Cacao Farm — Local services in Magdalena

The farm is 18km from the beach side of the city of Santa Marta, and only 8km from Bonda in Santa Marta. But the quest to reach it is no lack of surprises. We thought we could just hire a taxi to go all the way from Centro, as what Google Maps told us. But that's a lesson for us to learn. After we passed Bonda, our experienced taxi driver had tried his best but because the uneven road conditions caused by heavy rains, he could only get us as far as 1/3 of the 8km starting from Bonda. Sitting in his taxi and got thrown left and right, I worried more than the driver that his car chassis would be stuck on the abrupt ground. So I didn't argue with the driver when he asked for double the fee from the meter read. The road condition later justified the taxi drivers judgement. He told us to hire a motorcycle for each person to continue on. We did! And the thrill was just like sitting with a dirt biker in his tournament. He got all the water mud and dirt, we got all the thrill of losing control. For the last several hundred meters, the motorcyclists stopped and let us walk. We had to walk pass a suspension bridge over a rapid stream, the few hundred meters, and crossed the same stream again, this time without a bridge. Instead, there are some big stones either emerged from the rapid water or still submerged. Above the rocks there is a rope you can hang along when you jump among those stones. My recommendation is to take off your shoes, tie the laces together, hang them around your neck, then cross the stream.

Isn't that fun just to get...

The best thing to do in the area - without a doubt! Seriously, just go here! It's such good value, for your entry fee (20k when I was there) you get a tour, a face mask with cocoa and a hot cocoa! Incredible. The tour is detailed, informative and packed with photo opportunities. It was very bad weather when I visited but the owner did not use that as a reason to go fast, instead eagerly answering questions and encouraging photos. The face mask is a bit of fun with a cocoa face scrub applied which you can leave on for a while and when you wash off you feel so soft and the cocoa - delicious of course. I enjoyed the company of the owners so much I opted to also go for a full body massage with cocoa. It was awesome. The massage there is really good value versus prices I saw advertised in hostels and she was clearly skilled in it. Immediately spotting tension in an area where I had issues in the past, and working for a long time on me. Afterwards you get a full body cocoa scrub applied and left to soak it in. Did I mention this is by a river in the jungle in a gorgeous little hut - so basically the sound effects of every spa playlist but in real life. You then wash off, and feel so relaxed and smooth. Also the fineca has cute dogs roaming around while you do the tour/tasting. Incredible.

Tip: If you arrive at the river and are not sure how to cross - just shout out and they'll come...

After seeing this farm on google we thought it is a rather commercial tour with an official program. Getting there was already an adventure, as we did not have a 4x4 car but a normal sedan. The last 500 meters we had to walk, as the car could not pass the river, so we just left it there :). We were greeted by a huge iguana before reaching a very remote farm with no other tourists when we arrived there. The laid-back farmer and his wive offered a tour and although my Spanish is very basic it was very easy to follow. Next we ground cocoa ourself and made some chocolate bars. Afterwards we got a full body massage with chocolate and washed it off in the refreshing river. Last but not least we bought a big block of cocoa mass which lasted for close to two years and was the best cocoa I have ever tasted. Absolutely recommended and together with the great seafood and the national park which offered splendid beaches and unspoilt nature an absolute must-do in...