Rio Claro Reserve - Beautiful Reserve South of Medellín

ezflaw

Sep 11, 20222 min read

Rio Claro Reserve (Reserva Natural Cañon del Río Claro) is located about two hours south of Medellín. It is definitely worth a visit, but only if you are ready for a bit of a struggle to get there as well as a struggle to manipulate your way around the place while you are there.

First, you will have to tell the bus driver where to let you off the bus (and remind him/her a few minutes before you get to your stop). Once you arrive at the reserve, there is not much to tell you what to do or where to go. At the drive-in entrance, I was told that the main headquarters was about two kilometers up the rocky road. I took off walking but was eventually passed by a pick-up truck which stopped and the driver told me to jump in the back. At the headquarters, I discovered that I was staying in the Refuge. Reaching the Refuge buildings from the main headquarters required another walk of about 20 minutes over a rocky and often slippery trail. You have to maneuver this trail for each and every meal and for any tours in which you are going to participate. Dinner was served after dark, so you have to walk the trail with a flashlight or a headlamp, and there are some pretty strange rock formations you encounter on the way.

Still it was an absolutely unforgettable and enjoyable experience. I would highly recommend it for anyone who really wants to get off of the beaten path and into the forest/jungle of Colombia. Great birds also.

One last thing, to get back to Medellin you have to more or less flag down the bus on the main road in front of the entrance to the reserve. The reserve staff was helpful in arranging the stop with the bus company and even arranged a ride for me to the main entrance in a delivery truck.

My room and the view from the balcony.