Sustainable Tourism in Colombia: Eco Travel Tips & Destinations

• Respect the local culture: Be curious about the customs and traditions of the places you are visiting while traveling in Colombia. Respect them, try to learn about the historical and social context rather than judge or impose your own culture.
• Learn some Spanish: Learn to say at least a few words in Spanish, so you can have a chat and make new friends.
• Go with the flow: Personally, in the beginning I was really surprised how things work out in the end in Colombia after having passed through a state of chaos and reorganization. That’s very different from my (german) native culture and, in my eyes, admirable. So, be open, relax, go with the flow and learn.
• Respect privacy: Ask for permission before taking photos of people.
• Do not exploit: Respect human rights and protect children from exploitation, in particular do not engage in or promote any activities that support the sexual exploitation of minors.⁣

• Eat at local restaurants. Eat with the locals. Try the “menu del dia” in a “corrientazo” restaurant.
• Try regional food. That’s a great “rule” to adhere to, because Colombian cuisine is varied and delicious.
• Buy local goods and handcraft. Colombia has a long tradition of creating handcraft (artesania) with unique techniques and Colombian artisans produce amazing pieces of art. You may buy the products or even take a class to learn creating your own artwork.
• Use local services: Hire local guides that grew up in the region, use local transport, get a massage in a local Spa, etc. You will notice that with these actions you won’t just do something good for the local economy and community, you also will get immense value back.
• Pay fair prices. It’s ok to negotiate but think of the vendor’s life situation when doing so.
• Choose local accommodation: Stay in places that are run by locals or employ local people.
• Don’t give money or sweets to begging children: This may make begging more attractive than attending school. Rather engage them in a conversation and donate money to an NGO.⁣

Did you know that the Río Magdalena in Colombia was declared to have rights in 2019?

• Help to conserve biodiversity: Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world. Appreciate and protect the incredible nature of this country when you engage in nature and outdoor activities.
• Collect your garbage. Collect your garbage, if there are no trash cans nearby and throw it away later. Pick up any garbage you see along nature trails and help to clean up the planet.
• Stick to the trails: Stay on the trail in order to avoid unnecessary erosion that may damage plants and animals.
• Watch out where you step. If you don’t pay attention you may unintentionally hurt or kill some delicate plants or animals.
• Do not enter prohibited areas. There is a reason why they are prohibited and often it is to protect the local flora and fauna.
• Stay quiet during wildlife watching. Many wild animals have a keen sense of hearing. Loud noises or sudden movements can startle them, scare them away or even put them in defensive mode. Apart from that, it would be a pity drowning the unique sounds of Colombian nature with your own voice which you can hear every day.
• Don’t collect nature “souvenirs”. Taking home rocks, shells, or fossils may be tempting, but please resist considering that you’ll disrupt the local ecosystem and may harm local plants and animals (apart from risking a fine). Also piling up stones (cairns) which has become popular in the recent years all over the world is not a typical Colombian spiritual tradition and local guides advice that this may negatively influence the energy of a place.
• Don’t collect archeological artifacts: Removing artifacts from an archeological site may permanently alter or erase important information about ancient life and cultures – and it’s illegal.
• Do not touch coral reefs or other vulnerable flora and fauna. Most of Colombia’s coral reefs are located in the Caribbean. Be especially careful when diving or snorkeling. Also the unique Paramo-ecosystem in the Andes has very delicate flora. In general, it’s advisable not to touch any animal or plant without asking your guide, because there are quite some poisonous species around in Colombia.
• Do not feed wild animals.⁣⁣ Feeding wild animals can incur risks for the animals and their habitat. The animals may lose their ability to find their own food in the wild and you may severely disturb the natural balance of the ecosystem causing overpopulation and other unforeseeable consequences. Latest since the COVID pandemic it has become widely known that zoonotic diseases (diseases transmitted from animals to humans) are one of the major threats of our times.

• Take your time:Visit less places but experience them more. Discover the local rhythm of life.
• Travel overland. Use public transport, rent a bike or walk when possible. Have a look at our Slow Travel Colombia Itinerary
• Explore off-the-beaten track destinations: This can help to avoid overtourism. There is a paradise around every corner of Colombia, so it’s easy to travel slowly while still having incredible experiences. If you are in a lesser known destination, talk to local people to find out if they want to promote their destination or rather keep it a secret. Support them. Discover off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems in Colombia

Give constructive feedback, engage people in discussions, share and encourage good practices. Some examples:

• Communicate your “need for sustainable practices”: Ask for a reusable coffee/tea spoon and hand back any plastic straws you may receive in restaurants and cafés. (Unfortunately it’s quite common in Colombia to get a plastic straw to stir your coffee and too many places use one-way cups…)
• Be a good example: Bring your own reusable bag when shopping.
• Ask for advice and share it: Ask your local tour operator or guide what their guidelines and tips are for limiting negative impacts of tourism on the environment and local culture. Share it with other travelers
• Report irresponsible guides and tour operators. In case you feel your tour operator or guide does not act responsibly, please let us know.