Rio Claro Rafting, Hiking & Caving Tour from Medellín

4.50

(2 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Leaving Medellín behind, we wound our way through Antioquia’s hills until the Cocorná Viewpoint came into sight. It’s not marked by big signs or crowds—just a quiet pull-off where locals sometimes park their bikes. The air up there is cool and smells faintly of wet grass. I remember biting into a fresh arepa while watching clouds drift lazily over the green valleys below. You’ll probably spot cows grazing nearby or hear a rooster crowing in the distance. It’s a simple stop, but honestly, it sets the mood for what’s next: real Colombia, no filter.

The drive dips down into thicker jungle until you reach Rio Claro Reserve. The river itself looks unreal—clear turquoise water winding between marble cliffs that shoot straight up on either side. We met our guide right by the riverbank; he grew up around here and seemed to know every bend and birdcall. Rafting here isn’t wild rapids—it’s more like floating through a lost world, with just enough splashes to keep things fun. At one point, I trailed my hand in the water and it was cold but refreshing. Birds darted overhead—some kind of bright kingfisher—and you could hear monkeys somewhere in the trees.

After drying off, we set out on foot along a narrow trail shaded by giant leaves. There were butterflies everywhere—blue ones mostly—and mushrooms growing on fallen logs. The humidity made my shirt stick to my back but also brought out this earthy smell from the forest floor. The cave part was something else: total darkness inside except for our headlamps and the weird echo of water dripping far away. Guacharos (oilbirds) flapped above us—you’ll hear them before you see them—and for a moment it felt like time stopped completely. When we finally stepped back into daylight, everything seemed brighter and louder than before.