La Expedición Nativa - Sierra Nevada (3 días Awesomes view points)

Posted By : Ashwin R
Lenin and Leo have created an amazingly unique experience, and Marga our translator kept things light & fun! Truly a magical 3 days trekking through uninhabited indigenous jungle and cloud forest, followed by comfortable private rooms with welcoming local families. Be ready for an adventure, and a challenging journey, but also for the tranquility and invigoration in sharing this beautiful piece of Colombia. My wife and I feel luck to have found this tour, and have no regrets besides not wearing long sleeve shirts and pants (the insects are very friendly!).
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Posted On : 2024-02-10

Posted By : O6139PYanthonyw
This hike was fantastic! Highly recommended to experience the rainforest and meet some local people. I will remember this trip for the rest of my life. Leo is an excellent guide, friendly and kind, with loads of knowledge about the local flora and fauna. The forest is stunning, intertwining green life everywhere. The various folks whose farms we stayed at were very warm and welcoming. And it was a treat to meet several Wigwa on the trail and see their villages. If you want to do something a bit different, make time for this hike in your visit to northern Colombia. I went for the 3 day Sierra Nevada Experience. I'm an experienced hiker, I live in East Tennessee and visit the Smokies and various parks in the area and happily hike 10-12 miles in a day. 14 or a little over on a good day. Also backpack once or twice a year for a few days. This trek stretched my abilities. The terrain is steep and hard going and those km's are long! Though mostly in the shady forest there are some areas exposed to the hot sun. On the last part of the last day you hit the "Macho Killer" -- a steep 1 km vertical over 5 km hike out of the valley. I needed help w my bag (thank you Leo!) and I wasn't traveling v heavy. But wow, what a hike! The 3 day is the same route as the 4 day and I thought I'd save time but would recommend taking 4 days if you can. The extra time spent at the Cloud Palace farm will not disappoint! Such a beautiful farm and garden on a steep ridge overlooking the valley. Señors Antonio and Lenin are really cool. A couple of recommendations: wear some light long-sleeve clothing in bed to keep mosquitoes away & take a lightweight water filter for water from the streams that you'll want to drink. 100 % recommend this hike or anything else with this company. Well worth the time and money to experience local cultures and ecology.
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Posted On : 2023-10-28

Posted By : Jason F
One of the most memorable tours we’ve ever done. To see Colombia from this side was nothing but a blessing. The tour was filled with beauty, amazement and wonder. The tour guide was extremely helpful and patient with us and gave a much information about the surroundings of animals we encountered. We feel very lucky to have experienced this and cannot wait to continue hiking in future after having such a wonderful experience the first time. To anyone doubting about this tour, we can fully recommend it, the Sierra Nevada is something to see in your lifetime!
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Posted On : 2023-10-14

Posted By : R8094HStobiass
Leo is an amazing and fun guide. This was a great authentic insight into the nature and culture of the Sierra Nevada and its people.
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Posted On : 2023-09-30

Posted By : Nicole_M
If you are looking for a pure and true rainforest adventure, look no further - this tour is the one for you. I had an unexpected change in vacation plans and decided to book this trip the NIGHT before, and my guide Leo was very accommodating and had an amazing attitude despite my rude last-minute booking. Haha. We saw countless birds (including toucans, macaws, and parrots), a mountain crab, a tarantula hawk attack, and even howler monkeys. Leo was very knowledgeable of all the species. The beautiful scenery was just as abundant as the wildlife, as was the friendliness and hospitality of the families we stayed with. I would recommend this tour to anyone in decent hiking shape wanting an unforgettable Colombian experience. I certainly will be back someday!
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Posted On : 2023-02-11

Posted By : celes10_10
We did the trip in June 2022. It was a tough hike (do not underestimate it!) but Leo is an awesome guide who supports you and does everything to help you. In this way, you can still enjoy the difficult parts and views, which are indeed AWESOME. We didn't meet any other people, except for the farmers where we slept. They were extremely hospitable, served tasteful food and it was great to spend some time with them. Leo is knowledgeable about the nature and animals in Sierra Nevada and shares a lot of interesting information while hiking. If you are in good shape and would like to do an off the beaten path hike in Sierra Nevada, i can definitely recommend this one. Bring good walking gear, as some paths go through dense jungle and creeks.
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Posted On : 2022-08-21

Posted By : GN3006
I did the 3 day / 2 night trek with Leo in July, im travelling solo and there were no other bookers so it turned into a private tour. I booked as an alternative to the busy ‘lost city’ trek with its uncomfortable campsites & facilities. Other than the farmers we stayed with, we didn’t meet any other people on the way so it was a real ‘off the beaten track’ activity. I can honestly say this was one of the most challenging, enjoyable and rewarding things I have every done. The heat & humidity make the going pretty tough, as do the narrow paths / steep slopes and bugs. However the incredible views, meeting the local farmers & the sense of accomplishment make it all worthwhile. Leo is an excellent guide with a sharp eye for spotting the various creatures that we encountered along the way. He was able to explain in fluent English all about the various plants, animals, eco systems & cultural practices, whilst ensuring we arrived safely at each destination. I would absolutely recommend this trek & the guide services of Leo to anybody visiting the area, especially if you want to get away from the crowds and truly experience the beauty of this region. Thank you Leo for a great trip !
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Posted On : 2022-08-02

Posted By : thedane1
We spent 3 days hiking in the mountains and jungles above Santa Marta with Leo from Native Expeditions. The nature was stunning and the remoteness and pure nature was a joy. Staying with local farmers each night at their homes was a highlight of this hike. Hearing about their lifestyle, seeing how they live etc was incredible. They were so friendly and welcoming The meals were basic, but very flavorful, and we loved each meal we got. I truly wish we could have spent more time with these families. A few things to point out for future travelers considering this trip: 1) It is a tough hike. Some days were long. You need to be in shape for this. Train prior! Do NOT underestimate the physical challenge. The "trail" is almost non existent in places. 2) The sun can be brutal, it gets warm! 3) Bring a small gift or thing to share with the local farmers, we wish we had brought more. 4) We did the 3 day trip / 2 nights. This seemed like a good balance. It may have been nicer to have had a "relaxing day" if you have the schedule to allow for it. 5) You will see some bugs, mosquitoes, ticks, etc. Prep accordingly. 6) Pack light!
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Posted On : 2022-05-31

Posted By : 851makaylag
Leo was an amazing guide - both knowledgeable and inclusive. He translated for us and taught us many things along the trail. I’d highly recommend this tour!
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Posted On : 2022-01-11

Posted By : Sorendskov
We are a danish couple who wanted to experience the Colombia nature and culture. This trekking tour indeed gave us what we expected and even more. Our trip with Native Expedition was a once in a life time experience! We experienced the most amazing and beautiful nature, the sweetest Colombian families and a tough physical trekking! 😃🙌🏾 Leo picked us up at our hostel in Santa Marta early morning and together we drove half an hour out of the city with taxa. Here we where meet by three guys and their motorcycles which where going to take us an hour further into the jungle through small roads. The rest you have to experience yourself! 😃. Don’t hessitate to book this trip! Next time we will go for the 4-day trekking ☝🏾😄👍🏾.
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Posted On : 2020-04-09