Climbing out of the
thick mud of the
volcanic crater after
our massage and
mud bath.
Just outside of Cartagena, El Totumo is the site of a volcanic crater filled with mud that has the
consistency of thick cream. Wearing your bathing suit, you climb up a steep wooden staircase, and
then down into the oozing mud. We took the guide’s suggestion to indulge in a mud massage ($1.50),
where you are plastered in mud, front and back, head to toe and then massaged (somewhat). You
then hang out in the mud --with the 15-20 other people—feeling as if you are in suspended animation.
You don’t actually stand—you just float—and while doing this, one of the locals takes photos of you
with your camera (for $1.50). When you’re ready to leave, you suction yourself out of the mud, climb
up the ladder, down the volcano and along the path to the river where, for yet another $1.50, a woman
orders you to sit in the water while she roughly but laughingly washes the mud off you—everywhere.
Colombia’s cities have great attractions but the small towns are really where you can appreciate
colonial architecture, old streets, food markets, an opportunity to chat with the locals (even if you don’t
speak Spanish) and get a glimpse of a more rural lifestyle. And all this in the spirit of ‘just sitting back
and watching the world go by’. Hanging out is the oldest travel niche interest--but only recently
‘discovered’ as a prime motivation for travelling the globe.
Hitching a ride to Medellin
This article appeared in a different format in
www.travelindustrytoday.com