Day 1 – ARRIVAL AT COCUY NATIONAL PARK AND ACCLIMATIZATION

 

The tour starts in the town of Guican before 10:00 am. You will be welcomed by one of our local guides in your hotel or bus station. He will take you to the office of the National Park Authorities for the mandatory registration and purchase of an insurance policy.

 

Once that is done. You will be transported to the Posada Sierra Nevada. It´s a scenic 1-hour drive. Upon arrival, you will have a bit of time to settle down while your lunch is ready.

  

After lunch, you will be guided to a short walk in the surroundings of the Posada. This is an important activity for your body to get used to the altitude of 4000 meters above sea level.

 

On your return, you will have dinner and some time to take it easy in the cozy Posada. The ideal acclimatization for the altitude.

 

Accommodation:  La Posada de la Sierra

Day 2 – RITAKUWA GLACIER

 

Today you will do the main hike, you will visit the Ritakuwa glacier of Cocuy National Park. Your local guide will meet you right after breakfast. The hike is a challenging 6-8 hours trek though gorgeous landscapes. You will go from 4000 m.a.s.l (13 123 ft)  to around 4700 m.a.s.l (15 419 ft).

 

During the hike, you will walk through different ecosystems typical of this area such as the paramo. The views along the route are breathtaking.

 

Once you reach the glacier, which is the biggest one of the entire park, you will get some time to enjoy the views and the nature surrounding you, before you start you walk back down towards the posada.

 

Lunch will be waiting for you when you arrive back. Then you will have some hours to recover from the hike and later on your dinner will be served.

  

Hotel:  La Posada de la Sierra

Day 3 – LAGUNA SAN PABLIN

 

On your last day in the area, you will have an early breakfast before doing the last hike to the Laguna de San Pablin and the Paramo-valley of El Chorrerón, which are both part of Cocuy National Park.

 

This is a beautiful hike of around 4 hours in which you will visit an alpine like and a stunning waterfall.

 

After this hike, you will be driven down to the town of Guican for lunch and to catch your transport to your next destination.

What Is Not Included

  • The entrance fee to the national park (61.000 COP for foreigners)
  • A local rescue tax of 8000 COP/person. Both the tax and entrance fees need to be paid in person in Guican at the Park Authorities Office. Our contact person will help you with this process.

What Is Included

  • 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners  per person during the Cocuy Tour.
  • An acclimatization walk on day 1 with a local Spanish-speaking guide.
  • A guided hike to Ritakuwa Blanco with a Spanish-speaking guide.
  • A 4 to 5 hours walk to Laguna de San Pablin with a local Spanish-speaking guide

To Keep In Mind:

  • It gets really cold in the evenings and in the night-time. There is also no heating system in the posada and the rooms are basic so make sure to bring warm clothes to layer up.
  • The walks are really beautiful but are challenging so bring comfortable shoes and walking gear. The weather can change really fast so make sure to have clothes for any type of weather conditions.
  • The altitude can be really difficult to deal with so make sure to: take good pills against headaches with you, to breath very calmly, and drink a lot of water. (Especially on the first day). The posada is located at 3.900 m.a.s.l (12 975 ft) and the glacier at almost 5000 m.a.s.l (16 404 ft).
  • For those wondering if it is safe to travel to Cocuy National Park, check the following wonderful article from ´The Conversation´.
Back to Cocuy

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Discover your ideal itinerary for free!

At Lulo Colombia Travel, we create amazing travel itineraries that are tailor-made to your travel style and preferences.

 

Let us help you come up with an ideal route for your trip in Colombia. By answering the following short questions we will provide you on the spot with a free and personalized itinerary that will serve as a starting point for an unforgettable journey!

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