Ecoregions of Colombia

The Chocó-Darién moist forests ecoregion extends along most of Colombia's Pacific coast, bounded to the east by the Andes, and along the Caribbean coast, north into Panama. The region has exceptionally high rainfall, and the forests hold incredible biodiversity.

A natural wonder of unparalleled beauty and ecological significance lies along the border between Colombia and Venezuela—the Catatumbo moist forests ecoregion. This enchanting landscape, spanning lush valleys, towering mountains, and winding rivers, captivates the imagination with its rich biodiversity and breathtaking vistas. From its dense rainforests to its mist-shrouded cloud forests, this diverse ecoregion offers a glimpse into a world teeming with life and wonder.

The Guajira-Barranquilla xeric scrub ecoregion, along the Caribbean Sea in northern Venezuela and Colombia, is a unique xerophytic area in the neotropics. Proposed as a bird center of endemism, this arid habitat is dominated by thorn scrub and succulents.

Situated primarily in southeastern Venezuela, the Guianan Highlands moist forests ecoregion is distinct from other ecoregions in Amazonia due to its montane physiography. It hosts vast expanses of tall primary rainforests and open, semi-treeless savannas interrupted by gallery forests.

The Magdalena Valley dry forests are located between the Eastern and Central cordilleras of the Colombian Andes, along the dry inter-Andean valley formed by the Magdalena River, which flows north through the Andes to the Caribbean Sea.

The Magdalena Valley montane forests ecoregion is located in the Andes mountains of central Colombia. The ecoregion covers the higher land on both sides of the valley of the Magdalena River in the Colombian Andes.

The Northwestern Andean Montane Forests ecoregion is a breathtaking display of South America's natural aesthetics. It surrounds the western slopes of the Andes Mountains in Colombia and Ecuador. The area consists of numerous habitats that sustain an exceptional range of plants and animals. The region's ecological system is diverse and complex, ranging from misty cloud forests to sun-drenched valleys below.

The Santa Marta montane forests is an ecoregion in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a massif on the Caribbean coast of northern Colombia. This ecoregion is a characteristic moist forest; however, it rises from a very different habitat of the xeric scrub and dry forest surrounding it.

Perched beyond the treeline in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta on Colombia's Caribbean coast, the Santa Marta páramo emerges as an elevated moorland ecoregion, marking the northernmost extent of páramo in South America. This distinctive "sky island" showcases nature's complexities, thriving within high altitudes.

An ecological treasure trove lies in the Andes Mountains of southwestern Colombia: the Cauca Valley montane forests. This magnificent ecoregion, marked by its dramatic topography and diverse array of habitats, is a living testament to the incredible natural wealth of the Andean region. It supports a remarkable concentration of plant and animal life found nowhere else on Earth.