Top 5 of the Best Nature Tourism Experiences in Colombia - Sula

The second most biodiverse country on the planet has incredible nature experiences for everyone. With its variety of ecosystems, from rain forests, savannas and deserts to moorlands, cloud forests and glaciers that provide water, and its system of National Natural Parks and Natural Reserves, Colombia is a great place for nature tourism. In this post, we will talk about the best nature experiences in Colombia.

Exploring the Biodiverse Chocó

In this biodiversity hotspot on the Colombian Pacific coast, you will find many options for an nature experience in Colombia. Due to the rainfall, the tropical conditions and its isolation from the Amazon basin, the Biogeographic Chocó has an outstanding diversity of fauna and flora, as well as a high level of endemism.

The activity not to be missed is whale watching, which you can enjoy in Bahia Solano, Nuqui and Utria National Natural Park from July to October. It is amazing to see groups of humpback whales migrating to the warm waters of the Pacific to mate and raise their calves. This is also a season of turtle and bird migration, so the coasts seem to come alive. Bird watching, scuba diving, snorkelling and hiking are other nature tourism activities you can do in the wonderful Chocó.

The humpback whale (*Megaptera novaeangliae*), Bahía Solano, Chocó

Getting lost in the Caribbean

The Caribbean region of Colombia boasts nature, colors and joy. The white sanded beaches of the Caribbean, that merge into tropical lush forests with exotic birds and variety of other animals. Getting lost in this landscape is one of the best nature tourism experiences you can have in Colombia.

Visit the Tayrona and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Parks to explore the biodiverse forests and mangroves, and the highest coastal mountain in the world, of course. One of the best sights you can enjoy is the Lost City (or Teyuna), an ancient indigenous civilization built around 650 AD that is currently considered the greatest archaeological finding in Colombia. You can reach Lost City after a trekking of minimum 4 days, along a trail of over 20 km and a climb of 120 steps made of stone. It is among the best trekking trails in Colombia.

Birdwatching and wildlife tours in Colombia — Lost City – Tayrona Park, Santa Marta

As for Minca, it is a hidden village full of peace, with natural attractions such as waterfalls and rivers, and it is a great birdwatching spot. The most northern tip of Colombia, and South America, La Guajira, is a one of its kind place. Visit the golden dunes and paradisaical beaches in Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas, the highlands of the Macuira National Natural Park and the Flamingo heaven at Los Flamencos Sanctuary. During all your days in La Guajira, you interact with the Wayuu indigenous community, which is a rewarding experience.

Birds of La Guajira, White Ibis - Eudocimus albus — Birds of La Guajira, White Ibis – *Eudocimus albus*

Adventure in Santander

If you like extreme sports, Santander is the place for you. Adventurous travelers come to this department located in the center of Colombia, north of Bogota, to enjoy paragliding, rafting, hiking, bungee jumping, buggies, rock climbing and more. San Gil is the capital of extreme sports, in Barichara you can go hike the royal road of Lengerke and in the Chicamocha Park, you can take the zip line to cross the Chicamocha Canyon while admiring the stunning natural landscape. Learn more about the Chicamocha Canyon in our entry The Chicamocha Canyon, the 1st Largest Canyon in Colombia.

Climbing Paramos in the Andes

You cannot say you had an nature tourism experience in Colombia if you did not hike to a paramo. Colombia is one of the 6 countries in the world with the paramo (moorland) ecosystems! Paramos are considered water factories, since rivers that supply water and energy to nearby towns originate there.

Colombian moorlands hold 98% of the world’s flora endemic to this ecosystem and the country is home to the world’s largest one, Páramo de Sumapaz. Because of this, many are protected as national parks or flora and fauna sanctuaries. If you are planning to visit, take into account the low temperatures, the humidity and the high altitudes -moorlands are above 2600 m (8530 ft) ASL.

Sumapaz

Is close to Bogota, to the south, so it is perfect for a day trip. The Muisca indigenous people deemed this place a sacred spot and it boasts wildlife, including deer, tapirs, coatis, golden eagles and the typical moorland plant: frailejones. Don’t miss its several lagoons, the Verjon bats cave and the Buenos Aires viewpoint.

Chingaza National Park

This is an important natural reserve for the center of the country, as it provides around 80% of the capital and nearby municipalities water supply. There are 6 hiking trails and 3 viewpoints for you to discover the life hidden in the Andean forests and moorlands. It is possible to see condors, eagles, the unique Spectacled bear and deer. Chingaza also has a lagoon system of about 20 lagoons, including Laguna de Siecha. Prefer hiring local guides and remember to file a request at least 15 days before your trip to the park.

Ocetá

This páramo is known as ‘Colombia’s most beautiful paramo’. It is located in Boyacá and remains well-preserved, since it is not visited as much as the other moorlands.

Ocetá has a dazzling variety of flora, including silver, yellow and white frailejones, yellow senecios, violet lupins and tons of liquens and moss. It is also a place to see the national bird of Colombia, the Andean condor. The Stone City, a rocky zone with alleys enclosed by 15-meter high stone walls is the number one attraction.

Puracé

Puracé is the only active volcano of the Coconucos volcanic range, in the department of Cauca. It is a National Natural Park and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In this mountain, 4 main rivers in Colombia have its source (the Magdalena, Cauca, Patía and Japurá), and you can also enjoy almost 30 clear lagoons and sulfur hot springs. You can hike along several trails and probably spot the Andean condor -Puracé is actually a privileged spot to see them. Also, this is an ancient indigenous territory.

Iguaque

It is a sanctuary for flora and fauna in Boyacá, near Villa de Leyva. Like many territories in Colombia, Iguaque is sacred for an indigenous community, the Muiscas. According to their mythology, the Iguaque Lagoon was the cradle of humanity, as the goddess Bachue emerged from it to populate the earth. Its glacier lagoons provide water for nearby towns and the local wildlife.

Having a real nature tourism experience means to connect with nature truly and here, you will be able to cleanse your soul and purify your spirit surrounded by nature. Visit our entry Discover the Natural Attractions of Villa de Leyva, Colombia to find more about Iguaque and Villa de Leyva natural attractions.

Bike Tourism in Quindío

A new nature tourism project in Colombia was launched at Vitrina Turística Anato 2020: a bike tour through the Central Andes range between south of Quindio and north of Valle del Cauca. At least 200 km (124 mi) can be cycled by tourists interested in nature, community and adventure tourism. The road includes the municipalities of Calarca, Buenavista, Pijao, Cordoba, Genova (Quindio), and Sevilla and Caicedonia (Valle).

The idea, funded by the local and the Suiss government, the municipalities and the Chambers of Commerce, aims to diversify the tourist corridor of the Coffee Cultural Landscape. In this way, tourists can enjoy different activities such as hiking, jeep Willys rides, wildlife observation, adventure, cultural and historical experiences, and even yoga. Of course these are not the only nature tourism experiences in Colombia. There are plenty more destinations for nature tourism in the country, each of the 6 natural regions boast amazing settings for tourists to travel consciously and connect with the environment. Experiences such as exploring the great Amazon basin or traveling the Eastern Plains cannot be set aside.

References

2026 update: Colombia #1 globally in birds (1,954 SiB) + orchids (4,000+) + butterflies (3,642 per Neild 2021) + #2 amphibians (~850 behind Brazil) + SiB Colombia 15.1M new records 2022-2024 (+88%) = 80,300+ species / 8,537 endemic + IAvH 314 continental + marine ecosystems + Global Big Day 9 May 2026 Colombia recorded 1,569 species (5th consecutive year #1)

The 2026 authoritative biodiversity numbers that anchor Colombian nature-tourism experiences. Colombia holds approximately 10% of all species on Earth within just 0.7% of its land surface. By taxon: birds — 1,954+ species per SiB Colombia (roughly 82 endemic + 150+ migratory), ranking Colombia #1 globally; orchids — over 4,000 species, #1 globally; butterflies — 3,642 species per the Neild et al. 2021 peer-reviewed checklist, also #1 globally (during Global Butterfly Week 2026, Colombia recorded 509 species in coordinated citizen-science observations); amphibians — approximately 850 species, ranking #2 globally behind Brazil, with roughly 50% endemic; mammals — 543 species per the 2021 peer-reviewed checklist, placing Colombia in the world’s top-10 mammal-diverse countries.

The 2026 data infrastructure and species-discovery pace. SiB Colombia integrated 15.1 million new biological records between 2022 and 2024 — 88% growth — bringing the country’s public biodiversity databank to 80,300+ observed species (of which 8,537 endemic). Colombia now ranks #2 globally for public biodiversity data volume, second only to the United States. The Instituto Humboldt (IAvH) National Ecosystems Map catalogues 314 continental + marine ecosystems — the most complete ecosystem inventory of any Latin American country. New species descriptions in 2025 illustrate the discovery curve is still steep: Pristimantis mecada (Chocó frog), Epipedobates currulao (poison frog Ladrilleros), plus a new porcupine (Magdalena), a spiny lizard (Atrato) and a venom-spraying scorpion (Cundinamarca) all entered the taxonomic record in 2025 alone. And the 2026 competitive proof: on Global Big Day 9 May 2026, Colombia recorded 1,569 bird species and finished #1 globally for the fifth consecutive year — Peru second at 1,448. A Colombian nature-tourism itinerary in 2026 is not visiting a fully-catalogued system; you are visiting a country where new species are still being described most months.

Sara Colmenares, D.Sc.

Sara Colmenares holds a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Ecology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a Master’s degree in Botany from the same institution. Her doctoral research focused on palm ecology in the Atlantic Forest, supported by the Rufford Foundation conservation grant.

A published researcher in the Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology and a member of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC), Sara has presented her work at international conferences across Latin America and beyond. She was awarded the COLCIENCIAS “Virginia Gutiérrez de Pineda” fellowship, one of Colombia’s most competitive academic distinctions for young researchers.

Sara founded the Sula nature tourism brand in 2018, applying her scientific expertise to develop birding and wildlife experiences across Colombia’s six natural regions. Her fieldwork took her from the cloud forests of the Andes to the Amazon basin, the Pacific coast, and the plains of the Orinoquía. She combined deep ecological knowledge with firsthand experience to create content that is both scientifically accurate and practically useful for nature travelers.

She holds a B.Sc. in Biology from the National University of Colombia, where she also taught plant ecophysiology. She speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and English.