Santander is another
versatile and impressive region of Colombia, which still doesn´t appear on many
tourists` radar. Located north of Bogotá, especially for nature lovers, this
region offers everything one could ask for – canyons, lakes, coffee and cacao
plantations…
We would like to present a
new tour which combines some of the highlights of the area. The tour takes the
clients to a pineapple plantation in Lebrija, which is said to have the most delicious
pineapples of Colombia, as well as to lake Topocoro and adjacent waterfalls. On
day two, the clients learn all about cacao in San Vicente de Chucurí before
heading back to Bucaramanga.
In the following
the detailed description of the 2 days/1night-tour „Pineapple, cacao & Topocora
Lake”. For further
information please contact you local travel guide.
Itinerary:
DAY 1: BUCARAMANGA
– LEBRIJA – LAKE TOPOCORO – SAN VICENTE DE CHUCURÍ (B/-/-)
Pick-up at 8 a.m.
at your hotel. Approx. 1 hour drive to Lebrija, a town that is called the
Colombian pineapple capital known for its tasty pineapples. The pineapple tour
lasts about 2 hours. You will get to know and interact with farmers that depend
completely on the cultivation and selling of pineapples. The owner of a
pineapple farm or one of his family members will introduce you to his pineapple
field and tell you something about the plant, its growth stages and its
treatment. You will also be able to find out how to choose the tastiest
pineapple, whether it is organic or not, and whether the fruit has already
spoiled.
From Lebrija we continue for about 1 hour to the reservoir of Topocoro, which was built for the dam "Hidrosogamoso" about four years ago. Due to the short existence of the reservoir, it is not well known, yet, that’s why there is not that much tourism movement so far. It is not even listed on google maps. In the afternoon we go by motorboat to two different waterfalls, which can only be reached by boat. The first one has a height of 20 meters and we get to a point of the famous Chicamocha Canyon, from where we can enjoy a magnificent view. The second waterfall consists of several small waterfalls that feed some natural water basins. Here you can climb up the various waterfalls and jump into the water basins. The Topocoro reservoir has a high water temperature (as warm as the Caribbean), which makes it the perfect place for swimming. We drive on to the village of San Vicente de Chucurí (about 1 hour away), where we spend the night.
From Lebrija we continue for about 1 hour to the reservoir of Topocoro, which was built for the dam "Hidrosogamoso" about four years ago. Due to the short existence of the reservoir, it is not well known, yet, that’s why there is not that much tourism movement so far. It is not even listed on google maps. In the afternoon we go by motorboat to two different waterfalls, which can only be reached by boat. The first one has a height of 20 meters and we get to a point of the famous Chicamocha Canyon, from where we can enjoy a magnificent view. The second waterfall consists of several small waterfalls that feed some natural water basins. Here you can climb up the various waterfalls and jump into the water basins. The Topocoro reservoir has a high water temperature (as warm as the Caribbean), which makes it the perfect place for swimming. We drive on to the village of San Vicente de Chucurí (about 1 hour away), where we spend the night.
DAY
2: SAN VICENTE DE CHUCURÌ – CACAO TOUR – BUCARAMANGA (B/L/-)
On this day we'll go
on a cacao tour. The region of San Vicente de Chucurí is one of the largest
cacao producers in Colombia, where about 13% of the country's cacao comes from.
It is located in the immediate vicinity of the natural National Park Serranía
de los Yariguies, a unique ecosystem and source of income for people in the
cacao, coffee and fruit business. In addition, the region is known for its
qualitative and sustainable cacao production. Arriving at a cacoa farm, the local family welcomes us with a cup of cacao and tells us what meaning cacoa has for the region and for the life of the inhabitants. We make a tour through the cacao forests that belong to the farm and learn about the agronomic handling of the plant and can marvel at the biodiversity of the cultivation area. After the tour we can follow all the production steps from the harvest to the chocolate and finally get to know various cacao-based products enyouing the quiet and peaceful atmosphere of the farm. A homemade lunch on the farm is included. In the afternoon we return to Bucaramanga (about 2.5 hours drive away).
Included:
1 night in San Vicente Chuchurí in a standard hotel like Hotel Faraones, transport, access to the pineapple farm, pineapple tour with local guide (approx. 2 hours), tasting of the pineapples, visit of the Chicamocha Canyon, excursion by motorboat (max. 2.5 hours including visits to the waterfalls), life jacket, visit to the village of San Vicente de Chucurí, cacao tour (including access to the farm, processing area, professional guide, chocolate as a welcome gift), homemade lunch on the farm, German, English or Spanish speaking tour guide, travel insurance and additional insurance for extreme sports
Not included:
Optional activities such as wakeboarding, water skiing, jet skiing and extra lessons by motorboat.
