WIMAKE: Where the Sierra Nevada Whispers Ancient Secrets
Three days, two nights. All real, all indigenous.
Reserve your placeThe WIMAKE Experience
At WIMAKE, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta unfolds like a secret. No tourists, no noise: only the whispering forest, the mist embracing the trees, and the Guachaca river singing fresh beside your hammock.
Here you walk with the Wiwa, not behind them. You share their fire, their wood-cooked food, their silence when the mamo speaks. You feel the cold crystal water on your skin, the weight of a backpack woven with plants they dye themselves, and the warmth of a story that is not read in books – it is lived.
Possibility of seeing wild animals, hearing the wind in their voices, sharing a moment around the fire. This is not tourism: it is coexistence, walking together, connecting with a way of seeing the world that is not explained – it is felt.
Itinerary · 3 days / 2 nights
Day 1 Descent & Welcome
8:00 am Pick-up in Santa Marta (hotel or agreed point).
10:00 am Start with the Wiwa community. 3-4h trek (600m descent): humid forest, mist, possible wildlife sightings. The guide explains ancestral symbolism.
1-2 pm Arrival at the village, wood-fired lunch. Rest in hammocks in a traditional house by the Guachaca river.
6 pm Dinner and outdoor bonfire: seguranza, poporo, coca leaf, legends and Wiwa wisdom.
Free night in traditional hammocks.
Day 2 Community & River
8-9 am Breakfast.
9-10 am Morning bath in the Guachaca river (cold, crystalline water).
12 pm Lunch (vegetarian or regular option).
1 pm Visit the village: ceremonial houses, social fabric, school with Wiwa children (you can bring school supplies).
Artisan mochila demonstration: plant threads, natural dyes and their meanings.
Talk about crops and medicinal plants.
Crafts purchase (optional).
Dinner and bonfire: more wisdom, questions or silence. Night in hammocks.
Learn Wiwa words.
Day 3 Ascent & Return
9 am Breakfast.
10 am Second river bath. Chants (if it happens).
12 pm Lunch.
~1 pm 600m ascent (challenging, but spectacular views).
~4-5 pm Arrival in Santa Marta.
100% guided by indigenous people. No luxuries, just real connection.
What's included
- Round-trip transport from Santa Marta in van (paved road).
- All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner (vegetarian or regular, wood-cooked by the community).
- 2 nights in traditional hammocks (inside indigenous houses).
- 100% Wiwa indigenous guiding (local guides and mamos).
- Activities: trekking, river baths, village visits, school, mochila demo, talks on crops and plants.
- Basic assistance insurance.
- Territory entry and internal logistics.
- Ecological dry toilets (covered holes, comfortable and organic – no chemicals or water).
What's not included
- Mule for descent/ascent (if you don't want to walk; extra cost, to be consulted).
- Transfers to hotels outside Santa Marta.
- English translator (guides speak Spanish and Wiwa; if needed, request 15 days in advance – additional cost).
- Extra drinks, snacks, or purchases at the indigenous shop (juices, beer, etc.).
- Tips (optional, but always welcome).
- Toilet paper or wipes (bring biodegradable if you want).
- Any personal expenses.
Everything managed directly by the Wiwa community. No intermediaries, no luxuries.
Recommendations / What to bring
Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes (trekking boots – humid, rocky, slippery terrain).
Extra shoes: sandals or light shoes to rest in the hammock or after the river.
Light clothing and changes (2-3 sets): gets dirty, wet, or muddy quickly.
Strong insect repellent (mandatory! Mosquitoes abound at night, especially by the river – they bite hard).
Sunscreen, cap, sunglasses (direct sun on the trail).
Raincoat or poncho (the jungle rains when it wants, even if it's sunny all day).
Flashlight or headlamp (no electricity in the village).
Reusable water bottle (the community provides potable water).
Small backpack (not big, just essentials – 20-30 liters).
Camera or phone for photos (but always ask permission to photograph the community or children – total respect).
Optional gift for the school: school supplies, colors, notebooks, or plasticine (no candies – no trash service and they can be harmful).
Take your trash back: no garbage truck up there. Be conscious.
Extra tip: Good physical condition required – the trek is demanding (600m descent and ascent). Consult your doctor if in doubt. Minimum recommended age: 15 years.
What our travelers say
"An authentic and unforgettable experience. Walking with the Wiwa, sharing their daily life and listening to the mamo around the fire connected me to the earth in a way I never felt before."
Hanna
Germany"The trip was demanding but every step was worth it. The wisdom of the Wiwa, the sound of the river, the silence of the forest... This is the kind of tourism the world needs: respectful and transformative."
Pierre
France"I've travelled a lot, but WIMAKE is different. It's not a tour, it's a welcome into a living culture. The muleteers, the children, the stories – everything felt real and heartfelt."
Emma
UK"I loved the chance to learn Wiwa words and see how they dye the mochilas with plants. The community opened the doors of their school and their hearts. I will return."
Marco
ItalyFrequently Asked Questions
A Wiwa indigenous village in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, without mass tourism access. It is sacred territory, where the community lives as always: with river, forest and ancestral wisdom. It is not a hotel or a park – it is a home that they open to you.
Yes, but the price is calculated as a couple (fixed transport and logistics). If you want, we can pair you with others to lower costs.
Yes, demanding: 600m descent on day 1 and 600m ascent on day 3. Rocky, humid terrain, slopes. Good physical condition required. Consult your doctor if in doubt.
Not recommended. Minimum age 15. Pregnant women: high risk. Heart, respiratory, joint problems or injuries: no. Consult your doctor – we do not accept risks.
No. Spanish and Wiwa. Translator (English or other): request 15 days in advance, extra cost.
Yes, ecological dry toilets: covered holes, comfortable and organic (no chemicals or water). Urinate in nature.
No. No electricity, Wi-Fi, or coverage. Flashlight mandatory.
We go anyway. Rain is normal in the jungle. Bring a raincoat. If a strong storm, we adjust for safety.
Yes, always ask permission. Community, children, mamo – total respect. Not in ceremonies without approval.
Yes, school supplies, colors, notebooks, plasticine. No candies: no trash service and they can be harmful.
Mule for emergencies: included. If for leisure, extra mule (separate cost).
Private: you choose date and group (minimum 2). Shared: 3 dates a year, minimum 10 people. If not filled, we cancel and refund 100%.
Form or contact. 30% deposit 15 days in advance. Balance 7 days before. No deposit, no spot.
7 days or more: refund minus 30% (fixed costs). Less than 7 days: no refund.
We cancel and refund 100% within 48 hours.
Yes. Community takes care of its territory, guides know everything. Basic assistance insurance included. Follow the rules.
Yes, optional. Mochilas, weavings – fair prices, direct to the community.
Basic insurance and mule for emergencies. Tell us allergies (insects, food) – we adapt as possible. If serious, we descend.
No. Stay on established trails. Risk: animals, unstable terrain, sacred zones.
Yes, let us know. They cook with rice, yucca, vegetables (not fried fish).
Jan 9-11, June 10-12, Oct 10-12, 2026. 3 dates a year.
Yes: 700,000 COP if you book 30 days in advance (first 5 spots per date).
Yes: "friend group" – if you bring 2+ people, 50,000 COP discount per person.
Basic assistance is included. We strongly recommend you get additional travel insurance for peace of mind.
Choose how to experience WIMAKE
Shared
Join a group of travelers on fixed dates. Ideal for meeting people and sharing the authentic experience. Next dates: Jan 9-11, Jun 10-12, Oct 10-12, 2026.
See datesPrivate
Your group, your date, your pace. Private bonfire with the mamo and total flexibility. Perfect for couples or small groups.
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