La Expedición Nativa - Sierra Nevada (3 días Awesomes Aussichtspunkte)

My girlfriend and I both did treks in the jungle before (Peru and Suriname) and have been on many hikes in the mountains, but we were absolutely impressed by this trek put together by Leo. Getting up early and ascending thousand of meters is more than worth the spectacular views you are rewarded with. Each little house you stay at for lunch or dinner is charming, with great food provided by the families that live there. We also loved the animals at each farm, we befriended so many dogs! Specific shout-out to Copito, who did not make it easy at first but earned a place in our hearts during the trek! For us Leo was the perfect guide. He knew the answer to all of our questions and taught us many extra things. He was not only very knowledgeable and good company, he also knew perfectly went to give us a moment to ourselves. He was also a great translator allowing us to communicate with the locals. Our highlights: the stay and views at Lenin's place (first night) and the sunrise of the last morning "palace of clouds", giving you an astonishing above the clouds view. Tip: if for the last day Leo proposes to get up at 4 am to look at the stars and hike up 200 meters at 5am to find a better spot for the sunrise, do it, you can thank us later.

We went on the 3-day-hiking tour with Leo - it was a wonderful and unforgettable experience. The tour was perfectly organized. The stops at the various fincas for meals or to stay for the night were all charming, the hosts very welcoming, open people, the food very tasty. Our favourite was „The palace of the clouds“ with a spectacular sunrise the next morning. Leo is a patient, sensitive and knowledgeable guide. He let us all the time we needed for occasional rests or admiring the nature, he pointed out interesting animals or plants on the way and didn’t let a question unanswered. He even spotted a beautiful Quetzal-bird. The hike was demanding for us, but totally worth the effort. Thumbs up from Doris and Martin.

My partner and I try to do hiking trips whenever we travel, and I I can say that what Leo and his farmer partners are putting together out in Santa Marta is something extremely special. We traveled from Cartagena specifically to do this trip, and we're so glad we did -- it was the highlight of our time in Colombia. This is a tough 3-day hike. Don't let the distances fool you, Day 1 and Day 2 are no joke. But you'll be rewarded with spectacular views, great wildlife, warm people, and a journey way, way off the beaten path. Leo is a joy to spend the days with and helps keep things interesting with his encyclopedic knowledge of the local flora and fauna. Some tips: Bring something warm to sleep in. The farm stays are comfortable, but it can still get cold up in the mountains. Would also recommend bringing a life straw or filter water bottle -- the main source of water along the way are mountain streams (which look perfectly clean, but we didn't want to risk it). If you have any questions, Leo was super communicative by Whatsapp. If you like to hike, don't miss this one.