We’ve already talked about trekking. If you haven’t read the article yet, click here. The treks in Colombia are magnificent, but you need a certain level of fitness and time to do them. So there’s an intermediate solution: trekking in Colombia.
This country is located in the north of South America and is regarded as a must-see destination for its variety of tourist sites, from culturally rich big cities to trails that promise lovers the tranquillity of beautiful hikes.
Tropical forests, heavenly beaches, sandy deserts and misty glaciers are just some of the landscapes you’ll find in Colombia and enjoy if you decide to visit us. Discovering Colombia on foot is an experience you’ll never forget. The desire to get away from it all, to escape from pollution and asphalt, the joy of getting back in touch with nature by walking, that’s what we offer you. In Colombia, there are countless signposted trails for hiking enthusiasts, from one day to several weeks, in discovery mode or in a sporting atmosphere, which you can explore at your leisure.
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This is what awaits travellers who set out to explore the most beautiful hiking trails in beautiful Colombia:
Beautiful walks in Colombia
Cocora Valley, Coffee region
The Cocora Valley is an area of exceptional natural wealth, and one of the main centres of interest in the coffee region. There are some charming villages, fincas and coffee plantations in the area, as well as a few spas, but there’s no better way to visit the famous ‘wax palms’, the tallest in the world, located in Los Nevados national park (read this great article about 24 hours in the park). The palm trees can grow to 70 metres and live to be 100 years old. They are endemic to Colombia. As you stroll through the valley for a few hours, you’ll be able to admire them both in the sunshine and in the mist. The village of Salento is the gateway to the famous Cocora Valley. The walk begins in the morning, with departure in a Willys jeep (a typical form of transport) for the Cócora Valley. Following the paths, you’ll discover an unusual valley where wax palms give the landscape a surreal dimension. You’ll also enter the Andean rainforest, cross rivers and be surprised by the exuberance of nature. This is one of the best hikes in Colombia.
Discover all our holidays around the Cocora Valley!
Acaime Reserve, Coffee region
The Acaime Reserve is a magical place located around 5 kilometres from the Cocora Valley. It is a place full of flora and fauna that has become a paradise for hummingbirds, these birds being the main attraction for travellers who decide to venture out on this beautiful hike. Different species of hummingbird inhabit the reserve. In total, Colombia is home to 162 of the world’s 341 species of hummingbird (i.e. almost 50%), making it an explosion of flying colours!
The journey from Cocora to the Acaime reserve is 4.8 km, taking you along a stony road for around 2 km until you reach the forest. You then continue through a landscape of rainforest, crossing the Las Mirlas waterfall on suspension bridges that make the adventure even more exciting!
The Lengerke path, Barichara
From Barichara, 21 kilometres from San Gil, you can set off on a hike to the dominions of Cacique Guanentá, cradle of the Guane culture, the indigenous people who inhabited the Santander region before the arrival of the Spanish. The hike can last from one to two-and-a-half hours, depending on the walker’s ability. The calm and tranquil atmosphere shows that there has been little human intervention here.
The Camino Real, as we know it today, dates back to 1867, when the German Geo Von Lengerke built it stone by stone using indigenous methods. He did not use cement or other artificial glues to make it passable during the rainy season and to facilitate the movement of goods between the different regions.
The landscape of the Chicamocha Canyon is breathtaking.
Tayrona Park, Santa Marta
Tayrona Park is a little jewel on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. A real corner of paradise, with one of Colombia’s most beautiful beaches and magnificent hiking trails. Just 32 km from Santa Marta and around 45 minutes away, you’ll find the main entrance to Tayrona Park, which will take you to the Cañaveral area, criss-crossed by footpaths leading to the different regions of Tayrona Park. This is where you’ll find the most varied hiking in Colombia.
The visit to Tayrona Park begins early in the morning. You will arrive at El Zaino, the main entrance to the park. From here, 5 km further on, you’ll enjoy the Cañaveral sector, starting with an ecological walk in Arrecifes lasting around 1 hour.
You will then continue your walk along the beach, passing by the beaches of l’Arenilla, the swimming pool and finally Cabo San Juan del GuÃa, where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and crystal-clear waters of the park.
There are several entrances to the park, including Neguanje, Plage Cristal and Pueblito, but we recommend El Zaino.
NuquÃ, Choco
Nuquà is a small fishing village in the Colombian Pacific, surrounded by jungle, with immense black sand beaches and numerous freshwater streams, ideal for hikers, divers, surfers and nature lovers. It’s the perfect destination for dreaming, reflecting and discovering the immensity of the tropical jungle.
It is located in the department of Chocó, in the west of Colombia, between the SerranÃa del Baudó and the Pacific Ocean. Recognised as an area of great cultural diversity, its population is made up of Afro-Colombian communities, indigenous peoples and a large mestizo population. With its high humidity, this area is considered to have the greatest biodiversity in the world. Excursions through the jungle will show you the treasures of Nuquà and the local culture, and you’ll learn how the locals use different plants, animals, myths and traditions that you won’t find anywhere else.
From Nuqui you can go on various types of hike, such as the Jobà River, a beautiful walk along the beach crossing numerous waterways and observing the seascape in contrast to the jungle. The river is long and pauses in some ravines. The Piedra – Piedra walk, in the interior of the jungle, is a medium-difficulty tour lasting between one and four hours. It’s ideal for intrepid nature lovers, or the Double Cascade, a hike where you enter the jungle and visit the Pijibá ravine. After the beach, this tour, which lasts two hours and is fairly difficult, is nevertheless one of the most exotic and exciting in the region.
Caño cristales, La Macarena
Caño Cristales is considered to be the ‘most beautiful river in the world’ thanks to the endemic algae that covers its soil and gives it its five colours: green, yellow, red, blue and black. You just have to visit it to appreciate the beauty of this Colombian paradise. We love this place so much that we have devoted an entire article to it. To read it, click here and if you want to see an example of a stay, click here.
It’s a magical place, with its crystal-clear waters coming from beautiful waterfalls, forming natural pools. Caño Cristales is protected by the creation of the La Macarena National Nature Park. There are 4 different trails in the reserve, giving you the chance to see not only this magnificent river but also an extraordinary wealth of animal life: the Park is home to 420 species of birds, 10 species of amphibians, 43 species of reptiles and 8 species of primates.
Laguna de Iguaque, Villa de Leyva
Of all the hikes in Colombia, this is one of the easiest to get to (it’s only 3 hours from Bogotá) but is often overlooked. Lake Iguaque is located in the homonymous Sanctuary between 2,400 and 3,800 metres above sea level. This lake played a very important role in Muisca mythology (the indigenous people who inhabited the area before the arrival of the Spanish) because, according to them, it was here that humanity was born. Many ceremonies were held here, with offerings of gold objects and precious stones. Today, the Paramo landscape is the main jewel. The sanctuary is about 1 hour from Villa de Leyva, and the hike takes 5 to 7 hours.
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