Casa Oropéndola is set at a lofty 1600m in the heart of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta cloud forest, overlooking lush rainforest and coffee fields.
Reached by a bumpy 4×4 drive into the mountains – or by helicopter – Casa Oropéndola is available exclusively for private hire, with a chef, housekeeper and English-speaking host and guide. The house is comfortably rustic, with timber-lined rooms, hammocks by the windows, a large veranda and an outdoor firepit.
Walkers, birdwatchers and botanists will be in their element here. There are trails leading through the forest to waterfalls and coffee farms, and afternoons can be spent in a rocking chair on the veranda, watching the clouds rise through the valley. The chef’s cooking is another reason to stay put, with excellent Colombian dishes made from local produce and ingredients picked in the garden.
What we love about Casa Oropéndola
- The incredible remoteness: The approach to the house along a rough mountain track, a 45-minute journey by 4×4 through coffee-growing country. For those arriving by helicopter, there’s a natural landing site a ten-minute walk away.
- Staffed with an English-speaking host expert in nature and trekking, a professional chef specialised in local organic ingredients, and a housekeeper.
- The chef’s cooking, from patacones con ají (fried plantain with chilli) and homemade arepas to figs with arequipe, Colombia’s wonderfully rich caramel sauce. Coffee, cacao, honey and produce from the garden all feature on the menu.
- Breakfast is taken overlooking the forest, where hummingbirds dart between the trees and, on clear days, you can see the Caribbean in the distance.
- The English-speaking host and guide, who can lead anything from gentle nature walks to six- or eight-hour hikes, pointing out birds, butterflies and medicinal plants along the way.
- The outdoor firepit, where evenings are spent with a glass of wine after dinner. At this altitude, temperatures drop noticeably once the sun goes down.
This is one of Colombia’s most interesting regions for walking and wildlife-spotting.
Days are spent with Casa Oropéndola’s guide, exploring coffee plantations or walking to hidden ancient ruins and little-known waterfalls for delicious picnics, learning about wildlife and local plants. The mountains are home to hundreds of bird species, including many found nowhere else – fascinating even for those who wouldn’t ordinarily consider themselves a birder. Those interested in exploring the infamous Lost City nearby can do so either as a demanding 5-day trek through the jungle, or by helicopter straight from Casa Oropéndola.
Back at the house, join the chef in the garden to pick avocados, tomatoes and herbs for lunch, or settle into a rocking chair on the veranda as the afternoon clouds roll through the valley. Evenings at this altitude are cool, perfect for log fires, lanterns, board games and a glass of wine under the stars.
Casa Oropéndola is a private property located in the heart of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a lush mountain range that rises from the Caribbean ocean up to 5,776 masl. The house sits at 1,500 masl, between dense rainforest and coffee fields, with a perfect view of the ocean.
The stunningly set property is located an hour from Santa Marta, the nearest city, and a 5-hour drive from Cartagena.
When to Travel
The best time to visit Casa Oropéndola completely depends on what you want to see. While the Sierra Nevada region is beautiful year round, your experience will differ greatly depending on the month you arrive:
December – January: Migratory birds arrive for prime birdwatching.
November – March: Dry weather and coffee harvesting.
April – October: The mountain is verdant and the cloud forest is at its best. Mornings are dry, rains between 1pm-5pm, and breathtaking sunsets. Highest precipitation in May & October (10-50mm/day)
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