Ecotourism Activities
During decades, expert mountaineers and climbers have visited the Sierra Nevada de Güicán, Cocuy y Chita and have spread the word about its scenic beauty. Your passion for nature and adventure will be satisfied with the following activities that are authorized in this marvelous place:
Expert mountaineers can do rock and snow climbing as well as high mountain trekking. The area for tourism activities also has several trails and camping zones where you can have physical and spiritual contact with the imposing mountains.
The trail starts in Alto de la Cueva at 4,000 MASL, and continues to the Parks control entrance. From there you have access to a natural lookout where you can see the snow peaks. It then descends towards the sector of the Herrera family where you will find tourism services and then to La Pintada lagoon sector that has the Sisuma park ranger cabin (7,8 km, 8 hours, medium difficulty).
The climb begins in Hacienda La Esperanza and follows the bridle path towards Grande de la Sierra Lagoon and neighboring snow peaks. It passes by La Cuchumba cave, where the Uwa people worship the Virgin of Güican. After a slight climb you arrive to Valle de los Frailejones and the trail becomes steeper as you climb to the Grande de la Sierra Lagoon (10.6 km, 10 hours, high difficulty).
The climb begins in the Park’s control point, crosses the Nevado River and continues to the site known as Playitas and then through stone slabs to the edge of the glacier bordering the páramo during three kilometers (6.8 km, 8 hours, high difficulty).
The scenic beauty of El Cocuy NNP make it an ideal place for this activity, although, if the photos or video are intended for commercial use or publication, a permit must be obtained from Parques Nacionales Naturales.
The exuberant nature of the protected area and its state of conservation make it an ideal place for scientific research. Additionally, as in all the parks with ecotourism, education institutions carry out environmental education activities in the park, as do the park rangers who speak to the visitors about the Park, its conservation objectives and ecotourism services and activities.
Colombia is the country with the most bird species in the world, which is why it is a touristic destination for amateur and professional bird watchers. You can watch the following birds in the Park: condor, eagle, Andean cock-of-the-rock, helmeted curassow, white-winged parakeet and Apolinar’s wren.
El Cocuy NNP is the perfect place to observe fauna and flora. You can find land mammals such as cougar, white-tailed deer, Andean bear, white-faced capuchin and peccary.