18 Aug 2024
We had an amazing tour with Olinto visiting Montes de Maria on The Jaguar's Footprint tour! It was definitely one of the best days we had during our wonderful two and a half weeks in Colombia.
Olinto arrived right on time to pick us up from our hotel and we were shortly on the road to the San Jacinto. Olinto is a very knowledgeable, passionate and easy-going guide and we had many interesting conversations on the road. Before arriving at the hiking trail to the petroglyphs we stopped for a lovely breakfast at a roadside cafe.
When we arrived at the trail a local guide was there to join us. Olinto had also made sure to bring correct-sized wellies for us as it had rained the day before. Both Olinto and the local guide were very attentive to our surroundings, identifying a range of plant species and wildlife. Within a couple of hundred metres we were lucky enough to see a variety of bird species, including toucans and macaws (we would not have spotted them without their help).
The trail itself was low difficulty. After criss-crossing some farms, meeting a few farmers and seeing some incredible palm trees, we proceeded on to a dry(ish) river bed to the petroglyphs. There are two sets, one at the entrance, and another a bit further along. The setting was beautiful and the carvings really special. On the return to the car we encountered some howler monkeys clambering around the canopy of the trees overhead.
After the hike of approximately 3 hours we then headed to San Jacinto for lunch and a music workshop with Gaita musicians who treated us to a brilliant performance and taught us the basics of how to play their instruments - we did our best. Olinto also gave us a insightful overview of the materials they were made from, their musical purpose and their cultural origins. The lunch provided was also very tasty and everyone involved in the tour was incredibly friendly and hospitable.
Overall, this tour and Taroa Adventures are highly recommended. It made for a fascinating day-out from Cartagena. If you have time, visit the Cartagena gold museum beforehand as it gives an interesting background to the region you visit.
Thank you Olinto (and please extend our thanks to everyone else on the tour) for a truly memorable day we won't forget!