The Best Ecolodges In Colombia

Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries on earth, with hundreds of species of bird, mammal, amphibian, reptile, insect and plant in habitats from the Caribbean and Pacific coasts and the Amazon rainforest to the great plains and the Andes mountains. There are some excellent places to stay from an eco-hotel in Cartagena to a bonafide jungle lodge – here’s our pick of the best.

With Culture Trip, you can stay in charming eco-hotels on both our exclusive eight-day Colombian Andes adventure and our epic eight-day Colombian Caribbean trip.

Pijibá Lodge

A fantastic ecolodge on the biodiverse Pacific coast near Nuqui, this lodge comprises six cabins constructed from locally sourced materials. It’s an intimate place, with stunning views over the ocean and the jungle. Activities focus on whale watching in season, and surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving. Guides can also arrange hiking and bird-watching excursions on request.

A half-hour walk from the popular coffee town of Salento, Kasaguadua, meaning “bamboo house”, is a private nature reserve protecting 12ha ( of tropical Andean cloud forest. It’s possible to visit for the day and enjoy an informative guided hike along the 4km (2.5mi) of trails, or to stay overnight in the innovative cabins constructed primarily from bamboo. One important caveat when staying at Kasaguadua is that guests must be relatively fit, as the only access to the lodge, which lies at the bottom of a valley, is by foot.

Taironaka Ecolodge

This lovely little ecolodge, on the coastal road between Tayrona National Park and Palomino, is the perfect place to explore nature and the indigenous cultures of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It sits on the Don Diego River, where you can go tubing, and has a number of ecological trails that a local guide can show you, as well as an on-site archaeological museum dedicated to local cultures. They also offer healing and marriage rituals, as well as ceremonies with a local Kogui indigenous village that they work with in a foundation set up in 2006.

Juan Solito Ecolodge

Juan Solito Ecolodge, sits on Hato La Aurora, a vast reserve/ranch on the eastern plains of Colombia that protects a number of important indigenous species, including jaguars, ocelots, and anacondas, as well as many other species of mammal and bird. You’ll stay in a typical llanero house, and there’s a delicious menu of local food on offer. Activities include a Colombian safari across the plains in a 4×4 or on horseback. The team at the lodge also offer fascinating trips to monitor the camera traps that have been set up to record jaguar activity on the ranch.

El Almejal Reserve & Lodge

This natural reserve and ecolodge, on Almejal beach near the town of El Valle in the Choco Pacific region, is a paradise for nature lovers. There’s a wonderful nature trail through the surrounding jungles, and eagle-eyed visitors can spot poison-arrow frogs, glass frogs, a variety of bird species, and the impressive basilisk lizard, also known as the Jesus Christ lizard for its ability to run on water. With individual cabins in the jungle, a turtle rescue programme, and a variety of nature tours available, El Almejal is bound to impress.

El Dorado Bird Reserve

Owned and operated by ProAves, Colombia’s most important bird conservation organization, El Dorado, in the fauna-rich Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, has panoramic views over the Caribbean Sea and the snowcapped peaks of Bolivar state, in southern Colombia. It’s a huge draw for twitchers worldwide, who come to spot up to 20 species of bird that only exist here. The lodge’s gardens alone boast a multitude of species, including the Santa Marta screech owl.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.