Río Blanco Ecological Reserve

Location:
Manizales, Colombia

City Park Types:
Natural park, garden

By Brenda Yun

This well-organized eco-park is ready for a high volume of tourists, but few foreigners make time to visit. The river this park is named after supplies 35% of the water used by Manizales and is considered one of the purest drinking waters in the world.

Start your visit at the museum to stock up on information regarding nature in the area. Then, follow a well-mapped route and walk along four distinct trails in the park; observe the flora and fauna in the cloud forest and visit expositions and environmental workshops. There is a pair of spectacled bears here, as well as 256 species of birds and 350 species of butterflies. Bring your raincoat and wear your sneakers or boots. Also, it is best to wear dark colored clothing to blend in better with the surroundings. Bring your binoculars, if you have them.