Monkey's Creek: extreme hiking in tropical dry forest · 35 km from 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 included.
Group
Max. 5 people per guide
Small groups, bilingual guide Spanish/English.
Minimum age
7 years
No maximum age. Suitable for those in good physical condition.
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
Monkey's Creek: hiking inside a forest that is rebuilding itself.
This is not a recreational trail. Monkey's Creek runs through the core of a tropical dry forest reserve where the foundation releases, monitors, and reintegrates parrots and macaws seized from illegal trade. Every step you take happens inside an active restoration project: corridors being planted, nests being tended, flocks being observed.
The day starts with a traditional breakfast by the lake and a short talk about the conservation work. Then you head out with a guide onto a demanding trail — steep terrain, stream crossings, ascents through mature forest and zones of natural regeneration. Along the way you encounter howler monkeys, white-faced monkeys, and tití cabeciblanco in the wild, plus parrots, macaws, and up to 200 bird species that live in the ecosystem. Before the day closes, you help feed some of the animals in the reintegration process and plant a native tree.
35 km from Cartagena, an ecosystem almost no one sees.
Tropical dry forest is one of the most threatened ecosystems in Colombia: less than 8% of its original cover remains. Villanueva, Bolívar, holds one of the most important fragments in the Caribbean — and the Fundación Loros reserve protects 1,300 acres within it. Walking it means understanding, in concrete terms, what is being lost and what is being recovered.
The full value of your experience is reinvested in the foundation's mission: rehabilitation of psittacines, tropical dry forest restoration, and work with the farming families who sustain the territory.
"An amazing hike through real jungle — we saw monkeys, exotic birds, and stunning scenery. Totally off the beaten path and worth every minute." — Dustin F., Viator (enero 2026)
Itinerary
What your day looks like
Choose the shift that works best for you. Both cover all Stations of El Sendero hacia la Libertad — only the start time changes.
7:00
12:00
60 min
Pickup at your hotel
We pick you up in Cartagena in private door-to-door transport. Approximately 1 hour to Villanueva, Bolívar.
8:00
13:00
30 min
Arrival and breakfast by the lake
Welcome breakfast made 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
Hiking Monkey's Creek
Demanding trail: steep terrain, stream crossings, ascents through old-growth forest and regeneration zones. Encounters with red howler monkeys and tití cabeciblanco.
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 live are highlighted.
Breakfast at the Lake
Fruit Kitchen
Feeding the birds
Aversion training
Trail of the tití monkeys
Nursery · tree selection
Horseback ride along the trail
Release point
Agroecological point
Commemorative tree planting
Toast and certificate
Station 6 · Nursery
Planting a tree is feeding freedom.
Sanctuary team · 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 faithful to the site
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 species and fruit trees
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 from the trail
What they found walking
An amazing hike through real jungle — we saw monkeys, exotic birds, and stunning scenery. Totally off the beaten path and worth every minute.
Dustin Forrester
Viator · Enero 2026
This was one of the highlights of our time in Cartagena. The guide was so knowledgeable about the animals, and getting up close with the monkeys was unforgettable.
David Frank
Viator · Febrero 2026
Extrem sympathische und gut ausgebildete Guides. Sie haben sich viel Zeit genommen für uns. Das Highlight meiner Reise nach Cartagena.
GetYourGuide traveler· Austria
GetYourGuide · Septiembre 2025
We also got to see the Cotton-top tamarins, which was another incredible highlight. Honestly, the foundation is doing amazing things.
Wander
Tripadvisor · Mayo 2025
It is fantastic what they are doing here to support wildlife! We learnt a lot and saw beautiful birds. Everything was well organised and it was a very good experience. We recommend it to anyone who wants a different experience that supports wildlife and the local community.
Kari· Australia
GetYourGuide · Noviembre 2025
These testimonials are real customer reviews. They can be verified on:
Frequently asked questions
What's included in the price?+
Round-trip transport from Cartagena, breakfast and lunch with ingredients from our farm, bilingual guide español/inglés, all program activities, and the conservation contribution.
Do you offer discounts for children or groups?+
Children up to 16 pay 50%. For groups of more than 6 people or special inquiries, write to us using the inquiry button and we'll send you a personalized quote.
What is the minimum and maximum age?+
The minimum age is 7. 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.
How large 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, breathable clothes, closed-toe shoes with good grip (no sandals), cap or hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, camera, and water (we provide reusable bottles). For birdwatching and hiking, long trousers are better.
Where do we get picked up, and what time?+
We pick you up at your hotel, accommodation, or an agreed meeting point in Cartagena, in private door-to-door transport. There are two shifts: morning (pickup 7:00 AM, return ~1:00 PM) and afternoon (pickup 12:00 PM, return ~6:00 PM). The exact 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 guests with reduced mobility, we have adapted options (UTV tours, observation from the farm). Tell us your situation through the inquiry option and we'll put something together for you.
In what languages is the experience offered?+
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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