Why we believe the 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.

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

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

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

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.

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.