The Dolmetsch Arboretum, directed by Alvaro Calonje, is one of the largest and most complete botanical collections in Colombia. The arboretum is privately owned, but birders will have access to this botanical wonder by taking a tour of the grounds with creator Alvaro Calonje. Thirty-five years in the making, this collection of over 2,200 plants from around the world is sure to satisfiy any botanical craving. The arboretum is also a great place to observe birds due to the variety of species present.

   The Dolmetsch Arboretum is world-reknown for its collection of cycads, rare plants that have survived on Earth for over 200 million years, since the time of the dinosaurs. With over 60 species, the collection is an important step in the process of preserving endangered cycads. Cycads are relicts of the past, with small populations distibuted disjunctly throughout tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Hence the importance of preserving these rare and stunningly beautiful plants.