Programs
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Botanical garden and greenhouse
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Native forests and ecological paths
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Vilela brook waters protection
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Jaboticaba tree apiary and Pisciculture
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Roots musk and "comino crespo" handicrafts
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Vilela village Auditorium and Mariposarium
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Restaurant
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NIRVANA NATURAL RESERVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER
AND ECOLOGICAL TOURISM.
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Would it be accurate to deem that the NIRVANA state of the Orientals is equivalent to the heavens of the Westerners?
Maybe yes if… actually, the earthly certainty, is that in Colombia there is one spot which is at the same time an Andean geographic site and magnificent state of the soul. Boudhists and Christians would agree on qualifying as heavens this farm close to Palmira City suggestively called NIRVANA…
Exactly at this place is located the grace of 85 hectares of the National Reserve NIRVANA, a patch of hillside on the Central Cordillera of the Colombian Andes at a height of 1.500 meters on the sea level, which maintains along the year a temperature of 20°C, which is to say that you don´t feel the temperature too hot or cold. "Here comes to pass a sky which does not bore you, a state of illumination… In NIRVANA happiness is torrid, the same as pleasures and happiness come about in the whole American tropic" (Arturo Guerrero - NIRVANA A RECOVERED EDEN - Avianca Magazine No.256 April /2.000)
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El Barranquero. | Nirvana Natural Reserve Auditorium. |
Nirvana Natural Reserve Location. |
Nirvana Natural Reserve is a private entity located in South America, Republic of Colombia, in the Central Andes of Valle del Cauca State, biogeographic region of the upper Cauca River, - borderline of Palmira and Pradera Municipalities- in the hydrographic basin of AGUACLARA (clear water) river, known by the name of LA BUITRERA, El Arenillo rural district, with an altitude between 1.450 and 1.900 meters on sea level. It has 100 hectares.
The yearly average temperature is 20°C and the rainfall is 1.700 ml per year. It is 16 km. from Palmira and Pradera urban centers, 40km. from Cali -State capital- and 27km. from the International airport Alfonso Bonilla Aragon in Palmira.
LA BUITRERA:
Its territory is part of the high basin of Aguaclara river, on the foothills and first mountain range of the Central Cordillera located between the border lines of Palmira and Pradera therefore the reserve encompasses zones of both municipalities.
This place is favored by nature because of the kind calmness where beauty entertains the sight, the abundance of water, the fine weather and the vicinity of Cali an Palmira, made it possible for La Buitrera at the beginning of the twentieth century, to become the first recreational and vocational site in Valle del Cauca.
Despite some modifications or transformations in the use of soil jointly with customs changes, La Buitrera has managed to keep the vocation and the identity impressed by the pioneers of its vocational and recreational development so that the place continues nowadays to be a privileged area to enjoy nature and for the so called, ecological tourism.
Nirvana started operations by the end of 1997 in la Buitrera, fact which consolidated its traditional recreative and touristic vocation. Besides having so many natural gifts, the area is now having regional importance due to the archeological discoveries made by the National University, Bogota headquarters and the INCIVA (Institute for the research and preservation of the natural and cultural heritage in Valle del Cauca). These findings are in the book:"La Buitrera- Valle del Cauca- a Prehispanic region of cultural frontier in the Central Cordillera". This sets la Buitrera within the national interest, plus the well recognized natural and conservationist attractions.
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Traditional House Nirvana Natural Reserve. | Heliconias. |
Nirvana was one of the coffee-growing farms (hacienda) settled by the Antioqueño - Caucano colonization at the beginning of XX century on the Central Cordillera. In 1986 due to the coffee crisis in the country, the coffee plantations were abandoned, destroyed by the "red blight" (roya) and this initiated a very interesting process of natural and spontaneous reforestation which motivated the owners to leave it as a forestal reserve for the conservation of flora-fauna and the ecosystem of "Vilela" brook since NIRVANA is located in its micro-basin. The intention was to show a model of nature recovery by means of natural revegetation as a showcase for the research and study communities, for the people devoted to environmental education land and for those interested in ecological tourism. "During 8 years, the action of the wind, the flying seeds, the pollination birds and the dark bats covered again with vegetation the soil and a gay forest grew in a rocky place which almost one century before had begun to be cleared ground... the farm had become a relict of the earthly paradise. Visitors got fascinated with the pure air, with the flora, the birds" (Arturo Guerrero - op.cited.)
Attention to the public: visits and visitors are welcome all year around. For meetings, events and collective tours for educational entities you must have reservations made beforehand. It is recommended to wear sport shoes and protecting elements from solar rays.
Tels : (092) 2682889 - 2682795 (cel) 313-6598856 y 315-5384826
Dirección en Palmira : Carrera 29 No. 28 - 15/19
E-mail : reservanirvana@hotmail.com
© 2010
- www.reservanirvana.com
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