Bahía Solano is located in Colombia’s Chocó region on the country’s wild northwest Pacific Coast, perfectly positioned between the rainforest and the ocean. Isolated and relatively unknown, Bahía Solano has little infrastructure to disturb the local wildlife. This lends itself to being a truly biodiverse destination.
Bahía Solano is not on a well-trodden path, but it is an eco-traveller’s paradise that attracts the few brave and adventurous travellers who are willing to take a detour from the traditional tourist trail. If you are prepared to put a little effort into your travel plans, you will reap the rewards, being welcomed by vast stretches of untouched sandy beaches, together with spectacularly rich rainforest and a friendly community.
Bahía Solano Map & Resources
MORE INFO: (Opens a new tab)
- 🇨🇴 Backpacking in Colombia
- 💰 A Budget Guide to Colombia
- 📍 Nearby Places: Nuquí | Utria National Park
- 🐋 Must Do Activity: Whale watching
Contents
Bahía Solano Colombia – Travel Guide 🎒
Best Time to Visit Bahía Solano, Colombia 🌦️
Situated on the edge of the Colombian rainforest, Bahía Solano has one of the wettest and most humid climates in the world. Whilst temperatures are fairly consistent throughout the year, July to October offers visitors the best opportunity to marvel at humpback whales as they migrate to the Pacific Coast.
Even in its busiest period, which is during humpback whale migration season, Bahía Solano remains a largely hidden destination that is not overwhelmed by tourists.
Where to Stay in Bahía Solano, Colombia 🛏️
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Most visitors stay just outside Bahía Solano, in the town of El Valle.
Budget
These budget-friendly hostels are located on El Almejal beach. They offer a great opportunity to meet other backpackers and engage in social activities. You can choose between private rooms or shared dormitories, depending on your budget.
We waited here before going on our nighttime rainforest trek. The atmosphere seemed very social, with a bar and fire pit nestled on the beach. It is approximately a 20-minute walk to El Valle village.
Next door to the Humpback Turtle, guests enjoy the beachfront location and communal kitchen area.
Visitors seem to really enjoy the communal bar area in this hostel. There is also an outdoor swimming pool, and you can enjoy a continental breakfast.
Higher-end:
This is an eco lodge, which is situated on Playa Cuevita beach. It is great for couples, as it boasts picturesque wooden huts on stilts suitable for two people sharing, or small families. You can relax on the hammock on your balcony, or on the deckchairs provided on the beach. The staff are incredibly accommodating and enthusiastic, ensuring their guests have everything they need. Note, the only way to get to this eco lodge across the unpaved terrain is by motorbike.
“The hosts at Tortuga Bay Eco Hotel are as enthusiastic about the wildlife as the guests and were keen to share special wildlife experiences with us. We were woken up by our host in the night to see a leatherback turtle making its way along the beach right in front of the lodges.” Katie Bacchus, South America Backpacker Contributor
The Hill B&B (El Morro Hosteria)
The Hill is more expensive than the other hostels located along El Almejal Beach. Guests praise the welcoming nature of the host, along with its uniquely secluded location, raised on a hill to offer sweeping sea views.
Things to Do in Bahía Solano, Colombia 🐳
Bahía Solano serves intrepid travellers, providing a host of unspoilt places to see and explore. The remote, relatively untouched landscape is a paradise for wildlife, both on shore and in the ocean.
Most hostels and lodges are well equipped to give you ideas on what to do during your visit and will set you up with local guides and tours. These are often the most budget-friendly options and an opportunity to meet other backpackers from your accommodation and others across the coast.
1. Spot Humpback Whales on a Boat Tour 🐋
Bahía Solano is one of the best places in Colombia to spot humpback whales. Take a boat trip to get the best view of these magnificent creatures.
The best budget option is to take a small boat, with around six people and two local guides. These boats are quite basic and you will get soaked! However, the size of the boat means that you will get an incredible view from wherever you sit. Most of the information given will be in Spanish.
Alternatively, you can book to go on a bigger boat with researchers, such as the Madre Agua tours with biologists. These trips are more expensive, but you benefit from having the expertise of the biologists, who can talk you through the migration of the whales and let you listen to their song through one of their devices. This provides more of an educational experience and offers tours in English.
“Being on a budget, we opted for the cheaper boat trip on a smaller boat, which we booked through our accommodation. We were lucky enough to see 8 humpback whales, including a mother and calf. The calf was a lot more active than the mother, learning how to breach and playing around under the safety of their mother’s gaze. It was a privilege to witness.” Katie Bacchus, South America Backpacker Contributor
2. Take a Night Trek Through the Rainforest
A night-time rainforest trip is highly recommended if you are adventurous and willing to take yourself out of your comfort zone.
Book with your hostel, and you will be taken through the rainforest with a local guide. It is essential that you go with a guide, as there are no clear paths, and it would be extremely easy to get lost in the darkness.
Poison dart frogs, false coral snakes, Brazilian wandering spiders and scorpions are some of the fauna you may spot, or almost trip over, as you make your way through the rainforest. Wellies are provided, but make sure you bring your own waterproof flashlight (a headtorch if possible), as a phone torch is not sufficient!
3. Release Turtle Hatchlings into the Ocean
Many hostels offer the opportunity for visitors to visit turtle sanctuaries, often advertising taking part in conservation efforts and the opportunity to release baby turtles. Make sure you carry out a lot of research before signing up for this, as not all organisations are ethical.
4. Dive or Snorkel
One of the main dive spots around Bahía Solano is the wreck of Sebastian Belcazar. Surrounded by coral reefs, it attracts schools of colourful fish, moray eels, dolphins and much more. However, due to the strong currents, you will need to be an experienced diver.
If you are not keen on diving, you still have the chance to see the magnificent marine life Bahía Solano has to offer by snorkelling off the shore or jumping in from a boat. As part of our boat trip to see humpback whales, our guide encouraged us to snorkel close to the boat, where we saw an array of brightly coloured schools of fish and a spectacular tentacled octopus!
5. Visit Utria National Park
Many of the whale watching boat tours take you to Utria National Park. You can pay to enter the park, which gives you access to a boardwalk through the Mangrove Forest. However, the entrance fee is quite high for tourists (around 72,000 COP; approx. $19 USD), so we opted to explore the beach and surrounding areas of the park for free, spotting hundreds of hermit crabs scuttling across the sand. Bring a snorkel and you can spend the afternoon paddling and swimming just off the shore, exploring the world beneath the waves.
A small restaurant perched on the top of a hill offers a simple lunch and is often included in your tour price. Being the only restaurant in the area, it was a great place to meet fellow backpackers and chat over barbecued fish, rice and beans.
6. Relax on a Sleek Black Sandy Beach
Many travellers end up extending their stay to enjoy the tranquillity of the beaches that surround Bahía Solano, particularly the Playa Cuevita and Playa El Almejal.
It is easy to lose yourself in a book, as you sit on the beach with a fresh coconut provided by your host or spot flocks of pelicans gliding over the ocean, looking for their next meal. During the humpback whale migration season, visitors can be lucky enough to spot whales breaching from the comfort of the shore.
7. Go Surfing
The beaches surrounding El Valle offer dependable yet varied waves, ideal for surfers of all levels. El Almejal is better for surfing than Playa Cuevita, due to the undercurrent and huge logs that wash up along the shore on Playa Cuevita. If you are inexperienced, it is advisable to go with a surf school, for example, through the Humpback Turtle or Utria hostels.
8. Take a Trip to Cascada El Tigre (Waterfall)
Marvel at five waterfalls, one of which pours directly into the sea. Tour guides offer a full-day trip, including lunch and various opportunities to immerse yourself in the waterfalls and relax in the crystal clear waters.
Food and Drink in Bahía Solano, Colombia 🐟
Being on the Pacific Coast, secluded and far away from the large towns and cities with deliveries arriving around once a week via plane, it should come as no surprise that the main food served in Bahía Solano is fresh, locally caught fish. The fish is often accompanied by rice soaked in coconut milk and patacones (flattened plantain, which has been fried twice), a typical dish from this region.
There are very few restaurants in El Valle. However, most accommodations will offer guests homemade meals, either included in the price or available to purchase at an extra cost. They also offer small mini-markets, where you can buy snacks and drinks.
One place that travellers often reminisce about is El Valle Pool Hall. If you can manage to secure a spot, enjoy one of the town’s favourite pastimes in a bustling pool hall.
Getting Around Bahía Solano, Colombia 🛵
It is essential to let your hotel or hostel know what time you expect to arrive in Bahía Solano, as there is no public transport. You can arrange for a transfer with your accommodation, where your host will organise for you to be picked up, either by tuk-tuk or motorcycle. Or, you may be able to book a trip with a tuk-tuk driver on your arrival, depending on availability.
Whilst staying in El Valle, the method of transport is by walking or by motorbike, which are driven by locals for a small fee. Your hosts can arrange for you to be picked up and taken to your chosen activities and tours.
“We arrived in El Valle town, after a 30-minute ride through local farmlands. Here, we had a quick drink and watched some football with local fans before we hopped onto the back of a motorcycle to take us to our accommodation. Racing across the glossy black sandy beach felt like a thrilling adventure activity in itself. It definitely set the tone for our trip!” Katie Bacchus, South America Backpacker Contributor
How to Get to Bahía Solano, Colombia 🛩️
By Plane
The most popular and easiest way to get to and from Bahía Solano is by flight from Medellin. This takes around one hour and is usually by small propeller plane. Despite its size, the plane offers a smooth journey, boasting views of the meandering rivers and mountain ranges below and the dark green, dense rainforest as you fly into Bahía Solano.
Bahía Solano airport has a very small runway and only has a single room for passengers. You should not expect duty free or lounges, but you can expect to find handmade gifts and souvenirs sold on the side of the road, offering a charming keepsake of your time by the Pacific Coast.
💡Good to Know!
When you arrive by plane, you will be required to pay a small tourist tax (in cash) when you land (around 30,000 COP; approx. $8 USD). Make sure to keep the “visa” / receipt slip that you receive safe during your stay, in case you are asked for it when you come to leave Bahía Solano (it also acts as a nice memento to stick in your journal!).
By Boat
You can go from Nuquí to El Valle by boat, a village just outside of Bahía Solano, where most tourists stay. The boat from Nuquí takes approximately 2 hours.
Alternatively, you can jump on a cargo boat from Buenaventura to Bahía Solano, which takes around 24 hours.
These boats only depart a few times a week and can be less reliable than arriving by plane, as they are dictated by the tides. If you plan to arrive by boat, it will require a little more planning and flexibility with your time.
“When we arrived in Bahía Solano, we were picked up in a tuk-tuk and taken to El Valle. Within 5 minutes of leaving the airport, we came across a gigantic anaconda on the side of the dirt track road – our adventure had begun!” Katie Bacchus, South America Backpacker Contributor
Tips for Visiting Bahía Solano, Colombia 💡
1. Take Insect Repellent
When planning a trip to Bahía Solano, make sure you bring strong insect repellent, as mosquitoes are rife, especially during the mornings and evenings. I learnt this the hard way, going down to dinner on the first night in my flip flops and getting bitten all over my feet and legs, including on every single toe…
2. Bring Enough Cash For Your Stay
There is only one cash machine in Bahía Solano, and it is on the other side of town from the hostels and lodges. It is strongly advised to take enough cash with you to last for the full duration of your visit (and a little extra for emergencies), as most accommodations and trips are paid for in cash. We made the mistake of thinking that we could pay for our accommodation by card, but we ended up being rushed to the sole ATM in Bahía Solano before we caught our plane.
3. Brush Up on Your Spanish
Spanish is the main language in Bahía Solano, with only a few locals and guides speaking English. It is worth your while learning some key Spanish phrases before your trip and bringing either a small phrase book with you or downloading a translation app on your phone.
4. Be Prepared to Switch Off
One of the most attractive things about Bahía Solano is its remoteness, but with this comes a lack of phone signal. There is little signal in and around Bahía Solano, but most hostels and lodges have Wi-Fi that you can use.
Take the opportunity to unplug and be present in your surroundings, without notifications to distract you!
5. Don’t Forget Your Waterproofs
Bahía Solano is surrounded by lush, tropical rainforest. You should therefore expect some rain on your trip, regardless of the time of year. It’s advisable to bring a waterproof coat and bag/bag cover at the very least. If you decide to venture on a night-time rainforest trek, then you should also consider bringing waterproof or showerproof trousers, as the canopy of trees can make it feel like it is raining, even if it is clear skies!
Where to Go Next:
Medellin: Fly to Medellin and explore the City of Eternal Spring. Make sure you visit Comuna 13, once the most dangerous neighbourhood in Medellin it has been transformed into an art and cultural hub showcasing local talent.
Nuquí: If you would like to discover more of the Pacific Coast, take a boat to Nuquí, which is also said to be a great whale watching spot.
Katie Bacchus
After finishing university, Katie set off to backpack around South America. She travelled around Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Bolivia before Covid-19 sadly ended her trip. Katie has a passion for wildlife and exploring different cultures, and has recently visited Colombia and India, with plans to travel more widely.