| Rio Claro |
Rio Claro is a spectacular place. Located three hours from Medellin on the Bogota-Medellin highway
this is a jungle hideaway paradise waiting to be discovered. One wealthy Medellin family own the whole
place and its a pleasant surprise to say they have actually done a good job with the area. The setting is
beautiful. A crystal clear river runs through the jungle and is surrounded by limestone cliffs and
unexplored cave systems. Cabanas have been built in such a way to make them part of the jungle and
they are very simple yet comfortable and have amazing views over the jungle and river.
this is a jungle hideaway paradise waiting to be discovered. One wealthy Medellin family own the whole
place and its a pleasant surprise to say they have actually done a good job with the area. The setting is
beautiful. A crystal clear river runs through the jungle and is surrounded by limestone cliffs and
unexplored cave systems. Cabanas have been built in such a way to make them part of the jungle and
they are very simple yet comfortable and have amazing views over the jungle and river.
Refugio Rio Claro-as the river and surrounding areas are owned by one family there is
only one option as to where to stay. But it is a very good one. The cost per person is
65,000 pesos and that price includes three good meals. The cabanas are pretty special
even though they are very simple. It feels as if they are located in the trees and there are
also no windows to speak of so you have a spectacular open view of the river and
surrounding jungle. You should ring up and arrange a stay rather than just turning up.
There is also a restaurant in the in the complex and they will serve you three meals a day
included in the price. They serve beers too. A slightly cheaper option is 50.000 pesos per
day in the main unit but the rooms won't have such a spectacular vista
only one option as to where to stay. But it is a very good one. The cost per person is
65,000 pesos and that price includes three good meals. The cabanas are pretty special
even though they are very simple. It feels as if they are located in the trees and there are
also no windows to speak of so you have a spectacular open view of the river and
surrounding jungle. You should ring up and arrange a stay rather than just turning up.
There is also a restaurant in the in the complex and they will serve you three meals a day
included in the price. They serve beers too. A slightly cheaper option is 50.000 pesos per
day in the main unit but the rooms won't have such a spectacular vista
From Medellin, take a bus to Bogota (day bus only) and tell the ticket counter person and driver that you want to get off at Rio Claro. Its a three
hour drive. It should cost no more than 20.000 pesos. There are also several busetas a day going to a town just after Rio Claro.
From Bogota, take a bus to Medellin and get off at Rio Claro. Pretty simple. I am not sure what the charge will be coming from Bogta, probably
around 25.000 - 30.000 pesos.
Remember to make sure the bus driver is well aware you are getting off at Rio Claro. Its twenty km before the town of Doradal on the road from
Medellin to Bogota, and at the km marker 152 if I remember rightly. The last time I went the bus driver forgot to stop even though I told him three
times, including five minutes before we arrived. I had to walk back down the road one km.
hour drive. It should cost no more than 20.000 pesos. There are also several busetas a day going to a town just after Rio Claro.
From Bogota, take a bus to Medellin and get off at Rio Claro. Pretty simple. I am not sure what the charge will be coming from Bogta, probably
around 25.000 - 30.000 pesos.
Remember to make sure the bus driver is well aware you are getting off at Rio Claro. Its twenty km before the town of Doradal on the road from
Medellin to Bogota, and at the km marker 152 if I remember rightly. The last time I went the bus driver forgot to stop even though I told him three
times, including five minutes before we arrived. I had to walk back down the road one km.
Where to stay
There are a number of things one can do including tubing down the
river, great fun but can be a little dodgy if the river is running high and
fast. You can also walk several km's upstream and get a longer run on
the tubes. Make sure you survey the territory before going down
though. There are also several caves upstream to explore with torch
and or guide. I have done quite a bit of tubing on the river and its great
fun. I have only walked one km upstream. Still to explore right up into
the gorge. Must be pretty beautiful though. There are paths running
along the river for several kms. You'll have the whole place to yourself
if you make the two hour trip upriver. Or just lie on the marble rocks
and soak up the sun.
river, great fun but can be a little dodgy if the river is running high and
fast. You can also walk several km's upstream and get a longer run on
the tubes. Make sure you survey the territory before going down
though. There are also several caves upstream to explore with torch
and or guide. I have done quite a bit of tubing on the river and its great
fun. I have only walked one km upstream. Still to explore right up into
the gorge. Must be pretty beautiful though. There are paths running
along the river for several kms. You'll have the whole place to yourself
if you make the two hour trip upriver. Or just lie on the marble rocks
and soak up the sun.
What to do
How to get there
Explore the cave systems
Good value at 8.000 pesos each is the three hour or so guided tour of a pretty cool cave system.
Leaving the main accommodation quaters you go twenty minutes up-stream then cross the river and
Leaving the main accommodation quaters you go twenty minutes up-stream then cross the river and
You will need to take a torch of some sort because its completely
dark so the torch better be a good waterproof one or pretty rugged.
There are a number or slides to go down ending in deep pools of
water. At the end of the cave you end up in the main river. Then
you can swim down the river back to the cabins. A great little trip.
dark so the torch better be a good waterproof one or pretty rugged.
There are a number or slides to go down ending in deep pools of
water. At the end of the cave you end up in the main river. Then
you can swim down the river back to the cabins. A great little trip.
Visit the infamous old holiday hide out of Pablo Escobar
walk through the jungle half an hour climbing and then descending quite
steeply until you come across the underground cave system entrance.
The passage through the cave takes around 30-40 minutes and is a
good laugh. Expect to get completely wet.
steeply until you come across the underground cave system entrance.
The passage through the cave takes around 30-40 minutes and is a
good laugh. Expect to get completely wet.
When most people think of Colombia they immediately think of Pablo Escobar, Colombia's most
recognised personality who achieved almost legendary status around the world making billions of
dollars off the sale of cocaine. He was finally killed in 1993 after an intense manhunt that brought
together the CIA, DEA, Colombian army and police and several competing drug and paramilitary
gangs. Evidence of the opulent lifestyle he once led is no better shown than in a visit to the infamous
Finca Napoles, three and a half hours from Medellin on the main road to Bogota.
recognised personality who achieved almost legendary status around the world making billions of
dollars off the sale of cocaine. He was finally killed in 1993 after an intense manhunt that brought
together the CIA, DEA, Colombian army and police and several competing drug and paramilitary
gangs. Evidence of the opulent lifestyle he once led is no better shown than in a visit to the infamous
Finca Napoles, three and a half hours from Medellin on the main road to Bogota.