[This message has been edited by Cali vet]
We went to Quimbaya, Department of Quindio this weekend and rafted the river Rio De La Vieja on a raft made of bamboo (Guadua) logs lashed together. The river is cold and great for swimming. There are some mild rapids that are fun to float through wearing your required live jacket then you can hop back on the raft and warm up in the sun. Our poleman was a darn near profesional comedian and had us in stitches when we weren't in the water. The scenery is rolling, steep hills with mixed forest and pasture dotted with those white Bramhas. Some of the prettiest countryside I've seen in Colombia. In the twelve or so kilometers we floated we didn't pass a single house. Really pristine. To get there you have to take a bus to the town of Quimbaya about four and a half hours from Cali. It's a little ways past Armenia which you can see from the bus down in the vally as you're passing by. Quimbaya looks like a happening town. I saw four bars and a discoteca along just one block facing the plaza. Lots of young chicas patroling hmmm...Ah, where was I? Oh yes so the outfitters meet you there and transport you in (Colombian made) Willys Jeep to the riverside lodge about another half hour on winding country roads. You have a great dinner tipica of the region and spend the night in comfortable beds but have to share the room with other tourists as each has three or four beds. My wife was a little put off at first but ours was a three bed room and our room mate was a quiet old guy in his seventies. She ended up not minding at all. Lunch on the float was rice, chicken, potato and yuca wrapped in banana leaves. Very tasty.
This might be an option for those who want to take their chica on an outdoorsy overnight. We were back in Cali by seven thirty pm.
Tel/fax: (6) 752 11 41 or 752 06 14 "Casa Vieja Cafe y Balsaje"
