Colombia’s Natural Beauty

The energy of Colombia’s cities draws visitors from across the globe to Bogota, Medellin, Cali and Cartagena. But tourists are beginning to realize there’s more to this country than urban excitement. I discovered a small sample of Colombia’s natural reserves… wild but peaceful, seemingly untouched and unending.

For the first time in my life, I thought: if only I were an artist… The magnificent shades of greens, browns, oranges, and beiges were like none I’ve ever seen before. It would be heaven for Cézanne.

Just about 90 minutes outside Bogota lies Chingaza National Park, a natural reserve that supplies water to the majority of Bogota, plus other neighboring towns. The ecosystem found here is called “Paramo,” and is unique to just a few countries in the world.

Kind of a highland wetlands… it sits at 10,000 - 13,000 feet above sea level, and its plants and ground act as a giant sponge. They absorb the moisture in the air, as well as waters from the glaciers, and they save it. Then it can be slowly dispersed later, as needed. Our planet is truly fascinating.

We left Bogota around 6am, well before our hotel’s restaurant opened for breakfast. So, we stopped along the way. After driving about 45 minutes we came upon La Calera, a hillside town. At this early hour, there was just one roadside restaurant open. They served arepas and other breakfast treats. I opted for Caldo de Costilla, a traditional beef rib broth with lots of parsley and potatoes, as well as hot chocolate which comes with a wedge of farmers cheese. This is the type of hearty breakfast you need to keep you going all day long in this chilly higher altitude.

After breakfast, it’s another 30 minutes or so by car to Chingaza. You should call in advance to see if reservations are need. The park is well-protected and you will need to register when you arrive and present your passport. No cars are allowed inside, so you will be walking for the remainder of your visit. I suggest wearing several layers and carrying a small backpack to bring water, snacks/lunch, camera, binoculars and anything else you need. Remember that whatever you bring into the park must come back out with you.

There are about 35 spectacled bears in the area, and you might be lucky enough to see one. There are dozens of endemic birds, plus deer, pumas, tapirs, and other rare fauna. You’ll also see plants, flowers and trees that you’ve never seen before. Below, see the tendrils growing from the tree trunks and branches, and the plants with tiny white “hairs” and curved leaves. All trees, plants and shrubbery have evolved to reach out into the clouds to catch and absorb as much water as possible.

Although I visited several natural reserves in the Bogota area, Chingaza was my favorite experience and really left an impression on me. Here you see not only the beauty, but also the creativity of nature. There are so many things happening on, inside and to our planet that we can’t see, but at Chingaza you see it up-close. At Chingaza you truly see the power of nature.