Trip to La Pastora

[Cali vet]

Just got back from a three day camping trip with the Eco-Aventura group to the Parque Nacional La Pastora. It’s located about an hour and a half in chiva (those colorful mountain buses) out of Pereira, which is about three hours in intercity bus from Cali if you go non-stop. I rode up on top of the chiva with a bunch of kids who where smoking pot. I had to hold my breath a few times to avoid getting high. An oddity of the trip was that there were three Canadian chicks along, good looking too if you, if…y’ know…you like blond gringas, (me I’m racist and I don’t). They’re in Cali for a couple of years teaching at a rich kids school in Ciudad Jardin. There was also a lesbian couple (not the Canadians) along. First I’ve seen. Anyway you take the chiva about an hour and a half up to the village of Florida (Departamento of Risaralda, not to be confused with Florida-Valle) and on another twenty minutes to the end of the road. From that point you shoulder your pack and hike six kilometers, two hours, up to the lodge, crossing boulder strewn rushing mountain streams a few times. The headquarters compound has some rooms with bunk beds and tent camping. There was no electricity but they serve three squares a day that are filling. The scenery is spectacular. The compound is in a high valley surrounded by steep cloud forest mountains. There are several relatively short one to two hour hikes that lead to waterfalls one of which is really stunning. Or you can opt for a really steep hike to the top of those mountains that requires seven hours up and somewhat less back down. Bring a flashlight. This area is a refuge for the Spectacled Bear, the only Colombian bear and the mountain Danta (I think that's Tapir in English). The nights are cold so if you camp bring a real sleeping bag. I think it went below 45 F the two nights I slept out. And it can rain anytime so everything has to be packed in plastic. My novia couldn’t go on this trip because she had to work but she has next Sunday off and we’re going to go on a one-day rafting trip down the river Otun in Quimbaya with the same group. The rafts are made of traditional guadua, (bamboo) not inflatables. My apologies for the digression and travel log to those who’d rather hear about calenas and the agencies. Just file this under "things to do" in and around Cali.

[markxport]

... in response to Trip to La Pastora, posted by Cali vet on Oct 14, 2002

Hi Cali vet,

Thanks for sharing various aspects of your Colombian experience.  Nice to hear something new and different.

Take care,

Mark

[LouieB]

... in response to Trip to La Pastora, posted by Cali vet on Oct 14, 2002

is certainly on my top 10 list of things to do in life.

[Edge]

... in response to Camping with Lesbians, posted by LouieB on Oct 15, 2002

y tambien con algunos maricónes.  lo siento Louie, no pude resistir.

[LouieB]

... in response to Re: Camping with Lesbians, posted by Edge on Oct 16, 2002

n/t

[Cali vet]

... in response to Camping with Lesbians, posted by LouieB on Oct 15, 2002

Yeah I thought they might sleep (wink) in my tent but they brought thier own.

[Edge]

... in response to Trip to La Pastora, posted by Cali vet on Oct 14, 2002

Thanks for the interesting post.  It gives a little snap shot of some of the different people in colombia you encounter.  People trying to do normal activities with all the trouble going on.  Pero ¡ten cuidado!

[Throw]

... in response to Trip to La Pastora, posted by Cali vet on Oct 14, 2002

Cali vet,  I have been up and around the Village of Florida outside of Cali.  Huge monsterous mountains.  What a site.  Where you went is that the same area.  My questions is it sounds like a lot of fun but is it really worth the risk knowing what possibly could happen to the group.  These reports of people hiking and camping and being kidnapped and killed arn't fairy tales.  They happen.  What is your take on the situation and why would you take such risks?

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: Trip to La Pastora-why take the risk, posted by Throw on Oct 15, 2002

Hey Throw,

The town of Forida near Palmira outside Cali is a whole 'nother story. I wouldn't go near it! Where I went is in the department of Risaralda, altogether about half a days travel to the trailhead if you leave Cali at 6:00am as we did. When I get my scanner I'll post the pictures on the site listed in my profile. When I first went to the office of Eco-Aventura they showed me a foto album of places they'd been but kept saying "but we can't go there now". They have a good handle on where it's hot and where it's not. I feel very safe on their outings. Also despite the news reports there's an awfull lot of Colombia that is not occupied by FARC or ELN you just have to know where. This was a "puente" or three day weekend and President Uribe went all out to make the highways safe for tourist travel. He did a good job as I saw police along the road everywhere. Returning we stopped at a big US style travelers restaurant/giftshop north of Tulua and ran into two American guys, also teachers that the Canadian chicks knew. They'd been out mountain biking with their American wives. The highway was packed with returning travelers Monday afternoon.

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Re: Re: Trip to La Pastora-why take the ..., posted by Cali vet on Oct 15, 2002

To all who might read this and feel safe, I would offer a word of caution.  Whatever some locals might tell me, I would not leave the city proper in Colombia.  La Pastora is safe?  The FARC kidnapped a dozen or so legislators from the state government building in downtown Cali this year in broad daylight.  If they want to kidnap some hikers in La Pastora....piece of cake.

Steve

[LouieB]

... in response to A word of caution, posted by DallasSteve2 on Oct 15, 2002

show them your cojones

[Cali vet]

... in response to A word of caution, posted by DallasSteve2 on Oct 15, 2002

Steve,
Just take it as a storey with some local color not a recomendation to anyone to venture past they're personal safty threshold.