Forest Stories
The Story of Silvery
Decades ago, my sister and I made a life decision, to invest in a piece of land, following the invitation of one of our dearest friends. It was in San Carlos, Antioquia, a small town in Colombia we had never visited, still marked by stories of violence. That’s where we began our journey: we bought an abandoned cattle farm and transformed it, tree by tree, into a living forest. Today, Silvery Refugio Natural is a place to rest, learn, and reconnect, a project that measures its impact and protects its territory with care and scientific rigor.
The Starting Point
This story began when fear was still the norm, and we decided to take a different path, to invest in a farm and transform its land use. Our goal was simple: to give life back to the soil and leave the place better than we found it.
That’s how we started exploring native species for reforestation.
23,000 Trees and Blistered Hands
We planted nearly 23,000 trees of different species such as cedar, ceiba, balsa, abarco, guayacán, walnut, bamboo, and melina. During that process, we created more than 20 local jobs, and yes, we ended up with blisters on our hands, marks we remember with pride.
In the end, this mix of species helped the forest recover its natural rhythm.
The Forest Responds
Months later, life began to return. More birds appeared, and a family of Silvery Brown Tamarins (Saguinus leucopus), an endangered species made this forest their home. Neighbors spoke of sightings of armadillos, anteaters, agoutis, and even wild cats. Our game cameras confirmed what we had only imagined, a forest coming back to life. The water in our mountain springs increased, clean and steady, a clear sign that the forest was healing.
We Chose Hospitality
As the forest recovered, we realized the next step was to open our doors. We left the forestry business and entered the world of hospitality with purpose. That’s how we built our cabins, designed for people seeking a regenerative experience in nature, surrounded by silence, comfort, and respect. Our intention is simple yet demanding: to offer complete privacy, deep rest, and experiences that transform.
Cabins in the Forest
Each cabin was designed to coexist with the forest, not to dominate it. The architecture uses natural light and cross-ventilation, local and durable materials, and large glass windows that blend with the landscape. Every space has its own rhythm: a boat net suspended inside, a shower facing the forest, and hot baths inspired by Japanese Ofuros, where water and wood meet in harmony with nature.
Community and Research
None of this would have been possible without the local community. Most of the jobs created at Silvery come from the nearby village of Cañaveral, where many neighbors have worked with us since the first planting days. Together with the Geolimna Research Group from Universidad de Antioquia, we conducted a biodiversity study that identified over 110 bird species, and a student even based her environmental engineering thesis on this research. Recently, we installed game cameras to monitor mammals, marsupials, and birds, and began sampling the water sources that emerge among our reforested trees. Silvery is a haven that learns, researches, and shares knowledge with those who care about doing things right.
What Lies Ahead
We continue growing with a clear compass: measurable regenerative tourism guided by a Net Positive vision. We want every guest to leave a good mark, more trees, more water, more wellbeing. We’re expanding with new forest experiences, guided trails, citizen science projects, and local purchases that strengthen the regional economy.
Silvery is a living project, and the forest sets our pace
Thank You for Reaching This Far
Silvery keeps growing thanks to those who believe in a different way of traveling.
We invite you to come, walk among the trees, and discover how the forest also knows how to take care of us.
Plan your visit and live the experience.
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By Edgar A. Martínez Londoño
Sanitary Engineer, MSc, PhD Environmental Engineering
Founding partner at Silvery Refugio Natural