Adventurous & Spiritual Journeys
Scuba Diving & Freediving
Colombia is a country of jaw-dropping landscapes that imprint themselves on the mind of any traveler lucky enough to see them. One of the country’s most spectacular sights is that of its immense oceans, lapping against the sands of both its Caribbean and Pacific coasts. These untamed seas have turned the country into a playground for devotees of watersports, particularly scuba diving and freediving in Colombia.
Whether you’re a keen diver or you want to learn and become qualified in the sport, Colombia has a marine ecosystem for every taste and ability. Here are our top tips for scuba diving in Colombia, to help you experience the country’s astonishing diversity and feel the rhythm like you’ve stepped into another world.
Rafting
With three ranges of the Andes and thousands of rivers, Colombia is one of the best places to practice white-water rafting. The most famous spot is San Gil in Santander Department – known as Colombia’s Extreme Sports Capital – where trips along the Suarez River are extremely popular. More adventurous rafters can take a multi-day rafting trip along the Samaná River in Antioquia with Expedition Colombia, where dramatic rapids up to level five roll through an isolated jungle canyon.
Kite - surfing
One of the trickiest extreme sports to master, Kite-surfing is becoming more popular in Colombia, as the country is home to two of the best ocean and freshwater kite-surfing spots in the world. In Cabo de la Vela, on Colombia’s desert Caribbean coast, wind conditions are perfect year round, meaning that kite-surfing is possible almost 365 days per year. There are a number of different kite-surfing schools and hostels in Cabo. Further south, near Cali, Calima Lake is known as one of the best freshwater kite-surfing spots on earth, with excellent winds year-round and a number of experienced instructors operating in the area.
Surfing
Another popular extreme sport among backpackers, in particular, Colombian surfing is especially good on the Pacific Coast, where waves are larger and more reliable than on the comparatively calm Caribbean. Surfing hotspots on the Pacific Coast include the small villages of Bahia Solano, El Valle and Nuqui, where many hostels and hotels offer surfboard rental and classes. The Humpback Turtle Hostel in El Valle, where they rent out boards by the hour, is perfect for beginners, while El Cantil Ecolodge offers more advanced courses around Playa Guachalito and Cabo Corrientes. On the Caribbean Coast, Costeño Beach surf-camp is the perfect spot for casual surfers and beginners.
Paragliding
is another of Colombia’s most popular extreme sports and can be practiced in many different parts of the country. Many travelers opt to paraglide over Medellín, where short flights are a popular tourist activity. The real paragliding hub of the country, however, is once again around San Gil – shorter flights of around 15 minutes are an affordable option close to the town, but the real treat is a spectacular 40-minute flight over Colombia’s largest canyon, the majestic Chicamocha Canyon. Paragliding over this magnificent spectacle could well end up being your most memorable Colombian experience.
