La Macarena

La Macarena is a municipality in Meta Department in southern Colombia with expansive forests and varied terrain. The area is sparsely populated and primarily defined by its natural features rather than urban development.

The municipality was founded in 1954 and developed from a small settlement known as El Refugio. This transformation marked the beginning of organized administration in this remote region.

The municipality serves as a hub for nature observation and ecotourism activities in a remote region. Visitors can experience how local people adapt their traditional ways to a landscape shaped by conservation efforts.

The area is reached mainly by airplane from larger cities, as there are no direct road connections to major urban centers. Good planning and flexibility are important due to the remote location.

The territory includes parts of a protected national park that shelters plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. These endemic organisms make the region significant for global biodiversity.

Location: Meta Department

Inception: November 1954

Elevation above the sea: 303 m

Website: http://lamacarena-meta.gov.co

GPS coordinates: 2.18278,-73.78472

Latest update: December 7, 2025 10:06