Los Katíos National Park, Natural World Heritage Site in northwestern Colombia.
Los Katíos National Park is a protected area spanning two departments with tropical rainforest, wetlands, and mountain terrain. The land includes river floodplains where water shapes the landscape and plant life throughout the year.
The Colombian government established this national park in 1974, and by 1979 it had reached its current size of approximately 72,000 hectares. This expansion showed growing recognition of its ecological importance.
The Wounaan indigenous community Juin Phubur lives by their traditional ways in this protected land, alongside Afro-Colombian and farming communities. Each group has its own relationship with the forest and its resources.
The park administration in Sautatá offers guided tours along set trails and recommends planning ahead due to the remote location. Connecting with local rangers before your visit ensures you get the most from your time there.
The area shelters a catival forest formation where native cativo trees grow to around 50 meters tall, a forest type found in very few places worldwide. This specialized woodland is remarkable for how it develops in this corner of South America.
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