Los Colorados Flora and Fauna Sanctuary
A tropical dry-forest nature reserve and one of the few primate refuges in the region, high in the Montes de María.
The destination
San Juan Nepomuceno, heart of the Montes de María
90 kilometers from Cartagena, this town in Bolívar holds tropical dry forest, resilient and welcoming people, and a musical tradition that helped shape Colombian cumbia. This is what awaits you beyond the doors of Casa Grande 1146.
Location
1 hour and 20 minutes from Cartagena de Indias
San Juan Nepomuceno sits in the center of the Bolívar department, in the Montes de María subregion. Casa Grande 1146 is located in the center of town. The drive from Cartagena takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes by road, crossing savanna and dry-forest landscapes that mark the shift from the coast toward the hills.
It is a town that has held on to its customs: the square is still the meeting point, house doors stay open, and a visitor quickly stops feeling like an outsider.
What to see
Points of interest
Main square and parish church
The social heart of the town: benches under the trees, fried-food stalls at dusk and the church that marks the skyline.
Communities with a Rich Craft Tradition
Nearby communities where hammocks and bags are woven using techniques passed down through generations.
Music
The land of the gaita
The Montes de María, the region San Juan Nepomuceno belongs to, is the birthplace of the Colombian gaita, a flute of Indigenous origin that gave rise to rhythms like cumbia, porro and bullerengue. One of the genre's most renowned groups was born in the neighboring town of San Jacinto, and that musical heritage is felt in San Juan too, where weekend nights often come with their own soundtrack.
At Casa Grande 1146 we organize sessions with local gaita players so this music is heard where it belongs: in a courtyard, up close, with no stage.
Flavors
What people eat in San Juan
Panocha e' coco
A traditional sweet made with coconut and panela, a symbol of the cooking of this part of the Caribbean.
Cassava and corn bollo
A must on any table, wrapped in leaves and slow-cooked.
Free-range hen sancocho
A traditional Sunday favorite, served family-style with cassava from the garden.
Galletas María Luisa
Traditional local cookies, a must alongside coffee or afternoon hot chocolate.
Practical information
Before you come
Getting here
By bus from the Cartagena terminal (about 1 hour and 20 minutes) or from Barranquilla, or by car along the Troncal de Occidente highway. If you prefer, we can arrange private transport from the Cartagena or Barranquilla airport.
Weather
Warm all year, with temperatures between 26°C and 34°C. December to April is the driest season; May to November brings brief afternoon showers.
Currency and payments
Colombian peso (COP). There are ATMs in town, but we recommend bringing some cash for the local market and the stalls on the square.
Ready to come?
San Juan Nepomuceno is waiting for you
Tell us your dates and we will arrange your arrival, from transport to itinerary.
