Serranía de Chiribiquete National Park

Serranía de Chiribiquete Overview

Serranía de Chiribiquete National Park, known as Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete in Spanish, is the largest national park in Colombia and one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.

Covering approximately 46,751 square miles (121,130 square kilometers), the park is located in the Amazon basin, extending into the departments of Guaviare and Caquetá. This vast protected area is not only a crucial ecological zone but also a cultural treasure, with ancient rock art sites that date back thousands of years.

The park’s terrain is dominated by dramatic tepuis—table-top mountains that rise abruptly from the surrounding rainforest. These towering sandstone formations, some exceeding 3,280 feet (1,000 meters) in height, create an otherworldly landscape.

The dense jungle below is interwoven with rivers, waterfalls, and savannas, contributing to a wide range of ecosystems within the park. The Chiribiquete Mountains are the park’s defining geographic feature, and the landscape’s isolation has led to the evolution of unique plant species. The vegetation consists of tropical rainforest, gallery forests, and open savanna areas, making it a crucial part of the Amazon biome.

Wildlife in Serranía de Chiribiquete National Park is extraordinarily diverse, with many species that are rarely seen elsewhere due to the park’s remote nature. Large mammals such as jaguars, pumas, and giant otters roam the dense forests, while endangered species like the lowland tapir and white-lipped peccary also inhabit the region.

The park is home to an exceptional variety of primates, including the red howler monkey and the brown woolly monkey. Birdlife is equally impressive, with more than 500 recorded species, including macaws, harpy eagles, and the rare Chiribiquete emerald hummingbird, which is endemic to the park. The complex network of rivers and wetlands provides habitat for caimans, turtles, and countless amphibians, many of which are yet to be fully studied.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Serranía de Chiribiquete is its cultural heritage. The park contains thousands of ancient rock paintings, some estimated to be over 20,000 years old.

These pictographs, found on the vertical walls of the tepuis, depict scenes of hunting, animals, and shamanistic rituals, providing invaluable insights into the region’s early inhabitants. Many indigenous communities still consider the area sacred, and some uncontacted tribes are believed to reside deep within the park.

Due to its ecological and cultural significance, Serranía de Chiribiquete is not open for general tourism, ensuring the protection of both its biodiversity and indigenous groups. However, visitors can experience the park through aerial overflights, which provide breathtaking views of the tepuis, rivers, and vast jungle canopy.

Conservationists and scientists conduct limited research expeditions, but strict regulations are in place to minimize human impact. The park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018, reinforcing its global importance.

Serranía de Chiribiquete faces conservation challenges, including threats from illegal deforestation, mining, and land encroachment. However, strong efforts by the Colombian government and international conservation organizations have helped enforce protections and expand the park’s boundaries.

Surveillance and anti-deforestation programs continue to combat environmental damage, while collaborations with indigenous groups support sustainable conservation efforts. The park remains one of the last great wilderness frontiers, a testament to the untouched beauty and mystery of the Amazon.

Park Map

Serranía de Chiribiquete National Park Highlights

Wildlife

Birds

Serranía de Chiribiquete is one of the most important birdwatching locations in the Amazon, hosting an extraordinary diversity of species, including large raptors, colorful parrots, and rare forest birds.

Harpy Eagle
One of the most powerful raptors in the world, the harpy eagle preys on monkeys, sloths, and large birds. Its presence indicates a well-preserved rainforest ecosystem.

Scarlet Macaw
A brilliantly colored parrot, the scarlet macaw flies in noisy flocks and plays a key role in seed dispersal across the park’s forests.

Hoatzin
Often called the “stinkbird” due to its fermented-leaf diet, the hoatzin is a unique species with prehistoric traits, commonly found along the park’s riverbanks.

Amazonian Motmot
A striking bird with blue and green plumage, the Amazonian motmot perches in the forest understory, waiting to ambush insects and small vertebrates.

Spectacled Owl
A nocturnal predator, the spectacled owl hunts rodents, birds, and small mammals. Its distinctive facial markings and haunting calls make it a fascinating species for birdwatchers.

Blue-and-yellow Macaw
This large and vocal parrot is a staple of the Amazon rainforest, often seen flying in pairs or small groups. It feeds on fruits, nuts, and seeds.

Black-collared Hawk
An expert fisher, the black-collared hawk is commonly seen near rivers, swooping down to catch fish with its sharp talons.

Purple-throated Fruitcrow
This deep black bird with a vibrant purple throat is known for its loud, whistling calls. It is often found in mixed-species flocks foraging in the canopy.

White-throated Toucan
A close relative of the keel-billed toucan, this large bird has a striking black-and-white body and a massive bill. It feeds on fruit and is a vital seed disperser in the rainforest.

Fork-tailed Woodnymph
One of the many dazzling hummingbirds found in the park, the fork-tailed woodnymph is a small, iridescent species that hovers around flowers, feeding on nectar.

Serranía de Chiribiquete National Park’s untouched rainforests, towering tepuis, and ancient rock formations make it one of the most mysterious and ecologically significant protected areas in the world. With its **extraordinary biodiversity, cultural heritage, and remote wilderness.

Serranía de Chiribiquete National Park, the largest national park in Colombia, is a breathtaking protected area covering over 4.3 million hectares in the Amazon rainforest. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its towering tepuis (tabletop mountains), vast tropical rainforests, and ancient rock art dating back thousands of years. The park is a crucial biodiversity hotspot, home to many rare and endemic species, some of which remain undiscovered due to the park’s extreme remoteness.

Popular Wildlife in Serranía de Chiribiquete National Park

Jaguar
As the apex predator of Chiribiquete, the jaguar stalks through the dense jungle, preying on capybaras, peccaries, and caimans. Its presence is an indicator of a healthy ecosystem.

Amazon River Dolphin
Also known as the pink river dolphin, this highly intelligent freshwater species thrives in the park’s winding rivers, using echolocation to navigate and hunt fish.

Giant Otter
One of the Amazon’s top aquatic predators, the giant otter is highly social, living in family groups and hunting fish in the park’s rivers and oxbow lakes.

Lowland Tapir
A vital seed disperser, the lowland tapir plays a crucial role in forest regeneration. It prefers dense jungle and riverbanks, where it feeds on a variety of fruits and vegetation.

Black Caiman
A dominant predator in the park’s waterways, the black caiman is the largest crocodilian species in the Amazon, preying on fish, birds, and mammals.

Puma
This adaptable predator coexists with the jaguar but typically preys on smaller mammals such as deer and rodents. It is rarely seen due to its secretive nature.

Capybara
The world’s largest rodent, the capybara is a social and semi-aquatic species that thrives along the park’s riverbanks, serving as a key prey species for large predators.

Green Anaconda
One of the world’s largest snakes, the green anaconda is a powerful constrictor that preys on fish, birds, and large mammals. It thrives in the park’s swamps and slow-moving rivers.

Poison Dart Frog
Brightly colored and highly toxic, poison dart frogs secrete potent toxins as a defense mechanism. They inhabit the humid rainforest floor, feeding on insects.

Pygmy Marmoset
The smallest monkey in the world, the pygmy marmoset is a tiny, agile primate that feeds on tree sap, insects, and small fruits. It lives in the treetops of Chiribiquete’s forests.