Nacional Park Los Katios

The NNP Los Katios is a protected area of 72000 hectares, which half represents the border with Panama and the famous Darien natural park. Mountainous region going up in the Serrania del Darien up to 600m of altitude; and the other half close to Rio Atrato are marshy plains between 2 and 20m of altitude. The park belongs to 3 municipalities: Unguia (2%), Riosucio (63%) and Turbo (35%). It is the richest park in the whole Columbia in term of biodiversity. It has been declared natural world heritage by the UNESCO in 1994. We enter the park either with the track from Unguia, or by boat on Rio Atrato from Turbo. But the park has been closed for a few years because of armed groups and mines. We have been in contact with authorities managing the park, and have been told that everything is done to re-open it to the public by 2019-20, they are sweeping the place for mines and building infrastructures to accommodate tourists. That is why we mention the place, we hope to be able to get there soon with all it has to offer in term of nature and wildlife. On the vegetation side, the park has 669 different botanical species, a paradise for botanists who discover new species every year.

Wildlife in the park is just impressive : 105 species of reptiles and amphibians, 412 species of birds, 182 species of mammals and 142 species of fish… In the mammal family, the most common are anteaters, tapirs, manatees, mountain dogs, koatis, jaguars, pumas, bear of the Andes, screaming monkeys, spider monkeys, ouistitis…

In the park, you can walk to different waterfalls (la Tigra, El Tendal, El Tilupo) in the mountainous part, or get on a small boat in the marshy part of cienaga de Tumarado to observe the biodiversity.