Introduction
As a hidden treasure between the Antioquia and Chocó departments´ costs, fed by the Caribbean Sea waters, being the most southern point. That´s the way the Uraba gulf is seen in the map, a region that along its path leaves the tradition of fishing people, banana crops zones and the cultural heritage of a diverse community.
Just like it is the mixture of the decorative landscapes of the gulf along its oblique route. Important commercial activity towns are lined, lonely beaches, quiet villages and the slow elapse of the time and a lot of nature mostly located in the north western area, because of the luxuriance of the Darien mound generating the encounter between sea and jungle becoming into a captivating experience because of its happiness and strangeness.
By land, sea or air, the gulf is lived with its diverse shapes and landscapes. From the upside it is a distinct geographical shape. By sea sometimes facing furious waves, but with the certainty of reaching a safe port on the other shore. By highway the Antioquian towns, with the flirtation of a showing and hiding sea always send its breeze to remind its Caribbean location.
And there, in a range of scenarios, but with cultural and traditionalist coincidences, the Colombian tourist lodges emerge between the natural feast to host hearts and souls. Because to reach the Uraba gulf, to visit and enjoy it is an uncountable emotions generating experience
The coexistence with the good people of Necocli, the monkey´s hauling in San Francisco, the peaceful nights full of stars in Playona or that strange fascination left by Capurgana are reasons to create the story of a different trip to the gulf and its lodges.
Weather
The average temperature in the region ranges between the 27 and 28 Celsius degrees. During the summer it could raise up to 34 Celsius degrees in the cost zones such as Capurgana and Playona, where the marine breeze eases the temperatures. The weather is similar in the San Francisco village of the township of Acandi but a little humid because of the forest vegetation dominating the place.
Location
The Uraba Gulf is located in the northwest of Colombia over the Caribbean sea and between the costs of the Departments of Antioquia and Choco. With and approximate extension of 70 Km. Going from the Caribana point in Antioquia (Eastern extreme) to the limits between Colombia and Panama in Shark cape (western extreme).
Culture and traditions
An interesting tri-ethnic mixture is produced in the zone, the heritage of colonization brought by the Spaniards that founded the first continental american villaje very close to what now is Necocli, village that was called San Sebastian de Uraba back in 1509 when Alonso de Ojeda landed in the territories inhabited by the Urabaes Indian communities.
Later, in the year 1535, Pedro de Heredia, founded the village of San Sebastian de Buenavista, in front of the Cañaflechal mound and close by the present urban area of Necocli, the town and all gulf once belonged to the Cartagena Governorship.
Other studies locate the township of Acandi as the first continental population. It is said that there existed a place called Santa Maria la Antigua del Darien also conquered by Alonso de Ojeda in 1510. The most forceful evidence of its existence is the little chapel left behind as a vestige of the antique town.
Anyway all of the traditions brought by the miscegenation that came along with the arrival of the Spaniards, the African people and their interaction with the pre-Hispanic communities predominating in the area including the Senues and Urabaes that are nowadays known as Kunas with a two-nation presence in Colombia and Panama, are kept in the Gulf of Uraba
Even though the Senues mostly populated the departments of Cordoba and Sucre, they also inhabited the gulf. Nowadays many of their descendants make part of the Necocli population.
Celebration and festivities
The celebrations of the region are mostly influenced by the African and Caribbean customs with multiple songs and dances created in Colombia. The celebrations recreate regular community moments and they are shown trough out different folkloric and cultural ways.
In October, coinciding with the race day celebration, the National Bullerengue Festival takes place in Necocli, with drum-based music telling the cost people stories. During the festival several bands and dance groups are presented not to compete with others but only to show their traditions.
In January, Necocli is also home of the popular coconut and Corralejas festivities. Horse parade meeting, sports tournaments, music groups and Fandango dances, During the Holly week in addition to the religious acts, gastronomy and recreational activities are also shown.
In the San Francisco Township of the municipality of Acandi, starting on June the 28th and for four days the Jagua festival is celebrated, named after a local fruit used to paint and tattoo figures in the local people bodies. As a complement of this ritual the communities perform dances with drums and popular music street bands.
During the second week in October, in the township of Capurgana the Cigua festival takes place and it includes a fusion between games, horse parades, field and water sports, music and ecologic campaigns as the scuba diving to clean the sea buttom.
Crafts
Because of the closeness to the Cordoba region, many people work with the Caña Flecha, but the craftsmen from Necocli are better weaving other natural fibers such as plantain stocking and Iraca palm from where they make bags, vases, and several accessories and trimmings.
Just as well, this Uraba - Darien region is also known by the famous Molas, which are decorated clothes based on colorful cloth pieces making several figures. The Molas are designed by Kuna people especially in the San Blas Island in Panama. It is more valuable for the buyer to get a Mola that was previously worn as blouse by the aborigines.
Gastronomy
Naturally and for being a cost zone, coconut rice and fried plantain are the most popular meals. Sierra and red Pargo are the most desired dishes because of the delicious way in which they are cooked mainly in Capurgana and Sapzurro.
In Necocli, Chefs have created their own recipies that are know well known because of their deliciousness and originality. The lemon cookies, eggplant cake, and the bunch formed of plantain, are some of the dishes of the traditional menu.
Attractives
The region is the same but the landscapes change in everyone of the visited destinies. In some of them the sea comes to your feet and sends its sound, in others, it sends its breeze to the further points from the shore. There are jungle landscapes, forest, beaches and farms with horses and cows. The water runs trough creeks and rivers and the fauna accompanies the walk days. There are happiness, tranquility and hope feelings transmitted by the natives the Gulf will surely give you lots of surprises.
Necoclí and Vereda El Carlos
The township is a fusión of the Caribbean region and Antiquia. Just as its geographical location shows, the presence of Paisa inhabitants many of them coming from Medellin, and also by the natives that mainly live with the cost style. The life there seems to pass in happiness and without worries.
15 minutes from Necocli taking the road that leads to the city of Turbo, there is the Vereda el Carlos, where the touristic inns have been built using local raw materials such as wood, Caña fleche, Caña Brava, and sour palm making a welcoming structure to host the travelers.
At the highest point of the El Carlos ecotourism and archeology center there is a viewpoint which gives a full view of the mountains of el Carlos, la loma, la Ñeca, the palms of the region are used for crafts and construction and the people crop products like yucca, rice, plantain, fruits and name. despite the fact that the beach is couple of miles away from downtown it is possible to feel the breeze coming from the west.
Ecotourism and Archeology center El Carlos. Here three inns are located each of them with its own name and two rooms they are named after a reason explaining the whole history of the place which is managed in a rotation system by 18 families living at the place. In addition to a restaurant, green fields and an auditorium there is an archeology interpretation center where there are displayed more than 170 pieces that were made by the old cultures that inhabited the region. Tools and ceremony pieces are part of the valuable collection. For further information please contact. Francisco Meneses Cel. 312 2434526 / Edison Meneses Cel. 310 3889366 eco.elcarlos@gmail.com
MUD VOLCANO
1.5 KM. Away from the inns the mud volcano is located, a permanent mnnatial of mud with many healing and sking regenerative properties. After a healing dive the traveler can swim into a small lake located close by the volcano or walk for a kilometer to dive in the sea. For further information please contact. Francisco Meneses Cel. 312 2434526 / Manuel Santiago Parra Cel. 320 7806272
EL CARLOS WATERFALL
Twenty minutes trough the vegetation around el Carlos and the inns the creek with the same name is located. It is a natural waterfall with crystal and refreshing water pots after a walk with a certain level of exigency.
RÍONEGRO COVE
It is one of the most important and beautiful biologicla reserves of Necocli to which it is possible to get after 40 minutes of sailing. The cove is a formation of 270 hectares of mangrove swamp between quiet water labyrinths. It is a favorable environment for the birds migration and fish, shellfish and moluscan reproduction. It is also positive for sports practices like kayaking and scuba diving.
NECOCLÍ RIVER
It is a silent and short river surounded by a deep vegetation. It is the perfect scenario for a raft trip from the river to the sea in a near village, where after a short walk it is posible to get to see a huge Caracoli tree being its log totally hollow and being inhabited by some fruit eater bats. For further information.ecohuellas@gmail.com
MUD VOLCANO
EL CARLOS WATERFALL
Twenty minutes trough the vegetation around el Carlos and the inns the creek with the same name is located. It is a natural waterfall with crystal and refreshing water pots after a walk with a certain level of exigency.
RIONEGRO COVE
It is one of the most important and beautiful biologicla reserves of Necocli to which it is possible to get after 40 minutes of sailing. The cove is a formation of 270 hectares of mangrove swamp between quiet water labyrinths. It is a favorable environment for the birds migration and fish, shellfish and moluscan reproduction. It is also positive for sports practices like kayaking and scuba diving.
NECOCLI RIVER
It is a silent and short river surounded by a deep vegetation. It is the perfect scenario for a raft trip from the river to the sea in a near village, where after a short walk it is posible to get to see a huge Caracoli tree being its log totally hollow and being inhabited by some fruit eater bats. For further information.ecohuellas@gmail.com
SAN FRANCISCO AND POSADAS DEL RIO
San Francisco is like an imaginary place between time and distance. There the time goes by slowly as well as the patience of the fisherman amused by the innocence and gaming of the children. Even if the place is not in the map yet it is a pretty well organized village with a school, health care center grass streets and even a discotheque.
The village belongs to the city of Acandi in the Caribbean Choco and it is possible to get there by a hired boat from Necocli (40 minutes) or public boat from Turbo (one hour).
Posadas del Río. A kilometer away from the San Francisco beach trough the village and the ecologic reserve this tourism center is reached, the center counts on with five cabins made out of palm and Wood close by the Blind river and the monkeys houling. In addition to a restaurant, club house and hammocks there is a view point and gardens with a beautiful nature. For further information. Wilton Martínez Cel. 312 2229200 eco.urabadarien@gmail.com
THE GIANTS FOREST
To know it you should take a walk from the tourism center and it includes a high level of endurance due to the road conditions and the constant up and down hill paths found in the way. Once there it is possible to appreciate the huge and thick trees with more than two hundred years of age.
POZA DE AMALIA
The path goes by strange and colorful fauna and flora sanctuaries. La Poza is a natural formation of clear water becoming into an oasis to prize the hiker there are several kinds of monkeys, birds, reptiles and amphibian that could show up in front of the expeditionary.
HIDROPATH
This path goes along the Ciego river and leads into the sea. During the winter the river goes by normally into the sea, but during the summer a sand bank is formed to stop it, that´s why it is called the blind river this path is walked in about two hours in which you can watch several fauna species including the titi and whiteface monkeys.
TRIGANÁ AND SARDÍ RESERVE
It is one of the most beautiful beaches of the gulf where the wind goes along and the sea shows up prudently to make a quiet place thanks to the smooth movement of the waves.
Behind this path there is a farm, a crafts center and the Sardi ecologic reserve with paths and waterfalls falling over the rocks.
Trigana is reached from San Francisco in a 35-minute walk between the beach and the woods. Or in a 10 to 15-minute boat ride.
BEACH OF SARDÍ
Fifteen minutes away from Trigana , walking trough the reserve, the nudist beach of sardi is reached, a placed looked by the swimmers who like the privacy. Swimming at this site is not recommended during summer because some shark species may come close to the shore. The main attractive of the Sardi beach is its non busyness.
NAPÚ VILLAGE
The countryside landscape offered by this place sometimes takes your thoughts to a very far place in the Caribbean. The domestic fauna of pigs, hens, horses and cows on the sea shore are complemented with the life of the fishermen that inhabit the Napu beach located at two hours by walking from San Francisco.
THE GIANTS FOREST
To know it you should take a walk from the tourism center and it includes a high level of endurance due to the road conditions and the constant up and down hill paths found in the way. Once there it is possible to appreciate the huge and thick trees with more than two hundred years of age.
POZA DE AMALIA
The path goes by strange and colorful fauna and flora sanctuaries. La Poza is a natural formation of clear water becoming into an oasis to prize the hiker there are several kinds of monkeys, birds, reptiles and amphibian that could show up in front of the expeditionary.
HIDROPATH
This path goes along the Ciego river and leads into the sea. During the winter the river goes by normally into the sea, but during the summer a sand bank is formed to stop it, that´s why it is called the blind river this path is walked in about two hours in which you can watch several fauna species including the titi and whiteface monkeys.
BEACH OF SARDI
It is one of the most beautiful beaches of the gulf where the wind goes along and the sea shows up prudently to make a quiet place thanks to the smooth movement of the waves.
Behind this path there is a farm, a crafts center and the Sardi ecologic reserve with paths and waterfalls falling over the rocks.
Trigana is reached from San Francisco in a 35-minute walk between the beach and the woods. Or in a 10 to 15-minute boat ride.
NAPU VILLAGE
The countryside landscape offered by this place sometimes takes your thoughts to a very far place in the Caribbean. The domestic fauna of pigs, hens, horses and cows on the sea shore are complemented with the life of the fishermen that inhabit the Napu beach located at two hours by walking from San Francisco.
Playona and its Tourism Inns
With 14 kilometers of beach extension this is one of the widest beaches of the gulf of Uraba. In front of the sea five tourism inns have been built to permanently receive the fresh marine breeze and the waves sound when vanishing in the shore. To contemplate the magnificence of the Caribbean during a walk along the white sand beaches or to watch the sky full of stars during the clear nights, are just two of the many options that this ideal place offers.
At the same site where the cabins are located there is a creek where it is possible to fish for shrimp and take a canoe ride. Playona is also known as playa Cana, named after the turtles of that species that every year come to this beach to deposit their eggs.
PLAYONA VIEW POINT
The playona inns are watched by a hill that serves as a perfect view point of the sea ant its huge beaches. To get to the peak it is necessary to walk for 25 minutes trough a path in which cattle is found, several bird species and some hauling monkeys.
CANÁ TOURTLES ARRIVAL
Without any doubt, the best moment t olive in Playona is to assit to the comming of the huge turtles of Cana, which mainly come to this beach to deposit their eggs. Trough the Mama Basilia camp the community of the region has been working to protect this species from extinction.
People find the eggs before predators do and so they cover them with sand and when the turtles are born they set them free to the ocean. To participate in this activity requires the accomplishment of some rules not to disturb the turtles with noises or lights because the delivery occurs at night. For further information. Alfonso Gutiérrez Cel. 312 2449171 eco.playacana@gmail.com .
PLAYONA VIEW POINT
The playona inns are watched by a hill that serves as a perfect view point of the sea ant its huge beaches. To get to the peak it is necessary to walk for 25 minutes trough a path in which cattle is found, several bird species and some hauling monkeys.
CANA TOURTLES ARRIVAL
Without any doubt, the best moment t olive in Playona is to assit to the comming of the huge turtles of Cana, which mainly come to this beach to deposit their eggs. Trough the Mama Basilia camp the community of the region has been working to protect this species from extinction.
People find the eggs before predators do and so they cover them with sand and when the turtles are born they set them free to the ocean. To participate in this activity requires the accomplishment of some rules not to disturb the turtles with noises or lights because the delivery occurs at night. For further information. Alfonso Gutiérrez Cel. 312 2449171 eco.playacana@gmail.com .
Capurganá and IRACAS DE BELÉN
The Little village is one of the most fascinating sites of the gulf of Uraba, because of the colors of its streets made of stones, the kindness of its inhabitants and for all the interesting sites around it. Capurgana is located in the northwestern corner of the region with a population of around two thousand inhabitants mostly dedicated to fishing, agriculture and tourism duties.
All of the roads of this village of acandi are for pedestrians. There are no cars, very few motorcycles but there is a decent number of cars pulled by horses being the main transportation way.
In Capurgana it is necessary to enjoy the beach, the dock and the coffe shops located in the surroundings, as well as the house of the "niño Dios" built with all sorts of recycling elements where the settler that built it lives with his wife and children. For further information.Cel. 320 7552402 / 315 8402068
IRACAS DE BELÉN
A mile and a half away from the urban area of Capurgana the Iracas de Belen inns are located in the middle of the tropical rainforest and about a hundred meters away from the sea, it is also possible to get beautiful views of the landscapes from the balconies of the five cabins.
At this ecotourism site there are plantain crops, restaurant, games room, a natural water Jacuzzi and a club house that is also a bar.
Just as well there are walking paths where you can watch squirrels, monkeys, wild turkeys, and deer. From there iti is possible to plan excursions to the different points of interest.
SAPZURRO AND LA MIEL
To Sapzurro is is possible to get by boat from Capurgana (15 minutes) or walking through the Darien mound (an hour and twenty minutes). It is the las Colombian village before the border with Panama. Sapzurro is a silent and colorful village with brick architecture. It has a dock, a little beach and restaurant that serve delicious fishes like the pargo rojo.
After crossing the few streets of the village the little hill that divides Colombia from Panama shows up. It is necessary to climb 180 steps and to go down 238 to be in la miel, the first town of Panama which has a beautiful white beach where the green sea hits a little hard but allows taking pleasant baths and practicing water sports. This beach limits with sharp cape, the point of the Darien jungle that marks the limits of the border. It takes about 15 minutes to go between the two towns.
EL CIELO WATERFALL
Beautiful natural landscapes hanging in the Darien sanctuary. What shows up at the end of the path is the reward to a difficult walk of more than an hour from capurgana and in which is necessary to cross the river for three times. It is possible to rent a horse pulled car that will take you to the starting point to the waterfall.
AGUACATE AND SOLEDAD BEACH
Charming beaches in the south part of capurgana inhabited by kind natives that offer services and feeding service. The sea display beautiful shines and emerald colors, very close to the beaches the blowing holes are formed and the birds island which is the meeting point of the migratory birds.
The boat from the Capurgana harbor takes about 15 minutes to el aguacate and 20 to playa soledad. Two paradise places with white beaches and a quiet sea.
THE AGROFORESTAL VIEW POINT
It is the middle point in the path from Capurgana to sapzurro. After a hard 40-minute walk the peak of the mound is reached in which you will be able to see the Sapzurro bay. The sanctuary has a well marked path that helps the difficult traffic.
LOS DIOSES SWIMMING POOL
Eight minutes after the capurgana beach Los Dioses Swimming pool is found, a rocky zone where the sea hits really hard making pots which are not advisable to get close. Because of the really aggressive waters. This place is exclusively for the visual and photographic enjoyment.
IRACAS DE BELÉN
A mile and a half away from the urban area of Capurgana the Iracas de Belen inns are located in the middle of the tropical rainforest and about a hundred meters away from the sea, it is also possible to get beautiful views of the landscapes from the balconies of the five cabins.
At this ecotourism site there are plantain crops, restaurant, games room, a natural water Jacuzzi and a club house that is also a bar.
Just as well there are walking paths where you can watch squirrels, monkeys, wild turkeys, and deer. From there iti is possible to plan excursions to the different points of interest.
SAPZURRO AND LA MIEL
To Sapzurro is is possible to get by boat from Capurgana (15 minutes) or walking through the Darien mound (an hour and twenty minutes). It is the las Colombian village before the border with Panama. Sapzurro is a silent and colorful village with brick architecture. It has a dock, a little beach and restaurant that serve delicious fishes like the pargo rojo.
After crossing the few streets of the village the little hill that divides Colombia from Panama shows up. It is necessary to climb 180 steps and to go down 238 to be in la miel, the first town of Panama which has a beautiful white beach where the green sea hits a little hard but allows taking pleasant baths and practicing water sports. This beach limits with sharp cape, the point of the Darien jungle that marks the limits of the border. It takes about 15 minutes to go between the two towns.
EL CIELO WATERFALL
Beautiful natural landscapes hanging in the Darien sanctuary. What shows up at the end of the path is the reward to a difficult walk of more than an hour from capurgana and in which is necessary to cross the river for three times. It is possible to rent a horse pulled car that will take you to the starting point to the waterfall.
AGUACATE AND SOLEDAD BEACH
Charming beaches in the south part of capurgana inhabited by kind natives that offer services and feeding service. The sea display beautiful shines and emerald colors, very close to the beaches the blowing holes are formed and the birds island which is the meeting point of the migratory birds.
The boat from the Capurgana harbor takes about 15 minutes to el aguacate and 20 to playa soledad. Two paradise places with white beaches and a quiet sea.
THE AGROFORESTAL VIEW POINT
It is the middle point in the path from Capurgana to sapzurro. After a hard 40-minute walk the peak of the mound is reached in which you will be able to see the Sapzurro bay. The sanctuary has a well marked path that helps the difficult traffic.
LOS DIOSES SWIMMING POOL
Eight minutes after the capurgana beach Los Dioses Swimming pool is found, a rocky zone where the sea hits really hard making pots which are not advisable to get close. Because of the really aggressive waters. This place is exclusively for the visual and photographic enjoyment.
