Hidden amidst the majestic Colombian Andes lies the captivating Cueva del Esplendor. This enchanting waterfall, nestled within a cave, is located just outside the charming pueblo of Jardin.
To reach this natural wonder, you must either hike along muddy mountain paths for 12 miles (which takes around 7 hours there and back) or get a lift in a jeep for 45 minutes, followed by a 30 minute walk.
The ride up to the waterfall was beautiful and quite possibly the highlight of the entire Colombia trip. The trail climbed up above Jardín, a town located 4 hours south of Medellin, which provided us with a bird’s eye view of the city.
Lush mountains, valleys, and forests surrounded us. It was as if we’d donned glassed painted with green.The trail was steep, rocky and muddy, and at any second we expected our horses to slip and stumble.
We went up, higher and higher traversing along the side of a mountain. Soon we couldn’t see Jardin anymore. What we saw instead were coffee and banana plantations replaced by rolling grazing farmlands dotted with the occasional farmhouses.