PACIFIC COAST
A narrow strip of the Pacific coast is occupied by lagoons, mangrove forests and subequatorial forests. This region is one of the wettest places on earth. Oceanic air masses are delayed here by the ridges of the Andes located to the east. Short tropical showers occur almost every day, and the average annual rainfall can reach 10,000 mm. Such climatic conditions favor the spread of malaria and yellow fever, so it is highly recommended to visit the region to carry out prevention and vaccinations. On the Pacific coast, there are strong ebbs and flows, so you should swim only in strictly designated areas. The waters here are turbulent, as there are no barrier reefs along the coasts.
According to Top-mba-universities, Colombia.the main city of the Pacific region is the port city of Buenaventura. . It is located on the shore of the bay of the same name. From the city port to Malaga Bay, which is located to the north, stretches a string of beaches. Pacific beaches and coastal waters are different from the Caribbean. On this coast, the sand is darker, the beaches are surrounded by tropical forests, some beaches are difficult to access, as the coast is overgrown with mangroves, there are strong ebbs and flows, the bottom is mostly rocky, and the coastal waters are less salty, as numerous rivers flowing here, originating in Andes, and cooler ones. Tidal forces are the cause of fairly high waves. For vacationers, this can become an obstacle to swimming, but for surfers, this will only be “on hand”. The wave riding season is January-February.
North of Buenaventura the resort towns of La Bocana, Nucuy, El Valle and Baio Solano are located. In these places, in addition to a beach holiday, you can go diving, fishing and surfing. Between July and October, humpback whales and dolphins come to the local waters to mate. The best place for whale watching is the Ensenada de Utra National Park, located near Nukui. Fishing season starts on the Pacific coast between May and June. Here you can catch fish such as dorado, flying fish, blue marlin, swordfish, tuna and snapper.
About 150 km southwest of Buenaventura in the ocean are the islands of Gorgon and Gorgonilla. Once there was a prison here, and in 1985 the islands were declared a national park. The area of the park is 486 sq. km. From July to October flocks of humpback whales, dolphins and sharks swim north along its shores. You can also see many turtles in the park.
At 500 km from Buenaventura Bay in the Pacific Ocean, the small rocky island of Malpelo (area 0.35 sq. km) is of interest. It is the westernmost point of Colombia. The island is uninhabited, there is only a military post of the Colombian army on it. Malpelo is considered one of the best dive sites in the world. Its coastal waters are home to a wide variety of shark species (silky sharks, frilled sharks, whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, sharptooth sand sharks), rays and tropical fish.
VALLEYS OF ORINOCO AND THE AMAZON
The valleys of the Orinoco and Amazon rivers are located in the eastern part of the country and occupy half of the territory of Colombia. In the northern part of the region, the tributaries of the Orinoco flow: Meta, Tomo, Guaviare, Inirida and Arauca, and in the south – the tributaries of the Amazon: Guaynia, Isana, Vaupes, Apaporis, Caqueta, Jari and Putumayo. The richness of the natural world of the region is truly impressive, mainly lovers of ecotourism go here. It is worth remembering that this part of the country is quite dangerous for tourism, as extremists are based here.
Orinoco Valley occupied by the llanos savannas, where the Colombian cowboys “llaneros” live. Most of the local land is used for pastures. Llanos are home to one of the largest predators in South America – the Orinoco crocodile (body length up to 7 m), giant armadillos (weight up to 60 kg), the largest rodent on the planet – capybara (weight reaches 50 kg) and the world’s largest snake – anaconda (length up to 6 m). In Orinoquia, it is worth visiting the Tuparro National Park with an area of 548 thousand hectares. About 320 species of birds settle on the banks of the local rivers, and many fish live in the rivers themselves, among which the fossil fish arowana.
The Amazon River Valley occupies 1/3 of the territory of Colombia. This area, unique in its natural world, is often called the “lungs of the planet” because of the dense rainforests that cover it. More than 6,000 species of animals and about 1,000 species of plants live in the local selva. Approximately 50% of the territory of the Colombian Amazon is occupied by protected areas.
The tourist center of the region is the city of Leticia . It is located in the extreme southeast of Colombia on the border with Brazil and Peru. Every year, tourists from different parts of the Earth arrive in Leticia in order to start an exciting journey through the Amazon jungle. The most suitable place to explore the nature of the Amazon is located near Leticia Amakayaku National Park. Huge trees grow in the local forests, the height of which can reach 50 m: mahogany, hevea, red and white cedar and balsam tree; and in the swamps – the largest water lily in the world, Victoria Regia. In the park you can see the smallest primate in the world – the lion marmoset monkey, the world’s largest freshwater crocodiles and turtles, jaguars, tapirs and deer. From Leticia you can also take a motorboat to the “Island of the Monkeys” (Isla de Los Micos), where more than a thousand monkeys live, and to the Kahuinari and Rio Pura National Parks, where you can see black caimans and the largest freshwater caimans in the rivers. turtles in the world.
