The last swim and a howl of delight!

After our first sea swim in Peru, many months ago, came possibly our last sea swim in Colombia's Tayrona national park! We were all a bit sad when we realised that this is going to be our last sea swim but, on the other hand, what a place to have a last swim! Tayrona is a large national park, with long sandy stretches of beach lined with palms. Behind those palms, is a forest. At parts nearer the sea, it's dry and arid, but at others, there are rocky ravines running with trickling streams and dense forests where wild pigs roam and lizards scurry, while howler monkeys clamber in the trees above.

Tayrona's size is huge: 30km squared of sea and 150km squared of land! Its the most famous national park in Colombia and has good wildlife, sadly a little spoilt with restaurants and campsites at most beaches, and horses trotting the path all the way. It has several beaches where you're not allowed to swim because there are strong currents, and several people die in the park each year because they didn't follow the recommendations. Not to worry though...we kept safe. 

We did a two day hike through Tayrona - one day to the furthest beach, away from the crowds, and the next day back.  Our accommodation at the beach was rather unusual, exciting, but uncomfortable as … drumroll...we were sleeping in hammocks!!!! As I said, exciting, but not as comfortable as it looks. I didn't like it at all but I suppose I had no option, it was either the hammock or the floor.

On the hike, we also spotted some wonderful animals and birdlife! Top of the list, howler monkeys! It was amazing! Ioanna and I saw one, and, suddenly, they were everywhere, climbing in the trees above our heads, knocking leaves and sticks down to us, and, then, just as suddenly as they got here, they had gone. But we kept on hearing them calling in the trees all the way until the end of our hike! We also saw several pretty lizards (I loved the ones with the bright blue tale and the turquoise feet) and a beautiful bird, a rufous tailed jacamar, which was green and orange with a white throat and a curved black beak.

So was it worth it? The sweat, the toil, the lack of sleep? It was! The swims? Amazing! Check! The view and the hike? Sweaty and hot but wonderful! Check! I don't know about you, but I think that was a pretty cool place to have a last swim. So, this is a goodbye to the Caribbean, and hello again to the Andes..