Cienaga Grande's stilt villages - Andes World Travel

Cienaga Grande’s stilt villages

COL-87 / 1-day Trip

Bella Vista's stilt village (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)

OVERVIEW

The Ciénaga Grande fauna and flora sanctuary is located in northern part of Colombia, very close to La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Mountain Range and between the cities of Santa Marta and Barranquilla. It is the largest lagoon area in Colombia and one of the major ones in South America and considered one of the most strategic and vitally important water mirrors of the planet, therefore declared a Ramsar site (wetland of global importance) in 1998 and also Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2000. The Ciénaga is 45,000 hectares and inhabited by around 2,500 people, dedicated mainly to local fishery. Those who visit this wildlife sanctuary, will find themselves on an exciting journey through lagoons, swamps, interconnected by beautiful canals/channels inside natural landscapes and labyrinths of mangroves of unparalleled beauty. On top of the natural surrounding, is the fantastic experience to experience first hand the traditional way of living of the locals and how they have adapted to the environment.

Day 1

Cienaga Grande de Santa Marts’s stilt villages

ITINERARY

Day 1

Cienaga Grande de Santa Marts’s stilt villages

The experience starts either Santa Marta or any of the hotels in the Tayrona/Palomino area. Drive to Pueblo Viejo, Magdalena (one of the oldest towns in Colombia previously inhabited by Chimilla Indians) and drop off atnew tourist harbor. Here will take a certified/approved private boat that will sail to the first of the two stilt villages in the program. During the trip, there are impressive view toward the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Mountain range. Our guide will help to spot birds that live in the Cienaga area like; Spoon Duck, the White Heron, the Blue-winged Barraquete, the Kingfisher and the Needle Duck.
The boat will navigate through the many of the channels within the mangroves and also in Cienaga’ “open” waters. There will be option to see the fishermen using the traditional fishing technics, mastered from generation to generation.

Upon arrival in the stilt village of Nueva Venecia (New Venice), we’ll get an insight into the local live and traditions of this particular group of people living in what it is known as “amphibious culture”, that for more than 200 years have managed to adapt to living on the water. We will visit the apothecary’s house, the bakery, the church, the school and the craftsman’s house. We will also learn a little about its cultural roots with a folklore presentation.

After this first experience, we will continue our boat trip to the next stilt village; Buena Vista, which is know to be one of the prettiest settlements in the Ciénaga Grande. The stilt houses are beautifully painted, some with murals representing their way of live, as well as, reminisces
from the war. We’ll have a walking tour and the opportunity to “feel” the place.

We’ll return the tourist harbor and have a nice traditional lunch in one of the nice restaurants by the seaside. From there, we’ll drive back to Santa Marta or Tarona/Palomino area’s. It is possible to continue to the city of Cartagena.

Duration of the activity: 6 hours

Included meals: Lunch

PRICING