Nuquí

The population is the initial step of a serie of places that are gathered  under its name and you´ll be discovering with the wise  guidance of a barge driver of the zone that always takes you to a safe disembarking  to find waterfalls, rivers, streams, and the density and generosity of the fertile jungle that throws  fruits, flowers and the melody of a fauna that teaches  mankind the peace of real conviviality. The trip also interns the traveler  into  privileged grandstand , in the sea or the sand, to appreciate the fabulous  spectacle of the whales dancing and giving birth to their baby whales.

Who else then to give faith of such existing paradise  but the same native people ,who are afro-descendants, that no matter how tired they feel  after a long fishing , navigation and plowing  duty, they are always kind to travelers and tourists, offering  their  typical touristic hostels as the most relaxing shelter for resting without any  disturbances  at all. 

Weather
It is humid and tropical with an average temperature of 28 C degrees. The summer months are January, February and March and the rest of the year the climate is changeable, some times is rainy and sometimes the sun shines at its best.

Location
The municipality of NUQUÍ is located in the department of CHOCÓ which is in the west of Colombia between the Pacific ocean and the mountainous region of Baudós.

Culture and Customs
The population of this municipality, including its villages is of about 7.500 inhabitants, which 80% are afro-descendants, 19.5% are Embera native indians and 0.5% are settlers. Most of its inhabitants live on fishing , tourism, wood extraction and land crop growing products.

Gastronomy
Delicious recipes where the sea food and fish are the main products. The sea food meals are prepared in traditional ways such as "sancocho" a tasty fish soup, and sea food and fish cocktails, and in many other presentations like smoked fish, shredded fish, and boiled fish cooked in coconut´s milk.

How to get there
Nuquí has an airport and the access is from Quibdó the capital of the department of Chocó, or Medellín the capital of the department of Antioquia on a 45 minutes flight. Satena a local airline, flights from Bogotá with connection in Medellín on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.The same days from Quibdó. Telephone number: (1) 605 22-22.Consult your travel agency.

LADA airlines leaves from Medellín on Thursdays and Saturdays with a stop in Quibdó. For more information please call (4) 444 42 32 in Medellín. Searca airlines company has charter flights and also serves other airline companies, for more information call (4) 285 89-79.

If you are travelling on your own you can catch the public barge of Marcos Salas that leaves from Nuquí on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and it will take you to the beaches or the villages you have chosen as your final destination. The ticket fares are of about $17.000 pesos per passenger. For more information please call (mobile phone) 314 714 47 52.On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays the barge of Helena Transports leaves from Nuquí as well.For more information call (mobile phone) 314 673 30 56.

If you travel by agency or local hostels with boat services, a barge will be waiting to take you to your final destination after you get off the plane.

One of its main attractions is the ride of the mangrove on typical canoes to admire one of the most important ecosystems of the planet. Another plan you should do is the beach walk or visit the jungle cane( Bejuquillal) junglepath, that leads to a waterfall of the same name.

The junglepath of EL CAÑAL also has as a final destination a pretty waterfall, the same as visiting the LA VERRUGATERA waterfall .In the small village you may have lunch at the Sazón Coquí restaurant where you will find delicious sea food meals. All the walks and rides are guided by the ECOGUIDES COQUÍ group.

If you wish to stay the night there are two touristic hostels. The guides association ECOGUIDES from Coquí. Contact: Fausto Moreno Bonilla, mobile phone 314 850 38 97/ 314 696 88 34. E-mail: ecoguiascoqui@une.net.co

Enjoy the sport fishing , catching the beautiful local fishes and shrimps in the colored crystal river too. You will find lovely handcrafts as souvernirs. The walks and boat rides are done by the group of guides of Pichindé following the security rules and regulations, having radio communication system and an excellent first aid equipment. You may stay at informal touristic hostels.

The Guides Association of Pichindé.
Contacto: Robert Henao.
Mobile phone: 313 672 54 49.

It is all about charming beaches which are about 30 minutes from Nuquí, heading to the south conforming the real manifestation of harmony between the jungle and sea landscapes .They are impressive landscapes with rocks coming out of the sea when the tide is down. Go walking by the seaside at sunset or through the lightened way in full moon nights .Search for the waterfall of love “la cascada del AMOR”, and freshen up yourself with sweet water.

There are also short and long jungle path walks through the jungle and visits to the villages of Joví and Termales. If you love sea sports activities you can go surfing or scuba diving, or, if the idea is just to relax you can rest in hammock and let the sea waves lull you.

In Guachalito there are some of the most traditional hostels of the region, they are in front of the sea and count with the basic tourism standards.

It is all about charming beaches which are about 30 minutes from Nuquí, heading to the south conforming the real manifestation of harmony between the jungle and sea landscapes .They are impressive landscapes with rocks coming out of the sea when the tide is down. Go walking by the seaside at sunset or through the lightened way in full moon nights .Search for the waterfall of love “la cascada del AMOR”, and freshen up yourself with sweet water.

There are also short and long jungle path walks through the jungle and visits to the villages of Joví and Termales. If you love sea sports activities you can go surfing or scuba diving, or, if the idea is just to relax you can rest in hammock and let the sea waves lull you.

In Guachalito there are some of the most traditional hostels of the region, they are in front of the sea and count with the basic tourism standards.

Get to know the different ecosystem environments that allows you to observe the deers and ocelots safely. The administrative office is in the cove of UTRÍA, a small cul-de-sac street bay made by the sea in the middle of the reserve.

It is pointed out as one of the parks that has a lot of natural richness sources in Colombia and even the whales get to its waters to give birth to their babies in a unique spectacle. For more information please contact :Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, phone: (1)353 2400 ext - 138, Bogotá.

• Jungle paths
  All the coast of Nuquí is surrounded by the thick ,wet tropical jungle of the Baudó mountain region. The jungle walks show us the richness of its flora and fauna that live there .The walks are always guided by the specialized guides that know the ways and jungle paths which are able to do so. Pichindé in Joví and Ecoguías en Coquí are some of the associations formed to go walking into the intimacy of the jungle. There are also theses activities in Termales and Guachalito.
• Diving
  The Pacific ocean is one of the most known and rich ecosystems to go scuba diving Big schools of fish besides the rock formations under water is a unique show for all the divers of the world. You may see turtles, lobsters, dolphins, snails, eels and a great variety of fish.
• Snorkeling
  It is an activity that everybody can do because consists on watching the marine flora and fauna, floating on the surface ,wearing sea masks and a snorkel s, life vests and rubber fins. The person does not need to dive deep into the sea to admire the charming sea marine life.
• Fishing
  It is done on small canoes and boats by the local fishermen. It is the main source of the economy of the region.
  Sport fishing
  Nuquí is a great destination for this activity because of the richness of its waters .It is done in the sea near the beaches and in specialized boats provided for this job. Red snapper , tuna, and sword fish can be easily caught.
• Whale watching
  It is one of the most wonderful events on earth. It happens when the humpback whales arrive here in the warm waters to give birth to their lovely baby whales which take places in the months of July and October , but in August and September their presence is stronger. Nobody who is in front of the pacific waters could forget when these sea mammals emerge from the deeps to shows their fins and tails or let us know the sounds produced when they take out the air through their lungs.
• Beach walks
  Throughout these activities you understand the reason why we speak of calm and transparent beaches. There are plenty of them, with fences of tree palms and tropical vegetation. The unforgettable walks should be done knowing the tide changes which are every six hours.
• Boat rides
  Most of the routes of the attractions must be done on boat. The average trips take between half and hour and 45 minutes, and the river and stream routes are done on canoes or wooden pangas.

• LODGING or ACCOMODATION
  Before you travel make the reservation of your hostel so there will be arrangements to take you to your final destination by boat because with exception of some villages hostels the rest of the accommodation are in different bays and beaches far from the urban outskirts and with long distances from one to another.
• HEALTH
  Although it is not need to have vaccines, it is recommended to get the yellow fever and tetanus vaccine. Take with you painkillers, insect repellent, sun protector and first aid material.
• WHAT TO TAKE
  Camera , mobile phone, lighter, batteries, lantern and cash because there are not bank ATMs. Light and water resistant clothing , sandals, shorts and clothes that can get wet. To go walking through the jungle take boots , jeans or long pants and long sleeve t-shirts.
• TIMETABLE OR SCHEDULES
  The National Natural Park UTRÍA opens from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm.
• CONSERVATION
  Due to the conservation of the region and the species of fauna and flora it is not allowed to take any material from the animals or the vegetation.
• TRANSPORTATION
  The estimate time of departure of the boats from Nuquí is at 1:00 pm, so that is why you should contact the driver before , so he can wait for you at the airport and delay the departure .Most of the routes are done by boat and the fares are changeable ,they do not stick to the plan.
• TO KEEP IN MIND
  The electricity is produced by small power plants so there is only energy from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm and not all the hostels have that. Some of the hostels are lightened with candles .There are few telephone boots and there is only one mobile company that covers the area.
• IMPORTANT
  It is vital the accompaniment of a guide of the zone for all the jungle and beach walks, and boat rides.