These are probably the least visited, hardest to get to but also perhaps
nicest hot pools in Colombia. Fifteen kilometers on a dirt track from the
nearest village and no public transportation.
The hot pool complex is quite big and nestled in a valley. There are a
couple of man made pools and also two or three hot pools that run
along a river. They are particularly nice mixing cold stream water with hot
spring water. There are also three natural steam rooms. They have
boarded over some of the hotest parts of the park and covered with
plastic the roof and built stone walls incorporated into the natural stone
making little hot rooms. Very very nice. Getting to the hot pools is the
tricky part. The road is not so flash. Its about 15 kilometers (fifty minutes
in jeep) from the town of Santa Rosa de Cabal which is in turn a thirty
minute paved ride from the city of Pereira. The scenery is beautiful
though. There are buses departing Pereira every ten minutes or so to
Santa Rosa de Cabal the town. The cost is 1.500 pesos. There is a bus
departing from the offices of the Ecotermales Company which is one
block above the main plaza on the left every morning between nine and
9.30am. They will sell you a package for 39.000 pesos which includes
return transport, hot pool entry and a trout lunch. Not bad value. The
return trip is at five in the afternoon. During weekdays there will be
only a few people at the pool. However on weekends and during holidays
the place gets much busier.
If you want to go independently there is no scheduled transport you will
have to hire a jeep from Santa Rosa de Cabal which will cost you 40.000
pesos each way. Maybe cheaper if you get it to wait several hours and
take you back as well.
Where to Stay
The whole complex receives very few tourists during the week due to its
difficultly in accessing. However on weekends and during holidays can get
quite busy. But the place is big so it can handle the crowds.
Apart from the hot pools there are a couple of short/ medium walks up
the valley to some nice waterfalls. One such trip, guided, leaves at eleven
each morning. I was so relaxed I'd be damned if I was going to do any
walking. I must have spent at least ten hours soaking in the hot pools. I
was more ready for sleep than walking. But if you want its there as an
option.
There is one area reserved for those staying overnight. It has two pools
fed by rivers with cold water and hot springs coming up near the rocks. It
also has a great steam room and best of all an area of sand, kind of like a
sand-pit where you can bury yourslelf in the sand (there is a shovel). The
heat comes up underneath you from steam from the hot-springs and its
fantastically relaxing. If you are not staying overnight in the complex you
may still be able to sneak in. There is also a cold waterfall further along
the path to take a dip in. It is very cold though.
Where to Stay
If you want to stay overnight at the termales you have only three
options.
option 1 : you can bring a tent and camp. that will cost you 35.000
pesos per person and includes only hot pool entrance and your sleep. so
not that cheap. but as said there are few options and that is the cheapest
option 2 : in a simple room 139.000 pesos for two people 159.000
pesos for three people and 190.000 pesos for four people. this includes
breakfast, your bed and hot pool entrance. you will have to buy your
other meals or bring a few cans of tuna.
option 3 : in my recent trip I decided to splash out. 320.000 pesos for
two people. about the most expensive accommodation one can find in
thie country I think. However worth it for one night. Included all meals,
trout whatever. The room was very nice and had its on fireplace and
most importantly its own private spring fed hot pool. They will come and
light the fire at night and you can use the jacuzzi whenever you want.
The package also includes a hot sand steam or whatever and short
massage. Its a hell of a lot of money for backpackers but others out
there may like to splash out and I thought it was worth it. The misses did
too!
Where to Eat
Coming Soon
What to do
Coming soon
Getting There and Away
Getting to the hot pools is the tricky part. The road is not so flash. Its
about 15 kilometers (fifty minutes in jeep) from the town of Santa Rosa
de Cabal which is in turn a thirty minute paved ride from the city of
Pereira. The scenery is beautiful though. There are buses departing
Pereira every ten minutes or so to Santa Rosa de Cabal the town. The
cost is 1.500 pesos. There is a bus departing from the offices of the
Ecotermales Company which is one block above the main plaza on the
left every morning between nine and 9.30am. They will sell you a
package for 39.000 pesos which includes return transport, hot pool
entry and a trout lunch. Not bad value. The return trip is at five in the
afternoon. During weekdays there will be only a few people at the pool.
However on weekends and during holidays the place gets much busier.
If you want to go independently there is no scheduled transport you will
have to hire a jeep from Santa Rosa de Cabal which will cost you 40.000
pesos each way. Maybe cheaper if you get it to wait several hours and
take you back as well.
nicest hot pools in Colombia. Fifteen kilometers on a dirt track from the
nearest village and no public transportation.
The hot pool complex is quite big and nestled in a valley. There are a
couple of man made pools and also two or three hot pools that run
along a river. They are particularly nice mixing cold stream water with hot
spring water. There are also three natural steam rooms. They have
boarded over some of the hotest parts of the park and covered with
plastic the roof and built stone walls incorporated into the natural stone
making little hot rooms. Very very nice. Getting to the hot pools is the
tricky part. The road is not so flash. Its about 15 kilometers (fifty minutes
in jeep) from the town of Santa Rosa de Cabal which is in turn a thirty
minute paved ride from the city of Pereira. The scenery is beautiful
though. There are buses departing Pereira every ten minutes or so to
Santa Rosa de Cabal the town. The cost is 1.500 pesos. There is a bus
departing from the offices of the Ecotermales Company which is one
block above the main plaza on the left every morning between nine and
9.30am. They will sell you a package for 39.000 pesos which includes
return transport, hot pool entry and a trout lunch. Not bad value. The
return trip is at five in the afternoon. During weekdays there will be
only a few people at the pool. However on weekends and during holidays
the place gets much busier.
If you want to go independently there is no scheduled transport you will
have to hire a jeep from Santa Rosa de Cabal which will cost you 40.000
pesos each way. Maybe cheaper if you get it to wait several hours and
take you back as well.
Where to Stay
The whole complex receives very few tourists during the week due to its
difficultly in accessing. However on weekends and during holidays can get
quite busy. But the place is big so it can handle the crowds.
Apart from the hot pools there are a couple of short/ medium walks up
the valley to some nice waterfalls. One such trip, guided, leaves at eleven
each morning. I was so relaxed I'd be damned if I was going to do any
walking. I must have spent at least ten hours soaking in the hot pools. I
was more ready for sleep than walking. But if you want its there as an
option.
There is one area reserved for those staying overnight. It has two pools
fed by rivers with cold water and hot springs coming up near the rocks. It
also has a great steam room and best of all an area of sand, kind of like a
sand-pit where you can bury yourslelf in the sand (there is a shovel). The
heat comes up underneath you from steam from the hot-springs and its
fantastically relaxing. If you are not staying overnight in the complex you
may still be able to sneak in. There is also a cold waterfall further along
the path to take a dip in. It is very cold though.
Where to Stay
If you want to stay overnight at the termales you have only three
options.
option 1 : you can bring a tent and camp. that will cost you 35.000
pesos per person and includes only hot pool entrance and your sleep. so
not that cheap. but as said there are few options and that is the cheapest
option 2 : in a simple room 139.000 pesos for two people 159.000
pesos for three people and 190.000 pesos for four people. this includes
breakfast, your bed and hot pool entrance. you will have to buy your
other meals or bring a few cans of tuna.
option 3 : in my recent trip I decided to splash out. 320.000 pesos for
two people. about the most expensive accommodation one can find in
thie country I think. However worth it for one night. Included all meals,
trout whatever. The room was very nice and had its on fireplace and
most importantly its own private spring fed hot pool. They will come and
light the fire at night and you can use the jacuzzi whenever you want.
The package also includes a hot sand steam or whatever and short
massage. Its a hell of a lot of money for backpackers but others out
there may like to splash out and I thought it was worth it. The misses did
too!
Where to Eat
Coming Soon
What to do
Coming soon
Getting There and Away
Getting to the hot pools is the tricky part. The road is not so flash. Its
about 15 kilometers (fifty minutes in jeep) from the town of Santa Rosa
de Cabal which is in turn a thirty minute paved ride from the city of
Pereira. The scenery is beautiful though. There are buses departing
Pereira every ten minutes or so to Santa Rosa de Cabal the town. The
cost is 1.500 pesos. There is a bus departing from the offices of the
Ecotermales Company which is one block above the main plaza on the
left every morning between nine and 9.30am. They will sell you a
package for 39.000 pesos which includes return transport, hot pool
entry and a trout lunch. Not bad value. The return trip is at five in the
afternoon. During weekdays there will be only a few people at the pool.
However on weekends and during holidays the place gets much busier.
If you want to go independently there is no scheduled transport you will
have to hire a jeep from Santa Rosa de Cabal which will cost you 40.000
pesos each way. Maybe cheaper if you get it to wait several hours and
take you back as well.
| Ecotermales de San Vicente |
