Santander's Cloud Forest: Bears, Condors & Orchids
The Andean cloud forests above Bucaramanga are among Colombia's most biodiverse ecosystems — the spectacled bear, the Andean condor, and hundreds of endemic plants inhabit the fog-shrouded forests that rise above the city
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Spectacled bear habitat
The Andean (spectacled) bear — South America's only bear species — lives in the cloud forests above Bucaramanga; the bears are secretive and mainly nocturnal but camera traps on the forest trails above 2,000 meters regularly catch them in Santander's cloud forest
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Andean Condor Observations
The Andean condor - the world's largest flying land bird - soars in the thermals above Chicamocha Canyon and the Santander Mountains; the condor recovery program in Colombia has reintroduced birds to the Chicamocha area and sightings are increasing
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Orchid Diversity
The Santander cloud forest is an orchid hotspot - hundreds of orchid species, including many endemic species found nowhere else, grow in the cloud forest above Bucaramanga; the orchid conservation efforts and botanical gardens at UIS document this diversity
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Hummingbird Richness
Colombia has the world's largest hummingbird diversity and Santander's different altitude zones contribute significantly; the cloud forest above Bucaramanga has over 30 hummingbird species including spectacular endemic species such as the white-tailed star
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Cloud Forest Trekking
The cloud forest trails above Bucaramanga – especially in the Santurbán páramo protected area – offer multi-day hiking through increasingly dramatic high-altitude landscapes; the hike to the páramo edge and the view of the canyon is outstanding
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Santurbán Páramo Water source
Santurbán páramo — above the cloud forest above Bucaramanga — provides fresh water to over 2 million people; The páramo's extraordinary ability to capture and release water slowly makes its preservation one of Colombia's most urgent environmental priorities