Colombia, Malpelo

Colombia & Malpelo – The Andes & Sharks 🇨🇴

A Peter Löseke Special

Travel details

Available spaces

3 spot(s)

Trip duration

18 nights

Travel dates

06 March, 2027 - 24 March, 2027

Price per person

7.780 € per person

Trip Highlights

Hammerheads ⚒️ For those passionate about big marine life, Malpelo delivers a surreal dive scene, with hammerheads often spotted in groups of hundreds gliding through the deep blue. The remote, protected environment around the island attracts these elusive creatures, offering rare close-up encounters with hammerheads in their natural habitat

Marine Biodiversity 🦈 Beyond the hammerheads, Malpelo teems with fascinating marine life, including massive whale sharks, silky sharks, and graceful manta rays that glide through the nutrient-rich waters. The island's deep walls and seamounts are also home to schools of barracuda, vibrant moray eels, and unique species like the endemic Malpelo fang blenny.

Colombia 🇨🇴 An underestimated tourist destination, Colombia is going all in on its eco-tourism. Perfect to take some time before or after to explore the beauty and nature of this wonderful country.

Trip description

Malpelo – Sharks at the End of the World

Isla Malpelo lies 500 kilometers off the Colombian Pacific coast – a barren rocky promontory that rises from the open ocean like a fortress. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, a strictly protected marine reserve, and one of the most remote dive sites in the world. Those who come here come for one thing: picture-perfect big fish encounters.

The underwater landscape is characterized by steep drop-offs, pinnacles, and open blue water. Hundreds of hammerhead sharks patrol here in dense schools, silky sharks approach curiously, and Galapagos sharks cruise in the currents. Huge schools of tuna, eagle rays, and, with luck, a whale shark gliding through the blue. Malpelo is among the top 5 big fish diving destinations worldwide – and every dive proves it.

Aboard the M/Y Ferox, a first-class safari vessel awaits you for up to 3 dives daily, including Nitrox. The crew knows the waters like the back of their hand and provides detailed briefings on currents, dive sites, and safety – every diver carries a personal locator beacon and surface marker buoy. Between dives: full board with freshly prepared meals, relaxation on deck, and endless views of the Pacific Ocean.

The crossing from Buenaventura takes 30–36 hours, as does the return trip. In between are 8 days of diving in a place where no two days are the same. This is Malpelo: wild, raw, and absolutely unforgettable.

Roundtrip from Medellin to Cali

Nights

Price per person

2.285 €

DATE START

06 March 2027

DATE END

13 March 2027

Included

German-speaking tour guide throughout the trip from Medellin to the Nido del Condor Ecolodge
Private airport transfer in Medellin, half-day city tour
Medellin, full-day tour of Guatape, Medellin – Manizales – Nido del Condor
Driver only from Nido del Condor Ecolodge to Cali
3 nights in a double room at the Boutique Hotel Quinta Ladera Medellin, breakfast included
3 nights in a double room in a Carpa-style tent glamping tent at the
Nido del Condor Ecolodge with private bathroom in the mountains of the Caldas Department, full board included
Private 40-minute boat tour on Lake Guatape
Activities as described in the itinerary
Local accident insurance
Final night in Cali at the Intercontinental Cali Resort, breakfast included

Not Included

International and domestic flights
Travel and cancellation insurance
Additional activities and spa treatments at the Nido del Condor Ecolodge
Meals and drinks not specified
Personal expenses
Gratuities

Colombian Dive Adventures

Nights

Price per person

5.495 €

DATE START

13 March 2027

DATE END

23 March 2027

Included

Transfer from Hotel Cali InterContinental to Buenaventura Ferox and back
10 nights on board
Single or double cabin (smaller cabins available with a €250 discount)
Full board including soft drinks, coffee, tea, and water
Up to 3 dives per day (2 dives on the last day) including tanks, weights, guide, and Nitrox
7 days of diving

Not Included

Flights
Travel insurance
Hotel before/after the tour
Tours in Colombia (4-5 days highly recommended)
Parking fees USD 440 per person (subject to change by the authorities)
Alcoholic beverages
Crew tips
Rental equipment
Requirements
Advanced Open Water certification
Minimum 50 logged dives
Nitrox certification

Day-by-day program

Welcome to Colombia! Arrival at José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro. Private transfer through the green mountain landscape of Antioquia to Hotel Diez in Medellín – approx. 30 minutes depending on traffic. Time to settle in, take a deep breath, and let the first impressions of this vibrant Andean metropolis sink in.

Full-day tour through a city that has made history. Medellín has transformed from one of the world’s most violent cities into the “most innovative city” – and this transformation is palpable everywhere. With the metro and Metrocable, we dive into urban everyday life. The highlight: Comuna 13, once the scene of brutal conflict, today a vibrant open-air museum of graffiti, street art, and hip-hop. A local guide shares first-hand accounts of how art and community have transformed the neighborhood. We continue on to the historic center with its famous Botero sculptures and bustling street life. A city tour that gets under your skin.

Today we head out of the city – destination: the mighty Peñol Rock, rising 235 meters from the landscape. Those who climb the 704 steps are rewarded with a breathtaking panorama over the 74 km² reservoir with its countless islands. Afterwards we reach the colorful colonial village of Guatapé on the lakeshore, famous for its artistic zócalos – hand-painted reliefs on the house facades that tell stories of village life. A guided walk through the charming alleys is followed by a private boat trip across the reservoir, with views of the legendary Hacienda La Manuela. Colorful, authentic, and unforgettable.

Setting off into the mountains. The route follows the Río Cauca through the warm valley between the two Andean cordilleras – a drive where the landscape changes with every kilometer. From Manizales onwards, we switch to jeeps and follow the Ruta del Cóndor up to 2,500 meters, where the Ecolodge Nido del Cóndor nestles into the cloud forest landscape. Lunch at the lodge, followed by time to explore the extensive grounds. First hikes through the impressive mountain scenery – and with a bit of luck, an initial sighting of majestic Andean condors in their natural habitat. Pure driving time: approx. 5 hours.

A full day in the heart of the Colombian Andes. The ecolodge offers guided hikes through the cloud forest, birdwatching with one of the world’s most species-rich avifaunas, and the chance to observe Andean condors with wingspans of over three meters gliding across the mountain peaks. For those who prefer something quieter: spa and wellness amid absolute mountain stillness. Full board at the lodge.

After breakfast at 9 a.m., it’s time to say goodbye to our ecolodge and continue our journey to Cali. Arrival in Cali around 4 p.m.

Morning at leisure in Cali. At 1 p.m., transfer to Buenaventura on Colombia’s Pacific coast (approx. 3–4 hours’ drive through the tropical lowlands). At the harbor, the M/Y Ferox awaits you – your floating home for the next 10 nights. Boarding, safety briefing, cabin assignments. Departure heading for Malpelo. The crossing takes approx. 30–36 hours. The adventure begins.

Day on the open Pacific. Time to relax, check gear, and prepare for the upcoming dives. The crew will brief you on the dive sites, current conditions, and expected big-fish encounters. With a bit of luck, dolphins, whales, or pelagic sharks may already make an appearance along the way. Full board on board.

Arrival at Isla Malpelo – a lonely rocky outcrop in the middle of the Pacific and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first dives serve for orientation and acclimatization to the often strong currents. Even now, encounters with schools of hammerheads, silky sharks, and massive schools of fish are possible. Up to 3 dives, Nitrox included.

Diving at the legendary dive sites around Malpelo. Up to 3 dives with experienced guides. Full board on board.

Half of the diving days are done – and the fascination doesn’t fade. Malpelo ranks among the world’s top 5 big-fish dive destinations, and every descent into the blue delivers the proof. Between dives, the M/Y Ferox offers first-class catering with freshly prepared meals, snacks, coffee, and soft drinks. Up to 3 dives.

Final diving day at Isla Malpelo – 2 dives in the morning to say goodbye to this magical place one last time. In the afternoon, it’s time to weigh anchor. The M/Y Ferox sets course back to Buenaventura. One last look at the lonely rock in the Pacific that has given us encounters to last a lifetime.

Day at sea. Time to relax, sort through photos, and reflect on the experiences of the past days. The crew will spoil you one last time with full board on board. Arrival in Buenaventura is expected the following morning.

Arrival in Buenaventura in the early morning. Disembarkation and transfer back to Cali. Depending on flight times, there’s the option to do some last-minute shopping or enjoy a coffee in the city. Transfer to Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport and return flight or overnight Cali.

TRIP LEADER

Your trip leader

A man that needs little explanation. Armed with his RED camera, he has knows the world’s prime dive locations like his back pocket. A forever optimist and young spirit, proud to call him our most experienced Group Trip Guide.

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