Every trip is one step of long journey.

I'm slave of my dreams but free of chioce.
Soy esclavo de mis sueños pero libre de mis pasos.
Som otrokom svojich snov ale voľný v tom čo robím.

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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Scuba Diving with sharks on Providencia Island

It was very nice dive, great visibility and encounter with reef sharks. I didn't personally dived on San Andres, but with me dived 3 more guys who did and affirmed that Providencia island is much better for dive than San Andres.

 
if you can't see embeded video here is direct youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgGvAM3Gbf0

If you´ll be around of San Andres consider jump to Providencia, it's worth visiting!

Monday, April 22, 2013

Yes, I got lost!

The Peak on Providencia Island is great attraction for everyone who likes hiking and breathtaking views. Tourist guide recommends to use local guide to get there but I thought I was smart enough to go on my own. Here is a result:
if you can't see embeded video click here to see it on youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9Xhf2g9Cq8

So I learned my lesson. Next time I get help :)

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Rock of Peñon, Guatapé

Peñón is massive monolithic rock at Guatapé village, situated close to city Medellin. It's surrounded by artificial water dam and on sunny day offers great views.


if you can´t see embeded video click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2nMz-QsZHg

Best way to get there is to take organised bus tour from Medellin so you can drink local spirit called Aguardiente :-)

It was very nice day trip, I really recommend it!

Friday, November 2, 2012

Santa Catalina Island, the authentic beauty of Caribbean


Santa Catalina Island is located right next to Providencia Island, about 90 km from San Andres - main Island of archipelago. Santa Catalina used to be a pirate base and for long time it has little population.  Now days there are few houses and the shop but majority of the island is absolutely untouched.


Panorama view of Santa Catalina from Providencia port
Access there is very easy via the floating bridge from Providencia. If you go to the left, you will walk on nice, recently built pavement along the shallow deep reef where you can see a lot of fish and sea weeds. On the end there are steps towards statue of Virgin Mery. From this place there is a great view of Providencia Island.


The view of Providencia Island from Santa Catalina
Just carry on with steps going down you get to Fort Beach.
Fort Beach, Santa Catalina

It’s lovely tropical beach with calm water lagoon and old rusty canon on shore. I tried to snorkel there and I was surprised of amount of fish habituating its warm water. You can see in 1m depth barracudas, box fish, parrot fish, large school of tiny and small fish. There is little cave or better said a gap in the rock and many small fish were hiding there. There are not many corals thou, but abundance of fish makes it very nice tropical snorkeling.
Next beach is very small and very tropical looking. Many palm trees, shells on the sand, warm water and little cave in the beginning. Snorkeling around is pretty the same as in Fort Beach.



Next you through tropical forest and some part could be bit difficult to walk but there are some ropes you can hold to. You will hear and see all the time running lizards abound you. Some can up to 45cm! They were biggest I ever seen! On the end of this pathway you’ll get to the Morgan’s head.
Morgan's Head Panorama
if you can't see embeded video, please click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ5Cq4OOcYY

It is a big rock resembling a man’s head. Here you can find almost ultimate tropical paradise. I say almost because there is not a beach. It’s very nice lagoon, great for snorkeling or just swimming around. Next to rock there is some space for lying down to have a sunbath but it not very comfortable. Well you judge from the picture.  For me this view is magnificent.  And for lovers of marine life it is even better under the surface. You can discover there a very nice reef from 1,5m to about 4m of depth. During the snorkeling trip you’ll be accompanied by many species of fish. Around surface you will meet large needle fish & barracudas, bit lower all possible tropical fish as parrot fish, box fish, trumpet fish, predator fish like Groupper, Snapper and Lion fish. Corals are very well preserved. It’s beauty is only next to south pacific coral reef as I seen on Aitutaki, Cook Islands. It’s much better than Koh Phi Phi & Bat Island (Thailand) reef. Not to mention snorkeling highlight of San Andres - Piscinitas. Please read my article about this experience here.
It was really pleasant and rewarding day I spent on Santa Catalina Island. If you’re already on San Andres I definitely recommend to make extra step and come to Providence and Santa Catalina as well. You will love it, that’s for sure!

Happy travelling!

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Providencia Island, preserved pearl of Caribbean



Providence island, the view from Santa Catalina Island
 Providencia Island, is located 90km from main Island of archipelago San Andres. It is very different from her bigger brother. Providencia has much less population (about 5000), less building, less roads and development at all. It is quite well preserved. You still can see some rubbish abound the roads and houses but it is not as bad as San Andres. If you arrive with catamaran boat service you will see immediate difference. Most of the island is covered by pristine rainforest and some coastal areas have mangrove growth. Islanders are nice people happy to talk and give you advice if you ask them. They speak three languages. Spanish as official language, English as heritage from British colonization and Creole, African language. Most of locals are descendents of African slaves brought here during colonization.  Actually they prefer speak English than Spanish. If you’re solo female traveller it easily can happened to you that you would be invited by local guy for a drink or two or three or four and than you would be proposed to marry him and have some kids. However you decide to respond,  there is no danger in declining this irresistible offer.
Most important thing that Providence Island can offer is RELAX. With beautiful Caribbean scenery all around including nice beaches, palm trees, blue sea and rainforest you don’t really want to do much. In hotels’ garden, especially right at the sea you can find many couples of palm trees with hamaca in between them.

Lazy afternoon in Freshwater bay, Providence Island

Whoever came here from busy western world just can’t resist lazy afternoon with just swinging in hamaca.
Local food is based most on fish and sea creatures however you can get chicken or beef. They like to fry it or just cook it. It’s bit more pricey as in San Andres or continental Colombia but always you can find nice restaurant with good deal.
The Peak (El Pico) is great attraction for those who like trekking. It’s about hour and half trip to 360m high peak offering on goof weather day great views. I personally tried to be clever and didn’t hire a guide or went there with somebody. I end up in forest without pathway. I climbed the hill next to me in hope, I get to The Peak and there will be proper way to get down. It turned up it was not The Peak. The Peak was about 300m away and between very dense vegetation. I decided to come back the same way I got there. Fortunately I manage to descend without any accident and I found the way to my hired motorbike. So my advice: Take long sleeves, long trousers, 3 liters of water per person, don’t go alone and best get a local guide. You just ask around, there always will be somebody happy to go. Usually it takes 3 hours for this trip and I would recommend you to go in the morning about 10 so 12ish you’re on the top and this is the best time to take best pictures, because of position of the sun.
One of the best island’s beaches is Southwest Beach. Great place to engage in more relax. There are few bars and restaurants or you can have just a nice cup of coffee. Grey sand and warm sea can easily make you great company for all day.

South west beach, Providence Island
I stayed in Freshwater bay. It’s nice touristic orientated part of the island. There are few hotels, two dive centers, grocery store, restaurants, internet access and small beach. You can get nice coffee in small restaurant at the bridge. Southwest beach is just 20 min. walking. If you’re a budget traveller like myself you want to go directly from the port to MR. MAC hostel. It’s cheapest option on the island. Laudina, the woman who’s running this place is coming to port on catamaran arrival, she can take you to the hostel with her car as well. If not you can take bus for about 2500-5000 COP. On good weather evening we enjoyed watching multicolor sunset and on one night we witnessed thunderstorm in far horizon.

Thunderstorm on horizon.
Transportation. To get to center you can use buses (colectivos). You can recognize them easily because they have written in top of the windshield Servicio Publico. Another option is to hire a motorbike or use mototaxi. Practically anybody who has a space on his or her motorbike will give you ride as little as 3000 COP.
In the end I would say that visiting Providence Island is very rewarding. With some good weather you can have make some very nice exotic looking pictures, relax completely, appreciate untouched nature and have a good time. If you’re planning your trip to San Andres, don’t hesitate to come to Providencia as well!


Happy Travelling!



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Saturday, October 27, 2012

Mr Mac Hostel, Providencia Island, 2012 Review



If you're backpacker going to Providencia Island, most probably you will be glad to stay in hostel Mr. Mac. It's located in nice, touristic area called Freshwater Bay on western part of the island. Within walking distance you have internet, coffee shop, restaurant, scooter or car hire, sandy beaches, two dive centres local pub. All prices are quite higher than in main island San Andres but if you come in low season, as I did, you can get good deals on everything. Mr Mac is in this time the cheapest accommodation on the island.
Southwest beach, 15min. walking from Mr. Mac

About your good time staying there will take Laudine, the lady that's run that place. She's very kind and happy to help any time. Just ask her! There are all sorts of rooms. From basic single to large family with aircon so you can find one that suits your budget.
Best way to book staying there is to call landline 5148366 or Laudine's mobile 318 6959540. They don't have any online form of booking.
Laudine & myself

Do I recommend staying in Mr. Mac? Oh yeah! It's great location, I met very nice travellers, gorgeous sunsets, lazy time in hamaca between palm trees, opening coconuts, snorkelling in the night, close beaches and dive centres... What else you want on paradise island?



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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

First impression of Bogotá

Flight to Bogotá was great. No problem with immigration or any special measure was taken. I have 90 days visa so let's see what I can experience in 90 days.
After first night in my friend's house I moved to hostel in old part of Bogotá called Candelaria. My first impression of Bogotá was "THE COLD". Temperatures are similar to England in spring time. My second night, because of jet-lag, I woke up at 4am. I came down to kitchen to make a tea but I realise it was really cold out there. I very fast returned to my bed and stayed there till 8am.
Than I was about to go out. I really didn't know what is going to be like to be a stranger in Bogotá down-town. So I took my passport, about £20/€24 in local currency "pesos" and waked to old centre. I went to Plaza de Bolívar - iconic part of Bogotá and than walked around street named Carrera 7. After 10 minutes I realised that if you don't seek attention, nobody is brothering you. My local friends spent a lot of time talking about precaution. I agree, you have to be careful but it is not so bad. They told me for example that I can't have my Canon 550D camera on my neck. I have to hide it. After 2 days I've seen quite a few people taking pictures and nothing happened to them. Police is omnipresent in Bogotá. And if not police, there were many private security guards with big dogs watching every move around. Once I was going in taxi and I saw a guy having his bright pink coloured Panasonic DSLR camera on neck and just walking around. No problem. I believe a lot depends on part of the city you're moving around.
I made copy of my passport and visa and this paper now I'm carrying with me as documentation in case of police check.
On afternoon I met guy Hugo. We made contact through Couchsurfing.org. He's a freelance photographer  and he invited me to participate on presentation of nature restoration project. We went outside the Bogotá to very nice valley that suffered forest fire few years ago. We've seen methodology of native forest re-plantation and elimination of invasive species.  We returned to Bogotá after sunset and took a bus to get closer to my hostel. We walked little while via night submerged city. It was easy because they made few avenues a pedestrian zones. There were many street sellers of fruits, newspapers, cigarretes, food, hot non-alcoholic drinks and artisan goods. As we was walking I noticed a guy, typical rapper from ghetto.  He has exact image of bad boy you can see in rap videos.  I thought I was happy he was just walking, mining his business.

Foto: Hugo Rubiano http://hugorubiano.tumblr.com/

Unexpectedly, my friend Hugo turned and call him! He knew him because he was taking pictures in ghettos and made friendship with those guys. They talked a bit, shook hands and we gone. I was glad they were friends! :-) Actually Hugo offered me to go with this rap group to walk thought rough parts of Bogotá. Well, we see :-)))
I have to say I my first impression of Bogotá was much better as most people told me. Of course I'm cautious and I hope I'll stay that way.