Bogota is a green capital. It is, after all, one of the “Tree Cities of the World” according to the FAO, it is the capital city with the greatest diversity of birds and, in addition, it is the city that hosts Sumapaz, the largest moor on the planet. If you want to appreciate part of these natural resources, we invite you to experience and enjoy these three ecotours.
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1. Santa Ana – La Aguadora
This path, which has an ecosystem of high Andean forest and sub-paramo, is part of the protected forest reserve of Bogota. It is approximately 1.7 km long and takes about 3.5 hours. Its maximum altitude is 3,035 meters above sea level.
According to the website of the Bogota Water & Sewerage Company, in this pathway, you can find different species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles, and about 120 species of birds, including the Scarlet Tanager, the Plushcap, the White-crowned Sparrow, the Rufous wren, the Blue-backed conebill, the Blue-throated starfrontlet, the Green-tailed trainbearer, the Woodpecker, the Masked flowerpiercer, the Great sapphire wing, and the Andean pygmy owl.
At the end of the route, you can tour the Usaquén neighborhood, a historic district full of restaurants and cafés.
2. La Vieja Stream
This path is also part of the protected forest reserve of Bogota. The circuit has more than 4 km; however, you can choose between 3 different paths, depending on the difficulty you want and the time you have: Claro de la Cruz (1 hour), La Virgen (1 hour and a half), and Alto de la Cruz (2 hours).
As in the Santa Ana-La Aguadora pathway, there are numerous species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and plants.
At the end, you will reach the top of the mountain, at 3300 m.a.s.l., a height from which you can see a good part of the city.
3. La Conejera Wetlands
Bogota has 15 wetlands that serve as permanent and temporary shelter to numerous birds, making them excellent places for birdwatching. The La Conejera wetland is home to most of the biodiversity in the city, with an area of 59 hectares and about 90 species of birds.
According to the Fundación Humedales Bogotá, there you can observe migratory birds and endemic species, such as the Bogota tingua and the Bogota monjita, as well as mammals such as the Curi, the Opossum, the Long-tailed weasel, the Western red bat, among others.
If you want to join these ecotours, you must register in advance:
- Santa Ana-La Aguadora and La Vieja Stream:
https://gme.acueducto.com.co/visitas/
- La Conejera and all wetlands of the city:
https://www.ambientebogota.gov.co/web/sda/caminatas-ecologicas
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