The 10 Most Beautiful Natural National Parks of Colombia

Discover how to visit the ten most beautiful natural national parks in Colombia, an amazing country with hidden treasures!

Two times larger than France, Colombia unveils a unique fauna and flora. They are characteristic of different ecosystems and climates that cross different regions. This incredible biodiversity is listed in the System of Natural National Parks of Colombia (SPNN). It includes fifty-nine natural areas in total. These national parks cover a hundred and twenty-six thousand square kilometres, just over 11 per cent of the territory. Some sites even enjoy universal recognition: they are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Between heavenly beaches, rich seabed, tropical jungles, snowy mountains, deserts and archaeological sites, nature and history lovers will be filled by visiting Colombia. To help you in your choice, we offer a list of the ten most beautiful natural national parks in Colombia.

1. Los Nevados

Nestled in the heart of the coffee and Central Cordillera region, Los Nevados whose name means eternal snow, will charm mountaineers and other mountaineers. Son paramo Typically Andean will open its doors to lunar valleys before climbing the glaciers of the Nevado del Tolima, Nevado del Ruiz or Santa Isabelle .

Among its endemic fauna, you will have a great chance to marvel at the Toucans and condors of the Andes, glasses bears, tattoos, cougars and several species of hummingbirds. This is an exceptional wealth not to be missed when you come to visit the most beautiful natural national parks in Colombia.

2. Sierra Nevada Del Cocuy

Located northeast of Colombia, close to Venezuela , Sierra Nevada del Cocuy is, according to the New York Times, as beautiful as the Kilimandjaro . Composed of nearly one hundred and fifty lakes and twenty-five snowy peaks, the national park Del Cocuy represents the largest ice mass in the country and it is a must when you come to visit the ten most beautiful natural national parks in Colombia.

Paramo Kingdom, hiking on one or more days will lead you to breathtaking landscapes. You can admire large snow-covered peaks Pan de Azucar , huge blocks of rocks in Pulpito del Diablo , and a multitude of endemic plants in Frailejones Valley . Sierra Nevada del Cocuy is an ideal place for those who wish to exceed five thousand meters of altitude.

3. Tayrona National Park and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

Located only thirty-four kilometers from Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast, Tayrona Natural National Park is a true sanctuary. It protects more than one hundred mammals and three hundred species of birds spread over twelve thousand hectares of land and three thousand hectares of sea.

Between beaches of postcards, extraordinary seabeds, tropical nature, mangroves, lagoons and archaeological sites, we quickly understand why this natural gem has become one of the most visited parks in Colombia. It is still populated by some members of the indigenous community descending from Taironas . In order to continue your adventure when you are looking to visit the most beautiful natural national parks in Colombia, you can organize a trek in the heights of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta: direction the mysterious Lost City.

4. Amacayacu Natural National Park

Located in the department Amazonas south of Colombia, National Park Amacayacu , or "hammock river" in language Ticuna , is a must when you come to visit Colombia. After a flight to the city of Laeticia and a 60-kilometre navigation on the Amazon River, you will arrive at the park gates. Like true adventurers, you will explore, with a local guide, the paths defined by the "maps of the jungle path" and you will discover the ancestral customs of indigenous communities Tikuna who still populate the region.

A true refuge of lush vegetation and a hundred and fifty species of mammals, you will enchant yourself in the sight of the smallest primate in the world, the Titi Leoncito , fresh water turtles, pink dolphins, anacondas, caimans or even giant nenuphars Victoria regia . On foot on the firm ground, or through the flooding jungle, the marshes and river systems typical of the Amazon, the experience will be unforgettable!

5. Parc naturel Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo

Built of twenty-eight coral islands, this natural marine park will delight lovers of seaside resorts as well as nature lovers. What better than disconnecting from reality by sipping a cocktail on a sandy beach in the shade of a palm tree? Observe exotic fish in translucent hot water? Or even become an ornithologist through the mangroves?

You will have understood, visit the park Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo offers this possibility only a few minutes from Cartagena de Indias. This place is considered to be one of the richest ecosystems in the Caribbean Sea, underwater diving fanatics will be delighted! By making this one of the unmissable sites when you come to visit the most beautiful natural parks of Colombia!

6. Los Flamencos

Located in the village of Camarones, fifteen minutes' drive south of Rioacha, the sanctuary of fauna and flora Los Flamencos is a place not to be missed if you don't know what to do or what to see in Colombia. Of a seven thousand hectares, the park hosts thousands of pink flamands, especially during their migratory period between December and March.

The rest of the year, a boat ride with a local guide is also possible to observe other exotic birds such as cormorans and borrachos. But this place is not only known for its ornithological charm. Indeed, visit the sanctuary Los Flamencos will allow you to learn more about the colorful culture of the community Wayyu , practice fishing at sea with locals or enjoy the sun and the beach in peace.

7. Natural National Park of Chicamocha

Becoming one of the most visited sites in Colombia, Chicamocha Natural National Park has a sumptuous setting and it has everything to please you. Located between San gil and Bucaramanga, the national park covers an area of two hundred and sixty-four hectares and overlooks the spectacular Canyon of Chicamocha .

A huge cut of two kilometers of depth and more than twenty-three kilometers of length, a paragliding flight or a 40-five minute cableway ride will allow you to approach the canyon closer and have a breathtaking view of the villages nestled on the hillside. With numerous waterfalls and powerful streams, it is also suitable for outdoor activities and extreme sports for all levels such as canyoning, rafting, recall descent and speleology. Don’t hesitate to offer you a fascinating fitness in Chicamocha Natural National Park!

8. Macuira Natural National Park

Guajira is one of the favorite destinations of tourists looking to visit the most beautiful natural national parks in Colombia. Between sand dunes in the ocean and the indigenous community Wayyu , it is obviously a must not to be missed. Here, an oasis of twenty-five thousand hectares captivates the attention of visitors: the natural park of Macuira.

Located in Nazareth, in the municipality of Uribia, the place unveils a unique scenario in the world where the lush green of the mountains contrasts with the arid yellow of the desert. The bosquets, yet located at an altitude of only five hundred and fifty meters and close to the sea, are similar to the paramo usually visible at two thousand seven hundred meters of minimum altitude. You will have understood it, Macuira Natural National Park is ideal for bird watching and it is especially a nice place to take your best shots!

9. Los Angeles

Nestled in the department of Norte de Santander , the unique natural area of Los Estoraques is a remarkable creation of nature lady not to be missed when you come to visit the most beautiful natural parks of Colombia.

The smallest protected area in the country with only six square kilometers, Los Estoraques Park is a real product of erosion where wind and water have shown their creative talents! Columns, caves and countless millennium pedestals have taken shape. Do not hesitate to take a guide to visit the places. You will thus get explanations on these rocky forms and learn more about the natives who populate the place before the arrival of the settlers.

10. Macarena National Park

A spectacular location, Macarena National Park also has its place in the ranking of exceptional sites. Being one of the first reserves created in the country, recognized as "Biological Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO, it combines three ecosystems: Andin, Amazonian, Onoquien, giving it a unique biodiversity.

Very fragile, the reserve allows entry to one hundred and seventy people per day only. Jaguar, puma, ants, cervids, eight species of monkeys, five hundred species of birds, one hundred species of reptiles and thousands of different insects populate the region! In addition, Macarena Natural Park is also known for its endemic algae: Macarenia clavigera , responsible for the prodigious beauty of Cano Cristals . Taping the bed of the "five-colored river" of yellow, blue, red, green and black. You will have guessed it Cano Cristals is an unmissable country when you come to visit the most beautiful natural national parks of Colombia.