Santuario de Flora y Fauna Los Flamencos

Location:
20 kilometers (12 miles) west of Riohacha, 165 kilometers (99 miles) east of Santa Marta
Near Riohacha, Riohacha, Colombia

Other Activity Types:
Wildlife refuge, Natural park

By Lorraine Caputo

With the collapse of the fishing industry on this coast, Santuario de Flora y Fauna Los Flamingos was established in 1977 to recover the ecosystem and provide alternative income to locals. The park encompasses 7,000 hectares, protecting four coastal lagoons. It is home for 237 bird species, including flamingo, roseate spoonbill, black ibis and cari cari. Four species are endemic, 78 resident and 39 migratory. The best months for sighting flamingos and other migratory fowl are October and November. Other dwellers are fox, anteater, rabbits, ñeque and deer, as well as many amphibians and reptiles, including three species of sea turtle. Besides sail-canoe tours through the lagoons and mangroves, several paths wind through the desert forests to lookout towers where you can observe wildlife.

Getting There
From Ríohacha, collective taxis for Camarones leave from Calle 15 and Carerra 7 (last back from Camarones at 6 p.m., $1.05 to Camarones village, $1.60 to the mouth of Río Camarones if enough passengers, 15 minutes). From Camarones village it is another

Travel Tips: At high tide, the current in the estuary is strong.

Once you arrive to the other side of the estuary, report in to Ilder Gómez at the ranger station, where you will be given an educational tour which includes the sea turtle hatchery.

Boat and native guide through the lagoons in sail canoes is $5.30 per person, usually minimum of 4 persons. Ask for José Rodríguez, one of the first locals to provide such a service.

Grupo Asociativo El Santuario, formed by the community within the Santuario, has basic lodging at the reserve, near the ranger hut (per person: camping $2.65, your own hammock in wattle and daub cabaña $3.70, hammock rental in cabaña $6.35). Meals are available (breakfast $2.65, lunch or dinner $5.30-8). The bathrooms are nice, but with toss-water showers; there is no electricity. (Tel.: 310-369-7763, E-mail: ecoturismosantuario@yahoo.es, redcimarron21@hotmail.com).

Price Description: Free.

Relative price: Free

Travel Skills: None

You Need to Bring: Take along water, snacks, sun block, swimming gear, camera. If staying overnight: camping gear or a hammock, water, food, candles and flashlight (torch).

Riohacha; villages in Guajira Media and Alta, like Manaure, Uribia, Cabo de la Vela, and Nazareth with Parque Nacional Natural Macuira.

Currencies accepted
Colombian Peso