Golf with Condors and Capybaras: The Wildlife You’ll See on Colombia’s Golf Courses

Capybaras in Pereira, iguanas in Cartagena, 1,950 bird species across the country. Playing golf in Colombia is also a biodiversity tour.

Updated: April 2026 · By Pelecanus — Golf Tour Operator in Colombia — IAGTO Member

The first time an international golfer walks down the fairway at Club Campestre de Pereira, in the Coffee Region, they usually stop mid-hole. Not because of the view — although it’s spectacular — but because there’s a group of capybaras grazing peacefully 20 meters (65 ft) from the green. Nobody shoos them away. The caddies smile. “They live here,” they tell you.

Colombia is not a golf course with a bit of nature around it. It’s the opposite: it’s extraordinarily dense nature with some golf courses tucked inside. The country is the second most biodiverse country in the world after Brazil — and holds the world number one in bird species, with over 1,950 confirmed. Playing golf here includes, almost unintentionally, a wildlife tour.

Capybaras: The World’s Largest Rodents

The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the world’s largest rodent. An adult can weigh between 35 and 65 kg (77–143 lbs). They are herbivores, social, and semi-aquatic — they live near rivers, lakes, and wetlands. In Colombia, they are especially common in the Eastern Plains, the Coffee Region, and various lowland areas of the country.

You find them on several Colombian golf courses because the courses — with their artificial lagoons, well-maintained fairways, and shade zones — unintentionally replicate an ideal habitat for them. They eat the short grass, drink from the lagoon water, and seek shade among the ornamental trees.

Capybaras are completely harmless. They don’t attack, don’t steal balls, don’t make noise. They may watch you curiously for a few seconds and then continue eating. The club rule is simple: don’t feed them, don’t touch them, give them space.

Condors and Vultures: The Gliders of the Andes

The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is the world’s largest flying bird by wingspan, with wings reaching 3.3 meters (10.8 ft) tip to tip. It is Colombia’s national bird. Although it’s hard to spot on golf courses near cities, golfers playing at high altitudes — La Cima, some Andean courses — may spot one soaring in the distance on clear days.

More common are black-headed vultures and king vultures, seen on practically every course in the country. They are scavenging raptors, harmless to golfers, and part of the natural ecosystem. Watching them ride thermal currents above the fairways is part of the landscape.

The Most Colorful Birds: Golf Courses as Observatories

Colombia has more than 1,950 bird species — more than any other country in the world. This richness translates directly to the golf courses, especially in the tropical and coffee regions. Some of the species an observant golfer may see during a round:

For a golfer who is also a birdwatching enthusiast, a trip to Colombia can be a dual experience — some clubs even have arrangements with local guides who can accompany an additional round as a bird tour.

Iguanas: Permanent Residents of the Caribbean

At Karibana (Cartagena), Lagos de Caujaral (Barranquilla), and Club Campestre de Cartagena, iguanas are part of the landscape. They are large, green or brown, and can be seen sunbathing on rocks, bunker edges, or low branches.

They are harmless. They don’t approach golfers, and when they see you they simply walk away calmly. But they offer excellent photos — especially for golfers from temperate climates who have never seen an iguana in the wild.

Howler Monkeys and Tropical Squirrels

On some courses near Caribbean and Pacific tropical forests — including the Karibana area — you can hear (and sometimes see) howler monkeys. Their distinctive call is unmistakable, like a deep roar that can be heard from kilometers away.

Tropical squirrels are more common and appear on practically every course in the country. Smaller than North American ones, with reddish or brown colors.

How Golf Coexists with Wildlife

Golf courses in Colombia have a particular relationship with wildlife for a simple reason: they cannot expel it. Colombian environmental legislation protects much of the wild fauna, and the local culture respects animal presence. Clubs generally operate with the philosophy that “the animals were here first.”

This means a Colombian golf course is also, in fact, a small biodiversity sanctuary. Pesticide use is limited, wetlands are preserved as playing zones but also as refuges, and native trees replace imported ornamental trees in many cases.

For the golfer coming from golf resorts where the landscape is designed to look perfect but lacks wildlife, playing in Colombia can be surprising. There is movement in every bush. There are sounds on every hole. There is wildlife.

Basic Rules of Coexistence

Some rules that Colombian clubs apply or recommend:

• Don’t feed any animal, even if it seems friendly. It changes their natural behavior and can create long-term problems.

• Respect nesting areas. If a ball lands in an area with nests or young, play a lateral drop without penalty — the caddies will confirm this.

• Don’t touch iguanas or capybaras, no matter how calm they seem. They are wild animals.

• Keep your distance from raptors and condors — they won’t harm you, but disturbing them makes them fly away and the rest of the group misses the opportunity.

• Bring a camera or phone with a good lens. The best sightings happen without warning.

For many international golfers, the wildlife ends up being one of the strongest memories of the trip. Many return for it as much as for the courses. Colombia offers a combination that very few golf destinations in the world can match: a world-class Nicklaus or Pete Dye design, with real biodiversity crossing the fairway.

Related Content

• Golf at 2,600 Meters (8,530 ft): What to Expect in Bogotá
• Golf and Coffee: Coffee Region Itinerary
• Karibana: The Nicklaus Signature of the Caribbean
• How to Play at Private Clubs Without Being a Member
• The Complete Guide to Golf in Colombia