Why we believe the Fundación Loros sanctuary is the most transformative wildlife experience near Cartagena

Just one hour from Cartagena de Indias, on the Caribbean foothills of northern Colombia, there is a place where parrots return to freedom, forests regenerate, and local communities thrive alongside nature.

Loros Wildlife Sanctuary is not a zoo, not a theme park, not a show. It is a living sanctuary — a space in motion, where conservation happens through restoration, education, and working the land together.

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What is Loros Wildlife Sanctuary?

Loros is a wildlife sanctuary and private regenerative reserve, located in the municipality of Villanueva, Bolívar, protecting one of the last remaining fragments of tropical dry forest in the Colombian Caribbean.

• Size: Over 530 hectares (1,300+ acres)

• Elevation: Between 110 and 350 meters above sea level

• Biome: Tropical dry forest — the most threatened terrestrial ecosystem in Latin America

• Conservation model: Rescue, rehabilitation, release, reforestation, and environmental education

• Ecological impact: Over 20,000 native trees planted, with a goal of 80,000 by 2030

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A real wildlife sanctuary — not a tourist attraction

Loros Wildlife Sanctuary is designed first for the animals and the forest. Visitors don't come as spectators — they come as learners and allies in an active conservation mission.

What makes it a real sanctuary?

• It specializes in the rescue and rehabilitation of parrots and macaws

• The animals are not on display — they are in the process of returning to the wild

• The forest is not decorated — it is in the process of healing

• The experiences are not shows — they are guided and meaningful

• Every visit directly contributes to conservation

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Wildlife you may encounter

The sanctuary is home to a wide diversity of species living free or in semi-wild conditions. Some remain as permanent residents due to trauma or injury; others are in transit, on their way to release.

Mammals:

• Cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) — critically endangered

• Red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus)

• White-faced capuchin (Cebus capucinus)

• Brown-throated three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus)

• Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)

• White-tailed deer, armadillo, coati, collared peccary, and more

Reptiles and amphibians:

• Red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria)

• Green and black iguanas, small snakes, frogs, caimans

Insects and others:

• Native pollinators, beetles, butterflies, spiders, and ants

• Decomposer networks essential to soil health

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Birds and psittacines: the core of the sanctuary

Loros is the only wildlife sanctuary in Colombia specializing in psittacines — parrots, macaws, parakeets. These highly intelligent, social birds are among the most trafficked animals in the country and among the most important for ecological restoration.

You can observe up to 12 species of parrots and macaws, including:

• Scarlet macaw (Ara macao)

• Blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna)

• Yellow-crowned amazon (Amazona ochrocephala)

• Orange-winged amazon (Amazona amazonica)

• Spectacled parrotlet, red-headed parrot, and others

The sanctuary also protects over 190 bird species, including:

• Hummingbirds, toucans, hawks, owls, chachalacas, and migratory and endemic species

We have elevated observation towers, canopy trails, and secluded viewpoints for low-impact birdwatching.

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A living forest, a productive landscape

Loros is not only a wildlife sanctuary: it is a living landscape, where the story of coexistence between people and nature is still being written.

Inside the sanctuary you will find:

• Traditional crops such as cassava, corn, and yam

• Fruit trees: guava, mango, corozo, tamarind

• 30 local farming families working inside the sanctuary in conservation-linked jobs

• Agroecological zones where food production and biodiversity are integrated

This model shows that conservation and production can happen at the same time — generating livelihoods while restoring the ecosystem. Every visit supports this system and validates a regenerative rural future.

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What makes the visitor experience different?

Loros offers a completely different experience: immersive, guided, and deeply human.

All visits include:

• Interpretive walks through tropical dry forest trails

• Educational encounters with animals in rehabilitation or living free

• Tree planting and hands-on learning about conservation

• Moments for reflection and storytelling at forest viewpoints

• Cultural connection with farmers, local flavors, and traditional knowledge

There are no cages here for entertainment. There is freedom, restoration, and reconnection.

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Regeneration and rewilding

At Loros, rewilding is not a concept: it is a daily practice.

• Over 20,000 native trees planted

• Species like ceiba roja, caracolí, and guásimo are coming back

• Water sources are recovering

• Biological corridors are expanding into neighboring farms

This is real ecological healing: slow, quiet, and powerful.

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Educational and cultural mission

Loros is not only a reserve: it is a school of coexistence.

The sanctuary welcomes:

• Students from Cartagena and nearby towns

• Volunteers, researchers, and educators

• National and international visitors, in English and Spanish

• Workshops on ecology, rewilding, animal ethics, and agroecology

It also preserves cultural memory — farmers' knowledge, food systems, and relationships with the land that enrich the experience.

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Visitor information

• Location: Villanueva, Bolívar (1 hour from Cartagena)

• Visits: By prior booking only

• Duration: Half-day or full-day experience

• Languages: Spanish and English

• Contact: info@loros.org

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Who is this for?

• Nature lovers looking for a real connection

• Families who want to educate and inspire their children

• Travelers interested in sustainability, science, and culture

• Birdwatchers and wildlife photographers

• People who want to be part of a living cause

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A final thought

Loros Wildlife Sanctuary is not a tourist attraction — it is an act of restoration in progress.

Every tree, every animal, and every person here is part of a larger story: a story of healing, resilience, and reconnection with the Earth.

You are invited to witness it, support it, and become part of it.

Loros Wildlife Sanctuary — A place for the wild to return, and for people to remember.