![]() Having a local driver who is familiar with the roads is crucial. Going by car is a long trip: 14-15 hours, on mountainous, winding roads in varying condition. There are multiple daily flights on this route, as Santa Marta is a popular gateway to Tayrona National Park. Here is just a glimpse of the sheer numbers of birds surrounding us on the boat.Medellín and Santa Marta are separated by mountains and 519 miles (835 km), but traveling between them is straightforward with a direct flight. Fishermen in the marshĪll of us had cameras and we took lots of photos and videos of the beautiful scenery. The fishermen pole through the water and use large nets to catch their prey. Sections of the water are quite shallow, only a couple of meters deep. On the way to the town, our boat driver toured us through the marsh, Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta for at least an hour. View from the football pitch in Nuevo Venecia The Wildlife in Ciénaga Grande ![]() The kids are good football players, especially at defense to prevent losing all their balls to the water, despite the fact the football pitch is flooded almost half the year during rainy season. Nueva Venecia has no running water, limited electricity, and no computers and video games. ![]() I can only imagine the culture shock of a land town with cars and everything else after growing up in Nueva Venecia. According to our tour guide, most return because they don’t take to city life. The men make their living from fishing, and often are sent away after school to try their luck in the big city. As we neared, the houses came into view, with colorfully painted exteriors, some with beautiful murals. What a treat to come from the middle of a swamp to approach the distant houses on stilts, appearing seemingly out of nothing. We were told not to get too close to anyone to protect them from the pandemic, but everyone was friendly, especially the children. Nueva Venecia is an interesting place! This community is approximately 300 people, every one of whom came to their door, window, or front porch to wave hello to us, or at least it felt like it from the warm welcome our boat received as we slowly glided into town. The boat waiting at the dock to take us to Nuevo Veneciaįor more day trips from Santa Marta, read about our day in Parque Tayrona The Stilt Town of Nueva Venecia The boat captain who we met in Ciénaga spoke Spanish, and he took us for a long tour of the village and the surrounding waters, where we saw a variety of birds and the local fishermen at work. Our bus tour guide spoke English and imparted interesting information about the region and its history. A quick drive under an hour from either Santa Marta or Baranquilla, and then a couple of hours boating around makes a great day trip! Day trip to Nueva Venecia map from Santa Marta Getting to Nueva Veneciaįor the day trip to Nueva Venecia, we took a tour from Santa Marta by bus to Ciénaga, where we met our boat driver. It was a real treat to visit and get a glimpse into the lives of its residents. ![]() Residents live in houses built on stilts in the marsh, and instead of cars and bikes, they get around by boat, mostly long canoes. Named after the famous Italian city, the entire town is on the Grande Ciénega, a marsh leading from the River Magdalena to the Caribbean Sea. You may have already guessed that Nueva Venecia is Spanish for New Venice. Keep reading for more about our day trip to Nueva Venecia in Colombia. A community built on stilts in the middle of a swamp which is a natural sanctuary, it’s like nowhere I’ve ever been. One of the most memorable tours we’ve done so far in Colombia is a visit to Nueva Venecia.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |