How To Discover Colombia’s Biodiversity | Top 10 Books & Movies
This post is written by Thomas Plaatsman of Cultural Reads, a blog that helps readers understand countries on a deeper level through national movies, books, and music.
A Short Intro to Colombia’s Biodiversity
Sex sells, and so do drugs and violence. This is unfortunate because when you ask people about Colombia, they think about Pablo Escobar instead of salsa music, great coffee, and the beautiful Colombian landscapes.
Many don’t know that Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world, hosting almost 10% of the planet’s biodiversity. So, if you‘re a nature lover, it’s a must-visit destination. Before making that decision, however, let me give you a preview by exploring Colombia's biodiversity through books and movies.
Two Documentaries About Colombia’s Biodiversity
When considering the combination of nature and movies, the first thing that comes to mind is nature documentaries. That’s why we’ll start with two fantastic films to explore the beauty of Colombia's biodiversity.
Colombia: Wild Magic
Colombia: Wild Magic starred on Netflix in 2017 but is now also available on YouTube. This fantastic documentary highlights Colombia’s biodiversity and landscape with the most stunning scenes. It’s primarily focused on animals and gives a good sense of the immense beauty of the Colombian landscapes.
2. Magical Andes
The Netflix series Magical Andes is another excellent example of a movie highlighting Colombia’s stunning nature. The Andes cross seven South American countries, including Colombia. Although Magical Andes highlights each of these countries, the director dedicated two episodes to Colombia. The first episode features lively cities like Cali, Medellín, and Bogotá that nestle in the mountains. The second, in season two, gives an insight into the lives of Colombian beekeepers.
Three Colombia Landscape Movies
Aside from nature documentaries, Colombia also produced several movies in which Colombian biodiversity plays a central role. Read on to discover these three great films!
Embrace of the Serpent
The Embrace of the Serpent is one of my favorites and one of the best Colombian movies ever. It tells the story of two Western scientists, German ethnographer Theodor Koch-Grünberg and American botanist Richard Evans Schultes, looking for the medicinal plant yakuza, a fictional plant with psychedelic effects.
Aside from the beautiful views of the biodiverse Amazon rainforest, the movie also shows how Colombia’s nature and Indigenous communities suffered at the hands of rubber barons, scientists, and missionaries.
2. Wind Journeys
The Wind Journeys is another movie by Ciro Guerra, who also directed The Embrace of the Serpent. It tells the story of vallenato musician Ignacio, who owns a cursed accordion after its owner wins a duel with the devil. He embarks on a journey to return the instrument and lift the curse.
Wind Journeys has an intriguing mythical story and showcases the richness of Colombian music (including rap-battle-style accordion face-offs). More importantly, though, the journey portrayed in the movie takes Ignacio and his young apprentice through some of the most beautiful Colombian landscapes.
3. Monos
Monos is a more recent Colombian movie about a group of teenage militants watching over a prisoner on a remote mountaintop. Due to the boredom and their immaturity, the group’s faith quickly takes a disastrous turn.
Despite its macabre theme, the film beautifully depicts Colombia’s nature, with its mountains, jungles, and rivers.
Five Books That Highlight Colombia’s Nature
The Vortex by José Eustacio Rivera
The young poet Arturo and his lover Alicia flee Bogota for the rural areas of Colombia. After they are separated, Arturo leaves for the jungle, where he witnesses the horrific conditions of the rubber plantations during the rubber boom.
The Vortex is deeply humanitarian and violent but vividly describes Colombia’s landscapes as Arturo travels through them.
2. The Bitch by Pilar Quintana
A young orphaned woman develops an intense relationship with a puppy in the jungle alongside the Colombian Pacific coast. Through this relationship, she uncovers emotions and wounds she didn’t know she had.
The novel, in which raw violence plays a central role, illustrates the brutal forces of nature. It shows how Colombia’s jungle and sea aren’t just beautiful but also cause great destruction, making loss an integrated part of daily life.
3. One River by Wade Davis
If you prefer reading over movies, I suggest you swap The Embrace of the Serpent for the book One River.
One River is twenty years older and different from the movie (one is not based on the other) but similar in that it includes stories of the same scientists who researched the Colombian Amazon jungle.
One River is a nonfiction book that describes the author’s journeys through the Amazon. The author intertwines his own stories with narratives of other journeys and highlights the importance of preserving Indigenous cultures and their relationships with the environment. He also emphasizes the richness of Colombia’s biodiversity.
4. Two Books for Bird Lovers
If you are a bird lover, Colombia is a must-visit. It has the largest number of bird species in the world.
How do you prepare for such a trip to admire Colombia’s fauna? I suggest you start with these books: Birds of Colombia by Steven L. Hilty and Birds of Colombia by Otto Pfister.
Pfister’s book has beautiful photography and helps identify the right birds. Hilty's may be a better option if you’re looking for a great field guide per region.
A Recap of Colombia’s Biodiversity
The best way to discover Colombia’s landscape is first-hand. Thankfully, you came to the right place because Vive Mas Tours' primary purpose is to help you craft a trip that meets your expectations.
If you’re not yet convinced - which I find hard to imagine - start with some of these books and movies!
