There is no doubt Colombia is a great destination for bucket list travel, especially along the coast. From celebrating Carnival in Barranquilla to “discovering” Ciudad Perdida when you Tour Santa Marta, it is easy for any traveler to find adventure. However, one of the craziest and most unique bucket list experiences is to bathe in the Totumo Mud Volcano!

Colombia’s Mud Volcano

Just 45 minutes outside of Cartagena, at 49 feet high, lies the smallest volcano in Colombia, Volcan del Totumo. El Totumo, as it is known to locals, is an active volcano in the municipality of Santa Catalina. However, instead of spewing hot lava and ash, El Totumo contains dense, geothermally heated mud containing supposedly body-benefiting minerals. According to the welcome sign at the base of the Totumo Mud Volcano, this giant cauldron of mud contains all-natural ingredients including calcium, magnesium and aluminum, among others.

Legend has it that at one time, El Totumo was a work of the Devil and in fact spewed fire, lava, and ash. But a local priest fought to banish the Devil by sprinkling holy water into the fiery pit and it was turned into mud. Thus, the fabled birth of the Totumo Mud Volcano.

Climbing to the top

When you arrive at El Totumo, local guides immediately direct you to take off your shoes and hand over your cameras. Don’t worry, your assigned guide will take care of your camera and take pictures of your experience. From there you climb up a rickety set of steps to the top of the mud volcano and a platform about 15 feet in diameter. At the top, the views of the valley and lake below are truly amazing! Once there you will wait in line with a bunch of other adventurous souls for your chance to climb into the pit.

Hot Tip: There is no protection from the sun at the top so make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen!

Getting in the Totumo Mud Volcano

When it is finally your time, you tell your guide which camera is yours and then proceed down the mud caked ladder into the pit. The mud is extremely dense so the first thing you notice is that you can’t sink. As you bob around through the crowd of other muddy bodies, make your way to one of the local “massage therapists” for the ultimate Totumo Mud Volcano experience.

Get ready to be handled

Once in the Totumo Mud Volcano, get ready to be groped. Inside the pit are several locals who are there to give you full body mud massage. They will coat your entire body with the mineral rich mud and massage your legs, back and scalp. It is wise to let them cover your face so as to not get any of the mud in your eyes.

After your massage there is plenty of time to relax and take it all in. You will be allowed to bob around in the mud for as long as you want. But know that it does start to get a bit crowded and there will be legs and arms flailing all around you.

Hot Tip: Wear an old bathing suit or pair of shorts that you don’t want anymore. They will be ruined by the mud.

Escaping the pit

Once you are done, you will climb out of the pit on another muddy and slippery ladder. Take your time exiting because you don’t want to slip and fall back onto the throngs of other muddy bodies! When you exit, your guide will take a few more photos and then wipe off any excess mud drippings from your body. From here you will make your way back down to the base of Totumo via another set of rickety steps.

Hot Tip: Also, take heed to your trunks as they tend to be filled with mud and can easily slip off as you climb the ladder out. The last thing you want to share is your white buttocks with the crowd below! 

Getting cleaned off

Once you are at the base of Totumo Mud Volcano, grab your shoes and towel and head to the lake. Here, an old, local and quite aggressive woman will grab your hand, place a colored ribbon around your wrist and guide you into the water. Get Ready! She will douse you with water from her bucket as she works to clean the mud off of you with no concern for boundaries or personal space. Prepare for her to demand you take off your bathing suite so she can clean it in the water as you sit shamelessly beneath the surface.

Hot Tip: Bring an old pair of flip flops with you as the paved path to the lake is extremely, hot but your feet are caked in mud!

Finishing up

After your bath in the lake, you can claim your camera, change your clothes, and perhaps grab a beer or some food. Make sure you bring enough cash for tips. Everyone from the camera man to the ladies who washed you will approach you asking for a cash tip for their “services.”

How to get to the Totumo Mud Volcano

From Cartagena: If there are several of you in your group, you can pay for a round trip cab to Volcan del Totumo. In general, it is about a 40-minute drive from Cartagena in the Santa Catalina district. You will need to pay the entrance fees along with your tips inside.

However, it is easier and probably a little safer to take part in one of the several Totumo Mud Volcano tour groups out of Cartagena. The tour groups generally pick you up at your hotel or a central location. They offer you round trip transportation, a nice lunch at a nearby Manzanillo Beach, and possibly a tour of the natural areas of the Santa Catalina district.

• Totumo Volcano Transportation from Cartagena Tour – After pickup from your Cartagena hotel, this tour will take you via air-conditioned bus to the Totumo Mud Volcano. Your guide will also provide great insights into the Bolivar region as you pass atmospheric mangroves and splendid seaside sights. (@$50.00 USD)
• The Mud Volcano from Cartagena Tour – On top of transporting you from your hotel to Volcan Del Totumo, this tour includes a stop at the Caribbean beach Manzanillo del Mar and a typical Colombian-style lunch for a relaxing tour at great value. (@$40.00 USD)
• Half-Day Tour to Totumo Mud Volcano from Cartagena – In addition to providing transportation to and from your Cartagena hotel, this tour includes a stop at Manzanillo Beach. (@$35.00 USD)

Explore nearby Cartagena

Let’s Get Muddy

As you can see, bathing in the Totumo Mud Volcano is one of the craziest and most unique bucket list experiences a person can have in Colombia! Have you ever swam in the Totumo Mud Volcano? Is it on your Bucket List? Let us know in the comments below!

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