey had his eye on bananas.

I'll either join Diego later or we'll meet for breakfast. The town itself offers several dining options, all geared towards foreign tourists. We haven't seen so many gringos in our 10 weeks in Colombia! :-)

The village itself isn't exactly pretty, and it's quite loud and chaotic. Diego is pleased with the well-attended playground, a rarity on this trip.

Unter Vogelliebhabern

Since we have a few days before our planned arrival in Cartagena, we spontaneously decide to drive further into the Sierra Nevada mountains. A huge bird sanctuary is located at an altitude of 2,000 meters. It can be reached via a 5-kilometer off-road track or with expensive private transport. The problem: we're almost out of diesel (the nearest gas station is 30 minutes away in the opposite direction) and there are no campsites or RV parks. Our campsite owner makes a connection, and lo and behold, the neighbor promises us 10 liters of diesel for the next morning—for a reasonable surcharge, of course. We inquire at a luxury lodge, whose clientele is mostly affluent bird enthusiasts, primarily from the USA, whether we can camp there in exchange for a small donation. And indeed—both problems solved. Just ask! :-)

We set off towards higher altitudes, motivated by the prospect of cooler temperatures and tranquility. We soon find ourselves on the off-road track – later we learn it's among the top five worst roads in Colombia. We crawl uphill in low range at a maximum of 4 km/h, constantly being overtaken by pedestrians. We're especially worried about our shock absorbers. Visibly exhausted, we arrive after more than two hours and receive a warm welcome. We're speechless at the beauty of the place, with views of the glaciated peaks in one direction and the Caribbean Sea in the other. The area boasts countless trails for birdwatching. The next morning, Micha sets off, full of enthusiasm.

Restaurant with a view

Diego is taking photos with his mobile phone again...

On the toilet again

The next day, we'd hired a birdwatcher to take us up into the high cloud forest for sunrise. That was the plan. At midday, Micha complained of stomach rumbling, in the afternoon he was plagued by chills, and from 7 p.m. onwards, he couldn't get off the toilet. A sleepless night lay ahead (for me too, since Micha was climbing over me and getting out of bed every 20 minutes). At 4 a.m., the guide knocked on our door. Canceling was no longer an option, as he had already set off for the reserve the previous evening. So, I set off with Diego, Micha's camera in tow. Once we arrived, we witnessed one of the most spectacular sunrises of my life, against a breathtaking backdrop. That was the relaxing part. Then it was time for birdwatching. How Diego and photography were supposed to work together was beyond me. Eventually, a surprisingly relaxed approach emerged, one that hadn't been planned: Diego did everything himself, and the guide took photos with Micha's camera. It was definitely worth it.

Back in the camper, Micha's condition hasn't improved; unfortunately, he can't even keep water down. We're now trying everything from the medicine cabinet that might help—luckily, it's well-stocked. Time is of the essence; the scheduled harbor entry date hasn't been postponed—contrary to expectations. In his condition, Micha isn't even fit to ride as a passenger. We wait two more days and finally set off—both of us visibly exhausted. Micha, of course, much more so, but I'm also feeling the effects of sleep deprivation and the 24/7 childcare and sick care.

The final preparations are underway.

Now it's time to drive the last few kilometers in Colombia and prepare everything for shipping. Actually, there isn't much to prepare. Most importantly, the vehicle must be free of food and medication, and the gas and tank (almost) empty. We're taking this opportunity to declutter and clean. Yes, even in this small space, quite a bit of unnecessary stuff accumulates over time. And then it's time to move into hotel rooms or vacation apartments for a while. First in Cartagena, then in Veracruz, and what about in between?