When we told Iver we chose to visit Colombia for this break, he requested a stop at Totumo Mud Volcano, which he saw on YouTube a while back. It was actually right on the way from Tayrona NP to Cartagena, our final destination, and we were able to make it happen!
The kids delighted in touching the warm mud at the base right before we had lunch (the 15m-high mound is an active mud volcano, the country's smallest volcano).
Lunch!
(likely fish fresh from the nearby lagoon)
Niall didn't want to brave the mud at all, and I just went with knees down. Iver and Kelvin went for the whole submersive experience, including full body massages!
(They got rinsed off completely in the nearby lagoon).
We then headed to Galerazamba, a nearby town of less than two thousand inhabitants, known for its Colonial history and salt mines (apparently the new owners of the salt mines heavily restrict tourism so we were lucky to be shown around by Cristina, a local woman).
We learned about India Catalina, an indigenous woman who served as an interpreter to the Spanish under Pedro de Heredia, during the colonial conquest of the northern Colombian coast, as well as the history of the region including the transportation of enslaved Africans, contributing to the strong Afro-Caribbean culture here.
con Cristina
Weighing and pounding sal
The salt flats are pink in color in February-March due to a tiny crustacean.
Salinas de Galerazamba
"brain coral"
We had a snack in Cristina's backyard, and Niall loved foraging for fallen coconuts and other frutas.
Loro named "Verde"
We spotted many birds, including egrets and herons, from the canoe.
(Poisionous) crabs climbed the mangrove roots.
We learned how the locals catch fish-- and Iver had a hand at it.
Crabs also were trapped
The Caribbean coast has been lovely (and hot!) so far-- we finish up our trip tomorrow in Cartagena and nearby islands before flying home.
