Adventure Travel In Colombia

02/15/2016

National Parks Galore

Colombia has established over fifty national parks and protected areas, giving visitors an array of well-preserved habitats to explore. Trips into the national parks are best taken as guided tours since much territory has yet to be explored by anybody. Many of Colombia’s wildlife species are most easily spotted in its national parks. Visitors can even find luxury accommodations in some.

Hiking and Coffee In Colombia

In Colombia’s principal coffee growing region, called the Coffee Triangle, the landscapes are lush and mountainous. Set in the Central Andes west of Bogota, Los Nevados National Park covers 144,062 acres and is a popular destination with hikers. The park sits on the eastern edge of the Coffee Triangle. Here hikers can take day hikes or multi-day treks to view snowcapped volcanoes, hot springs, waterfalls and palm forests as well as spend some time learning about coffee at the source.

Colombia's Hiking & Biodiversity

For a country its size, Colombia is a remarkable combination of climates, elevations and waterways. Visitors can look forward to exploring coral reefs and idyllic beaches on the Caribbean side, a palm-fringed Pacific coast, towering Andean peaks and even a sector of the Amazon Rainforest. Birders love Colombia. More bird species are found here than any other country in the world, a total of almost 1,900 species, and because so much of Colombia’s terrain has yet to be explored, more species keep being discovered.

Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park offers several different ecosystems, from tropical lowlands to cloud forests, glaciers and a 18,942-ft peak that is the world’s highest coastal mountain. Hikers planning to visit the fascinating city of Cartagena, west of the park, often include Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in their Colombia tours. The 946,413-acre park contains over 120 wildlife species including the giant anteater, howler and spider monkeys, white-lipped peccaries and as many different bird species as are found in all of North America.

Wedged between the Caribbean coast and the western edge of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park, Tayrona is one of Colombia’s most visited national parks. Established in 1964, it occupies over 37,000 acres of land plus protected ocean and coral reef, offering hikers and nature lovers a variety of terrain to hike and wildlife to observe. Coconut palm-fringed beaches are part of the lure. Snorkeling is a favorite pastime in the park where tropical fish are abundant. Other interesting destinations in the park include lagoons, caves, lush tropical jungle and the indigenous ruins of El Pueblito.

Colombia's Whitewater Adventures & More

If whitewater rafting is a goal during your Colombia tours, head for San Gil, between Bogota and Bucaramanga. The region is considered the country’s adventure capital, best known for its exciting rivers. You’ll also find kayaking, rappelling, paragliding, climbing, caving, hiking and horseback riding opportunities.

Peace has accelerated the pace of development in Colombia which, as in other Latin American countries, will increasingly threaten habitats. That means there is no better time to travel to Colombia than the present.