By Soren Rivero
Colombia is a beautiful country filled with more unique animals and scenic landscapes than you could possibly count. In fact, Colombia has more biodiversity than almost any other country in the world!
Keep reading to learn about 5 of the best spots in Colombia for the nature lover in all of us!
Los Flamencos Flora and Fauna Sanctuary
Located near the dry tropical city of Riohacha in Northern Colombia, just a few miles from a desert, is the ever-so-popular Los Flamencos Sanctuary. Fortunately, the desert clears up as it approaches closer to the coasts, where there are plenty of reservoirs that fill up whenever rain happens to fall. These bodies of water evaporate in the drier seasons and leave behind condensed puddles of salt — which make perfect homes for brine shrimp. This calls forth plenty of beautifully pink and majestic flamingoes as well as many other species of birds such as the Pink Ibis and the White Ibis!
Parque Tayrona
Be prepared for our next location, Parque Tayrona, cause you’re going to have to do a ton of walking. But a few extra steps didn’t hurt anyone, right?
Parque Tayrona (also known as Tayrona National Park) is a massive National Park located in Northern Colombia known for extremely rich biodiversity. Within the park there are more than six beaches, a few coastal lagoons, rainforests, and ancient archaeological sites built by the Tayrona civilization. Visitors can enter this park for a price of around $55,00 COP and can even stay overnight at one of the numerous hotels within the park. Just be warned that this place gets extremely busy, so make plans to arrive early (we recommend at around 8:00 A.M). Another thing to keep in mind is that the indigenous people call this place their home and perform sacred rituals every year in February — which prompts officials to close the area down.
Gorgona Island
Interested in exploring a unique place often avoided by both tourists and locals because of its dark and mysterious history? Well, we’ve got just the recommendation for you!
Gorgona Island is a peculiar place in Colombia with an interesting past. Located about 20 miles from Colombia’s Pacific Coast, this island is surrounded by shark-infested waters and inhabits dozens of species (some of which are endemic) that can only be found on this island. If the sharks, monkeys, and ravenous birds aren’t enough to scare you, then some of Gorgona Island’s history may. During the 1980s, Gorgona Island was used as a penitentiary for the country’s most dangerous prisoners. Regardless, the island is super popular for adventurous tourists. Guides will supply you with long and thick rubber boots to protect from mud, infection, and poisonous snakes.
Serrania de la Macarena National Park
Have you ever seen rivers of red, yellow, and orange? Serrania de la Macarena is home to one of the most beautiful rivers in all of the world: Caño Cristales. Also called “The River of Five Colors” or the “Liquid Rainbow”, this river looks like it was painted with the colors of fall foliage.
Serrania de la Macarena sits on the border of three of Colombia’s most beautiful and biodiverse ecosystems: the Amazon Rainforest, the Andes, and the Easter Llanos. There’s plenty to see here as it’s home to over 400 species of birds, vast mountain ranges, and endemic aquatic plants. Visitors can take a tour through the river as well as hike in La Macarena.
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon expands over 5 million square kilometers, which makes it the largest rainforest in the entire world. It's home to over 40,000 species of plants, hundreds of mammals, thousands of birds, and more.
This rainforest has two seasons: wet and dry. The wet season lasts from January to June and the dry season lasts for the remainder of the year. There is no ‘ideal’ time to visit the Amazon Rainforest as it mainly depends on what kind of experience you want. During the wet season, the temperature will be cooler and swimming might be possible due to higher levels of water. The dry season makes it easier to travel by foot, though some species might be more aggressive due to shortened food supplies. Visitors can see the rich fauna and flora all year-round and can even stay in jungle lodges. Before going, please be aware of some of the precautions of the Amazon rainforest. Keep in mind: the area and the creatures living inside are becoming more endangered every year, and it is up to travelers to help maintain the rainforest’s overall health.
