Colombia is the second most diverse country on the planet and our protected ecosystems make our country an exceptional nature destination.

Geographically, Colombia has six natural regions with unique landscapes, flora and fauna. These are the Andes, the Caribbean, the Pacific Coast, the Amazon, the Eastern Plains, and the Caribbean Islands.

Colombia offers the world a laboratory for the conservation of wild life. Its one million hectares of continental waters contain 3.000 species of fish in diverse marine-coastal ecosystems such as coral reefs, mangrove forests, coastal lagoons, beaches, cliffs and more.

Colombia also has 53 million hectares of natural forests, 22 million hectares of savannas, arid zones, wetlands and snow peaks. Fourteen percent of the country consists of protected National Parks and sanctuaries.

Information and figures concerning nature in Colombia do not cease to amaze: we have 20% of the bird species of the world, 17% of the amphibians, 8% of the freshwater fish, 8% of the reptiles, 16% of the diurnal butterflies, and 10% of the mammals.

Colombia has the most bird and palm tree species in the planet with 1.876 bird species and 258 species of palm trees.

Adventure and Extreme Sport

Colombia Adventure offers trips to different eco-systems and landscapes rich in flora and fauna, which are an invitation to experience unforgettable thrills.

To explore our country is to discover an exuberant nature where the practice of extreme sports is a constant temptation. In Colombia, adventure is waiting for you.

WHAT TO BRING:• Long pants and lycra long-sleeve shirts •Tennis shoes in good condition•Extra clothes•Sun block•Insect repellent•Photo or video camera•Health Insurance Card and Id•Sugar candy for the children of the region

ECOTURISMNature and adventure in Colombia

CONTENT:• Kayak descent down the Anchicayá River• Humpback Whales in the Colombian Pacific• Caño Cristales Guided Tour• Kayaking in Bahía Málaga• Birdwatching in Colombia

CREDITS:HABITA Furnished Apartments: www.habita.com.coBICIVAN Ecoturism: www.bicivan.com.co

An unforgettable

adventure for a new encounter

with nature.

Colombia has been gifted by nature with a huge diversity of natural environments that allow the visitors to take pleasure in a great variety of tourist and recreational activities.

ECOTURISM

WHAT TO BRING: • Long pants and lycra long sleeve

shirt (bring it on you)

• Good shape tennis shoes

• Extra clothes

• Sun block

• Bug repellent

• Photographic or video camera

• EPS Card and Id

• Sugar candy for the kids living in this region

KAYAKING DESCENT DOWN ANCHICAYÁ RIVER

Ideal for people with no

kayaking experience - from 13 years old and

older

We will start our trip in Agua Clara River, an 18 kilometer hike along a calm river, ideal for inexperienced people and 13 year old children or older. You will be able to enjoy the exuberance of the tropical rainforest, hike up to the beautiful San Marcos stream, and visit Las dos Marias waterfall. After kayaking for about 6 hours we will arrive to the Sabaletas River where this adventure ends.

ONE DAY TOUR, INCLUDES:

• BICIVAN ground transportation• Fully equipped kayak• Theoretical and practical course • Guided tour• Country style breakfast and lunch (Sancocho de pescado)• Travel insurance• DVD with pictures and video• Souvenirs

We can organize especial trips for family or small groups, anytime.Make your reservation right now.

ECOTURISM

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We can organize especial trips for family or small

groups, anytime. Make your reservation

right now.

HUMPACK WHALESIN THE COLOMBIAN PACIFIC

Every year hundreds of humpback whales arrive to the Colombian Pacific coast in July. This is the destination for their breeding season. The tropical waters of Colombia enable the females to give birth, feed, and teach their young how to breathe, while the males take advantage of this unsurpassable environment to court the females and continue the species.

Whale Watching

The presence of these enormous mammals is one of nature’s most beautiful spectacles, as well as a confirmation of her wisdom and orderliness. In this case, o r d e r i s e v i d e n t i n t h e simultaneous arrival of the first cetaceans in the month of July.

Thanks to the 25º C temperature in the Colombian Pacific Ocean, it is possible

to have these colossal mammals honor the country with their presence for nearly four months.

The humpback whales travel approximately 8.500 km each year to the Colombian shores and stay until October, turning several natural paradises into the best platforms for

observing this natural phenomenon.

In spite of the whales’ huge size and their proximity to shallow beaches, watching them is a safe activity as long as an appropriate distance is kept.

Enjoy this experience on a

kayak for an up-close

encounter.

ECOTURISM

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RECOMMENDATIONS:Bring two backpacks (a small and a medium one), hat, sun block, insect repellent, hot weather clothing (preferably lycra), personal hygiene items, swim suit, shoes for river walking, flash light, photo or video camera, personal first aid kit, personal documents including insurance card and money. Also bring high-energy food for in-between meals (energy bars, fruit, candy, nuts, and hydrating drinks). Get vaccinated against yellow fever and tetanus 15 days before traveling. Please let us know if you have any specific food requirements.

CAÑO CRISTALES GUIDE TOUR

“The river that escaped from paradise” and “the most beautiful river in the world” are some of the references to this beautiful river in La Serranía de la Macarena. Being the most beautiful river in the world might be debatable, but Caño Cristales scores high in the ranks.

During a brief period of time the river blossoms into 5 vibrant colors. The 5 different colors of the river are most noticeable from the month June to the end of November when the Macarenia Clavijera, a water plant that can only be found in this area, changes its color from green to bright red when it gets warmth from the sun. The other colors (white, black, yellow, blue and thousands of shades in between) are formed by the colors of the water, sand, and the variety of rocks and holes at the bottom of the river.

• Location: Sierra de la Macarena (Department of Meta)• Travel time by plane from Macarena to Villavicencio: 1 hour• Macarena to Caño Cristales: 20 minutes by boat, 30 minutes by car, and 30 minutes hiking.• Ecosystem: Tropical rainforest• Climate: hot-humid 27º C• Minimum height: 350 m. ASL• Maximum height: 600 m. ASL• Terrain: Flat• Total hike: 24 km.

• Difficulty Level: Easy

Because the river is at its best between the months of July and November, we only offer these trips during that time. Getting to La Macarena is an adventure on itself.

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We offer a four-day package with two full days at the river to be able to explore the two most important branches of it. Hiking along the river means crossing the river several times, ascending and descending waterfalls, and crossing trough tropical vegetation. During these hikes you will see how the river keeps changing on every curve or when watching the same spot from a different angle.

TOUR INCLUDES: Ground, aerial and fluvial transportation; food (breakfast, lunch and dinner), multiple hotel accommodations, tour guide, medical insurance, taxes, and entry tickets to the nature reserve and other places of interest. On the last day of the trip we hold a

special lunch at Villavicencio.

The Macarena rocks, are over 1200

million years old.

DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4• Trip from Bogotá to La

Macarena• Leaving Bogotá at 10:06 am. • Arriving at La Macarena at

12:17 pm. • Arriving to the hotel• Lunch break• Short hike to Caño Cristalitos

(small river near La Macarena)

• Return to la Macarena, dinner, and break for the night

• Breakfast at 6:30 am. • 20 minute boat trip on the

Guayabero River to the pier• Car trip to a location near Caño

Cristales• 30 minute hike to the river. The

entire day is devoted to getting to know the middle part of the river and its right branch, where we will visit Pozo Cuadrado (Square well), La Escalera (the Stair) and El Salto del Águila (the Eagle’s jump)

• Return by car to the pier at 5:00 pm.

• At 6:00 pm, return to La Macarena

• Dinner and break for the night

• Breakfast at 6:30 am. `• Same journey to Caño

Cristales (boat, car, hike),• Visit the mid-upper part of

the river canyon: visit to Cascada de La Virgen (the Virgin’s waterfall), Pozo del Amor (Love’s well), Cascada los Pianos (Piano’s waterfall), and Cascada los Cuarzos (Quartz’ waterfall). Going back to La Macarena, dinner, and break for the night

• Breakfast • Trip from La Macarena to

Villavicencio• Traditional lunch with

Mamona (plain´s meat)• Return to Bogotá by car

(arriving 6:00 pm)

TOUR SCHEDULE:

ECOTURISM

KAYAKING IN BAHÍA MÁLAGA

The new National Natural Park ´Bahía Málaga´ is located on the pacific coast of Colombia, just north of Buenaventura, and it can be reached by boat in one hour. From Buenaventura you arrive to Juanchaco from which you can take a tractor or a mototaxi to Ladrilleros, where we find the hotel accommodations. During low season, the beaches are deserted and when the tide is low you can walk on the beach from Juanchaco to Ladrilleros and to the well-known beach ¨La Barra¨. During high season the same beaches are filled mainly by Colombian tourists.Nature in Bahía Málaga has more to offer than beaches. There are amazing boat tours through the mangrove forests and deeper in the bay you can find waterfalls and an enormous variety of flora and fauna. The whale season is from June to October and during these months it is an absolute must, go whale

watching and experience these incredible animals up close.

For people who do not wish to do kayaking, we have other activities like riding on native canoes, whale watching on boat, and hiking.

Bahía Málaga is considered one of the most bio-diverse

regions on the planet, bringing together the largest number of plant species per square foot in the world. It tops the first places in species

diversity such as birds and reptiles. You will be

able to see sloths, lizards, dolphins, blue feet sulas,

fragatas, pelicans, kingfishers, woodpeckers and paletones, among others.

The Bay has a small tide, making it ideal and safe for anyone without kayaking experience or children from 10 and older.

The Bay has little swelled making it ideal

for anyone without experience or children

from 10 and older.

IMPORTANT:The area is one of the rainiest areas

in the world, so please wrap your belongings in plastic bags in your

backpack or suitcase. Pack clothes for warm and humid climate and

travel as light as possible. We recommend you use a backpack, not

a suitcase.

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DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3Leave Cali from the gas station located in La Portada al Mar. In Buenaventura´s pier we will take a speedboat to Juanchaco for about 50 minutes. The boat is equipped with 2 engines, life vests, and a radio system. Then we will kayak to Bahía Málaga towards the north wall, where we will find several waterfalls falling straight into the ocean. Here, you will be able to go under the falls without getting off the kayak, and will enter the Estero de la Despensa which is surrounded by lush vegetation. The rest of the tour will be about going through caves and arches.

During the morning we will go on a kayaking trip to Morro Chiquito and Isla Palma. In the afternoon there will be whale watching by boat and a visit to Cascada de la Sierpe (two 40 mt. high waterfalls falling into the ocean).

Then, we will hike to Ladrilleros, passing by enormous 15 mt. high cliffs. Here, we will find the biggest caves, like the emblematic Chorro de la Maestra. By 1:00 pm we will be returning by boat to Buenaventura and then to Cali by car.

TOUR SCHEDULE:

TOUR INCLUDES:• Ground transportation: Cali - Buenaventura -

Cali.

• Boat transportation: Buenaventura -Juanchaco - Buenaventura.

• Two nights cabin accommodations

• Meals (dinner is not included on the last day).

• Completely equipped kayak.

• Theoretical and practical course.

• DVD with pictures and video.

• Tour guide.

• Boat rides for whale watching and visit to Cascada de la Sierpe.

• Travel insurance.

• Souvenirs

ECOTURISM

BIRDWATCHINGA PARADISE FOR BIRD WATCHERS

With about 1876 species, Colombia is the number one country in bird diversity in the world. Additionally, the country is number three in South America with almost 70 endemic species after Brazil and Peru respectively listing 203 and 105.

C o l o m b i a i s a p a r a d i s e f o r birdwatchers with innumerable options in the cloud forest and páramos of the Andes or the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the jungles of the Amazon and Chocó regions, the Eastern Plains, the lowlands of the Caribbean region, and the inter-Andean valleys.

At present, several more are being found, described, and studied.

In Colombia i t is possible to birdwatch within and near the main cities, as well as in remote areas that will require longer travel times and rougher logistics. However, the remote areas will unquestionably reward all with stunning scenery and towns with the warmest people imaginable.

• Birdwatching sites in Colombia: http://www.habita.com.co/Guide-Colombian-Birds.pdf

• Colombian Bird ckecklist: http://w w w . h a b i t a . c o m . c o /ColombiaChecklist2008.pdf

Recomended site near Cali: Reserva Natural Laguna de Sonso

Is a wetland reserve that offers delights to the birdwatchers. The eastern margins of the River Cauca pour into this area, also known as the Laguna de Chircal, and create an area of 2045 hectares (5053 ac), 90 percent of which is wetlands. 

Studies have revealed that up to 162 species of bird make the wetlands here a migratory resting point or home. Of these 162 species, 55 are aquatic birds and in mating season, up to 15,000 Grayish Piculets descend into the area. Other prevalent species include the Blue-winged Teal and the Apical Flycatcher.

For birding guided tours, ask in front

desk

ECOTURISM

Just in the 21st century, six new species of birds have been found and described:

• Chestnut-capped Piha (Lipaugus weberi)

• Munchique Wood-Wren (Henicorhina negreti)

• Gorgeted Puffleg (Eriocnemis isabellae)

• Antioquia Brush-Finch (Atlapetes blancae)

Stiles's (Scytalopus stilesi) and Upper Magdalena (S. rodriguezi) Tapaculos.

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Natural Parks of Colombia: Love for the Environment

Colombia has 55 protected natural areas that have been classified as national natural parks, fauna and flora sanctuaries, natural reserves, parkways, and unique natural areas.Visiting these places is to come face to face with the justification of why Colombia is one of the most diverse countries on the planet.

Natural Parks are spread across the entire national territory.

Thanks to the variety of landscapes and thermal floors, the parks offer multiple possibilities for engaging in nature tourism, which may be defined as a recreational way of enjoying Colombian geography while taking care of the environment.

Activities in Natural Land and Seascapes

With the increase in the number of protected areas, there has also been an increased interest on the

part of travelers to enjoy these tranquil sites, away from the din of the cities and in an environment that, depending on the individual park, favors activities in which respect for fauna and flora take precedence. They range from entertaining ecological hikes in any of the sites to diving in parks like Tayrona, Isla Gorgona, and McBean Lagoon in Providencia.

Several paths are graced by the aromas of plants and flowers and the permanent trill of birds. At the Tayrona, for example, over 200 kinds of birds have been detected. Likewise, a diversity of mammals, reptiles, insects, and frogs is part of the fauna inventory and its endemic species.

Besides encounters with nature, visits entail interactions with the

communities that inhabit them and who are the main allies in conservation efforts. Thanks to their profound knowledge, native inhabitants also serve as guides in the areas where they make their homes.

The cultural rapprochement implied by visits to many protected areas, also includes becoming acquainted with archaeological remains, rock paintings, and the museums found in some of them. Mutual respect between Man and natural resources is perhaps the best teaching provided by visits to natural parks.

Tours information

at front desk.

ECOTURISMNature and adventure in Colombia

ECOLOGICAL& CULTURAL EXPERIENCES