Hiking in El Cocuy National Natural Park (5 Days)

Day 1: Arrival and City Tour

Upon your arrival in Cocuy, you will meet with a local guide to complete the visitor registration at the national park office. This registration is mandatory for accessing the protected area. We recommend arriving in Cocuy before 4:00 PM, as the office closes at 5:00 PM.

Afterwards, we will take a short walk through the picturesque town, with its peaceful main square and green and white colonial houses. If time permits, we can visit local artisans who will demonstrate the traditional process of wool and salt production. We will then check in at the selected hotel and rest.

Day 2: Acclimatization Hike to Cerro Mahoma

After a hearty breakfast, we will lace up our hiking boots and embark on an unforgettable adventure. We will start the day with a jeep ride, taking us to 3,800 meters above sea level, the starting point of today’s acclimatization hike. As we ascend, we will traverse the typical páramo grassland that characterizes the Andes. Our destination is the impressive Cerro Mahoma, which rises to 4,150 meters. From here, you will be rewarded with spectacular 360-degree panoramic views. Enjoy the grand view of the majestic Cocuy massif before we return to the hotel after this exciting day.

Day 3: Hike to Laguna Grande and Pico Cóncavo

Your day begins in the early morning hours as you head to the La Esperanza sector at about 3,700 meters. You will reach this breathtaking location just in time for sunrise. You will be guided through the Frailejones valley, dominated by these impressive flowering plants. Along the way, you will pass the Laguna Grande at 4,500 meters and continue your hike until you finally reach the glacier edge of Pico Cóncavo at 4,700 meters. After this unforgettable adventure, you will descend and return to El Cocuy.

Day 4: Ascent to the Ritacuba Blanco Glacier

The highlight of our adventure in the El Cocuy National Park awaits. We will travel by jeep to the Los Ritacubas sector, where the mountain lodge Kanwara, at 4,000 meters, awaits us. Here, we will begin our ascent to the glacier edge of Ritacuba Blanco, which, at 5,410 meters, towers over the mountain range (without climbing to the summit). From this vantage point, you will enjoy an unparalleled panorama. After taking in this incomparable view, we will return to the mountain lodge and then back to El Cocuy.

Day 5: Departure

After breakfast, our adventure in the El Cocuy National Park comes to an end. We bid you farewell and wish you a safe journey home.