Colombia is the country of coffee. There are coffee plantations and coffee production farms everywhere. For centuries, people have been cultivating, collecting, and roasting seeds. However, things don’t always go flawlessly. As we know, when one door closes, another opens. And so it happened near the city of Palmira in Colombia.

Here, as everywhere in the country, hills and mountains were covered with coffee plantations. But in the 19th century, a crisis hit the country, and most of the farms were abandoned. The farmers left their plantations, and the fields began to overgrow. A forest, that had once occupied the place, took over these cultivated fields where coffee was grown for decades. Deep tropical forests covered the hills, and life was reborn there.

By the beginning of the 20th century, a natural reserve grew where former plantations had stood. The crisis passed, but people decided not to go back to coffee but turn the place into an ecological park and called it «Nirvana». Locals welcomed it, and tourists also began to come here. Sure they did; resting here is great!

Entering the reserve, you feel how your mind gets relaxed. Nature is so close! Flora and fauna of the reserve fascinate you, and incredible giant trees there stun you. The climate there is mild, and you can breathe easily. It is neither hot nor cold, with the temperature almost all year being about 20 degrees. Rain, wind, insects and birds, nature itself, brought nearly 90 hectares of land back to life. Now, instead of coffee, there are bananas, bamboo, oak, cedar and other tropical plants growing in the reserve.

It may not be easy to see the entire Nirvana Natural Reserve, but you can choose one or several routes to enjoy local flora and fauna, depending on your experience and level of physical fitness. The reserve is situated in the mountains, so some routes are designed for experienced travelers only.

In between your hikes, you can enjoy a delicious meal at a local restaurant. The taste will be enhanced by the beauty of nature around you.