Do

Immerse yourself in mud at El TotumoSanta Catalina, Columbia

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Squelch mud through your fingers and feel it ooze between your toes inside Colombia’s El Totumo volcano. About an hour’s drive from Cartagena, this pillar of goop promises a soothing and somewhat bizarre activity for travellers willing to slither into its embrace. To give it a go, cough up some pesos, strip to your togs and clamber up a rickety wooden ladder to the top of the volcano’s cone. Once you are immersed in the warm slop, a masseuse will offer to pummel your shoulders and massage the sludge into your scalp, all in the name of relaxation.

The experience doesn’t end when you emerge resembling a concrete-clad monster. Hand yourself over to one of the local ladies, who'll scrub you squeaky clean in the nearby lake. Just get ready to temporarily part with your swimsuit; the women are very, very thorough.

love
not sure?

Floating effortlessly in the mud
Cheap massages
Soaking up the mud’s apparent skin-renewing properties

Constant tipping
The aggressive cleansing of the women in the lake
Finding flakes of dried mud for the next couple of days

get there

You can reach the volcano in an hour by bus from Cartagena. Alternatively, many hotels can arrange private pick-up and drop-off services going door-to-door.

price guide

Day tours with Viator start at US$94.

difficulty

Climbing up the slippery stairs may be a challenge for some, but well worth it once you’ve reached the top!

contact

Viator
viator.com

need to know

All people providing services such as massages, photos and holding your clothes expect to be tipped, so don’t come cashless.

Ready to go?

Tags: colombia, Santa Catalina, south america, unusual travel experiences, volcano, wellness

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get there

You can reach the volcano in an hour by bus from Cartagena. Alternatively, many hotels can arrange private pick-up and drop-off services going door-to-door.