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4.9
| 22 reviews

100km Jungle Expedition into the Heart of Colombia

7 nights
Challenging

Trek through untouched rainforest in South America and raft one of the world’s last truly wild rivers

What's Included?

Activities & Certified Guides

All itinerary activities with expert, local, English-speaking guides

All accommodation

2 nights in hotels in Medellin, 3 nights wild camping and 2 nights at a homestay with local campesinos

Meals

7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners

Transfers

To and from the airport and everything in between

Equipment

All the camping and rafting equipment you need

Small Like-minded Groups

Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 12 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people
From

…

excluding flights
From

…

excluding flights

What's it like?

4.9
| 22 reviews
A True Jungle Adventure
December 2024
Stephen C.
Trip of a lifetime!
November 2024
Maximilian L.
Trip of a lifetime!
November 2024
Maximilian L.
Trip of a lifetime!
November 2024
Maximilian L.
Trip of a lifetime!
November 2024
Maximilian L.
Trip of a lifetime!
November 2024
Maximilian L.
Trip of a lifetime!
November 2024
Maximilian L.
Trip of a lifetime!
November 2024
Maximilian L.
Fantastic trip. awesome landscape, rafting
November 2024
Laszlo K.
Fantastic trip. awesome landscape, rafting
November 2024
Laszlo K.
Fantastic trip. awesome landscape, rafting
November 2024
Laszlo K.
Amazing trip! Totally recommended.
Colombi...
February 2023
Lucia
Amazing trip! Totally recommended.
Colombi...
February 2023
Lucia
Amazing trip! Totally recommended.
Colombi...
February 2023
Lucia
Amazing trip! Totally recommended.
Colombi...
February 2023
Lucia
What a trip! One of the best things I have...
September 2022
Olivia
Fantastic adventure that will test your gri...
March 2020
Joseph
Fantastic adventure that will test your gri...
March 2020
Joseph
Fantastic adventure that will test your gri...
March 2020
Joseph
This was a truly amazing experience. The gu...
March 2020
Rachel
This was a truly amazing experience. The gu...
March 2020
Rachel
This was a truly amazing experience. The gu...
March 2020
Rachel
Expect digital detox, challenging terrain,...
March 2020
Jana
Expect digital detox, challenging terrain,...
March 2020
Jana
Jungle Expedition to the heart of Colombia

Be among the first intrepid explorers to trailblaze through an extraordinarily untouched corner of Colombia

Hike and raft through the untamed wilderness, supporting local communities and protecting free-flowing waterways lined with pristine rainforest

Get off-grid in one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet – teeming with life, if you’re lucky you might see tigrillos, tapirs or monkeys

Key Information

Day 1

Welcome to Medellin

Drive through the lush Medellin valley and into one of Latin America’s most exciting cities. Explore the friendly, green spaces of the Manila district, then after a team briefing to prepare you for the expedition ahead, spend the night in a boutique hotel ln the heart of Medellin’s hippest neighbourhood, El Poblado.

Day 2

Into the wilderness

Hiking

7hrs · 22km · 200m up · 800m down

Head into the Samana Watershed, a tropical paradise that few foreign eyes have ever seen. Push through the humid, jungle-covered mountains as you hike into the valley of the Rio Verde of Los Henados. Spend the night in a remote finca, where you’ll enjoy a home-cooked meal alongside a local family and hear fascinating stories about this hidden area of Colombia (it was once a stronghold of FARC, but is now entirely safe, so everyone has a story to share).

Day 3

Journey through the jungle

Hiking

7hrs · 23km · 700m up · 300m down

Greet the day with some strong, local coffee or a hot chocolate, then return to the jungle. From now on, your group will be totally self-sufficient and see very few people. Follow the trail (or make one) and learn from your guide about the abundance of plants traditionally used in local culture and medicine. Keep an eye out for clouds of butterflies and families of otters along the water’s edge. After lunch, cross the river on a suspension bridge, set up camp and learn how to sling the perfect hammock between the trees.

Day 4

The big push

Hiking

6hrs · 18km · 600m up · 600m down

Rafting

3hrs · 5km

Navigate through a chunk of pristine rainforest. If you’re lucky, you might even see a tigrillo, tapir or monkey. Push on to the Rio Verde where your raft will be waiting. Then, after a refreshing swim in the cool emerald waters, set off along the wild Samana River. In the evening, set up your hammock on the riverbank and fall asleep to the sound of the jungle orchestra.

Day 5

Raft to the Samana Bridge

Rafting

7hrs · 32km

Wake yourself up with a morning dip in the river and then take a short hike through the jungle to a dramatic canyon. Return to the Rio Samana - a power-house of a river cloaked in dense jungle and constricted between low granite walls - stopping to explore the secluded beaches and swim in hidden waterfalls. Brace yourself for whitewater as you tackle some Class IV rapids, passing prospectors panning for gold on the calmer stretches. Rest and resupply in Puente Samana where you'll spend the night in a rural homestay with a view over the river. Accommodation will either be in mixed dorms or in hammocks under a hard roof.

Day 6

Through the Grand Gorge

Rafting

7hrs · 22km

Descend some more Class IV+ rapids as you cross through a rainforest teeming with life, into a beautiful silver-blue canyon. Witness the rare birds, butterflies, and exotic plants that live in this lowland forest and camp close to a secluded lagoon and natural pool. Finish the day with a swim as you watch the sun set through the canopy.

Day 7

Paddle to the village of Narices

Rafting

4hrs · 16km

Continue along the canyon and watch as cascading waterfalls drop from high mountain peaks into blue swimming pools only accessible from the river. Leave your raft in the little village of Narices and enjoy a final walk to a secret waterfall whilst lunch is being prepared. Say goodbye to the jungle and head back to Medellin for a final evening with your team.

Day 8

Goodbye Colombia

Free day today to explore some more of Medellin. Or just relax, you've earned it! Your final transfer will leave in time to arrive at the airport at 17:00.

The Area

map

Logistics

Starts

Medellin Airport (Jose Maria Córdova International Airport, Rio Negro)

09:00 on Day 1

Ends

Medellin Airport (Jose Maria Córdova International Airport, Rio Negro)

17:00 on Day 8

Transfers

Group airport transfers are provided at fixed times on Day 1 and on Day 8 (see below). Should you wish to travel at alternative times then you'll have to request and purchase a private airport transfer - See Optional Extras.

Aim to arrive by 08:30 on Day 1, your transfer will meet you at the airport at 09:00. You can arrange pre-tour accommodation and airport transfers if you would like to arrive at the hotel earlier than the morning of Day 1.

Catch any flight departing after 19:00 on Day 8, you will be dropped at the airport at 17:00.

If you would like to arrive early or extend your stay, your host can arrange private airport transfers - see the Optional Extras section for prices.

Travel options

There are regular flights to Medellín's Jose Maria Córdova International Airport from major airports across the UK and Europe.

Day 1

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2

Homestay · Twin or triple share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 3 – Day 4

Wild camping · Hammock

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 5

Homestay · Mixed dorm

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 6

Wild camping · Hammock

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 7

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 8

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

Bandeja paisa. Typical Colombian food.

Meals will be largely based around locally grown products. Each day you’ll discover new fruits, nuts and other tasty local treats that all grow in the area, including cacao and of course, coffee. On the trek, you’ll also come across sugar cane plantations where the cane is processed into panela - blocks of raw crystallised sugar cane juice, the only sugar you will find around here. It has an incredible caramel taste and is still processed in the traditional way, with horses spinning the press.

Meals vary, but will always be fresh and healthy to keep you fuelled for the adventure. Breakfast includes fruits, cereal, traditional arepa and eggs. For lunches, we like to keep it quick and easy - sandwiches, wraps or fiambre (a Colombian meal packed in banana leaves) is the standard. For dinner, there will be a campfire and a variety of meals served, from traditional Colombian fare of rice, meat, beans etc, to pasta and campfire food.

Vegan and vegetarians can be catered for, just let your host know upon booking. Other dietary requirements are possible, but Kosher and Halal food can be difficult to source in Colombia. If you have specific requirements, please enquire with your host.

What is the accommodation like?

Rooftop pool of the Masaya Hotel, Medellin.
Medellin

At the beginning and end of the trip you’ll stay in Medellin at the stylish Masaya Hotel, in twin-share rooms with en suite bathrooms. It's located within El Poblado neighbourhood – a safe, pedestrianised area of town filled with restaurants and bars.

Samana Homestay

You’ll stay in a community that still lives off the land in brightly coloured houses. If the group is more than six people, you will stay with two families to ensure that everyone shares in the experience.

Hammock camping in the jungle, Colombia.
The Samana jungle

You’ll wild camp in a hammock in the jungle, at a spot strategically located close to a water source and swimming holes or rivers. The jungle of the Samana is remarkably bug-free and the temperature at night is usually pleasant.

Upgrades

For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked only for the two nights in Medellin - see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability). For wild camping, you'll have your own hammock and tarp set up.

This trip has been rated as Challenging

The rafting is entry-level, however, you will be spending long days paddling on the river so you should have reasonable upper body strength. The rapids involve bursts of energetic paddling, interspersed with gentle stretches of river where you can often sit back or take a dip ahead of the next batch of rapids.

The trekking is tough going and a definite physical challenge. You'll be carrying your own pack over long distances in humid conditions, so you need to arrive physically prepared for this section of the adventure. The terrain is uneven at times, with tough downhill sections which will test your ankles and knees. Trekking poles and good waterproof ankle boots will help with the descents.

Phoebe B.(December 2024)
Amazing experience!

Had the best time with the MBA team, thank you so much! The guides were professional, fun and experienced, the food was great, staying in the homestays was really special, and the scenery was incredible. The walking was really fun and satisfying, and the rafting was a fantastic adrenaline rush with great little side trips each day. Loved it!

Stephen C.(December 2024)
A True Jungle Adventure
A True Jungle Adventure

Mael and his team have done a brilliant job developing this trip to high light the rare beauty of the free flowing Samana river. But that beauty is wild and untamed, you can expect steep thick jungle. Roaring rivers crossed by rickety rope bridges and cascading waterfalls that few people have ever seen. A true jungle adventure. Mael calls it a dynamic environment. The river can rise 10 metres overnight. Roads get blocked or washed away. So Mael always has a plan A,B and C for each stage of the trip, designed to keep you safe while showing off the beauty of the region. To enjoy the jungle you will need to bring your own sense of adventure. The trekking is tuff and you will be dirty and wet almost the whole time. The home stays are completely authentic ( rustic ). Giving you a real insight into the lives of the people who live there. The food too is completely authentic and plentiful ( I brought lots of snacks but didn’t need them). In saying that, vegetarians seem to be well accommodated and we got a glass of wine with our evening meals. Be fit, don’t carry too much( just be wet and dirty). bring trekking poles. Bring boots with good grips for the trek. And water shoes with good grips for the rafting ( side treks to waterfalls were more like canyoning). And enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet

Maximilian L.(November 2024)
Trip of a lifetime!
Trip of a lifetime!
Trip of a lifetime!
Trip of a lifetime!
Trip of a lifetime!
Trip of a lifetime!
Trip of a lifetime!
Trip of a lifetime!

Mael took us through mountains and along rivers that vanishingly few non-Colombians have been. A path he and his mates designed out of mule paths of mountain villagers, we were completely enveloped in the cloud forest, hidden farm houses and rickety bridges straight out of Indiana Jones. The rainforest is not a light excursion so expect to be wet, bruised, bitten, muddy and sore and you’ll be in heaven. The food was authentic and delicious with plenty to spare. Our home stays were clean and perfectly rustic. Mael and his river guides’ Oscar and Didier’s knowledge of the flora and fauna was profound. I learned much of a culture and environment much removed from the bustling city of Medellin. Be in good shape, bring clothes you’re prepared to get roughed up, good hikers and I would suggest shoes for some tough canyoning up gushing and slippery streams while on the rafting portion. Avoid open-toed or those with no tread. Toe socks and plenty of blister tape are a must and walking poles will save you many a fall in the mud. As of today I would say the pictures on this site severely undersell the majestic beauty of the Samana Watershed. Would love to come back for some more rips down those rapids and watching thunderstorms from a hammock.

Laszlo K.(November 2024)
Fantastic trip. awesome landscape, rafting
Fantastic trip. awesome landscape, rafting
Fantastic trip. awesome landscape, rafting
Fantastic trip. awesome landscape, rafting

We were very lucky with the weather, not so much sun made the jungle part so much more enjoyable. Great trekking tour with amazing views and to see how the flora literally changed hourly. Rafting was also great not in term of rapid and techniques, but just to enjoy the 22C water (unlike in Europe where it is 5-10C). Great to see all the little streams and waterfalls. There was only 4 people in our group, which meant more attention from crew at times, at other times I missed some energy from group dynamics.

James B.(March 2024)
100km hike/rafting

Been on about 9 MBA trips so far all of which were amazing but this was probably my favourite if not in the top 3. The guides Diana, Mael, Oscar and Didier were really friendly and experienced at what they do. The local communities were very welcoming and it was a unique experience to stay with them. The scenery during the hikes were stunning despite the heat with some waterfalls to cool down in, rafting was super fun especially in the rapids aswell as some cliff jumping along the way. It was a pleasure to meet everyone in the group and glad I got to see such a beautiful country with them!

Grant(December 2023)
This was an amazing experience

This was an amazing experience I’d recommend to everyone! Great group of people and the guides were excellent- really fun, knowledgeable and did everything they could to make it a memorable trip. Itinerary description is spot on with some added extras along the way. The country is stunning and this is the perfect way to see it getting off grid and immersed in nature with like minded people! The accommodation in Medellín was great as well so made for a fun time outwith the jungle too! Brilliant adventure, everyone loved it. If you’re thinking about signing up then definitely go for it!

Stephen(December 2023)
I was very lucky to

I was very lucky to be part of a fantastic group of 12 who just bonded from the start. The guides and local hosts were really friendly and enhanced to experience when least expected. I loved the food that the families prepared and the prepared lunches. Wet underfoot due to heavy rainfall in the weeks leading up to the walking, I would definitely recommend walking poles. Colombian trekking is either up or down so be well prepared! The rafting was fantastic, amazing views and challenging enough to raise the pulse. I loved how the guides would set camp and the hammocks - made all the difference after a long day. This was my first trip of this type, I hope to do a few more

David(November 2023)

Had a great time on this trip. Was lucky to join a group who all made the effort and looked out for one another. The guides were really professional, friendly and made every effort to make sure we were all having a good time. Hiking through the jungle was hot but we stopped a good few times at perfect water holes to cool down. The rafting was good craic, some great rapids. I'd recommend bringing walking poles to help on a few of the downhill sections, and wearing long pants to avoid sunburn while rafting. Top trip, would definitely recommend.

Andrew(August 2023)

This was a fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime experience. I joined as a solo traveler and all four other guys on the trip were the same. Everyone was around the age of 30ish and quite like-minded. The trip consisted of 2-3 days of hiking followed by another few more days rafting and exploring around the river before heading back. On around day 5, overnight rainfall meant that we had to divert onto a different river, which was done really efficiently. The team of guides were fantastic, skilled and really enthusiastic about the area and preservation of the area. The activities themselves were tough at times. The hikes were long and had plenty of uphill sections. The terrain was also tricky. The rafting was really fun and the guides really knew what they were doing. When I was there the rain was quite strong over most nights with some thunder. However, it would typically clear up by morning. Our first and last nights were both in Medellin, which is a fantastic, vibrant city. The hotel we stayed in had a brilliant rooftop bar and was nearby several great cafes, bars, restaurants etc. All-in-all it's not for the faint-hearted, but an awesome experience that I'll never forget!

Dan(July 2023)
This was one of the best weeks of my life! ...

This was one of the best weeks of my life!

Hiking through the jungle was stunning. It was a very challenging but rewarding hike with many special views and waterfall swim stops. You felt very remote, only seeing the odd farmer or miner often traveling on donkey and very little else.

The group that were on the trip were all like minded people and really made the trip as enjoyable as it was. The team on the ground were also amazing! They were all passionate and full of enthusiasm for the trip and the country, their company over the week further enhanced the experience. They were also very diligent adapting the schedule to suit the ability of our group. The logistics were almost seamless from the rustic homestays, to camping on the side of the river to picking up food from a donkey in the jungle everything went without a hitch. Even when the heavens opened and we had to swap rivers due to the high water.

I would highly recommend this trip to anybody who wants a wild adventure in a beautiful country with some amazing people!

Richard(March 2023)

Brilliant trip - a real adventure. Trekking was great and hard work - don't expect to just turn up with no training and cruise it. Lots of ups and downs through amazing scenery with some tricky paths in places. Rafting was much more sedate! Although we had to swap to an easier river for the last 2 days due to rain making the original one unsafe. I think those days were to be more thrilling. Rafting was still great though, just not as difficult as the trekking - lots of jumping into the river if that's your thing.

Fiona(February 2023)

Amazing experience. Definitely a challenge. Jungle trek very remote and challenging terrain. Long steep downs and ups. Very long days, but the group support was brilliant. 3 very long tiring but great days trekking. Rafting really good, although due to days of rain had to do less challenging river on last day for safety.

Lucia(February 2023)
Amazing trip! Totally recommended.
Colombi...
Amazing trip! Totally recommended.
Colombi...
Amazing trip! Totally recommended.
Colombi...
Amazing trip! Totally recommended.
Colombi...

Amazing trip! Totally recommended. Colombia is a beautiful country and the outdoor spaces are just incredible. The hosts were great, they really taught us about the country, customs, people and area. The hike was more difficult than I had expected due to the terrain: lots of narrow paths, wet slippery rocks, loose pebbles etc. But still completely manageable. Sleeping in a hammock was a different experience but I did enjoy it. The rafting is just fun, not physically difficult at all.

Suzanne(February 2023)

Definitely off the beaten track, a real wilderness experience!

Olivia(September 2022)
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