The 10 Best Things to Do in Cartagena in Nature

By Alejandro Rigatuso — founder of Fundación Loros and Loros Wildlife Sanctuary, based in Cartagena since 2015.

Cartagena is famous for its colonial walls and Caribbean charm — but the best things to do in Cartagena in nature happen beyond the cobblestones. Cartagena's nature and outdoors mean tropical dry forest full of parrots, mangrove tunnels, living reefs and bays that glow at night.

If you travel with intention — looking for living ecosystems, real encounters, and experiences that stay with you — this is your list: ten must-do Cartagena experiences in nature and outdoors — from easy day trips from Cartagena to hands-on eco-tourism and wildlife encounters — written from the field by the team behind Loros Wildlife Sanctuary.

---

1. Loros Wildlife Sanctuary — Colombia's most regenerative wildlife experience

Just 1 hour from Cartagena, in the tropical dry forest of Villanueva (Bolívar), this sanctuary offers something unique in the country: taking an active role in the rehabilitation of parrots and macaws rescued from illegal wildlife trade — and in the restoration of one of the Caribbean's most threatened ecosystems.

The conservation numbers are real, measurable work: 520 protected hectares of tropical dry forest, more than 20,000 trees planted from an on-site native nursery, 100+ rehabilitated birds already flying free and faithful to the site, 150+ birds in active rehabilitation, and over 200 bird species recorded — alongside monkeys, sloths, turtles and iguanas. It is Colombia's only specialized rescue center for parrots, and its release method is now peer-reviewed science.

📍 Villanueva, Bolívar
🎟️ Guided visits by reservation – explore the experiences, including a tropical-forest hike under howler monkeys and wild parrots

This is not a zoo. It is a second chance for wildlife.

---

2. Sunrise paddleboarding in Castillogrande

There is nothing quite like starting the day gliding across calm water as the sun rises over the Cartagena skyline. It is a quiet, contemplative, and energising experience — ideal for early risers.

📍 Playa de Castillogrande
🕓 Best time: 5:30 to 7:00 AM

---

3. Snorkelling at Islas del Rosario

A natural classic of Cartagena: crystal-clear water, living coral, and colourful fish. Places like Isla Grande or Isla del Pirata are ideal for swimming through shoals and reefs.

📍 Islas del Rosario
🌊 Tip: leave early or book private transport to avoid crowds.

---

4. Oceanario – Marine life and conservation on open water

Set on the sea, the Oceanario lets you observe sharks, turtles, rays, and dolphins in natural habitats. It also runs marine research and rescue programmes, combining tourism with science.

📍 Islas del Rosario
🐠 Great for families with an interest in education

---

5. Kayaking through the mangroves at La Boquilla

Paddling through mangrove tunnels guided by local fishermen is a beautiful way to connect with coastal biodiversity and traditional culture. A quiet, unhurried experience.

📍 La Boquilla
🛶 Recommended at sunrise or sunset

---

6. Jardín Botánico Guillermo Piñeres

45 minutes from Cartagena, this garden in Turbaco offers shaded trails, tropical plants, medicinal herbs, and a small fragment of primary forest. A quiet place for anyone looking for calm, environmental education, and biodiversity.

📍 Turbaco
🌿 Rarely crowded and genuinely enriching

---

7. Kitesurfing on the beaches at Morros (Wind season)

Between January and April, and in July, steady winds turn the northern beaches (between La Boquilla and Manzanillo) into the best place to kitesurf in Cartagena. Schools and equipment rental available for all levels.

📍 Morros / Manzanillo del Mar
💨 Best seasons: January–April and July

---

8. Playa Blanca, Barú (Read this before you go)

Let's be honest: it is a beautiful place — crystal-clear water, white sand. But the relentless vendor hustle, the crowds, the rough welcome and the inflated prices mean we can't recommend Playa Blanca.

The place itself is lovely; the problem is what it has become: masses of people, vendor harassment, poor service and high prices. If what you're after is nature, calm and beautiful beaches, it's definitely not where I'd go.

📍 Isla Barú
🌅 If you still want to see it: very early on a weekday is your best shot — and compare it first with the Rosario Islands (item 3)

---

9. Bioluminescent plankton tour (Recommended season)

Between December and March, some inlets near Isla Barú light up at night with bioluminescent plankton. Swimming through those natural flashes is a remarkable experience.

📍 Ask local operators in Barú
🌌 Best at low tide, clear skies, and no moon

---

10. Parque Tayrona (2–3 day trip from Cartagena)

Tayrona is not in Cartagena — and it still earns its place on this list: many travellers use Cartagena as the starting point for a 2–3 day excursion to Parque Tayrona and Santa Marta, combining jungle trails, palm-backed beaches and a night or two on Colombia's wilder Caribbean coast.

Weighing it against a hands-on wildlife day at the sanctuary? We wrote an honest comparison: Parque Tayrona vs Loros Wildlife Sanctuary.

📍 Beyond Santa Marta (about 4–5 hours by road from Cartagena)
🏕️ Plan 2–3 days; book park entry ahead in high season

---

11. Mud bath at Volcán del Totumo (Bonus — a matter of taste)

One of the most curious outdoor experiences near Cartagena: a small mud volcano where you float in a warm, dense crater of mineral mud, then rinse off in the lagoon below.

My honest opinion: I personally don't recommend it — the place feels far too rustic for me. Many tourists seem to love it, though; Alejandro Rigatuso, not so much. Call it a matter of taste — if quirky, no-frills experiences are your thing, decide for yourself.

📍 Santa Catalina, north of Cartagena (about 1 hour)
🕓 If you go: go early to beat the buses; in season, combine it with the pink sea at Galerazamba

---

Tayrona or Loros? Choosing between the coast's two big nature days

Many travellers end up weighing a long beach-and-trail day at Parque Tayrona against a hands-on wildlife day at the sanctuary. They are very different trips — and we wrote an honest comparison to help you choose: Parque Tayrona vs Loros Wildlife Sanctuary — the best nature experiences on Colombia's Caribbean coast.

---

Final thought

You came to Cartagena for the walls, the colours, and the history.
But if you really want to feel the living pulse of this land, follow the call of the forest, the sea, and the wind.

Whether you came for outdoor activities in Cartagena, birdwatching and wildlife, or slow nature tours — the coast rewards travellers who step past the walls.

And if you only choose one experience:

Loros Wildlife Sanctuary

Because some experiences don't just change your route. They change the way you see the world.

Want to do these, not just read about them? Explore all our wildlife conservation experiences near Cartagena — from birdwatching and a tropical-forest hike, to ATV reserve patrols and volunteering with rescued wildlife.

---

About the author

Alejandro Rigatuso is the founder of Fundación Loros and Loros Wildlife Sanctuary — Colombia's only specialized rescue center for parrots and macaws, an hour from the city. He moved to Cartagena 11 years ago, and every tip in this guide comes from actually living Cartagena's nature and outdoors: his team's release method for rescued parrots is peer-reviewed science, and the sanctuary protects 520 hectares of tropical dry forest.