The Ultimate Kayak Session

• The journey starts in Medellin at your arrival
• In Antioquia access a boulder garden whitewater runs and big volume multiday.
• Full Samaná river to Puerto Sirvies.
• The second part of the trip leads us to Santander, the vibrant village of San Gil, located close to the Suarez river.
• We will drive to Cravo Sur, one of the last gems founded in Colombia.
• Next, the adventure takes us to the Utica gorge, the whitewater of rio negro.
• This expedition takes you to the heart of a pristine rainforest and canyon.
• Travel to Medellin, Colombia’s adventure capital, to celebrate the end of your journey 

You’ll be received at Medellín’s José María Córdoba International Airport before driving to Expedition Colombia’s headquarters in the mountains of Eastern Antioquia. Meet your guide for a gear review, boat outfitting and safety briefing!

You will learn about Colombia’s incredible rain patterns, geography and hydrology!

You will be hosted in El Armadillo guest house, which offer great views and a relaxing ambiance, just a few minutes drive from the rivers!

Wake up to the sounds of chirping birds and sip on some Colombia coffee before a hearty breakfast!

Warm up on the Cocorna river (7km of continuous class 3-4)! We will do laps on this fantastic section of river until you are tired! There are many fine lines to take, countless boofs and fresh beers at the take out!

Today, we will step it up a little, and head to the mighty Calderas river, to paddle the infamous “Gracias a Dios” section (10 km of class IV-V low volume creeking)

This section, and all the other rivers you will paddle in Antioquia, have been first descended by our team at Expedition Colombia! It’s a great pleasure for us to show them to you and welcome you to this White-water Paradise.

The rapids are steep on the Calderas, but you always get the chance to portage if you are not feeling it! How-ever, many of them are very manageable and you will come out of this day tiered, but amazed!

Return to the guest house and relax, there is more to come tomorrow!

This kayaking trip is also about expedition and paddling remote rivers! For the next few days we will paddle in the Samana Watershed, start way high up into the mountains, and finishing near sea levels!

We will head via 4*4 to the Rio Melcocho, and start paddling on this crystal-clear creeks.
Because creeking with heavy boats isn’t the best, we will send our overnight gear with our trusted Donkey Master, Omar. He will wait for us at the bottom of the gorge, and we can continue onto the big water sections!

The Melcocho is a recently found gem. There are about 10 drops, all extremely fun and challenging! Get ready for 30 foot slides and technical boofs, but no stress, it’s pool drop!

Camp at the confluence of the Rio Calderas and Rio Verde, a magical place!

After you first night in the jungle it’s time to hit the Samana river (formed by the Verde and the Calderas river). The first 20 Km are fairly mellow, with fun class ¾ rapids and huge waves. Yet, as soon as we pass the Medellin-Bogota highway, things start to get more challenging.

The river flows into sculpted granite gorges, and the hydraulics become more powerful!

We will face challenging rapids like “Pizza Rocks” and ‘The Wall”, before making camp by the confluence of a small creek!

You will love this place, as there is a beautiful swim hole surrounded by pristine Jungle!

Relax, eat and sleep, you have a big day tomorrow!

Today, we have the chance to warm up on friendly White-water, before reaching the infamous “Barge Gorge”. It is short but intense! The section is composed of 4 rapids, with huge waves and big lines to make! We will take our time, scout extensively and prepare ourselves in the best way we can for this challenging section!

Once out of the gorge, stop in Narices for lunch and get the chance to relax under the stunning waterfalls!

The afternoon is pretty relaxing, float down the river surrounded by marble formation and waterfall. Our goal is to reach the confluence with the Rio Magdalena the biggest river in Colombia.

Meet your driver and drive towards the put in of Suarez river, near San Gil!

There is about 6 hours of driving to reach Bucaramanga, so we will get there late! But no problems, we travel via comfy Vans, and you can sleep though the drive!

Today, relax! You deserve it and the team needs a rest before the Rio Suarez expedition!

Shop in Bucaramanga, and head to San Gil! On the way, cross over the Chicamocha river and enjoy a Paragliding flight into the spectacular canyon (Extra).

As we reach San Gil, we will pack up our gear for the next expedition and relax in the town’s park. Maybe you will get the chance to meet up the local rafters, they are always a good bit of fun!

Sleep in a comfy hostel and rest, the Suarez will require your full attention!

Welcome to the Suarez! A mid-size river with hundreds of rapids. The first section is challenging and also really fun! There are slides, small waterfalls and boulder gardens.

After 10 Km, the river slows down and gives us time to enjoy the scenery!

The rest of the day is mostly boulder garden, and it’s time to get your boof on!

Camp on the beach and relax!

Today, we face two long gorges! The style of the White-water changes a little bit from the previous day, and the river has gathered more water from its tributaries!

We will make our way through huge boulders, and enjoy some of the best White-water in Colombia!

During the afternoon, we will reach the commercial rafting section, which is mellower and always welcomed after an intense few days!

Paddle to the confluence with the Fonce River, where we will set up camp.

The Suarez river is now a large river, and we will enjoy an infinite playground of huge waves! The rapids are technically less demanding, but so much fun!

When it’s over, you will simply want more! Exit the river at the confluence of the Chicamocha and drive back to San Gil!

It’s a bumpy ride but the views are mind-blowing!

Relax in San Gil for the evening!

We will now head toward another region of Colombia, and cross the western Cordillera of the Andes. Expect 7 hours of driving!

Reach the Small town of Lamblaza Grande and take a hike in the nearby mountains to stretch your legs!

We put in at the town, so no driving today! We have about 20 km of Boulder garden Paradise! There are 4 committing gorges and we will take time to work through them. At this stage, the river is getting near the Amazonian basin and you can feel it in the air!

Sleep on the shore of the river and enjoy your last night camping for the trip.

Wake up and enjoy a slow morning! As the river progressively exits the Andes, the rapids get easier and easier! After the last canyon, reach the flats of the Amazon.

Another 10 km of fast flowing waters and you are in Yopal, where your driver is waiting for you.

Not far from Yopal, the Cusiana river flows into a similar valley as the Cravo Sur. It is a wonderful river with three different sections that will put a smile on your face!

Depending on water levels, we will choose one and enjoy a memorable day on the water!

Spend the night in the authentic town of Pajalito and meet up with the locals! The inhabitant of this town are extremely friendly, and eager to share the stories of their town, which was under Guerilla’s control for over 20 years! Peace has brought them hope, and they are always so happy to see kayakers!

Drive towards Medellin and stop on the way in the little town of Tobia to paddle the well-known Utica gorge. Here the water is black and will play with your river reading skills.

10km of class IV/V flowing in an incredible canyon will make for unforgettable way to finish the trip!

Sleep comfy in a hotel and celebrate the end of the trip!

Finish the drive back to Medellin and let us drop you off at the airport, or at the hotel of your choice!