Go Play in the Mud at Volcan de Lodo El Totumo (GC1KKQC) – GEOCACHE OF THE WEEK

This week, we’re going to stay on the theme of amazing EarthCaches. And just like last week, this EarthCache is a volcano, but this volcano is a little different…

Volcan de Lodo El Totumo
Volcan de Lodo El Totumo

Go Play in the Mud at Volcan de Lodo El Totumo (GC1KKQC) takes you to one of the rare mud volcanoes located in South America. This particular mud volcano is near Cartagena, Colombia.  Instead of the red-hot molten lava that most volcanoes spew, here you’ll find harmless warm mud.

The top of the mud volcano. Photo by geocacher Team Bear-Cat.
The top of the mud volcano. Photo by geocacher Team Bear-Cat.

Mud volcanoes are thought to be formed when the heat generated by tectonic movement moves up through the soft, sedimentary soil and bubbles to the surface. The mud-mountain itself is formed after sediment builds up over the years.  Volcan de Lodo El Totumois has a mud-depth of about 60 feet (18 meters), but mud-bathers are so buoyant in the mud that there’s no risk of sinking.

To complete this EarthCache, you must take a photo of yourself and your GPS next to the volcano and answer a few questions. And while it’s not required to log the find, no visit to Volcan de Lodo El Totumois would be complete without a mud bath and massage from one of the locals. “We have gotten wet and/or dirty while geocaching in the past, but NEVER like THIS,” said geocachers Team Bear-Cat in their log.

Geocachers becoming mud-people. Photo by geocacher Veet Voojagig.
Geocachers becoming mud-people. Photo by geocacher Veet Voojagig.

For those of you that haven’t had a chance to join the ranks of mud-people in Colombia, what’s the dirtiest you’ve ever gotten while geocaching?

Continue to explore some of the most engaging geocaches around the globe. Check out all the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog or view the Bookmark List on Geocaching.com.

If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, send an email with your name, comments, the name of the geocache, and the GC code to pr@groundspeak.com.