UTV ride through a wildlife reserve and tropical mountain · 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 included.
Group
Max. 5 people per guide
Small groups, bilingual guide Spanish/English.
Minimum age
7 years
No maximum age. Suitable for guests 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
UTV through a reserve where the forest is being rebuilt.
A UTV journey through 1,300 acres of tropical dry forest, mountain terrain, and active restoration zones. This is not a tourist route or a theme park: it is a reserve where the foundation rehabilitates and reintegrates parrots, macaws, and other species seized from illegal trade. Every trail you cross is part of the ecological corridor that sustains those animals once they are released.
The day starts with a traditional breakfast by the lake and a short talk about the foundation's work. Then you get into the UTV with guides who know every flock, every nesting zone, and every route through the forest. You will see howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, tití cabeciblanco, parrots, and macaws living free, as well as the reforestation zones supported by the foundation's own nursery. Before the day ends, you feed some of the animals in the reintegration process and plant a native tree.
Tropical dry forest, near Cartagena.
Villanueva, Bolívar, holds one of the most important remaining patches of tropical dry forest in the Colombian Caribbean — one of the most threatened ecosystems in the country. The Fundación Loros reserve protects the habitat to which the foundation returns its animals, and where wildlife is already recovering in density thanks to the restoration work underway.
Every peso from your experience goes directly back into the foundation's mission: caring for individual animals, restoring the ecosystem, and sustaining partnerships with the farming communities that protect the territory.
"What a gem of a place. The wildlife reserve is beautiful and the staff clearly care deeply about the animals." — Jennifer C., Viator (diciembre 2024)
Itinerary
What your day looks like
Choose the shift that works best for you. Both cover all the 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. About 1 hour to Villanueva, Bolívar.
8:00
13:00
30 min
Arrival and breakfast by the lake
Welcome with a traditional 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
UTV Trek
Guided walk through 1,300 acres of forest, mountain, and reintroduction zones with guides who know every flock and every nesting site.
11:30
16:30
30 min
Farm lunch
Lunch with local ingredients and produce from our farm.
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 Trail
Nursery · tree selection
Horseback ride along the trail
Release point
Agroecological point
Commemorative tree planting
Toast and certificate
Station 9 · Agroecological Point
The land feeds freedom. But only if we know how to read it with our hands.
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 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 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
International Voices
What they came looking for — and found
Esta fue absolutamente una de las mejores experiencias que he tenido. Fue muy inclusivo y mucho más de lo que esperaba. Mi anfitriona Paulina fue realmente increíble. Está muy bien informada sobre todos los temas y habla de ellos correctamente. Pude ver muchos tipos diferentes de animales.
Bu· Japón
Airbnb · Noviembre 2025
What a gem of a place. The wildlife reserve is beautiful and the staff clearly care deeply about the animals. We'll be back!
Jennifer Cashman
Viator · Diciembre 2024
The reserve is stunning and the animals are incredible. This was the highlight of our whole trip to Colombia — don't miss it!
Crystal Blate
Viator · Diciembre 2025
I'm not usually an outdoor person but this completely won me over. The animals are incredible and the staff makes you feel like family.
1crazycatlady
Tripadvisor · 2025
Recomiendo encarecidamente esta experiencia increíblemente única en Colombia. El trabajo que está haciendo esta organización es muy importante y la experiencia vale la pena, hermoso entorno.
Amber· Baltimore, EE. UU.
Airbnb · Octubre 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 made 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 or special inquiries, write to us via the inquiry button and we'll send you a custom quote.
What is the minimum and maximum age?+
The minimum age is 7. There is no maximum age — the experience is suitable for people in good general physical condition. If you have questions about the physical demands 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), 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 at 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 location 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 visitors 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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