After Tayrona we ventured on alone to Costeño beach, a surf camp we first heard about in Medellin. Needless to say once Mike knew about it I had no choice but to go there.
Just along from the entrance to Tayrona (about 10 mins on the bus - ask them to drop you off at Costeño) you will find the entrance. A fifteen minute hike later you will walk into the hostel, a thatched roof paradise to say the least.
Costeño is run by two Canadian guys, Brian and Colm, who have gone out of their way to keep the place small, chilled and very friendly.
We were staying in a beach hut for the first night which was a novel experience before moving into the hammocks for the next two nights as the place was booked up with the weekend being a Colombian national holiday.
As Costeño is not near anywhere else they offer breakfast, lunch and dinner to guests for a total of 25,000 COP per day (less than 10GBP). The food is excellent some of the best we have had so far on the trip and definitely good value. There is also a bar and communal eating/drinking area which is great for socialising.
Our first afternoon we went for a surf lesson with Dion, one of the instructors and naturally an Aussie. Mike managed to stand on his first go and I, well, I got really proficient at paddling. Kudos goes out to Dion for his patience with me.
We persevered though across the next few days and despite the lack of waves, managed to catch a few (with me even getting two feet and half up on the board - I was assured by the actual surfers there that this meant I would easily stand up on bigger waves - and that´s the story I am sticking to).
Apart from surfing we spent the few days there lazing on the beautiful beach, in the hammocks. Mike used the opportunity to go all macho and flex his muscles. Always a Top Gun enthusiast (he dressed up as Maverick at uni, boiler suit, stitched name tag and aviators - yes seriously) he drew on his past performance to re-enact the ´playing with the boys´ volleyball scene on the beach. I wish I had a photo.
Next came opening a fallen coconut with a machete and last but not least all the guys also got involved with pulling in the day´s catch with some local fisherman. All-in-all a good manly day´s work for Mike.
While at Costeño we met some diverse and lovely people from all around the world, including Daniel from Italy (bizarrely with a very English accent), Daniel from South Africa, Brady from US (recently returned from living in Beijing and our surf buddy) and some very cool honeymooners, John Paul & Danielle and from the US and Afiaá and her husband who met at Cardiff Uni of all places. Both had the fab idea of honeymooning for two to three months backpacking.
Not to forget Katy (Colm´s girlfriend who was really friendly) and her mate Emily over from Canada and last but by no means least, Mario the camp´s dog.
Our last night we had a good old camp fire, roasting marsh mellows, knocking back a beer on the beach and watching the sun set - all very American, just like a scene out of American Pie.
I don´t have anything negative to say about the place except watch out for the sandflies which are immense. The camp is near a banana plantation which means they are everywhere.I got over 100 bites and it was the only thing that dampened the experience and the ultimate reason for leaving when we did. Our advice go, definitely don´t miss it, but take long trousers for the evening and stock up on bug repellent and sun cream.
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