Between waterfalls, unique birds and guardian communities of the jungle, this place is ready with a sustainable ecotourism model.
News Colombia.
Colombia’s National Natural Parks are authentic sanctuaries that protect biodiversity and ecosystems in the country. Among them is the Los Katíos Natural Park, located in the Darién, a territory that will soon open its doors to receive visitors seeking contact with nature in their purest state.
This park, declared in 1994 Natural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, is a meeting point between Central and South America that houses an ecological wealth difficult to match. There they converge the tropical humid forest and the very humid tropical forest, in addition to marshes, wetlands and mountains that create a unique life mosaic in the continent.
The katíos are a paradise of contrasts: from their hills and mountains that are part of the Serranía del Darién to its plains that are flooded with the rains. Among its wonders, the cascade of El Tilupo stands out, with more than 100 meters of fall, a natural show that promises to become one of travelers’ favorite attractions.
The area is also recognized for its enormous diversity of birds. According to Natural National Parks from Colombia, there can be strictly sighing unique species such as the Chavarría chauna, the Buco Pico Gordo and the Giant Martín, birds that turn this park into a privileged destination for lovers of aviturism.
In the communities of Puente América, Tumaradó and Bocas del Atrato, neighbors to the park, the expectation is great. Its inhabitants, mostly fishermen, see in ecotourism an opportunity to improve their income without abandoning their link with nature and cultural heritage.
“With these training we provide the communities and the ranges the orientation and the necessary tools around ecotourism, so that, when the entrance to the protected area is enabled, they can offer a quality service and transmit the importance of the ecosystems that are preserved there, such as the Firing Tierra Forest, the Arracachales, the Tumaradó Ciénaga and the great diversity of mammals and birds that inhabit them,” Nelson de la Rosa, head of the Los Katíos Natural Park, pointed out.
This process is part of the Strengthening Workshop of the Ecotourism Value Chain, a strategy that seeks to consolidate sustainable tourism as a new economic engine in the Darien and Urabá.
When will katíos open to the public?
Although there is still no exact date for reopening, environmental authorities say it is very close. The main challenge is to ensure that communities are ready to receive visitors and that infrastructure adjustments are carried out successfully.
It is expected to enable a land path and another aquatic in the Tumaradó area, both designed so that travelers can travel the park without affecting their ecosystems.
The reopening of the katios will not only be good news for nature tourism lovers, but also an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to conservation and responsible ecotourism.
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