Tag 170: Taganga

It is 10:15am. The breakfast was meager, the shower was cold, and the weather was hot. Ben, Sabrina, and I are waiting with packed backpacks for our taxi. Our first two days on the Caribbean coast were not very exciting. The sun is scorching and the beach, if you can call that small spot of sand in Santa Marta a beach, is not very inviting. We take a taxi to the fishing village of 'Taganga', which is three kilometers away. The first impression is convincing. It is quiet, manageable, and the beach is nicer than the one in Santa Marta. Our hostel is, let's say, sufficient. There is a rooftop terrace with hammocks and our room has air conditioning. We meet two French girls who tell us about a small, beautiful, and quiet beach. The only catch is that you have to walk along the dusty coast of Colombia in the merciless sun for about 30 minutes. We borrow snorkeling equipment at the reception and embark on the march. When we reach the paradise-like beach, the hike is already forgotten. There are about 15 other people next to us, maybe 6 other tourists at the beach. It's perfect. We plunge into the unbelievably clear and warm water with our diving masks and snorkels and explore the underwater world. The incredible variety of colors, shapes, and creatures makes us forget the time. We are out for hours before we join our new friends with Colombian beer in the sun. This excursion to paradise is rounded off with a freshly caught and grilled fish, coconut rice, salad, and fried plantains by the locals. It's perfect. The weather, the view, the food, and the people around us. The sun is slowly setting and we make our way back. We spend the rest of the evening in the hammocks on the rooftop terrace of our hostel with our new friends by our side and cocktails in hand.