PNN Tayrona - Sendero de las Nueve Piedras

On my third full day in the area, March 14, 2020, I decided to return to PNN Tayrona and explore Sendero de las Piedras (Nine Stones Trail). This trail was relatively easy and with plenty of stops to enjoy the scenery. It took only a couple of hours one way. The trail winds through some lush vegetation and several interesting rock formations (see photos below). Just before the trail drops to a beautiful beach, there are several overlooks of the Caribbean and the near-deserted beach (see more photos below). On the entire trail, I encountered less than a dozen hikers.

At the start of the day, the Coronavirus was presenting not much more than an eerie and uncomfortable feeling. No one even thought about wearing masks and there was little concern about social distancing.

By the end of that day, things began to change. I was planning to meet a friend from Texas in Cartagena on March 16. On the night of March 14, he decided to cancel mainly out of concern for traveling through and laying over in the Miami airport. At this point, I still thought I could venture alone on the rest of my six weeks in Colombia just as I had done for the previous six weeks. Check out the following post which describes a rather harrowing next 3-4 days.

Photos from the trail, overlooks and beach below followed by a video from the end of the trail.