For an expedition company that has been traveling around the world for so many years it is not often that a country is visited for the first time in a few decades. Lindblad Expeditions has visited the country before when the MV Polaris was traveling up the Amazon to that sliver of Colombia touching the main river at Tres Fronteras with Brazil and Peru. But never has a ship in the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet ventured to the Pacific coast of Colombia. Politics, cultural disruptions, travel restrictions, etc. have kept the region off the potential itineraries over the past years. But today we entered Colombia’s Pacific Coast at a small village called Rio Solano.
As the first light of day brightened the sky, lightening flashes intensified instantaneous views of the landscape. High mountain ridges surrounded the enclosed bay. A few bright lights could be seen at the end of the bay as the tropical day just started to begin. As the scene was revealed clouds hung over the tops of the mountains and we could see that thick, thick rain forest covered much of the hills and high ridges. This thickness of the forest was encouraging as many other places in the neotropics the forest has been removed for agriculture or some form of development.
A new country requires official entry, which requires a boatload of officials requiring various bits of paperwork and signatures to be gathered. Once this officialdom was finished we then began to shuttle to a very nice small dock on the edge of town. Most people took the option to walk with local guides and our staff the half-mile to town while a few made the route in small colorful vehicles.
We quickly saw vibrancy of the community and learned about the culture of a small remote town along the coast of Colombia. Everyone was extremely friendly as we walked around the streets. Children found us fascinating and we were able to donate a supply of school needs including paper, pens, and notebooks. By the late morning everyone had been thoroughly impressed with the village and the people.
Our plan for the afternoon had changed a bit due to the large tidal change. A more difficult long hike had to be modified in order to give time for the tide to rise and we could be transported up a small river. For those taking the hike it was a bit muddy and certainly hot and humid. But by late afternoon the small group had crammed into a local boat to make their way back to near the river mouth where they were picked up by Zodiac to return to the ship just as the sun set. Others spent the afternoon on the long sandy beach at the visitor center of the Botanical Garden of the Pacific, a small private reserve. Again friendliness of the local people was overwhelming. Special “patacones” of fried plantain and hot salsa were available and washed down by coconut water right out of the shell.
For the finale of the day we were treated to a performance of lively music and songs by Grupo Bahia, a famous Colombian group that had come to Solano just for our enjoyment.
What a first day in Colombia it was and more to come!
