Colombia - Avatar

Sanguaré Natural Reserve (6 days)

Nestled on Colombia's Caribbean coast in the tranquil Bay of Morosquillo, this extraordinary 2200-acre nature reserve provides the heart and soul of our experience. Boasting seven unique ecosystems within walking/paddling distance of each other, Sanguare is stewarded by local conservationists with the very specific goal of understanding and protecting what is present– and restoring what has been lost.

Life runs wild through Sanguaré - flowering vines and epiphytes twist around massive tree branches where rainbows of butterflies flicker and a sloth quietly hangs. Macaws screech as howler monkeys feed leisurely on fresh leaves. A jaguar prowls the wetland edge where the crocodile also hunts. At sea, the reef blooms with corals while schools of fish scatter and seahorses nibble on seagrass in the shallows. Discovery is around every corner, and each day at Sanguaré offers a menu of unforgettable adventures.

By day, you may find yourself kayaking through the saltwater mangroves, snorkeling in the coral reef, or learning how to harvest and process local plants to create goods such as rope, pigment, tea, or soap. Nighttime might find you deep in the jungle on a nocturnal animal expedition with expert biologists, or swimming with bioluminescent plankton as the moon rises over the mangrove lagoon. Our group will also spend time giving back to this extraordinary place by planting seeds in the native plant nursery, collecting plastic that has washed in from the ocean, or helping out with insect or bird surveys in the dry tropical rainforest. Nearly 300 species of birds have been documented at the reserve, with the number growing every year!

Cartagena (2 days)

Following our time at Sanguaré, we will continue north up the coast to San Basilio de Palenque, an Afro-Colombian village renowned as the first free African town in the Americas, founded by escaped slaves in the 16th century. Our Palenque friends will guide us through the rich and storied history of this place, where vibrant cultural traditions have been preserved and celebrated for hundreds of years.