OTUN QUIMBAYA SANCTUARY

The Otun Quimbaya area and the Ucumarí region adjoins the Nevados Nature Park. They contain highly biodiverse forests in the central range of the Andes mountains, close to the heart of the prosperous Coffee Belt.

Among the many attractions of this area are the families of howling monkeys, whose voices echo along the valleys at dawn and dusk. There we also find the spectacled bear, the páramo tapir, eagles and many other birds of dazzling colours. Indeed, bird-watching is one of the main tourist activities.

Ten miles from Pereira to the east, the La Suiza trails starts from the banks of the river Otun. Between the two is the picturesque village of Florida, which is a sort of terminal for the brightly-painted open-decked buses ( chivas) to pick up and drop off their regular passengers, the peasant farmers, and the passing tourists. The road, not always at its best in bad weather, leads to the Otun Quimbaya Visitors Centre, a tiny clearing in the misty forest of 489 acres inside the Ucumari Regional Park: a beautiful place in a humid tropical climate. The days are hot and the nights are temperate.

LOCATION: Department of Risaralda, 10 miles from Pereira along the La Suiza road on the western watershed of the central Cordillera of the Andes.

AREA: 1,200 acres

ALTITUDE: 6,000-8,000ft above sea level

CLIMATE: Tropical cold mountain climate

TEMPERATURE: Average 16°C

PLACES OF INTEREST: River Otún, River Barbo, fish-breeding station. There is a research centre and a wide variety of scientific information is available.

ACTIVITIES: Walking the paths. Environmental education workshops.

CHARGES

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

The Visitor Centre sleeps 60 with 4 per room.
Double Room $63,900 US$24.57
Shared Room (per person) $17,000 US$6.53

RESTAURANT

Seats 50
Breakfast, lunch and dinner $20,000 US$7.69

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co/areas/lasareas/
otun/otunintro.htm