People who know me may be aware of the recent development of my passion for hammocks. It’s quite lucky really, as the travellers’ trail is bountiful when it comes to hammocks. So the prospect of sleeping in one, on a beach in a National Park, which is only accessible by a two hour trek through the jungle, is something I have been looking forward to especially. Tayrona National Park is a popular destination for adventurous tourists and travellers from across Colombia, South America and the World. After some hours travelling I arrived at the campsite and was assigned my bed for the night, in a hut with 45 other paradise seekers. After a few shots of aguardiente on Saturday night I slept like a baby, gently rocking in her crib (and sometimes rocking into her neighbours).

I woke bright and early to the sounds of birds singing and waves lapping the shore. I donned the bare essentials and ventured out to find the lesser visited beaches around the next bays. Barefoot running on golden beaches and through tropical jungle feels pretty primal and exhilarating. I could totally be a tribeswoman. Emerging from the jungle I was greeted by a long stretch of glistening beach, blue sea, virgin sand and not a person in sight. I may not have believed it this time last year, but waking up at 6.30 does have its benefits.

After running the length of the two beaches beyond the busier beaches at the camp, including the (empty) nudist beach, I turned back and re-entered the jungle. Hearing a loud rustling on the forest floor I stopped to spot the culprit and saw a strange pig-rodent creature a few metres away. On googling ‘pig rodent’ just now, it seems I might have seen a ‘Capybara’. The strange creature didn’t hang around for long and I continued on my way. Taking a different path I suddenly popped out on the shore again, this time over high rocks, the Caribbean Sea crashing against them below. Feeling so excited and exhilarated by my whole morning run experience, it was the first time I have ever been compelled to take a selfie on a run. I clearly just wanted to capture the sweaty, magical ecstasy of the moment.

After 2 nights, paradise was getting a bit costly and it was time to move on. I made the trek back to civilisation alone and early, a combination I seem to be enjoying at the moment. Since the jungle route wasn’t so busy I was lucky enough to spot a family of monkeys, who also came to take a look at me walking past. Leaving the beaten track certainly has its rewards sometimes.