We took a hiking tour – in Spanish – of the Laguna de Cacique Guatavita, which roughly translates to Guatavita Indian Chief Lake.
Located about 40 miles north of Bogotá, Lake Guatavita is a spectacular lake in the heart of the Colombian mountains. It’s also the birthplace of a legend of El Dorado, the mythical city of gold.
The hike was challenging, taking you over 10,000 feet, and the reward was a breathtaking vista. Es vale la pena!
Bring good hiking shoes and lots of water. You’ll need to get an official tour, which includes the bus from Bogota and a tour in Spanish, and often is paired with a tour of the Salt Cathedral. If you’re over 60, the senior discount is significant.
We got a private tour of the Salt Flats and Wildlife Refuge
on the southwestern tip of Puerto Rico. Our neighbors Padro and Dafne, who are
among the volunteers who operate the facility’s interpretive center, took
us on a private hike through the dry forest, and to the top of the Lookout
Tour, where we learned about the salt industry. They shared Puerto Rican
history regarding the salt flats and cotton, and told us about the ravages of
Hurricane Fiona last year on the Salt Flats.
This is also a popular place to come birding and hiking.
However, make sure you leave by 3 PM, when they lock the gate! Guided tours are
free but must be arranged in advance.
The Educational Environmental Center (CAE) offers a space
for educational activities and information about flora and fauna. But it
depends on donations to operate. Don’t forget to make one after your tour!
We continue our walk through the cacao farm Finca Hekiti in
northwestern Puerto Rico as we watch the cacao get harvested from the bean pod,
learn the process of converting the pulp into chocolate, and taste the final
product!
We visited Finca Hekiti on an “Airbnb Experience” to learn where chocolate comes from. We learned so much more about the conservation of the forest and the life within it, that we are releasing this video in two parts. It’s long, but if you are interested in chocolate, and in forest sustainability and diversity, take the time to follow Finca Hekiti’s Co-Founder & Co-Director Ricardo Albarracín on this tour of the nine-acre farm in northwest Puerto Rico.
This is how the Airbnb Experience we signed up for (at a cost of $35 each for 3.5 hours), entitled “Educational Farm Tour in a Cacao Forest”, was described:
“We will receive the guest, walking through the cacao forest, learning about the farming practices when it comes to fine grain cacao, learn about the importance of agroforestry, permaculture and nature conservation. Depending on the tree production during the time of your visit, you will have the opportunity to view the cacao fruit, taste the fruit fresh from the tree and perhaps have the opportunity to harvest or plant cacao. We end the experience tasting the cacao fruit pulp and artisanal chocolate tasting.”
But Finca Hekiti is much more than a chocolate farm. It’s a passion. Hekiti Eco-Agroforestry Education Organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit agro-ecological farm focused on the conservation and management of existing forests and their biodiversity in the Las Marias and Añasco mountains. It’s dedicated to education in agroforestry, agriculture, tropical fruit varieties (primarily fine grain cacao), forest inventory, fauna and flora. Oh, and chocolate! Come learn with us!
Wear good, non-slippery water shoes and a bathing suit if
you decide to visit Gozalandia Falls, because you will not be able to keep from
jumping into the enticing pool at the
foot of this huge waterfall! The main waterfall is truly amazing, at least 50
feet tall, and there are several places where you can climb up and jump in (at
your own risk). Or just swim in the pool at the bottom, watching fish swim
around your feet.
There is a cement sidewalk and stairs to lead you to the
main falls and several above, plus you can just walk in the creekbed.
The drive to get to Gozalandia on narrow, winding mountain
roads is not for the faint of heart, which is the only reason you might consider
paying a guide to take you. Otherwise, just set out on your own and navigate
carefully! It’s about 1 1/2 from San Juan in San Sebastien.
The gate is open from 10 AM-6 PM, and there is a $10 charge
for parking. Go early to avoid the crowds, though the community feel of lots of
people watching each other swim and jump has its own appeal. Make sure you take
time to enjoy a drink and snack at the end of the day in the little restaurant
by the parking lot, which overlooks a green pond populated by turtles.
Be aware that the falls can be dangerous if there’s a lot of
rain, so use caution and common sense.
