Part of the enjoyment of visiting Colombia is taking in the country’s vast natural beauty. The best way to do this is by dropping by Colombia national parks. Below is information on some of the best of the national parks in Colombia.
Amacayacu National Park
One of the top national parks in Colombia is called Amacayacu. The park can be found along the Amazon River. To reach the park, you will need to head to the city of Leticia which can be reached by a short flight from Bogota. Once in that city, you’ll board a boat that will take you down the Amazon. As part of the park, you can go to several different islands located in the river. You’ll see monkeys, lotus flowers, and even the Amazon dolphins (botos). You’ll also sleep either in private cabins or in hamocs surrounded by other visitors. The entire journey through this amazing example of Colombia national parks takes about three days.
Gorgona Island
In 1985, this former prison island became one of the national parks in Colombia. It is located in the Pacific Ocean about 50 km from the coast of the country. The place made an effective prison until it was closed in 1984 because of some of the wildlife population, including poisonous snakes on land and sharks in the water. However, now these 120,000 acres of land can be visited by tourists.
You can’t just wake up and head to the island on the spur of the moment, however. You need prior permission because only 80 people are permitted on the island at one time, and they are assigned a guide. Besides large numbers of streams, a beautiful view of the ocean, and a dense jungle, you can also sometimes see humpback whales off the coast and unique creatures like the Blue Lizard.
Serrania de la Macarena
If you’re looking for one of the most mountainous national parks in Colombia, visit Serrania de la Macarena. East of the Andes Mountains is a mountain range area occupied by the La Macarena National Park which is one of the first ever created in Colombia. Visiting the area will give you a chance to see many species that are unique to the areas surrounding the Orinoco and Amazon Rivers. These include jaguars, cougars, deer, monkeys, and more than 500 types of birds. The area is also home to four dozen different varieties of orchids. Plus, you can catch a glimpse of the Cano Cristales which has been named one of the most beautiful rivers in the world.
Los Nevados
During your tour of Colombia national parks, you should spend some time in Los Nevados National Park which is found in the central part of the Andes Mountains. While there you can get a firsthand glimpse of many phenomenal sites, including Nevado del Ruiz (a stratovolcano), Nevado del Quindio (a fog forest), and Santa Isabel (a shield volcano). Nevado del Tolima is also visible from this area. This stratovolcano is noticeable because of its glaciers.