El Almejal Whales and Rainforest – 4 days
A four-day Pacific coast escape based at El Almejal, combining seasonal humpback whale watching, beach time and guided rainforest exploration near El Valle.
Expedition Highlights
Itinerary At a Glance
Medellín - Bahía Solano - El Valle
El Valle
El Valle
El Valle - Bahía Solano Airport - Medellín
Click to see on mapSuitability & conditions
A practical overview of the pace, comfort, and conditions to expect on this journey.
Seasonality
Detailed Itinerary
Medellín - Bahía Solano - El Valle
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Flight Medellín → Bahía Solano
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Transfer Bahía Solano Airport → El Valle
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Playa El Almejal Walk
Walk the dark-sand beach where rainforest reaches the Pacific, letting tides determine how much shoreline and rock-pool habitat is exposed.
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Ecolodge El Almejal
Ecolodge | $$$Nestled in Colombia's lush Chocó region, Ecolodge El Almejal offers an enchanting retreat with sustainable comforts, surrounded by verdant rainforest and pristine beaches in El Valle.
El Valle
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El Almejal Humpback Whale-Watching Boat
From El Valle, we head out with local boat crew to look for humpback whales while keeping the pace and distance appropriate to the animals and sea conditions.
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El Almejal Lodge Nature Time
Unstructured time at El Almejal leaves room to rest and observe the lodge surroundings after travel or a morning boat outing.
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Ecolodge El Almejal
Ecolodge | $$$Nestled in Colombia's lush Chocó region, Ecolodge El Almejal offers an enchanting retreat with sustainable comforts, surrounded by verdant rainforest and pristine beaches in El Valle.
El Valle
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El Almejal Natural Reserve Rainforest Walk
We enter the humid forest behind El Almejal with a naturalist guide, reading the layers of vegetation and listening for toucans, parrots and other Chocó wildlife.
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El Almejal Lodge Nature Time
Unstructured time at El Almejal leaves room to rest and observe the lodge surroundings after travel or a morning boat outing.
-
Ecolodge El Almejal
Ecolodge | $$$Nestled in Colombia's lush Chocó region, Ecolodge El Almejal offers an enchanting retreat with sustainable comforts, surrounded by verdant rainforest and pristine beaches in El Valle.
El Valle - Bahía Solano Airport - Medellín
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Transfer El Valle → Bahía Solano Airport
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Flight Bahía Solano → Medellín
Hotels
Ecolodge El Almejal
Ecolodge | $$$
This reserve is located between the rain forest and El Almejal beach, close to the village of El Valle, in the middle of Bahia Solano beach and close to the natural park of Ensenada de Utria. This complex has 12 independent huts with its own private bathroom and a terrace, as well as one suite hut. The huts were built following bioclimatic parameters and following a sustainable architecture: it is the perfect balance between comfort and nature. Restaurant service is proposed.
A few kind words
Colombia Photography Tour 2026
Top notch photographic experience for enthusiasts of nature, culture, and portraits. Tristan is well connected to the area and the local communities with a specialty in indigenous tribes and less-visited areas. Additionally, he is an excellent teacher and will provide incredibly helpful instruction on exposure, lighting, and composition. Our tour was incredibly well organized and ran on time, with full days of photography. I fully recommend Remote Expeditions for your photographic travels!
You are in good hands with Tristan!
Tristan does an amazing job at putting together a culturally rich experience. He also does a great job at adapting to his clients needs and interests. He responds well to feedback. He is both professional and personable. I feel as though I had the opportunity not only to photograph many different elements of Colombia, but that I truly experienced the country and its culture. Our adventure took us from birding in the mountains outside of Cali, to visiting remote indigenous tribes, to visiting active fishing villages, to learning about local and historical musicians and customs, to beautiful settings in the mountains and along the seashore.
I give Tristan the highest recommendation as a guide for Colombia.
Colombia Birding Tour
I visited Colombia with Tristan of Remote Expeditions and would highly recommend him. He put together a wonderful itinerary with great knowledge of the areas and attention to details to give us a wonderful sampling of the country. He is personally very gentle and fun by nature and you will return home feeling very happy and satisfied. Whatever your special interest is, I’m sure he can make an itinerary to exceed your goals.
The difference is in the details
Journeys shaped by experience
Every route is built from time spent in the field: knowing when to linger, when to move on, and which small details are worth noticing.
Room for the unexpected
The best moments are not always on the itinerary. We leave enough flexibility to follow a good conversation, an unusual sighting, or a changing landscape.
Local relationships that open doors
Our journeys are grounded in long-term relationships with people who know their home intimately and are proud to share it in their own way.
A small group, properly looked after
With only a few travellers, decisions remain personal. We can adapt the pace, answer questions, and make sure everyone feels part of the journey.
Extend your journey
Optional extensions and add-ons you may consider for your trip. Each can be added to your itinerary on request — just let me know.
