A distinctive nature focus in Risaralda is the Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary. The protected area lies in the heart of the Eje Cafetero coffee region and is located in the municipality of Pereira in the department of Risaralda. Three ecotourism trails and birdwatching give this place two specific themes for a trip. Montebello, in Tatamá National Park, is another point of interest. The two nature destinations offer different experiences and can help you narrow down your interests: are you mainly interested in birdwatching and named trails, or would you like to explore Montebello as an ecotourism area?

Birdlife at the Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary

The Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary is an important birdwatching destination. A total of 307 bird species have been recorded there, representing 16 percent of all bird species reported in Colombia. This figure gives a concrete sense of the recorded diversity, although it may change as future surveys are conducted. For visitors who want to make birdwatching a focus of their trip, the sanctuary offers a clearly defined nature experience.

Three ecotourism trails

The sanctuary has three ecotourism trails: El Humedal, Bejucos, and El río. Their names offer a specific selection of routes. If you would rather explore the sanctuary’s nature by following a named trail than by focusing on the number of species, you can use these three trails as starting points for your plans. Check the park administration’s information about current conditions before your visit.

Montebello in Tatamá National Park

Montebello adds a different, clearly identified point of interest to the selection. In Tatamá National Park, Montebello has been designated as the area open for ecotourism; it is located in the municipality of Pueblo Rico in the department of Risaralda. This makes it possible to compare it with the sanctuary: the sanctuary’s named trails and birdwatching are the main focus, while Montebello is characterized by its ecotourism designation. Check current operating conditions before your trip.

Colombia in a broader context

In the broader context of Colombia, the Coffee Cultural Landscape offers its own cultural perspective: it is a continuing production landscape made up of six component areas, with 18 urban settlements integrated into it. These different layers give travelers distinct points of reference: the Coffee Cultural Landscape provides cultural context for Colombia, while the places mentioned here bring nature interests into focus in Risaralda. If you would like to explore culture as well as nature, this national perspective offers a distinct view of production and the urban settlements integrated into it.

Nature interests when planning your accommodation

When planning your accommodation, you can first decide which nature theme you want to shape your trip around. If you are interested in birdwatching and the named trails, the sanctuary is a specific point of interest; if Montebello is your focus, you have a different named nature area in mind. You can then search for hotels in Risaralda without committing to a fixed itinerary for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Pereira, Santa Rosa De Cabal, Cerritos, Dos Quebradas, La Virginia, La Rochela, Belen De Umbria, Vichada.

For the broader travel overview: Colombia.