FLAMENCOS SANCTUARY

Before the Spaniards arrived, what is today the Flamencos Sanctuary was probably inhabited by the Guanebucanes, who belonged to the Arawak family. They farmed, fished and sailed the seas, and their settlements were usually beside a river or on the coast.

There are four coastal marshes, separated from the sea by sand-bars. This is ideal for the beautiful pink-feathered flamingos (who give the Sanctuary its Spanish name). The marshes are named Manzanilla, the Laguna Grande, Navio Quebrado and Tocoromanes.

The flamingos are definitely the main attraction, with their mud nests rising up to two feet from the surrounding area. They mate in March and hatch in April-May.

LOCATION: Municipality of Riohacha, Department of La Guajira.

AREA: 17,000 acres

TEMPERATURE: Average 27°C, relative humidity 80%

ALTITUDE: Sea level

ACTIVITIES: Visit the sea salt harvesting pools, the track to Perico and the local fishermen in Caricari. There is a Cultural Centre at Camarones.

TRIPS AND ECOSYSTEMS. The rainy seasons are March-June and September-November, when the flamingos come in for food. The callirra fish are harvested in the dry season (June-August, December-February), for sale as dried fish. Around the year there are pelicans, seagulls, herons and countless migratory birds. Los Mangles is a perfect place for

watching the stars, especially at the full moon.

ADMISSION:

Visitors from abroad $12,000 US$4.61
Local visitors $4,300 US$1.65
Children aged 5-12, Students, senior citizens $2,100 US$0.80

ACCOMMODATION

(Loaned by local communities). In the mangrove sector, 5 huts with 4 hammocks and a table each for a total of 20 visitors.
Total cost, including meals $30,000 US$11.53

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co/areas/lasareas
/flamencos/flamintro.htm

e-mail: caribe@telesantamarta.net.co