VISITING CUEVA DEL ESPLENDOR ON HORSEBACK FROM JARDIN, COLOMBIA

One of the top attractions in Columbia is the Cueva del Esplendor, a unique natural landmark where a waterfall cascades through an opening in the ground, into the dark abyss of a cave.

Most people opt to visit Cueva del Esplendor either by jeep or hiking, but for those who want a more relaxing and gentle way to see this natural wonder, then the best way to visit is by horseback.

We opted to take a 6 hour horse ride to Cueva del Esplendor because it sounded like a perfect way to spend the day. When our guide suggested an option to do the first half of it in a jeep, we scoffed at the idea. Absolutely not! Horses all the way.

Where is Cueva del Esplendor?

Hidden amidst the majestic Colombian Andes lies the captivating Cueva del Esplendor. This enchanting waterfall, nestled within a cave, is located just outside the charming pueblo of Jardin.

To reach this natural wonder, you must either hike along muddy mountain paths for 12 miles (which takes around 7 hours there and back) or get a lift in a jeep for 45 minutes, followed by a 30 minute walk.

Our Experience Riding Horseback to Cueva del Esplendor

The ride up to the waterfall was beautiful and quite possibly the highlight of the entire Colombia trip. The trail climbed up above Jardín, a town located 4 hours south of Medellin, which provided us with a bird’s eye view of the city.

Lush mountains, valleys, and forests surrounded us. It was as if we’d donned glassed painted with green.The trail was steep, rocky and muddy, and at any second we expected our horses to slip and stumble.

We went up, higher and higher traversing along the side of a mountain. Soon we couldn’t see Jardin anymore. What we saw instead were coffee and banana plantations replaced by rolling grazing farmlands dotted with the occasional farmhouses.

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