After the Ceremony: Celebrating on the Colombian Pacific

My Colombian Pacific couples consistently tell me that the days after the ceremony turned out to be as meaningful as the ceremony itself. That is not surprising. When you are on a beach that requires a small plane and a boat to reach, with the largest rainforest in Colombia behind you and the Pacific in front, the time after the vows has a quality that is very hard to replicate anywhere else. Here is how I see couples use that time best.

Whale Watching from Bahia Solano

Between July and October, the most obvious and most extraordinary thing to do after an elopement at Bahia Solano is to hire a local panga and go out to find the whale pods. I have been on these boats during elopement trips a number of times, and the experience of seeing humpbacks surface at close range in the open Pacific is something that stays with you. The local guides know the migration corridors and the sessions run a few hours. Most mornings in season there is a sighting. I have documented whale encounters for couples as part of the elopement coverage, and those images are consistently the ones that define the trip.

Hiking the Choco Forest

El Almejal reserve has guided trails into the Choco forest that most couples do not know about until they arrive. The guides at the lodge know the forest well, and the hikes run from one hour to a full day depending on fitness and interest. I have hiked into the Mecana River canyon after morning sessions and the forest interior is as impressive as the beach. The canopy closes overhead, the river runs green and clear, and the wildlife in this part of Colombia is genuinely remarkable. The forest hike the day after the ceremony is something I recommend to every couple staying two or more nights at El Almejal.