We go hiking - On the road with photo enthusiasts - Colombia 2025 - 5
2025-02-15 - We go hiking
We are staying in an old monastery [↗] in the middle of the city. In addition to the old part, there are some more modern extensions. There is even a swimming pool. The rooms are very different, especially in the old part. Mine is big enough to qualify as a suite. The ceiling is at least 5 meters high.
Unfortunately, the thick walls don't help against the street noise. I'm awake by 4am at the latest. From atonal church bells, cars and music to roosters - as soon as I doze off again, there's something else.
I get up at 5:20am. Let's see if there are nice motifs for the sunrise. Unfortunately, the whole property is barricaded. The entrance is closed, and reception is unmanned. I try to get out through the parking lot at the back, but everything is closed there too. So, I just take a snapshot of the inner courtyard.
During breakfast, I find out that the receptionist has a sofa in the adjacent room. Trying not to make noise was probably counterproductive.
After breakfast, we want to walk the Camino Real [↗] from Barichara to Guane. This historic path is 9 km long and mostly downhill. Today is the first day on which the sun is shining. Although it is only a good 20°C, it is largely windless. Here and there is shade, but not much. The liter of water I have with me will be just enough.
We're not walking as a group today but can choose our own pace. Without breaks, the hike should take 2 hours. Longer for photographers, of course. So that we don't get too bored, Riko has also given us a few tasks to complete photographically. Just the task with the waterfall will be tricky - there isn't one here 😉.
The group splits up right at the start. Thomas walks ahead with one of the group. I follow with two others and then the rest of us at some distance behind us. The three of us are walking at roughly the same pace, chatting and taking photos.
It takes us about 2.5 hours to reach Guane. First, we look for a store where we can buy water. We actually wanted to meet at the square in front of the church, but Thomas is nowhere to be seen. Thanks to WhatsApp location information, it works out after all. Most of the others are still far behind us. I don't want to stand around here that long and suggest that we find a place where we can have a beer. And that's what we do.
A while later, another member of our group arrives with the news that someone else is probably not feeling so well, even if he doesn't want to admit it. So, we break up the group. Thomas goes to meet the group with water and Coke, some stay and my group of three explores Guane. We particularly like the cemetery.
We walk quite a way out of the village in the hope of catching a nice view of the canyon, but then give up. A dog accompanies us the whole time. He came up to me in the café and let me stroke him. When we set off, he decided to adopt us and followed us.
A short while after arriving back at the central square in Guane, Thomas, Riko and the rest of the group arrive. It easily took them 2.5 hours longer than the three of us. But that's the way it is, the slowest person sets the pace.
We drive back in a kind of Daihatsu pickup for the equivalent of 2.50 euros per person. Quite uncomfortable, but certainly better than walking. At the hotel, my first stop is the shower.
While the rest of the group wants to meet up at 5 o'clock to photograph the sunset again, I head towards the main square in Barichara. I prefer to take advantage of the beautiful light to photograph the cathedral and the cemetery. Some nice shots of the alleyways are welcome too.
