Home to endangered animals, Indigenous peoples and ancient archaeology sites, this place is truly one of the wonders of the world.

With every purchase you make at Rituals, we support the Indigenous Arhuaco community in their efforts to protect their forests. Wondering where these forests are, or why they’re so important? Well, you can find them at the heart of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Tucked away in northern Colombia lies this awe-inspiring mountain range that has captured the imagination of scientists, adventurers, and conservationists alike. Rising abruptly from the Caribbean coast to snow-capped peaks, this area has been named one of the world’s most irreplaceable ecosystems. Here are five incredible facts that showcase the unique splendour of this unparalleled places.

1. It’s the tallest coastal mountain range in the world

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta boasts the highest coastal peaks on the planet, with its twin summits Pico Cristóbal Colón and Pico Simón Bolívar towering over 5,700 meters (18,700 feet)! What makes this even more remarkable, is the range’s proximity to the Caribbean Sea, as its base begins just 42 kilometres (26 miles) from the coastline. This dramatic rise creates a stunning gradient of ecosystems, from tropical beaches to glacier mountains. Incredibly, it also means this area has several climatic zones.

2. It’s a biodiversity hotspot like no other

Covering an area of around 17,000 square kilometres, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is home to an astonishing variety of life. Its extraordinary biodiversity has earned it the title of "the most irreplaceable area for biodiversity conservation" in a global scientific study. It’s also an incredibly important home for endangered amphibians. Many species living there can be found nowhere else in the world. A bird lover’s paradise, it hosts 7% of all bird species on Earth! Intrigued? Look up the endangered Santa Marta parakeet, Santa Marta sabrewing, or - the only recently discovered - Santa Marta screech owl. Scientists have identified 50 threatened and 47 unique animal species here, along with 32 threatened and 340 unique plant species. This is truly biodiversity at its finest.  

3. It’s a sacred land for Indigenous peoples

For centuries, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta has been home to four Indigenous groups: the Kogi, Arhuaco, Wiwa, and Kankuamo. These communities view the mountain range as the ‘heart of the world’ and hold it sacred, never taking more than they need. They see themselves as guardians of the land, maintaining a deep spiritual connection to nature and advocating for its protection. Their ancestral knowledge and sustainable practices offer invaluable insights into living in harmony with the environment. As part of the 10% Profit Pledge, we support the Arhuaco community in their efforts to reclaim the sacred land that was taken from them, to reforest and protect it for generations to come. You can read more about this incredible community and their mission here.

4. It has ancient archaeological sites 

Hidden within the dense rainforest of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta are archaeological treasures like Ciudad Perdida, Spanish for "Lost City." Only accessible via a challenging multi-day trek, ‘The Lost City’ is believed to have been built around 800 CE by the Tairona civilisation, this site predates the famous ancient city Machu Picchu by several centuries. 

5. Though irreplaceable, this area is under threat

Despite its ecological and cultural significance, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta faces numerous threats. Sadly, large areas have been lost to the likes of deforestation, mining, and climate change. As it stands, the climate research agency IDEAM forecast that the Sierra’s glaciers (that currently generate 10 billion m3 water supplying 2 million people) will vanish by 2050. This, among all the reasons listed above, makes the protection of this land crucial. Through our partnership with conservation enterprise Sacred Forests, we support the Arhuaco community in their fight to save it. They are working hard towards getting the Sierra Nevada to be named as a UNESCO world heritage site, hopefully ensuring its protection for generations to come.  

Discover all about this partnership and the work we are doing here.