7 things to do in the Colombian Caribbean in low season

With its warm, humid climate, the Caribbean’s greatest asset is truly its exuberant nature. In seasons when there are fewer visitors, wild animals are more likely to be seen. There are many fans of toucans, hummingbirds, barranqueros and other feathered beauties, while some prefer caimans, iguanas or sea turtles, and I personally loved coming face to face with sloths. Is there an animal that better represents the sweetness of the Caribbean, with its permanent languor and dreamy smile? A true source of inspiration..

Mangroves can be found all along the coast, the tangled aquatic vegetation so representative of the tropics. But the mangrove is much more than a tree, it’s a complete and complex ecosystem, from the fish and blue crabs between the roots to the monkeys and birds between the branches. The best way to get to know these labyrinths of vegetation is by canoe, and above all in absolute silence! Only then can the inhabitants of this small natural world be revealed.

Among Colombia’s most surprising plant species, the walking tree is undoubtedly at the top. El Arbol que camina has a very particular growth system: from its branches grow roots which, once they have reached the ground, gradually form new trunks, from which new branches grow, and from there new roots, and so on. Trees can live for hundreds of years, and the oldest trees become gigantic constructions of dozens of interconnected trunks, veritable wooden cathedrals..

Along with fried fish and patacones, those little plantain cakes, coconut rice is truly the emblematic dish of the Colombian Caribbean. You can find it almost anywhere, including Michelin-starred restaurants in Cartagena de Indias and Santa Marta, but the best I tasted was deep in the forest, prepared by a tiny granny in her unpretentious kitchen, using coconuts from the garden. Delicious! Sometimes, it’s good to get away from the most famous places..

In terms of culture, the Caribbean has a rare complexity. But far from the Sistine chapels and statues of liberty, the real wealth here is human. For a Westerner like me, it’s fascinating to share a moment with a Wayu’u fisherman from the Guajira desert, or a Palenquero with proudly claimed African roots, or a Kogi farmer in his hidden village deep in the Sierra Nevada. These encounters are precious, moving, and it goes without saying that they only happen outside mass tourism, whose cacophony prevents these small magical moments.

One of the most beautiful spectacles in the Caribbean takes place beneath the surface of the sea. If flora and fauna are omnipresent on land, the same is true in the water! Magnificent coral belts line almost the entire coastline, with their procession of colorful fish and bizarre crustaceans. The best way to get close to them is by diving or snorkeling – you’ll discover a totally strange and intriguing world that seems to have no end. Alone in the heart of this liquid universe, the delicious silence of the seabed welcomes and envelops you.

Many travellers hesitate to visit Colombia in the low season for fear of bad weather. And in the Caribbean, with its tropical climate, it’s true that the rains are powerful and sudden, whatever the season. But in these lush jungle lands, rain is not unwelcome – quite the contrary. Under the showers, the whole forest crackles and vibrates with color and life, the plants become more beautiful, the leaves greener and brighter; after the storm, the wet earth smokes with a diaphanous, fragrant vapor. Rain is an integral part of the Caribbean, abundant with water and sun – for me, it’s what makes it so beautiful.

While the high season certainly has its advantages, traveling against the current reserves some wonderful surprises. The Caribbean reveals itself in a different light, more natural, more sincere, and leaves room for those small, improbable moments that make a trip so special.