Week 20: Barranquilla, Cartagena, Rosario Isles, Santa Marta
Day 134: May 14th

We took our flight in the morning from bogota to Barranquilla. We awaited Spencer’s arrival that night. We landed in a small airport and went outside to find a hot day awaiting us. Spencer had missed his flight the day before so he arrived a little late. We spent the day hanging out at a couple malls after dropping our bags off at the bus station. We returned to pick up our bags at 9 and then headed to the airport awaiting Spencer’s 11 PM arrival. We were happy to meet him at the airport and then returned the bus station to catch a bus to Cartagena. We waited nearly three hours but none of the “hourly” busses arrived. We were exhausted and decided to crash at a nearby hotel before trying again the next morning. 
Day 135: 

We slept in till 9 or 10 and then headed to the bus stop. We grabbed some pastries to go and hopped on a bus to Cartagena. Within a few hours we stopped at the terminal and took a taxi to the northern part of town. We drove through a very industrial Caribbean city before reaching the historic section near the coast. We stayed inside the walled section of the city and after checking into our hostel we walked around town admiring the old buildings. We walked around some of the 15 or so kilometers of walls and watched the sunset. That night we took salsa lessons at the hostel but it was extremely hot outside. We made some new friends and went back out to find some food. We went to bed late.



Day 136:

The next morning we slept in and then ate breakfast in our hostel. After packing our bags we wandered the city a bit longer. That afternoon we took a bus to playa Blanca, a nice tourist filled beach only an hour away. We thought this beach was close to our hostel that night but our hostel was actually on another island. We enjoyed a massage on the beach and were happy to be on a Caribbean beach! We started to stress about making it to our hostel because a local boat driver wanted around $120 to take us. We ended up paying around $50 and had quite an adventure. Three local boys took us and our backpacks on their motorbikes down a road until it turned into a path along the beach. We struggled through the sand and stopped at a farmhouse for gas. Eventually we made it to the small town where we took a rowed boat across a channel to an apparently uninhabited island. The old man who rowed us walked down a trail through mangroves and cow pastures. Eventually we found a few buildings with a private beach. It was charming and the staff was very kind. There were maybe five other guests and five staff and we felt like kings. We ate wonderful fish for dinner and relaxed that night. We played volleyball with some Europeans and played a Colombian board game called Parque with the main hostel worker named Natalia, who was beautiful and fun. Spencer was quite smitten and we would have stayed another day had we not made reservations elsewhere already. At night there we lights scattered throughout the area and it looked like a fairy tale scene. 

Day 137:

We woke up early and took the paddle boards out for an early morning adventure. We saw starfish in the water below and had a good time. We ate breakfast and packed our things. We caught a boat to isla grande, another of the Rosario Islands, a group of at least twenty coral islands in the Caribbean. This boat ride cost only $2 a person, an awesome deal, but the driver did not know where our hostel was. Luckily it wasn’t too big of an island and after an hour of walking we met some locals who led us in the right direction. We had been close to walking to a side of the island with no connecting trail so we were saved. There was no road, only trails for motorbikes and foot traffic. We reached our hostel by 10 in the morning and rented some stand up paddle and snorkel equipment for free. It was windy and choppy so we weren’t able to paddle board very well. The hostel was one of six hostels in an old hotel compound. The hotel was built in the mid 80’s by a rich emerald dealers wife but abandoned for years. It was bought and repaired and features two pools, a bar, restaurant, private beach, and lagoons connecting to the backside of the property. Our host was a young guy from Medellín and we liked him a lot. We went to an awesome restaurant that serves fresh fish. We ate barracuda and enjoyed our view of the beach. We relaxed on the beach during the afternoon and ate at the onsite restaurant for dinner. We met some cool people and enjoyed our awesome location. We were exhausted by the time we went to bed. 
Day 138:

The next morning we borrowed two kayaks and paddled through three mangrove lakes and connecting channels that were just tunnels through thick mangroves. After the third lake we broke into the ocean and paddled back toward the hostel along the beach. It was an awesome experience. We returned for some more delicious fish at the beachside restaurant (and only restaurant on the island) for some awesome fish. That afternoon we relaxed and talked with new friends. That night we hung out around the pool and drank beer with some Coloradoans and some hostel workers. 
Day 139:

The next morning we ate breakfast and leisurely got ready to leave. Spencer was sunburnt so I took a kayak solo to an area with good snorkeling. I saw some cool stuff and then returned to the hostel. We packed up our bags and hopped on a boat with the Coloradoans and a few other guests. We were promised a direct trip but instead made multiple stops at the aquarium and then the beach. After a couple hours we finally finished the choppy ride back to Cartagena. We were hot and sunburnt and had to walk to an ATM and grocery store for much needed water. Then we took a taxi to a hostel and ate at the adjoined taco restaurant. We arranged for a bus to Santa Marta and an hour later we were picked up. We stopped by a beach and walked around while waiting for the bus to fill up. Then we all napped on the three hour bus ride to Santa Marta. We arrived at our hostel by 9 or 10 at night. Our hostel had an awesome bar on the top floor as well as a sports bar on the second floor. It was full of young travelers and had an awesome view. We showered and were ready to enjoy our awesome hostel. There was a DJ on the top floor and we partied until the sun came up. 
Day 140:

We slept in the next day before eating some great food from our hostel. Then we played some risk with a few new friends. I lost miserably but we had fun. It was already late afternoon by the time we finished playing and ate lunch. We made more friends around the hostel and didn’t leave the building all day. It was Saturday night and the party continued. People come from all over town to enjoy the rooftop bar and dancing and we felt special to be sleeping at the same place everyone wants to party. We ran into William from Holland who we met in Manaus and visited in Medellin. It was his birthday and we were happy to see him for a little while. Once again we stayed up talking with newly made friends until the sun came up. 
It was a really fun week full of beaches, beautiful views, and lots of new friends. Spencer helped us to be outgoing and have a fresh excitement for traveling. It was exhausting but we had a great time.