6 Days of Pure Adrenaline in Jardín: We Did EVERYTHING

Okay so we need to start by saying: we almost only booked 2 nights in Jardín. TWO NIGHTS! Can you imagine?! We changed it to 6 the day after we arrived and honestly we could have stayed longer. This town is UNREAL for adventure activities and we are so glad we gave it the time it deserved!

We're Emma and Jake, we're from Vancouver, Canada, we've been traveling through South America for 4 months, and we are basically the couple that can't sit still. Like, we love each other very much, but if we're sitting by a pool for more than 2 hours, one of us is going to suggest something involving heights, speed, or mud. Usually all three.

We stayed at Isla de Pascua hostel and it was the PERFECT base for everything we wanted to do. Here's our day-by-day breakdown of how we absolutely sent it in Jardín!

Day 1: Arrival + La Garrucha (The Cable Car of Your Dreams/Nightmares)

We got to Jardín around noon, dropped our bags at Isla de Pascua (first impression: wait, there's a POOL?! And MOUNTAINS?!), and immediately asked the front desk what we could do RIGHT NOW.

The answer: La Garrucha.

So La Garrucha is this old-school cable car that goes across the entire valley. And when we say old-school, we mean it's basically a metal cage suspended from a wire. It's terrifying! It's amazing! Jake was gripping the railing so hard his knuckles turned white and I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe!

The views from up there are absolutely INSANE. The whole valley of Jardín spread out below you — the patchwork of green fields, the river winding through, the town in the distance with its church spires poking up. We took about a million photos and videos.

On the other side, we hiked around for a bit, found a local finca selling fresh guarapo (sugarcane juice), and took La Garrucha back across. Double the terror, double the fun!

Day 2: Cueva del Esplendor (THE Hike)

This was the one we'd been dreaming about. The Cueva del Esplendor! That famous waterfall that pours through a hole in the ceiling of a cave! We'd seen it on Instagram approximately 500 times and we NEEDED to see it in person!

We booked the tour through Isla de Pascua (super easy, the staff sorted everything) and left at 7 AM. The hike is about 4 hours total and let us tell you — it is NOT a casual stroll! You're going through cloud forest, crossing rivers (Jake fell in one — highlight of my year), scrambling up muddy slopes, and pushing through vegetation.

But then you arrive at the cave and... wow. Just... WOW.

The waterfall drops through this perfect circular hole in the cave roof, creating this curtain of water that you can actually swim under. The water is FREEZING — like, Canadian-lake-in-April freezing, which actually made us feel right at home — but we swam anyway because how could you not?!

We spent about an hour at the cave, taking photos, swimming, and just being completely amazed that places like this actually exist. The hike back was tough (our legs were DONE) but we were running on pure adrenaline.

Day 3: Paragliding Over the Valley!

THIS. WAS. INCREDIBLE.

We'd heard that paragliding was possible from Jardín and we signed up immediately. The launch site is on a hill above town and you tandem with an experienced pilot.

The feeling of running off that hillside and suddenly being AIRBORNE over the valley of Jardín — there are no words. You're flying! Over coffee farms and rivers and tiny houses and the church! Jake literally screamed "THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE" and the pilot just laughed because apparently everyone says that.

We each flew for about 20 minutes, circling on thermals, dipping down into the valley and then rising back up. Emma cried a little (happy tears!). The landing was smooth. We high-fived so hard it hurt.

After paragliding, we spent the afternoon at the Isla de Pascua pool — which we had EARNED — and watched the sunset from our hammocks. Even adventure junkies need a recovery afternoon sometimes!

Day 4: Horseback Riding Through Coffee Country

We switched gears on day 4 and did a horseback riding tour through the hills around Jardín. Neither of us had much riding experience (Jake's horse seemed to know this and took every opportunity to stop and eat grass) but the guides were patient and the scenery was worth every awkward trot.

The route took us through actual working coffee farms, along ridgelines with panoramic views, and through patches of cloud forest. We stopped at a mirador that overlooked the entire valley and the guide made us coffee right there — brewed over a small camp stove with beans from the farm we'd just ridden through!

That evening, we explored the restaurants around the plaza. We split a massive bandeja paisa (the Colombian mega-plate) and Jake had his third trucha of the trip. The food in Jardín is SO GOOD and SO CHEAP — we were eating like royalty for under $5 USD each!

Day 5: Waterfall Swimming + Coffee Farm Tour

Morning: We hiked to one of the swimming holes near Jardín. The water was crystal clear and COLD (sensing a theme?) but the setting was paradise — natural pools surrounded by huge boulders and overhanging trees. We had the place almost entirely to ourselves.

Afternoon: Coffee farm tour! We learned how coffee goes from cherry to cup, got to pick some cherries ourselves, and drank the freshest coffee of our entire lives. The farmer was so passionate about his work — you could see the pride in every word. We bought 2 bags of beans to bring home (our parents are going to LOVE their souvenirs).

Evening: The hostel had an informal gathering in the common area. Someone made pasta, someone else brought wine, and we ended up swapping stories with travelers from 6 different countries until midnight. These are the moments that make long-term travel special — not just the activities, but the people you share them with.

Day 6: Cristo Rey Sunrise + Last Day Shenanigans

We set our alarms for 5 AM (painful but necessary) and hiked up to Cristo Rey for the sunrise. The hike in the dark was a bit spooky but we had headlamps and determination!

The sunrise was STUNNING. Golden light spilling over the mountains, the valley filling with color, the Basilica glowing below. We sat at the top for an hour, not wanting to leave, knowing it was our last full day.

The rest of day 6 was a greatest-hits mashup: one more swim in the hostel pool, one more trucha lunch, one more plaza wander, one more sunset from the hammocks.

The Hostel That Made It All Possible

Real talk: Isla de Pascua was the MVP of this trip. Here's why:

The staff: They organized literally every activity for us. Cueva del Esplendor tour? Booked. Paragliding? Arranged. Horseback riding? Sorted. Coffee farm? Done. All we had to do was show up, and they made sure we were in good hands every time.

The vibes: It's social without being a party hostel. We met incredible people without being kept up all night by bass drops. The common area is perfect for hanging out, and the pool is perfect for recovery days.

The location: Close enough to walk to the plaza and restaurants, far enough away to feel peaceful. Best of both worlds.

The pool: We keep mentioning it because WE LOVED IT. After days of hiking and riding and flying, being able to come back to that pool was everything.

Our Final Advice

If you're the type of traveler who wants to DO things, Jardín should be at the top of your Colombia list. Most people seem to visit for 2-3 nights and do 1-2 activities. We're here to tell you: stay 5-6 nights and do ALL the things! You won't regret it!

And stay at Isla de Pascua. Trust us. It's the kind of hostel that makes you want to extend your stay, cancel your next bus, and just... keep adventuring from this incredible base in the mountains.

We're already talking about coming back. Jake wants to do the Cueva del Esplendor hike again (he says he wants a second chance to NOT fall in the river). I want to do another paragliding flight. We both want more trucha.

See you soon, Jardín. You absolutely crushed it.

— Emma & Jake, sending love from Bogotá (which is great but has no pool)