The reports we'd received about the more accessible beaches - Cabo San Juan and Arrecife - of Tayrona National Park were mixed at best. However, everyone we had spoken to who has made it to Playa Brava had referred to it in a way that made it sound like paradise. One South African we found in Cartegena said it was better than ¨The Beach¨! Big call!
We had to find out...
So, together with our new Dutch mates, we filled our backpacks with camp food (much to Bron´s consternation), water and a bottle of the local a bottle of the local fire-water; Aquardiente. We hopped on a local bus and headed for the lesser known Calabazo gate.
There is only one path to Playa Brava. No roads and the sea is generally too rough for easy boat launching. It is not easy to get to. I swear that this path was designed to punish those adventurous enough to try and find the beach. The 5 hour hike hurt. The path was steep, muddy and did not follow one single contour line!
Our first glimpse of Playa Brava from high up the coastal mountain was of a coconut palm lined beach with breakers rolling in and no human habitation in sight. Truly spectacular.
We set up camp amongst the coconuts, making sure we weren´t in the line of falling nuts, a settled in for a few days good old relaxation. We got so lazy that we barely swam, dished and explored the area. We shared the beach with a maximum of 10 other people and really enjoyed the solitude and beaty of this unspowilt beach. Long may it stay so!
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