The most beautiful natural sites to discover Colombia

The Névralgique nerve center. Around the square, the official buildings and above all the cathedral of La Inmaculada Concepción, declared historic and Architectural Heritage of the City, are located.

It takes 4 to 6 days walking through the jungle for about fifty kilometers round. A demanding excursion that requires a good physical condition but is not extreme either. In general, we do it in 5 days, we walk only 4 hours in the morning, the rest of the day is relaxing in the refreshing rivers or in the hammock. Life in the community encourages encounters with other travelers, we eat the right courtesy in a jovial and international atmosphere, and the cooks sometimes make miracles. Walking itself is just as spectacular as the archeological site. By surveying the muddy trails, we discover the vegetal world of the rainy tropical selve, with its countless epiphytic plants and centenary trees, waterfalls and basins where swimming is swimming, a rocky river that needs to be crossed several times on the head or in local cable car (an open box open) in wood…), and these endless stairs, 1,200 steps, to reach the site! We've been dreaming for three or four days walking in the wetland of 85% humidity. Mosquito bites and other insects, light bulbs and fries are quickly forgotten in the hammock. In the early morning, after an hour to climb a more than millennium staircase, through taguas and trees, we reached the gazed terraces where the huts of the inhabitants were once. The view of the steep mountains is enchanting. The energy of this sacred site is deeply felt, which inspires great humility and silence.

The return to "civilization" is a long descent from one day or two, again rivers to cross, snakes to avoid, and clothes always soaked… But walkers are happy and soothing, filled with this extraordinary adventure. In addition to the personal challenge, this trek is both a meeting with the pre-Columbian history and a look at the contemporary lifestyle of the peoples of the Sierra. They take their role as guardian of the Mother Earth very seriously, too often malled by the «little brothers» of the Western world…

The crossing of the national park lasts 3 days/2 nights.

1 st day. Arrival in the national park via the Cañón del Río Claro and the valleys of La Quinta. 3 hours of ascension to the Conejeras Conejeras of Nevado Santa Isabel (4,850 m), 2 hours descent. Transfer by car to Casa Potosí at 3,900 m altitude for dinner and overnight.

2 nd day. Walk to the Mirador de La Asomadera (4,000 m) with an exceptional view of a magnificent lagoon, then to Vereda el Bosque where the Finca Berlín is located to spend the night with the family living there.

3 rd day. Descent through the Cuchilla de Berlín and its rocky landscapes with a view of the Nevado del Tolima glaciers. Arrival in the valley of Cócora and its famous wax palm trees. Rest deserved and tasting of the famous rainbow trout to finish in beauty!

A volcano located south of the park in the department of Tolima. This is Colombia's 3 rd volcano, at 5,215 m.

One of the highest summits in the park, at 4,750 m altitude, in the southern part of the park. A demanding and enigmatic mountain with a wide variety of ecosystems.

The most popular excursion is the magnificent walk to the glacier of Nevado Santa Isabel, quite demanding because of altitude more than 5 hours walk back.

Large esplanade lined with arcades with an impressive bronze bust from Botero and two statues of doves. One of the two, El Pajaro Herido (the Wounded Bird) was shredded by a bomb. She exploded during a festival in 1995, killing 23 people and injuring a hundred. A commemorative plaque lists the victims. The other statue, El Pajaro de la Paz, is a replica made by Botero in manifest form against criminals.

An impressive waterfall (170 m) in the ravine bearing the same name, not far from San José de Isnos, 16 km from San Agustín. Access in 4 x 4 or on horseback.

The site extends on an artificial plateau on the banks of the Magdalena River. Even if it is far from San Agustín, just 26 km (it is only accessible on horseback, or in Jeep), its landscapes really are worth the move. You will admire four remarkable statues.

Beautiful orchids, among others, in this beautiful park about 90 km from the city of Cali.

400 ha agricultural research centre that can be visited. Many mosquitoes. There are 80 different fruit trees, in 4 copies (at various stages of development), lakes full of birds and an rubber forest. The fertility and diversity of places are striking: there are 62 varieties of avocado, 60 varieties of mangoes…

The Eye of God is a sacred place for the indigenous community of Los Pastos. The water, century after century, has pierced the rock to form this oval hole through which it passes, to fall 35 meters below in a natural pool, where you can bathe and be massaged wildly by the waterfall. A few minutes away, there is another waterfall and a succession of small pools and streams forming a natural bubbling bath (not for the cold!). For rappelling activities, check with a specialized agency such as Ecoturismo Putumayo.

This 441 m long canyon is located north of Mocoa, where the Manda River flows into the Caqueta River (natural border between the departments of Cauca, Putumayo and Caqueta). Mandiyaco in the Inga language means "the river that commands". In these rocky formations, we can guess different animal silhouettes, drawn by the passage of the water. A nice walk of about ten minutes, with a suspension bridge from which you can take beautiful pictures. Don't get too close to the canyon, the rock is slippery, especially in case of rain.

This community association composed of about fifteen peasant families from the area was founded in 2007. Its objective is to preserve the magnificent sites of La Chorrera and del Chiflón, while creating jobs in tourism and the protection of fauna and flora. By visiting the park, we also support this association, which has done a lot of work so far.