Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Rivers Private Day Trip

Tour Options

During the booking process, depending on the time you have and the sites of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta you prefer to visit, you'll be able to choose between three options. All options include pickup at your hotel in Valledupar and return transfer, as well as an English-speaking guide just for you.

Please read the following details for each tour:

Río Candela Private Tour (7 Hours)

If you choose this option, after picking you up from your hotel, we'll enjoy the nature of the Colombian Caribbean coast. First, we'll stroll through the park of the Vallenato composers, where you'll learn why this musical genre is so important in the country's culture.

Afterward, we'll go to one of the most beautiful areas of the Río Candela, close to the town of La Mina. In this green and warm area, you'll enjoy a lovely dip in the refreshing waters of this river. You'll love seeing how the water falls directly from the surrounding mountains.

Then, we'll have a delicious traditional lunch at the El Mojao balneary. After lunch, you'll have a bit of free time to dive into the water again.

We'll also visit one of the Indigenous communities that inhabit the area to learn about their history. Plus, we'll visit the town of Atanquez, where you'll meet the artisan Aura Montero, who will show you the region's local and traditional artisanal crafts.

Finally, we'll start our journey back to the starting point, where we'll say goodbye after a total of 7 hours.

Río Manaure Private Tour (7 Hours)

If you prefer this option, we'll travel back in time to discover the ancient traditions and poetic inspirations that have shaped Colombian folklore.

We'll head to San Diego, a place that has inspired songs written by Leandro Díaz, a famous Colombian composer and symbol of Vallenato. Next, we'll continue diving into the Vallenato culture in La Paz, the birth town of artists Jorge Oñate and Hermanos López.

Continuing our tour, we'll go to the Balcón del Cesar, in the town of Manaure, known for its beautiful vegetation and river. Before taking a dip, you'll learn about the rural life of this region and how the farmers maintain their traditions when working.

We'll then enjoy a delicious traditional Colombian lunch and afterward, you'll have some time to swim in the Río Manaure. You'll also enjoy the privileged views of the Serranía del Perijá from the Mirador Otero. The perfect way to end the day!

Finally, we'll conclude our tour at the starting point after 7 hours.

Ciénaga de Zapatosa Private Tour (12 Hours)

If you have extra time, you can choose this option, where you'll enjoy an exciting tour of Ciénaga de Zapatosa, the largest freshwater wetland in Colombia.

We'll head to the pier of the town of Chimichagua, where we'll hop on a chalupa, a type of local boat, that will take us along the swamp for 30 minutes. During the sail, your breath will be taken away by the spectacular landscapes.

Then, we'll disembark on Francahela Island, where you'll enjoy a delicious lunch. Afterward, we'll talk about the biodiversity that surrounds Ciénaga, as it has 500 vascular plants, 45 species of fish, and 30 species of mammals. Amazing!

Plus, if you're lucky, you can witness the Colombian fauna. You might spot some native and migratory birds, like the Caribbean chachalaca, the red-billed emerald, the coastal woodpecker, the rastrojero, and the chavarrí, among others.

After this unforgettable moment, we'll set off to the starting point, where we'll say goodbye after a total of 12 hours.

Day Trip Schedule

Please note that the departure times may vary depending on the option:

• Río Candela private tour: operates daily at 8 am, 9 am, and 10 am
• Río Manaure private tour: operates daily at 8 am, 9 am, and 10 am
• Ciénaga de Zapatosa private tour: operates daily at 4 pm and 5 pm