Extent of Bahia Solano: 1776 km2

Location: North coast of the Colombian Pacific, altitude up to 152 meters above sea level.

Climate: Average temperature 25 degrees Celsius, in Bahía Solano it rains a lot all year round (6798 mm all year round). The summer season includes the months of January, February, March and mid-August. The rest of the year is the rainy season, with abundant between October and early December.

Ecosystem: Coral reefs and tropical rainforests

Best time to visit: The best time to visit to see the humpback whales is between July and October, when you can enjoy the spectacle of their arrival. They have made an 8500 km journey from the Antarctic. The first whales to migrate to the tropics are nursing mothers, then young animals, sexually mature males, sexually mature females and finally pregnant females. The dance of the whales can be observed from September to October. To see the baby whales, you have to wait until September.
Another activity at this location is the release of olive ridley turtles. Those traveling from July to November can watch the egg laying and/or release of baby turtles into the sea, and those traveling from September to January can watch the hatching and release of the turtles.

Fauna and flora: Humpback whale season from June to October. On the Hiking trails you may observe many birds, frog and crab species, sometimes monkeys and sloth bear. Underwater Fauna is very rich, may species, lots of big eye jacks and fan corals in the north, many perch and snapper, black jacks, amber jacks and barracudas. Sea turtles are not often seen underwater, more from the surface as they are very shy.
Guitarfish from January to the end of March in cold water season, rare the rest of the year, Whitetip reef sharks all year round. Makos, silky sharks and hammerheads can be encountered with luck, but not common, you have to be lucky. Often giant Pacific Groupers at the Wreck.

Las playas de Bahía Solano son lugares de anidamiento de tortugas marinas que pueden visitarse con una organización especial: Las épocas en que pueden observarse crías de tortuga desovando son: tortuga carey esporádicamente, tortuga verde de diciembre a mayo, tortuga golfina todo el año con temporada principal de julio a diciembre.

Diving:  You can dive all year round. One of the most exciting phenomena in Bahia Solano is the sardine runs. During April and May, massive schools of sardines migrate along the coast, attracting predators such as dolphins, whale sharks, and birds. This creates a spectacular display of marine life in action, making it a thrilling experience for divers and wildlife enthusiasts. The waters around Bahia Solano offer two main migratory seasons. The first takes place between April and sometime in June, at the end of the usual dry season. The water is colder at this time, between 17 ° and 26 ° C, and we have great tuna, marlins, guitar stripes, candle fish and a large sardines that attract whale sharks, turning bay Solano in a very desired place to dive during this season of the year.
In May, rain usually begins to increase and the water temperature begins to rise until the end of June. There is still much to see when the warm water returns, we experience temperatures higher than 30°C that attract humpback whales. They prefer these warmer waters to give birth and mother their young and remain here between July and October. They can often be seen jumping near shores, attracting many tourists to see these impressive mammals in action.
In this season we also have a maximum record of dolphins and orcas. The temperature varies between 20 and 28ºC depending on the time of year. January to March temperatures can drop to ranges of 11 to 14 degrees Celsius. After that it rises steadily to 28 degrees Celsius with thermoclines around 24 degrees Celsius.

Dive sites: Approximately 12. The bottom is generally rocky and in some places covered with soft corals. The marine fauna is very abundant and often large schools of fish, groupers, sailfish, albacore tuna, sea turtles and sometimes devil rays can be seen.

The nearest hyperbaric chamber is in Buenaventura on the Malaga naval base.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Bahia Solano Colombian Pacific
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Day 1 Flight from Medellín to Bahia Solano

Day 2 Double dive

Day 3 Whale watching excursion

Day 4 Double dive

Day 5 Excursion to Nabuga waterfall

Day 6 Flight from Bahia Solano to Medellin

OUR TRAVEL REGION - ITINERARY

Flight from Medellin Olaya Herrera city airport by propeller plane to Bahia Solano airport. From there, tuk tuk transfer to the port and 20-minute boat trip to the Mecana Ecolodge. Excursion to the Nabuga waterfall.

FLIGHTS BETWEEN MEDELLIN OLAYA HERRERA TO BAHIA SOLANO JOSE CELESTINO MUTIS

3 airlines operate between Medellin Olaya Herrera Airport and Bahia Solano Jose Celestino Mutis: Clic Air Pacifica and Satena. These are propeller airplanes with approx. 38 passengers.

Please note that you are allowed to have 15 kg in your checked baggage, distributed in a maximum of 2 suitcases, hand luggage may weigh 5 kg; remember that you may have a personal item that may not exceed 2 kg, the extra kilos are subject to availability and it is not possible to insure them, if they can be transported, they have a value of COP 9,000 per extra kilo, up to a maximum of 32 kg per person. (Rates may change without prior notice)

Airfares are subject to wide fluctuations and depend on the date of booking, flight date, itinerary, airline and season. These prices must be reconfirmed at the time of booking and are subject to availability. Domestic airport tax is included in the price of flights. Flight schedule changes are the sole responsibility of the airline.

Connecting flights to/from Medellin: Due to the hihgly variable weather conditions in the Choco Rainforest region, we recommend booking connecting flights one day before departure to Bahia Solano or one day after arrival in Medellin, as there may be delays or flight cancellations in Bahia Solano due to rainfall.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Flight from Medellin to Bahia Solano
Flight from Medellin city airport Olaya Herrera to Bahia Solano airport Jose Celestino Mutis. Transfer by tuk tuk to the port, with a stop at the diving school to sign forms. Then transfer to the harbor followed by a 20-minute boat transfer to the Ecolodge.

Overnight stay in a private room for 2 people with lunch and dinner

Day 2: Diving in Bahia Solano

After breakfast at the hotel, the diving school will pick you up from the hotel beach at around 9 am. The hotel will provide you with a packed lunch. Then 2 dives. You will be back at the hotel shortly before 3 pm and the dive boat will take you back. In the afternoon you have the opportunity to explore the beach or go kayaking.

Overnight stay in a private room for 2 people with full board

Day 3: Whale watching excursion

The whale watching boat trip starts after breakfast at 9 am and lasts 3 to 4 hours

Overnight stay in a private room for 2 people with full board

Day 4: Diving in Bahia Solano

After breakfast at the hotel, the diving school will pick you up from the hotel beach at around 9 am. Then 2 dives. You will be back at the hotel shortly before 3 pm and the dive boat will take you back. In the afternoon you have the opportunity to explore the beach or go kayaking.

Overnight stay in a private room for 2 people with full board

Day 5: Hike “Carra”

Distance, duration and maximal Altitude of this itinerary: 6 km 4 hours 30 Minutes, 180 Meters above sea level

Immersion in the rainforest with viewpoints, a varied tour through the hills and mangrove swamps, huge Ceiba trees, past the house of indigenous guide Antonio.

Overnight stay in a private room for 2 people with full board

Day 6: Flight from Bahia Solano to Medellin

Flight from Bahia Solano to Medellin.

Breakfast included

END OF THE TRIP

TRAVEL CONDITIONS

Included services:

• 5 nights in a private room for 2 people with full board at the Eco-Hotel Mecana in Bahia Solano
• 2 x double dives, total 4 dives with buoyancy compensator, regulator, suit, fins, mask, boat transfer, snacks
• Hiking Trip 4 hours with local Spanish Speaking Guide
• All activities and entrance fees as per itinerary.
• Domestic flights Medellin - Bahia Solano - Medellin
• Airport transfer Tuk Tuk and boat Bahia Solano Airport - Eco Hotel Mecana - Bahia Solano Airport
  Colombian Medical Assistance Card

Services not included:

• International flights
• Bahía Solano Medellín airport tax COP 10,000 (approx. USD 3) to be paid in cash. Prices are subject to change without prior notice.
• Entrance fee for foreigners COP 35,000 (approx. USD 9). Prices are subject to change without prior notice.
• Dive computer rental per day USD 11 (as of December 2023)
• Cancellation insurance
• Activities not mentioned
• Drinks, tips and other personal expenses

Optional:

• Airport transfers in Medellin.
• Price Medellin vehicle up to 2 persons USD 49, van 3-4 persons USD 98 (Prices are subject to change without prior notice)
• English speaking translator for Hiking excursion
• Follow-up trips
• Night dives can be booked in advance by prior arrangement with the diving school
  or on site.
• Suggested activities can be replaced by hikes or bird watching or additional days can be booked.
• Accompaniment of an English - or French or German speaking tour leader and dive guide from Pura Colombia Mindful Travel from Medellin for an extra charge

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Language on site:

The staff at the Mecana Eco Hotel, as well as at the diving school, speak English or Spanish.

Diving school: Offers aluminum tanks 12 liters with DIN and yoke valve. Night dives available. No Nitrox available

Activities in Bahia Solano:

Schedules subject to change or activities canceled due to force majeure (weather conditions, etc.)

Currency exchange:

There are neither ATM cash machines nor currency exchange available on site. You can pay locally by card, cash in Colombian pesos, US dollars or euros. We recommend changing Colombian pesos in Medellin and taking them with you, as card payments always depend on the availability of electricity.

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