Purace National Park...

Two hours by bus from Popayan, the Purace National Park is one of Southern Colombia’s hidden gems. Still a very off the beaten track destination, here there are bubbling thermal springs of all different colours, waterfalls and high altitude lakes surrounded native flora and fauna.

The centre piece is Volcan Purace and the chain of Koconuco volcanoes. Purace Volcano (4760 metres) can be climbed in a day with an early start and returning on the 5pm bus. For those who want to explore the area around the base, besides the waterfall, springs and lakes, there are orchid walks, viewpoints overlooking Popayan and a rock where the park rangers feed the Parks three resident condors most Saturday mornings. For more detailed information visit: www.hosteltrail.com/colombia/purace

Thermal Springs ...

Outside of Popayan (1 hour by bus) up in the mountains near the village of Coconuco, there are two sets of thermal baths. The first, Aguas Hirviendas is a series of concrete pools with water of varying temperatures and sulphur content. Its a short jeep or moto-taxi ride from where the bus drops you at Coconuco and costs 4,000 Pesos entry. The second option, Aguas Tibias is generally more popular amongst our guests as it has a much more relaxed and natural setting. The water is not as hot and has no sulphur smell but there are views of several waterfalls from the pools, a water slide and a mineral mud pool. Aguas Tibias is also best reached by jeep or moto-taxi from Coconuco and costs around 5,000 Pesos entry..

Silvia...

This indigenous market town 45 mins from Popayan is a real insight into the Guambiano culture. Still dressed in their traditional clothing and farming and trading by traditional methods, the Guambianos meet every Tuesday to trade produce in the picturesque Andean village of Silvia.

Not tourism orientated at all, this is a unique opportunity to be one of the only tourists at a truly indigenous market. There is also the possibility to hire a horse or jeep to take you up to Guambia where you can visit the trout farms that the Guabianos have set up. Delicious lunches and trout at it’s freshest