# Manglares Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Reserve, Colombia: what it is and when to go

> Manglares Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Reserve is a national park in Colombia. Interests: Nature and Wildlife. The best time to visit is December to February and June to August. There are about 12 h 05 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Colombia: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/reserva-ecologica-manglares-cayapas-mataje/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** National park · Nature, Wildlife
- **Where:** Colombia
- **Best time:** December to February and June to August.
- **Nearest airport:** CLO Cali, 374 km as the crow flies
- **Coordinates:** 1.32378, -78.91231

## What it is and where

Manglares Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Reserve is a national park in Colombia. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Colombia: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

Its coordinates are 1.32378, -78.91231; the nearest main airport is Alfonso Bonilla Aragon International Airport (CLO, Cali), 374 km as the crow flies. How to get around Colombia (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=1.32378%2C-78.912312)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=1.32378%2C-78.912312)

It is one of the [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/naturaleza/) and [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/fauna/) places in Colombia. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Manglares Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Reserve is **December to February and June to August**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Best time | 11 h 56 |
| February | Best time | 11 h 57 |
| March | Possible | 11 h 59 |
| April | Possible | 12 h 02 |
| May | Possible | 12 h 04 |
| June | Best time | 12 h 05 |
| July | Best time | 12 h 04 |
| August | Best time | 12 h 03 |
| September | Possible | 12 h |
| October | Possible | 11 h 58 |
| November | Possible | 11 h 56 |
| December | Best time | 11 h 55 |

There are about 12 h 05 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nature | December to February and June to August | March to May and September to November |
| Wildlife | December to February and June to August | March to May and September to November |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Manglares Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Reserve has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to Colombia in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to Colombia

To enter Colombia there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid passport and onward ticket”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Colombia checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Colombian peso (COP); plugs: Type A and B · 110 V · 60 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 123 for everything.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Ancón de Sardinas](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/ancon-de-sardinas/): Bay in the Pacific Ocean · 16 km
- [Bahía de Tumaco](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/bahia-de-tumaco/): Bay · 68 km
- [Casa Dracula](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/casa-dracula/): Protected area · 90 km
- [Cerro Negro de Mayasquer](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/volcan-cerro-negro-de-mayasquer/): Volcano in Colombia and Ecuador · 119 km
- [Cumbal Volcano](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/volcan-cumbal/): Mountain in Colombia · 121 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Colombia guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/).

## More in Colombia: Nature

- [Nevado del Ruiz](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/volcan-nevado-del-ruiz/): volcanic mountain in Colombia
- [Galeras](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/galeras/): volcanic mountain in Colombia
- [Yopal](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/cerro-el-venado/): capital of the Colombian department of Casanare
- [Pico Cristóbal Colón](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/pico-cristobal-colon/): mountain in Colombia
- [Los Katíos National Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/parque-nacional-natural-los-katios/): national park in Colombia
- [Nevado del Huila](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/nevado-del-huila/): second highest mountain in Colombia

Every Colombia place under Nature, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/naturaleza/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Manglares Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Reserve?

It is a national park in Colombia. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Colombia: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit Manglares Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Reserve?

December to February and June to August. There are about 12 h 05 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change.

### How do you get to Manglares Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Reserve?

The nearest main airport is Alfonso Bonilla Aragon International Airport (CLO), 374 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=1.32378%2C-78.912312) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Colombia is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Colombia map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Ancón de Sardinas](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/ancon-de-sardinas/), [Bahía de Tumaco](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/bahia-de-tumaco/), [Casa Dracula](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/casa-dracula/). The rest is in [the Colombia guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/colombia/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/167592), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9068221), CC0. More about Manglares Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Reserve on [Wikipedia](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserva_ecol%C3%B3gica_Cayapas_Mataje). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).