kasaguadua natural reserve

My husband and I were in Salento for the second time, when our hotel hosts mentioned visitingthe reserve as something we might enjoy. We two have spent quite a lot of time in forests - rain, cloud, and otherwise. Had a lot of tours and guides as well, so we feel like we have a pretty good grounding in the ecosystem, reforestation, etc. Nevertheless we really enjoyed our hike around the reserve with Nicholas and felt like we learned a lot MORE! Nicholas was so enthusiastic and articulate about their life project. We found learning about the harvesting and use of guadua particularly interesting. It's amazing to see what these guys have accomplished. It's a wonderful and inspiring project and we wish them continued success and support. We'll be following their progress on the lodge etc.

My two hour tour was in English but could have been in Spanish (or maybe in Greek or Italian - inquire). It was both pleasurable and crammed with information about how plants thrive and interact in the mountains of Colombia. This was the best tour of an ecological reserve I have ever had and I have taken many. It is important to call or email ahead to set this up. My tour was arranged for 9 a.m. a day in advance. It is free but I was happy to make a donation toward making this private reserve sustainable. I want to go back when they are ready to have guests stay overnight on site.

A very interesting walk from the very passionate guide Carlos.Highly recommended to anyone with a love or curiosity about ecosystems - which are very rich here in Colombia.

I got into Kasaguadua Natural Reserve by total coincidence. I met an American Girl on a bus who was going to volonteer at Kasaguadua for a while. Carlos came to pick her up at the bus stop and offered to take me to a hostal nearby which was really nice. He offered me to come out to Kasaguadua the next day to see their project. Actually I had other plans but finally i went out there the next morning. Nicolas gave me and the American girl a (free) tour of the Reserve which was really interesting. I learned a lot about the rainforest and its plants and creatures. Nicolas had even prepared a warm lunch for the way. The concept the two have for sustainable tourism is really great and i hope it will sharpen the awareness of people for the importance of this fragile eco system. At night Nicolas and Carlos invited us for dinner. It was a very funny night out and i am amazed that there are still such good people out there. If you get the chance to go to Kasaguadua and meet Carlos and Nicolas make sure you don't miss out!!!I loved the experience and I am sure you will do too. When i was there their hostal of sustainable houses was not done yet. I hope everything has worked out well and soon visitors will have the pleasure to stay over night in this wonderful environment.

This little slice of sustainable forest on the edge of Salento is a patch of beauty, lovingly cared for by the charming and engaging owners Nicholas and Carlos.Our guide for the day, Carlos, planned to keep the gates closed to carry out a bit of work, and we were extremely grateful for him agreeing to give us a tour.The grounds are covered in an abundance of plant life, and various forms of wildlife here and there, and the tour makes for an enchanting walk.By far the highlight for us though was Carlos' guidance. His empathetic and charismatic personality enriched the whole experience, and engaged us with a keen interest for the story behind the project, and the future of it. I'd challenge anyone not to be charmed throughout their journey around Kasaguadua! Without doubt a highlight of Colombia, I'd thoroughly recommend!

We were a bit overwhelmed by the reviews on TripAdvisor and then... we met Carlos :). The trip took us about 2,5h and during that time we've learned soooo much, not only about biodiversity and biology, but also about Colombia, its history, culture, people. Wonderful time spent in a real andean rainforest is something that stays in mind and helps to understand the meaning of nature. Keeping our fingers crossed for the project!

We had a terrific two hour guided walk with Nicholas. The project exemplifies sustainability, conservation and diversity. Besides being a lovely walk, you will be treated to Nichilas' incredible knowledge. Reservations were easy by email. This is definitely a walk you don't want to miss.Please support these types of projects. Without them, travelers won't have the kind of natural wonders that draw us to these places. The is no set fee, but donations are requested.

Carlos, our guide, turned many of our group's preconceived ideas on their head about biodiversity. The reserve is a labour of love (and blood) nurtured by Carlos and Nicholas. They have cut narrow paths by hand into secondary jungle, getting you up close to the flora and fauna. There us so much to look at, study and learn on the tour, delivered in excellent English.If you are interested in habitat, economic systems and the delicate balance of nature then this 3 hour tour is for you. Wear good hiking shoes and a shirt able to sustain the odd bramble and thorn.The geodesic lodge project is making good progress, an eco lodge being created in the jungle. This is a fascinating project, an interesting building and will become a destination of choice to visitors to Solento.Best wishes to you all in this audacious

A sensational tour through some of Colombia's stunning natural rainforest. Our guide Nicholas couldn't have been more friendly or engaging. The views were spectacular and the interesting anecdotes Nicholas shared along the way were a remarkable insight into the local environment. I couldn't imagine a more enjoyable or easy way to connect with nature and learn about some of it's most intriguing subtleties. An absolute must-see for anyone passing through Salento.

If you are curious to know about how species talk together, get along and develop in a coherent and smart environment, Carlos is the perfect guide for this! He will give you tips that can be very useful to be aware of while being in a natural environment.. Plus Carlos was passionate and funny!Highly recommended!

One of my favourite activities while in Salento. Nicholas was informative and passionate about his work and that passion came across in every aspect of the tour. Looking forward to going back when the cabins are finished to spend more time in this beautiful environment.

Great project, great forest, and (last but not least) great Carlos. Thanks for such a wonderful experience.(from Manuel and Pilar, Zaragoza, Spain)

We are real nature lovers and based on the positive reviews on Kasaguada we decided to go on a tour. Our guide Nicolas is so passionate and enthusiastic that it is hard not to like the tour- the info given was both educative and entertaining. If you wish to know more about vegetation - how to preserve it and how to grow - this is the tour for you! A must do!

I was glad I did this tour. I found it a lot more enjoyable and informative than the coffee farm tour I did the day beforehand.The tour operators (Carlos & Nicholas) are very welcoming and helpful in arranging the tour.My tour was conducted by Nicholas and it was great. I honestly didn't think it was going to be overly thrilling, but I was wrong - it was very interesting. It lasts for about an hour and half.There is no set fee for tour. I understand their reasons for this, but I think it is their downfall as far as charging people goes. The concept is that you pay what you think the tour is worth - if you enjoyed it then you pay the appropriate amount, if you hated it you can give a small amount of cash, or nothing at all.Sadly, this system was abused by some of the people on my tour group and they gave VERY small ''tips''. One guy gave 2,000 pesos (The Aussie equivalent of $1.00!!) - absolutely disgraceful, and he was one of the group that was asking the most questions and taking copious notes!!The tour is definitely worth going on and it's worth at least a minimum of 10,000 pesos.What I am trying to say to those intending to do it - don't be tight butt and give a decent tip - it is well worth the money! I paid a lot more for different tours within Colombia and they were nowhere near as good as this.Thanks Nick, loved the tour!! All the best! :

I had the pleasure to spend a time in this reserve and all I can do is praise Carlos and his partner for their work and passion they are putting into this wonderful place. We were given a tour by Carlos and his unending passion for his reserve made every minute of the tour interesting and worthwhile. The reserve is very dynamic and there is something to discover at almost every step. I would highly recommend this reserve and cannot praise Carlos enough for his professionalism and wealth of knowledge.