Utría National Natural Park

Utría National Natural Park is a protected area on Colombia’s Pacific coast in Chocó Department that conserves coastal rainforest, mangroves and nearshore marine environments. The park includes sheltered bays, beaches and mangrove-dominated inlets where rainforest runs to the sea.

The area is internationally noted for seasonal humpback whale sightings and for rich coastal biodiversity including shorebirds, mangrove fauna and reef-associated species; guided boat trips and short coastal trails are common visitor activities.

The park was established to protect this mosaic of marine and terrestrial habitats and to regulate visitor access and resource use.

Utría lies along Colombia’s Pacific coastline in Chocó Department and is reached by boat from nearby coastal settlements; the park’s main landing area is a sheltered bay where visitors arrive by small craft.

• Whale watching: Peak whale-watching season in the park is during the southern humpback whale migration, typically mid-year; boat-based guided tours are the standard way to view whales.
• Access: Access is by small boat from coastal towns on Colombia's Pacific coast; visitors should plan for boat transfers and basic visitor facilities.

What to See #

• Ensenada de Utría (Utría Bay): A sheltered bay and inlet where rainforest meets the sea, hosting the park's main visitor landing, basic facilities and short trails through mangrove and coastal forest.
• Mangrove and tidal channels: Interlocking mangrove channels and tidal creeks that support birdlife, juvenile fish and provide the park's characteristic coastal wetland habitats.