the transplants: El Pico

The Peak. The highest point on Providencia, not high by Colorado standards but add in 90 degree temps, humidity to match, and a walk to get to the trailhead and you have a good hike - probably about 10 miles total.

Our day started about 8:30am from the hotel. There was no cell reception so they couldn't call a cab, so we'd be walking the 3 miles to the trailhead. If we saw a pickup truck along the way, we'd hitchhike. Apparently NO pickup trucks were circling the island in the correct direction today. It was already blazing hot.

Supposedly, everyone goes with a guide but we thought we could tackle it alone with the help of some directions from a local woman passed through a fellow traveler from Quebec. The directions were this:

1) go right at the first house

2) go right at the next house without a roof

3) when there is a fork in the trail don't go left, go "kind of" straight

4) eventually you'll have to go through barbed wire, even when it looks like you shouldn't.

Believe it or not we made it. Only one slightly wrong turn that led us through very steep jungle for a while. Luckily we turned around. The view from the top was beautiful, well worth the trek.

We also went sea kayaking through mangroves along the east coast yesterday, and snorkeled out front of our hotel today. This is by far my favorite island I've ever been to. Warm people, awesome seafood, fantastic snorkeling, calm seas and just a really cool out of the way place. Pictures below!

For future travelers, here is our modification of the directions for The Peak/El Pico:

1) make the turn off the main road at the large, obvious sign.

2) at the first "side street" take a left, walk to the end and you'll see the trailhead sign to the left. The trail veers right immediately and passes some houses with friendly dogs.

3) at the first buildings (I believe there were 2, one a stable) take a right, even though the better trail leads left

4) at the colorfully painted utility building the trail goes left.

5) eventually, you'll step up to the right and step through an opening in an old fence, this will be fairly obvious

6) further up, after passing open fields with more barbed wire fences, you'll find barbed wire blocking the trail with "no arroje basura" on a sign...GO THROUGH THE BARBED WIRE. If you go up to the left, you'll find yourself on a steep jungle slope. The rest of the trail is easy to follow past this. With these directions, you do not need a guide...Happy Hiking!

Spotted Eagle Ray while kayaking