The amazing experience of the Santa Maria biodiversity hub starts before we even reach the area. On our way there, we get beautiful scenic views of the Sisga and Chivor dams and drive through a few natural rock tunnels, literally right through the mountain. As we get closer, we catch glimpses of the ancient forest and numerous waterfalls that surround the town.

This exceptional enclave, where the warm temperatures and high humidity allow the flora and fauna to maximally express their diversity and complexity, is home to a wide variety of birds, amphibians and insects, most of them endemic to the area and many classified as endangered. The main bird-watching route is pretty easy to walk, but due to the great amount of interesting species this could take the entire day.