What to do at the Dapa reserveExperiences between the forest and the water

At La Maima we eat like at home: simple, generous and fresh every day. There's no menu — we cook one dish for everyone, rotating through four — and Sundays and holidays always mean sancocho. Lunch is available on weekends, and on weekdays for groups of more than six. Breakfast comes included in every cabin except Casa Maima: seasonal fruit, orange juice, eggs your way, bread, arepa, coffee or hot chocolate, butter, jam and cuajada cheese, served at the table. Allergies or dietary needs? Just tell us when you book.

A full day at the reserve, Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Includes lunch and access to everything: yoga, the river trail, the natural pool, the little waterfall and the fire pit at day's end. You can also use the showers by the yoga room and the restaurant area. Cabins are not included.

A forest trail of about 45 minutes down to a branch of the Arroyohondo river, where you can bathe among the big boulders. More than a hike, it's a chance to slow down — the wind, the leaves, the butterflies, the forest around you. The path is built in guadua-bamboo steps and rated moderate; wear good shoes, and it's not suited to reduced mobility.

Included in your stay and in the day pass. Held mostly on Sundays and public holidays, in a room set aside for guests, up to 15 people per class — an hour and a half to two hours of traditional yoga, moving and breathing at your own pace. Just want the class? It's $40.000 COP per person (without access to the rest of the reserve).

Lit every evening between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m., and La Maima brings the marshmallows. At 1,800 metres the cold sets in fast once the sun goes down, so the fire in the common area becomes the natural close to the day — the lights of the Cauca Valley below and, almost always, a clear sky with no light pollution. Arranged with the front desk on the day.

Two cold-water spots in the common areas: the pool and the little waterfall, set apart from each other. Perfect for meditating in the water, sharing a drink with friends, or just cooling off.

The stream coming down the mountain opens out among big rocks into a natural pool of cold, clear water that runs all year. Flat rock for sunbathing, forest shade for midday. A few minutes' walk from the houses on a signposted trail — wear grippy shoes and go with company.

Thirty years of restoration show: the reserve is now home to toucans, guans, several hummingbird species, agoutis, and a growing number of orchids, bromeliads and ferns. Early morning is best, especially near water and along the forest edges. Bring binoculars — we'll point you in the right direction.