Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, Fauna and flora sanctuary in Risaralda, Colombia

Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary is a protected nature reserve in Risaralda Department, Colombia, on the western slopes of the Central Cordillera. It was established in 1996 and covers 4.9 square kilometres of Andean humid forest, with slopes where wax palms grow and clear rivers run. Mist often covers the summits and slopes of the neighbouring Los Nevados natural park.

The area was designated as a sanctuary to preserve water sources for Pereira and to create an ecological corridor between the lower slopes and Los Nevados National Park. This connection allows animals such as spectacled bears and mountain tapirs to move between different elevation zones.

The reserve teaches visitors about Andean ecosystem protection through three marked paths: El Humedal, Bejucos, and El Río, each showing a different approach to conservation. Local guides explain the relationships between mountain forests and lowland communities that depend on the clean river water flowing down from these slopes.

Visitors must book ahead because the number of people on the trails is limited to reduce disturbance to wildlife. Guided walks start in the morning when chances of seeing birds and mammals are highest, and the cool climate requires layers and waterproof clothing.

The grounds shelter more than 300 bird species, including the rare Andean cock-of-the-rock, whose loud call echoes through the forest in the early morning hours. The orchid diversity in the mist reaches an unusually high concentration here, with dozens of species growing on single trees.