Patrick
I had the pleasure of visiting Ladrilleros on the Pacific Coast of Colombia back in 2016. It was quite a magical experience. Coming from northern Europe, nothing compares to the climate, tropical beauty, waterways … or infrastructure.
Most of the coastline that covers all the way from the Ecuador to the Panamá border is one long and dense jungle. The state of Chocó which neighbors Valle del Cauca and stretches all the way up to Central America is one of the wettest pieces of land on the planet.
Great parts of this territory is completely off limits for tourists and even Colombian outsiders, due to cocaine production, drug trafficking on what is known as the Pacific Corridor, illegal mining activities, and violent conflict that continues to take place off the beaten track.
Where to go
There is, however, a certain localities that are fine for tourists to visit – just outside Buenaventura you can still jump on a boat to Juanchaco and Ladrilleros, and in Chocó the Nuqui and Bahia Solano villages are also welcoming tourists – especially surfers, whale watchers, and people looking to connect with nature in an mostly rustic and off-grid environment.
Black sand beaches, waterfalls, pristine rivers, and exotic animals are just some of the things that await adventurous traveler there.
The food is another reason to visit as the locals cook up some of the best seafood available anywhere in Colombia – especially if you’re into coconut stews, coconut rice, grilled fish, ceviche, prawns, lobster, etc.
Accommodation has for many been a factor keeping them from visiting the coast. Even some of the nicest establishments such as El Almejal and Punta Brava are still kind of rustic. The super nice Mapara eco-resort was converted into Black Sands Lodge offering only upscale open water fishing trips.
While I personally love the hick experience of the Pacific, I also know that there are travelers missing out on its breathtaking beauty, due to it’s reputation and because they prefer staying in something more exclusive and perhaps with more privacy.
Introducing Casa Pacó
I bring you a solution: Casa Pacó, located between Juanchaco and Ladrilleros. For someone coming from Cali, it offers the perfect combination of luxury, accessibility, convenience and privacy in the Pacific.
This place belongs to one of my friends. Shameless plug, I know. But, it might just be the nicest vacation rental property available in all of the Pacific.
The property consists of two identical cabins. Each is 50 m2 (538 sqft) in size with has the capacity to host up 2-4 people, ideally a family or a couple as the second bed is a stowaway under the main bed, and works well for kids. Groups of up to 8 people can book both cabins at the same time.
Amenities include a fully stocked kitchen, cable TV, air conditioning, sofa, bathroom ), and private terrace with ocean views. The outside garden comes with hammocks and access to a private beach.
Additionally, the caretaker’s wife can be hired to cook all your meals so you won’t have to worry about a thing.
Activities
The Pacific coast has an impressive list of things you can explore. Just to name a few:
- Humpback whale watching from July to September.
- Canoe trips up the local creeks to secret waterfalls
- Fishing
- Surfing
- Kayaking
- Boat trips to La Sierpe waterfall, Bahia Malaga, La Barra and other nearby villages
- Sampling the local cuisine
- Enjoy the celestial sunsets
… or just hanging at the beach with a good book or playing around with kids and friends in the water.
How to get there
To reach Casa Pacó from Cali, you either bus or drive to Buenaventura for 2.5 hours and then catch a boat for about 1 hour to reach Juanchaco from the tourist pier. At the pier, the caretaker of the property will pick you up in a little moto-car and take you to the property in minutes.
Just to put that into perspective, to reach Bahia Solano or Nuquí, you will either need to sail up to 24+ hours from Buenaventura or fly from Cali -> Medellin -> Bahia Solano / Nuquí.
This is by far the easiest way to get a genuine experience in the Colombian Pacific.
Is it safe?
This particular area is probably one of the safest in the entire region. The Colombian Navy has their base right in Bahia Malaga, only a few minutes from this property.
As the saying goes, the biggest danger is not wanting to leave.
Remember to always respect the Pacific ocean which can get rough and has strong currents at times, Finally, don’t forget to protect yourself from the sun which is really strong, especially from 11 am to 3 pm.
How to book?
You can book cabin 1 and cabin 2 here on Airbnb or reach out directly to the owner Juan Carlos and his team on Whatsapp here: +57 313-577-0997.
A slice of paradise awaits you!
Disclosure: I receive no compensation from any reservation made to Casa Pacó or any of the other properties mentioned in this post. I am only trying to share useful information and exceptional experiences to anyone looking to explore this little-visited region of Colombia.
