In a country known for its exceptional natural wealth, there is beguiling natural beauty that spans rugged Andean peaks, wildlife-rich tropical rainforests, vast grasslands of wax palms and sparse, highland paramo.
After two decades of concerted efforts to strengthen its protected areas, the country now has 59 national parks and protected areas. It is possible to escape into one of the country's national parks. Doing so is worth it.
Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.Travelers just can't get enough of these treasures, from encounters with an amazing richness of wildlife to hiking trails with amazing mountain views. There are 9 national parks in the country.
Between the skirts of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range and the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea lies an exquisitely beautiful stretch of white-sand beaches, rock formations and untouched rainforest.
More than 30,000 acres of land and 3000 acres of ocean are protected in the most visited park in the country. It's best to see the swimming and snorkeling on the beaches from shore because many of them are too dangerous for a swim. The trail from the entrance at Caaveral leads to the coast, where you can see cotton-top tamarin monkeys that call the adjoining jungle home.
The crashing waves will lull you to sleep if you choose a hammock, tent or cabin close to the ocean.
Don't visit in December and January when the park is packed with backpackers.
Serrana del Chiribiquete National Park is the world's largest tropical rainforest park and one of the most remarkable protected areas.
Humans have made this place special. There are 75,000 paintings in the park that date back to 20,000 BCE. Five uncontacted tribes live within the park's borders.
Only a limited number of 1-hour flyovers run by local tour operators allow you to see the park from the air.
One of the most dramatic and high- altitude national parks in the country is Parque Natural Los Nevados. The summit of the volcano is 5200m (17,060ft) high and requires technical mountaineer experience. The trails go up through the paramo landscapes to reach the older glaciers.
In the southern skirts of the national park, you can find the more accessible Valle de Cocora, a lush expanse of grassland and cloud forest. The Quindo wax palm is the national tree of the country and it is up to 60m tall. From the meandering trails that take you to viewpoints from the whole Cocora valley and the craggy peaks of the park's northern reaches, you can see it.
You can organize a hike in nearby Salento or Manizales if you register a guide. The full list of guides can be found on the Parque Natural Los Nevados website.
The capital city of Bogot uses 80% of the water it gets from the 60 lagoons in the national park. It makes it easy to get from the capital to the paramo. Between the tree line and the snow line lies a barren yet beautiful tundra-like environment filled with curious looking frailejn plants.
You need the assistance of a Bogot-based tour operator or your own vehicle to explore this 76,600-hectare189,300-acre park. Five hiking trails, each with visitor caps at either 40 or 60 per day, allow you to explore the park, with the most popular being the climb to reach the Lagunas de Siecha.
Give yourself a couple of days in Bogot to get used to the altitude before you head out here.
Parque Nacional Natural Puracé is located in the far south of the country and protects a piece of the Andes.
The best way to see the natural landscapes here is on foot. The best way to get to the summit of the Volcn Puracé is to hike to the edge of the crater. The vast wingspan of the Andean condors can be seen from the skies.
During September and October, you can see the frailejn plants that grow in the paramo.
Parque Nacional Natural El Cocuy is a difficult place to get to. The effort of a 10-hour rattling bus journey northeast from Bogot pays dividends, granting access to a 3060-sq-km (1180-sq-mile) park that is home to 15 magnificent 5000m-plus (16,404ft) peaks.
Many hiking trails have been closed because of objections from the U'wa people, but the park still has a lot to offer. There is a 12-hour trail that leads to a piece of rock spiking out of a retreating glacier.
Parque Natural Serrana de La Macarena is one of the most interesting natural attractions in the country. There is a river that blooms in the tropics each year.
You can swim in the water of the Liquid Rainbow if you want to see the pink and red blooms of the Macarenia clavigera plant. A trail of waterfalls and swimming holes are located to the south of the national park and are accessible through a guided tour.
A mid-week trip will see many fewer visitors than on weekends because the visitor numbers are capped at 200 per day. It is not recommended to travel to Cao Cristales without a local guide.
Parque Nacional Old Providence McBean Lagoon is a small national park. Part of the third-longest coral reef in the world is protected by the mangrove forests in the east of Providencia.
The waters of Cayo Cangrejo are home to some of the most amazing snorkeling and diving in the region. Coral reefs are home to schools of tropical fish. You should keep an eye out for four species of turtles.
Ciudad Perdida, the once-thriving Tairona city that remains buried deep in the jungle, is located at the birthplace of the Tairona people. The summits of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range slide into deep river valleys and into the jungle of this national park.
Descendants of the Tairona still live in this national park and you can find them on the trek to reach the archeological site. Between December and February is the best time for dry ground.
The article was first published about a decade ago.
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