Nuqui is an increasingly popular vacation, fishing and surfing destination on Colombia's Pacific coast. The landscape around Nuqui is one of tropical rainforest descending into pristine beaches - this is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet. The town is full of military personnel - while Nuqui itself is very safe, you shouldn't be wandering great distances away from Nuqui as this is one of the front lines of Colombia's internal conflict.
Very close to Nuqui, beautiful Playa Olimpica is an enormous 5km in length and a real highlight of the area. There are various nearby small hamlets near Nuqui such as Tribuga and some fantasic uncrowded beaches, many of which are great for surfing.
To the South of Nuqui lies Guachalito - here one finds some of Choco's best beaches and good hotels (see final section for hotel recommendations). Guachalito is a 30 minute boat ride from Nuqui (very early morning departure daily except Sundays from Nuqui, returning after lunch). In addition to the fantastic long beach at Guachalito, there's also some hot springs nearby.
A tour to Parque Nacional Ensenada de Utria can be arranged locally by your hotel - there are whales, dolphins and numerous other aquatic animals to see. The nearby village of Arusi has some hot springs and there are mangrove swamps that can be visited by canoe trips. Further South one also finds Cabo Corrientes, a great spot for diving and snorkelling.
There are three ways to travel to Nuqui - by cargo boat from Buenaventura (20 hours, 80,000 pesos, infrequent service), by boat from El Valle near Bahia Solano (2 hours, 40,000 pesos per person and currently leaving on Tuesday and Saturday) or you can catch a flight to Nuqui from Medellin with Satena or Ada airlines.
Accommodation & Hotels in Nuqui
The following hotels are in or close by to Nuqui. All offer a relatively remote experience with an emphasis on nature and the natural surroundings, above all the beaches and coastline of this beautifiul region of Colombia.
El Cantil - arguably the highest quality lodge in the Nuqui region, surrounded by beach and rainforest. The excellent restaurant has fantastic sea views. Found in Guachalito.
Nuquimar Hotel - 9 comfortable rooms at this reasonably priced, new (2010), sea view hotel in Nuqui. Lots of excursions detailed on their useful website, hotel prices include airport pick-up.
Cabanas Pijiba - an award winning ecotourism project, which also has a very good restaurant. Also in Guachalito.
Morromico - a tranquil place just North of Nuqui.
Piedra Piedra - a rustic refuge in Guachalito for those who love nature.
Also in Guachalito is La Cabana de Beto y Marta, a lovely small hotel with four cabins. In addition, family homestays can be arranged locally. There's also various basic hotels in Nuqui, such as Iraka del Mar.
