El Valle Overview

By Richard McColl

Take the only road south from Bahía Solana for about 20 km. and you’ll reach El Valle. The town is distinctly un-valley like, contrary to what the name would suggest. El Valle is gradually stepping out of its larger neighbor to the north’s shadow, and El Almejal Nature Reserve is helping it become a destination in its own right.

For now, the town consists of two roads and a pathway to Playa Almejal. There has been a massive construction push along this beach, which looks like it could have some great waves.

Electricity cuts and communication problems are the norm. If you desperately need medical attention, or just want to accomplish any errand, then you must head north to Bahía Solano. When the weather is at it worst, provisions in El Valle become scarce. During our October trip, torrential rain caused several places to run out of beer!

Soak in everything, as little as that might be, that El Valle has to offer. The town’s skyline displays the spurs of the Baudo mountainous region and a variety of species of migrating birds. In addition to birds, El Valle is great for whale watching trips. Hop on a launch from the expansive stretch of beach, which runs south from the town into the Utria National park, and is populated by lazy dogs and coconut harvesters.

(Altitude: 5 meters, City Code: 4)