Getting There
Darién is best reached from Cali, from where there are frequent buses for the 2 1/2-hour ride during the day. If coming from the north, you will save time by stopping in Buga and catching a bus from there (1 hr.).
Exploring Lago Calima
Outside of the weekend nightlife, water sports are the primary activity around Lago Calima. Sign up for boat trips on the lake from any of the tour operators around the plaza, or at Entrada 5 outside of town. You can either join a tour for around COP$10,000 or rent an entire boat for COP$60,000 to COP$80,000.
Most of the windsurfing schools are found closer to the dam (catch a minibus there from Darién for COP$1,800), and many offer packages with lessons and accommodations. In general, you can expect to pay around COP$60,000 per hour for windsurfing lessons and around COP$100,000 for kitesurfing lessons, plus rentals. You can also rent stand-up paddle boards (SUP) for around COP$60,000 per hour. One of the better surf operations on the lake is Cogua Kiteboarding (www.coguakiteboarding.com; tel. 318/608-3932), which has a workshop at Calle 10 no. 4–51, where they make custom kiteboards out of coconut fiber.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
