Private room
Around €30 per night depending on the season and comfort.
Tips & favourites
Everything to know before you go
Budget, food, weather, safety, cash, Wi-Fi, our addresses and what we'd have loved to know before coming to El Valle.
Budget
What to budget for
Rough guide only. Rates change with season, how early you book, and group size.
Dorm
Between €10 and €20 per night.
Activities
€40 to €60 per person for most activities.
Meals
You can buy fish fresh from the fishermen.
Local food
Flavours of the Pacific
Fish, plantain, coconut: Chocó's Afro-Colombian cuisine has nothing to do with the rest of the country.
The fish
Sierra, pargo, atún depending on the morning catch. Grilled over wood or in sudado.
Coco rice
Rice cooked in coconut milk, lightly sweet. It's on every table.
Plantain
As patacones or tajadas, at every meal.
Viche
Artisanal cane spirit, Afro-Colombian heritage. Sip it small.
Local fruit
Borojó, chontaduro, guanábana, pomarrosa. Many you won't find anywhere else.
Weather
When to come
The Chocó is a year-round destination. The weather stays tropical.
Year-round
No season is bad, they're just different.
Wetter
October to December, more frequent rain.
Drier season
Early in the year. Pack a rain jacket regardless.
Whales
Late June to early October. July, August and September are prime.
Safety
On the ground
The Chocó can sound intimidating on paper. In El Valle you'll find a quiet village.
A quiet village
You feel safe quickly, thanks to a warm community.
The only real risk
Not wanting to leave.
Wi-Fi & signal
Getting online
There's coverage, but it's uneven. Don't count on it too much.
Wi-Fi
Available at some places to stay. Often slow, can drop. Not for remote work.
Mobile network
Patchy depending on the spot. Claro is usually most reliable.
Cash
Cash & withdrawals
Everything is paid in Colombian pesos, in cash. Sort it out before you land.
Bring cash
Withdraw in Medellín before the flight, ideally small notes.
No ATM in El Valle
Bancolombia in Bahía Solano, sometimes out of order or out of cash.
Western Union
Available in El Valle and Bahía Solano as a fallback.
Our addresses
Our favourites in El Valle
A few places we like and send travellers to.
BK Restaurant
Pacific cuisine, catch of the day and Afro-Colombian dishes.
Duver's bar
Where we often close the day. Locals, travellers, Pacific music.
A day in Cuevita
A day trip to the neighbouring village of Cuevita.
Doña Pilar
Local table, family cooking in El Valle.
What we wish we knew
What we wish we knew
The details we hold on to after a few months on the ground.
Skip the heels
No use here. Sandals and shoes that dry fast do the job.
Plan extra days
Flights can shift — don't schedule an onward flight the next day.
Buy local
Straight from the villagers — fish, fruit, pastries.
No laundromat
Bring what you need to hand-wash, or pay per stay.
Bug spray & power bank
Two essentials in your bag. Power cuts happen.
Cut the plastic
Little sorting on the ground. A water bottle and reusable bag help.