La Jauna Eco Aldea

It’s understandably hard round here to resist the call of the beach; for a change of sandy scenery, a 10-minute drive will land guests at the sheltered white sands of Playa Grande for more swims and sunbathing. Sticking with time outdoors, it’s 45 minutes from base to Tayrona National Park, a densely forested area in the foothills of Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta range, hugging the Caribbean coastline. Travel hither for scenic trekking, jaguar, armadillo, ocelot and anteater spotting, birdwatching, and even more white-sand beaches. For city days, head to Santa Marta (20 minutes' drive), to explore the Tairona Gold Museum, traipse through the aquarium, wander the Old Town or pay homage at the deathplace of Simón Bolívar. Those keen on ancient cities may also note this to be the starting point of multi-day hikes to Ciudad Perdida. For time spent in the mountainous rainforests without to trek for several days, make tracks instead for the small town of Minca (55 minutes) – the starting point for several mountain hikes, as well as a top birdwatching spot, the location of several coffee plantations, and the home of the Cacao Museum.