Visit the Mana Dulce Reserve, 50 years Conserving a Humid Enclave in the Tropical Dry Forest

The Tropical dry forest represents 22% of the forests in South America. In Colombia, the tropical dry forest was originally distributed in the regions of the Caribbean plain and the inter-Andean valleys of the Magdalena and Cauca rivers between 0 and 1000 m of altitude. Today it only remains 8% of its original extension.

The Inter Andean Valleys Dry Forest of Colombia

In the region of the inter-Andean valleys, the tropical dry forest is distributed in the departments of Valle del Cauca, Tolima, Huila, Cundinamarca, and Antioquia, covering approximately 1’650.000 hectares. The dry forests of the inter-Andean valleys have similar vegetation to the dry forest of the Caribbean plain, suggesting that in a remote past these regions were connected, constituting a corridor to the dry coastal areas of Ecuador and Peru. There are several woody plant species restricted to the dry forests of inter-Andean valleys. There are also some bird species restricted to this habitat. For the arid zones and tropical dry forest of the inter-Andean valleys of the Cauca and Magdalena rivers the following birds are registered as endemic: Red-legged Tinamou (Crypturellus erythropus), Chestnut-winged Chachalaca (Ortalis garrula), and Velvet-fronted Euphonia (Euphonia concinna), which are associated with the tropical dry forest.

Mana Dulce Civil Society Nature Reserve

The Mana Dulce Civil Society Nature Reserve is located in the Inter-Andean valley of the Magdalena River, in the department of Cundinamarca. Its distinct avifauna of tropical dry, deciduous forest, only about 3 hours away from Bogota, immediately caught our interest. Its dry climate is appealing and it is the total opposite to the lush and wet forests of Amazonia. Fifty years ago, Mr. Helio Mendoza saw in the relics of the tropical dry forest of the Alto Magdalena an opportunity to reconnect with nature. He first bought 20 hectares, where he built a colonial house for his family. Little by little, he completed about 90 hectares full of trees from the tropical dry forest, an almost extinct ecosystem in the country.

In 2002 the family managed to convert this land into a civil society natural reserve where today an ecotourism project is being carried out. In this place, there are natural caves with bats, viewpoints, trails opened by animals, and a water source in the middle of the tropical dry forest, hence the name of the reserve. There are trails decorated with native trees such as ceibas and palms more than 150 years old and 30 meters high; a natural spring with 200 years of life; an old stone bridge, which is said to be the third natural stone bridge built in Colombia; the Chimbilacera cave, four meters high and 20 meters deep, where 19 species of bats live; and the viewpoint “Mirador del Indio Malachí”, which offers a panoramic view of the dry forest of the Alto Magdalena.

Birding at Mana Dulce Nature Reserve

As you may have guessed, the avifauna of Mana Dulce Reserve is intriguingly similar to the drier forests of the Caribbean Coast! Although species diversity is smaller in dry forests than in humid forests, it is a highly interesting ecosystem. It might not appear at first glance, but this ecosystem is equally threatened by habitat destruction (clearing for cattle pasture, frequent fires) as most other forest types in Latin America.  We hopped on public transport in Bogota and settled for a 4 days stay. Accommodation is available within the property of the private reserve. Get more information via Facebook. Three meals were included in the modest price.   The two main birding areas are several easy Loop-tails through the forest of the property, starting just next to the farm, and along the access road to the reserve. There are accessible trails outside the reserve that can be explored. They have much of the same species as the trails within Mana Dulce Reserve.  A Colombian endemic confined to dry forests of the Magdalena valley: Velvet-fronted Euphonia – Euphonia concinna. Birding early hours is key, as it gets very hot after 10 o’clock. One of the star attractions is easily seen: The endemic Velvet-fronted Euphonia. It frequently visits and even nests right next to the main building.  Colombian Chachalacas (endemic), are easily located by their loud calls. Apical Flycatcher (yes, another endemic) can be found at several sites close to the building. Another main targets are Pheasant Cuckoo which likes to sing at night. Listen for its simple plaintive song here. Barred Puffbird, Dwarf Cuckoo, Red-billed Scythebill, Greenish Elaenia, Cinereous Becard, Lance-tailed Manakin, White-eared Conebill are among the many quality birds to be looked for. 

White-fringed Antwren, Barred-, Black-crowned Antshrike, Jet– and White-bellied Antbirds represent the Thamnophilds.  The drab Tyrannids, Southern Beardless-, Mouse-colored Tyrannulet, Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant, Pale-eyed Pygmy-Tyrant & Euler’s Flycatcher blend perfectly in the barren surrounding.  Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Rufous-capped Warbler & Orange-crowned Oriole for sure, add some color!  There are several more common & and widespread species like Whooping Motmot, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Scrub Greenlet, Black-chested Jay & Black-faced Grassquit to keep one entertained. 

This reserve is not often visited by tour groups and even individual birders. But its easy access, quality birding, and tranquility make it a prime destination for those who wish to visit a reserve of the well-established birding routes in Colombia. 

References

• Tropical Dry Forest of Colombia. Biological Resources Research Institute Alexander von Humboldt.
• The Tropical Dry Forest in Colombia (Bs-T). Alexander von Humboldt Institute. Biodiversity Inventory Program. Group of Explorations and Environmental Monitoring GEMA. 1998.
• Semana Rural On-line Journal

2026 update: 90 ha RNSC in Cundinamarca (not Tolima) + 150+ bird species + Colombia BST at 8% remaining + Plan 2020-2030

The 2026 facts on Mana Dulce that matter. The reserve is a Reserva Natural de la Sociedad Civil (RNSC) registered with Parques Nacionales, located between Agua de Dios and Nilo in Cundinamarca (Alto Magdalena valley) — not in Tolima, a common misattribution. It covers 90 hectares protecting three transitional ecosystems: humid forest, transitional forest, and tropical dry forest. It is family-managed by the Helio Mendoza family as a private conservation initiative — not, as sometimes reported, an affiliate of “Fundación Herencia Ambiental Caribe” (that organisation exists but has no verified link to Mana Dulce). Reserve biodiversity is meaningful for its small size: over 150 bird species recorded, including the endemic Apical Flycatcher and other dry-forest specialists rarely accessible to Bogotá-based birders. The on-reserve La Chimbilicera cave hosts 19 bat species.

Why Mana Dulce matters to Colombia’s national conservation picture. Colombia’s tropical dry forest (bosque seco tropical, BST) is one of the country’s most endangered ecosystems: per Instituto Humboldt (IAvH) assessments, only ~8% of the original ~9 million hectares of BST cover remains, with roughly 65% of degraded former dry-forest land now in desertification. The active national framework is the Programa Nacional para la Conservación y Restauración del Bosque Seco Tropical, Plan de Acción 2020-2030, led by MinAmbiente and IAvH — the plan runs through 2030 and provides the current institutional context for private RNSC reserves like Mana Dulce. Best visiting months are the drier December-March window (when the deciduous BST canopy is most open and bird visibility is highest). Access is via Agua de Dios; advance contact with the family owners is required — this is not a walk-in reserve.