A rustic famed for its distinctive pure wealth, Colombia guarantees beguiling pure magnificence that spans rugged Andean peaks, wildlife-rich tropical rainforests, huge grasslands of wax palms and sparse, highland paramo.
Following 20 years of concerted efforts to strengthen its protected areas, the nation now has 59 nationwide parks and guarded areas, which span a complete of 200,000 sq km (77,220 sq miles) – including as much as a whopping one-sixth of Colombia’s land mass. Venturing into one in every of this nation’s nationwide parks affords an escape into distant, pristine and – most of the time – hard-to-access lands. However doing so is at all times definitely worth the effort.
From encounters with an unsurpassed richness of wildlife to climbing trails providing majestic mountain views, exceptional indigenous tales previous and current, and way more, these treasures merely dazzle vacationers. Right here is our information to the 9 greatest nationwide parks in Colombia.
1. Parque Nacional Pure Tayrona is one of the best nationwide park for white-sand seashores
An exquisitely stunning stretch of white-sand seashores, huge rock formations and untouched rainforest, Tayrona Nationwide Pure Park lies within the north of the nation, between the skirts of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain vary and the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Colombia’s most visited park extends throughout 12,000 hectares (29,650 acres) of land, with an extra 3000 hectares (7413 acres) of ocean protected, too. You’ll discover entry to superb swimming and snorkeling on a choose few seashores; treacherous currents make many others too harmful for a dip, so it is best to admire them from shore. The path from the doorway at Cañaveral into the park traces the coast, dropping by seashores the place you’ll be able to take shade beneath a coconut palm and even catch sight of the critically endangered cotton-top tamarin monkeys that decision the adjoining jungle dwelling.
At evening, select a hammock, beachside tent or rustic cabin so near the ocean that the crashing waves will lull you to sleep.
Planning tip: For optimum tranquility, keep away from visiting in December and January when the park is filled with backpackers and pleasure seekers.
2. See one of many final untouched locations on earth at Parque Nacional Pure Serranía del Chiribiquete
One of many final unexplored corners of the planet, Serranía del Chiribiquete Nationwide Park is the world’s largest tropical rainforest park and one in every of Colombia’s most exceptional protected areas, Masking 44,000 sq km (17,000 sq miles), the park was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Record in 2018 due to its unbelievable biodiversity (some 3000 animal and plant species reside right here) and distinctive topography within the type of the tepuis, table-top mountains that rise dramatically out of the jungle.
However human historical past is what makes this place particular. Deep throughout the park lie 75,000 cave work courting again to twenty,000 BCE, which depict looking scenes and different ceremonial occasions. They’re believed to nonetheless be utilized by the 5 uncontacted tribes who reside throughout the park’s borders.
Serranía del Chiribiquete Nationwide Park first opened to guests solely in 2019, and entry is solely by a restricted variety of 1-hour flyovers run by native tour operators, the place you’ll see the park’s dazzling topography and plush jungle from the air.
3. Parque Nacional Pure Los Nevados affords thrilling high-altitude climbing
Dappled with snow-swept volcanic peaks thrusting towards the sky, Parque Nacional Pure Los Nevados is one in every of Colombia’s most dramatic and high-altitude nationwide parks. Adventurous vacationers come right here of their droves to deal with the summit of Nevado del Tolima, a 5200m (17,060ft) volcanic crater that requires technical mountaineering expertise. For extra informal hikers, gentler trails go up via the sparse but placing paramo landscapes to succeed in glassy lagoons and age-old glaciers.
Within the southern skirts of the nationwide park, the extra accessible Valle de Cocora is a verdant wonderland of grasslands and cloud forest surrounded by Colombia’s trademark rolling hills dotted with espresso plantations. The primary attraction is the Quindío wax palm, Colombia’s nationwide tree, a species that towers as much as 60m (196ft). Admire it from the meandering trails that take you to viewpoints from which breathtaking panoramas of the entire Cocora valley and the craggy peaks of the park’s northern reaches await.
Planning tip: You’ll want a registered information to hike right here, which you’ll manage in close by Salento or Manizales. See the total listing of registered guides, see the Parque Nacional Pure Los Nevados (hyperlink in Spanish) web site.
4. Discover the superbly barren paramo at Parque Nacional Pure Chingaza
Tucked into the japanese Andes inside a stone’s throw of Bogotá, Chingaza Nationwide Pure Park is a wealthy supply of water, its 60 lagoons offering 80% of the water consumed by the capital metropolis’s residents. It additionally gives a number of the best entry from the capital to Colombia’s distinctive paramo. This barren but stunning tundra-like ecosystem sits between the tree line and snow line, and is dotted with curious-looking frailejón crops.
No public transport operates right here, so exploring this 76,600-hectare (189,300-acre) park requires the help of a Bogotá-based tour operator or your individual car. 5 climbing trails, every with customer caps at both 40 or 60 per day, can help you discover the park, with the preferred being the difficult climb to succeed in the otherworldly Lagunas de Siecha.
Planning tip: Altitudes hit 4000m (13,120ft) above sea degree throughout the park, so give your self a few days to acclimate in Bogotá earlier than venturing out right here.
5. Summit an energetic volcano at Parque Nacional Pure Puracé
Within the far south of Colombia and defending a slice of the Andes, Parque Nacional Pure Puracé packs volcanoes, dazzling waterfalls, hovering condors and sparse highland paramo inside its boundaries.
Like most of Colombia’s nationwide parks, the easiest way to expertise the distant however stunning pure landscapes right here is on foot. The very best route is the hike to the sting of the crater of the 4650m (15,255ft) Volcán Puracé, the one energetic volcano in Colombia with a summit that’s secure to succeed in. Preserve your eyes on the skies for the unmissable huge wingspan of the Andean condors, a species launched to the park in 2002.
Planning tip: Go to Puracé throughout September and October to see the frailejón crops that dominate the paramo produce dazzling, sunflower-like blooms.
6. Soak up shrinking glaciers at Parque Nacional Pure El Cocuy
Distant and untouched, Parque Nacional Pure El Cocuy is a difficult place to succeed in. But the trouble of a 10-hour rattling bus journey northeast from Bogotá pays large dividends, granting entry to a 3060-sq-km (1180-sq-mile) park that’s dwelling to fifteen magnificent 5000m-plus (16,404ft) peaks, electric-blue lakes and the most important expanse of glaciers within the nation, that are narrowly clinging on regardless of the onward march of local weather change.
Whereas many climbing trails have been closed due to objections from the resident U’wa folks about guests crossing their sacred lands, the park nonetheless has a lot to supply. Trekking highlights embody the 12-hour path to El Pulpito del Diablo, a shard of rock spiking out of a slowly retreating glacier, past which alpine tundra, glacial valleys and vertiginous mountains roll into the gap.
7. Swim in magenta-hued rivers at Parque Nacional Serranía de La Macarena
Parque Nacional Pure Serranía de La Macarena is the place you’ll discover one in every of Colombia’s most curious pure points of interest. Every year throughout the tropical reaches of this park, a river blooms magenta.
Higher referred to as Caño Cristales or the Liquid Rainbow, this river bursts right into a bloom of pink and purple between July and October due to the Macarenia clavigera plant inside its depths – and you’ll swim the water to get a better look. As a part of a guided tour, you’ll be able to entry a path of waterfalls and swimming holes dotted across the south of the nationwide park, all of that are inside straightforward attain of the city of La Macarena.
Planning tip: Customer numbers are capped at 200 per day, however this determine isn’t enforced; a mid-week journey will see many fewer guests than on weekends. Indepedant journey to Caño Cristales is prohibited; ebook an official native information from close by La Macarena.
8. Take pleasure in snorkeling and scuba diving galore at Parque Nacional Previous Windfall McBean Lagoon
Measuring in at simply 1485 hectares (3670 acres), Parque Nacional Previous Windfall McBean Lagoon is one in every of Colombia’s smallest nationwide parks. It covers the mangrove forests within the east of Colombia’s Caribbean island, Providencia, in addition to the encircling waters, which defend a part of the third-longest coral reef on the earth.
Throughout the park is Cayo Cangrejo, a magical, picture-perfect island close by whose waters lay declare to a number of the most exceptional snorkeling and diving within the area. Beneath the bathtub-warm and crystal-clear waters, you’ll spot coral reefs inhabited by faculties of tropical fish. Preserve your eyes peeled for 4 species of turtles and manta ray, too.
9. Go to Parque Nacional Pure Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta for intriguing archeological websites
The birthplace of the Tairona folks, Parque Nacional Pure Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is greatest referred to as the house of Ciudad Perdida, the once-thriving Tairona metropolis that continues to be buried deep within the jungle. This nationwide park is a spot of stark contrasts, the place the hovering summits of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain vary slide into deep river valleys and virtually impenetrable jungle.
Descendants of the Tairona nonetheless inhabit this nationwide park – and take into account these mountains sacred – and it’s possible you’ll properly stumble upon them as a part of the 5-day trek that slogs via the rainforest to succeed in the intriguing archeological website. Circumstances are sizzling, humid and muddy; go to between December and February for dry floor underfoot.
