UTV and horseback ride at sunset in parrot sanctuary · near Cartagena
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At a glance
Duration
6 hours
Morning shift 7 AM – 1 PM · Afternoon shift 12 PM – 6 PM
Price
USD $150 per person
Children up to 16 years old pay 50%. All inclusive.
Group
Max. 5 people per guide
Small groups, bilingual guide Spanish/English.
Minimum age
16 years
Minimum age for the horseback ride to the mirador
What's included
Everything, no extras
Private door-to-door transport + breakfast + lunch + bilingual guide + activity + native tree planting.
Tree planting included
A native tree
Each visitor plants their own tree in the tropical dry forest restoration zone.
Location
Villanueva, Bolívar
35 km from Cartagena · view on Google Maps →
Languages
English and Spanish
UTV by day, horses at sunset: two ways to read the same forest.
A full day inside a tropical dry forest reserve where conservation moves at two speeds. In the morning, by UTV with a guide: you spot wildlife, understand ecological corridors, take in the terrain. Late afternoon, you trade the engine for a horse and climb the mountain at a steady pace, arriving at the summit just as the sun drops behind the range.
The day starts with a traditional breakfast by the lake and a brief talk about the foundation's work: rehabilitation, reintegration, and forest restoration. Then we head out by UTV with guides who know every trail and every flock. Later, you feed some of the parrots and macaws in the reintegration process, plant a native tree, and before sunset, we set off on horseback toward the overlook.
Tropical dry forest, near Cartagena.
You're in Villanueva, Bolívar — the center of one of the most threatened ecosystems in the Colombian Caribbean, and home to Amazonian parrots, macaws, toucans, howler monkeys, and the tití cabeciblanco. The reserve protects 1,300 acres and safeguards the habitat where the foundation returns its animals.
Everything your experience costs goes directly back into the foundation's mission: caring for individual animals, restoring the ecosystem that receives them, and working with the farming communities that sustain the land. Your day here funds real work.
"The most unforgettable part for me — real food for the soul — was riding a horse through the forest, up the hill, at sunset. That moment was incredibly peaceful and emotional, and I know I will remember it for the rest of my life." — Ieva M., Viator (diciembre 2025)
Itinerary
How your day looks
Choose the shift that works best for you. Both cover all Stations of the Trail — only the start time changes.
7:00
12:00
60 min
Pickup at your hotel
We pick you up in Cartagena with private door-to-door transport. Approximately 1 hour to Villanueva, Bolívar.
8:00
13:00
30 min
Arrival and breakfast by the lake
Welcome with a traditional breakfast prepared with ingredients from our farm.
8:30
13:30
30 min
Conservation talk
How the foundation works: rehabilitation, reintegration, and restoration of the tropical dry forest.
9:00
14:00
150 min
UTV + horseback ride
UTV ride through ecological corridors followed by a horseback ride to the mirador.
11:30
16:30
30 min
Farm lunch
Lunch with local ingredients, some from our own production.
12:00
17:00
30 min
Plant your native tree
You plant your own native tree in the tropical dry forest restoration zone. It's your physical legacy — the same tree that tomorrow will give food and shelter to the released parrots.
12:30
17:30
30 min
Farewell and return
We return to Cartagena by private transport. Estimated arrival at 13:00 (morning shift) or 18:00 (afternoon shift).
The Trail to Freedom
Your place on the trail
Each experience covers some of the 11 stations in the real rehabilitation and reintegration process. The ones you'll go through are highlighted.
Breakfast at the Lake
Fruit Kitchen
Feeding the birds
Aversion training
Tití Monkey Trail
Nursery · tree selection
Horseback ride along the trail
Release point
Agroecological station
Commemorative tree planting
Toast and certificate
Station 8 · Release
Releasing isn't letting go. It's walking alongside until the other can stand on their own.
Alejandro Rigatuso · Founder, Fundación Loros
The impact behind your visit
Real numbers from the foundation's work
Every experience you book funds this measurable, verifiable work. These are the numbers behind Colombia's only specialized center for psittacines.
60+
Birds released and site-faithful
Parrots and macaws that flew back to the forest
200+
Birds in active rehabilitation
Rescued from illegal trade and in the process of reintegration
500 ha
Protected tropical dry forest
One of the most threatened ecosystems in the Caribbean
20.000+
Trees planted in the reserve
Nursery on-site · native and fruit-bearing species
80
Years of longevity
What a parrot or macaw can live through
1.000+
Parrots seized per year in Colombia
The reason the Foundation exists
Voices that lived the full day
What they took with them in the end
What really stood out was the passion and pride the staff showed when talking us through the incredible concept behind the organisation and the meaningful work they are doing. It was a perfect mix of adventure, wildlife, and purpose and an unforgettable day.
Shelley· Reino Unido
GetYourGuide · Agosto 2025
Una experiencia absolutamente increíble, los anfitriones estaban muy bien informados y eran amables. Aprendimos mucho sobre la naturaleza en Colombia y los esfuerzos de conservación que se realizan para ayudar a protegerla.
Benjamin· Medellín, Colombia
Airbnb · Enero 2026
¡Qué increíble experiencia inmersiva y única! El equipo de Alejandro es extremadamente conocedor de la rehabilitación de la vida silvestre. Paulina nos llevó a través de las diversas etapas de preparación de las aves para su liberación en la naturaleza.
Josh· Austin, Texas
Airbnb · Mayo 2025
La experiencia fue verdaderamente única e inigualable. Aprendimos de un mundo donde no sabíamos nada que son los loros y guacamayos. Muchas gracias a Corina y a la gran familia que tiene Alejandro en la reserva. Nos trató de maravilla.
Angélica· Alicante, España
Airbnb · Enero 2026
¡Fue una experiencia verdaderamente inolvidable! Desde el desayuno junto a un lago hasta alimentar y entrenar loros y guacamayos rescatados, cada momento se sintió significativo. Plantar un árbol de mango agregó un toque especial.
Anneke· Canadá
Airbnb · Abril 2025
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Frequently asked questions
What's included in the price?+
Round-trip transport from Cartagena, breakfast and lunch made with ingredients from our farm, bilingual guide español/inglés, all program activities, and the conservation contribution.
Do children or groups get a discount?+
Children up to 16 pay 50%. For groups of more than 6 or special requests, use the inquiry button and we'll send you a custom quote.
What is the minimum and maximum age?+
The minimum age is 7 years. There is no maximum age — the experience suits anyone in good general physical condition. If you have questions about the fitness level required for your group, contact us.
What size are the groups?+
We work with small groups: a maximum of 5 people per bilingual guide. This lets us offer a personalized experience, respect the wildlife, and keep a comfortable pace for everyone.
What should I bring?+
Comfortable, light clothing, closed-toe shoes with good grip (no sandals), a cap or hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, a camera, and water (we provide reusable bottles). For birdwatching and hiking, long trousers are better.
Where do you pick us up, and at what time?+
We pick you up at your hotel, accommodation, or an agreed meeting point in Cartagena, in private door-to-door transport. Two time slots: morning (pickup 7:00 AM, return ~1:00 PM) and afternoon (pickup 12:00 PM, return ~6:00 PM). The exact meeting point and time are confirmed 24 hours in advance via WhatsApp.
What is the cancellation policy?+
Cancellations more than 72 hours in advance: full refund. Between 72 and 24 hours: 50% refund. Less than 24 hours or no-show: no refund. If we cancel due to weather or safety reasons: full refund or rescheduling.
Is it suitable for people with reduced mobility?+
Some experiences involve hiking on uneven terrain. For people with limited mobility, we have adapted options (UTV rides, observation from the farm). Tell us your situation through the inquiry option and we'll put something together for you.
What languages is the experience offered in?+
All our guides are bilingual in Spanish and English. If your group needs another language, write to us in advance and we'll see what we can arrange.
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