A thousand and one ecosystems
Colombia has an abundance of tropical vegetation, thanks to its unique geographical position in the north of South America, at the junction of Central America. Bordered by two oceans, it is connected to the Panamanian isthmus by thick jungle. It is in this so-called Darién buffer that plant and animal species have been migrating back and forth for three million years. Added to this is Colombia's rugged terrain, crossed by three major mountain ranges. This topography provides the country with ideal conditions for hosting a mosaic of natural environments that are home to a diverse range of fauna. Colombia is the3rd country in the world with the highest number of animals of all groups, and4th for mammals and reptiles. Jaguars, pumas, ocelots, peccaries, armadillos, sloths and all kinds of monkeys abound in the forests and savannahs. Spectacled bears and pinchaque tapirs haunt the humid solitudes of the Páramo highlands. The Pacific jungle is home to the world's most poisonous frog, the rana dorada venenosa, whose single microgram of venom can kill up to 10 people in a matter of seconds! The marshes and banks of the great rivers are frequented by a multitude of aquatic birds, as well as crocodiles and anacondas. For exceptional images of the country's biodiversity, don't miss the sublime documentary Colombia Magia Salvaje (2015). It can be found on YouTube, or on DVD in stores belonging to the Éxito chain, which co-produced the film.
The kingdom of Orchids and Bromelaceae
Colombia is the country with the most orchids in the world. There are 4,270 species, over a third of which are endemic. They come in all sizes and colors, each more beautiful than the last. They are found mainly in Andean forests. Cattleya trianae, nicknamed "May Flower", is Colombia's national flower. Its name pays tribute to the great Colombian botanist José Jerónimo Triana (1828-1890). Of the various species in the Cattleya genus, Trianae is the most colorful, with 70 different hues! Medellín, the "city of eternal spring" and home to the headquarters of the Colombian Society for the Study of Orchids, is often referred to as the "orchid capital of South America".
Bromeliads are another very common plant family in Colombia. Like orchids and ferns (1,633 species), they are found mainly in the enchanting "cloud forests"(bosques de niebla), found between 1,600 m and 3,000 m, where each tree is a veritable botanical garden in itself. Most species are epiphytic, meaning they grow on other plants that support them. Their aerial roots or pointed leaves enable them to absorb rainwater and moisture from the atmosphere. Some species grow on the ground, as in the case of theAnanas comosus, whose fruit we love.
Giant palm trees
When it comes to palm trees in Colombia, there is a lot to choose from, as it is the country with the most species in the world (258). They will certainly appear on your photos of the Caribbean coast, and they will not fail to illustrate your memories of the coffee region either. It is indeed in theEje Cafetero that we find the famous Wax Palm(Palma de cera), the national tree of Colombia. The Quindío Wax Palm is the tallest palm tree in the world and can reach heights of over 60 meters. As its name indicates, it grows naturally in the department of Quindío, between 2,500 and 3,000 meters above sea level. If the beautiful Cocora Valley, near Salento, is famous for its wax palms, it is far from being the only place to admire them. Much less touristy, the finca La Carbonera, in Tochecito, between Salento and Ibagué, offers the largest concentration of wax palms in the world. It is said that there are about 600,000 specimens! You can get there from Salento by Jeep, or by bicycle for the bravest. Many wax palms have been planted in the parks and gardens of the country, especially in Bogotá, in the Botanical Garden or in the Parque de la 93. Threatened with extinction, this now protected tree can live up to 300 years. Some of them date back to well before the arrival in Colombia of a certain Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859), who was the first to study them, in 1801.
At sea and in the rivers
With its 2,900 km of coastline, Colombia is a delight for divers, fishermen and surfers. A trip to the Caribbean coast is an opportunity to observe a multitude of colorful fish, but it's above all when you reach the archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, and its aptly named "Sea of Seven Colors", that divers will be in for a real treat. In the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, the volcanic island of Providencia is a hidden treasure for scuba divers and snorkelers alike. Located on the world's third largest barrier reef, its crystal-clear waters make it easy to observe a myriad of colorful fish, manta rays, giant tortoises and even reef sharks. Speaking of sharks, the Pacific island of Malpelo has been dubbed the world capital of shark diving. The setting is much more hostile around this craggy rock, 500 km off the coast, which can only be visited on diving cruises. Groups of hundreds of hammerheads roam here, as well as silky sharks, whale sharks (the world's largest fish), eagle rays, flying fish and schools of tuna. But the king here is the ferocious shark. Malpelo is one of the few places in the world where you can hope to get close to this menacingly toothy shark, which can grow up to five meters long. It lives at great depths and only comes up at certain times of the year, when the surface waters are cold. Another Pacific island also attracts divers: Gorgona. Located off the coast of Guapí, this very wild island, known for having been used as a penitentiary ("Colombia's Alcatraz") and for housing 4 species of deadly snakes, is also an excellent diving spot. Dolphins, sea turtles, sperm whales and humpback whales can be seen mating in the area between June and October. But you don't have to leave the coast to see the whales. These giants of the sea (averaging 30 tonnes and 14 m in length) approach the mainland at the same time, especially between July and September. You can admire their spectacular leaps from the beach not far from Buenaventura, in Ladrilleros, Juanchaco and La Barra, but also in Chocó. Ensenada de Utría National Natural Park, between El Valle and Nuquí, is one of the whales' favorite calving grounds, as is Cupica Bay, north of Bahía Solano. After the largest marine mammal, head for the rivers of the Amazon or Orinoco basins to observe the largest freshwater dolphin. The pink dolphin, or tonina, is an animal as fascinating as it is mysterious, and the source of many legends. It can be seen in Lake Tarapoto near Puerto Nariño, or in the fish-filled waters of Puerto Carreño (Vichada), at the confluence of the Meta and Orenoque rivers.
Bird and butterfly paradise
Colombia is the country with the greatest variety of birds in the world. Its 1,963 species recorded in 2021 (20% of all species recorded on earth) represent more than the species of North America and Europe combined! Macaws and other multicolored parrots, toucans with oversized beaks and tiny hummingbirds abound. Colombia is increasingly focusing on birdwatching tourism, attracting enthusiastic travellers desperate to photograph the rare bird. And Colombia has plenty of them, with no fewer than 80 endemic species! Birdwatching sites abound: Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Amazonia, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Eje Cafetero, among others. Geographical and dietary conditions, habitat and time of year all influence the location of the birds. A Guide to the Birds of Colombia and its Spanish-language version, Guía ilustrada de la Avifauna Colombiana, are considered the reference for birdwatchers. The www.birdsofcolombia.com website is also an excellent source of information for birdwatchers.
Colombia is also home to the world's largest number of butterfly species: 4,000 butterfly species and 2,085 subspecies have been recorded by the Natural History Museum in London in 2021, representing 20% of all lepidopteran species currently known on the planet. The most famous of these is undoubtedly the morpho, a very large butterfly (12 to 20 cm wingspan) frequently seen in forests along watercourses. With its magnificent metallic blue wings, it's easy to recognize!
Animals in the wallet!
Take a look at your coins: since 2012, the Colombian peso has featured some of Colombia's most emblematic species! The spectacled bear, which hides in the Andean rainforests, appears on the $50 coin. The frailejón, the endemic plant of the páramo, appears on the $100 coin, while the Ara macao, a magnificent parrot in the red, yellow and blue colors of the Colombian flag, is worth twice as much: $200. The "glass frog", with its translucent chest through which the amphibian's lungs, intestines and even heartbeat can be seen, is entitled to the $500 coin. Finally, the $1,000 coin pays tribute to the Caretta caretta, one of the five species of sea turtle (out of seven worldwide) that frequent the Colombian coast.
