ATV riding at Fundación Loros wildlife reserve near Cartagena

You help feed rescued birds, then drive into the forest to find them in the wild.

ATV riding at Fundación Loros, a wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary an hour from Cartagena, where you navigate forest trails on a Pioneer 700 UTV, spot native animals including parrots and monkeys, and plant a tree to support ecosystem regeneration. The experience includes breakfast, a biologist-led talk on parrot rescue, hands-on feeding of rehabilitated birds, and a guided ride to a summit viewpoint. Private transport from Cartagena is included, and a guide fluent in English or Spanish leads the activity.

The experience

The reserve sits on 1,300 acres of tropical dry forest and exists to rehabilitate parrots and macaws seized from illegal trafficking. You start with breakfast by the lake, then listen to expert biologists explain how rescued birds are prepared for release back into the wild. After that talk, you move into the rehabilitation center itself to help prepare and deliver food to the birds: a direct look at the work that happens here, not a distant observation.

Once you're on the Pioneer 700 UTV with a biologist guide, the ride takes you up into the forest canopy where you spot the animals in their natural habitat: parrots, macaws, Cotton-top Tamarins, Red Howlers, Capuchins and native bird species moving through the trees. The trail climbs to a panoramic summit. Along the way, you harvest cassava and papaya with local farmers and learn how sustainable farming practices anchor the reserve's conservation model. The ride lasts six hours total, and the physical demand is moderate. You're operating the UTV yourself, so fitness matters, but the pace is set by the guide and the terrain.

Before you leave, you plant a native tree in the regenerated forest. That tree stays in the ground after you do, a tangible mark of your visit. The reserve does not feed or touch the animals. This is a working rehabilitation center, not a zoo, and the biologist guides the entire experience. Private transport picks you up from your Cartagena hotel and returns you there when the activity ends.

What’s included

• Private transport from your Cartagena hotel.
• breakfast by the lake.
• biologist-led talk on parrot and macaw rehabilitation.
• hands-on bird feeding in the rehabilitation center.
• guided UTV ride on a Pioneer 700 through forest trails to a summit viewpoint.
• cassava and papaya harvesting with local farmers.
• native tree planting.
• guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 12:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 75 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Fundación Loros

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to combine hands-on conservation work with the physical thrill of driving a UTV through wildlife habitat. The six-hour commitment and moderate fitness requirement mean it suits travelers who are comfortable spending a full morning and early afternoon in the forest and operating the vehicle themselves, not watching from a passenger seat.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What animals will I see on the UTV ride at Fundación Loros?

The reserve is home to rescued parrots and macaws, plus native species including Cotton-top Tamarins, Red Howler monkeys, Capuchins and a variety of tropical birds. You spot them in the forest canopy as you ride the trails, especially as you climb toward the summit viewpoint.

Do I need experience riding a UTV to book this activity?

No prior UTV experience is required. A biologist guide leads the ride and sets the pace. You do need at least moderate physical fitness and must be at least 12 years old. The activity is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or pregnancy.

What does the six-hour experience include besides the UTV ride?

Breakfast by the lake, a talk from expert biologists on parrot rehabilitation, hands-on feeding of rescued birds in the center, harvesting cassava and papaya with local farmers, a guided UTV ride to the summit, tree planting, and private transport from your Cartagena hotel.

How far is Fundación Loros from Cartagena, and how do I get there?

The reserve is about an hour from Cartagena. Private transport is included in the booking and picks you up from your hotel, so you do not arrange your own travel.

What is the difference between seeing birds in the rehabilitation center and seeing them on the UTV ride?

In the center, you help prepare food and feed rescued birds that are being rehabilitated before release. On the UTV ride, you see those same species living wild in the forest canopy: the animals in their natural habitat after they have been released or in their native environment.