C O L O M B I A
Valentina’s treasured homeland, Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world. In Colombia, you'll find the dramatic landscape of the Andes mountains, pristine Caribbean beaches, the exotic coffee region, wild Amazon jungle, beautiful deserts, sophisticated cities, and much more!
This is an incredibly culturally and geographically diverse country making advancements in eco-conscious travel and an ideal place to explore for an exciting & enriching adventure.
TRAVEL GUIDE TO COLOMBIA FOR
THE ECO-CONSCIOUS TRAVELER
At night when it is illuminated the Catedral Santa Catalina de Alejandria; looks like something from a Disney movie.
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Check out Barrio Getsemani, just outside the historic center, which is a cool neighborhood with remarkable architecture, narrow cobblestone roads, excellent restaurants, coffee shops, live entertainment, and so on. It usually comes alive after 6.00 PM.
CARTAGENA
Exploring Cartagena's historic center is a great way to start your trip.
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While walking, you will see women known as "palenqueras" carrying fruit baskets on their heads and dressed in lively colors of yellow, blue, green, and red.
ISLA BARU
Isla Baru, located off the coast of Cartagena, is a tropical paradise with palm-fringed beaches, vivid blue waters, white sands, and delicious costal food!
NATIONAL AVIARY OF COLOMBIA
The National Aviary of Colombia is a must-see attraction because it provides a home to many bird species from Colombia and Latin America.
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As of now, there are over190 bird species homed at the aviary.
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It is designed to be ecologically responsible with the birds areas replicated to be nearly identical to natural environments in which each species originated from.
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The Colombian National Aviary is fully committed to the conservation of these birds, as well as raising awareness about Colombian biodiversity.
BIOLUMINSECENT PHYTOPLANKTON & MANGROVE TOUR
These are two types of eco-friendly tours offered by the Hotel Isla Baru.
BIOLUMINESCENT PHYTOPLANKTON TOUR
The tour takes place on white sandy beaches near Cholón, where you can see bioluminescent phytoplankton in shallow seas.
The tour lasts one hour, from 7.30 to 8.30 PM.
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MANGROVE TOUR
The tour is for the mangrove ecosystem near Hotel Isla Baru, which is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. The tour lasts one hour and can be scheduled between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
Hotel Isla Baru is firmly committed to rejecting any deviations by visitors that threaten the area's incredible biodiversity, for example by not allowing to feed the animals and reducing noise pollution from the hotel.
TAYRONA
Tayrona National Park is one of the most visited national parks on the Caribbean Coast, all because of its lovely beaches, rich culture, and diverse wildlife.
HIKE TAYRONA NATIONAL PARK WITH TAYRONA BIRDING
Hiking with Tayrona Birding, offers an informative and active experience to connect with nature, vast biodiversity, and the indigenous culture of Tayrona National Park.
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The easiest hike in the is the El Pueblito Hike. It leads to the native village El Pueblito through the Cabo San Juan Beach. There are longer, challenging hikes for those up for a more physical adventure.
QUINDÍO, SALENTO
When visiting the "Coffee Triangle", one of the must-see attractions in Salento is the Regenerative Coffee Farm El Recuerdo
EL RECUERDO REGENERATIVE COFFEE FARM
This isn't your typical coffee tour; it's about being one nature and showing how to both live functionally and in harmony with the land.
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You will learn about the sustainable practices of coffee farming in all the stages and other plants that are cultivated or naturally occurring in the area.
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This tour lasts about 2 hours and includes and ends with an excellent cup of strong coffee from the farm.
HIKE EL PALASIO DEL BARBAS IN FINLANDIA WITH RURAL ADVENTURE
El Palasio del Barbas is a gorgeous cloud forest brimming with red howler monkeys, birds, and flowers.
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The hike is approximately 4 kilometers long and will take roughly 2-3 hours to complete depending on your fitness level.
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A priority at Rural Adventure to raise environmental awareness while providing insightful wildlife experiences in their natural habitats.
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They will motivate you to be an eco-conscious traveler by asking you to do the following:
1. Wear natural earth tone colors to not scare the animals.
2. Walk only on designated footpaths.
3. Avoid littering the environment with plastic water bottles, snack wrappers, and other items.
4. Speaking softly to reduce noise pollution.
NIGHT WALKS
WITH PENELOPE BIRDING
If you're looking for a thrilling adventure with nocturnal species in Colombia, go on a night walk with Penelope Birding.
Their knowledgeable team of ecologist and biologist are dedicated teaching tourists and locals the value of the ecosystems in the rainforests near Circasia.
HIKE VALLE DEL CÓCORA
The full Valle del Cócora loop is 4.6 miles long and and takes approximately 4.5 hours to complete but there are also shorter hikes to see the amazing sights.
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Make sure to visit the Acaime, which is home to a variety of hummingbirds!
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Following that is Finca La Montana; as you hike up, you will see scenic beauty as well as the famous Quindo wax palm trees, Colombia's national tree.
GUATAPE, MEDELLIN
Guatape is known as Colombia's most vibrantly colored town! It is only a 2-hour drive from Medellin and has brightly colored little streets, picturesque town squares, boutique shops, and cafes.
After a stroll around town, don't forget to visit El Peon de Guatape.
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El Peon de Guatape is a natural gigantic rock that involves more than 650 stairs to reach the top. The effort will be rewarded with breathtaking 360-degree views of the surroundings.
LETICIA, AMAZONAS
Brazil isn't the only place to visit the Amazon Rainforest.
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Leticia, a less-traveled destination along the Amazon River at the intersection of Colombia, Brazil, and Peru is home to hundreds of animals, plants, insects, and birds, and wild creatures.
Calanoa Amazonas operates the best tours tours of the Amazon Rainforest in Leticia.
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They always encourage eco-conscious traveling by:
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Reducing the usage of plastic water bottles
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Providing pure drinking water from the rainforest
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Using solar panels to generate electricity
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Designing their lodges with natural raw materials.
AMAZON PINK DOLPHINS TOUR BY CALANOA
This tour is usually done in the afternoon and crosses the Amazon River to reach the Peruvian coast to search for Amazon Pink Dolphins.
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Although you have an 85% chance of seeing them, taking pictures can be difficult because they are constantly moving. But when you do see a the pod of these marine mammals whose ancestors have been in the Amazonian waters for 15 million years it is a
thrilling occurrence.
SHAMANIC MUD RITUAL IN THE AMAZON RIVER
Calanoa arranged for us to partake in a sacred mud ritual with Amazonian shaman who is part of a long lineage of healers.
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Travelers can restore their energies and expand spiritually to connect with the rainforest with the wisdom of the shamans, medicinal herbs, and traditional practices.
VISIT THE SACRED CEIBA TREE
The Ceiba or the Kapok Tree at it is commonly known, is a rainforest giant that can grow up to 200 feet. It has ties the ancient Mayan civilization who believed that the Ceiba Tree connected the three levels of the Earth: Mayan Heaven, Middle Earth (where humans live), and Underworld.
VISIT FUNDACION MAIKUCHIGA MONKEY SANCTUARY
The Maikuchiga Foundation's mission is to provide a safe home for monkeys who have been victims of illegal trafficking, and for those who have been hunted or injured in the Amazon jungle. It is especially concerned with woolly monkeys as they are on the verge of extinction.
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They teach visitors about the various primate species living at the foundation and the conservation strategies that are used to protect them.
