• Mompox/Mompós (Caribbean Coast): Set on an island in the Magdalena River, Mompós, or Mompox, is true García Márquez country. It was once one of the most important Spanish cities in the Americas, but faded into history until UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site in 1995. With its colonial core restored, it’s now ready for tourists.
  • Tierradentro (Cali & the Southwest): While Tierradentro is Colombia’s second most important archeological site, it receives very few tourists because of its isolated location. Those who come are rewarded by more than 100 underground tombs, unlike anything else that has been discovered in the region.
  • Parque Nacional Natural Utría (Pacific Coast): Halfway between Nuquí and Bahía Solano, this coastal park in El Chocó is home to mangroves and thick tropical forest. Its sheltered coves are where humpback whales come to raise their young.
  • Puerto Nariño (Amazon & Los Llanos): Reached only by boat, this mostly Ticuna town on the Loreto Yacu River makes a good base for exploring Lago Tarapoto and the surrounding Amazon jungle. Keep an eye out for giant Victoria Regia water-lilies.
  • San Cipriano: Set in a reserve amid wet, wonderful rainforest, this Afro-Colombian community can only be reached by brujita, a motorcycle-powered rail car from the nearest town. Once there, rent an inner tube to float in the adjacent crystal-clear stream.
  • La Macarena (Amazon & Los Llanos): For a few months each year, during the wet season, an algae on the floor of a nearby river, Caño Cristales, turns a bright red, clashing with the green mosses and golden sand. Once impossible to reach, direct flights from Bogotá now allow for short trips.
  • La Guajira (Caribbean Coast): This remote Caribbean peninsula near the Venezuelan border, home to sand dunes and scrublands, is emerging as an ecotourism destination. This is the land of indigenous Wayúu, weavers of the famous mochilas sold around the country, who have integrated cattle ranching into their traditional society.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.