About Bahía Solano
With about 10,000 inhabitants, is Bahía Solano is the largest town on the coast of Chocó. The area is known for its dense jungle that ends in miles of sandy beaches, whale watching in season and the enormous diversity of flora and fauna. There is not a whole lot to do in Bahía Solano itself, which is why many travelers head straight to nearby beaches such as El Almejal near the village of El Valle, Playa Mecana and Playa Huína.
Adventurous destination
Bahía Solano / El Valle is an adventurous destination off the tourist route. You get there by flight from Medellín and then travel on by boat or tuk-tuk to your final destination. Moreover, tourism here is still in its infancy, because for a long time Chocó was a “no go” area, as the jungle was inhabited by guerrillas for many years. Nowadays, Bahía Solano and El Valle are safe to visit.
In this Bahía Solano travel guide, you will find everything about El Valle and Bahía Solano; What to do? How to get there. What are the nicest hotels and practical information and tips on pins, luggage, what to bring and safety in Bahía Solano and El Valle, among others.
10 Tips
If you love nature, then you are in the right place in this part of the Colombian Pacific. There is plenty to do, both on the water and on land. So you can hike to waterfalls, spot wildlife in the jungle, dive, surf and much more. The hotels and hostels have good contacts with the locals and can arrange trips with a guide for you. By booking these trips, you immediately support the local community. Here are the best things to do in Bahía Solano and El Valle and an indication of the prices for the trips.
Must do’s in Bahía Solano
1. Spot whales
From July to mid-October, humpback whales (ballenas jorobadas) come from the South Pole to the warmer waters of the Colombian coast to give birth to their young. A journey of some 8000km! You can often see the whales from the hammock of your hotel. You can also take an organized boat trip to spot whales. Depending on the size of the group, you will pay around COP150,000(€37.50), per person for this.
photo: Hotel Bahía Yubarta
2. Hike in a private nature and wildlife reserve
The Jardín botánico del Pacífico is the only botanical garden in the Colombian Pacific and is located on Playa Mecana, a 15-minute boat ride from Bahía Solano. It is a 170-hectare area with unique flora and fauna. Hikes are guided and must be booked in advance. Price for a 2h hike, from: COP50,000/€12.50 pp, 4h: COP80,000/€20 and 6h: COP120,000/€30 (2022). #ToColombia tip: Book the hotel Paraiso Escondido near the botanical garden and stay a few nights to fully enjoy nature.
photo: Jardín botánico del Pacífico
3. Go kayaking in the mangroves at Playa Mecana
You can rent a kayak for around COP20,000/€5 pp or with a guide for COP60,000/€15 for 2 people.
photo: Paraiso Escondido
4. Chill on the beach at Playa el Almejal
Book a cozy hotel or hostel on the beach, take long beach walks or take surf lessons. Board rental costs around COP30,000/€7.50 per hour and surf lessons COP60,000/€15 per hour.
photo: The humpback turtle hostel
5.Take a boat trip to Cascada del Tigre
This waterfall bursts from the jungle on Playa El Tigre. From El Valle, it’s a boat ride of about half an hour. You can climb along the waterfall and swim in the natural pools. One of the guides who does this trip is “El Nativo.” Everyone in El Valle knows him. Contact Posadas el Nativo formore info or book the trip through your hotel in El Valle. (around COP90,000pp/€22.50).
6. Visit the turtle project at Playa Cuevita
On this beach, the turtles come from June to December to lay their eggs. The eggs are protected here, as are the little turtles once they make their way to the sea. Take a tuk tuk from El Valle to to Tortugario Estación Septiembre, (5km/5 min across the beach). Or a beach walk of about 1.5 h. Here you get a tour of the turtle project and get to witness how the baby turtles are released. Cost approx COP65,000/€16 per person (excluding tuk tuk). If you want to visit this project, look here for more information.
7. Meet the Native American community
For example, visit the Nabugá community, where you can learn about their artesanía. Trips to the Nabugá community are combined with a visit to the Nabugá waterfall. A trip of 3-4h costs about COP400,000/€100, for 1-3 pax, 3-4h.
8. Take a tour to Utría National Park.
The 54,000-acre park is one of the best places to spot whales. The lagoon of the park, in the months of August-October is used as a “baby room” by the whales. It is also home to turtles and several species of birds, among others. You can walk along the mangroves on the wooden boardwalk. Furthermore, you can snorkel there. Transportation from El Valle takes 40 minutes and costs COP150,000/€37.50 pp. Entrance to the park is COP60,000/€15(2024) and lunch costs around COP45,000/€12.
9. Take a boat ride on the rio Tundó
At a leisurely pace, the captain steers the boat across the water while the guide tells you all about the flora and fauna in the area. If you do the trip with Tundó tours, you will make a short hike to a waterfall at the end of the tour. There is a morning and afternoon tour. You book this tour for about COP60,000/€15 pp.
10. Catch the catch of the day!
Fishing in Bahía Solano is world-class. Among anglers, Bahía Solano is therefore known as one of the best places in the world for deep-sea fishing. There is fishing for Red Snapper, Dorado, Marlin, Barracuda and tuna, among others. Depending on the size of the group, book a fishing trip from COP150,000/€37.50 pp for half a day.
How to plan your trip to Bahía Solano
How to get there
There are no roads to Bahía Solano and the fastest way to get there is by plane. From José Celestino Mutis airport you can travel further To El Valle (45 min. by tuk-tuk), Playa Mecana (boat trip 15 min.) or Playa Huína (boat trip 20 min.)
Where do you start if you want to book a trip to Bahía Solano?
Check out our 4 step plan here and start planning your trip to Bahía Solano!
In these 4 steps, plan your trip to Bahía Solano!
1. Book a ticket Medellín -Bahía Solano
- Direct flight of 45 min.
- Price return ticket in high season around COP600,000/€150, for a ticket in the “basic” price range. Off season often specials
- San German Airlines and Satena Airlines
- Departure from Olaya Herrera airport in Medellín (El Poblado)
Check out our #Colombia hotel tips and book your accommodation
Once arrived at the airport in Bahía Solano:
3. Do you pay the tourist tax
The tourist tax costs COP45,000/€11 + airport tax COP8000/€2 (2024)
4. Take a tuk-tuk to your final destination or the Bahía Solano pier
A tuk-tuk ride to El Valle takes 45 min and costs around COP30,000/€7.50 for 1-2 pax. In Playa Huína and Playa Mecana, get there only by boat from Bahía Solano pier (private boat transfer hotel Playa Mecana, 15 min approx COP160,000/€40, up to 4pax).
Tip: You can also travel on to Nuquí from El Valle. There goes Boat twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays. Boats leave Nuquí around 6am and return the same day around 11am. The trip takes about 2h and costs COP80,000/€20 one way.
Climate and best travel period
Chocó is one of the wettest places in the world. At first not really that you think wow but on the other hand, that makes the jungle super exuberant! You have to be lucky with the weather. You can have beautiful days with blue skies, but it can also rain for long periods in a row. There is high humidity. The most sunshine and least rain is in the summer, from January to March.
The best time to go depends on what you want to do:
January through March
The best time for hikes in the jungle and trips on the river. The sea is calm and ideal for boat trips and for diving and snorkeling.
May
The best month for fishing. With the current come schools of sardines, which attract big fish.
July- mid-October (especially from August)
The best months to spot whales, which in this period come to the Colombian coast to give birth to little ones.
September-November
The best months to see the release of baby turtles.
Surfing is possible-depending on your level-all year round.
High season
Prices increase in high season, during semana santa (Easter week) + 15/6-15/10 and 15/12-15/1.
Photo: Mono Araña in the Jardín Botánico del Pacífico.
Hotels and hostels
#ColombiaMyWay tips for booking your hotel or hostel
If you go to Bahía Solano, you can stay overnight in Bahía Solano itself, in Playa Mecana, Playa Huína or at Playa El Almejal/El Valle.
Which place is convenient to do what?
#1 Bahía Solano
The town itself is convenient to stay overnight if you want to be close to the airport and have amenities such as restaurants and stores nearby.
#2 Playa El Almejal / El Valle
Want to surf and meet other travelers?
Then you’ll be right in Playa Almejal near El Valle. Here there are some nice hostels like The Humpback Turtle and some eco lodges for when you want a little more peace and quiet. El Valle is also a convenient starting point for a trip to Utría national park and Playa Cuevita.
#3
Playa Mecana
Want to stay on a long, deserted sandy beach with the Pacific’s only botanical garden in the “backyard”? Then check out the ecolodges at Playa Mecana, such as Paraiso Escondido.
#4 Playa Huína
Here you will find a few lodges on the quiet beach surrounded by the tropical rainforest, such as Choibana ecolodge.
Tip: If you are going to book a hotel, check if it is “bare” rental or an “all in” trip.
A package including 3 meals a day, is often offered at the lodges that are very remote with no stores or restaurants nearby.
€ price range up to €40
€€ price range €40 – €60
€€€ price range above €60
Bahía Solano
€€
- Paraiso Escondido (Playa Mecana)
- Rocas de Cabo Marzo
- Hotel Bahía Yubarta
€€€
- Playa de oro (Playa Huína)
- Choibana ecolodge (Playa Huína)
- Cabañas las Perlas
El Valle
Practical info A-Z
Luggage
Travel with as little luggage as possible. For the flight to Bahía Solano, small planes of up to about 20 passengers are used. Generally, 10kg is the maximum weight to check in and 5kg is the maximum for hand luggage. Moreover, you will travel further by boat, for which the rule is; the less luggage the better!
Budget
Bahía Solano is not a low budget destination. Because you can only get there by plane, transportation costs are already a big chunk of your budget. However, affordable hotels can be found and if you can share the cost of excursions such as hikes and boat trips with other travelers, you can still travel to Bahía Solano affordably.
#GoColombia tip
If you want to go to Chocó on a smaller budget, check out el Valle. You can book a dorm bed at hostels and the cost of tours is often lower because you can share it with more travelers.
Drinking water
The water from the tap is not drinkable
Food
Fish, fish and fish… That’s what’s on the menu every day! Fish is prepared in different variations, such as in fish soup. Crustacean lovers can try the Cambute, similar to the crown snail (Karko / Conch). Popular side dishes include “Arroz con Coco,” Yuka and “Patacones”: coconut rice, cassava and green banana cookies. Coconut is also liked in desserts and sweets such as Panelitas de coco.
Cash out?
There is 1 ATM in Bahía Solano, but it does not always have money. Therefore, bring all the money you think you will need.
How long to stay?
With about 5 days, 4 nights, you have time to take long walks on the beach and do various activities at your leisure, such as visiting the botanical garden, doing whale spotting trips, hiking with a guide in the jungle and kayaking on the river. And then you still have time to read a book in the hammock -:)
Locals & language
The locals are a mix of Afro-Colombians and the Native American community, who live mostly in the interior. Very little English is spoken. A word of Spanish is certainly helpful and works wonders for getting in touch with the locals.
Packing List
- Anti mosquito spray
- Sunscreen
- Backpack or gym bag instead of a suitcase
- Waterproof bag or plastic bags to protect your belongings during the boat trip and from the rain
- Due to high humidity, clothes dry poorly. Therefore, bring airy clothes that dry quickly
- Swimwear, water shirt and/or wetsuit if you will be snorkeling/diving
- Sandals
- Water shoes
- Hat or cap
- Long-sleeved T-shirt and long pants for jungle walks
- All the cash you think you need!
- Snacks
- Books
Vaccinations
For Chocó, a yellow fever injection is recommended. Tip: If you’re traveling around Colombia for longer, you can get a free yellow fever injection at Bogotá airport. The vaccination only works after 10 days, so get it in time!
Safety
For a long time Chocó was a “no go” area because the jungle was inhabited by guerrillas for many years. Bahía Solano and El Valle are safe to visit as well as Nuquí, Termales, Guachalito beach and Arusi, but don’t go on long hikes deep into the jungle on your own. This is because guerrillas are again active in certain areas of Chocó. If you want to plan a trip to an area other than those mentioned above, check with locals whether it is safe.
Wifi and telephone
Provider Claro has the best coverage in Chocó. It very much depends on the location of your hotel, whether you can use your phone because if the lodge is very remote, chances are there is no coverage and no wifi signal.
