What makes Colombia so special compared to other Latin American countries is the feeling that there is still so much to discover. Not that you are the 'first' to explore, but there is so much to see and do, and not all of it can be found in the usual guidebooks. It's easy to get off the 'beaten path' and enrich your experience in Colombia with something different. The Pacific offers many possibilities to do so. Malpelo Island, a paradise for scuba diving, the southern Pacific with Tumaco or expeditions to the Chocó rainforest are just a few examples.
Bahia Malaga is a very good option on the Pacific coast, and less visited than Nuquí or Bahía Solano. It has very nice beaches, is a great place for whale watching, and access can be made through Buenaventura, traveling by land and by boat. There are also flight options.
Splitting the Pacific jungle in half, the Atrato river runs all the way from southern Chocó to the Gulf of Urabá. It is an adventure trip and the journey is made by boat, with many options to hop off in small riverside towns and explore the jungle and surrounding area.
Malpelo is a very small island of the Pacific coast. It is really just a huge rock jutting out of the ocean. There is no accommodation on the island, and the only way to reach it is by boat, staying off the coast. It is a paradise for divers, because you can see a lot of marine wildlife, for example hammerhead sharks.
Tumaco, in the south of the Pacific, is not as frequently visited by tourists as other destinations like Nuquí and Bahía Solano. Nevertheless, it’s really worth considering a visit, especially when you want to combine a trip in Nariño with the Pacific. A visit to the Sanquianga National Park is an absolute highlight for example.
