Two and a half hours east of Medellin, rolling green pastures give way to jagged marble peaks blanketed by a thick, tropical, primary forest. This is Rio Claro. Eons of rain and subsequent erosion have carved deep canyons into the marble and limestone. While most rivers in the rain forest are brown from tree tannins and sediment runoff, the Rio Claro is crystal clear. The rich marble deposits that compose the river bottom ensure that the Rio Claro remains clear all year. The marble geology creates a unique natural wonder that is only ruined by the pursuits of the mining companies that litter the area. I stayed in Rio Claro Reserve. A private, ecological reserve since the late 70s, the Rio Claro Reserve is an excellent model for sustainable ecotourism. The owners understood that they did not have to mine their land to be profitable and the reserve's beauty has made this a popular tourist destination.
My cabana. Not bad for the jungle.
This little fellow was on my bathroom door. He was only about a foot long from toe to toe.
This guy was about a foot long as well.
The green basilisk or "Jesus Christo" lizard gets its name because it can literally run on top of water. They are always found near rivers for an easy escape from predators.
The marble and limestone geology along with an abundance of water has created a vast network of caverns in the area.
For being completely void of light, the caverns are teaming with life. Walking on thousands of years of bat and bird poop felt like walking on marshmallows. Each spongy step would uncover thousands of cockroaches working overtime to keep up with the bats.
I tried not to get too close to this beauty.
The only things that break up the jungle are the marble mines.
With today's technology, I was surprised to see that the marble mining is done by men on harnesses with jackhammers.
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